segunda-feira, 27 de janeiro de 2014

New year, new project

To all my foreign friends and those I hope to become my friends:

In a few more days my first book, printed in Portuguese, will be released, closing the first cycle.

In 2013 I had twelve tales published in ebook format, finished the year reviewing the second book and started to write the third. This year promises to be even better.
To start, see below the translation of the post where I issued one of the characters from the second book. One of the six more powerfull women of the world, according to the story.
This post brought me a problem. The other characters were jealous. One of them demanded her own book. Soon you will be presented to "The director Katsumi", a chronicle already translated to English. I can't play with that powerful vampire woman.

Next cycle will be the translation of my other books to English.
So I will make a request: If you find any flaw, meaningless sentences, dubious meaning or any nature of error in this translation, please let me know. I will appreciate any help on this.

The photo is not of the character, is the Italian actress Sophia Loren at 31 years old, the same age of the character described in the text.
It is the face that Jean Pierre haven't seen.




The unseen thing


In 1998 the situation in Algeria was very delicate. A civil war was going on. There was some evidence that vampires could be involved, promoting carnage among the poorest most remote of the civilized centers. Preliminary investigations suggested a possible formation of terrorist cores. A team of three officers was sent from Paris to the Southeast region of the Sahara desert, following some clues left by a local militia, to investigate the possible participation of vampires. The last radio communication from the team, made the day before, said they were close to finding a lair, with at least six targets.
The beautiful brunette Alice was concerned about that mission. It was she who had sent Luí Gerard to investigate, accompanied by two agents without much experience, thinking it would be just a stroll along the sands of the desert. A simple job, nothing dangerous. But now something in her heart was tight. No one on the base could even imagine that she was having an affair with Luí Gerard. A relationship like this was against the rules of the Organization and she knew she had a duty to set an example. If anyone else foud out, she would lose her post and it would complicate the life of the general Commander, Joseph Espério, who believed in her.
The complications began in the morning, in the first hour of the day, when she read the reports received during the early hours. The last vampire interrogated the day before, in the skillet in Cairo, before frying revealed that the Algerian militia was under influence of vampires, and so those clues received before led into a trap. They shouldn't have sent researchers, but a full team of attack. Luí Gerard and the two agents could be following up against a stacked deck.
Called the communications agent in service:
- Raphael, can we call our agents back, or at least warn them?
- No Ma'am, they are in the middle of the desert. Their plan was to follow by land, in a jeep, photographing the site, recording the coordinates for the strike team and back before the sun goes down.
- So we have to send another rescue team, and fast. Who is available now?
- Here in Paris we only have an inexperienced agent, Henry. To get the minimum Protocol of two agents, gotta check with Madrid, Geneva or Tel Aviv, but it may take a few hours to set up a team.
- No, that's a long time. Call Henry, even without experience, he is a trained agent and can serve as support. We've got anyone else who can go right now.
-Who, Madam?
-Myself. I have years of experience in the field, and I'm well trained. Arrange a transport with the Base d'Aéronautique Navale since I seen my armor and I check my weaponry. I want to leave immediately, to rescue them before the sun sets.
The rescue operation followed a standard protocol, planned as a precision military mission: two officers with combat equipment, with orders to locate the team in danger, do turn around and protect themselves in some safe place. Alice and agent Henry, a boy newly arrived from the training center of Tel Aviv, departed from Paris on a military jet to the Akhamok Airport, neighbor of Tamanrasset, Algeria. They were with their standard combat equipment: alloy armor super-tough including the helmet to be worn on body fights, extremely sharp short sword, two hunting knives, espionage equipment for location and other small gear. They took about seven hours to cover the route Paris-Sahara. In Tamanrasset airport already were expected by a helicopter to take them to the desert, following the last known way done by the team of investigators on the ground. Still had about two hours of Sun to find agents, before they see the grace of the night and the dangers that lurked.
Everyone knew that the desert is treacherous, but did not expect to run into a sandstorm just 50 minutes after the departure, which interfered in helicopter engines. Luckily had time to locate the Jeep of researchers, empty, minutes before landing. The experienced pilot in that desert reported that could take off again, but would have to return immediately, aborting the search.
Alice was against:
-You two will back. I will continue with the Jeep, until I find the boys.
- But Madam, is already almost dark. It's not safe. This region is inhabited by violent tribes who dislike nor the Tuaregs, the local people, and can be dominated by terrorists.
- I have to find our agents. Go back to the airport and send another team by air or by land to find us. We will be returning in this Jeep. I have a tracking device that let on.
Henry tried to intervene:
-I'm stay with you.
-No, I have a better chance if stay alone. The smaller the group, then easier the escape.
The experienced pilot also opined:
-Maybe we can do better. I'm going to request a plane to rescue her. There is a clandestine airstrip two miles away, ahead. Is used by terrorists, but we let a team of soldiers watching. Holds up to a small Jet, is the best way to get it out of the region after dark. I expect will be here in an hour.
-Okay, I'm going to find our people, then follow the sound of the plane, two miles to the East.
There were no goodbyes. The pilot and Henry boarded the helicopter and left back. She was examining the Jeep. Still had about an hour of daylight. Deduced that Gerard had followed on foot in the direction of a rock formation, about five hundred meters to the North, at the foot of the Ahagar mountains. If the vehicle was left, means he wants to surprise someone, or at least avoid the noise. Unlike him, her intention was to draw the attention of their agents, then climbed into the Jeep, turned and headed toward the rocks, quickly. It had no difference, because the noise of the helicopter was much taller than an automobile engine, and should have alerted anyone who hid there.
She didn't have to look far. Even with all her training and prepared for the worst, it was a shock to find three bodies hidden among the rocks. The three agents had no chance without armor and without any heavy combat equipment. Needed to make a huge effort not to cry and another even bigger to gather forces and examine the corpses. Their mission was to investigate and register the possible location of a den of vampires. Came equipped only with research equipment and record. She herself had already participated in numerous missions of this type. With his experience soon identified the bite marks on the bodies of the boys, although it also had perforations of Spears. Gerard was with a broken neck, the two others was the spine. Typical modus operandi vampire.
The agents had found their targets, just haven't had time to get out. Indicated the possible existence of a cave nearby, because the damn monsters never would to that scorching sun. Spears and marks the spot where the bodies were left indicated that were helped by humans of the local tribe. The vampires were made slaves.
Examined in more detail the bodies looking for spying equipment hidden in the clothes. Cameras and locators, which should have registered coordinates and photographs of the last places that the boys visited. Would be used by the teams to attack, they would avenge the companions. Gathered all the equipment she found, when she saw the shadows of the rocks were stretching eerily. The last rays of the Sun were already retreating. Heard a noise of plane in the distance. Ran to the Jeep, already putting his battle helmet. It was uncomfortable, but would guarantee her life until she reach the plane. Started the engine and headed eastwards, praying not to hit any stone or fall into some hole.
A few minutes later she had to turn on the headlights. The Sun disappeared behind the mountains and the darkness engulfed everything around. The next ten minutes were appalling. There was only a kilometer, the halfway point, when a spear buried herself in the seat of the passenger seat, thrown from somewhere further back. If she weren't alone now have the company of another corpse. Immediately proceeded to drive in zig-zag. By the corners of the eyes, where the visor of the helmet allowed, saw individuals running walk on both sides of the jeep, keeping about ten metres away. The damn vampires could run much faster than this, so they were playing with it, confident that they had already won the battle. Her only chance was to get to the plane, without panicking. Kept cold blood and accelerated in a straight line, leaving the evolutions.
She saw what she thought was the silhouette of the tail section of the plane, some three hundred yards ahead. Her pursuers also saw, and accelerated the race, leaving her behind. Classic tactic: attacking the pilot of the plane to prevent any leakage and done more victims.
Stepped up on the accelerator, withdrawing the sword that she carried at the waist, hoping the pilot resisted for a few minutes.
When the headlights illuminated the scene, thought all was lost. There were two bodies on the ground, each surrounded by two vampires. One of the fallen moved, trying to fend off the attackers, crawling back under the plane. The other didn't even budge. Two other vampires were standing, watching and waiting for her arrival. Six targets against her alone.
Pointed the Jeep straight to the plane, without slowing down. Saw the expression of disbelief on the face of the vampires stared at one another.
When the shock seemed imminent, took a turn at the wheel, causing the Jeep passing inches from the plane and jumped up of vampires who have gone astray in the last minute. His sword intercepted the neck of one of them on the trail, chopping off a head. Fell Roland toward another that if lower, and that was still trying to understand what was going on. While he was dumbfounded, won a sure-fire hunting knife in the heart, that went in and out causing a fountain of blood.
Her fall the launched down the nose of the plane. Managed support her feet in the landing gear and reversed the momentum to jump over the fallen man, in the direction of one of the vampires that lined. Attacked the legs of the guy with the sword, doing a nasty cut to the unbalanced. The man fell on a knife positioned to enter straight into his chest. This time the knife was stuck.
The other three vampires seemed silly, cheap still surprised by being attacked. Two woke up almost at the same time. One shot a spear in his direction, which hit diagonally at the height of the rib, and was deflected by armor.
Could hold the spear with the hand that was free and turned toward the second vampire who ran to meet him, perhaps wanting to punch her. But he was smarter, stopped centimeters from the tip, about three feet in front of you. The vampire looked at the tip of the spear, sketching a cynical smile. Raised his face toward her and gave up the smile when her sharp sword crossed a neck, knocking down another head.
