Previously at 24 College Avenue: It’s pretty complicated but most of the residents are in Berlin for the World Cup final where “It’s a Small World,’’ a fundamentalist, left-wing Christian entertainment group, is planning to release a non-lethal virus to make its victims re-evaluate their shallow lives. While Josh Williams, Katie Maynard, Steve Hamilton and Magdalena (the Prague tour guide) watch from a NATO security base near the stadium and John Higgins, Jill Thomas and her teammates, Chardonnay Knight and Camila Brabrickovich, watch from the Prince of Mubai’s luxury suite, Nicollette Mayle takes the field with “It’s a Small World.’’She is determined to somehow stop their plot. . . .

“Oh my God,” Josh said. “That is Nicollette out there.’’

He, Katie, Steve and Magdalena stared at the security monitor showing the live feed from the soccer pitch at Olympic Stadium where the “It’s a Small World’’ performers were dancing onto the field. Several dozen young singers and dancers wearing brightly colored soccer uniforms and wild rainbow dreadlocks had sprinted into precise formation – leaving one woman awkwardly out of place. Nicollette, wearing no wig and no costume, stood lost outside the formation, unsure where to go.

“What’s she doing out there?’’ Steve asked.

“From the looks of it,’’ Katie said, “she doesn’t know the answer herself.’’

Katie was right about that. Nicollette not only was confused, she was scared. Just minutes earlier, the “It’s a Small World’’ performers named Amy and Jessica had revealed that the group was going to unleash a virus during their routine that would infect everyone in the stadium – and everyone they came into contact with in the coming hours. The virus wouldn’t kill them but it would make them violently sick to their stomachs. The goal, Amy and Jessica told her, was to make everyone re-examine their shallow lives and the re-dedicate themselves to improving the planet before it was too late.

“The money changers have taken over the world and too often Christians are their biggest investors,’’ Amy had told her in the stadium concourse. “Do conservatives really believe that Jesus would fight to abolish the corporate gains tax? In Matthew 6:19, Jesus warns ‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal.’ Yet that is what most of us do every day, hoarding wealth and buying plasma screen TVs for our SUVs that get 10 miles to the gallon while half the world lives in hunger.’’

“We need to wake people up,’’ Jessica had added. “And Reverend Rainbow has the perfect alarm clock.’’

Nicollette had found herself agreeing with much the two said but there was no way she could let them unleash a virus, even if they claimed it wasn’t fatal – which she doubted was the case. That may be the intention but who knew how it would affect someone with a weakened immune system or how it might mutate?

Had she thought the situation through a little better, Nicollette would have alerted some of the nearly omnipresent security guards. But after her interrogation, she was literally gun-shy of the security forces and everything happened so fast that she didn’t know what to do but react. So she simply followed the performers onto the field, hoping some idea would come to her.

So far, it hadn’t.

# # #

Meanwhile, everyone in Prince Sa-eed’s luxury suite paused from their drinking and tried to figure out what was going on.

“Is that not our Nicollette?’’ the Prince said to Higgins. “What is she doing with this performing group with the strange hair?’’

“I don’t know, Your Most Serene Highness,’’ Higgins said, looking to Jill for help.

Jill shrugged. “Hell if I know. We were supposed to meet up here in Berlin but she hasn’t emailed me in weeks.’’

“And who is this man leading the group she is with?’’ the Prince asked. “The man who taking the stage?’’

Higgins did a double-take. Could it really be? Yes, there was no doubt about it.

“Once upon a time, he billed himself as America’s most passionate sports fan,’’ Higgins said. “Called himself the Sports Junkie and went to every big game there was and somehow always got himself in front of the TV cameras with those dreadlocks of his. Every championship – football, baseball, basketball, hockey, the Olympics – you name it and he was there. Athena even signed him to an endorsement contract for a while.’’

“What happened to him?’’ Jill asked.

“He found God or something and turned his back on sports. Said they were a waste, a terrible diversion from what we should be paying attention to. That we should all stop watching sports and start helping each other make this a better world. Naturally, Athena fired him. I lost track of him in the years since but it appears he’s found the TV cameras again.’’

That was an understatement. As Reverend Rainbow took the stage, a worldwide audience of nearly a billion fans watched on their televisions. Unlike the crowd at the stadium, they would be safe from his words. At least, for a while.

