Who Are The Victims

US President José Carlos D’Amato, first American President of Hispanic descent, adressing the UN General Assembly echoed the words of billionaire Donald Trump when he said, Finally Mr President, the UN is not a friend of democracy.

Gottfried Kütemeyer, Leader of DEF, Deutsche Eiserne Faust: Germany is for Germans. Who are the victims? The outlandish refugees that the European Union and United Nations are inexorably and by coercive measures forcing on our country, or the German volk whose lives, traditions, cultures and religions are physically, mentally and spiritually being bestialized? In his final will and testament written just before his suicide in April 1945, Hitler charged Germans to uphold the race laws and to continue the struggle against Jews, calling them the poisoner of all nations, which is manifested in the role that international Jewry are playing in forcing these parasites onto us.

Manfred Werner, Afrikaner Volks-Party, Member South African Parliament: To open the United Nations Security Council to developing nations would be the last hurdle globally for leftists and Zionist supremacists to triumph over nationalism and fascism. Hence civilisation shall come to a fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome. When Rome fell the world lapsed into what historically became known as the dark ages, and this is what the future has in store for us.

***

Chapter 1

In the past two days Rian Schröder had had less than four hours’ sleep. In fact, in the past four days he had had less than eight hours’ sleep. As the Millennium Falcon swung out over the audience the night before ‒ no, two nights ago ‒ barely seconds before Han Solo of yesteryear walked onto the stage with a broad smile to announce the winner of the Oscar for the best film of 2015, Woody and Joseph had managed to remove the triggering device of the nuclear dispersion device in the nose cone of the Millennium Falcon.

Thereafter he and the Galcyzynski family had been tied up for hours by the FBI, Homeland Security and LAPD to satisfy all their queries.

Now there was a loud banging on his bedroom door. Yawning and stretching he crawled out of bed and rubbing his eyes he ambled over to the door. I’m coming, he shouted when the banging continued. As he reached the door it suddenly dawned with a shock that he was naked. He always slept in boxer shorts and puzzled he glanced back towards the bed.

The banging had not stopped so he put his eyes to the peephole. Then he opened the door, but stepped in behind the door as it swung open and covered the vital spot with both hands.

FBI Special Agent Livia Galcyzynski charged in, stopped, saw him behind the door and threw her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss smack on the mouth.

Whoa! Steady on, he exclaimed grabbing her shoulders to hold her away.

Her eyes were sparkling. Rian, I’m so excited, she cried then glanced down.

I can see that. And it’s not about that.

She looked up. Her eyes were sparkling. The Vice President wants to meet with us.

That’s fine. You go and meet her. Me, I’m going back to bed.

If you climb back into that bed I’m going to climb in with you.

Look … what happened to you? he asked.

I’m a working girl, remember. I had to go to work.

I see.

You didn’t even miss me!

I slept.

Like a baby. Horizontally you were out on your feet but boy … vertically you were bloody great.

Can I go back to bed now?

Rian, go and take a shower, she said pushing him towards the bathroom. We have been ordered to appear with Tiziana Gutierrez at a press conference at twelve o’clock. But she wants to meet with us before the time.

I’ve met Tiziana.

I know, when you rescued Maria.

Who does Tizania want to meet with?

All of us. Grandfather Wiodrimierz, my dad Joseph, Marlui, and me. And you of course. Rian groaned. Han Solo and Selene Brooker will be there too.

A circus.

Please Rian. She gave him a kiss. Do it for me?

He gently pushed her away. Okay. Okay. I’d better, ’cause if you carry on like this I will certainly take you back to bed.

I’ll be only happy to … but we must not keep the Vice President waiting.

Suddenly the Vice President is more important than I am. Now you bugger off so that I can get dressed.

I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to wait right here for you.

His mouth opened and immediately clamped shut. Livia Zsuzsa Galcyzynski had a will of her own. Her face was glowing and her eyes were sparkling, she was excited at the prospect of meeting with the Vice President of the United States of America. If he was loath to go, he could imagine how her grandfather the ninety-six-year-old Woody must be grumbling. Quite a character, Wiodrimierz Galcyzynski. He smiled at the thought as Livia made herself comfortable on the toilet seat.

Get up, I want to use it … and make yourself scarce, he said.

Last night you stood by while I used it, she said as she stood up. So I’m not going anywhere.

He stared at her for a second. Oh hell. Then he proceeded to use it and when he was done and flushed the toilet he climbed into the shower.

