[pshrynk]

The plane came in low over the mountains surrounding Mexico City. in the cockpit, the pilot and co-pilot were having an argument that had been going on since Managua.

"Look... You can't just say that because they are out to destroy our way of life and want to see us all dead that they are enemies!"

"Not the way I see it. A formal declaration of war is sooo last century! What about the damage to the infrastructure? Have you ever seen the costs that are involved?"

"But what I'm saying is this: An entire grouping cannot be painted black by the actions of a few radicals within the group. We don't have any reason to believe that the elimination of the entire population would be of any benefit!"

"And all I'm saying is that we give a go and see what happens. If there is some sort of Karmic Debt that comes as a result, then we gladly pay it in order to be rid of their menace."

"You can pay it. I'm not interested. Besides, some of them are actually pretty cute."

"Typical human! You think with an anthropomorphised filter in front of you all the time! You wouldn't know an actual threat to the lightness of being of the worldif it bit you on the knackers. And in this case, it may just happen!"

"'Anthropomorphised?' As in talking dog?"

"Damned squirrels!" muttered Vivaldi. "We have clearance from the tower for landing. Try to remember that this is a dry landing this time?"

"Heading zero eight. Ready for approach."

The Grumman Goose taxied to a stop at the commercial terminal and swung around to it's tether points. Harv looked down and had a vaguely disorienting moment.

"That's funny," he said.

"What?"

"I just looked down and had the feeling that I should have seen something that wasn't there."

"Come to think of it, I have this feeling that I should be running through the cargo bay, yapping madly. Funny old world."

"I wonder if this is something important?"

"Well, boys! That was a right cheerful flight! Let's get on with our business, then shall we?" came the overly cheerful voice of Lieutenant Colonel Biggles from the cargo bay.

"Must have been nothing," said Harv. They got up and crawled to the back of the plane. They stepped out into the sunlight.

And into the barrels of the guns of the welcoming committee standing there.

"Hola, senors! And Welcome to Mexico City. Please put your hands in the air where we can see them!"

As Vivaldi tucked tail and ran away as fast as four legs could carry him, he was thinking, "If I'd been chasing after something, Harv would have been cahsing after me and we would have both avoided that!"