Unexpected Encounter

Day 4: Complications

Words in BOLD in between "quotation marks" represent thoughts of characters.
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The day was coming to an end and the two infiltrators were still no closer to getting into the mountain than they were when they landed on Russia.

"Have you tried using your nose?"

Gabriel inquired to his friend as he sat on a large rock to take a break from all the running and jumping that had done to get to where they were just then.

"First thing I tried. This mountain reeks of death and blood. I haven't found any distinctive smells that could act as a guide yet."

James respected that Gabriel needed some rest. In his younger days there would have been no stopping James from moving forward; not so much so in recent years.

"I have a suggestion."

James turned to Gabriel in anticipation.

"We could always get them to come to us."

"What do you mean? You want us to get caught?"

"What? No! That only goes right in the movies. What I mean is: you have your nose, but you don't have a scent. Lets draw some attention to ourselves so you can get an idea of where we have to go."

Letting out a loud sigh at the orange setting sun, James gave in.

"Alright... What do you have in mind?"

The two waited until the cover of night became a thing they could use. With both men being in position on selected trees, Gabriel fired a flare gun into the air then sat back to wait for armed men to investigate.

"So, uh... What do you plan on doing when you find him?"

"I don't know..."

James was not big on heart-to-heart chats. The way he grew up demanded that any and all weaknesses were buried, especially emotional weaknesses.

"I said I was going to rip his head off, but I'm not sure that's something I'll even be able to pull off."

"Hehe... Pull off hehe..."

James was about to play the role of the mature character and call Gabe out on his behavior, but was interrupted by the sound of a ringing phone. Careless Whisper filled the night air as henchmen roamed the snow on ground level.

"Switch that crap off right now! How the hell do you even have reception right now?!"

In a panic Gabriel reached for his global phone that had been stashed in one of his many pockets.

"What do you mean "crap"? You take that back right now, George Michael was a star!"

James signaled for Gabriel to pipe down on his protests and just find the phone. He got it, and answered it!

"Yeah, hello? Frank! How are you, man?"

Gabriel was just loud enough that the men looking for intruders below them just barely heard him. James looked in disbelief as his childish friend went on with his phone call. Eventually the call ended.

"Francis was going on about some Italians asking about the beast of old down at the police station back at England. You know anything about mafiosos?"