ASSOCIATION / CH. 34:EPILOGUE (FLASH-FOWARD FIVE YEARS.)
WEDNESDAY 12TH DECEMBER 2277, 8.30AM.
Maggie Right was waiting for Lilly as she arrived at work, and dragged her to a private corner.
“Lilly, given the recent regime change you played reporter for, among other roles, of course, and the consequential reduction in threat to you, it looks like you're going to be a busy woman for the next month or two. Quite possibly longer.”
“And there I thought I was out of that stuff and back to normal work. Do I laugh or cry?”
“A bit of both, I expect. But you'll have a change of scenes, anyway. You've been assigned to the diplomatic corps. And I don't know if it's good news or not, but as part of it, you're finally going to spend some time in your passport country. Shocking, eh? Departure is on Saturday.”
“Oh! Wow. Jet-lag for an early Christmas present. Any other bomb-shells?”
“It doesn't make much sense to me, but it said 'First impressions count. Enjoy using the piano.'”
“What does that mean?”
“No idea, except that I guess there's a piano there.”
“I meant the first bit.”
“Maybe that you've got to be on your best behaviour, or something?”
“Maybe. Dress smartly?”
“That goes without saying, diplomatic corps being what they are. But might it mean that you really should use the piano?”
“I can do that. But I hate it when H.Q. gets this mysterious.”
“Oh, this didn't come from H.Q. See the little crown? This came from the palace.”
“Oh, and see the 'M' beside it?” Lilly asked.
“Yes? From Maria, surely?”
“She always puts a dot after her initial. My guess is it's from my anonymous voice, Mystery. It's her style.”
“So what does it mean?”
“That she's plotting something. There's a surprise.” her voice dripped sarcasm. “Hmm. It doesn't say how long the temporary posting is, just 'minimum 3 weeks'.”
“My advice: put your stuff into boxes. That way shipping them is easy if someone decides it's going to be years instead of weeks.”
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SATURDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2277, 5PM
Bleary eyed from sleep — he'd been on night duty, Bob picked up the phone.
“Sorry to wake you up Bob, special assignment for you, just come in.” his supervisor said “You're going to be on diplomatic protection duty.”
“Diplomatic protection?”
“Yep. Your special skills have come to the notice of the palace, apparently. Plus of course, rumour has it you're not as fit as you used to be.” He waved down Bob's protest. “So, you're going to be guide, nursemaid, bodyguard and so on to some of our diplomatic staff as they scout out a potential conference venue and the surrounding facilities. Lots of bug hunting, checking out everything is safe, and you've got about two hours to pack your bags.”
“But.... I've had this evening and all day tomorrow booked off for a month! I'm supposed to be leading worship at Church.”
“Sorry. You'll have to call in a favour or three. You're going to be away until well into the new year.”
Bob opened his mouth to object, but heard a voice.
[Finally he's awake and already protesting! I've been trying to warn you on and off for hours, Bob, but you didn't want to wake up.]
[Hello, Mystery, you are involved in this?]
[Don't protest too much, Bob, please. I need you to go there.] Eliza thought.
[What for?]
[You'll see.] was all the reply he got.
“You OK, Bob?” his supervisor asked.
“Urm, yeah. Just... Oh well, there's not much point in objecting is there?”
“Not when the origin is the palace, no.”
“I'd better pack. So much for an extra hour's sleep.”
“I let you sleep as long as I dared, but you're packing for three weeks minimum.”
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It was, Bob saw from the briefing notes, quite a complex site. A hotel, a number of restaurants, plus the ones in the town, and there were also ample opportunities for getting fit — a weights room, pool, running track, and even a mountain to walk up. That sounded tempting for his time off. He admitted he hadn't been as active as he should have been recently, but then who could be when you were stuck playing protection officer? So maybe that was where that jibe had come from. He'd certainly plan to make use of those facilities.
Of course, all those locations gave ample opportunities to get assassinated or bugged too, if they were serious about this being a venue for a conference. No wonder Mystery was going to get involved; he'd have his work cut out when he was on duty.
