[adamu]

Monday, July 28th, 2076

"Like it says inna Good Book, toots, when in Rome," Al replied, downing his first and then second shot of Russion liquor. And though he'd already eaten, the pork smelled damned good and he helped himself.

As he filled his plate, Kurznhev took his place and bellowed, "Yes, yes, Al. Eat! Drink! You are our very special guest tonight - we have so very much to talk about!"

"Much obliged, I'm sure. Y'all doin' the train thing, or's we jist blessed with yer company fer the evenin'?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Monday, July 28th, 2076


The large mobster laughs.  "No, Al Guthrie, I am not on a train thing.  I own this fine vessel and am on it for pleasure."  He waves an expansive arm at the people on the dance floor.  "This is a legitimate business and we are expanding into that more and more.  Pretty soon there will be no reason to be a gangster."  He laughs again then looks at Alyce and Al more seriously.  "But that man you were with, Robyn, he is trouble.  A known thief and womanizer who preys on vulnerable rich women.  I have banned him from the boat before but he has managed to find a way on board.  A lapse of security that I will repair."

The meal is truly good and the company seems to be nothing more than old friends, once you get past the fact that they are violent mobsters that would probably kill you and sell your organs for the merest slight.  The conversations are mostly in English in deference to Al, but there are spates of Russian mixed in.  Al learns a lot about Alyce's past with the Vor, but there is no real explanation for the respect that the other mobsters give her, which seems to go beyond being simply because she is a friend of Vanya Kurzhnev.  A lot of vodka is passed around and Al finds that the two beauties across from him look even better by the end of the evening.

Eventually, even this good time must come to an end and the boat returns to its docking berth to signal the end of the cruise.  Alyce looks at her host .  "Thank you, my old friend.  It was very nice to see you again.  I will be more dutiful in seeing that the time gap is shorter between meetings." 

Vanya nods and laughs.  "Yes, Robyn, please do that.  You know how I worry about you." 

As Al stands and pulls Alyce's chair out, every man at the table stands.  Vanya motions for Alyce to wait on the main floor and for Al to remain.  He is smiling, but his eyes are hard and bright.  "I like you, Al Guthrie.  You remind me a bit of me when I was younger.  There is a special place in the Vor for that woman.  Please treat her right."  With that he reaches across the table and shakes Al's hand.

[adamu]

Monday, July 28th, 2076

Al let his guard down some during the meal, after realizing there was no way the London Vor knew about his little escapade with their fuel stores in Seattle, because if they did, they would have reported the sighting to Robyn.

And he admitted to himself that he'd never have taken so long to figure that out if his mind wasn't so befuddled with he and Alyce's little games. Not to mention it turned out their mark had been some low-life - no threat to a player like Alyce, of course, but still damned poor form on his own part as her escort. Maybe it was just that his mind was in some kind of vacation mode, but then, really, it always was. No, he suspected he was letting himself drift too complacently into his date's sexcentricities. He had to give her credit, her hippie approach to sexuality was a heady rush, and it amplified her natural sensuality to bewitching levels. He could easily acquire a very unhealthy taste for it. But his head was screaming to keep his distance. Leave her to her own devices, sure, that was her. But it wasn't the smart play for him.

Trouble was, knowing the smart play and making the smart play had always been very different propositions for Al.

He listened to the ork criminal's big brotherly...was 'threat' too harsh a word?...no, probably not...and again shook his hand. "Been a long time since ol' Al reminded anyone of anything young," was the most polite thing he could think of to say. The guy was pretty lucky he was Alyce's friend.

And then he disembarked. From up on the gangplank he could see across the parking area to where Alyce was standing beside their limo chatting with the Collinses, and he quickened his step. It had been a truly superb day, and thinking about three more weeks of the same was enough to stave off the shadows creeping around the edges of his mind. He put his arm around Alyce as he greeted their travel companions, and as the driver opened their door, the thought of Alyce having to sit across from the other couple again - especially now - sent a tickly tingle up and then back down his spine.

It seemed like he'd had some thoughts on this topic just a short while earlier, but as they got into the car he couldn't for the life of him remember what they were.

