Seven Point Eight (36 page)

This is what it’s like to be truly alone.

I’m scared…I’m actually frightened.

I can’t do this, I can’t leave my home.

A sense of panic overtook her and Tahra found herself yanked back into her body. When she opened her eyes, she found Paul watching her intently.

“I did it,” she whispered, eyes feeling wet with tears. “I almost touched the moon.”

For some reason, Paul wanted to share her emotional reaction to the experience. Something amazing was happening…they were destroying frontiers, all due to a project he’d believed in and initiated. However, it would have been nothing without Tahra. She was an amazing woman.

After wiping the moisture from her eyes, she enquired, “Where do we go next?”

Paul reclined in his chair, feeling his vision take shape.

“We start to check out our space neighbours.”

Tahra took a deep breath, still aware of her profound experience in space.

“For you, anything.”

He reached over and kissed her on the forehead.

“What would I do without you?” he wondered aloud.

***

Later that night, after Tahra had returned to The Institute, Paul rang Max. He seemed delighted to receive an update concerning this new venture.

“You have results so soon? Or do you just like the sound of my voice?”

“I know she’s good, but not that good.”

Max seemed amused, in a good mood.

“How’s it working out with her anyway?”

Paul considered the answer then replied, “Well, she’s not shy is she?”

To Paul’s surprise, Max fell strangely silent on the other end of the line.

“Tahra is confident of her abilities,” he responded after a pause.

“Certainly,” Paul agreed, “she’s also positive someone saw her while in an out of body state.”

Again Max paused. Paul wasn’t sure if he disbelieved her statement, or whether he was worrying about the ramifications.

“That’s impossible,” Max replied.

“Well, she’s adamant. She doesn’t understand it herself but she claims an astronaut saw her through the window of his capsule.”

“This is certainly an unforeseen development, isn’t it?”

“It occurred to me that you have a lot of contacts in various research departments. Is there any way you can verify or counter her claim? Identify any reported anomalies from the flight?”

“Yes, I can do that. I’d like an answer too.”

“Thanks, just let me know when you hear something.”

“I will. Oh,” Max added as an afterthought, “I’m having a party for New Year, a masquerade ball. You’re invited.”

Paul expressed his reticence.

“I’m strictly faithful to Eleanor, I don’t want to get involved in…”

“It’s just a fancy dress party. I can suggest a good costume shop for nightly hire. You can bring Eleanor.”

“I will,” Paul said. However, he paused and made a further request. “Would you allow Tahra to go too?”

Max replied after another period of silence.

“Yes, I don’t see why not.”

“Great. See you New Year’s Eve.”

After putting the phone down, it occurred to Paul that he’d just invited the two central women in his life to the same party. Why had he done that? In the end he shrugged. Tahra had the right to party, and she couldn’t miss out on the celebrations. What was the problem?

***

New Year’s Eve arrived, and Tahra had the jitters as she changed into her ball gown, a cream and gold dress that had a tight bodice and full skirt, framed with lace. It pushed her breasts upward and flattered her milk chocolate skin. A gold mask added the final touch, almost Egyptian in its design, and she viewed her reflection in the mirror.

It occurred to her that she’d be attending a party with the two central men in her life, one she still resented although he provided a magnetic allure, and the other who she admired and respected. Would this present a precarious situation tonight?

Max’s Daimler and driver dropped her off at his coach house, and she found it difficult to exit the vehicle with such an enormous costume, but managed to push the hooped part of the skirt through the door of the car.

For a long moment, she stared at the exterior of the house: its general size, the pretty symmetry of it, and the large garage. Approaching the imposing, oak front door, she heard the guests and music already.

A door attendant greeted her, she gave her name and he stepped aside to allow her entry. Tahra received her first view of Max’s home. It wasn’t as ostentatious as she’d pictured it, in fact, it seemed quite traditional with oak furniture and antique pictures on the walls. So this could have been her home too if they’d married as planned. She felt a tinge of regret, but a relationship revolved around more than just luxurious surroundings.

She wandered into the living room through the large archway. The sight of numerous unrecognisable people confronted her, wearing an array of flamboyant costumes, finery, and elegant masks. It felt like stepping back in time to the French courts or Venetian balls of the 16
^th
century. Some people had masks with towering headdresses, comprised of feathers and glitters, which made her own costume pale in comparison. One man wore a jester’s outfit, and proceeded to provide the comedic entertainment. She heard boisterous laughter over the medieval themed music, and watched the guests consume copious amounts of champagne.