A thunderous noise exploded very close. The runaway Jeep without driver had run for about 100 meters and crashed head-on with a huge rock, bursting into flames that lit up all around. The two remaining vampires disappeared. She can hear his footsteps running across the desert, raising too much dust illuminated by the flames, according to far. Probably backed down and went to get reinforcements. Win some precious minutes.
Took a deep breath to reduce your blood pressure. It was examining the body down. Local army uniform dead due to a deep cut on his neck. The second man was still protecting yourself near the landing gear, trembling, but alive. Wore a uniform of French pilot. She took off her helmet, spreading her long hair, and went to see his condition:
-Are you okay? Was injured?
-I'm fine. But the Lady, is ...
-No, I'm not an actress and this is not a movie. Can you fly this plane?
-I think so. Who are ... I mean, who were these men?
-Dealers. Working for terrorists. Let's get out of here, they will be back at any moment.
The man stood up, looking with expression of dread for the heads and puddles of blood on the floor.
-Has some soldiers around, should be at the other end of the track. They were clearing when we were attacked.
-I am the goal of drug dealers. The soldiers must know to take care of yourself. Will be safer when I'm gone.
-I was sent to rescue a team of four people. Are they with you?
-Are dead. I alone escaped. And if we don't get out fast, there will be no survivors.
Took off a few minutes later, just long enough for small turbines of the MS 760 Paris, known as the Pocket Jet, win rotation. When they won, the pilot asked:
-Where are we going, Mademoiselle?
-Paris, let's go to the Naval Base, if this aircraft have the autonomy to get there.
-Yes, there is. By the way, we didn't have time for formal introductions. I am Commander Jean Pierre Bordeaux, the best pilot of Mirages that France has.
-Just my luck, although this ship was not a Mirage. I'm Alice Loren, a simple Executive.
-Madam, do you have any ...
-No, my looks and my last name has nothing to do with the actress. Are just coincidences. Fate likes to play with me. My name is from baptism, I'm French. Sophia is Italian, and adopted his surname when he was nearly an adult. My appearance is meant to be, I was born when she was over thirty years and we don't have any kinship ...
-Honestly, I can't tell which of the two the fate wanted to honor, Mademoiselle ...
-Another thing, Commander. You never saw me, this mission has never existed, and I've never heard of drug dealers or terrorists.
Jean Pierre could see the sword still with some blood splatters, stuck in his waistband that beautiful and strange woman.
-Perfectly. You wouldn't believe the things I've ever seen, I mean, the things I never saw in my assignments. Right now, this plane is retired without being able to fly over a year and I'm not here. I'm officially in the cockpit of a Mirage, accumulating hours of flight time on a simple mission of aerial reconnaissance over Morocco.
-You seem reliable, but I'm sorry, I'm one more thing you never saw.
When they were to land, she called his Base by radio and asked for an agent to pick her up. In the car, made a quick report of what happened, delivered the equipment recovered and ordered the formation of three strike teams, as soon as the equipment to be decoded.
It was four o'clock in the morning when he got to his apartment, completely exhausted physically and emotionally. Went straight to your bathroom, took off his armor and stayed until dawn under the shower, sitting naked on the cold floor, embraced in their own legs and crying convulsing.
At nine o'clock she was entering the base, wearing a black dress, sunglasses, hair loose over her shoulders, turning the heads of everyone who saw it, men and women. Some agents did not believe how could she be so cold, coming so soon to work after lose three officers in a failed mission. She went straight to her room, opened all the curtains leaving the Sun enters, but continued using the glasses throughout the day.
Followed her normal routine, dispatching documents to release the bodies to the families, creating fatal accidents to justify low signing release of indemnities and even entertained two new agents, sent by Tel Aviv: Pierre, a young man who spoke several languages, and that could be useful as interpreter, and Maciel, a degree in architecture, which could hardly have any use out of your training as a soldier, and who was sent to work in the archives.
Late in the afternoon came the report of Algeria. Balance of the mission: twenty human casualties, including the soldier at the airstrip, and all the other employees of the vampires; six casualties of agents including the three investigators; twenty targets neutralized, including the four who herself eliminated alone. The entire area sanitized, which by the standards of the hunters meant total success. The news spread the base with the speed of lightning, and then the agents took note of the details of the previous day.
All, without exception, admire and respect even more the Commander of the Base Paris, Alice Loren, the unique woman who commands a Base of the hunters, the unique that leave to assist their agents personally; the unique who alone has eliminated four enemies on the same mission, the only one in less than twenty-four hours reverted a failed mission in a total success, and only after all this worked all day, usually beautiful and steamy. The Commander with only thirty-one years of age and two in command, already showed that became a legend.
No one imagined that Alice Loren, the woman, weared sunglasses all day to hide his swollen eyes dry of tears, who was with her heart torn apart and hollowed out, and who worked desperately in an attempt to drown out any feeling that wants to touch on and betray her.
After all, she knew that no matter what happens, life always goes on. And in the case of vampire hunters, death too.

Nenhum comentário:

Postar um comentário