Realized that I'd forgot to post anything other than the story. 910 words... I really hope that doesn't disqualify me, the millet being informal.
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Chapter 1 - 02:00
A chill wind blew across the narrow street, sending snow spraying into the air in little puffs. The slight dusting of snow was rapidly becoming more than a mere nuisance as Major Jacob Everet walked briskly down the ill-paved thoroughfare that the town council laughingly called a road. Overhead, thick clouds obscured all celestial bodies, leaving the street to be lit by a scattered collection of broken bulbed streetlights which appeared to be on the verge of passing to whatever afterlife they might possess.
At the end of the lane, the Major paused, and then, turning the corner, disappeared into a dark alleyway. Almost immediately another man came around the corner, in such hurry as to suggest either a life or death situation or that he was in training for a sprinting competition. He stopped, perturbed at the sight, or lack thereof, of the Major, and then collapsed soundlessly as Major Everet hit him over the head with the butt end of his automatic. The Major, having the malicious fore site to add unnecessary force to his blow, was not interested in whether or not the other man was unconscious; he undoubtedly was. What Everet was interested in, and extremely so, were the contents of his shadow’s wallet, which he unhurriedly extracted and stuck inside his coat. Dropping the now empty wallet, the Major scanned the documents and then continued on without a backwards glance.
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The blackout conditions of the town made necessary the fitting of heavy shades over the windows of such dwellings which were capable of producing light after dark. Most of the said dwellings, however, were so old that the shades were unnecessary, as most windows possessed glass that had acquired the opacity of a brick wall. Major Everet paused outside one such dwelling and, producing a key, proceeded to enter. The proprietor, apparently under the opinion that electric lighting was an unnecessary luxury, had thoughtfully provided a candle for the occasional nightly excursion. Everet, lighting this candle, took it in his hand and walked down the passageway toward a door, under which a faint light showed. Opening it, he entered a small dingy room, sparsely but comfortably furnished. Electric heating apparently belonging in the same category as lighting, a well stoked fire burned in the fireplace opposite the Major. Seated in the single armchair sat a small, dark-haired man with a tough, wizened face, a man in military uniform.
“Ah, my dear Colonel. I had hardly expected to see you tonight, I was under the impression that you were busy with preparations for the upcoming offensive.”
Colonel Carrisfield looked speculatively at the Major and said mildly, “And I was under the impression that the offensive was a closely guarded secret. Only senior officers possess the knowledge.”
Major Everet smiled. “I know a great many things that are supposed to be closely guarded secrets. No espionage this time though, merely asked the general. He told me himself.”
“Ah.” The Colonel settled comfortably into his chair and relaxed. “Damned department keeps secret like a sieve holds water anyhow. I had thought this was better kept that most though, the top brass were keeping an uncommonly tight lipped position.”
“Someone else knows about it.” Everett crossed to a small cupboard and took out a bottle and two glasses. “Best French cognac. Drink?”
The Colonel took a glass and sampled the contents. A far away look came into his eye. The Major looked at him speculatively, then taking his own glass, turned and walked to the fire. Leaning against the mantle, he sipped at his drink until the Colonel sighed refocused his thoughts. Looking sorrowfully at his now empty glass, he set it down on a side table and looked to the Major.
“You said someone else knows.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Someone else knows. Moreover, someone else knows that I know, and thinks that I can discreetly pass information to them.” The Major withdrew the papers from his shadow’s wallet and handed them to the Colonel. Wordlessly the Colonel read, and then glanced up.
“Where did you get this?”
“I was being shadowed today, ever since I left headquarters. Two of them, taking turns. One of them will have a sore head when he wakes up.”
“I see.” The Colonel read the papers again and then set it down. “An offer of two hundred thousand dollars for information concerning the offensive. The security side of it anyway. That’s me. Why didn’t whoever had this try to contact you and give this to you.”
Everet shrugged. “Damned if I know. Maybe they wanted to confirm that I could help them. Maybe they thought that I harbored unkind thoughts toward out illustrious government.”
“They’ve been disillusioned on that point.” The Colonel picked up the documents again, and stood up. Everett stood away from the mantle and said, “Where are you going?”
“To HQ. If we have a security breach, this could jeopardize our whole campaign. Countless loss of time, men, and energy expended. This offensive relies almost completely upon surprise. If we lose that, we fail in our objective.” The Colonel turned abruptly to the door. “Good night Major.”
After the Colonel had left, the Major again crossed to the cupboard and poured himself a drink. He downed it and, moving to the chair, he sat down and leaned back. A shadow of a smile showed about his lips.
“And so it begins,” he muttered.
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