Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Meanwhile....In A Back Alley, Somewhere In Frankszonia

Those who noticed him passing through the Frankfurter countryside thought that he was a well to do farmer. Most didn't even consciously register his presence at all, and that was just the way Erwin von Mack "The Knife" liked it. The whole idea was to blend in so well that no one would recall his features or clothing, so an accurate description would be difficult. For the life of him, he never could understand why any one who didn't want to be noticed, would dress in an all black outfit that fairly screamed, "Look at and remember me!". A dark, sober brown was just as good at night, blended in better in the day, and the occasional unavoidable bloodstain was much easier to hide.

God! He hated amateurs. They always gummed up the works and forced professionals, such as himself, to take extraordinary measures; like the one he was taking now. Hans Rottenbrat, a Stagonian Agent Provacateur, had escaped from the City of Frankfurt, and was lying low in a small town outside of the Frankfurter capital, but he had not escaped von Mack. There he was now! Just like clockwork, slinking along the alley way, all in black.

Mack the Knife waited until Rottenbrat had slunk by, then he stepped out behind him. One smooth, swift, practiced blow from a shot-filled leather blackjack, and Hans fell to the ground without a sound. A moment later he was trussed up, gagged, hidden in a haycart, and on his way to the Felsigburg. Erwin wondered what kind of song the canary would sing, once he was in the cage.

As the cart move out of the alley, he didn't notice a heavy lace curtain fall back into place. Milady de Winter turned to her cloaked and spurred minions. "Should we kill him and recover Rottenbrat?", one of them asked.

"No", she said after a long pause. "Mack the Knife has killed more people than smallpox, and he would not go easily. I can't afford the losses and the ensueing inquiries. His Vileness would not be pleased. He'll not get much out of Hans that concerns us!"

She turned back to the window and said, "And that is why we use 'Cut Out' Agents."

And now for something completely different. Does anybody know what's going on with the DPC website?

8 comments:

Bluebear Jeff said...

In an email to me earlier this month, Rich of DPC typed the following:

"We suffered an virus attack to the computer we edit the website on. I have been working on it for some time. I may just have to completely rebuild it."

He also indicated that he would be traveling for a few weeks. My guess would be that he's back and is tackling the website.


-- Jeff

abdul666 said...

We in Monte-Crist are generally a relaxed bunch, but in a few very special fields we greatly appreciate professionalism: compliments!
Yet, Mack the Knife did NOT see that moving curtain... overconfidence may be lethal, in 'the' business.

Martin said...

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the DPC update. I hope that they can get it straightened out. Until then I guess my recruiting officer will just have to cool his heels!

Hey Jean-Louis,

Yeah...the devil is always in the details. I had such a good time letting my "inner author" run rampant in Arthur's Frankszonia, that I could not resist tying up (litteraly as well as figuratively) the Rottenbrat "loose end"!

I thing von Mack is going to have to lobby for a larger budget so he can recruit some help! Ha, ha, ha!

Martin said...

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the DPC update. I hope that they can get it straightened out. Until then I guess my recruiting officer will just have to cool his heels!

Hey Jean-Louis,

Yeah...the devil is always in the details. I had such a good time letting my "inner author" run rampant in Arthur's Frankszonia, that I could not resist tying up (litteraly as well as figuratively) the Rottenbrat "loose end"!

I thing von Mack is going to have to lobby for a larger budget so he can recruit some help! Ha, ha, ha!

Frankfurter said...

What is the "DPC website"?

Of course, the real problem is ... was Hans infected with the zombie disease??
:)
A

Martin said...

Hi Arthur,

The Dayton Painting Consortium (DPC) makes those wonderful RSM95 miniatures. They come in two sizes: 20mm and 25mm. Of course their smaller line matches an actual 25mm figure, say a Scruby or Airfix, and their larger one blends in well with 28's! I believe they were designed by Mr. Steve Hezzlewood in England and have somehow migrated to this side of the pond. They are reasonably priced, and the fact that they are in (nearby to me) Dayton Ohio, are added incentives anytime the Markgraaf feels the need to expand his forces. Check out our Fearless Leader's EvE links under RSM95's. Eventually their website will be back up, and you can see how excellent their castings are.

What a great plot twist a zombie Rottenbrat would be! I can see it now. After being subjected to the usual mundane techniques like thumbscrews and toecrackers without breaking, zombie Hans is subjected to increasingly harsh interrogation methods - up to and including General Schwillingsaufenstein's "Never Been Known To Fail Fizzy Ginger Beer St. Petersburg Special!"

Martin said...

Hi Arthur,

The Dayton Painting Consortium (DPC) makes those wonderful RSM95 miniatures. They come in two sizes: 20mm and 25mm. Of course their smaller line matches an actual 25mm figure, say a Scruby or Airfix, and their larger one blends in well with 28's! I believe they were designed by Mr. Steve Hezzlewood in England and have somehow migrated to this side of the pond. They are reasonably priced, and the fact that they are in (nearby to me) Dayton Ohio, are added incentives anytime the Markgraaf feels the need to expand his forces. Check out our Fearless Leader's EvE links under RSM95's. Eventually their website will be back up, and you can see how excellent their castings are.

What a great plot twist a zombie Rottenbrat would be! I can see it now. After being subjected to the usual mundane techniques like thumbscrews and toecrackers without breaking, zombie Hans is subjected to increasingly harsh interrogation methods - up to and including General Schwillingsaufenstein's "Never Been Known To Fail Fizzy Ginger Beer St. Petersburg Special!"

Martin said...

Hey Arthur,

Stokes has a working link to DPC on his Grand Duch Of Stollen site! Now if I can only fix the loose screw behind the keyboard so I'll quite double posting!