Oh Rian, I am so excited, she said. Imagine appearing on television with the VP.

What’s so important about that?

It can do so much for your career.

I appeared on television with the President, and I can’t say that it did anything for my career.

I’m talking as an American.

I need coffee.

I’ll go and make you some.

I thought you’d never offer.

Ha! Ha!

He was drying himself minutes later when he heard his smartphone ring. Then he heard Livia answer it.

It’s for you, she said holding it out when she appeared in the open doorway.

Who is it?

A dog.

With a frown he took the instrument from her. Rian, he said.

Who is Livia Galcyzynski? a woman’s voice asked.

He gave Livia a glance and walked past her to the window. An FBI agent.

Is she pretty?

He gave Livia a glance over his shoulder. I haven’t had time to look.

She said you are taking a shower.

I was. Now I’m dry.

Can I give you a lift home?

Where are you?

Kunming.

China’s a long way from here.

I’ll do it with pleasure.

You can’t land in the States with what you’ve got on board.

I’m prepared to take that chance.

They’ll lock you up and throw away the key.

If they know I’m picking you up they will not search my plane.

Larisa …?

It’s all right darling, I won’t spoil your fun.

There’s no fun in appearing on television with the American VP. The thing is, I don’t know how long the FBI, Homeland Security, and I don’t know who else are going to keep me tied up here.

Rian, we’ll be late, Livia said in a loud voice behind him.

I’m coming, he said. That’s the FBI talking …

I heard. Are you okay?

Yes thank you. I had very little sleep the last few nights. That’s all.

I can imagine. I was in LA on Saturday night but the city was booked out for Sunday so I flew to Hawaii. If only I’d known that you had a room I would have answered whatever call you received, not the FBI agent. In any case, I must just tell you this quickly. at the hotel in Hawaii I walked past a jewellery store and saw the most beautiful ring. It looks like an inexpensive signet ring, but in fact it has small diamonds right round. It is beautiful and I so wished you were there. I would have asked you to buy it for me and I would never have taken it off.

Rian’s whole body jerked when an arm came around his side to catch hold of something. He spun around and thrust a hand in front of Livia’s chest and pushed her away. I’ve got to go, he said.

Love you, Larisa said.

See you, he said then cut the call.

He frowned at Livia. What are you …?

Is that a dog? Livia asked.

Dog? What dog?

Woody says I must keep my teeth on this bone, she said nodding downwards, because if I look away another dog will grab it.

With a frown he glanced down and looked up puzzled. Then his mouth dropped open and he burst out laughing. You tell your grandfather if you bite that his granddaughter will require new teeth.

So it was a dog, she said when he brushed past her.

He tossed the phone onto the bed and scratched in a drawer looking for underpants. It was a dog, he said pulling it on.

Is she coming here?

She’s in China.

Oh. She sighed. Thank goodness. I was worried.

She flies her own executive jet, he said while he was digging out clean clothes and getting dressed, and she offered to give me a lift back to South Africa.

And?

You were listening to every word I said. I have no idea how long I’m going to be tied up by your authorities. He chuckled. But that’s not the dog you have to worry about. That dog’s a Ukrainian criminal.

She’s the pilot who brought you to America when you were looking for Maria.

Yes.

Wasn’t she given a Presidential Pardon?

Yes, she was on the FBI most wanted list.

Okay, if I don’t have to worry about that dog, which dog then?

My fiancé.

You did not tell me you are engaged.

When was I supposed to do that? You were only interested in one thing.

The bone. I still am.

Come, we can’t keep Tiziana Gutierrez waiting.

Is she a dog?

He accepted the cup and saucer from her. To be seen on telly with the VP is one thing, but somehow I don’t think the Secret Service will permit me to get into bed with her.

Oh, before I forget, she said, Bertrand Tremblay leader of Order of Bertrand et Raton, the man who paid Bommer van der Merwe to have your mini nuke installed in the nosecone of the Millennium Falcon, has escaped. The two agents who took him in were found shot. And he is missing.

***

Chapter 2

Yesterday, Rian mused, while he and Livia made their way to the Dolby Theatre ‒ it was yesterday, wasn’t it? ‒ President José Carlos D’Amato, President of the United States of America, had called to congratulate him on his heroic deed, flying all this way from South Africa to organise people who had the technical knowhow to diffuse an atomic bomb, a mini nuke developed by South African physicists for the howitzer; and to help catch those responsible for setting it up. Now the Vice President wanted to hold a press conference and he had to hold her hand. When Maria and Tamara were kidnapped on a visit to South Africa he went against protocol and had called the President personally who told him the blackmailers wanted him to resign. Who would benefit most? And so he had called Tiziana. She had taken umbrage when he asked her if she had anything to do with the kidnapping, but they had parted on a good footing.