“Guten abend!’’ he shouted, his right arm raised above his head, his left gripping his cordless microphone. “Bonsoir! Buona sera! Buenos noches! And good evening! Ich bin Reverend Rainbow and wir sind ‘It’s a Small World!’’

The crowd, as crowds always do, roared back in approval.

“Danke schon!’’ Reverend Rainbow said. “Looking out before me, I see a stadium filled with smiling, excited people who have come from all around the glove to watch the world crown a new champion! But I also see beyond that. I see a world that comes together not just for a few weeks every four years but every day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, year after year, decade after decade. And not just to watch athletes kick a ball around but to make this world a better place by helping the hungriest and neediest of us.

“And I hope you’ll see the same thing later tonight when you begin to feel the message we are about to spread.’’

As ‘It’s a Small World’ began singing “Wonderful World,’’ Reverend Rainbow signaled to Amy and Jessica, who stepped forward with an air cannon of the sort that basketball and baseball teams use to shoot t-shirts into the crowds. But Nicollette realized they were not about to shoot t-shirts into the expectant crowd -- they were going to shoot canisters filled with the virus.

There wasn’t a second to spare. Nicollette dashed across the pitch and grabbed away the cannon.

“Nicollette!’’ Amy shouted. “What are you doing?’’

“You’ll ruin everything!’’ Jessica yelled.

“What the @#$&?’’ Reverend Rainbow cried. “Who the @#& $ is that and why does she have our @#& $ cannon?’’

Good question, Nicollette thought. What the @#& $ am I going to do with this cannon filled with a terrible virus? She retreated a step back from Amy and Jessica, unsure which direction to run. There were heavily armed guards everywhere as she looked around the stadium, searching for an escape route. At first, the guards had assumed she was just part of the “It’s a Small World’’ act but as the seconds passed, they became suspicious. Several began to approach Nicollette, machine guns at the ready.

She was torn. She probably should tell the guards about the virus and let them take care of everything. But considering how poorly she had been treated under interrogation, she doubted they would believe her story if she allowed them to take her into custody. But if she didn’t alert them somehow, the “It’s a Small World’’ performers might still be able to launch an attack.

Desperate for time, Nicollette did the only thing she could think of to distract security. She began to strip off her clothes.

“Tell me,’’ Prince Sa-eed said to Higgins up in the luxury suite. “Is it routine for young American women to run around in their underwear? I am not complaining. I am thinking that your country is a great land.’’

“Now I see why you everyone keep talking about this Nicollette,’’ Magdalena said as they watched at the security base.

# # #

The striptease did the trick. Several menacing young soldiers wearing fatigues, black flak jackets and helmets slowly lowered their rifles and gaped at Nicollette as she stripped to her underwear. They appeared almost hypnotized by it all as she slowly backed away from the field, across the blue running track and toward the edge of the seating bowl. Several more guards even cleared her path so that she could climb into the stands.

It’s amazing what men will let you get away with, Nicollette thought, as long as you walk around in nothing but black underwear.

A hand reached out to help her into the stands. “Why are you doing this, my friend? It is disgraceful that you should show your flesh as if you were a whore of the desert. And to do it at such a sacred event -- a football game -- it is too disgusting for words.’’

“I had to do something, Ahmed,’’ Nicollette said as she pulled herself into the stands. She whispered into his ear. “You know those fundamentalist terrorists they assumed we were? They’re the ‘It’s a Small World’ performers. They planned to shoot a virus into the stadium with this air cannon.’’

Ahmed studied the cannon, glanced quickly onto the field to see both Reverend Rainbow and several soldiers swiftly approaching and then looked back to Nicollette. “I am afraid you are right, my friend. I pray that my parents never learn of this but I must help you.’’

But how? Already the fans were beginning to paw at Nicollette, blocking her way up the aisle while Reverend Rainbow was leading the soldiers into the stands behind her and Ahmed.

“I don’t know who that bitch is but she’s got our @#& $ air cannon. We need it for our @#& $ show! Are you guys just going to stand here getting your rocks off or are you going to stop her from getting away?’’

Apprehend a gorgeous blonde in her underwear? The guards didn’t have to be told twice. They snapped back into action and began forcing their way up the aisle.

Nicollette glanced down at the soldiers who were just yards away. There was no way she and Ahmed were going to get away. If they caught her this time, with a virus in her arms, there was no telling what they might do. “We’re screwed, Ahmed.’’

