THE GOLDEN ORB

By Atonia Walpole

Part 4

Her bike was loaded in the back of the armored black SUV and she was driven to his home, a fortress now with the gang lined across the front gates. He made her a drink and handed it to her as he walked to the front blinds, peering out.

“Come and look. See, they are like fireflies there with their penlights. I wonder do they sleep in shifts or do they have replacements for night duty? You’re on the inside now looking out. It’s very different.”

She looked out with him. “Yes…it is. I wouldn’t know about night duty. I only came on early this morning.”

“I know. You were detected by my houseman, Kim. He keeps count and descriptions of the watchers.”

He was very near her and his voice seemed to reverberate in her chest.  He smelled spicy and exotic. She turned her head toward him slightly, meeting his eyes.

“You don’t deserve this, do you? Why has it come down on you?”

He raised a brow. ”Oh, but I do deserve it. You do not know.”

“Will you tell me?”

“Perhaps…later. Come and see my fish.”

He led the way into a room softly lit by the underwater lights of the koi pond that stretched through the wall into the room. Several red pillows were about the edges and he sat cross-legged on one, opening a lacquered box. “Sit and you can feed them.” He offered her the box and threw some of the food into the water to show her how it was done.

“They’re beautiful! So much color.” She went down on the cushion beside him and fed his fish. “Do they have names?”

“Yes, I have named them all. There are 24 of them.”

“You’re a greedy one,” she said to a fish.

“That’s Sampson. He is the oldest and the largest. You can see why,” he smiled.

“He eats it all.” She laughed a little and looked up at him. The shadows from the lighted water reflected across his face. She smiled to herself. They were his pets and he delighted in them. “Where does this pond go? Outside?”

“Into a glassed room, a conservatory. Come. I will show you.” He stood up.

“Oh, this is…it’s lovely! You grow orchids.”

“Many plants I have in here as well as the fish and there are birds.” He looked up toward the glassed ceiling.

She stood still in the middle of the room and could hear the birds twittering up in the branches of the bamboo plants that were potted along with other trees she couldn’t name, not being a gardener or botanist, but she loved the room.  “This room must give you much pleasure, a feast for the senses.”

He tilted his head and smiled at her description of his conservatory. “A feast, yes, I suppose it is. It is my one concession to my English father.”

“Is he still living?”

“No, he died many years ago. I was only a young boy.”

“He lived here. Were you born here?”

“I was born in Coventry and came here with my mother after my father died. She still lives.”

She could understand why he didn’t want to leave and why should he? “You’re not worried about Hong Kong being returned to China, are you?”

“No, I don’t know how it will affect me, maybe not at all. They say we will remain as we are.”

The dossier she had on him said he was English on the outside and Chinese on the inside. She could see that now.

They had a meal and then walked out onto the patio. He showed her the pool, aqua and lighted, looking almost out of place in the discreetly lit garden.

“You have a lovely home, David. Thank you for sharing it with me.”

He looked away from her. “I do not ask many people to come here. I don’t entertain.” He looked back at her. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

“Yes.”

“I will ask you for your cell phone. You understand my position. I want to trust you but I cannot. Not yet, maybe never.” He smiled a little. “Never ends in two days. I would like to spend this time with you if you would agree. I am alone most of the time here. Sometimes I am lonely and sometimes I am alone. There is a difference, you understand. I don’t want to be lonely now.”

“You speak as though you only have two more days to live or something. Do you think  you’re going to die? Have you been threatened?”

“I have been threatened but I will not give them the satisfaction of killing me for a golden orb that is not real. It is not anything. I will destroy it myself and perhaps I will be destroyed with it. I do not know what fate has in store for me.”

She put her hand in her jeans pocket and came up with her phone, checked for messages and handed it to him. “I hope you can believe that I’m staying with you because I want to, not because I’ve been ordered to and ordered to report the results.”

He handed the phone to Kim, who had quietly come out onto the patio. “Good night, Kim.” He bowed a little.

“He will give it to you when you leave. Charlie, it doesn’t matter what I believe.” He moved to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Nothing matters right now, the orb, the world…nothing.” His hands moved to her face and he kissed her, exploring a little at first and then deepening the kiss.

Her hands went around his back and she gave into him.

Sunlight slowly creeping into the bedroom sent a soft glow over the bed. Charlie was awake, her body still not acclimated to the time zone. She shifted slightly beside the sleeping man, his beautiful body curled against her. He was beautiful, she thought. Everything about him graceful and alive. How could he have gotten himself involved in this dangerous shipment? She looked up at the ceiling, ornately carved dark wood, and tried to make out the figures, dragons maybe.

