Rod and Iselle stayed at the pub until well after 11.00pm. Iselle didn’t sing any more but was content to sit and listen. In the few moments of her song, she had established her presence in the group and was now totally accepted. Rod, on the other hand, still felt like an outsider.
Back at the chalet, Iselle announced that she was off to bed and that she would see him in the morning. Rod took this as a hint that she wanted to be left alone and put the TV and video machine on to see what was on the tape that Iselle had given him that afternoon.
In moments, he was enthralled. The video started with an advancing troop of soldiers who fanned out across an open plain that offered only the protection of the few trees and old stone properties. The soldiers advanced quickly, taking advantage of what cover they could. Rod recognised that three of them held long tubes like Iselle had shown him earlier.
Suddenly, a huge tank emerged from behind the trees, its small armaments splitting bullets viciously at the soldiers. The concentration of fire was terrifying causing Rod to shrink back and several of the soldiers broke cover and ran towards the group of trees behind them whilst others hugged the ground. The tank spotted the retreating soldiers and lumbered forward in chase and towards the rest of the troop that were pinned down.
Suddenly, one of the soldiers with the long tube was up and bracing himself against a short stubby tree. The tube belched fire and the projectile covered the short distance to the tank in an instant. The tank seemed to disintegrate rather than explode. One minute a living fighting thinking machine, the next a nightmare of heaving, twisted white hot metal - and dead.
Then all the soldiers were advancing again. Another tank appeared and yet another one spitting bullets. This time two tubes were pointed and two projectiles instantly curved towards the lumbering monsters - both kills. One further tank appeared, disgorged troops who ran for the stone building and laid down a hail of automatic fire like a curtain. The tank received two missiles, causing a truly massive explosion and a final missile destroyed the stone building. A surviving soldier dived out of a window in flames and lay twitching on the ground until a chatter of bullets from one of the advancing soldiers made him still. Then the tape was over.
Rod rewound the tape and played it again and again. The soldiers firing the projectiles were his heroes. They stood straighter, prouder and stronger. He longed to be like them, to feel the cold metal in his hands and the exultation and joy of the kill. After a while, he wandered into the garage and spent some time gazing at the armaments, longing to pick it up. Then it was in his hands he was imagining he was one of the soldiers. He thought he heard a sound and went into the lounge but it was empty. The door to Iselle’s bedroom was open a little and with his toe he pushed it open more. Iselle was lying on her back with one leg bent at the knee and an arm behind her head, eyes closed. Rod still had a long tube on her shoulder and with a sardonic smile allowed it to fall and point towards her legs.
“I have a machine pistol under the blankets,” said the sleepy voice, ” and you can guess where it’s pointing, you will get a chance to play with your new toys in the morning. Now, remove yourself at once.” Rod had no doubt that she would carry out her threat and went back to console himself with more viewings of the video.
Morning came with bright sunlight streaming through the window and the chatter of birds in the bushes and trees.
Rod had a hangover from the beers that had put into sleep the night before that Iselle was wide-awake and making plans. By 10.00 in the morning they were on the beach dressed in wet suits similar to those worn by the men that have made the delivery the previous day and trudging across muddy sand.
“These canisters weigh a ton,” complained Rod. “I still don’t see why we had to bring them as well.”
“You never know who’s watching and you never know who you will meet. When everything is going well, it is easy to relax and as soon as you do, everything falls apart. Expect the unexpected and be prepared.” Iselle recited the words as if they were from a well-worn manual.
Rod wondered whether she had received special training. A flash of grey metal followed by a huge boom broke his thoughts. The aircraft was a fighter. A pod beneath each wing carried the heavy armaments. It came around the headland fast and hugging the ground.
“Iselle was unconcerned.
“This coast is used a lot for low flight training. It used to be used for armaments testing until recently. The area is restricted ahead but not in use. It helps us because anybody hearing the weapons test will assume that we’re regular military. They rounded the headland and entered a sheltered cove.
“Put the equipment behind that rock,” said Iselle. “You are allowed ten bursts of automatic fire and make them short and two more is from your big buddy that you like so much. Then we go. The next time you fire it will be for real so make use of this opportunity.”
“Aren’t you going to practice,” said Rod.