“Yes, my friend. Royally.’’

And then Nicollette felt herself gripped in a pair of powerful arms and swiftly dragged deep into the crowd and then into the concession concourse. She was about to scream for help but a hand went over her mouth,

“Shhh, my love. Just be quiet a moment and I’ll have you out of here in no time.’’

Nicollette looked into a pair of piercing dark eyes and the most rugged handsome face she thought she had ever seen.

“You look just like Steve Prefontaine,’’ she said when the man took his hand off her mouth.

“Not the first time I’ve heard that, I admit. And as for you, my love, well, let’s just say that I can see now why Josh wanted to stick around and find you.’’

“Josh? Josh Williams?’’ Nicollette said. “You know Josh? How? Who are you anyway?’’

“My birth certificate back in Jo-burg says Marcus. But you can call me anything you like. And much as I hate to cover up such a stunning body, you might want this.’’ And with that, he pulled off his shirt and handed it to Nicollette, who gratefully put it on. He pulled her through a doorway and down a flight of forgotten stairs, then grabbed his cell phone and sent out a text message.

# # #

“What happened?’’ Jill asked in the suite. “Where did Nicollette go? She was in the crowd below one minute and the next – poof!’’

“Some man grabbed her,’’ Camila said. “I am thinking it is the smuggler, Marcus? Very good looking. But I am thinking I like Josh better.’’

“This isn’t time for match-making,’’ Higgins said. “We have to get to Nicollete.’’

“But how?’’ Chardonnay asked. “We’re not sure where she went and how do we get down there through this crowd anyway?’’

“I think perhaps it is possible with my assistance,’’ the Prince said, snapping his fingers to signal several of his dark-suited aides. “Begin the diversion.’’

# # #

“I could go to Leavenworth for this, you know,’’ Katie complained, as she drove the Army truck toward the stadium.

“We all could go to jail for a long time,’’ Steve said. “But we have to help Nicollette. She’s our housemate. And she needs us.’’

Katie couldn’t quite believe it. In her first assignment since shipping out, she was supposed to be providing added security at the World Cup. Instead, she was at the wheel of an official Army vehicle, trying to sneak herself and three others – including some Czech national she had just met – into the stadium. What in the world was she thinking? But Steve was right. Duty to country was one thing but duty to a friend was something else. If a housemate was in trouble, you had to do what you could to help. And when this Magdalena girl received a text message from some guy named Marcus that he needed help smuggling Nicollette out of the stadium, she hadn’t thought twice.

Which, she realized, she probably should have as she eased the truck up toward the security check.

“OK, bright guys,’’ Katie said. “Got any good ideas how we get past these guys?’’

“Mmmmmmfff fdrridd lllkkkkn frrrrr.’’

“I’m sorry, Josh. I couldn’t hear you.’’ vJosh pulled back the blanket that was hiding him and Magdalena in the back of the truck.
“I said, I don’t suppose they would fall for a simple, ‘These aren’t the droids you’re looking for?’ ’’

# # #

“How do you know Josh again?’’ Nicollette asked Marcus. “And where are we and where are you taking us?’’

“There’s a long story about my meeting with Josh and while entertaining, I’m afraid it will have to wait for another time, my love,’’ Marcus said, shining his flashlight ahead. “And as for where we are and where we’re going? This is an abandoned escape tunnel built for the Fuhrer himself for the 1936 Olympics. In case of an attack on his body – or more likely, whenever he wanted to duck out for a pop with a particular fetching athlete – this tunnel was his escape. Leads to the other side of the tower. Was forgotten after the Olympics but not by us smugglers. It came in very handy for us during the Cold War. Stored a lot of bootleg tapes in here. In fact . . . ’’

Marcus stopped and swept the flashlight around the tunnel until its light settled on a large wood crate. He hurried over and kicked it open, scattering dozens of plastic cartridges. “Yep, just where I left them before the Wall fell. You interested in a gross of copies of ‘Born to Run’ on eight-track?’’

“Eight-track? What’s eight-track?’’ Nicollette asked.

Marcus walked back and kissed her on the forehead. “Ah, you make me feel old, my love. If only we had more time to sit and discuss it all. But we must hurry out -- our rescuers should be arriving soon.’’