Today, somehow she had to persuade him and if as he said his life was in danger, then she had to save him in the process. Yes, she had to save him. That was becoming more important than the orb itself.  She felt his hand on her hip and turned to him.

After a swim and a breakfast she was dressed in one of his kimonos while Kim washed her clothes. They were in the bedroom as he was dressing to go out.

“I may be gone when you get back. Will I see you later tonight?”

He slipped the fine leather belt around his waist. “Stay here. I won’t be long.”

“But, I….”

“There is only today and there is nothing you have to do, nothing you can do. Relax…work on your tan.” He smiled and reached for his tie.

“I could go with you.”

“You haven’t any clothes.” He leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. “That color suits you.” He observed the emerald green silk against her skin and hair.

“David…let me help you, please.”

“There is nothing you can do to help me.”

“Yes, there is. I can’t…please, I don’t want anything to happen to you over this thing, this stupid orb. I could go and pick up the substitute. It would be an easy thing for you to.…”

“You are still working,” he smiled, straightening the tie and picked up his jacket. “Take the day off, have a holiday.” He took her by the hands, pulling her from the bed and kissed her. “I will see you soon.”

Still she grabbed his hand and held it. “David, last night…it was exquisite. I don’t know when I’ve felt so completely satisfied and…and loved. I don’t want it to end, not tomorrow, not…I can’t let you…please.” She knew she was rambling, desperately trying to hold him there.

He kissed the inside of her wrist. “I must go. The car is waiting.”

She ran to the front of the house, watching through the blinds as his special vehicle exited the gates surrounded by a gang on motorbikes.

Kim brought her clothes and lay them on the bed. He’d been in and cleaned and straightened the bedroom. As she dressed she noticed her wad of bills on the dresser but the key to her bike was not there. She knew it had been earlier in the morning. He meant for her to stay.  Time was running out for her to talk him into helping them acquire the orb. So far she wasn’t even on first base.

Brian wrote the word treble on the legal pad before him. No he didn’t remember trebles whatever that was. He frowned. Treble, could it be an anagram?  A clue…a clue to what?  As he played with the word it began to come to him.

T – Tell the story

R- Remember the story

E- Enter into a contract

B – Believe it

L – Lie, tell one lie

E – End…ends…

He fumbled around with end, how it ends - that was it. A silly game they played at school. You told a story to several people, the same story and in that story was a lie but the rest was true. You had to discover by whatever means what the lie was. The teller had to tell the truth to one person who could not repeat the story to anyone. It ended when someone told the story without the lie.

He licked his lips and reached for the folder with the transcript of the interview with Cramer. Somewhere in these pages was the lie. He began to read, underlining with a red pen everything Blaine had said.

It was a stupid game, something Blaine and Ali had cooked up…Ali, the Prince of Arabia they’d called him. Brian stared at the wall. He’d always hated him because he was the object of Blaine’s affections.  Rich as Croesus, he’d showered Blaine with everything, private jet trips to France, yachts in the Mediterranean. He’d given him jewels; he remembered the ring. His lips formed a thin line and he looked back at the transcript. He’d find it…the lie.

Blaine liked to visit his businesses each day and talk to the people who ran them for him. His main income came from a micro-chip company. He also owned a computer company and two import/export companies. He was a wealthy man who lived quietly to himself.

His last stop was Trade Imports and he sat behind closed doors with his mangers. They were all aware of the shipment now lying offshore. They knew something important was coming in but were not told what it was. Blaine informed them he would be there to accept the shipment personally. He would be taking responsibility for it and they were not to let anyone else into the building except him.

Finished with his rounds, he began to think about Charlie and what he was going to do about her. If he let her leave she would go straight to Cramer and some inner part of him would be exposed, discussed and handled by people he detested. He would keep her with him until tomorrow and then it wouldn’t matter who poked round in his life.

Keeping her with him brought a smile to his face. In another time, perhaps another place, he might have loved her. He might pretend that it was so now. It would give him pleasure for the remaining hours of this life. A woman to love him and hold him.

Part 5

Brian thought he’d pin-pointed it. ‘It may not exist at all’ spoken so casually. He’d listened to the tapes over and over, making sure it had been transcribed correctly. But if that was the lie then the orb did exist. It was the word ‘may’ that stopped him. Had he done that deliberately to throw him off? He ran his hand through his short, curly hair and let out a breath. Not exist at all... the whole thing was a hoax. The orb was dug up in Saudi Arabia which could only mean that Ali was involved.

