K.A.T.T: Katarina and the Trade

By John Lundahl

Upon completion of the first section of Katt, I sent it to my Literary Critics (Both Women) Neither of them could get past Chapter 6.

I , myself, had difficulty writing that part, and the way I got through it was --------
well, I guess you will just have to read the book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491804483

John Lundahl

John Lundahl was born and raised on the family 160 acre farm on Northern Indiana. He believes the family farm is the absolute best place to raise kids. He also is an advocate of the happy ending, where the guy gets the girl and they live happily ever after. He currently lives in Largo, Florida with his wife Lee. He also is the author of Leah & The Girls Get Even.

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PART 1

Chapter 1

BEFORE

Katarina played at the playground with her friends. There were swings, climbing bars, seesaws, picnic tables for when parents would bring treats for them, but that was before.

She loved going to the neighborhood store to pick up milk or some other small thing for her mother because Mr. Bachov, who owned the store would always reward her, with a piece of candy, for being a good girl to help out her mother. There was always plenty to eat. But that was before.

Katarina loved to ride the city bus to other parts of town to visit with friends and often stay overnight at a slumber party. But that’s all gone now.

There was a time not so long ago that she and her friends would play stick ball in the streets, sometimes the authorities would warn them that it was dangerous to be in the streets, but no one was ever hurt, but again that was before.

When her sister moved out, Katarina loved having the bedroom to herself, with the window overlooking the street. She didn’t have to be so careful about housekeeping now that she had her own room, but that was before the rebels came.

When the communists were in charge, there were no rebels. Whenever any group tried to start any trouble, they were immediately brought under control. The ever present soldiers were always on duty to keep order. Her parents always complained about the communists, about not having any freedom, but considering the present situation, the communists weren’t all that bad. It wasn’t long after the communists left that the old animosities reared their ugly heads. The Christians felt it was their duty to rid the country of the Muslims. The communists had been in charge for the past seventy years, so one would think that all the people could continue to live together peacefully, but there always seems to be someone causing trouble.

Then the rebels came, or freedom fighters, as they preferred to be called and started persecuting the Muslims. Some of Katarina’s best friends were Muslims and the only difference the children noticed was that they and their parents attended different churches. But all of the sudden, the Muslims were bad people and the violence started. There was no more playground, only scorched earth, mangled play equipment, some kind of a burned out what used to be a jet engine. No one dared to enter the playground because of the land mines that have been planted there.

Mr. Bachov was a Muslim so he was forced to leave town and his store was burned. When Katarina would look out her window where the bus used to stop, there was the burned out shell of what used to be a city bus. It was blown up and burned by the rebels. Even if the streets were safe, they were near impassible because of the debris strewn all around and it was full of bomb craters.

Katarina no longer had a window to look out of at the street. She and her family were forced to live in the basement of the apartment building because fire had destroyed their apartment. A shell had hit the apartment next to theirs and the fire had spread to theirs. The fire department had saved most of the building, but not their apartment, so they went to the basement. Living conditions were less that comfortable, and food was scarce.

At thirteen years old, she knew her body was changing. Her breasts were starting to show and soon she will need to start wearing a bra. Katarina dreamed of becoming a model like her friend Lana had become.

Chapter 2

LANA

Lana and Katarina had been friends since they were old enough to play at the playground. Lana lived two blocks from Katarina, they would visit each other and on weekends they would stay overnight at each other’s houses. As the girls grew older and their bodies started to develop into womanhood, the interest in boys naturally came along with it.

Lana was an extremely pretty girl. She was five foot five, one hundred ten pounds, sparkling black eyes, her dark hair had a shine to it. So it was no wonder that most all the boys were attracted to her.

One day she ran up to Katarina all excited about something that happened today. She told Rina, a nickname she had come up with. She said, Rina, you won’t believe what happened to me today. This man came up to me and asked me if I was a model. When I told him no, he said I should be. He said he was here from Sweden recruiting models for his modeling agency and he thought that with a little training, I could be a model.

You’re kidding, said Katarina excitedly.