The theatre was still under heavy guard when Rian and Livia turned up, but Livia showed her FBI ID and they were let through. The others were all waiting ‒ Michael Lindmann (Mayor of LA), Woody and Joseph Galcyzynski (father and son, both nuclear physicists), Serena Brooker (probably the most famous African American singer/actress ever; she had been the presenter on the evening of the Oscar Presentations), the actor who played Han Solo in Star Wars, Ed Zupancic (FBI Director), FBI Special Agent Adiles Esposito (who had been transferred from Phoenix, Arizona, to take over the LA office from the disgraced FBI Special Agent Harry Pettijohn who had been in cahoots with the militia), FBI Special Agent Marlui Vigueras (profiler sent by FBI to South Africa to help Rian), FBI Special Agent John Frampton (HRT leader in LA), Chastity Angelou, (LAPD Chief), and a host of other suited agents.

Adiles greeted Rian with a hug. She and a colleague, Carlease Deeth, both from Phoenix, Arizona, both personal friends of retired FBI agent Sebastian Corzo, head of security the President’s company in Phoenix, had helped Rian to establish where Maria was being held.

Tiziana’s face lit up with a broad smile when she saw Rian. Rian, we must stop meeting like this, she greeted him, taking his arm and giving him a kiss on the cheek. The last time he saw her was when the President presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Don’t tell me you flew all this way just to see me? he asked with a grin.

We-ell … there are a few others too, she answered matching his grin. And next time we meet it must be for lunch. My place. My husband would love to meet you.

I’d love to come to lunch. By the way, will he be there too?

Her eyes twinkled and the round body shook with mirth.

Then Rian introduced her to a beaming Livia.

Together they joined the others to face the press. Tiziana delivered a short speech, then presented Rian with a commendation. Michael Lindman then presented Rian with the Freedom of the City of Los Angeles Medal. Thereafter Tiziana presented Serena Brooker and both Wiodrimierz and Joseph with Presidential Medals of Freedom. Livia received an FBI commendation. Then Tiziana called on Rian to address the press corps. He was brief, saying Marlui and Livia could tell the story much better than he, but Selena interjected.

You are not going to get off that easy, she said squeezing in between him and Tiziana and taking his arm. Two nights ago everybody in the know in this theatre were in a state of panic. Picture it for yourself … we were told that an atomic bomb in that damn Millennium Falcon was due to go off over our heads at any minute. The theatre was packed and there was no way you were going to get all those people out of that theatre in time. The stampede alone would have killed half of them. What’s more, I don’t think anyone had even considered the crowds out in the streets and nearby buildings. She took a breath. And if you want to know how I felt … well I thought I was going to wet my pants the whole time … except I did not bring enough pants with me. Rewarded with laughter she paused. On the other hand … maybe I borrowed some. More laughter. "But one person kept his head. This young man. He went about his business as if nothing was amiss. He talked to each and every one of us and he not only brought a calm into that crazy madhouse, but most important of all, he gave all of us courage. There was no way I was going to go out onto that stage but he came and sat with me and held my hand. After he had spoken to me I got up and I said to myself, the show must go on. We all owe this young man a word of gratitude."

With that she turned to Rian and amid loud applause she embraced and kissed him.

Rian thanked her softly then stepped back indicating Livia was to speak. But it was Ed Zupancic who got in first.

Do we have to stay for this? he whispered to Tiziana as Ed rambled on.

I agree. Let’s go, she said and taking his arm she gave a nod to the woman who was in charge of the gathering and she and Rian quietly slipped out. Rian saw Livia give him an anxious look. She did not want him to go but he grinned and nodded.

Where are you off to now? Tiziana asked Rian.

That depends.

On that pretty FBI agent?

That too, he said with a laugh. It will depend on all the government departments who want to have their own record of what happened and how we went about solving the problem. Then there will be those who will want to make sure that there are no loose threads.

That is not your job.

No it is not, but I have most of the loose threads in my head that can tie this lot together.

Well my invitation stands.

That is kind of you but I doubt if I will have time.

