The Armadillo Files, Episode 29, Who’s That? — Featuring Teri Polen

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, July 2, 2022

The Armadillo Files image by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
The Armadillo Files image by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

You’ve reached The Armadillo Files… and we’re back!  Thanks for bearing with me while I finished “Dead of Winter.”  Now back to the free story.

Random Reader ThingsTeri Polen The Insurgent

You might remember Teri Polen from her annual October event, Bad Moon Rising.  She recently launched the second installment of “The Colony” series, The Insurgent.  Early in this serial she left “three things” and they helped guide this new episode.  Those things are: Cookie jar, grenade, and bobby pins.

Previously in The Armadillo Files

In tenth-century Bagdad, Fang and Sesame went looking for the weasel that stole the timey-wimey whatsit that was supposed to slow down Dilly’s transformation. Although we don’t know into what she might turn.  Meanwhile, Dilly waits alone… except for Ali Baba’s 40 ferrets.

If you need to refresh your memory, you can always find all the past chapters by going to the categories on the right side of the screen.  Click on Armadillo Files.

All aboard!

29 — Who’s That?

Dilly

Persian Princess by Constantin Westchiloff 1945 Wikimedia Commons
The Persian Princess by Constantin Westchiloff 1945 Wikimedia Commons

Ali Baba entered the cave, silk robes billowing from the breeze that came in behind her.  The woman was effortlessly elegant.  I put a hand to my disheveled hair and started rearranging the bobby pins.

She noted Fang’s absence.  Then she stooped, looking at the footprints on the ground.  Some of them were gigantic.

“Allow me to guess,” she began.  “Sesame has left, chasing Tatu Pinkerton with the intention of carrying him away to marry him.”

I shook my head, but was unable to suppress a chuckle.  I explained how Fang was worried that I needed some kind of timey-wimey metronome.  Then I described the necklace that the giantess had found as a substitute.  Also, how a ferret had taken the bauble and ran away with it.

“Fang and Sesame ran after it.  None of us saw which way it went.  So, Fang ran in one direction, and Sesame took the other.  I take it that these ferrets are your… I don’t know what I should call them… your personal operatives?” I finished.

“The Forty Thieves are admittedly, crafty.  However, I’m stunned that one of them would steal a Prime artifact,” Ali stated flatly.

Meanwhile, ferrets had continued to gather.  The black-haired woman lit another lamp and stepped up onto a crate, casting the light around the cave.  Tiny pairs of eyes reflected light from every shadow.  After a moment, I understood that she was counting the little animals.  She shook her head, causing her golden earrings to swing.

“All forty of my thieves are here.  The necklace must have been taken by an ordinary ferret or a weasel.  Most likely a weasel.  Ferrets are not a native species here.  I brought them in because they are nicer than stoats and weasels,” Ali explained.

Having attracted the animals’ interest, she opened a cookie jar and began giving them treats.

You don’t think it could have been a spy, do you?” I started.  “We believe that some enemy agent of some kind has kidnapped some of the Calutron Girls from the World War II era and brought them here.  They apparently think that will slow down the Allied Forces enough to alter the outcome of that war.”

A Persian Princess cover 1909 Wikipedia Altered Image
A Persian Princess cover 1909 Wikipedia Altered Image

“Yes, I’ve been briefed as to that,” she replied.  “Recently I saw a man in the bazaar talking to my treacherous brother, Cassim.  The man looked unnatural.  Off, I think Tatu would say.  Prime operatives are trained to notice such things.  While I was out just now, I managed to record his face.  I have a device that can match the recorded face to known time disruptors,” she added.

Ali turned aside.  From somewhere in her robes, she took out a small thing that looked like a metal cookie.  She opened an ordinary looking wooden box.  It was empty, but there was a slot into which Ali dropped the metal cookie.

After a brief hum, a small three-dimensional image of a man appeared above the wooden box.  A voice started speaking.  The voice had a tone and cadence that sounded similar to the voice of TROLLEY, though it wasn’t her.

“Who’s that?” I asked in amazement at the technology.

“Facial identification readout.  Image is a match for Klaude Frucht.  Convicted of selling national secrets from the Manhattan Project to the Russian government,” the voice stated.

“As I should have suspected.  I believe Cassim has taken to the slave trade again, despite all his promises to lead an honest life.  This man, Frucht, likely brought your missing women here,” Ali Baba explained.

“How could this Frucht have gotten here?  He would be from the World War II time, or there abouts.  Was time travel just a well-kept secret even then?” I asked.

“Klaude Frucht was recruited by Tumult when he was sent to prison in the United Kingdom,” Ali replied, but then saw my confused face.  “Tumult is the organization which opposes Prime.  They are Prime’s nemesis.”

“At any rate, why does Operative Pinkerton think you need the metronome?  Ah, no!  Do not tell me that you are fully human?” she cried.  “And now we do not even possess the necklace to slow down the process.”

My spirits sank at her attitude.  I was hoping that Fang and Sesame were jumping to ridiculous conclusions, or at least exaggerating.

“We must hurry,” she started with an anxious glance at the large bow on the back of my 1800s gown, which had me twisting in attempt to see my own backside.