 

[adamu]

Monday, July 28th, 2076

Alyce is in a particularly fine mood as she slides into the limousine for the return trip to the train.  Certainly the vodka helps, but it is more than that.  She loves the way that Al had come up to her just now and put his arm around her.  She could tell that it was not like he was marking his territory to others, but more like an expression of intimacy with her…..for her.  Sitting in the car, Alyce trembles slightly at how close he is and reaches out a hand to put into one of his, feeling that this is about as much as Al wants just now.  If it were up to her, she would be straddling his hips in the plush faux leather seats and covering his face with kisses.
If the other couple had been rewarded with a good view of her knickers on the ride to the boat, they have an even better view now.  It is quite evident that Peter and Janet Collins are having a very hard time not looking at what is on display for them and the bulge in Peter’s suit trousers is clear evidence that he is enjoying the view.  Alyce detects the certain indicators in their breathing and their pheromones every time she shifts her position a bit and knows that she could have either or both of them in her bed if she so much as hinted that she was up for that, but for now she is just happy to be sitting next to Al Guthrie.  Half way back to the train, Alyce leans against Al’s shoulder and closes her eyes, feeling comfortable and safe.
When the limo arrives at the rail terminal, Alyce lets Al help her from the auto and walks with him to her cabin.  Once inside, she removes what little clothing she has and goes to sit on the bed.  “Thank you for the very nice evening, Al.  I enjoyed myself quite a lot.  I imagine that Vanya was giving you the big brother talk at the end there?  He is a good friend and he means well when it comes to my welfare.  Frag, I used to change his nappies and was pretty much like a big sister to him as he grew up and I was a bridesmaid at his wedding.  You met his wife tonight; she is born and bred in the Vor and is normally the sweetest woman I know unless you try to hurt Vanya or their kids.  His father was my controller in London and a man I respected very much.  He died in his sleep a few years back of old age and I still miss talking with him.  Vanya is just like his father and will do well in the Vor.  Anyway, what I am getting at is that I could tell that Vanya likes you, so please do not misunderstand anything he might have said.”
“He is a ruthless, brutal man and a boss in a very brutal criminal organization, but that organization protected me when I was born.  I was one of the first UGE babies, which might not have been bad in most countries, but in Russia it was like a death sentence.  The Federal State Police were taking UGE kids and sending them to Relocation Camps to study them.  Stories have circulated for years of how the kids were treated in those camps; medical experiments to see how much torture the new kids could handle, as well as dismemberment and examinations to determine the best manner that the State could make use them, and other atrocities.  State police showed at the apartment block my parents lived in and were actually in the process of removing me from my home when a representative of EVO, my father’s employer, showed up with several Vor soldiers.  When the federal police refused to hand me over, the EVO guy had them killed and took us to safety.  When no one else would help us and other families like ours, EVO and the Vor did.  I grew up Vor and EVO and had Vor soldiers as personal guards as I grew up.  I was engaged to the son of the Vor boss of all of Vladivostok.  They allow me to work for others and to remain independent, but I have done more work for them than anyone else.”  She touches the tats on her upper arms.  “I recite these oaths every day of my life.  These people are my family and my honor and I hope that you can accept that.”
“Al, I am Vor and I am EVO, but I am also me.  I am not sure what all of this means to you, but I feel that you and organized crime do not often share meals at the same table.”  She smiles at Al.  “Well, thanks for listening to me.  So, what are our plans for tomorrow?”

[adamu]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076

"Plan fer tomorrow, toots, is to not have a plan." He grinned up at her around his cigarette as he leaned forward to unlace his Docs. "Train's gon' be meanderin' through the Southern Habitable best part o' the next week, all the way down Cornwall way an' back. Stops fer a village here, a cathedral there, antique fairs, what have ya. Lots o' nice countryside. We wake up ever' mornin' - or afternoon - an' do what we feel like doin'."

Bed was calling him. Trouble was deciding which. But now he needed to speak his piece - she'd brought up an issue that had been much on his mind since Andoung Tuek. "Reckon I knowed EVO an' the Vor is in cahoots. An' I know EVO's done a lot fer metas. Sounds like you've got a righteous debt there, an' ol' Al never casts aspersions on them as pays they debts. No doubt the Vor's great if'n they's on yer side. So you be you, an' that means Vor in yer world, then that's what it means. But yeah, ol' Al'd jist as soon shoot one o' those fuckers onna street without a how'd'ye do, jist on principle. They's poison. Drugs, gamblin', turnin' girls out - destroyin' lives an' killin' souls fer a nuyen, preyin' onna weakest amongst us. Ain't no good in 'em. Yaks, Triads, Mafs. All the same ta ol' Al."