# # #

“Turn off the ignition and step out of the truck. Both of you,’’ the security guard said, his rifle trained on Katie in the drivers seat and Steve in the passengers seat beside her. “Then slowly show me your IDs and security clearances while we check the truck.’’

“Yes sir,’’ Katie replied, her eyes darting nervously to Steve. They began to unbuckle their seat belts.

Katie stepped out of the truck and handed the security guard her pass. He gave it a quick once-over, saw that she was cleared for the area, and was about to examine Steve’s ‘Stars and Stripes’ media pass when he suddenly stopped and raised his hand to his earpiece. He listened for a moment, then motioned for Katie to get back in the truck.

“Pull over there and park, Maynard, and wait for further orders. An emergency has arisen in the stadium. Some hooligans are rioting.’’

# # #

Higgins watched dozens of armed security guards swarm to the other side of the stadium as he, Jill, Chardonnay and Camila swept down to the exit ramp where Nicollette had last been seen. “That Prince, he’s good,’’ Higgins said. “We need a diversion and he gets his hooligans to start a riot. If this royal lineage thing ever goes south on him, he could be one hell of a fixer for Athena’s foreign troublespots.’’

With the entire crowd focused on the hooligan brawl – Taliq was shooting off a fire extinguisher – they were able to race down the stairs quickly to the exit ramp where Marcus had grabbed Nicollette. They saw no sign of her, but they did find Ahmed standing and looking anxious.

“My friends, my heart soars such joy to see you,’’ Ahmed said. “I hope you have come to help Nicollette because I cannot find her. I have searched everywhere but she has disappeared as if the sands of the great desert have blown away her tracks.’’

“What about that door that’s jar?’’ Chardonnay asked.

Ahmed shrugged. “Perhaps. But I do not know where it leads.’’

“Yes, they went through it,’’ Camila said. “We must follow.’’

“How can you tell?’’ Jill asked.

“I have very sensitive nose. I can smell aftershave of Marcus. Is very powerful. Must be from Estonia.’’

Amazing, Jill thought. All season she had wondered whether Camila was a lesbian because of her butch, refrigerator like body. And it turns out she was a man-hunter capable of detecting aftershave at 50 paces.

They ducked through the door.

# # #

Katie drove the truck to where she had been ordered to park and then kept on going.

“Where did you say this Marcus wanted us to meet him?’’

“Behind bell tower,’’ Magdalena said. “On west end of stadium.’’

Steve pointed to the security and stadium crews rushing around the stadium exterior. “Can you get us through all this?’’

“No problem,’’ Katie said. “You’re talking to a gal who learned to drive on a farm when she was seven.’’

Dodging people and obstacles, Katie pulled up to the 247-foot-high bell tower just as Marcus and Nicollette appeared from a door that could barely be seen. “Marcus!’’ Magdalena cried. “Over here!’’

The two dashed over to the truck. “Katie, Josh, Steve -- I don’t know what the hell any of you are doing here, but I’ve never been so glad to see anyone,’’ Nicollette said. “I’d hug each and every one of you but my arms are a little full.’’ She nodded toward the air cannon she still had firmly wrapped in her arms. “We have to be very, very careful with this. It contains a virus that could spread around the world.’’

“Thanks for the souvenir,’’ Steve said. “But couldn’t you have just gotten us a World Cup ’06 t-shirt like everyone else?’’

Katie got out of the truck and took the air cannon from Nicollette. “I think I’m a little more experienced with this sort of thing,’’ she said. “Josh, get me some blankets to wrap this in, will you?”

He did so and they secured the air cannon in the back of the truck. Magdalena greeted Marcus with a kiss.

“But I thought you left to get out of city?’’ she asked the smuggler.

“What, and leave you alone with Josh? Sorry, but I couldn’t risk you two running off and getting married,’’ he replied. “When I saw you two weren’t following me out of town, I doubled back and decided to see what went down at the game. And who should I find but a beautiful damsel in distress. I think you may recognize her.’’

He pointed to Nicollette. “Hi,’’ she said, extending her hand to Magdalena. “I’m Nicollette.’’

“Yes,’’ Magdalena said without accepting the handshake. She gestured toward Nicollette’s bare legs and underwear that was just visible beneath the t-shirt. “Nice pants.’’

“Mrrrowww, catfight,’’ Marcus said, grinning. “But we don’t have time for that, much as I’d love to see it. We better get the hell out of here while we can.’’

“No, not yet,’’ Steve said. “We have to wait for them.’’