However, Tahra couldn’t mistake Max. Resplendent in a green brocade costume, he wore a dragon’s mask and stopped his conversation briefly when he noticed her. She felt a sensation in her stomach like being disembowelled with a medieval implement of torture. All that hurt, all that yearning, and the image of him servicing that woman from behind imprinted onto her memory… Tahra turned away to seek Paul.

After a brief meander, she located him, engaged in conversation with some anonymous male. Paul wore red brocade, complete with the mask of a lizard or salamander. When he spotted Tahra, he beckoned her over and introduced her to his associate.

“Ralph, this is Tahra, a truly gifted friend.”

She almost winced as he said ‘friend’, although he placed no specific emphasis on it. After some polite conversation, he split off to accompany Eleanor for a while, and Tahra glanced over in their direction. A pang of jealousy washed over her and she tried to swallow it the best she could, hoping no one witnessed her staring.

Not wishing to appear the shy wallflower, Tahra circulated amongst these strangers, asking men to dance with her. Throughout the evening, she became aware of Max watching her discreetly from behind his dragon mask and she met his gaze,
disturbed to find her heart skipped a beat.

Eventually, she found herself at a loss, feeling awkward due to standing alone. Max seized the opportunity, sidling up to her and placing an arm firmly around her waist.

“I’ve been waiting to dance with you all night,” he said.

She lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze, although didn’t refuse the company. They began to dance, and she found it strange to touch him once more.

“How’s my star remote viewer?” he asked. “You’ve been working on the OOBE project for a few months now. How are things progressing?”

“I’ve seen
Italy
from orbit, and the Earth from the shadow of the moon,” she responded, deciding to accept his attempts to befriend her again. We’re producing some pretty ground breaking results.”

“You mean,
you’re
producing some pretty ground breaking results. Make no bones about it, there’d be no project without you.”

Tahra blushed at his admiration.

“There’d also be no project without Paul’s initial vision,” she countered.

“Don’t denigrate yourself,” Max pointed out. “I know what you’re capable of. You get most of the work requests and actually have a waiting list. Don’t question your potential.”

“I appreciate your faith in me.”

He drew her a little closer, and she felt his grip around her waist tighten. She became aware of the alcohol on his breath, maybe the reason he’d plucked up the courage to face her.

“You believe in this project, don’t you?” she asked.

Max began to steer her towards the periphery of the crowd, which enabled them to hear each other easier.

“I’ve been in this business long enough to know there’s more to life than this…material world in which we dwell. I’ve personally experienced an event…” he paused here and checked himself. “I see miracles all the time, as I’m surrounded by unimaginable talent on a daily basis, but you’re the star here, by a long shot. You’re truly unique.”

Tahra found it difficult to know how to respond to his compliments, and smiled awkwardly.

“Allah must have brought me into the world for this reason.”

“We all have a purpose, a secret vision,” he commented. “You seem to be working productively with Paul. It’s a coincidence, my two outstanding talents working on the same project…. “

She wondered whether he was fishing for information about a possible relationship with Paul, but then she told herself that was just paranoia. How could Max know of her intentions? However, she preferred to keep those a secret.

 
“Although I’m not a scientist, Tahra, my interests do lie in furthering understanding and breaking boundaries. However, unlike a scientist, I don’t believe that everything must be measured. I’m aware that to really prove something, some degree of measurement is required, but that should never obstruct the most fundamental cosmic truths, especially as amazing qualitative experiences can leave such a deep impression on our consciousness.”

She briefly stopped dancing, convinced that something pivotal had happened to Max that changed his whole perception of the world.

“You’ve had a spiritual experience,” she stated, longing to know more about it.

A strange expression came over Max’s face, as if he were remembering something that stimulated a yearning, a craving for that experience to happen again.

“Please,” Tahra continued, “tell me.”

He opened his mouth but no words flowed, then finally he said, “It’s in the past, there’s no point in discussing it.”

Tahra realised he’d never share the most significant experience of his life with her. Would he, in fact, share it with anyone? It frustrated her, as it probably held the key to everything.

“Your experience is the inspiration for The Establishment and The Institute,” she said, with certainty.

Her shrewd observation didn’t surprise him, and he removed his arm from around her waist. Taking her firmly by the hand, he led her to the hallway and placed a coat around her shoulders.

“Come,” he said.

Max took her outside into the garden and they began to walk together, away from the maddening crowd. She wondered why he’d removed her from the congregation, although she valued the opportunity to clear the air, despite her deep seated anger towards him. Maybe he’d reveal something, apologise for his despicable behaviour…

After a short silence, he picked up the thread of the conversation.

“I want to understand the secrets of the cosmos more than anyone, but I have my life as a businessman, which is a necessity. None of this,” he gestured to his estate, “would be here if it weren’t for that fact. Some things are a means to an end, things…I’m not proud of.”