The Night They Shot Santa

Associates News Press Report:

ANP embedded reporter Benjamin Quebert is with the Reindeer Revolution during their ongoing battle against the Enemies of Christmas.

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Benjamin's story continues.

It's an odd coincidence that we are over the mountains of Japan. It was Japan's pilots, during the second world war, who coined the term "Kamazii."

That is most certainly what Just'l has become. His mission has become more important then his own life. Or mine for that matter and I couldn't agree more. While I continue to record these notes, out of habit and in the hope that someday they might be found, I do not expect to live out the day.

The head up display shows that the intercooler pressure is at 137% of safe. It also shows us at Mach 3.22. Every tiny bit of turbulence sends us throttling sideways, sort of like a stone skipping across the water.

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Just'l is paying very close attention to the radar portion of the heads-up display right now. A small, slow moving object has caught his attention.

"On screen, Mr. Sulu." He says to me, but I'm not sure what he wants. He hits a button himself and a portion the displays lights up like a small TV screen. I can see a cable stretched across the mountains. From the cable, hangs a big green sack, pulled along by the other members of the Reindeer Revolution.

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As we watch the screen, we hear the blast and the building goes up in a massive mushroom cloud.. We are close enough now that we can see the explosion with our naked eyes, but it lasts for too many seconds and is too bright. I am momentarily blinded by the flash.

As we suddenly fall into a power dive, I assume that something has gone wrong either with the sled, or it's pilot.

In truth, nothing is wrong.

As my eyes clear, I can see Just'l is heading for the falling bag. The display, now shown in some sort of thermal mode, (when did he do that?) shows that there are two people and two reindeer in it. Also. some of the reindeer are tied to the bag and it's too heavy for them to fly with. Scratching at the sky as they are, their magic hooves can find no purchase.

I can't help myself. I stop breathing.