There. It wouldn't change anything. But it had needed to be said. And he'd decided where to sleep. For tonight, anyway.

He stood up, crossed the tiny room to the bed. Put a hand in her hair, used the other to grip her right breast. Bent over and kissed her long and deep, but the hands on her restrained her as much as enjoyed her, preventing her from enveloping him the way he wanted her to.

He stepped back and went to the adjoining door, pausing there to say, "Sorry I'm a pain in the ass. Can't promise ya shit, but hopin' ya don't give up."

[adamu]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076
 
Alyce smiles.  “I like that sort of plan, Al.  I think I will go up to the observation deck for a few minutes.  If you wake before I do, you can come in and get me up, if you like.  I will leave the connecting door open.”
The kiss is amazing and the hand on her breast almost melts her.  She can tell by the pressure he puts on her that he is not interested in more and she takes what she can and lets him go into his room.  “Al, I should be the one apologizing to you for putting you in that sort of position.  I did not know that Vanya was going to be aboard the boat, but still.  Thank you for being understanding and for being polite at the table.  You are a very special man, Al Guthrie.”
Alyce waits for Al to go into his cabin before getting off the bed.  Going to her closet, she puts on the black trousers she had worn the previous morning and opts for a demure white blouse instead of the see-through lace one.  Stepping into sensible flats instead of heels, she grabs a blanket and pillow from the bed and her book and heads for the observation car.  At this time of the night, there is only one other person in the domed portion and she seems to be off in a corner.  She places her things on one of the small tables halfway down the car and smiles at the other occupant before going to the small bar.  At this time of night there is no barman, but there seems to be plenty self-serve coffee and tea.  Alyce grabs a pot of hot water, some tea, a bit of lemon and some milk and goes back to the seat she has selected, putting her new treasures on the table.  She sits at the table and sets up her first cup of tea then curls up on the seat with her blanket and pillow.  Opening her book, she begins passing her fingers across the symbols that tell the story as if she was reading with her eyes.
Alyce sets one of her drones to watch out of the dome to each side so that she can look up if the train approaches something interesting.  The girl in the booth is only fifteen feet from her, but seems to want to be alone so Alyce does not bother her.  After an hour, Alyce gets up and stretches before raiding the bar for some crisps and a packet of biscuits.  Needing some air, she walks through the door leading to the outside viewing deck and stands near the left rail, seeing very little other than lights but enjoying the feel of the wind as it blows against her.  Her sigh is lost in the night as she tries to imagine standing here with Al’s arms around her.

[adamu]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076

And there they were. Of course it was no real surprise, because her insane array of sensors picked up his approach from his entry to the car. He shuffled up to her in his stocking feet, knowing she was a dangerous person to startle, but also sure he couldn't anyway. Wrapped his arms around her waist, which left his cheek on the back of her shoulder.

He'd gone to bed dead tired, simply fallen onto it and slept after closing the adjoining door. But the nightmares woke him barely half an hour later. This was one of the times he couldn't remember them, which was always a blessing. And a rare one, lately, because they were getting more vivid, more insistent. He didn't try getting back to sleep, instead watching trid and practicing his card tricks until he got hungry. Figuring Alyce was asleep, he'd gone out in search of snacks. And found her still out there gazing at stars she couldn't see.

"They's diff'rent from the ones I described for ya back ta Andoung Tuek. We's a long way from there, toots. An' miles o' sadness in between. Ever'thin's all busted an' cracked an' broken....That I can live with. The painful part's you comin' along an' tryin' ta put shit back together."

[Mercy Merchant]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076


Alyce's radar is the first sensor to kick in and let he know that there is movement in the observation car.  She turns one of the drones still inside the domed area to observe the stairs and smiles when she sees Al come up and walk down to the door leading to the outside deck.  She waits for him to come up next to her, but this time he does surprise her by standing behind her and placing both arms about her waist.  She places her hands on his and leans back into him slightly, almost afraid to say anything to spoil the moment.  After he speaks, though, she responds.  "Yes, they are different.  And the same.  They are all different stars, some with names and some perhaps without, but to me they are mostly just dots of light on a map of the sky.  You can see them and I cannot."  She waves a hand at the heavens.  "You can see the wonder and majesty of what God has created, but to me it is all pixels and matrix.  I will never again see such beauty.  I was given a special blessing to actually see your face for a short time and now I cannot get back there to have a chance to see it again.  But that memory is now locked in my very special mutated brain and I can pull it up in my mind whenever I want and I have thanked God every day since for that blessing."