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SATURDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2277, 7PM
Lilly was met by an agent from Internal Security as she got off the plane, and was guided to a waiting vehicle. So much for exploring the arrivals hall with the rest of the passengers, she thought.
“Get in quickly, please, maam.”
“My bags?”
“If you could identify them as it comes off the luggage transport, that'd be perfect.”
“I wasn't expecting this. Is there some kind of security alert?”
“Don't worry, we're just using you to practice on. You get a form to fill in later about what worked well and what didn't.”
What didn't work was the airport staff had been more efficient than expected.
“That might have been one of my bags, disappearing now.” Lilly said as they got to the handling area.
“Wonderful. That happened last week too.” the agent groaned. “The good news is I know what to do. Can I have your luggage receipt?”
He took it to a scanner and then entered a code.
“Special treatment for my luggage as well?”
“Yes. I think we'll just plan on it working this way.”
----------------------------------------
After the journey to the conference facility, Lilly and the other diplomatic staff were shown the small kitchen where they could find food if their body-clocks needed it, and then to their rooms. Lilly grabbed a slice of bread and decided it was time to sleep, no matter what the clock said.
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SUNDAY 16TH DECEMBER 2277, 6AM
It didn't make sense in any time zone she could think of, but Lilly was awake. She decided that she'd put her alertness to use, and explore the facilities. She went to the kitchen, and made herself a drink. Meals, she decided should happen at the right time, but she was thirsty. From there she found the meeting room, and saw in the corner what must have been the piano mentioned in the message. She'd assumed it would be an electric piano, though more impressive than the one than she had in her flat, of course. Immediately, she realised she had been wrong. It was full concert-sized grand piano. Someone had left it open, and she could see it wasn't electrical. The strings glittered in the light. The wood just begged to be touched, and she couldn't resist. Nor, having touched the wood, and having run her fingers over the curves, could she resist sitting on the stool, and stroking the keys. It was a beautiful, magnificent instrument, and she very very softly played a few notes, then a few more. The sound was amazing, and she played on, losing herself in the music.
“That was beautiful,” a voice, male, said behind her. “and also my favourite hymn.”
Lilly blushed “I hope I didn't wake anyone. I wasn't going to play anything but...”
“I can't play the piano, but... it just begs you to sit down and try, doesn't it?” Bob replied. “I'm Bob, by the way. I guess I'm here to keep you safe, assuming you're diplomatic corps.”
“Lilly. Yes, I'm diplomatic corps.” she offered her hand and he shook it, noticing it was gloved, like his.
He decided it would be interesting to know if she wore gloves for peace of mind or just for peace and quiet. She, in turn decided she might tell him if he heard her.
“It looks like we have something else in common, beyond liking the way this piano sounds.” he said, grinning at her. He realised she looked familiar, very familiar, and he hid his thoughts in surprise. “I urm, don't suppose you're from the Beautiful Peninsula, are you?”
“Yes.”
“And you're a Christian, hear thoughts, and you joined the Service just before the impact?”
“I'm sure we've never met, but... yes.”
“Then I need to thank you for getting me to Church, making me listen for the first time in my life to what Christians were saying, and so ultimately being saved.”
“But we've never met!” Lilly protested.
“I know. I've been hoping to meet you for a long time though. Have you thought-spoken to Mystery Voice?”
“Yes.”
“You can blame her.”
“What for?”
“Convincing me that if I ever met you, it would be nice to be a Christian rather than an atheist.”
Lilly looked at him strangely. “You're not making a whole lot of sense.”
“Want the whole story? I am off duty now, by the way.”
“You've been on night-shift?”
“Yes. And you've got jetlag?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“Well, most people aren't bright and alert at this time of a Sunday morning, and Mystery did say you needed to stay where the People's State thought you ought to be.”
“You seem to know a lot about me.”
“Not much more than that. I didn't know your name, even,” he shook his head. “I can't believe we're finally meeting.”
“So what else did you know?” Lilly asked.