No, really, he wants me to talk to my parents, and if they say it is OK, that he will take some pictures, send them to the agency, if they get approved, I could go to Sweden and be a model. Isn’t that exciting?

Wow, do you think your parents will let you do it? she asked.

I don’t know, I think I can talk my dad into it. And Lana ran off towards her house.

Katarina sat down and dreamed that maybe someday she could become a model. If it could happen to Lana, why not her. Lana was so lucky. She might be able to travel the world. She had read in magazines about some models being out on photo shoots in all exotic places and they make so much money. Maybe someday that could happen to me.

A week later, Lana came to Katarina’s door and said that her pictures were sent to the agency and they were accepted. She is going to leave for Sweden sometime next week. Katarina saw Lana a couple of times briefly the following week and that was the last time she ever heard from Lana. She must have been kept busy modeling. It wasn’t long after that, war broke out and Lana’s parents had to leave the area. Katarina always thought how lucky Lana was to get out just before the war.

Chapter 3

ERIC

Eric Stenholm came from a small farming community in the district Smaland. Smaland is located one hundred fifty kilometers south of Stockholm. He seemed to attract trouble. He fell in with some of his high school friends and was caught selling stolen car radios. He was picked up twice for having marijuana on him. He was placed on probation and had to report to a probation officer that he didn’t get along with. He knew the guy would never give him a break, so Eric decided to leave town. He had a cousin in Stockholm who he felt would hook him up with some sort of income.

Eric contacted his cousin Willy in Stockholm and asked him if he could hook him up with a situation. Willy told him to come on and he will fix him up. Eric arrived at the bus station in Stockholm, but Willy wasn’t there. Eric waited for a couple of hours and Willy finally showed up. He said, Sorry, Bro, got tied up. You know how it is.

Yeah man, I know, said Eric. They got into Willie’s Volvo and drove to Willie’s apartment. The apartment was on the third floor in what to Eric thought to be a seedy neighborhood. The one bedroom apartment was a decent size room that served as a living room with a small kitchen area. Willie said Eric could sleep on the couch until he could find his own place. Eric tried to find some sort of work and after ten days, Willie asked, Hey dude you got to find something. This just isn’t working.

Yeah I know man, but don’t seem to be any work around here, said Eric.

I know man, said Willie and he sat there and thought for a while then said, Let me talk to my man Stine. He knows lots of shit.

Two days later Eric met with Stine. Stine was telling him about a recruiting job that was available. He would be paid on a commission basis plus expenses. He would travel around Eastern Europe and recruit girls to be models.

Eric asked, What do I do, just walk around looking for any girl who I think might look good enough to be a model?

No, we are more organized than that. You go to the cops, the cops know who is where in their areas. We have a list of names of cops that will help you. Of course these cops are compensated. We take care of that, all you have to do is meet with the candidate and convince her to become a model,

So how do I get to where the girls are? asked Eric.

You ride the train to Petrovo, there you will be met and given your assignment. Transportation will be arranged for you there.

How do I get started?

Pack your clothes and show up here in three days. It will take me that long to get you all set up and in the system. Now listen, don’t fuck with me. I’ll drop you in a heartbeat and you won’t be at all happy afterwards, follow me? asked Stine.

Yeah, I gotcha, said Eric.

Three days later, Eric boarded the train to Petrovo. It took most of the day to arrive and he made his way to the hotel Lobe. The next day he met up with a man named Tony. Over lunch they laid out Eric’s assignment. He was to travel by car to a town named Bode. In Bode he was to contact police captain Menkov who would guide him to his first candidate.

Chapter 4

THE HOOK

Katarina’s s school was nearly out for the summer as she walked home. The streets were fairly safe now as the freedom fighters were in the South. She wondered what the summer would bring. Would there be more violence and she would have to stay in their crowded apartment, or would she be free to visit friends and be outside more. Trying to be aware of her surroundings while on the street, she did notice this man who seemed to be watching her. He didn’t look like he was one of the locals as he was blond, light complexion, and taller that most men. He was seated on one of the remaining benches that were along the sidewalk. As she was about to