She puts her hand back on his at her waist.  "You know that I am of the Russian Orthodox faith, don't you, Al?  Will that be a problem for you?"  She gives a slight laugh.  "I am rather afraid that Father Daniel does dread my showing up at mass because he knows that I will have much to confess.  But that is the beauty of faith, isn't it?  Our God sent his son here to die to pay in advance for our salvation.  There are many, many times when I feel completely unworthy of that or anyone else's sacrifice.  I have not heard you say things before in quite the way that you just did.  I thought I was frustrating you or bewildering you or perhaps bewitching you, but I did not realize I was causing you pain.  I never wanted to hurt you, Al.  You are right; Andoung Tuek and here and there have been many miles of sadness in between.  It took your words just now for me to realize how selfish you must think I am and how selfish I should probably think myself to be.  I have focused a good part of the past eight years to looking for you and it should have been clear to me that you were running away from me and did not want to be found."

Alyce pauses and lifts a hand to wipe her tears from her face before she continues.  "I do not know about you, but I can certainly agree that I am busted and cracked and selfish.  I was up here looking at the stars and praying to God that He would show you the way to me.  I have been praying for the wrong thing.  Instead of trying to force myself on you to make me happy, I should have been wishing that you were happy in whatever you chose to do and wherever you chose to do it.  You said that I am causing you pain by trying to put everything back together and I am sorry for that.  But I do thank you for being able to finally tell me that so I can move on a bit.  I know that you don't want to hear my girl drek, so I will just shut up.  I will love you until the day I die, Al Guthrie, and that is God's honest truth.  But I will just enjoy your company from here on out if that is what you want.  I do not want to cause you more pain."

She twists in his arms until she is facing Al.  "I am so very sorry that I brought pain to you, the one person in all the world that I would never wish to suffer any sort of pain."

[adamu]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076

Well he'd dug himself in deep this time. He knew he had to quit just blowing her shit off, but if he was going to sink deeper into the morass of feelings and emotions, he was going to need some space. He disengaged himself and tossed himself onto a nearby recliner. A cigarette appeared in his mouth, and once it was lit he started talking.

"Ya ain't got nothin' ta be sorry 'bout. Any pain ol' Al's got, that's my own doin', pure an' simple. What I meant 'bout you causin' it, well, does a patient blame the doctor fer a painful cure? Now, as fer the frustratin', bewilderin', an' bewitchin', hell yes, yer guilty as hell on all counts, but since you were apparently A-okay with those particular crimes against ol' Al's fragile psyche berfore, ya ain't got nothin' ta worry about." He hoped the smile was clear in his voice - what was it about women that compelled them to seize on the most negative possible interpretation of anything a man said? Hadn't he asked her just a few hours earlier not to give up on him? Still, she was on the right track in one respect.

"Now, if'n ya wanted ta continue all that bewilderment an' girlie witchcraft on a, what'd ya say? A 'jist enjoy my company' basis, well, we are s'posed ta be on vacation an' all. But do continue - ol' Al don't necessarily mind a little bewitchment, dependin' on the witch."

[Mercy Merchant]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076


Alyce says nothing but she moves to where he is sitting and sinks to the deck floor at his side and puts her head and a hand on his leg.  She sighs once, completely in love with this man.

[adamu]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076

Immune to the sharp rays of the early morning sun, Alyce was only awakened by the catering crew setting up the breakfast buffet.

"Holy moley, musta done fell asleep," lied Al by way of good morning. In truth, after a few doomed attempts to follow her into slumber, he had spent the remainder of the night staring at the stars and at her face and trying to figure out a way for things to work out. That he had failed utterly did not do much for his spirits, but then that was the nature of the Alyce drug - even as she filled him with despair and reminded him by her brightness (he was pretty sure he couldn't say goodness) of all that was bad in himself, she smothered him in equal measure with feelings of delight and contentment.

So though his smile as they roused themselves was not pure, neither was it pure facade.

"Hungry? We got a busy day o' doin' anythin' or nothin' ahead, an' that kind o' thing can take a whole lot of energy."