He didn’t feel he had enough to go to Cramer with but he could go to Blaine and lay it out, get the truth out of him. Brian grabbed his jacket and headed toward the stairs.

Some of the wind got knocked out of him when he reached Blaine’s house. He took one look at the men surrounding the place and backed off. He turned around in the street and looked up and down the pavement at the cars parked, sunglasses behind tinted windows. Now and again someone would get out of a car and snap a picture. Hitching up his pants, he walked over to one of the men standing guard.

“I need to get a message to Blaine. Treble…tell him treble from Brownie.” He screwed his mouth around and backed off. Returning to his car, he leaned on the door to see what would happen.

The message was relayed to Kim, who kept his silence until Blaine returned an hour later. He met Blaine and gave him the message.

David looked at him a moment then walked to the front window. “Is he still there?”

“Yes, in the second car across the street. He has his window down on the driver side.”

“In twenty minutes I will see him here in this room.”

He went to his bedroom and removed his suit and tie. When he came out he was wearing a pair of black linen drawstring pants. He went to the conservatory and looked out toward the pool. she was there sunbathing in the nude as he had hoped. He planned to join her as soon as he got rid of Brownie.

“You kept me waiting long enough. You get off on that, Blaine?”

David was filling a cigarette paper and didn’t look up. “I wasn’t here. I’ve only just arrived a few minutes ago.” He looked up then, running the tip of his tongue over the edge of the paper, watching Brown.

“You bloody bastard. Treble…why couldn’t you just tell me it was a God damned hoax?”

“A hoax?” David raised a brow. “But you haven’t got it right, have you?”

“No? Well, I mean to get it right before I leave here. I worked it out…may not exist at all.” Suddenly he realized he hadn’t got it right. “That was it, wasn’t it?”

David smiled and lit his cigarette.

“Okay, so that’s not it. I never was good at this but one thing I got right. It is a hoax. Cooked up between your old lover, Ali and you.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“I’m right. I know I’m right. It’s all a show, a bloody show. Nobody else could afford to send an empty box from Saudi to Hong Kong in a private ship. You’re mad, the both of you.”

“You’re beginning to foam at the mouth, Brownie.” David moved from the back of the table to within a foot of him. “In the first place, I had nothing to do with this orb until I was contacted. Now you know I cannot tell the story.” He took a draw off his cigarette. “It is for you to figure out. I owe you nothing.”

“It was Ali. He started it rolling. Blaine, you don’t know what you’ve done. This is not some college funny. People are ready to go to war over this.”

“I have done nothing. I am only to receive the package.”  He turned away, walking a few paces toward the window. “What I do with it then…I will end the game. You will be able to explain if you choose to do so. You may smear my name from ocean to ocean. It will not matter to me but do not mention Prince Ali. It is best to leave those waters untroubled.”

“Why are you protecting him? He dumped you and went home and got married.”

“He is my friend, possibly the only one I have ever had. He is part of the royal family. Why bring disgrace upon his house?” He turned back to Brown. “Don’t let your jealousy cloud your thinking.” He smiled a little. “I was never his lover.” He raised a brow and went over to a table, putting out his cigarette in a bowl.

“What am I going to tell Cramer, that it’s all a joke? Lord Sheffield will have him for lunch.”

“You want me to solve your problem and I cannot do that.”

Brian rubbed his face. “I’m going to tell him to back off, it’s a hoax. If he moves on the orb he’s going to embarrass us all. You know, I thought it was crazy from the get go. Never believed such a thing could exist but he did. He was all fired up over it. I don’t know who told him about it, somebody in London I think. Somebody pretty high up put the orders out through Lord Sheffield.”

“You’ll be a hero, Brownie. Think of it.”

“Or I’ll be out of a job.” He looked at Blaine. The sun coming in from the blinds sent stripes across his bare chest. “Well, that’s what I’m going with. You don’t want to add anything to it, do you?”

“I have nothing to add.” He turned slightly. “Kim will see you out.”

Brian stopped at the entrance to the hallway. “Have you seen Charlie?”

Blaine looked at him a moment. “Not since this morning.”

“Yeah, okay. If you see her again, tell her to check in.”

“Of course.”

