Kayleigh opts to accompany me instead of following her group and Mondale to the soup tent. I quickly put her in her place. "Kayles, I love ya girl," I speak from the heart. "But ya can't come this time. I want to talk to this man Mr. Kuznetsov, alone." 

"Khabib Kuznetsov," The Russian drawls his name with a hint of sophistication, it sounds cooler when he says it. He haws cauliflower ears, big ears by all accounts. You could fly a plane between his ears. He has bushy brows and had earned the nickname Bushybrow.  He walks like a wild at but is really tame like a friend. He is well drilled with the auld left-right one-two. I know he is in peak condition. Maybe even ex-KGB. He is a Rubik cube missing color. He is color blind you see. 

Kayleigh walks with a limp and she has no shoes her feet are all cut up. Her clothes are in tatters. She does not smell at all to clean either. I feel for her. I want her to rest up and eat.  

"Kash," a few followers say. "Messiah," theyu say.

"No," I feel humbled and go weak. 

 some come to greet me. fathers lifting there younglings on there shoulders to see a modern hero. A Michawel Collins, An Abe Lincolmn some real day modern hero but I had no  feets to my name..

"WWhat is life lie here?" Kayleigh asks.

"Yes Jesse Kashmir

Ya can call me Kash."

I stop pivot and ask the question.  A lot of my people are malnourished and we have strict rationing but we are getting by. In the surrounding fields, we have veg gardens.  We are trying to be green. We have a few electric cars as well. Yeah life is good not great but acceptable. 

Everyone one in the encampment is eager to see the face of the Resistance. Why dear reader I am still a beloved site.

"They love you," The Russain observes.

Kayleigh pulls my arm and drags me back she has to ask. 

"Are you gonna help him?" Kayleigh and I say at the same time. 

"Would you stop that!" Kayleigh has a biotch fit. 

"It is true," the Russian says. "You are one of the gifted." 

Kayleigh pulls me back again. "Please help him!" Her desperate plea touches me, heart. 

"I will see what I can do," I tell her.

"Thanks, Kash."

"You remember Deborah Weisner?"

"I do," I say. She was my first at fifteen.  

"Kept that a secret ya dirty fog. She has fucked everybody. Surprised she has not ye, ya know, got something."

"She was the virus. when you slept with her she passed on the genetic gifts. We can find a science lab I'm sure, check your cells."

"So my gifts a curse?" I stopped before entering the tent,

"I shall tell you more I am sure." 

"We walked into my marvelous tent. There is a bed in the corner a great table with the map of Donegal. We know where our stronghold are and our enemies. 

Finally The Russian smiles. "Whiskey I believe? 

"Yes, whiskey," I say. "Powers?"

"Whiskey," the Russian says.

So I pour the Russian a shot of whiskey in Ireland is is polite to fill the glass more than half way. Any less is seen as an insult. "So, let me get this straight," I say. "You are saying Weisner is the virus?" 

"She sleeps with the downtrodden, the silent leaders. and passes on the virus. A new sexual virus if you will."

"So I'm what you call gifted?" 

"Yeah," the Russian says.

"What are the side effects?" 

"Trust me, kid, you don't want to know."

"That's not ideal," I say.

"No indeed but you are special Jesse Kashmir. You are a lone wolf. don't succumb to the powers you wield." 

"How powerful can I become?" 

"What can you do Kash?" Kayleigh throws a question at me. Can't believe she is here always looking for gossip.

  "Well you know I can look into the future."

"Soon you can bend time to your whim." Kuznetsov states.

"I'm telepathic and telekinetic."  

"Classic sign." 

"Have you been able to wield an element yet?"

"Not yet."

"Give it time."

"Did you meet Omar? I heard about your hanging." 

"Yeah."

"He gave you gifts as well. The undying ability." 

"Yeah, I die and get buried, I rise." 

"I can become invisible. He also gave me gloves. and-" 

"And what Kash?" The Russian asks.

"He says I have the touch of death."

"There is something else." 

I see her appear behind the Russian. 

It's Angie Rose.

I say nothing, dear reader. Don't want myself to sound more insane.  

"You made a deal with Omar Avici?" Kuznetsov knows a lot about me but I know feck all about him.

"That would be none of your business!" 

Kuznetsov held his hand out. "I meant no offense." He takes a swig of the Whiskey.

I look through the Russian and see my daring Angelina Rose. I see her as clearly as I see Kuznetsov. She is taking a spirit knife out of the draw, yep, she is stabbing this Russian fella in the back.

Kuznetsov pulls out a thin black comb and tidies his fine head of hair. "I feel for you... " he throws his arms out as if to say, Im sorry. "A clear side effect. Who are you seeing Kash?"

"The love of my life." I begin to become watery eyed.

"You loved her right?"

"More than life itself." 

There is a moment of silence.

"So... what did you want to tell me?"

"We know who the king of the Shams."

The Russian drinks his glass of whiskey. "Don't beat Vodka," he says.

"Kuznetsov tell me who is the king of the Shams?"