"The whole community is upset about our quarterback getting arrested," said the mayor. "There is talk that the human pestilence is suffering from a case of sour grapes over losing last week's game."

"I'm a soccer fan," replied Tonelli. "But what is the line on East Finisterra beating New Memphis this weekend?"

"New Memphis is favored by seven and a half points," said the mayor, pulling out his notes. "That's mostly because our star players are being detained. Are you interested in placing a bet?"

"Yes, but only through an intermediary," said Tonelli. "Put me down for $200,000 on East Finisterra High School."

"That's quite a bet," said the mayor, writing down the information. "You know something I don't know?"

"I'll get your football players released tomorrow," promised Tonelli. "They better win."

"Thank you, Guido," said the mayor. "I think I'll be betting the same way."

"Don't be talking this up until we get our bets in," said Tonelli. "We have a chance to clean out those New Memphis bookies big time. I might be calling in some more bets to you later."

"Where is our five million dollars?" asked the Emperor of the North. "I want to see it."

"It's in a safe place," said G.E.

"What safe place?" asked the Emperor of the North.

"I invested it," said G.E.

"In what?" asked the Emperor of the North. "What gives you the right? The money belongs to all of us. It belongs to the insurgency."

"I am the Supreme Commander," said G.E. "I thought we had already established that. Or are you challenging me?"

"We all want to know where the money is," said the Emperor of the North. "It is a reasonable request in light of your disappearance for the last couple days. You had better answer the question if you want to live past today."

G.E. paced uneasily. His handful of Special Forces soldiers were no match for the roomful of insurgents crowded into the safe house. The sheer number of the insurgents gave them instant respect and required an honest explanation about the money. But would they appreciate his answer? Would his own Special Forces troops accept his answer?

"I bet all five million dollars on East Finisterra High School to beat New Memphis in this weekend's football game," said G.E. "Let me explain. The game is a lock. It's in the bag."

"Kill him!" yelled one of G.E.'s own Special Forces soldiers.

"Wait!" said G.E. as they pressed forward. "I got seven and a half points, and I arranged for our three detained football players to be released by the Legion. Now that we have our quarterback back, it's a lock. We will double our five million dollars. We can't lose, and we are getting good odds."

The Emperor of the North mulled that over. He looked about to weigh the opinion of the others. They seemed to like the wager.

"Can I get a piece of that action?" asked Ralph Gobind Singh, still blindfolded and sitting in a corner.

"Shut up!" said the Emperor of the North. "They had better win!"

"Corporal Tonelli, we need to talk to you in private," I said, as Lieutenant Lopez and I inspected Legion positions on and about the Finisterra Bridge. "Come with us."

"Yes, sir," said Tonelli. "Did we kill any insurgents today with that nerve gas?"

"No," replied Lieutenant Lopez "But we exterminated a lot of rodents and a few b.u.ms who didn't get the word to evacuate."

"We will try again later," I said. "When they least expect it. So tell me, did you have three of the hostages released?"

"Yes, sir," said Tonelli. "I thought you would not mind, being that all three were just juveniles."

"Is that all there is to it?" I asked.

"Yes, sir," said Tonelli. "Their parents complained to the mayor, who complained to me. I thought that in the interest of good public relations, we should release them."

"If you lie one more time," said Lieutenant Lopez. "I will throw you and your dragon off this bridge."

"But not before I shoot both you and your lizard," I added. "Spill it. What are you up to?"

Tonelli came clean. By now almost every legionnaire in Finisterra had placed a bet. The point spread increased to eight and a half, on rumors of more fighting and that I might start executing hostages. Lieutenant Lopez and I decided to bet the farm. We went all in. I had a Legion helicopter pick up the Mayor of East Finisterra and fly him to New Memphis to make all the necessary wagers in person with the New Memphis bookies. It was the first time ever no one in East Finisterra shot at our helicopter. Now that is progress, I thought.

The game was scheduled at New Memphis because it had been deemed too dangerous to play in East Finisterra. The New Memphis bookies were still confident and accepted all bets. I put an armed guard on the three released players and the rest of the East Finisterra football team. They also would be flown by Legion helicopters to New Memphis for the game.

"They better win," I told Guido.

Later in the evening I got a call from General Kalipetsis. "I heard a rumor you are shooting hostages," he said.

"Not true," I answered. "I have no plans to shoot any hostages, but I am still holding a few."

"Have you released any hostages?" asked General Kalipetsis.

"No, sir," I said. "We're still battling insurgents up here, and I will not release any hostages until the fighting stops. Not even the juveniles."

