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Stitches out and bruises faded when Waverly called Napoleon and Illya to his office.
“Gentlemen this is out of control. Dr. Axios is now in Guatemala after their turnip crops. I’ve sent our agent, Alejandro Morales, there to see what he discovers, but I haven’t heard from him since.”
“Have the turnip crops been destroyed?” Illya asked after looking over the file.
”No, only one small field. The government paid out the first ransom after the field was demolished. They have been informed they need to pay monthly to prevent it from happening again. That is why they contacted our office there.”
“Do we know if Axios is still there?” The look on Napoleon’s face when he asked was dangerous.
“Dr. Axios has been seen there, but without Morales's report we don’t know at this time,” He answered. “Moving on, Mr. Kuryakin, what is the progress made in discovering the central cause of this problem?”
“Sir we have found that all the fields have large amounts of Pectinase and Cellulase both of these enzymes normally are used in humans to break down green vegetables.” At this point, it is believed that this overabundance of enzymes is destroying the vegetable this way. Our science team along with other scientists throughout countries that have been attacked are searching for ways to reverse the problem.”
Waverly picked up his pipe and began to fill it, “Gentlemen, you are to go to Guatemala, find our missing agent, and see if you can find Dr. Axios there. I believe each country where these problems have appeared has at least one government office helping them. Find out who it is in Guatemala.”
“Why are we walking through this jungle again?” Napoleon demanded, his clothes muddy and full of holds from the branches.”
Sighing with frustration, “For the ten times, this is the only way to the field that is being destroyed now plus the last place Morales was seen.”
“Why aren’t you complaining? You hate the heat.”
“What is the use of complaining when this is the only way to get there without the men spreading the poison and seeing us? Now please move faster, I’d like to get out of this mess before noon.”
Arriving at the field, they saw three men walking down the rows spraying the turnips. Behind where they sprayed, the green tops were dying. Splitting up, they came behind the men.
“Excuse me,” Napoleon said, “But I don’t think you should be doing that.” The three men turned around to see two guns pointing at them.
“What are you going to do about it?” One of them demanded.
“Shoot you if you don’t put those tanks down,” Illya pointed his gun toward the speakers.
Napoleon waved his gun toward the side of the field, “That way.”
One of the men swung his tank which resulted in Illya putting a bullet in his leg. “Next one will be in the head,” Illya moved his gun to the man’s head. “You two help him.”
Once they were out of the dying section of the field, Napoleon threw zip ties toward one of them, “Bind their hand behind their back and ankles straight.” He ordered. Once the two were bound, he did the third as Illya wrapped the man’s leg which he shot.
“Now gentlemen, who ordered this and where is Alejandro Morales?” Illya asked,
“We didn’t do anything but spray the field like we normally do, and we never heard of anyone by the name of Morales,” the injured man said.
Illya grabbed his leg and squeezed it. Screaming, “Don’t know what you're talking about?”
“You can’t do that,” one of the other men, Juan, said.
Sitting on a rock, Napoleon looked, “Illya’s just getting started. He loves turnips and you were trying to kill the whole field. It upset him.”
After a few more squeezes the man was crying, “We were ordered to by the Minister.”
“Shut up Tomas,” Juan yelled. “He’s killed us.”
“Which Minister? Illya asked as he placed his hand on Tomas's leg again.
“Agriculture. He’s Luis's brother, that man there asked him.”
Illya tapped the leg knowing Tomas would continue to cooperate. “Thank you. Now where is our friend Alejandro Morales?”
“Don’t say a word,” Luis ordered.
Napoleon stood and, using his pistol, slapped Luis across the face. “I’m hot and tired. Also, not in the mood to continue this. Alejandro Morales, where is he?” They walked over by Juan, “Where?”
“He’s alive in our cabin. “We didn’t know what to do with him,” Juan quickly answered.
“And where is that?” After they received the directions, Napoleon and Illya began walking away.
“You can’t leave us here,” Luis yelled after them.
Putting his communicator away, Illya responded, “Don’t worry the police are on their way. You’ll have a lot of explaining to do. I hope you enjoy your turnips.”
Inside the cabin, Alejandro was gagged and bound to the bed. Napoleon removed the gag as he was untied. “Water,” came a croak.
Napoleon handed to him, “Slow sip.”
Illya helped him sit up,
Alejandro, “The minister is responsible for this,” he informed them.
“And Dr. Axios,” Napoleon asked.
“I saw him, but he was getting into a jeep. I followed the minister and wound up here. His men were at the field when I arrived there. Sorry.”
“No problem,” Napoleon assured him.
“How did you guys find me?” Alejandro asked.
“Illya persuaded them. I see a car outside let's get you back to civilization. Also, I think you would like to be there when the minister is arrested,” Napoleon helped him to the car. After leaving Alejandro at headquarters Napoleon and Illya headed for home and hoped to put a stop to Axios and his partners.