“I do not need to,” said Iselle, quietly. “I have had enough of that sort of thing to last me a lifetime. I took the video you saw last night. The men you saw were my friends and there were women too, although you probably didn’t realise it. We fought for days and took the video to tell the world how things really were. But the fighting was over too quickly and we never had a chance to make use of to. Most of my friends were killed, few survived and many of us were forced to leave the country. I had hoped never to carry a gun again. When this is over, I hope I can make good my wish.”
Her voice was matter-of-fact, her tone dismissive. She knew that the armaments excited Rod but didn’t care.
Five minutes later, Rod was screaming and shouting with excitement. First a spray of hard metal bullets shattered small boulders and embedded themselves in the high soft rock cliffs and then two missiles curved upwards to a point half way up the steep cliff and exploded creating a landslide of tons of rock and earth which plummeted down into the bay with a huge crash. He felt powerful and important, able to take on the world. Iselle stood watching him quietly. At the end of it, he turned to her seeking approval.
“You’ll do,” was all she said and started picking up the equipment to return to the chalet. Suddenly she said,
“Keep acting naturally, we are being watched.”
Rod tried to look everywhere on the beach without moving his head but couldn’t see anyone.
Over theyre behind that rock. Iselle tilted her head slightly to her front, pointing to a huge group of boulders that lay in their path on their return route.
“Ive seen one, there may be more,” she said.
“They could be tourists,” said Rod, nervously.
The one I saw was moving round the rock with his back hard to it and his arm out. I couldn’t see if he held a gun but tourists don’t act like that.
“If you’re so sure then why don’t we shoot one of these big buddies at them,” queried Rod.
“We have none to spare,” said Iselle, pretend smiling and pushing him as if sharing a joke. “Using any of the big stuff will jeopardize the entire operation.”
“We haven’t got much time because the tide is coming in,” said Rod pointing to the waves that were now within a hundred feet.
“Don’t point,” said Iselle, tensely. “Anything you do with your hands must be designed to misinform - there must be no exceptions.”
“We could just rush them,” said Rod, hoping she would say no, pushing her gently as if joshing too.
“Imagine what your chances would be of hitting somebody who was hidden behind a rock and showing only inches of themselves. Imagine how much more difficult it would be to do it successfully on the run. Then imagine how easy it would be for them, safely hidden behind the rock and able to pick their time to kill us. A frontal charge is possible, sometimes even necessary and I’ve done it - but it’s a last resort and foolish bravery if you have a choice.”
“What about if we start making love on the beach,” said Rod with a grin. “Perhaps they’ll come out and watch and then we can shoot them.”
Iselle looked thoughtful. “Maybe you’ve got something there she said.”
“I have,” said Rod looking pleased, beginning to fantasize about her body next to his.
“In the next few minutes, you must remember to go along with every suggestion I make,” said Iselle, pointing up the cliff.
Her finger traced a route and then, appearing to be trying to convince Rod, she held his head close to hers so he could look along his arm at the imaginary route up the cliff.
“Oh I see it,” hollered Rod. “Yeah man, that’s beautiful.” He wrapped his arm around Iselles head and planted a smacking kiss on her lips. They tasted sweet but felt very small and unresponsive.
Iselle responded with a big grin and went to the pile of armaments and pointed down at them as if she was saying for him to carry all of them.
Rod replied with a wave that she could do it herself.
Iselle came back to Rod as if she was persuading him. The cupped hand in his groin was clear inducement for anybody watching. He grabbed her and kissed her again and together they trudged off in the direction that Iselle had been pointing. The cliff rose vertically and the sea was coming in fast but the watchers wouldn’t be able to see the part of the cliff they were heading for until they were much closer.
“Don’t look but they’ve broken cover,” said Iselle without turning her head. She had her arm across her body at waist height and in her hand she had a little mirror she was using to monitor behind them.
“Make for that gully going up the side of the cliff. When we are behind the corner of the gully, drop down and worm your way back to the rocks. Then with any luck they will think we have gone up it. We’ll have them in the open and we’ll be protected. Leave the big stuff, just bring a machine pistol and as many spare rounds as you can carry.”
They reached the gully and Rod suddenly realized that he wanted to go to the toilet.
“It’s fear,” said Iselle, when he announced his urge. “When you start shooting, it’ll go.”
Rod smiles a twisty sort of smile.
“If we run out of bullets, I’ll just turn my back on them and let fly!”
That’s my boy,” said Iselle.
They were now behind the small heap of boulders and Iselle with her back to the rubble was using her mirror to look over the top.
