Crate of Aqua

By Peter Fisher

Crate of Aqua
With the run-up to the apocalypse in full swing, it’s time to check in on some of the key players, see what’s going on. Enjoy five short tales of life before the end-times action packaged in a Crate of Aqua.
The Novitiates
Young data cruncher and smartass successfully tests for an elite position at reinsurance agency then goes undercover to bust up a Midwest crop-fencing operation. Meanwhile, a polite young engineer learns the ins and outs of rural semi driving from the ageing master. The Novitiates cross paths on IN135 south of Bean Blossom.
Pair of Dice Lost
Russian Army POV as off-again on-again fighting along the Ukrainian border heats up. An American student on a see-for-myself fact-finding mission suffers wounds during capture and awaits disposition from an overworked Colonel in the Intelligence Division. The Red Army operatives examine the young man’s phone for evidence, gaining what they need with the aid of Pedro (himself in need of ride to the front lines to make a fentanyl delivery to Death).
Dueling Realities
Material Supply, the hedge fund operation run by Karl Meltzer, is busy selecting jump-off sites for the upcoming apocalypse. The selection committee must approve major moves with unanimity. During a conference call, Colonel Herrera and Airre become exasperated yet again as Karl and Pedro verbally joust over credit for crashing the aluminum shipping container industry while solving the plastics recycling dilemma.
Carrot or Stick?
Upon promotion to Captain, Air Force Pilot Deborah Harry receives orders out of ground attack fighters into the Space Force and her dream career. Career hacks and slackers in Human Resources kick the once-elated now totally-deflated officer to the Cobra Program. Captain Debbie meets with General Peterson in a desperate attempt to alter her fate. Peterson smacks her with a stick, figuratively, before offering a carrot.
Good Old Mr. Wilson
Looking to replace Pedro on the regular fentanyl delivery run to Death, Karl Meltzer introduces himself to Mrs. Wilson during funeral services for Detective good old Mr. Wilson showing her a 50/50 ticket with her name on it. Karl shades the odds slightly with an out-of-character comment. Mrs. Wilson doubts if this strange person telling oddball stories has any friends. After the 50/50 plays out during an active school shooter episode, Karl and Death negotiate terms.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peter Fisher
• Release date: Aug 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9780463609101

Book preview

Crate of Aqua

by Peter Fisher

Copyright Peter Fisher 2021

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This free ebook may be copied, distributed, reposted, reprinted and shared, provided it appears in its entirety without alteration and the reader is not charged to access it.

Contents

The Novitiates

Pair of Dice Lost

Dueling Realities

Carrot or Stick?

Good Old Mr. Wilson

About the Author

The Novitiates

Referring to his cigar, Iris opines You know how disgusting you are, don’t you?

After wine-thirty this floor is my domicile, stipulated succinctly in my employment contract. In fact, you are inside my home office. As resident caretaker, I enjoy privileges mere mortals yearn for, newbies especially.

Super.

In a manner of speaking, sure, consider me the building Super. The look on her face he finds priceless, yet another ‘work-from-home’ perk is heckling newbies afterhours.

Super as in whatever; exactly how old are you anyway? This has got to be the weirdest job interview ever. First you elderly types lock me in the terminal room all day and now at wine-thirty you’re nearly poisoning me. Iris looks around for a clean glass.

Nearly? Gotcha, First get something straight, today’s test is not an interview; someone should have explained this seeing as you were, in fact, hired when you showed up this morning, based on several factors, among them apparently- moxie. Honestly, I can’t give a damn about your college course history or the meaning behind your tattoos or the unworthiness of your parental units. What I want to know is how you work around large data sets. That’s why I put you in the terminal room and gave you sixteen hours of free rein in Sector 473. But that’s beside the point, where are my manners? Name your poison, Bourbon? I got single malt.

Neat. Iris hopes he understands. Can’t be too sure of oneself around some of these old codgers, Uncut at room temperature, please? she adds helpfully.

Yea, I get it. He fishes around one of the filing cabinets for the other glass. Handing her a tumbler he quickly fills her in, "I’m hiring newbie actuaries and data engineers such as you for interesting away assignments auditing Switzerland Reinsurance Services covering most crop insurance business beginning with Sector 473. For the past two decades claim payouts on storm damage trend toward the heavy side in Southern Indiana, just within the noise, until the death of