Everyone looked over to see Higgins, Jill, Chardonnay, Camila and Ahmed rushing from the tower to the truck.

“My God – housemates keep appearing from nowhere, ’’ Nicollette said. “It’s like clowns popping out of a little circus car.’’

There was precious little time for catching up, though. Instead, everyone crowded into the truck and Katie began to drive.

“OK,’’ she said. “Where to now?’’

“We’ve got to go someplace we can seek asylum, where they’ll take time to listen to Nicollette’s story rather than just jump to conclusions,’’ Higgins said. “And there’s only one place for that.’’

“The U.S. embassy?’’

“No. Somewhere more reliable where we’ll be truly safe,’’ Higgins said. “The Athena headquarters for the World Cup.’’

# # #

Once safely within the Athena building, everything settled out quickly. Higgins’ connections – Athena was the main supplier of footwear to the U.S. military – once again proved invaluable. A couple calls to some NATO commanders explained the situation and the “It’s a Small World’’ group was quickly rounded up and arrested. This was a great relief to the World Cup crowd. One, they had been saved from a devastating viral attack. Two, and more importantly, they didn’t have to listen to “It’s A Small World’’ perform their songs.

Clearing Nicollette also was no problem. Looking for world-wide attention, Reverend Rainbow was only too happy to take full credit for the plot, declaring that far from being an accomplice, Nicollette had broken it up.

Even Ahmed wound up happy. While he missed the first half of the game, he was able to return in time for the second half and see Zidane get kicked out of the game for head-butting an Italian player.

So everyone was happy as they enjoyed a post-game party hosted by the Prince of Mubai at the Athena offices. At least, they were happy until Higgins received a phone call. He spoke briefly and quietly, hung up, then whispered into the Prince’s ear. Clearly displeased, the Prince stood, signaled his bodyguards and began to leave.

Nicollette rushed the Prince before he left.

“About the Olympic team, Your Most Serene Highness,’’ Nicollette said. “I still haven’t decided what I’m going to do. Could I have some more time to think over your offer?’’

“Do not bother -- my offer is rescinded,’’ the Prince said coldly. “I no longer am interested in having you compete for my nation, nor have anything to do with it.’’

“Why? You were begging me to join you before. You were offering me a six-figure salary. What happened?’’

“Mr. Higgins? Could you inform her? I no longer wish to speak with this woman.’’

Nicollette looked to Higgins for an explanation. He shook his head.

“I just got a phone call from WADA, the world doping agency. You tested positive for a performance enhancer at your last meet. You’ve been banned from competition.’’

“What? But that’s not possible! I never took anything. I’ve never taken anything!’’

Higgins looked at Nicollette with a mixture of sadness, sympathy and betrayal. As much as he cared for Nicollette – after their time sharing 24 College Avenue, he considered her almost a daughter – he had heard all this many times before, far too many times. God, couldn’t any athlete simply admit guilt when caught red-handed? Why did they all deny it even though no one believed them? For crying out loud, Ben Johnson still maintained his innocence.

“I don’t know what to say, Nicollette,’’ Higgins offered finally. “I’m sorry.’’

Even during her interrogation by the Special Forces, Nicollette had never cried, not even once. But now as she looked around the room, she felt her ears welling up. These were some of her best friends and she could tell in an instant that none of them believed her, that they already were subtly distancing themselves from her. Well, not Josh. But then, Josh had been so infatuated with her for so long that he would have trusted her if he had walked in and saw her shooting a needle in her ass. It wasn’t Josh she wanted to believe in her. It was everyone else.

“You all know me,’’ she said, a couple tears sliding down her cheeks. “You know I would never cheat like that.’’

She lost it then, bursting into loud, long sobs. Embarrassed and unable to stop, she fled the room.

Josh took a step toward Nicollette but Marcus placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll handle this, my brother. You better get Magdalena back to Prague before it gets any later.’’

“Yes, Josh,’’ Magdalena said, clearly irritated. “You will drive me home, now.’’

Josh nodded reluctantly and watched as Marcus caught up to Nicollette and helped her out the door. He let out an imperceptible moan as the woman he had adored for so long walked away with another man.

An almost imperceptible moan.

“I think,’’ Magdalena said, giving Josh an icy stare, “that in addition to steroids, they should test for silicone and peroxide, too, yes?’’

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