"Good," said General Kalipetsis, sounding more chipper. "Keep up the good work."

The company of Waterstone National Guard started routine patrol of East Finisterra today. The Green spiders weren't popular with the locals, but I figured they'd get used to it. A few insurgent snipers shot at the Greens on their first day. After a few buildings were blown up in the exchange, fighting died down to almost nothing. As the weekend approached, the streets seemed deserted. Usually that is a sign that the insurgents are up to something big. But, this time almost everyone in town was traveling by riverboat to New Memphis for the football game. I thought it odd how spiders seemed to pick up so many human customs and preferences. Who would have thought spiders would like football? Being that the Green spiders seemed to have everything under control, I traveled with a company of Legionnaires to New Memphis to see the game too.

Legionnaires arrived on the docks of New Memphis with the East Finisterra football team. They a.s.sisted in unloading football equipment.

Soon we were met by a couple of Longsh.o.r.eman's Union business agents. The human and spider union thugs confronted the legionnaires. "Only members of the Longsh.o.r.eman's Union are allowed to load or unload anything on these docks," said the human business rep. "Because you are new to New Memphis, I will excuse you for what has been already unloaded. But the rest of your supplies will be unloaded by longsh.o.r.emen."

"We are the Legion," I said. "Military matters are exempt from local regulations and contracts."

"That is true," said the union rep. "And I would never presume to interfere with Legion affairs. But you are unloading civilian goods, and scab work is not allowed in New Memphis. It's a very nice day. Why not keep it that way?"

"What I unload is of Legion military concern if I say it is of Legion military concern," I insisted. "Everything we are doing here is for security reasons."

"Supplies you unload for the East Finisterra High School will be more secure if longsh.o.r.emen unload it," said the union rep. "We will do it, or it won't be done. I repeat, leave a nice day alone."

"Do you know who I am?" I asked. "I command Legion interests from here to Finisterra to New Disneyland."

"You are Captain Czerinski, the Butcher of New Colorado," said the spider union rep. "But you still will not be allowed to unload that ship with scabs."

"Throw these two into the river," I said to Sergeant Green. "Shoot anyone else who interferes with Legion business."

Both union reps were thrown into the water. The commotion attracted more longsh.o.r.emen who had been standing by. They approached the loading dock, led by a large spider thug. When Sergeant Green shot the spider's arm off with an a.s.sault rifle, the rest of the longsh.o.r.emen dispersed. More longsh.o.r.emen, however, were attracted to the docks by the sound of gunfire. They dispersed too when our armored car rolled down the gangplank. I posted guards on our boat and the docks before going into town.

We escorted the East Finisterra football team to their hotel. Several bookies and reporters came by, asking for updates on the team. They also asked why the Legion was present at the hotel. They were told the Legion was present in response to threats from the insurgency. I granted one of the sports reporters an interview in hope that the rest of them would go away.

"How do you see East Finisterra High School's chances in tomorrow's game?" asked the reporter.

"I don't follow football," I replied. "I don't know."

"Isn't it true that several East Finisterra football players were arrested?" asked the reporter. "Are they still in custody?"

"I don't get down to the detention center much," I said. "If the Legion arrested anyone, they are still in custody. No one gets out unless I say so. We have been fighting a pitched battle with the insurgency in East Finisterra, and we are not backing down from our responsibilities."

"How true is it that there was a disturbance down by the docks this morning?"

"I know nothing about any disturbance by the docks. I have no interest in local criminal activity. If legionnaires come across criminal activity, we handle it on a case by case basis."

"So you are saying that legionnaires did not shoot anyone at the docks today?" asked the reporter.

"Not that I know of. But our battle with the insurgency is ongoing. We shoot terrorists all the time. If we shot anyone today, they probably had it coming."

"There was a report that legionnaires threw two Longsh.o.r.eman's Union business representatives into the river," said the reporter. "Is that true?"

"Legionnaires might have broken up a scuffle," I answered. "As you know, the docks are a rough and tumble place to do business. Please feel free to go down there and check things out for yourself if you have any doubts."

"I'm a sports reporter," said the reporter. "I try to stay out of dangerous places like the docks."

"Unfortunately the Legion cannot pick and choose where we serve. I guarantee the Legion's presence on the New Memphis docks makes your docks the safest place in the city. We don't tolerate nonsense from criminals or insurgents."

"Why is there a Legion armored car parked in front of the hotel?" asked the reporter.

"As I said, there were threats made by the insurgency. Also, that's the only car we brought. Why pay for a cab when we already have an armored car?"

