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.His usualcontact was generally in by then, but he might be preparing for a briefing."Confirm Alerrso," Captain Folsom said."There'd been a query out on you, sir.What is your situation?""Nominal," Mike said."I've bought a house and intend to stay here for theforeseeable future.I'd appreciate security updates if there's a major issuein the area.""Alerrso is in a heavy Chechen area of Georgia," Folsom said after a moment."The security situation is poor.""There's a local group I'm going to support in forming a militia," Mikereplied."I'll do that through my own contacts and methods.But if there'smajor intel on the local security situation, I'd appreciate being apprised.I'll keep the secondary line on standby for data dumps.Right now, given themeteorological conditions, the security situation is stable.""Roger that.I'll pass on your situation and intent.Take care.""Will do," Mike said, cutting the connection.The Office of Special Operations Liaison was the group that briefed seniormembers of the government on Spec Ops missions and plans.Mike had becomeassociated with them during his first post-team mission when Colonel BobPierson had been his "control" and communications point.Since then he'dcontinued to maintain contact through them and had been "asked" to keep themapprised of his current location when out of the States.It was a pain in theass, but made up for itself in having a Big Brother to call when the shitoccasionally hit the fan.Of course, in at least one case the call had gonethe other way and he'd ended up shot to ribbons.But in that case, UncleSammie also picked up the medical bills and cleaned up the mess.He put away the handphone and set up the larger sat phone on a chest ofdrawers, careful to ensure that it could get reception through the stone wallsand roof.The laptop sized sat phone could download secure documents and had aheadset for longer conversations, not to mention general laptop capabilities.It used a proprietary software, unfortunately, which was even buggier thanWindows.But it usually worked.With commo put in, he headed downstairs to find out what trouble the Keldarahad gotten into.With the sun setting and clouds presaging more snow, most of the Keldara hadleft by the time he got back downstairs.The foyer was deserted although therewas a fire going in the fireplace, and Mike wandered around until he foundMother Savina and, he presumed, Mother Griffina in the kitchen.He'd checked the kitchen out on a previous visit and been horrified.Whoeverused it last, presumably the Soviets, had left it in a state of totaldisaster.Every cooking surface was covered with grease and food residue andmost of the counters were just as awful.Not to mention the patina of dustPage 177 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlmixed in.The floor didn't bear description and he'd had to scrape his shoesoff after leaving.He hadn't dared look in the Soviet-era refrigerator.The place hadn't been raised to perfect standards in the short time the womenhad had to work on it but it was much better.The tile floor was visible inspots and the counters had been cleaned.The stoves had been scrubbed, but itwas evident that there was more work to do.Savina and Griffina wereapparently discussing that in low tones when he entered.A few of theremaining girls worked on the floor; he had a hard time keeping his eye off ofthem.The only way to get the floor clean was to scrub it with brushes, ontheir knees.The girls had pulled up their skirts to keep them from gettingruined and their lovely legs were exposed.The way they pulled the skirts upalso tightened them across gorgeous asses.It was a sight to drive a guy nuts.Or down the road to the brothel."A mess, isn't it?" Mike said, startling the women.He didn't mean to movequietly; it was just the way he moved.There was a reason he'd been given theteam name "Ghost.""Kildar," Mother Griffina said, bowing."I am sorry, you should not have tosee this.It will take a day or two to get the kitchen properly prepared.""I saw it before you did and I should have warned you," Mike said."Where'dyou bake the bread? Not in here, I think.""There is a smaller kitchen upstairs," Mother Griffina replied."If you wouldlike something to eat.""I'm fine," Mike said."I'll be getting back in shape and I'll eat enough tosatisfy you then.But when I'mnot working out, I eat light.I ate way too much today.But there are a fewdishes that, when the kitchen's in better order, I'd like to show you.Americans eat.different than most other people.We eat bacon and eggsfor breakfast, for example.""I will get bacon and eggs," Mother Griffina said."I will have them ready toprepare in the upstairs kitchen in the morning.""Don't sweat it tonight," Mike said."It's not that big of a deal.And I don'tusually eat that heavy whenI'm not working out.Savina, we need to get the furnace working in this pile.It's freezing in here.""There is no fuel oil for the furnace," Mother Savina said, nodding."I havesent word to order some.There is a man in town who delivers.He will deliver tomorrow, I hope.I hadthe men bring in firewood in the meantime.Uncle Latif is the yard man, he andhis son Petro.Fires have been laid in all the fireplaces except in your room.I had one lit in the foyer and in the parlor.""Works," Mike said."Skip the foyer usually; there's no way to actually warmthe room with it and I don't expect I'll be sitting out there much.MotherGriffina, don't get too attached to these antique stoves; I'll probably begetting new ones.Christ, there's going to be a bunch of work to be done.""We will get it done, Kildar," Mother Savina promised."Why don't you go tothe second floor parlor and I'll bring a snack?""I'll do that, since there's no furniture in the office," Mike said, yawning."Get Genadi up, if you would, and have him meet me there.We have a lot totalk about."* * *Mike was sipping tea and working on a list when Genadi came in the room.Thesecond floor parlor was nearly adjacent to the master bedroom and alsooverlooked the harem garden.At the moment all that could be seen was leaflesstrees and equally leafless bushes Mike assumed were roses.But it would bepretty in spring."The more things I realize I want, the more I come up with," Mike grumped asGenadi came in."But we need to talk about the farms.For starters, I want abig pickup for each family and an equally big SUV.Page 178 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThe pickups should be four-door and long-bed.But we need to talk abouttractors and combines.""That is a lot of money, Kildar," Genadi said, surprised.He sat down on thecouch across from Mike and shook his head."Very much money.""Money I've got," Mike said."Unless we're talking in excess of ten mil.Inwhich case, we'll need to discuss it.I'm probably going to be spending moreon arms and equipment; you have no idea how much top-line weapons and commocost.Not to mention the pay for the trainers.Speaking of which, it's lateJanuary.When does planting start?""Usually around April," Genadi said."The ground is not warm enough beforethen
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