“Intelligent, emotionally strong like pretty much everyone I've met from there, and she strongly hinted that you used to work with their intelligence services. And could expect to be assassinated if I let on about that. She didn't tell me you played the piano though.”
“Hmm. Is that important?” It had sounded like it was, which was seriously worrying.
“It's probably a good thing, actually.”
She thought a bit about that and said “I really hope you're not going to tell me you've been mooning after me since you first heard of me or something brain-dead like that are you?”
“Not quite. But if Mrs interfering Mystery Voice had told me you did, then I might have been.”
“Mrs?”
“She's married.”
“And why do you call her interfering?”
“My first job as a real truthsayer. 'Hello Bob, this soldier isn't an agent, but the guy next to her is.' Is that interfering or what?”
“You're the truthsayer who's been checking the People's State soldiers?”
“Yes. Why?”
“My mum's been telling me all about you.”
“Your mum? Hold on, you're not going to tell me your mum is Mrs Ambassador?”
“That's her.”
“So, urm, what did she say about me?”
“That you really worried her the first day, but after that you settled down and stopped asking all the pretty soldier-girls out.”
“Hey, it was only the one, and I had just offered to cut off her hands and feet.”
“Why?”
“The rules said weapons needed to go in the bag, She said they were weapons, I made a joke, Mystery pointed out it might not be funny.”
“And then you asked her on a date?”
“When I found out she was a thought-hearer. It used to be a policy of mine, when I met a pretty thought-hearer. And she wasn't just pretty, she was funny too.”
“What happened then?”
“Your mum and Mystery both seriously got on my case, pointed out that it wasn't exactly going to be safe for anyone at the embassy if there was another defection.”
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
“Mum actually said another defection?”
“I think she did, yes.”
“Who heard her?”
“Just me and Su-Ki.”
“And Su-Ki wasn't going to say anything by the time she got home.”
“You know things I don't, obviously.”
“Oh, I know loads of things you don't, Bob. It comes of being a spy, infiltrator, systems hacker, counter-agent, and various other things.”
“Sounds like an adrenaline-packed life.” The way he said it, she got the feeling that he didn't like adrenaline.
“I'm really looking forward to not needing to look over my shoulder.”
“I bet. At least in witness protection I can be fairly sure that once I retire no one's going to be aiming anything at me, and that when I'm being shot at its not really personal.”
“You get shot at often?”
“Only a few times a year. Wounded one attack in four or five, I guess. So far it's not been serious or the medics have got to me on time.”
He went up a few notches in her estimation with that. He obviously didn't panic in the face of danger. “So you know all about adrenaline too.”
“Wears after a while, doesn't it?”
“Indeed. So, Su-Ki ditched you?”
“No. We agreed it would only be a one-off meal. I showed her some sights, took her to a nice restaurant, and told her she'd better not kiss me at the end of the evening or it'd get really difficult.”
“You liked her, then.”
“Of course. I mean, she got a tick in all my boxes except the piano. Mystery rather dumped cold water on my hormones by pointing out that a lot of things I find really attractive in women come together in your part of the planet, so it wasn't exactly that she was unique in the world. Then, she didn't kiss me, I was able to control myself, and we said goodbye, thanks, it's been fun.”
“And while you were crying yourself to sleep, Mystery told you about me?”
“Urm, no, actually. That'd been earlier.”
“Earlier?”
“When I was on my emotional roller-coaster: 'Oh wow, she's perfect, I didn't used to believe in love at first sight, but this is it, she's the one, and both Mystery and Mrs Ambassador are trying to separate us.' That's when she pointed out my boxes weren't that special, and she thought me a picture of you to make her point.”
“Hold on. I don't get the logic. I've seen Su-Ki's picture, she's a beautiful woman. You're saying that Mystery showed you a picture of me and said see, there's other women who aren't quite as pretty but you might meet her one day?”
“She didn't say you weren't as pretty, Lilly. She asked me what I thought on the matter, and I made her promise she'd arrange for us to meet.”
“And in return you promised you'd become a Christian?”
“In return I promised I'd listen. And I did, too, and obeyed the truth.”