 Charlie turned over on the lounge chair and sat up, picking up the citrus drink Kim had brought her.  She didn’t have her watch out by the pool and had no idea what time it was. She looked up at the sky. The sun was well past noon, maybe between two and three. He’d said he would be back soon and she wished he would come. Her whole focus during the hours she’d spent at his house, checking out his books, his  music, his closet was to figure out how to save him. If he happened to have the orb with him all the better, but either way she wasn’t going to stand by and watch him be destroyed.

She’d grown quite fond of the man who lived in this house. It said so much about him. A breeze had come up causing the wind chimes hung over the patio to tinkle. Some were like tiny bells. A peaceful place, she thought.

He came out of the conservatory door, quietly crossed the grass and dove in the pool. Charlie jumped and turned on the chair. He came up at the edge of the pool beside her chair.

“When did you get back? I’ve been.…”

“Did  you miss me?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. I’m glad you’re back.”

“Come into the water with me.”

Charlie let down the towel she had around her middle, slipped into the cool water and into his arms.

“Your skin is hot. You’ve had too much sun.”

“Fast tracking my tan. Is everything all right?”

“Yes. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I don’t know. I…I worry about you.”

“It’s been a long time since someone has worried over me,” he smiled and hugged her close.

“I’m a natural worrier so I think I’ll stick close by you.”

“Um, how close?” He pulled her even closer.

She could feel his manhood against her pelvis. “Closer,” she whispered, bringing her legs around his waist.

He was still breathing heavily when a movement on the patio caught his eye. He reached for one of the towels they had spread on the grass, got up and walked over to Kim, taking his phone.

“Ali.”

“I have been thinking over our last conversation and I must apologize for not immediately understanding your position. I cannot imagine a world without you in it somewhere and therefore I have taken steps to save you from yourself.”

“That was not necessary.”

“I believe it is. I know you too well and I know what you plan to do. Were I in your shoes I would do the same but I cannot allow this to happen. I have dispatched your saviors. They should be arriving as we speak. You may not see them but know that they are there. I am now in complete agreement the orb must be destroyed. It was a bit of fun while it lasted.”

“Ali,” he looked out towards the sea, “let me do this. I am ready.”

“No, my darling Blaine, because I am not ready to lose you. Do you think I could live with myself knowing I caused your death…no.  Besides I already have a story as to the orb’s demise. Shall I tell it to you?”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

Ali laughed a little. “You will not suffer, my dear, from this misguided game. I will see to that. It is the least I can do for you. You know…I still love you and I would do anything for you.”

“I know,” he softly replied.

“If something should go terribly wrong, call me immediately for I expect you to be alive.”

“I will. Um, Brownie was here today. He’s figured it out, not all of it, but he knows and will tell his people to pull out.”

“Brownie? Ah ha! Well, he’s come along then. Good. Perhaps the word will spread quickly. I am sorry to have caused you this problem. I would never do anything to hurt you. Send me a card sometime. You don’t have to write anything but I’ll know you were thinking of me.”

“I do think of you often. Good bye, Ali, and thank you.”

He walked back to the towel and sat down beside Charlie, who was still curled in a post-coital fog.

“Are you awake?”

“Yes.” She looked up and propped herself on an elbow.

“I’m going to tell you a story," he began. “It is a true story without a lie and you cannot tell anyone until they tell you the story as you know it to be true.”

Charlie frowned a little.

“There was a man in a foreign country who owned a construction company. One day while they were digging they came upon a tomb.  Work stopped and the director of antiquities was brought in to examine the tomb. It had been raided but left inside was an urn. He went to move it and the bottom came off and out rolled a golden orb. It was taken to the owner of the construction company, a man of some importance and influence. He claimed it and used it as a paperweight for a while.

“Now this man follows world politics and has close ties with many countries.  He was sickened daily by reports of wars and turbulence over the world and so he devised a plan based on a game he used to play in school. He made claims of finding a golden orb imbued with special powers. He says he knows this because of the inscriptions on its casket. He tells of things he has done with the aid of the orb and he wishes to share his good fortune and so he puts it out on the market to the highest bidder.

“You must know in the beginning he only told one person of its existence, an ally, and from there word spread as it will. There were people in and out of his embassies inquiring about the orb. That’s what prompted him to place it up for bids.

“By the time the story reached bid time it had grown and now the orb possessed such power that whoever owned it could rule the world, right all wrongs, everything, including curing cancer and the common cold. The bid war went on for some time until one winner was declared.”

“As promised, he plans to deliver the orb to the highest bidder but he does not trust it to arrive safely so he contacts someone he does trust to deliver it to its new owner. An elaborate show is made of the shipment, a fine ship with an escort sets off.

