Operation (22 page)

“But the civilian poses a potential threat,” he said, his voice concerned. “It is an unnecessary risk.”

“Ah…I see, unnecessary risk,” she said, and snickered. She stopped walking and turned back to face the man. “You are a silly man. So little do you know of my kind; do you think I could have survived all these years by taking unnecessary risks? I have had many like him assist me. I know which type of man will work as a servant. Those that are susceptible to my influence remain with me—dedicate their lives to me. He is young and pliable, and will suit my needs. Those who cannot, simply die, there is no unnecessary risk involved.” 

“Still, I…” he began.

“Trust me—he will be valuable to me. He will be my eyes in the daylight. He will go and do what I cannot.”

“What of the risk?”

“There is no risk. He is easy to control because he is young and naïve. He possesses the love of life and all those things that come with it, especially woman.” She stared at the man’s face and saw the uncertainty in his eyes—a rare moment, she thought, curious. She moved closer toward him, looking at him, noticing that the hand, which remained in the pocket, twitch briefly.

“What causes your questioning of this?” she purred. “Is it really concern for our arrangement? Or, are you jealous of the man and what I shall give him for his service to me?”

“Nonsense,” he said.

Christina focused her senses on his voice and heartbeat. She would be able to detect any changes that would indicate whether he was telling the truth or a lie.

“I have no concern for such matters,” he added quickly. “There are other more important matters.”

He’s telling the truth. He’s not interested in having me. How interesting.

He turned his back on her and walked a few steps away before turning back to face her again. “Nothing may interfere with my mission.”

“You worry too much,” she said. “Your attitude and disposition interest me. You would have me kill your own compatriots without even a thought for their lives, yet you want to protect what they possess. It is a contradiction of ideas.”

He looked at her for several moments before he spoke, as if searching for the correct words. “There is a greater good for which sacrifices must be made. I clearly understand this and will protect that good at all costs.”

“And what is it that you love so dearly: another person, no—but a country, a place on a paper map, a piece of land.”

“You don’t understand. It’s a way of life that I seek to protect.”

“Perhaps I do not. My life has been different and I have forgotten many things. But I will learn. You will help me do that, and I will help you protect what you cherish so deeply. We have an agreement.”

“Yes, we do. You’re committed to—”

“Yes, yes, I gave my word,” she said, waving a hand in front of her. “If I am to regain what it is I have lost, I must keep my half of the bargain.”

“And if you choose to continue your life…” he added with a sharp edge to his voice.

She fixed an intense gaze upon him. “There is no need to threaten. Do you think I have forgotten? How could I? You keep your hand in constant contact with the controller at all times.”

Ignoring her comment, he continued. “I would remind you that if you touch it in any way before the coded sequence is entered, it will detonate.”  

“Are you concerned about my welfare?” she asked sarcastically. “How touching.”

“You are an asset to my agency. I seek to protect you for future use.”

“Yes—future use. I am to kill for you those that endanger what you love so dearly.”

“And in exchange, you have a place to stay. You are safe here. You can explore what you choose as long as you do not do anything too risky to our mutual situation.”

“Our mutual situation,” she said, allowing the syllables to linger in the air. “I like the way you say that. You hide your feelings within the masks of words.” She paused for a few seconds, thinking about what she had just said, then smiled and added, “But then, don’t we all.”

Chapter Seven

P
RESENT
D
AY

“Hello, Jake,” Christina said. “It’s nice to see you…it’s been a while.”

Jake slowly turned toward the voice, a horde of images and memories flooding in his mind. With it came the realization that he had been here, in this underground place, many times over the past sixty-odd years. His memories of past visits removed. Hearing her voice had somehow released them; a wave of heartfelt emotion swept through him like a raging sea, claiming every ounce of his mind and senses.

I have been here with her…made love to her countless numbers of times. I love her and she loves me. We will spend our lives together…

He knew he had done whatever she asked him to do freely and willingly—but he couldn’t remember exactly what those things were. The only vivid memories were the ones of making love to her. He remembered touching her, running his fingers through her long hair as she captured his heart and soul in the throes of lovemaking. She loved him and he loved her. Nothing could be clearer in his mind right now.

“Christina,” Jake said, as he faced her. He looked upon the features of the woman who hadn’t changed. After all these years, she remained the same: young and beautiful. Her attraction was as strong as it had been the first time he set eyes upon her. He staggered toward her on unsure feet. “I don’t remember the last time I was here. You erase my thoughts. All I remember is the first time and glimpses of us. Why do you do that?”

“It is better that way, my dearest Jake.” She placed her hand to his face and stroked, her nails catching the strands of white hair of his beard as she slid her fingers gently across his skin. “It’s safer for you as well. You cannot speak of what you do not know.”

“I don’t understand,” he said, as he drew her hand to his lips and kissed it. The flesh was cool, but inviting. He ran his weathered, rough hands along her fingers and palms. The skin was so smooth: it beckoned to him in a way that he did not understand. All he knew was that he needed it. He had to have it.

“Jake,” she said softly, and then removed her hand from his grasp and looked intently at him. “There are those who would resist what I am doing. They do not understand the way you do. They would destroy everything, including what we have together.”

“No. They can’t! I won’t let—” he said. He felt rage and anger surge through him. He would not allow anyone to come between them. “I took care of the police.”

“Yes. You did well. He would have caused problems and exposed us.”

“No, he won’t. I’ve taken care of it.” Then he added tentatively, “As I always have...”

“Yes, my Jake. You have saved me many times. You have been my knight is shining armor and protected me from those who would hurt me…and us. That is why I have removed the memories, because like the living, they too can hurt us if someone were to find out. You understand, my beloved?”

