Intrigue in the Snow

I go to the Olympics, to help the USA win in more ways than one. Contest entry.

I just stood there in a crowd of people, taking it all in, breathing in the crisp, clear alpine air. Beautiful Italy and the Winter Games. Talk about a dream come true. Unfortunately, I could only score one ticket, which meant my girlfriend Jenny couldn’t come. She took it fairly well.

“It’s okay, Todd,” she said. “I know you’ve always wanted to see the Olympics, and I won’t stand in your way. You go have fun. By the way, I understand they have wonderful jewelry stores in Italy.”

Message received. The three-carat diamond tennis bracelet was stowed away in the hotel safe.

The event was getting ready to start when my phone went off. I didn’t recognize the number but decided to answer anyway. Even a telemarketer couldn’t dampen my mood.

“Hey Todd, it’s Jerrod.”

“Jerrod?” I asked, amazed. Jerrod and I have been friends since grade school. He’s a good guy, but one of the biggest conspiracy nuts I’ve ever known. “Why are you calling me? Aren’t you afraid ‘they’ will find you?”

“Ha, ha. I’m using a burner phone. You’re at the mixed team aerial finals, right?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“I’m monitoring some of the feeds.” Nuts or not, the guy was extremely tech savvy. “Do me a favor. Take a look around. Do you see a Chinese guy in a red coat and a white stocking cap with a scar above his right eye?”

I was standing near the front of the roped off area for the audience, and I looked around. Sure enough, about five people to my left I saw the guy Jerrod described.

“Yeah, I do see somebody like that. What about him?”

“Dude, he’s part of the MSS telekinesis division.”

“Come again?”

“The MSS, the Ministry of State Security. It’s their CIA, FBI and gestapo all rolled into one. Some of my dark web contacts have found out they have a special group of telekinetics. That guy is one of them.”

“Oh, come on, seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. You know how big their government is on making their athletes seem invincible, and they were really pissed when we beat them on their home turf in that event at the last Olympics. He must be there to help them cheat.”

“Even if I believed you, which I don’t, what do you expect me to do about it?”

“Just keep an eye on him, is all I’m asking.”

“I’m here to watch the Olympics, not indulge your wild theories.”

“You can do both. Look, I’ve got to hang up before somebody traces this call. Just keep your eyes open.” With that, he broke the connection.

I shook my head and put my phone away. Jerrod would be Jerrod. Still, I couldn’t deny my curiosity was peaked. I kept sneaking peeks at the guy. As near as I could tell, he was watching just like everyone else.

The athletes were amazing. The flips and twists as they soared through the air took my breath away. I cheered along with the rest of the crowd when they landed their routines, and gasped when they fell.

Then the first Chinese athlete took her place at the top, and I noticed a change in the guy. He now had a white knuckled grip on the rope in front of him, and a look of intense concentration. The skier came down and did a fantastic back full-full-full. As soon as she landed it, I saw the guy relax and pull a handkerchief out and mop his suddenly sweating face.

“Okay, that was weird,” I thought. Much against my better judgment, I was starting to believe Jerrod. The guy seemed completely relaxed when the first American came down, and she landed the same trick but got a slightly lower score. I started working my way through the crowd towards him.

The next Chinese athlete was getting ready to come down. I was right beside the guy now and saw him tense up. Just as the skier hit the ramp, I stumbled hard against him, knocking him off his feet.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I said. The Chinese skier landed too hard and ended up doing a somersault down the hill. “Here, let me help you up. I’m really, really sorry.”

I helped him to his feet. If he did have telekinetic powers, they must not work quickly, because if looks could kill, I would have been a smoldering cinder.

“Is fine, is fine,” he said, brushing my hands away. I had a feeling his broken English was a complete act. I bet he spoke it better than I did. I just nodded and took a step back.

The next American came down and landed a full double full-full. I and the crowd went wild. Then the next Chinese skier took his place. The guy tensed up again. The skier flew down, raised his arms, hit the ramp…

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked, stepping forward and smacking the guy on the shoulder. The skier’s five flip routine ended up with him tumbling down the slope.

“I said I’m fine, stupid American!” There was total fury in his eyes now. I stepped back with my hands up.

“Hey, sorry, just making sure.” He seemed about to say something else, then appeared to notice that everyone around us was staring. He jammed his hat further onto his head and stalked off through the crowd.

The last American nailed a fantastic double full-full-full, and the USA took gold. It was an amazing win, and I like to think I had a small part in it.

The rest of the Olympics were great. I’m reasonably certain the car that nearly hit me was just due to poor Italian driving. The falling flowerpot that narrowly missed me was a little harder to explain. I changed my routine after that and eventually made it back home.

You’re not paranoid if they really are out to get you.