“How does the story end, David?”

He took a breath. “That will have to wait for another day.  You understand what I have told you?”

“Yes, and  I’m not surprised, maybe a little surprised at the gullibility of so called leaders.”

She reached for his hand and kissed the back of it. “I’ll help you write the ending.”

Part 6

“I’ll tell you something else,” he looked at her, “today when I was coming home and knew you would be here.…”

“You took the key to my bike.”

His eyes flashed mischievously. “I did, yes. I told myself that in another place, in another time, I might fall in love with you but as I only had today and tonight I would pretend that I had and that you loved me in return and that would give me pleasure.”

She met his smile with her own. “It gives me pleasure, too. David, don’t you think in light of what you’ve told me that…nothing is going to happen tomorrow to shorten your life? I said I wanted to be close to you and I intend to be.”

“I think things may have changed but I cannot say to what extent. I had a visitor when I returned home, Brownie. He knows, not all the details, but he knows it is a hoax.”

“Brian was here? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have gone with him?”

“I…no, but I should at least let him know I’m alive.”

“He knows. I told him I had last seen you this morning.”

“Oh, thanks. That will play right into Cramer.” She turned his hand over in hers and looked at his nails. They were manicured. She kissed them. “What you said about pretending is not far from the truth.  I’ve spent the day going over your house as I’m sure you knew I would." She looked up into his eyes. “I could very easily love the man who lives here. Why do you want to kill him?”

“I don’t but it may be necessary. To lose face is to bring dishonor to one's house, to one’s family. I cannot do that to my mother’s house. She herself would think it better that I die an honorable death.”

“There is no honor in suicide.” She sat up and pulled the towel around her. “I understand we are from different cultures but I want you alive so I can explore the possibilities. I’m selfish that way.”

“Possibilities.” He touched her face and kissed her softly on the lips. “I’m going to leave you for awhile and meditate. I do this in the conservatory. Go where you wish here. I will find you in an hour.”

Meditate? Charlie thought maybe she should do a little of that herself. She was here on a job, being paid to swim and make love to this man. She looked down at the towel, tightened it around her and got up, walking back to her chair. No, she wasn’t being paid to love him. That she had done on her own. She was paid to get the orb and now it was worthless. Her job here was done as far as it went but she didn’t want to leave. She’d fallen into his world and found it to her liking.

Cramer was angry. Brian saw that when he walked into his office and sat down.

“I’ve not seen one phone call from Charlie and where the hell have you been?”

“I’ve been out to Blaine’s.”

“The ship is being escorted in as we speak.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore, Mr. Cramer. The whole thing is a hoax. There is no orb, no super powers, nothing. It was a scam from the beginning to stir up trouble.”

Cramer stared at him. “What…where did you get this information? From Blaine?”

“No, he wouldn’t confirm or deny anything but I know for sure it’s a hoax. It’s a game they used to play in school.”

“Who? I want names!”

“I…I can’t give you the names. He’s a…he’s royal. It would stir up something worse than an orb.” He shifted uncomfortable in his seat, uncomfortable in the room.

“Fraud, bloody fraud! Why haven’t you arrested Blaine?” he shouted.

“I have no proof. It’s all speculation but I would strongly advise that we pull back from this. We don’t want to end up with egg on our faces.”

“Charlie’s disappeared.”

“She spent the night with Blaine. I didn’t see her if she was still there.”

“I can’t believe it’s not true. All the major players are here waiting to get their hands on it. What if you’re wrong? We’ll have lost our chance by pulling out, not to mention our hides once word gets back to London.”

“I’ve made my recommendation, Mr. Cramer. I know the man who instigated this hoax. He’s got enough money to buy London and Hong Kong.  He was one of those people, if you will, that always played the devil’s advocate in a debate. He was believable and convincing in his arguments. It would have been no problem for him to launch a story about an orb and sit back and see where it went. He sold it to China. Let them deal with him.”

Cramer put his head in his hands for a minute. “Get out. I have some phone calls to make.”

Charlie went back inside, quietly moving a sliding door here and there and touching the thin rice paper panels. Some were made of shell. It was a quiet house with only the sound of water coming from the koi room, a pleasant sound. She went to the bedroom and pulled on the kimono she’d been wearing around the house. At a slight movement, she turned. There was nothing there but a sense that she was being watched. It unnerved her and she left the room, going to the koi room. She had no idea where Kim went when he wasn’t in sight. He moved silently though the house and was obviously devoted to David.

