Page 129 of Gates of Tartarus

The two start tussling like teenagers, wrestling on the deck, and despite everything else, their trash-talking banter and Lachy’s exasperated sigh make me feel… happy… in the moment. Lach and I roll our eyes at each other, and I can feel the fire in my stomach flare slightly when he sees the smile on my face. The only heaviness in the moment is from the corner of the deck, where Smith and Tanaka stand, clearly on the outside of our group. The air around them is heavy and grey, but I can’t bring myself to care as the sun breaks through the cold clouds overhead, and, just for the moment, I’m warm in the brightness of the day.

Screw in the Lightbulb, Wrap the Present

Tuesday, 4 December – Maela

So we wait. There’s bugger all else to do. Kailani’s recovering, the US team will warn Elizabeth, and Emlyn and Seef are already following up on the Russian angle and running photographs of the rescued women through databases. The guys have decided I should stay at home for the time being, so Emlyn and Seef return to the house for our remote-viewing and training sessions, Kavi and Jorge handing me off like a football. I’m momentarily cheered by the thought that at least I won’t have to do laps, until Seef announces that we’ll just runup and downthestairs. I come dangerously close to being sick that first afternoon.

My days slot into a routine: wake up, dress, breakfast, viewing, yoga, reading, lunch, viewing, exercise, dinner, action movie, bed. Lather; rinse; repeat. Magda’s obviously been told to stay indoors and not draw attention to herself, because she’s always in her hotel room when I drop in. And Tennireef’s busy with his finance bill. I do try viewing at odd hours – against instructions on my own – just in case I can catch one or both doing something nefarious; but they’re being good as gold. With Amy there’s just a blank. I can’t even “feel” her signature in the fog. Guess our interaction was too brief. By the fourth evening, I decide to liven things up a little.

“Come on. It’ll be fun!”

“Not just no, but hell no,” Seef shakes his head. “Besides, I’ve got to speak to Maddox and see what the latest on developments there is.” He stands up, a little too quickly, I think, and leaves the room with what can only be described as indecent haste.

“Sorry,querida, I should call my sister to discuss my grandmother’s care.” Jorge, the traitor, beats a hasty retreat, before I can object. Some boyfriend.

I turn defiantly to the remaining two miscreants. “Guess it’s just the three of us, then.” I fiddle with the controls.

“Umm,” Kavi begins before shrinking back into the chair, as I turn to glare at him.

“Yes?” My voice is tart.

“Nothing.”

Emlyn wisely stays silent but looks amused.

“Well, all right, then. It’s a classic.” I’ve gone for the cheesiest, most girly movie I can find on Netflix. I’ve put up with weeks of action films, and it’s time for a little payback. Besides, no one’s tried anything on for a week, and I’m feeling frisky. Jorge must be feeling guilty that he broke the bro-pact, and I’m not saying I’m ready for a foursome, but something besides a pat on the head or friendly cuddle would be nice. Soon, the sound-track toMamma Mia!is playing in all its 70’s glory.

An hour and a half later, Emlyn and Kavi are glazed over. I, on the other hand, am feeling bouncy.Revenge is oh so sweet.

“Sooo. What did you think? It was good, right? Maela should choose movies more often, hmm? Emlyn? Emlyn?” He’s not responding, so I reach out and tap him on the shin with my stockinged foot.

“What? Oh, sorry. I’ve been meditating.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Is that right?”

“I had to go to a safe, happy place in my head. It was the only way.”

I jump up. “What was not to like about that movie? Romance, music, dancing… just like a Bollywood film. You liked it, Kavi, didn’t you?”

“I’ll never get those 100 minutes back,” he says mournfully.

“Seriously? You’re a Bollywood fan, and you didn’t enjoy a little dancing?”

“Define dancing,” he counters.

“I’ll show you,” I say archly. “Watch.” And I try to recreate the scene at the bachelorette party, twirling and leaping about the room with great abandon.

“God, it’s like a train wreck,” Emlyn remarks. “You don’t want to look, but you can’t help yourself.”

“I can do Indian dancing too,” I tell Kavi and start to sway.

“Thatis a matter of opinion.”

“Hah, hah, hah. It’s not difficult, see?” I start to gesticulate, wriggling all the while. “Screw in the lightbulb! Wra-a-ap the present!” I wiggle my bottom for good measure.

“Oh my God, I can’t watch.” Kavi groans and covers his eyes. “Is it over yet? Please, make her stop!”

“Leave now while she’s distracted. Don’t worry about me. I’d only slow you down,” Emlyn whispers dramatically.