“I shouldn't ask this.” Lilly started, then changed her mind “No I won't.”
“You don't think you're beautiful?” he asked, surprised.
“Oh! I can hardly breathe because of all the suitors who surround me.” Lilly said, dramatically, then looked around. “Oh look, they're invisible, no, I forgot, there hasn't been one in years.”
“Nice to know I'm at the head of the queue then.” Switching to her mother tongue he asked “Light of my dawn, will you offer me some hope? Will you eat with me one meal, and then allow me to ask this again?”
Lilly aimed a finger at him and said in English, “You, sir, have been seriously living in a fantasy world if you've committed that to memory just on the off-chance you'd meet me.”
He replied in her mother tongue “I have been truthsayer for immigration these past five years. It is good for a truthsayer to know the language of the client, is it not? There is often a lot of time to waste in witness protection. And your father allowed me to practice with the soldiers when I was not on duty.”
“He is cunning, this one, who flatters me in this way. How can a girl in a foreign land refuse to talk her mother tongue to a friend of her father's?”
“Is that a 'yes'?”
“One meal.” Lilly agreed.
“Then I can ask again?”
“I'm sure you can.”
“Would you like that first meal to be breakfast, or a trip to a proper restaurant? Which, I at least, am required to visit by my duties.”
“Breakfast at the canteen is hardly a date.”
“That's what I was thinking, but, still, it needs to be eaten.”
“So... just how long have you been awake?”
“I've been on nights a while. I got about five hour's sleep yesterday afternoon, rudely awakened and told I needed to come here, and then I got another hour's nap on the train yesterday.”
“And then straight on duty?”
“Pretty much.”
“And when are you next on duty? Ten tonight?”
He grinned. “It just so happens that I'm getting switched to daytime, so I'm not on duty until tomorrow morning.”
“But you do need to catch up on sleep sometime.” she pointed out.
He shrugged. “I'm used to it, I adjust pretty quickly. Especially if I keep active. What are your plans for the day?”
“Eat breakfast, find a church. I was wondering about how hard it would be to get up that little mountain over there.”
“According to the guide book, it's 'an energetic four hour climb to the top, not suitable for the very young or those who can't climb stiles'. I already looked.”
“And memorised it too. That doesn't quite fit into the after-lunch slot, does it?”
“Not if you want to walk home in the light, no.”
“Bother.”
“There is however, the option of a packed lunch, and one of the local churches runs two services, with the first meeting starting at nine, finishes at ten thirty. That was my plan, and I would not object to company at all.”
“You really are pushing your luck, aren't you? You think that just because you want to climb the same mountain as me, know how do to it today, and I've agreed to a nice meal in and expensive restaurant that I'm willing to spend the whole day with you?”
“I thought it was a God-given opportunity, and I'd be a fool not to suggest it. We could climb up separately, of course.”
“What? Don't you know anything about mountain safety?” Lilly accused “You should always go in a group.”
“And of course your safety is my responsibility.” Bob pointed out reasonably.
“What happened to being off duty?”
“Oh, that's going to be a wonderful defence. 'Sorry your majesties, but I was off duty so I didn't object to her sprinting off up the mountain on her own.'”
“What are the protection rules here? Not to mention the risks?”
“Protection rules are that if you're off site, and going to somewhere declared entirely safe, then you tell someone and check in regularly. Otherwise, you get accompanied. Risks? I've no idea, except we're not planning for a nuclear strike as far as I can tell.”
“And on-site is safe?”
“Not entirely. There are too many corners, not to mention un-scanned areas. That's what I was doing last night — bug hunting.”
“Find any?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“But they all had six legs. No, I tell a lie, there were some spiders too.”
She hid her thoughts and thumped him.
“Hey!”
“No adrenaline at six-thirty A.M. It's not funny.”
“Sorry.”
“Actually, it was, but there was too long a delay.”
“I'll remember that.”
“You've got a good memory.”
“I try.”
“So... Mystery showed you my picture?”
“Yes.”
“I wonder where she got it from.”
