Algeria Here I Come
by: E Walk
(© 2008-2009 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 29

You Want What?

Brahim and I crawled into bed and Brahim rolled toward me, “Ed, can you just hold me.  Today has me more frightened.  I know that Khalid said that we were safe now.  Do you think he really meant that, or was he just trying to make Allie feel better?”

“Bra, my love, I don’t know what to think anymore.  It will be interesting to see what Officer Del Rio and the Summers were able to find out.  I’m sure that we will know more in the morning, or at least, I hope so.  You need to stop talking.  We wouldn’t want anything to happen to that beautiful voice of yours, would we?”

Bra hit me on the shoulder, “Yeah right.  I guess I’ll need to make sure I get lots of protein supplement before I lose my voice.  Maybe I should start collecting some right now, to make sure I keep my throat in good shape.”

“I guess I should probably get some too, so the weight of your testicles doesn’t slow you down.”

We took care of the problem and needless to say the sperm whales didn’t get any food from our suite.

We were awakened the next morning by Allie, “Dad and Bra, it’s time to get up.  I’ve already checked and the Generals are already gone.  Dr. Roberts and Mr. DePauw are just about dressed.”

“Where are General Khalid and General Amir?”

“Dad, I don’t know.”

I didn’t like the sound of them not being around.  I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to upset Allie.  “We’ll be ready to go, shortly.”

Allie turned toward the door, “I need to wake Jim and John.  They’re still asleep.”

After Allie had gone, Bra sat up, “Ed, I don’t like the sound of Khalid and Amir being gone.”

“Bra, I am concerned too, but we can’t let Allie know of our concern.”

When we got to the dining room, everyone else was already at the table, Allie looked at Khalid and Amir, “Where have you two been?”

 

Khalid chuckled, “Daddy Allie, we went for a morning stroll around the ship before we had to start watching you, to make sure that you didn’t fall overboard.”

I don’t think Khalid expected the answer he got from Allie, “Are you saying that someone is going to try and throw me overboard?  Mr. Amir, I think I will be staying in the suite all the time, from now on.  So I guess you’re stuck, too.”

Khalid backtracked, “Allie, I didn’t  mean that you were in danger.  I was just trying to be funny and failed miserably.  I should have thought before I spoke.”

Allie frowned, “I forgive you, this time.  Just don’t let it happen again.”

The entire group at the table was laughing when we were approached by Captain Brower, “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.  Allie, you were awesome last night.  I can hardly wait to see what you and Brahim do tonight.”

Allie responded immediately, “Captain, what is it that Brahim and I are going to be doing tonight, that we don’t know about?”

“I guess Alan hasn’t talked to you yet.  I’ll let him explain what he has in mind, since it’s his business.   In the meantime, I would like to visit with the regular group on the bridge when you finish your meal.”

Jim spoke up, “We know when we’ve been to told to disappear.”

The Captain had just departed when Alan arrived with Lars and Liv.  Alan started, “Allie and Brahim, we need you to do a show tonight, since the people who were scheduled to perform were injured in an incident yesterday.”

Allie and Brahim both reacted, “You want what?”

Allie started to laugh, “I swear everyone on the ship is on drugs and is hallucinating.  Alan, you have to be joking.   When are we supposed to be able to get ready to do a show?”

Lars and Liv were standing there laughing, Alan got a devilish look, “That’s the good news.  The bad news is that we will have to disqualify you from being in the talent show?”

Allie sputtered, “That doesn’t sound like bad news to me.  Again I ask, when are Brahim and I supposed to get ready to do a show?   Lars and Liv are scheduled to take us on a tour of Oslo today when we arrive.”

Alan nodded, “I’ll let Lars and Liv explain what the plan for the day is.”

Lars took over, “We have hired a mini bus that holds eighteen people.  I hope that is big enough?” 

Allie looked around the table, “I assume everyone will be going with us.”

Scott spoke for them, “Thanks for asking, Allie, but we’re meeting some friends, so we won’t be going.”

Allie asked the same question I was thinking, “How much is the bus going to cost us?”

Alan spoke, “The cost of the van and any expenses you incur today will be part of your pay for doing the show.”

Allie had taken a bite of his breakfast which went flying out of his mouth, “Your kidding us, right?”

Alan shook his head, “Nope, now listen to what Lars and Liv have planned for you.”

