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Messages And Bottles

I rubbed the edge of the pencil lead across the paper in broad flat strokes. As I did so the letters of the previous message came to light as light spaces where the lead of the pencil did not reach. In moments I could read most of what was there.

Volga
Basra on 11-27
Karbalah by

PRECAUTIONS and the roman numerals VX were underlined twice.

MB

The rest was illegible.

I sat there, thinking what all this could mean, and was coming up with nothing. I could sit here and try to figure out the id and password all night or I could go back to the hotel and get a fresh start in the morning. I turned out the light for the office and paused to finish off the rest of my drink. I had just bent down to replace the bottle in the drawer when I heard it. A hundred chickens all clucking and squawking at once. I looked down the hallway and saw that the lights in the loading dock had just been turned on. I wasn’t alone in the building anymore.

I drew my pistol and inched down the hallway.

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