The fish afforded some company while she waited for David. They came to the edge of the water, sensing her there and looking for food. She found the box and scattered a little over the water. The hour seemed an awfully long time. At last she heard his voice softly speaking to someone and then he came through the door from the conservatory, dressed in the black linen pants.

“You’re going to spoil them.”  He came over and sat by her.

She fought down the desire to fling herself in his arms and sat quietly. “Who else is in the house besides Kim?”

“Why do you ask?" He reached over and took some fish food from the box, feeding the fish.

“I had a strange feeling in the bedroom that I was being watched. You don’t think someone has penetrated the gang outside do you?”

“No, no one has penetrated the gang who would wish me harm…or you.”

“ I looked out front. There are two less cars out there.”

“Good, perhaps by morning there will be none.”

“It’s over, isn’t it?”

“For some I think perhaps it is. Word will spread fast.”

“For you, is it over for you?”

His eyes told her nothing.

“There’s nothing to receive now, is there, no need for you to do anything?”

“There is the orb. It’s very real and I shall receive it.”

“What will you do with it? Send it back to your friend?”

“No, I shall destroy it.”

“Why? The game's over now.”

He placed the lid on the box. “I think it is time we fed ourselves. Come. We will eat on the patio and watch the sunset.”

She tried to push the anxiety back but it kept creeping up her throat, making it hard to swallow her meal. She was frustrated with him for not giving her straight answers.

“Will you answer me one simple question…when you say you’re going to destroy the orb, exactly what do you mean? How are you going to destroy it and why?”

“That’s two questions that will require two answers. You only asked for one. So I will tell you the why. I told you my mother still lives. She went back to her people many years ago while I was still in school. She is well provided for and well taken care of. She lives on mainland China. She has a brother who is well, very well placed in the government there. I am acquainted with him, my uncle. It is he who pressed for the winning bid.”

“Oh, my God!”

“Yes. Now do you understand why this is personal for me?”

“Oh…David…no!”

“An honorable death will erase much.”

Tears welled in her eyes and she looked away from him. “I won’t let you do it.”

“Eat your dinner. Kim will be offended,” he said quietly.

“How do you expect me to sit here and calmly eat a meal? You’ve let me…let me into your life, let me love you and now you’re going to take it away?” She got up from the table, walking out into the garden.

David stared into his plate then put his chop sticks down beside it. It had gone beyond pretending for her and for him as well. He could see her just beyond the hedges. She would not understand no matter how he explained it. He got up and went to her, turning her to him and holding her while she wept.

“Charlie, I didn’t mean for this to happen. How is one to know when love will find you? I wasn’t looking for it and I don’t think you were either. I am very sorry to cause you such anguish. I feel it inside me, too. We aren’t pretending any more.”

She lifted her head, wiping her eyes. “No, we aren’t pretending that we love. I’m sorry, too. I came here to try and get inside of you and to persuade you to turn the orb over to us...to them. I thought you might be an interesting man. I got more than I was looking for. I’m okay now…not usually a weeping woman. I don’t cry often.”

“Look there.” He turned her around and held her back against his chest. “The sun is about to drown. Look what a beautiful picture it has painted in the sky for us to remember it by. Tomorrow it will rise again and tonight’s death will be forgotten. It is a cycle repeated over and over. That’s what life is, Charlie. The lilies there on the walkway will die and rise again with the seasons. It is the nature of things to live and die and rise again. Do not distress yourself.” He moved his face on the side of her head. “I love you and that will not die.”

His voice was so low and intimate and calming she turned in his arms and kissed him. “I won’t let it die,” she said against his lips. She fully intended to stick by his side the next day and protect him.

He was up and dressed when he woke her the next morning. “Come and have breakfast with me.”

“Why didn’t you wake me? You let me sleep.” She sat up, confused.

“You are beautiful when you sleep.” He took her hand, pulled her from the sheets and tied the green kimono around her.

She felt heavy from lack of sleep. They’d made love most of the night and talked of everything except the morning. Now it was here and she wasn’t ready.

“Just a quick bite and I’ll get dressed.” She sat down at the low table. Kim brought her a pot of tea and she drank most of it before she started to get up and swayed. “Whoa…!” She tried to focus on him and steady herself. There were two, three, four of him and then nothing.

He rose from the table and caught her, carrying her back to the bed, gently kissing her and covering her. “I’m sorry, darling.”

There was only one car outside of the gates when he left in his armored SUV.