"Thank you for the interview, Captain Czerinski," concluded the reporter. "Will you be at the game?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," I said.

East Finisterra's game with New Memphis was not marred by any incidents or terrorist activities. The East Finisterra quarterback repeatedly connected with speedy receivers to score almost at will. The final score was East Finisterra 56, New Memphis 21. The mayor spent all evening collecting from bookies. I sent Lieutenant Lopez and a squad of legionnaires with him for protection. I decided to leave that evening rather than spend another night in the hotel. At the docks we got a visit from three Mafia types.

"My name is Giuseppe Bonanno," announced their leader. "If it turns out you hustled us on that game tonight, I am going to crack some heads. If you think you can run back to Finisterra and be safe, you are wrong."

"What do you mean hustled?" I asked.

"A lot of money changed hands tonight," said Bonanno. "You know exactly what I mean. Star East Finisterra players were released from Legion custody to play in that game after the point spread was up past eight and a half. I will not be hustled. Do you hear me?"

"There was no hustle intended," said Corporal Tonelli. "There were just a few bets made. Certainly no one intended any disrespect of the Bonanno family."

"All of Finisterra bet on that game!" said Bonanno. "Who is responsible for this hustle?"

I drew my pistol and shot all three Mafioso in the head. Later, the sheriff of New Memphis called me up and asked me about the incident. He advised me the Bonanno family is very big and influential in New Memphis, and that they were demanding an inquiry. I told the sheriff that if he could not clean up his local organized crime problems, I would do it for him. I told the sheriff I had military jurisdiction in his area and that if I had to return to New Memphis to restore order again, he would be the first local official removed from office.

After slamming down the phone, I contacted the T. Roosevelt s.p.a.ce Weapons Platform. I told the s.p.a.ce cannon specialist to access the data base and identify all homes in the New Memphis area belonging to anyone with the last name Bonanno. He found ten homes. I ordered the s.p.a.ce cannon specialist to drop thousand pound cement blocks on all of the Bonanno family homes. The sheriff called later to inform me that Bonanno organized crime activities in New Memphis had ceased to exist.

CHAPTER 14.

At first Private George Rambo Washington avoided the brothel next to city hall. Now, all he could do was stare at the gaudy building. Private Washington knew Pam, Fran, and their sisters worked there. He knew brothel work was steady and honorable employment. But maybe his prolonged contact with humans had skewed his opinion of just what was acceptable behavior. Pam and Fran had both written him love letters and had visited Legion Headquarters looking for him. Private Washington did not answer the letters, and avoided the visits. Arthropodan culture did not frown on brothel work like human culture did, but it still grated on Private Washington that other spiders (and worse human pestilence) could touch Pam and Fran. That thought filled Private Washington with rage.

He followed his loves when they left work. Pam and Fran walked arm in arm with a group of customers getting into a jeep. Private Washington had seen one customer in particular with Pam and Fran before. He followed them across the Finisterra Bridge to a modest home in East Finisterra. There, a loud party was in progress. Private Washington listened to the music and the hissing laughter. He felt they were laughing at him, and it made him even angrier. Eventually the lights went out, and the party ended. Pam and Fran stayed the night.

Depressed, Private Washington walked back across the Finisterra Bridge. Corporal Tonelli and his dragon Spot were still on guard duty.

"What's the matter?" asked Tonelli. "You look real down in the dumps. You take too much medication?"

"Guido, you've been around, and I value your worldly opinion," said Private Washington. "What would you do if someone stole the two loves of your life?"

"I'm not clear on your question," said Tonelli. "Are we talking about females? You lost two females one after another, or two at once?"

"He stole Pam and Fran from me," said Private Washington. "He's with them now."

"Don't those two work in the brothel next to City Hall?" asked Tonelli. "No offense, but aren't they s.l.u.ts?"

"Forget that they work in a brothel," said Private Washington. "What would you do if someone stole what you love very much?"

"Put it that way," said Tonelli thoughtfully, "we Italians do not tolerate the taking of what is ours. It would invoke the vendetta."

"Tell me about this vendetta of yours," demanded Private Washington.

"A vendetta lasts forever," said Tonelli. "A widow points to the fetus she carries and vows it will exact revenge for her loss. Vendetta demands vengeance against whoever wrongs you or your family. Blood for blood."

"So the Italian way is for blood to be spilled?" asked Private Washington. "I will take Pam and Fran back."

"I didn't say that. It's not that simple," said Tonelli. "I'm not saying Italians would invoke the vendetta every time we get upset. It must involve something really important. Honor must be at stake."

"Pam and Fran are important to me," said Private Washington.