“I guessed was a passport or I.D. picture, you know, neutral expression. I think the question is more how. She said you were one of the latest civil service members, told me you were a thought-hearer, and it seemed like she was looking you up before she showed me your picture.”
“You knew she was married. How?”
“She said so, when I was all furious about being told to back away from Su-Ki.”
“And she's Security, obviously.”
“Not when I was introduced to her.”
“No?”
“I think the description was not in Security, not in the Royal family, but trusted. And of course, in the palace a lot.”
“Maybe someone high up in Auditing, then?”
“I'm sure Maria would count Auditing as Security.”
“Maria gave you that description?”
“Yes. Gave everyone in Security with the power that description, actually. Mystery made sure that not even the royal family knew who she was contacting to invite them to that meeting, apparently. Protecting our privacy.”
“I do wonder who she is.” Lilly said.
“For all I know, she's the queen's chief lady in waiting or something like that.”
“With access to top level security stuff. Like my file. That's worrying.”
“Lilly, she's got the gift. I guess their Majesties decided that if they weren't going to banish her from the palace, they needed to trust her.”
“Bob, I've got a friend with the gift. A good friend, as in, knock on her door and slouch on her sofa to watch films or pray about things. She doesn't have immediate access to my file as far as I know. And I don't think she could pull strings to get us assigned to the same place. That's all I'm saying.”
“You think she did?”
“You did say you made her promise to arrange for us to meet.”
“True, I hadn't thought this might be because of her. It seems too... well, sensible that we both be here. So, she's got access to surprising things, and maybe she can request things get done too.”
“Yes. I didn't think you'd got anyone in your government or civil service with access like that, like some grand vizier. It's... a bit scary, I guess.”
“Well, Maria has, and the other heads of department.”
“But they are in Security. People know who they are. Mystery seems to be some power beside the throne.” Lilly pointed out.
“So maybe Mystery is someone we know about, but her having the gift isn't known.”
“Yes, but who? I can't think of anyone.”
“You don't like my idea of the queen's chief lady in waiting?” Bob asked.
“No. For one thing, she sounds too young. For the other, my friend with the gift has told me that (a) I don't need to know and (b) I've heard of her. I don't know if the queen has a chief lady in waiting.”
“Nor do I, actually.” Bob admitted. “But as your friend has pointed out, you don't really have a need to know.”
“But what clearance level does she have? What gives her the right to go flipping through what's in my file, and decide to share it with a slightly deranged witness protection officer?”
“Slightly deranged?” Bob asked.
“Well? You've been hanging onto the idea that we'd meet for the past five years, not looking at other girls, changing your religion, even learning my language for goodness sake! That's a serious obsession, you've got there, Bob.”
“Oh look who's got an over-inflated opinion of herself! I said, I learnt your language for work. I didn't want to have to rely on your mum or Mystery as interpreter, it was too uncertain. And who said I'd not looked at other girls?”
“You have?”
“Well, there was Su-Ki, if you remember, who it was very very hard to say goodbye to, even after I'd seen your photo. And I went out with a woman called Pam for a while, but it didn't work out very well. We decided it wasn't going to work last Easter.”
“Oh. Sorry. OK, so you're not a complete obsessive.” Lilly felt relieved, he did seem a nice person, and her mother had spoken well of him. “But still... the point remains...”
[That I shouldn't have authority to know and trust?] Mystery asked [Sorry for butting in, I was going to talk to Bob about something. Lilly, I did get given that authority, though, and it wasn't something I asked for. And if you two would only get in a position where you can hear each others thoughts, then a proper conversation would be much easier. No, Lilly, that's not what I had in mind, and you'll really get Bob's hopes up if you do. Bob, do remember Lilly is quite capable of putting you back in hospital, so be good. Go find a metal railing or something!]
[Yes, mum.] Bob thought.
[He calls that being good?] Eliza responded.
[What did he do?] Lilly asked.
[Replied 'yes, mum'. Oh well, I suppose it's better than 'interfering God-botherer'.]
