Nepal pictures, history, people, facts

_title_: The Thirty-Sixth (5/6) AUTHOR: Jess Mabe EMAIL ADDRESS: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Mulder stood in Rabbi Levich's living room, unable to believe what he was hearing. When was the last time you saw her? he said. This morning at nine-thirty, the old man answered. Before she left for work. But then an hour ago I got a call from the girl who does the afternoon shift at the shop saying that Leah had never shown up. She went to work this morning? Mulder asked, incredulous. Rabbi Levich shrugged. She said it would take her mind off things, not have her moping around here. I agreed it might be all right, but told her to come home if it got to be too much for her. She's worked this whole time, you know. Since Esther was taken... He paused to wipe his eyes and sighed. She worshipped her sister. It was almost unhealthy, the level of protection and affection she had for her. I think it was sometimes not good for Leah, but when you believe your sister to be a saint... he trailed off and Mulder nodded. I understand, I think. Yes, the old man said. I believe you do. Tell me something, Mulder said, before I go. Yes, anything, the Rabbi replied. Why did she call me? I have never met your family; how did she know about me? What is the connection? The Rabbi studied him for a moment, as if debating what to tell him. Then he sat down and spread his hands out on his lap, a gesture of resignation. I knew your grandmother, he said. You what? Mulder was amazed. You knew Ruth? Ruth Barelson, yes. She came over to this country on the same boat as my mother. They were good friends, though Ruth was older I think, by ten years or so. Before they were married my mother used to say Ruth was like a sister to her. After their marriages, they were both pregnant about the same time. Your father and I were to be brought up together, but then your grandmother moved away after your grandfather died. Of polio, Mulder said. I gave it to him, Rabbi Levich said quietly. They thought it was just a cold, and for me, it was. But adults who get polio are much more severely affected. I don't think your grandmother could face us, after that. She moved north to be with her sister. Esther, Mulder remembered. Yes. I named by daughter for her. My sister's name is Ruth. Mulder sighed. We are connected. Inextricably, the Rabbi said. Your father was never the same after his father died. It changed him, hardened him. I watched him through the years, kept an eye on his progress, on his government position. I got the impression he was unhappy, and then when your sister was taken... Fox, I have watched you from your birth. Prayed for you, prayed that you would not turn out to be the man your father was. I see something in you, something I don't think you will ever fully understand. You need to help people. You were born to do it. I have failed, he said, suddenly miserable. No, the Rabbi said. We called you too late. We waited too long with the hope that evil would not touch one so innocent. I may have been wrong about my daughter, about her special gifts, Fox. After all, she is dead and here we are. The world has not ended, at least not for everyone else. But I am not wrong about you. The shrill sound of a telephone interrupted the old man. Mulder snatched it from his pocket and hit talk. Mulder, he said. Mister Mulder, an man's voice said. This is Saul Kohen. I know where you can find Leah Levich. xxxxx Scully scrubbed wearily at her hands. She was exhausted, and only a step closer to the truth. Why couldn't anything come simply anymore? Why no smoking guns or latent prints? She had to snatch a towel and run to reach her cell phone as it began to ring. Scully! It was Mulder's voice, shouting over the sound of a car engine. What? What's wrong? she said, panic surging through her. Where was he? Why was he shouting? Not now, she thought, feeling a desperate sense of finality. Not now. I just got a call from Saul Kohen. Leah's been kidnapped by the same people who took her sister. What? Why? she said. Mulder paused for a moment, as if he hadn't considered that very vital question. I don't know. But she's missing and Saul says he knows where they're keeping her. I'm headed there now. No! she shouted. Not by yourself. Meet me there. It's a warehouse on the corner of thirty-sixth and Pine. There's no time to come get you, but if you leave now, we should get there at about the same time. I'm calling for back-up, she said. No, don't. I don't know what this is yet, Scully, and a bunch of uninformed cops wandering around down there could end it. Do you understand? Of course she understood. He was so pushy when he panicked. She sighed. I'll be there in ten minutes. Don't you dare go in there without me. I won't, he said, but he sounded very distant all of a sudden, as if he wasn't really paying attention. Typical Mulder, not to listen when she was most trying to tell him something. She jammed the cell phone into her pocket and fumbled out of her scrubs, frantically tossing them into the bucket near the door. Dana? a technician popped his head around the door. I've got the results. You wanna hear them? Tell me as I walk, she said, pulling on her coat. What's it look like? Cyanide. Massive dose, administered orally. She died instantly. Shades of Jim Jones, she said bitterly, opening the door to the parking lot and searching for her keys. Fuck! Where are my fucking keys? Are they in your purse? the technician asked carefully. She dug her hand into her purse and felt the sharp jab of familiar _meta_l. Yes, she said. Thanks. Get the report ready. Call Mindy and see if she can come up with the nearest chemical lab to one-eleven Broad street. I want to see if a Saul Kohen purchased any cyanide in the last thirty days. Tell them he's about