She gave a warbling whistle and two of the ferrets climbed to her lap.  One was brown and she called it Musa.  The other had beige and brown markings like a Siamese cat, and she called it Minu.

“Minu, Musa, go and find Tatu Pinkerton and Sesame,” she stooped to pet two ferrets who were near her as she spoke to them.  “Bring them back here.  Let them know that I have information.”

The ferrets chittered to a small group of the animals that had been playing.  I supposed that they needed help to cover more ground.  The little furry group ran out of the cave.

“Have you found out something about the missing girls?” I asked.

“There is talk that a slaver has obtained several new girls.  Young girls with fair skin.  They are to be put on the auction block tomorrow,” Ali replied as she walked to the huge rock.  “Put your fingers in your ears, please.  You don’t have security clearance.”

Puzzled, I did as she requested.  She motioned for me to also turn my back.  Fingers in ears didn’t dampen much sound, but it was enough.  I heard a faint murmur of words.  Then the sound of the huge rock moving aside.

“I thought Sesame was the door keeper,” I commented as she motioned for me to join her in the secret chamber.

“Indeed, that is true.  However, I also have the magic words, that only I can use,” Ali told me.

“Magic?” I asked skeptically.

“It is something that has not been perfected in your time.  The magic words are in fact a voice activated mechanism,” she explained as she went to a large footlocker.

She inserted a key which quickly disappeared back into her billowy robes.  Opening the large lid, she began looking through the chest.

“What’s in there?” I asked.

I moved closer to see if she’d let me have a peek at the contents.  It was filled with weapons.  Most of them were surely “contraband” from times after tenth century Bagdad.

“No.  We may not use weapons that are noticeably advanced beyond this time period.  However, we might use these little darlings,” she remarked.

When Ali Baba stood, she had a grenade in each hand.

 

♦ ♦ ♦

Hmmm… We still don’t know about those possible side-effects for Dilly.  Also, of course, it looks like Fang is likely to land himself in trouble again. 

In other news, I finally got around to updating my “About” page.  The work of an indie author is never done…

Tune in next time.  Hugs on the wing!

♦ ♦ ♦

Dead of Winter has now concluded with Journey 14, The Veil.  It is now available!  

Dead of Winter — All the Journeys

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♦♦♦

This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2022 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

 

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43 thoughts on “The Armadillo Files, Episode 29, Who’s That? — Featuring Teri Polen”

  2. I’m a little worried about what’s going on with Fang, but I’m also wondering what Dilly might transform into. Thanks so much for featuring me, Teagan! I couldn’t remember my three things, but I’m not surprised cookies were involved.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Oh my, things continue to get wilder and wilder. Now grenades. Ha ha. I’m sure there’s a big bang coming in the future. Can’t wait to see how this all comes together. Happy Writing and Happy Fourth!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Jan. The Ali Baba character has the potential to take over the story if I let her. It would be fun to do something that gave her the starring role. Wishing you and yours a great Fourth of July weekend. Hugs on the wing.

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    1. Yes indeed, Robbie. Those grenades will be back for or near the conclusion. I’m still pondering that ending. I had wanted to use the complementary “things” from Pete Springer and you in one episode. Particularly since I originally thought TROLLEY would be mistaken for a “house of ill repute,” I thought the story would lead to that scenario. As these stories always do, the other “things” changed the plot, and it didn’t.
      Anyhow, his things are in Episode 32 and yours follow in Episode 33. Fang thanks you for the silk rose, by the way. 😉
      Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs on the wing.

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  13. Poor Dilly. I would be frantic by now and having panic attacks! Will Fang and Sesame return in time? I just know Fang is headed for trouble! Weasels are devious, both four-legged and two-legged!

    And what’s going to happen to the Calutron girls? Good grief, I can’t imagine what it would be like to find yourself in a totally different time period and you’re being sold into slavery!

    You have my head spinning Teagan. Hope yours has calmed down so you can enjoy a peaceful holiday weekend…with no weasels running around! If there are, check ’em for genades!
    Ginger

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    1. Haha! Sometimes it does seem like weasels are running around everywhere, Ginger. I do love your comments.
      That’s true about the Calutron Girls. I still want to do a “real” story about them — one that doesn’t have this level of nuttiness. That’s how they ended up as a story element in this one. I probably should have held back on using them here. Oh well.
      Wishing you a great Fourth of July weekend. Hugs on the wing.

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  15. Goodness! The time travel/time bending thing is becoming very complicated indeed. Poor Dilly, I wonder what will happen. But I do love Ali Baba. She is a woman after my own heart, and I’m happy the thief/spy wasn’t one of the ferrets. I’m pretty partial to ferrets. Another fabulous episode, Teagan. Congratulations!

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  18. I like this episode a lot, Teagan. I’m sure Dilly is concerned, but it looks like we have some information that might help solve the more modern day problem. I like the idea of sending ferrets to find something. Nimble little creatures, I’m sure they can get the job done. Modern day weapons in a 10th century bazaar would cause a stir. It will be interesting to see how she gets around that.

    You’ve had a busy week. I hope you can relax a bit over the weekend.

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