Bob led the way to a glass-walled staircase with a stainless steel banister. Since it was facing the dawn they even had a reason to stay there. It looked like the sunrise would be pretty.
[So did you interfere to arrange that we meet?] Lilly asked.
[If you call it interfering to ask 'Why isn't Bob being sent?' But I must admit asking God to make it possible to keep my promise a few months ago.]
[Just how long were you eves-dropping?] Lilly asked.
[You were saying that our mutual friend told you you didn't need to know, and imaging me to be a shadowy figure behind the scenes.]
[Well, you are aren't you?] Lilly pointed out.
[No. I feature in the news quite enough thank you.] Eliza said.
[Bob said you weren't in the royal family, weren't in Security. You're a politician?]
[Lilly, can I look deeper? Find out why this is so important to you? Do you like knowing secrets that could get you arrested if you mis-speak? I thought you'd been really relieved that you didn't need to be scared of speaking some of them any more? It is not publicly known that I have the power, let alone the gift.]
[Your secrecy about your real name is for our benefit?] Bob asked.
[Of course! I don't want my friends vanished to a think-tank. Oh Bother!]
[You didn't want to say that?] Lilly thought.
[Exactly. Auditing will have very strong words with you if you tell that knowing my identity and having loose lips will get to a one-way trip to a think tank. I know neither of you have loose lips, and I've obviously decided to trust you with that much dangerous information, you poor things.]
[If we value our freedom, we now try to forget we learned that, Lilly.] Bob said. Sensing some confusion from Lilly, he thought [Mystery, I am right in thinking that Auditing would not be involved if Lilly thought her friend's name to me, aren't I?]
[Not in the same way, Bob. They might want to take an interest for reasons Lilly knows, but not in the same sledgehammer way. So, Lilly? Do you want to take Bob's advice?]
[It's going to keep on nagging at me, Mystery. I trust you but for some reason I feel really uncomfortable not knowing. Feel free to find out why.]
Eliza looked at Lilly's heart. Lilly's concerns made perfect sense.
[Bob, would you like to hazard a guess why Lilly finds it really uncomfortable not knowing who can read her record? Actually Lilly, it was your asylum application, but the principle's the same.]
[I guess she's worried about a secret system behind the public state.] Bob said. [She's afraid she's misjudged our system, that we're more like home than she thought she knew.]
[And the discussion of auditing has done nothing to calm her fears.] Eliza added. [Bob, sorry. Lilly has a psychological need to know, and you're going to hear too.]
[Hey! Keep me out of this!] Bob objected.
[Really? You're going to keep your thoughts entirely hidden every time you watch a sunrise beside Lilly, or spend any time together? You're going to decide never to share thoughts? Bob, either you keep well away from Lilly, or I tell you together. I don't get in trouble for deciding to trust. You two don't have that privilege.]
[Can you at least let us have breakfast first?” Bob asked. “I really hate learning official secrets on an empty stomach, not to mention having to queue up in a canteen just after hearing them.”
[Official secrets?] Lilly asked.
[That's the only thing that fits Mystery's description of Auditing's reaction, Lilly] Bob thought. [Mystery's name has been declared an official secret.]
[Enjoy your breakfast together, you two.] Eliza thought.
[Who said it'd be together?] Lilly asked, in mock ire [The presumption!].
[You thought it, Lilly. And Bob's right, by the way. Well, sort of. My name's fairly well known, but that I have the gift isn't.]
[Thank you for saying you'll tell me, Mystery.] Lilly said [Perhaps it would be better if you waited until after Church, too. Bob and I are hoping to go up a mountain after that, so we'll have more time to get over the shock before we're in public. Though, I did think that perhaps we ought to invite others too. It looks like it might be a beautifully clear day.]
[Well, I'll try. I'm not sure how busy I'll be later on. If I can't call, I'll tell you later, OK? Have a lovely walk up the mountain. I must say I am glad you two have met. Oh, what do you think of that piano, Lilly?]
[It's beautiful, and the tone! It's fantastic!]
[You've played it already?] Eliza asked.
[Only my favourite hymn.] Bob answered.