“I…I don’t know. It’s all confusing, one minute, I see it as real, and then the next, it’s like a dream.” His body began to shake violently. “I’m not sure of that anymore…but of you, I know that I must have you and that if you were to ever leave me…I couldn’t take that. No. You mustn’t! Tell me you never will leave me…tell me!”

“Shush…don’t say such things, Jake. My Jake,” she said. “Don’t think anything right now. Just come to me...now.” She touched his shoulder and he felt as if electricity surged through his body. He jerked involuntarily as the sensation swept through his body.

Just come to me...now.
The words reverberated within his mind and became a mantra to him.
Just come to me...now.
The words coursed through him and he felt his body warm.

Jake felt the pressure of her hand loosen on his shoulders, yet he knew in some way that his body was no longer his own. She owned it and it would do as she wanted.

He glanced at her eyes. He knew that he should not look into them. Something told him that there was danger, but he could not withdraw.

Those eyes…her eyes.

They immediately and completely captured and engulfed him. He searched for what was there, drawn into the sensations. He could feel what she felt. For a brief moment, he was overwhelmed with feelings of happiness, fear, joy, and sorrow. There was anger and rage, raw and uncensored in its pain. There was wanting: a need and desire to love and be loved. Then it was gone.

He felt his hands rise up and come to rest on the sides of her face. He ran his hands gently along her cheeks, the soft skin tantalizing under her fingers. His fingers gently traced along her forehead, her eyebrows and across her lips, feeling the electricity there as well. It danced upon his fingertips, beckoning him. He knew what it offered: the feeling of youth. It teased him and he knew that she knew this.

“Why,” he whispered. “Why do you do this?”

“Because you have not given up that part of you that needs to be shared,” she said.

He moved his face closer to hers, his lips hovering over hers.

“I can’t…”

“You fear what your heart wants. Why?”

“I can’t…”

She nuzzled closer to him. He felt her lips on his neck, her tongue gently caressing his flesh.  

She continued in a soft and pleading voice, “You must live. We all must live. Without love…there is nothing. We are mere empty shells in false realities. Even if just for a little while, you must give a part of you to me. You must give it freely and willingly.”

“But, I fear you,” he said, not even thinking about the words as they crossed his lips.

“
No, Jake, you do not fear me, you fear yourself. Tell me you love me.”

“I can’t…”

“You can. All men love me. They have no choice. But you resist for another reason. Your fear of what the word means. Now, tell me you love me and that you need me.”

Her kisses became longer as her lips lingered on his skin. The pleasure increased as he felt himself succumbing to her.

“What is love?” he asked. “A trifle to be kicked about by someone who uses it against you. You do it…you use me…is this love?”

“Ah…my Jake, love is many things. Some are good and some are bad. You have been wronged, my beloved. I cannot deny that. Your pain festers inside you; you cannot relinquish it, or the commitment that binds you to it. I, too, understand that part of you, for I am like that as well. We need to keep our own little parts protected from the hurt and the pain of others, the part of us we may never give up. But do not let it take all of you, my Jake. We can still pleasure ourselves together.”

“You see…,” he murmured.

“Yes, I see, my beloved. I have seen a lot. Sometimes I think I’ve seen too much. But for now, it is you and I, here and now. Just us and our passion. That is all you need. You can be loved, Jake. Now tell me what I want to hear…”

“Yes…I do love you,” he said.

She placed her arms around him and hugged him. “Thank you, my love. That is why we had to get rid of the police officer. He would have ruined everything.”

“I know,” Jake said. He touched her hair with his fingers, feeling the silkiness of it flow across his old, worn hands.

“He was too close to discovering me…just like the two young men. I had to do it to save us.”

“Yes, my dear. Too close.” Jake opened himself up to her. “I want to be with you…forever. You are my life. I have devoted myself to nothing else. I have not married, I have no family, I live only to serve your wishes and desires.” He felt her hands on him. Her touch was electrifying and his body tingled with the anticipation of making love to her.

“Yes, my love. Soon you will be. First, we have a little more to do. There are things only you can do for me and if you come to me now, I cannot be whole for you. Not much longer, my love.”

“I don’t have much time left, Christina. I’m old.”

“No, my dear—only your body is old. Your mind is young and it yearns for me. Does it not?”

“Yes. I…must have you…must be with you.”

“Soon. Soon it will be that way and you will have a life with me for the rest of eternity. Now come, my love…stay with me for a while and make love to me.”

Jake felt her nuzzle playfully against his neck, sliding her tongue along his skin. He felt his heartbeat quicken and could hear it beating in his ears. Her hands were moving so quickly—touching him—enflaming his body. His mind was overwhelmed with emotion and sensations—he felt as if he would explode.

Jake…I need you…
Her voice came into his mind.
I cannot live without you. Give yourself to me this night…

Jake murmured, “I am yours, my love, take me and do as you will…”

He closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift into her mesmeric embrace, wondering if he would remember the joy afterwards, but it didn’t matter.

Part V

Chapter One

Norfolk, Virginia

John Reese was nervous. Even with all his military training, he still felt out of place in the classroom on his first day of teaching. The class was called
Myths and Legends in Today’s Society: A Historical Perspective.
It was an elective for history majors at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The textbook was
Myths and Legends: A Guide to the Past Through the Future
; the book he had written.

The class was comprised of fifteen students. Using a mental checklist he made note of what he had completed: he had taken role, introduced himself, and performed the other administrative activities required for the first day of class. He passed out the class syllabus and waited for the students to finish looking at it before he began discussing it.

 He looked at his own copy while he waited. As he glanced at it, he wished he had changed it. It sounded dry and well…too academic and of course, too military. He wondered if he would catch the students’ interest with the selection of topics he’d chosen.

He rose from his chair and stood in the center of the classroom. The students’ eyes rose to meet his.