You never know. This is a small world.

It certainly is.

They posed briefly for photographs before she and her bodyguards walked off. He had been told to make himself available for photographers to get shots of him with the Mayor and others. While waiting Rian checked his smartphone and was surprised to see that the battery was full. Livia must have done it when she got up this morning to go in to the office.

He called Colonel Jenna-Wade Knapton his aide in Cape Town to tell her what was going on. There was a nine-hour time difference so she was probably at home making supper, he mused. While he was entering the numbers he could not help but smile when he thought of her two young daughters, Renzia and Zenahrea, who were vying with each other who was going to marry him when they are grown-up.

Rian, Jenna-Wade said, I was wondering when I was going to hear from you.

Fine thank you, and you?

Okay … okay … how are you?

Alive … thank you. But it was a close shave … too close.

Who saved the day?

Father of an FBI agent who helped me. It was just luck that he and his father who is ninety-six are nuclear physicysts.

You ride a lucky horse. But don’t tell me a man in his nineties whose work it was to split atoms still has all his marbles.

This one has more marbles than most people and there is nothing wrong with any of his marbles. He also knows more about nuclear research in our country than ninety-nine percent South Africans do.

When are you coming home?

If you tell me there is a new case waiting I’m going to put my bikini on and spend a few weeks tanning on Malibu Beach.

In fact there is. But its not a major issue.

Oh?

Burglars broke into the Pretoria North home of Markus van Tonder and murdered him. They slit his throat. He was a known far-right activist. Among his papers they found documents of a conference that he recently attended in Europe.

What has that got to do with me?

It’s all in German. His notes too.

So? There are enough academics at the three universities and a technicon in Pretoria who can translate German.

It refers to your favourite topic.

Sexy women?

"Not even a hint of that. But it does mention ‘Endlösing’ in a number of places."

Rian was silent for a second. Hitler’s doctrine for a pure Aryan race.

I thought that would get your heart pumping faster.

Okay, you’ve got my attention.

"But before you do anything else, the embassy in LA wants to be briefed so that they can get extradition papers in the pipeline for ‘Bommer’ and whoever else you caught. The army wants to interrogate them to find out if there are any more nuclear devices."

"Only the one. And that will be Brigadier Marthinus ‘Bommer’ van Pletzen van der Merwe, Colonel Arnold Albertyn, electronics engineer, and Heinrich Zeederberg, nuclear physicist. Heinrich also goes by the nick-name Der Verrückte Deutscher, the mad German, and for your information, he is a German citizen, not South African."

I taped that. In the meantime, Sam Boya from the embassy will contact you.

"Good luck to him. The Yanks are not going to let go of these cold-blooded killers. But that’s not our concern. Will you meanwhile send me some of that documentation, and particularly the parts that mention ‘Endlösing’ or anything related thereto."

Jenna-Wade chuckled. What do you want to do with it?

I have nothing to do at night so I may as well have something to read.

Now I’ve heard everything. She laughed. All right, I’ll e-mail you some of it.

***

Chapter 3

Larisa could kick herself that she had not stayed in Los Angeles another day or two. She was in love with Rian and was willing to give up everything to marry him. In fact, she had made the proposal but had been turned down. As token head of Yuzovska, a Ukrainian crime syndicate, she was a criminal, whereas Rian had too high a moral standard as far as crime was concerned. He loved her, she knew that as things stood now she could call him at any time and he would not think twice of coming, as long as it was not permanent. But once he married Mariechen his moral standard would extend to his marriage too. Then he would be lost to her forever. This was why she had taken Mariechen to India and arranged for her to receive a film test by Pavan Kristnasany, one of Bollywood’s most successful film-makers. As luck would have it Mariechen had been a roaring success and Venkatapathy Ramjugernath, who financed most of Pavan’s films had offered Mariechen a contract to play the lead in Pavan’s next film ‒ an offer she could not refuse. This was going to put breaks on a wedding with Rian for at least a year ‒ hopefully longer.

Since Mariechen was a qualified accountant and auditor, Larisa had thrown in another offer that she would find diffcult to refuse. Yuzovska was moving out into legitimate businesses, property in particular, using property to launder income from its illegal activities. In order to do this, it was opening offices in cities all over the globe and she had offered Mariechen the job as auditor of their various offices. Each country had its own rules and regulations and Mariechen’s job would be to see that the tax authorities of each country was happy with the books of that office. She had given Mariechen the assurance that she