A Message From Pluto

CHAPTER 1 : A Call From Nowhere

The morning rays seeped through the parted curtains and illuminated the once dark room, waking him up. He groaned loudly and turned away from the light, hoping to get back to sleep and catch up on the hours he had missed. He had always complained to his wife about drawing the curtains when he wanted a good night sleep. Now sleep will be elusive, from past experience. So he decided to get out of bed and wash up. He will have another word with his wife about those damn curtains.

General McGinn was not the regular man on the street. A national hero who had served his country in different capacities. He led the army in the annihilation of the terrifying terrorist group that was slowly gaining a foothold into the country. After service in many different capacities, domestic and abroad, he retired, a few months after returning from the Mexican front where he again led the army to destroy the drug cartels that worked the US-Mexican border. Now he was on what the president described as perpetual holiday.

" You can not retire. You are not permitted to do so. You and I know that we will be needing your services for as long as it takes. I have always said everyone is replaceable but you have proved me wrong. That, my friend is where you have failed." The president had looked him in the eye and said softly, " Of course you know that's not an order".

McGinn washed his face under the running water, looked at himself in the mirror for a long time and got out of the bathroom.

He was halfway across the room when his phone rang. He hesitated momentarily but walked on towards the kitchen in search of his wife. The smell of food wafting across to him told him she was cooking his favorite meal, probably planning on bringing it to bed to him. The call could wait. If it was important, the person could call again.

McGinn stood at the door and watched his wife for a full minute before stepping further into the kitchen.

At 54, Victoria was still a very beautiful woman, having had to reject many a suitor, and who were much more attractively so, he had to grudgingly admit, and married him. Because, she explained many years later, that he looked like he wouldn't have survived without him. Her hair was done in a not-very-sophisticated pleads that still looked good on her.

He touched her shoulder and she half turned, noticing him for the first time. He kissed the nape of her neck and growled. It was obvious they were still very much in love.

"Those are for me"

"Nope, it's too early for you to eat"

"Then who's eating them?" He asked encircling his arms around her waist while trying to avoid the hand that continued moving as she turned the omelette.

"Me. Who else?"

"And you expect me to sit and watch?"

"The doctor said....."

" I have saved the doctor's life more times than he will ever save mine. And besides I was taught to obey rules and trained to break them. Now guess which ones I can clearly remember" He said with a smile.

"Go back to bed, I will bring food to you. You will break fast in bed". She said, moving to another part of the kitchen where a number of silvery shining plates were arranged neatly.

McGinn walked out this time without making a fuss and headed back to bed. He will try to sleep again, maybe after the food. In the afternoon, he had an appointment with a real agent. He wanted to buy his daughter-in-law a house. She had just given birth to a beautiful girl last week. He will look for a quiet place where.... He froze when he heard the phone ringing again. He didn't understand why it so rattled his nerves. Recovering from the initial shock that he could not explain himself, he quickened his steps and picked up the phone on a pillow on Victoria's side of the bed.

He frowned when he saw that it was a strange number. McGinn was a man who had been around, if it were a number from any of the countries he had connections with, he would have recognized it. It definitely wasn't but he answered the phone nevertheless.

"McGinn here"

" Yes General McGinn, retirement looks good on you, you will agree with me".

"May I know who I am speaking with". He asked tentatively.

" Do not worry about who I am. My identity is a closely guarded secret. What you need to know is you have oh no, had what belongs to me" He said. McGinn was trying to fathom the possibility of recognizing the voice. It sounded like it was on a long distant call. He stopped trying.

"And what might this thing of yours be. You said I had it, right?" McGinn asked trying not to show his curiosity and drawing the "thing" and "had".

" Had, yes because you do not have it with you now but of the people who had the luck of coming across it you are the most likeliest to trace it and bring it back to me. This is your burden." The voice on the other end of the line seemed deliberately slow, like he was trying to pass across a message that was not spoken. To be understood in how he spoke rather than what he said.

"I don't think I can continue with this conversation. If you want me to help you do something, you will have to come clean about it. So long..." McGinn was about to end the call when the man at the other end interrupted him.

That will be an unwise thing to do, General. I'm not comfortable without this jewel as it is. Which means I may resort to rather unpleasant methods to get it back. Since you have been singled out, I will advice that you bring it back to me and we will not have this awkward feeling between us".

McGinn was getting a little angry.

" Are you threatening me?"

" I am a man of my word. If I say you are going to die then you will surely die, but death is really an easy way out. Let's just say if you don't cooperate with me, living around you will be hell"

He continued, " Your wife will bring your breakfast and while you are eating, collect your mail from the delivery man. In one of the mails is a photo of what we are talking about. You will recognize it when you see it"

"And if I refuse?"

" Your wife will die in the kitchen, and so there will be no breakfast for you. I know you have a family of seven. I will take them all except you. But you are a wise man, you won't act rashly"

McGinn looked in the direction of his wife's kitchen and back at the bedside lamp, his heart missed a beat. He said, "Give me some pointers". He could feel the man at the other end smile.

"When you see what is in the mail, you will remember. Nobody forgets the third eye."