[adamu]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076

Alyce is still kneeling on the wooden observation deck with her head on Al’s leg when he wakes her.  His breathing and the pulse she can feel through his pants tells her that he is lying about something; probably his sleeping.  She turns her face to him for a few seconds and opens her mouth to say something but closes it without the words coming out.  Whatever the problem is, he is unlikely to tell her and letting him know that she knows he is lying will not do any good, either.  Instead, she stands and stretches, the bottom of her blouse rising to show off a bit of toned midriff before returning to its demure length.  In fact, the only risqué parts of what she is wearing is the way the trousers cling to her ass and the amount of cleavage shown due to the top three blouse buttons being undone.  And the fact that she is clearly not wearing a bra or knickers.
 
Looking down at him she frowns a bit.  “My head on your leg must have been uncomfortable, Al.  Why did you not wake me to move it?”  Another stretch.  “I am bloody hungry, to be honest.  I also have to use the loo in a very bad way.  I will be right back up, so why don’t you find us a table?”
 
With that, she moves quickly back into the domed area, passing where the rail staff is setting up the small brunch for those who want to dine while they watch the countryside go by.  She returns to her cabin to use the loo and then goes back to the observation car, climbing the steps to the upper level.  Al has selected a few things from the assorted food trays at the buffet and claimed a table for them.  Alyce stops by where she had been sitting and grabs up her book, blanket, and pillow before joining Al.  She places her things on the bench seat next to her and looks at the food Al has brought over.  “Holy fat lady, Al, are you trying to say I need to add some pounds here?  I ought to gain half a stone if I eat all of this.”  She starts to dig in and sniffs the aromas rising from the various plates at the table.  “Smells bloody marvellous, though.  Thanks for getting it for me.  I guess I can graze on this for a while, but I will need to do some real exercise if I don’t want to get so fat that you abandon me.  I did notice that there is a walking tour of some sort of castle at the place we stop this afternoon.  Are you interested?”

[adamu]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076

"Can keebs even git fat?" Al asked around a mouthful of sausage and fresh eggs. "Ain't never seen a fat one. Nor heard o' one neither. Ya mean ta say a few extra carbs an' the whole eternal beauty thing's out the window?" He chewed contemplatively. "Good to know," he concluded, eyeing her figure thoughtfully.

He waved a girl over and asked for a beer. This first-class thing was something else. "Castle, sure. They got knights an' so forth? Plungin' bodices, jousts, jesters? Whatever, ol' Al's game. Hey, ya know...gimme a tick..." Alyce could have done it faster, but then he didn't let her cut his food up for him, either, and thirty seconds with his commlink later, "...yup, speakin' o' joustin', they do got horses out here. If'n ya got a fat credstick, that is, which we seem to. Ya ride?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076


Alyce laughs.  "OK, you got me.  I, too, have never seen a fat Keeb.  It must be something in our metabolism, so don't worry; I will remain the way I am regardless of how much of this food I eat.  Say, this is rather good, you should try it."  She eats in quiet for a bit except to make appreciative sounds about the food.  "Horses?  Yes, I can ride.  Somewhat, at least.  Some of my contracts have used horses to get into the wilds.  I am not an expert rider, though, so no real jumping or racing for me unless you want me to bruise my arse in a fall to the bloody ground.  But, yeah, go ahead and reserve us a couple of horses for a ride.  I'm game."

After finishing breakfast, Alyce pats her stomach and stretching, again raising the bottom of her blouse and pushing her breasts against the thin fabric.  She motions to the book and blanket at her side on the bench seat.  "I was thinking of grabbing an hour of reading, if that is alright with you.  You can sit up here and keep me company if you like.  Honestly.  It is not like I have not read the story before and I like talking to you."

[adamu]

Tuesday, July 29th, 2076

"Ain't like I got nothin' better ta do," he replied, getting up to refill his plate with a stack of waffles, swathes of butter, and real maple syrup.

One hour of reading turned into three, Al contentedly smoking and doing nothing but watch the green fields and forest go by - which had been at the very top of his list of things to do on this trip.

Even at the train's leisurely pace, by early afternoon they had reached Totnes station. They had just finished a light lunch "Place we's headed's called Berry Pomeroy Castle. Three miles an' change on inta yonder valley. S'posed ta be pretty lush, real secluded spot. Lotta history. Hired a local car, he'll take us when we's good an' ready. Once we see the castle, he'll drive us to a nearby farm where there'll be horses waitin'. I turned down the guide - meant a deposit on the animals, but don't need no third wheel traipsin' behind us, an' ol' Al can help ya with the mount if'n ya need it."