Elixir of Time by Keith Short

Author:Keith Short
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Published: 2020-07-07T00:00:00+00:00

There was a surprising lack of reprimand following their out-of-bounds excursion; hopefully there’d be no form of punishment. They spent the afternoon talking about family matters, plans for Vasily’s future education, anything that avoided the subjects of thermonuclear design, the CIA or Black Diamond. They walked along the beach in the opposite direction to the morning’s jaunt, paddling up to their ankles in the warm water, occasionally stopping to gaze out to sea, always careful to avoid any dialogue or activity that might be considered provocative. Did those prying eyes ever close for sleep?

They returned to the beach hut in time to watch the sun dip below the western horizon. In its place, the rising moon poured its light over the surrounding trees and the first stars dotted the clear night sky like diamonds in a pond. Magda sat on the boulder in front of their hut and studied the constellations. Could Leon work out where they were on this planet from their position? I could provide him with an accurate estimate for the time of day.

Leon appeared from the hut with a large bath towel over each shoulder. ‘What a lovely evening. How do you fancy sex on the beach?’

Magda laughed. ‘I presume you’re referring to the cocktail? I didn’t think we were allowed alcohol.’

Underneath the nearest palm, Leon laid a towel on top of the sand then positioned the second towel over it and folded it back.

‘You ready for bed?’

‘Oh, Leon, you’re such a comedian.’

‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ he said, taking off his shirt.

Naked, they slipped into the makeshift bed and in the balmy evening shadows embraced in silence. They were going to be left alone. She stroked her hand down the muscles of his stomach. Picking up her signal, Leon took hold of her other hand.

Leon: Ready to start?

Magda: Ready.

Leon: No technical changes to report. Any news on Black Diamond?

Magda: Gone quiet. Tension rising. Bad news. CIA think you are traitor.

Leon: Why?

Magda: NK news bulletin.

Leon: CIA wrong. I have news. American data coming into project.

Magda: Who is supplying?

Leon pushed his tongue through her closed lips. They used to love kissing like this, but tonight was different. As his tongue worked away inside her mouth, his hand slid down her left hip.

Leon: O-R-L-O-V female S-V-E-T-L-A-N-A.

Magda: Who is she?

Leon: My assistant.

Magda: Is she pretty?

Leon: Stop it!

This was what had been bothering him. There was someone else in his life. But why would he expose her as a mole?

Magda: You sure?

‘No one could ever replace you,’ Leon said, breaking out of the covert communication sequence. ‘I’ll never forget our finals day in Krakow. Every night my final thought is of that first kiss. You’re still the same beautiful young woman.’

She made no reply. Could this be a smokescreen to prevent her from seeing the truth? Somewhere within her deepest psyche, a voice she didn’t recognise told her he meant it. From the bottom of his heart.

He stroked her cheek and kissed her lips.

Magda took his hand from her cheek and rested it between her open thighs.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.