five-ten with dark, curly hair and very blue eyes. Acne scars. See what you can come up with and call me with the results. Gotcha, the tech said. Drive safe. Yeah right, she muttered, pulling violently out into the garage. xxxxx Mulder tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. Where the fuck was Scully? He had been there nearly ten minutes now, pounding miserably on vinyl. A dark sedan pulled up next to him and Saul Kohen stepped out. Reluctantly, Mulder opened the door and stood to face him. Where is she? he said. Inside, Saul answered. Come. She'd better be alive, Mulder said, following Saul toward the door. I didn't do this, Mister Mulder, Saul said. He paused on the stoop. I believe in the eventual triumph of good over evil, but I didn't murder Esther Levich, nor did I kidnap Leah. That I know where she is, that I am willing to bring you here, is proof of my belief. I do this at great risk to myself. Yeah, yeah, Mulder sighed, That's what they all say. Where is she? Quiet now, Saul said, and slid a key into the warehouse door. The interior was dark and dusty, stereotypically creepy. Mulder shuddered. Why couldn't they hold someone in a Holiday Inn? Somewhere bright and clean and sanitary? Saul slipped forward and then motioned Mulder further inside. We store things here, on occasion, he said. We? Mulder whispered back. Who, you and Donald Duck? Or you and a few right-wing extremists bent on say... blowing up the Dome of the Rock? Me and Donald Duck, Saul said. Come on. They wound their way through several hallways, coming at last to a large open space. Mulder could see around the door, where several men stood in a circle. In the center of the circle, sat Leah Levich, her lovely head jerked back by the hair, her arms and mouth bound. Mulder pushed Saul back and again scanned what he could see. Three men. One woman. He would wait for Scully. And he would have, if one of the men hadn't reached forward and fondled Leah's left breast. Perhaps it was nothing, just a terrorist intimidating his victim. Perhaps it was a prelude to something more. But in that moment, Mulder's better judgement went skittering across the dusty floor to land at her feet and he pushed his way, shouting, past an astonished Saul. Drop your weapons! Federal Agent! Put your hands above your heads and get on the floor. They didn't, even for a moment, look like they were going to do it, though the man did stop mid-grope to grab his gun. For a moment, the three of them stared at him and he stared back, willing them to be intimidated. I have back-up on the way, he said. No you don't, Saul said, from behind him, and Mulder realized he'd been had. Let her go, he said, ignoring the interruption. Is this the infamous Fox Mulder? a tall, thin man with blond hair asked. The very one, Mulder replied, still training his gun on them. Well that's just wonderful, the thin man said. We've been waiting for you. Mulder pondered this for a moment, then decided he didn't care. Let her go, he said again. Oh I intend to, one way or another, the man nodded. Mulder saw Saul creep past him out of the corner of his eye. Mister Mulder, can I ask you a question? Mulder nodded, training his gun on the man's head. Do you like Leah Levich? the man asked, and to Mulder's horror, drew a small knife from his pocket and in one swipe sliced a thin red line across her throat. Leah whimpered and struggled to move. Jesus! Mulder said. What do you want? Answer the question! the man shouted. Of course I do, Mulder answered, frantically moving the barrel of his gun from one man to the next. Would you die for her? he asked. What? Mulder said, feeling a sinking in his stomach. Would you die for this woman, whom you hardly know? Mulder stared at Leah, who was wildly shaking her head. A sheer veil of blood had seeped from the cut down her throat like a chiffon scarf. Yes, he said, knowing the answer. Yes, I would. Lay down your weapon, the man said. Let her go, Mulder answered. The man shrugged and jerked Leah to her feet. He shoved her toward Saul, who caught her and held her up. Take her outside and drive her home. Then come back here. Saul nodded and stepped forward with Leah. And watch out for Mister Mulder's 'back-up', the man chortled. Now, he said, turning back to Mulder, lay it down. He did, slowly, lowering the gun to the floor and standing back up with his hands in the air. What do you want from me? he asked, but before he could register an answer, a bullet slammed him in the stomach, knocking him to the floor. Mulder looked down in disbelief at the small, dark whole in his belly, just above his belt. He felt no pain, not yet, but was aware of a strange jarring sensation and the warm wetness of urine seeping from his underwear. Christ, he thought, I've pissed myself, and it sounded in his own head like a laugh. What do I want from you? the man said, strolling forward, gun cocked, to look Mulder in the eye. I want you to die, he said, and aimed at Mulder's head. The last things he heard before the world went dark seemed in an odd order, as if he'd gotten them all wrong. From the hallway he heard Scully's voice shout something that sounded like freeze or maybe like no , he couldn't decide. And then he heard the sound of a gun shot and felt the bullet enter his skull like a punch to the head. But then there were more shots, hundreds it seemed, coming from very far away, and screaming, and then Scully's voice shouting his name. But that couldn't be right, could it? How could he still be hearing her voice after the bullet had entered his brain? But it didn't matter anymore, he thought, as the world narrowed down to a low, grating roar. xxxxx end part 5 of 6 Holy Smoking-Man! Will Mulder survive? Will Scully rescue him in time? Tune in to Part 6, same X time, same X channel! And email me!