Lars started again, “We’ll leave as soon as we’re cleared to disembark which should be about 11:00.  Please meet us  at the disembarkation point at about 10:45.  We have made reservations at a typical restaurant where many local people go for lunch.  The meal will be a typical Norwegian smorgasbord so there will be plenty of choices for you to select from.  We will take you to see the highlights of the city but will only make three short stops, since Allie and Brahim will need to be back here to practice for their show.”

Liv took over, “We have not scheduled any shopping stops since you will be able to find the same items in Bergen when we get there and we should not be so rushed for time.  Does anyone have any questions?”

Allie looked at Alan, “Alan, you are kidding about Brahim and me doing a show, aren’t you?”

“The flyer announcing that The Brothers Safi will be the featured attraction tonight is already being distributed.”

Allie looked at me, “Dad, Bra and I are getting seasick.  You better call Doctor Sorenson.”

Alan laughed, “Haven’t you heard, Doctor Sorenson is attending the people who were supposed to be doing the show tonight, because of something that you did yesterday afternoon, Allie.”

Allie got a funny look on his face, “Dad, I think Brahim and I are being blackmailed.”
 

Lars added, “Allie, believe me.  I listened to them practicing yesterday and you and Brahim will be ten times better than they would have been.  They would have emptied the theatre before they were finished.  They were pretty bad.”

Alan, Lars and Liv departed.  As soon as we finished breakfast, we made our way to the bridge but by different routes.  Allie wanted to stop by the suite to go to the bathroom, so he, Bra and I were the last to arrive at the bridge.  When we went into the conference room, all the regulars were there. 

Scott Summers spoke first, “We should have caught on that the Millbrooks were not who they claimed to be.  They claimed that they had been hired by the cruise line to perform three shows.  After checking their passports, we found out that they were phony passports.”

Officer Del Rio took over, “The two people in question have been spilling the beans as to how they were contacted and induced to impersonate the Millbrooks who are being detained in Berlin.  The information about what happened yesterday has been forwarded to the appropriate authorities and governments.  Since they are Americans, they will be turned over to the American authorities when we dock in Oslo.”

Angela spoke, “The reason Scott and I aren’t going to join your tour today, as much as we would like to, is that there is a tour group of twenty people who will be joining the Paradise for the trip home to the United States.  We want to check them out, as soon as they board.  As of now, I am 90% positive that there are no other threats on board.”

Khalid nodded, “It’s the other 10% per cent that we’re still worried about, so we want the three you to be extremely careful.”

Officer Del Rio added, “Allie, you will still have someone with you at all times when you are aboard, even though you may not know who some of them are.  Allie, I have a question for you.  What made you do what you did yesterday afternoon?”

Allie, who had been sitting back in his chair, sat up, “I thought it odd that someone whom I didn’t know would send me a drink.  I got even more suspicious when General Khalid asked me if I knew those people.  Which I didn’t.  I figured that if the drink was harmless the people would think that I was a clumsy fool when I spilled it on them, so I decided to do what I did.  Was the young man who delivered the drink involved in any way?”

Captain Brower answered, “Allie, we thought of that, too.  The couple gave him a $5.00 tip to deliver the drink to you, even though he hadn’t brought it from the bar.  The pool area was busy so he didn’t question it, because he had some drink orders that he needed to get filled.  He has been told to apologize to you.  I think the entire bar staff has learned a lesson from this incident.”

President Michael’s must have decided to relieve the tension, “Allie, after watching you perform last night, I can hardly wait to see what you and Brahim do tonight.   Alan tells us that he has had a great many compliments about the show last night.  Have a fun time this afternoon and we’ll see you after your excursion around Oslo.

Allie had to stop and talk to our friends on the way out.  When we got back to the suite, Khalid and Amir were waiting for us.  Allie looked at them and put his hands on his hips, “So, where were you this morning.  Were you torturing the prisoners or what?”

Amir put his arm around Allie, “Actually, you’re pretty close.  We did talk to them, and as Officer Del Rio explained, they have been providing a lot of damaging information which we have sent back to Algeria.  I suggest that you get your little butt ready, since we are to meet Lars and Liv in ten minutes.”

Why are we always the last to arrive?  Officer Del Rio handed the guys their slingshots and we were the first to disembark.  We had a great lunch and Lars and Liv showed us the highlights of Norway.  I could tell that neither Allie or Brahim were really into the mood for the trip today.  I assumed that they were thinking more about the show than what we were doing.  We arrived back at the ship at four o’clock and Khalid tipped the bus driver.