[And have you played for her, Bob?]
[Not yet, Mystery.]
[{Curiosity} You play an instrument too?] Lilly asked.
[Saxophone.] Bob replied.
[{Suspicion} Mystery... did you set this up?] Lilly asked.
[What?]
[Do you play jazz, Bob?] Lilly asked. It sounded like an accusation.
[It has been known to happen.] Bob replied, deliberately vaguely.
[Because I love listening to jazz sax.]
[Oh. Perhaps I ought to admit that I fibbed a little then.]
[Oh. {disappointment}]
[It has been known to happen that I play something else. But not very often.]
[So... what are the chances of a little recital sometime?]
[Quite high if you ask nicely. That also rather settles where I'd like to take you to.]
[Don't tell me there's somewhere that has live Jaz!]
[OK. I won't.] Bob said, with a grin.
[Is there?]
[You just said not to tell you!]
[I could get upset.]
[There's a restaurant in town that apparently offers a discount for musicians prepared to play, depending how good they are, and how many pieces they play. Tonight just happens to be Jazz night. It's a bit of a rip-off, of course, since if they hired musicians they'd get more than a meal out of it. But still, we could go.]
[You were planning to just listen, or play?]
[I thought maybe I'd listen to the quality and then decide. I don't want to upset anyone, you know what musicians are like.]
[You mean, they might get cross if you're not up to standard?] Lilly asked, confused.
[Urm, no, not quite.]
[Bob, how good are you?] Lilly asked.
[How about you tell me, after breakfast?] he suggested, then, pushing his luck he asked [And then maybe, we could try a duet?]
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EVENING
“Please answer honestly, Lilly. What did you think of today?”
“Today as a whole... I think I'm going to remember it a long long time. It's not everyday you find out... what Mystery told us.”
“No, it's not.”
“But I don't think it's right to talk about the day as a whole. There were good bits and bad bits. Like that church service for instance.”
“Hmm. Sorry about that.” Bob said.
“I presume you didn't know.”
“Not at all. I thought the two services meant it was popular.”
“And twisting my ankle on that curb after successfully going up and down the mountain... that was a definite low point, and meant I can't count the walk as perfect. Thanks for helping me hobble back here.”
“My pleasure.”
“Yes, I noticed that, too.” she teased. “It made a wonderful excuse to put your arm round my waist, didn't it? I'd have probably enjoyed it too if it hadn't been for the pain. Thank you for a lovely day, Bob.”
“Thank you, Lilly. You were the best company I could imagine. We have eaten our meal together, light of my dawn. Will you offer me some hope? Will you eat with me one meal, and then allow me to ask this again?”
“First, one question: Why do you call me light of your dawn? I mean it's poetic, but, I get the feeling there's more to it than you're blinded by my smile.”
“Learning what I did about you from Mystery, the thought that I'd never have any hope with you if I kept pushing God away. Well, Jesus is the light of the world, but to me you'll always be the first light of dawn that made me realise that living in darkness might not be so great, and that stepping from darkness to light might even be possible.”
“I'm going to work out what I think about that later, but thank you for telling me... Poet and musician, strong armed defender, I will offer you the hope you ask for if you will offer me this one. Will you play with me one more duet, and then allow me to ask this again?”
“Whole-heartedly. I can think of no reason I'd refuse.”
“I can't think of a reason I'd refuse a meal, either. But let's take our hopes one step at a time.”
“Eminently sensible.” He agreed.
“I thought so.” Lilly said.
“I'm not sure I feel sensible, but at least I can still recognise it.”
“I probably shouldn't explore what that meant, should I? Sleep well, Bob.”
“Sleep well, Lilly.”
Lilly was wondering how she'd react if Bob asked to give her a parting kiss, but he didn't ask. Maybe he felt it was too early, didn't want to scare her off, or just didn't want to get a refusal. But there was one thing she was fairly certain of: she was glad she'd taken Maggie's advice. Getting back to her flat was sliding down her list of priorities.
THE END of Series 1
Next series: The Other Big Secret