Part 7

He sat before the table that had been prepared. In the center of the table was the box. Once he was alone in the room he took the case cutter left beside it, opened the box and pulled out a jeweled casket. A smile played about his lips. “Nice touch, Ali,” he said under his breath. He carefully removed the casket and opened it. There nestled in a bed of silk was the softly gleaming orb. He took it in his hand and examined it. It had some weight to it and then he placed it back in the casket.

He sighed, looked around the room, took the casket to the door and softly knocked.  The two Arabs who guarded the door stepped aside as he left. Their job was finished.

He was driven back to his house and he asked the driver to stop for a moment at the foot of the drive so that he might observe the angles of his roof against the clear blue sky, the colors of the flowers and shrubs he’d planted and then he sat back in the seat. The vehicle parked  and he went around to the back of the house with the casket.

Kim was on the patio waiting for him. They exchanged a look and a bow and he walked toward the path that would take him down to the sea below. The path zigzagged down the hillside, many steps with pauses here and there so one might appreciate the view or the plantings or a water feature. He did all these things, taking his time.

Once on the beach he headed for his dock where his sailboat waited. Placing the casket in the cabin, he climbed out and went to the little storage building by the dock. He made several trips carrying cans of fuel. Once he was finished with his preparations he stepped back onto the beach and rolled two cigarettes. One he smoked walking along the beach looking up toward his house where Charlie lay sleeping.

Charlie. He bit his lip. Of all times for her to appear in his life, why now? He blinked away tears and shaded his eyes, looking up at his home. He thought of his fish and smiled. A dark figure appeared above at the edge of his garden, Kim. He raised his hand to him, stamped out his cigarette and moved under a row of trees toward the beach and his destiny.

Charlie came to in waves, fighting back from the blackness that took her. She rolled up on the side of the bed holding her head. It pounded with her heartbeat. As consciousness returned, she blinked and looked around the room. Her clothes had been brought in, neatly folded on the foot of the bed and she reached for them. She noticed her cell phone, her money and the keys to the bike on the dresser.

Fear took her now and propelled her out of the bedroom, buttoning her shirt as she ran though the house, calling for David, but the house was silent. She ran out onto the patio and saw Kim standing at the edge of the walkway.

“Kim, Kim!” she called. “Where is he?”

Kim turned to her but said nothing, his attention directed at something below.

“Kim…where is he?” She ran to him, catching his sleeve. He looked at her and then out to the sea.

Charlie looked, too, a sailboat out in the bay. “Is that…is he…no…no…!” She ran toward the pathway.

It was a spectacular explosion and the sight of it sent Charlie to the bottom of the steps she had started down, in a heap. She pulled herself up, unmindful of the pain.

“NOoooooooooo! Oh, God, NOooooooooo!!” she screamed and scrambled down the stairs, falling and catching herself. Once she looked up for Kim but he was gone.

She went to her knees on the beach, flung sand about her and screamed. Smoke was still billowing over the waves. The scent of burning fuel reached her and she fell forward on the sand past caring now, past anything. She let the remnants of the drug in her system take her.

Around the edge of her darkness little wisps of voices found her now and again. Once she felt hands upon her, another time something cool on her face, but always she sought that velvet darkness where nothing could touch her.

“I think she might be rejoining us,” was the first clear thing she’d heard. Someone had her wrist and she blinked and opened her eyes. “There you are. Welcome back.” He had a kind face, rosy cheeks and clear gray eyes.

She stared at him and slowly turned her head. “Where...hospital?”

“Yes, I suppose you could say that.” He pumped the blood pressure cup tightly on her arm.

He was English and he smiled as he wrote something down on a clip board.  “You’ve had quite a nasty fall. Afraid we might lose you for a bit.”

“Fall…?” she repeated and squeezed her eyes together, tears escaping  down the sides of her head as the last thing she remembered came full front in her mind.

“I’ll get you some tea,” he said soothingly and left her for a moment.

Her chest shook for a minute as she silently cried. He was back, raising her bed and wheeling a tray table over her bed. “Have your tea, love.”

“Thank you,” she managed and went to push herself up and realized her right arm was in a cast. “My arm.”

“Fractured, nothing that won’t knit. You’ve got a badly sprained ankle, multiple scrapes and bruises and a slight concussion. Other than that, you’re fine.” He smiled settling her tray. “Milk, sugar?”

“Yes, please. How did I get here?” she remembered looking up for Kim. “Did Kim bring me?”

