266 | John W. Warner IV Alice asked the table: Funny. You said that you were waiting for us for weeks. How did you know that dear old Uta was with us? Our local spies on horseback that I personally recruited, said Klemperer arrogantly. Crude but effective savages, especially when paid well. They would make excellent mountain troops if properly trained. Shoving in food, Schlapp said: Huh. Theyre not Aryans, just subhuman dogs. Schafer rummaged, held up a tattered book from his prized rucksack. Those hired bandits easily made off with your mules and supplies, Miss Drummond. We allow irregulars to keep certain valuables of no use to us. However, in a bag… was this charming book. Bea slowly stopped chewing, putting fork gently to plate. She swallowed hard. Schafer flipped tattered pages. The Island of Doctor Moreau, by H.G. Wells. Such a classicl A tale of hybrid animal humans created by a mad doctor scientist. Obviously a cautionary allegory, one based on the late-era hubristic and hedonistic Atlanteans having genetically run amok with their slave-pet centaurs, mermaids, and hybrid dogmen, the Cynocephali. In the back I found a faded pouch with a folded card tucked in way-y-y at the bottom that reads: Checked out by one Beatrice Sunderland, March 18,1932. Wycombe Abbey School Library. Overdue by ten years no less. Everyone exploded, even Bernie, who thought the whole mission had been thoroughly shipwrecked and he might as well join in for the roasting. Bea slumped and leaned back in her squeaking campaign chair. Drats and bats. Sorry, gang. Alice leered. You blithering toad! Operational security. No documents with names. Nothing to give away our…She screwed up her sunburnt face in anger. Must not have noticed the back end, Drumm. Gwafa sat alone a few yards away. A sergeant gave him a plate of enlisted mens rations of corned beef hash and sauerkraut. Filthy black beast, the guard mumbled, spilling a little in Gwafas lap. Bea toasted Gwafa with her cup as he scowled back. She thought it best to polish her once shiny SS pin to ease suspicions. Hes quite a good soldier and manservant, but of course a subhuman pack animal at heart. Dr. Moreau would be proud. The entire table laughed again save for Alice, who now leered twice as hard. Funny lot… They were a varied group of scruffy scientists thought Bea,