“They’ve stopped,” she said. “They are talking about it. I don’t think they are happy. They sense a trap but are unsure.”
There was a sudden hail of bullets that struck the rocks and earth above them.
Rod made to start shooting back.
“Stay still,” rasped Iselle. “They’re shooting above us to see if we are hiding here.”
Another hail of bullets ploughed into the rock face above and several large boulders came bounding down, missing them by inches.
Iselle went back to watching them, this time round the side.
“On my mark, I want you to run round me onto the sand at the side and splay yourself down. They will be running towards us and and presenting a good target. They will also be aiming at the rocks directly and above. We have to leave this cover so we are not distracted by the rock fall. We are better in the open but defending from lying down. Got it.”
Rod smiled uncertainly. “You want me to go out there in the open after what you said.”
“This is not a game, Iselle whispered into his ear. If we don’t kill them, they are going to kill us. Mine is the optimum plan. Also, I will shoot you myself if you don’t go.”
Rod fumbled with a spot, picked a pussy head and flicked it out at the sand.
“That’s my marker,” he said with a brave grin.
But Iselle was back looking through her mirror. She put a hand out behind her as she watched and grasped Rod’s diving suit front. Then pushed him sharply out towards the advancing sea.”
“Go, go, go,” she yelled and rolled outwards herself away from the boulders. As she spoke another hail of bullets glanced of the cliff above them, creating a landslide and the top of the boulders were chewed up where they would have put their heads to fire.
But Rod and Iselle were both by now splayed out to the seaward side of the rocks on the sand, their machine pistols spitting lethal metal at the three oncoming men. One howled immediately and fell in mid stride, dead before he hit the ground from two shots in the chest from Iselle. Rod winged another in the leg and he fell to a kneeling position still firing. Their bullets were now chewing up the muddy sand around Rod and Iselle. Rod felt one pluck at his leg as he squeezed another burst at the man who was kneeling. He pitched forward clutching his groin, screaming. Rod poured another burst into him, yelling happily, and he became silent. The third man had found a rock to hide behind and was on the ground, possibly injured.
“Keep firing in short regular bursts to keep his head down,” commanded Iselle and rolled back to the rocky cover.
Rod saw the man’s head appear above his rock and then played guessing games for the next few minutes as to whether he would appear at the side or over the top. Rod felt more vulnerable but had a clear fire view at all times which gave him the advantage.
Rod suddenly saw the mans gun turn upwards towards the rocks. All he could see in that split moment was the gun, so he shot at it. At the same time a hail of bullets rammed down on the man from Iselle’s gun fired from the top of the rubble. The man kept on shooting for some seconds but it seemed undirected. Then his gun was silent and Iselle was over the rubble like a panther. Two shots echoed out but Rod realized they were from Iselle’s gun, making sure of the kill. She then rapidly approached the others and did the same. Only then did she return to Rod.
He looked up at her, nursing his wounded leg where the bullet had chipped it.
“It hurts like hell he said but better than being dead - can I go for a shit now?”
“I reckon you’ve earned it,” said Iselle with a grim smile but then we’ve got to get out of here before we’re cut off by the tide.
Meanwhile, Carolyn had also made an early start and was by now sweeping up the driveway towards Gerald’s mansion in the tranquillity of the Surrey countryside
Gerald opened the door himself. As he walked Carolyn to open the garage, he told her about the paintings and objet d’art that had been stolen.
“They made a clean sweep of the whole house,” he said. “My only consolation is that they didn’t come in here.”
He opened the garage doors and Carolyn gasped. From the front of house the full extent of the garage couldn’t be appreciated. It was huge and full of a wide assortment of cars from all ages. Sports cars, saloon cars and estates were crowded together, all gleaming and shiny as if they had just come from the factory. But the factories where they had been built had been closed down many years ago.
“They are fantastic,” said Carolyn. “Although I’m sure you’ve heard that many times.”
“Yes I have,” said Gerald, “but mostly from myself almost every time I come in here. Hardly anybody else has ever seen this collection. I keep it to myself.”
Carolyn paused by an old Bentley. It had huge headlights and a diamond shaped bonnet and was the same colour of green as Carolyn’s stretch cotton halter neck top and straight knee length skirt that gave her a young girlish look.
“You can put your car over there while we are away,” said Gerald, pointing to an empty space near two gleaming red Ferraris.”