“I have no idea how or who brought you aboard. You’ll have to save those questions for someone else. I’m glad you’re back with us.” He patted her arm and left her alone.

“Aboard?” she repeated, but he had closed her door. She drank her tea and looked all around the small room she was in. Yes, it wasn’t a hospital at all but a cabin of some kind aboard a ship. Her mind began combing the possibilities. Perhaps Brian had come looking for her and found her or Cramer but why would she be on a ship? Had Kim found her and shipped her off somewhere? Her head ached and shakily she set the tea cup back on the tray.

Her next visitor was the ship’s doctor. He spoke English flawlessly and was very brisk but he had a warm smile for her just before he left.

“Now that you’re awake and taking tea, I will let him know he can come and see you.” And he was out of the door.

She watched the door for a moment before picking up her cup and finishing her tea. “OH!” The cup went flying to the floor.

“Charlie….” He moved to the bed, mindful of her arm and put his arms around her.

“David.…”

After a tearful reunion for both of them he explained.

“You remember the story I told you, the story without a lie. The man who launched the orb is a very dear friend of mine. I talked with him and told him about my position and that I had decided to destroy the orb and end the game. He knew what I meant to do and he sent three of his most trusted men to prevent me from carrying out my plan. I regret to say that one has sacrificed himself on my behalf.” He bowed his head a moment and closed his eyes. “When I was about to board my sailboat I was taken from behind and held while one man removed my jacket and put it on and walked to the boat. I was immediately taken away by two men along the shore until we came to a boat landing where I was put in a vehicle and taken to this ship.

Later they went back for you and brought you here. We’ve been at sea now for three days.  Charlie, officially I am dead. I can never go back.” He looked away for a moment. “But I have you. When I heard you were injured I…I was in much pain for you. I am sorry, sorry you’ve been hurt on my account.”

“I’ll be fine…David, I thought you were dead and I wanted to be, too. If you’re officially dead now…what am I?”

“The news is that you threw yourself into the sea and drowned. Your body was never recovered. I have to believe Kim told the authorities that because you never picked up your phone or your things from the dresser where I left them for you. The line said you were so distraught that you committed suicide to be with me.” He smiled a little smile.

She smiled back. “I might have done so if I hadn’t passed out. That was some powerful drug I was given.”

“You were supposed to sleep all day.”

“Well, I didn’t. Something inside me brought me out of it.” She touched his face. “Since we’re both dead, where are we headed now?”

“Tokyo, where we will pick up new identities and from there I don’t know.” He turned his head and kissed her palm.

“I…oh, I was going to say I had a bank account in Tokyo but I can’t access it now because I’m dead.”

“My affairs were in order. However, my friend has made me another gift. We shall not want for anything.”

She touched the sleeve of the pale blue silk shirt he wore. “I haven’t any clothes. All my things were in the hotel.”

“My friend has provided for me,” he looked down at his clothes, “and you might be surprised what you have. He has given you a dowry.”

“A dowry? What sort of friend is this?”

“I’m not sure I can answer that.” He took a breath. “He loves me.”

“So do I.”

“Yes, I know and that’s the best gift of all.” He kissed her softly. “I should let you get some rest now.”

“No, no, don’t leave me. I don’t want you out of my sight.”

“But where could I go?” he laughed a little. “We’re in the China Sea aboard a ship. You rest, darling. I’ll be back and if you need me, ask for me.”

“Oh, I need you all right!” she smiled, holding his hand until he stood up. “I was just thinking what you said about the cycle of life in the garden. We’ve died and now we're reborn.”

“It’s true. We have a new life ahead of us.”

“I’m sorry about your house. It was so beautiful and peaceful.”

“I will build another somewhere. We will build it. I have to keep reminding myself I’m not alone anymore.” He laced his fingers with hers.

“No, neither of us are. That may take some getting used to.”

“Rest now. When you wake we will decide our future together.”  He leaned over and kissed her for a long time before pulling away. “I love you, Charlie.”

“Yes.” She smiled, watching him leave her room and wanting him back. It would always be that way when he walked away from her.

David went up on deck, walked over to the railing and rolled a cigarette, cupping his hands to light it. It was a fine ship, one of the escorts for the orb. He thought of Ali and what he had done for him, even going so far as to give his lover a dowry. He’d loved Ali, too, probably more than he could ever tell him. He turned his head toward the wind, feeling it in his hair and across his skin. Love was a strange thing in its many forms. It had saved his life and given him new life in the form of Charlie.

CONTINUED IN A THOUSAND NEW PATHS

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