After we had boarded the ship, Allie looked at me, “Dad, please don’t watch us practice.  I’m already nervous enough, and I don’t want any people watching me make a fool of myself.  You need to stay in the suite, so in case we need something, we can call you.  Dad, I really don‘t want to do this.  I’m scared.”

I went to my cabin; this was the first time I had been by myself in a long time.  I was sitting on the veranda reflecting how my life had changed since I landed in Algeria.  I now had two guys that I cared for very much.  I must have dozed off, because I was being awakened by Michael. 

He was touching my arm, “Mr. Waller, Allie just called and wants you to check your phone.  He needs to talk to you.  He says you haven’t been answering his calls.”

I got out of my lounge chair and went to the phone and retrieved messages, “Dad, Brahim and I need our tuxedoes.  We need both the black and white jackets.  Have Michael bring me some extra underwear because I’ll probably go in my pants before this ordeal is over.”

The next call started, “Dad, I need my pajamas.  Brahim needs his blazer a dress shirt and a tie and everything that goes with it.”

There was a third call, “Dad, Brahim and I need our swim suits.”

Michael went to get a clothing valet and we loaded everything that I had been directed to send to the guys and Michael took off with the clothes.  I had a sudden sinking feeling, ‘Why is Michael taking the things and not me?’

When I went to the dining room, it wasn’t the same without Allie and Brahim.  Even the others at the table commented that it was so quiet without Allie and Brahim being there.  We decided to forgo dessert so we could get a good seat in the theatre.  When we arrived at the theatre entrance, we were greeted by Lars and Liv.  Liv took us to our seats “Mr. Waller, you and your party are in the second row next to the Michaels and Captain and Mrs. Brower.  I think you are going to be surprised by your friends.  They are fantastic.”

The show was scheduled to begin at 8:30.  It was 8:15 and I didn’t see an empty seat in the theatre and people were standing at the back of theatre on both levels.  At precisely 8:30, Captain Brower appeared on the stage, “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen.  I don’t usually do this, but I heard these two young men practicing today and I can tell you that you're in for a good time.  Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to present The Brothers Safi.”

The curtain went up and the band started to play.  The guys came from the side of the stage dressed in jeans and a T-shirt with the sleeves rolled as if they had a had a pack of cigarettes in it.  They were singing There’s Going to Be a Rumble Tonight from ’West Side Story‘, after they cavorted around the stage.  When the song ended, the two of them started to sing Tonight.  When that finished, Allie disappeared as Brahim was singing Maria. 

That was to set the stage for the next hour and a half.  One guy would perform while the other changed for the next set of songs.  I won’t bore you with the details of the performances because they hit every facet of music from opera to children’s songs.  I looked around and people were even sitting on the steps. 

The guys had been performing for an hour and half, and finally Allie came out singing,  “Ladies and gentlemen, we really need to go.  I need to go.  I need to go to the bathroom.  Good night!”

The curtain came down and the people in the audience were standing and applauding.  The curtain went up and Brahim took the microphone.   “Ladies and gentlemen, we want to thank you for coming.  We would like to also thank the orchestra and the members of the ensemble here on the Paradise.  Without them, we would have been a total disaster.  Neither Allie or I are professionals, so we are very much overwhelmed by your reception.  Good night.”

Captain Brower went to the stage, “Ladies and gentleman, that was an absolutely fantastic performance, considering the two young men had no idea they were going to be doing it until they were eating breakfast this morning.  I’m sure that they will be back one or two more times before the cruise is over.  Let’s give them another round of applause.”

I watched as my two guys strolled to where the Captain was standing.  Allie took the microphone, “What Captain Brower forgot to tell you was that we’re jumping overboard as soon as we eat and we’re swimming to shore, never to set foot on the Paradise again.  Ladies and gentlemen, thank you.”

Alan took over and announced the activities for the next day and the audience left. 

I went to the suite and Allie and Brahim were already there. Allie lit into me, “Dad, please don’t make us do that again.”

“Allie, I had nothing to do with the show.  You told me to disappear and I did so.”

Allie wasn’t about to relent, “It’s all your fault, anyway.”

John and Jim arrived and we went to Lido restaurant so that Allie and Brahim’s hunger could be satiated.  We should have ordered room service.

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  I bet they were overwhelmed by adoring fans.  I wonder what will happen next.  I know I will be ready for another  chapter when ever one is ready. 

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 05/29/09