“You don’t think that my car will get an inferiority complex, do you,” said Carolyn.
“I should think that the Ferraris will be very envious of your little car,” said Gerald.
“Why’s that?”
“Because, unlike your car, they don’t get driven by you every day.” Gerald took her left hand and cupped it between his. He selected her wedding ring finger.
“The most beautiful ring in the world is nothing without a beautiful woman to wear it.”
He lifted Carolyn’s hand and touched his lips to her fingers. Carolyn felt her eyes become misty. He seemed so decent, kind and attentive. She felt mean. He had lost many of his greatest treasures and no doubt her presence here meant he would lose more. A whirlwind of emotions prevented her speaking. Through the haze, she felt Gerald hand gently under her chin tilting her head back and then his lips met hers. The kiss went on forever. She felt her back sliding along the sleek bodywork of the Bentley. She felt herself lowered through the open rear door onto the shiny leather of the Bentley’s back seat and then Gerald’s weight upon her.
She placed her hands on either side of his head, feeling the hard stubble in front of his ears, and kissed him hard but then held his face away from hers.
“If you want to make love to me in the back of a car, then I can’t think of a nicer car to choose but I can think of nicer places.”
Carolyn struggled into a sitting position. He was now sat beside her and she placed her hand high up on his thigh.
“Let’s make it somewhere special. Let’s do it looking down on a moonlit bay as we drink champagne with the stars twinkling above or in the corner of some sunny field with the birds singing in the hedgerow. Somewhere perfect”
“But making love in cars is never ideal,” demurred Gerald. “Haven’t you ever given them to the burning desire, however uncomfortable.”
Carolyn laughed.
“I remember in the days of the mini skirts, my boyfriend of the time couldn’t drive properly my legs were distracting him so much.”
Gerald smiled and cupped her knees in his hands. “I could well understand that.”
Carolyn tried to ignore Gerald hands and continued “He nearly drove his Mini Cooper into the back of a builder’s lorry, and then nearly forgot to turn to go round a bend. We had several hundred miles to go to get us back to our college rooms and I knew that we weren’t going to make it unless I did something about it there and then.”
“And did you?” Their faces were very near as they sat close on the back seat, the smell of leather everywhere.
“I told him to pull into the next petrol station,” said Carolyn dreamily, kissing the side of Geralds mouth. “It was self service. He got out but I got out too and took the nozzle thing from him.
I told him I hadnt anything on under the mini skirt but the car only needed a top up so he had about 30 seconds.” She kissed Gerald again on the other side of his mouth.
Geralds breathing was becoming irregular and his face reddening.
“You see,” said Carolyn sweetly, “the petrol filler was only about one foot off the ground in those Mini Coopers so for me to put the petrol in meant I had to bend right over and
“Did he do it in … time,” said Gerald, and then gave a shuddering sigh.
“It took him less than ten seconds,” confirmed Carolyn, sweetly, “about the same amount of time as it just took you.” And then gently zipped Gerald back up.
They walked back to the house together slowly as Gerald was still recovering his breath. Carolyn transferred her case into the back of Gerald’s car and then put her car away in his garage besides the shiny Red Ferraris. By the time she got to back, Gerald’s had retrieved his case is from upstairs, changed and was ready to go.
“I am very tempted to take the old Bentley,” he said, “but I think this new one will be much more reliable and anyway we only have a short journey before we’ll be on the plane and fly away to the sand, the sea and the sun.”
“It sounds marvellous,” said Carolyn, trying to sound convincing.
Traffic was light to the small private airport and soon after, strapped into the tiny jet’s perfectly contoured seats, Carolyn felt the surge of the jet engines pushing her up into the sky. Her emotions were still jumbled. When she was in the presence of Gerald, she could feel his power and almost believe in his protection. The strength he emanated and his confidence were sexy but she knew she would never find him physically appealing.
She didn’t know how she was going to cope with this weekend. Why was it so necessary to make sure Gerald was away from his mansion over the next few days? Clearly something was in the air. When the balloon went up, if there was any hint that she was with Gerald for any reason other than romance, she knew she would be the prime suspect.
There had been times in the past when she had been a less than completely willing partner in lovemaking, especially towards the end of her last marriage. But the thought of pretending affection she didnt feel with a new partner was sickening.
In the end, still mixed up, she let herself drift off to sleep as the plane powered its way across the skies towards the sun.
