Emma looked at her reflection in the mirror.She didn't like to wear her hair like this,bundled up, but the occasion demanded it.Something was missing...She opened her jewlery box,removed a silver locket that she kept there and put it on.It was her mother's.Definitely what she needed,the last touch.Her choice was a long white sparkling dress with a little something in scarlet on top,just to keep her warm.She tried to touch her idol,to reach it,make it her own.Who was she really?She looked at her watch.Seven sharp.No time for philosophy.
There was a knock on the door,she didn't imagine it.And then the doorbell started ringing.Steed.More punctual than ever,but with no patience at all.
"Coming!"
"Ready?Off we go!".He looked charming,in his satin black tuxedo,his best bowler on.She could tell the difference,he must have had a large collection of them.A white carnation right where his heart was.She casted a quick glance at him,then quickly averted her gaze,just in time,making sure that she wouldn't get caught.
"You look.."Steed, started.
"Uncommonly handsome."Oh,how easy it was for her to dare him.
"I can't believe you actually remembered that".
"Hurry up,Steed.I don't want to be late.It's almost one hour's drive".
Trust Emma to spoil a romantic moment in time.
They arrived on time.Most of the ministers were there and Emma could already spot some famous artists,some lordships and so on.Feather hats,fur coats, and so many other manifestations of human vanity were coming and going.
"You didn't tell me what happened in the morning".She asked him.
"False alarm.Someone else can handle it.I'm sorry Mrs Peel."
Mrs Peel wondered what happened to the diabolical masterminds of this world.Were they on strike or something?
Steed realised that someone was waving a hand at them.
"It's Byers!"Good,old Byers.When did he last see him?
"Hello Steed.Long time,no see."
Emma yawned.Boy talk.Exactly what she needed.
Apparently,Byers and Steed went to school together.They had seen each other only a few times since then.Byers was in to some kind of research.Very hush hush,as always.
"And you my dear must be Mrs Peel.How do you do?"He was staring at her.
"I'm fine,thank you.Nice to meet you."Hello and goodbye,her tone implied.
He was the scientist type with little glasses,loose hair and everything.Although at Steed's age,he looked older.Quite harmless,but with a weakness for the opposite sex.
When he finaly let them go they bumped into Sanderson,who used to collect agent reports and organise all missions.Retired now,he had bought a little cottage in the country.They both were very fond of him.
"Oh!My..Steed and Mrs Peel".
Some handshakes followed.
"I've been reading a lot about the two of you.You've had some big hits lately.Well done,well done."
"Well,we've had an inspired mentor."Emma said.
"I'll never forget that Ashford case.How did you ever know who.."Steed had an elephant's memory.
"Nonsense,nonsense.You two are what exactly the Ministry needs today.I'm looking forward to hearing some good news from you".
"Excuse me?"Steed said.Emma was speechless.
"I always believed that the two of you..Well.you know what I mean.You should think about your personal lives.Time goes by very quickly."Then he started to realise what he has just said.
Nobody knew how to forward the conversation.
"We must have given you the wrong impression".She was more icy than ever.Now people were talking about them?Was it so obvious?It was difficult enough between them.
"I'm most terribly sorry."Some more apologies followed.
"No harm done."Steed was happy that at last someone else shared his point of view.
If Emma didn't wear this dress,she'd put some sense into him.No harm done,right.
In fact, something was pulling her from behind.Was her dress caught somewhere?She turned around.Behind the corner there was a little girl holding her dress tail.She must have been about seven years old.A redhead,rather skinny.Her freckled face was shining.
"Excuse me,miss".
"Yes?"
"This fell".She held Emma's revolver in her hand.Her purse was half open.The carpet was thick and she hasn't heard it falling.Even Emma had to stuggle for her control at a time like this.A gun wasn't a child's toy.It was loaded,but locked.
"Thank you very much sweetheart.I'll take that now,all right?"How could she have been so careless?She put the revolver back where it belonged.
The girl kept looking at her.
"I know what it is!"She exclaimed.
You don't,do you?Emma thought.She leaned in and tilted her head,waiting for the next breakthrough.
"You are a spy!Aren't you?"She was whispering now,talking in to hear ear,her little palm in front of her mouth.The girl giggled.
This is what television will do to your kid.What a cute little thing ,was she though...
"And you are a very smart little girl".Emma swore her to secrecy.Spies are supposed to trust each other.
"What's your name?"Emma asked.
The answer came from the other side of the foyer.
"Marlene!..Marlene come here right now."
"Got to go.Bye!"
Brown eyes looking at brown eyes.
"Bye".Emma watched her disappearing swiftly into the crowd.
She heard an other-oh!so familiar- voice.
"Mrs Peel!"
Sanderson has left Steed and now a bunch of female existences were buzzing around him.When they saw Emma,they left seeking for another potential possesion.
"I'm glad you're enjoying your self."
"Enjoying?But you've just saved me.They were about to..and quite a few of them,indeed!!"
She laughed.There was a bond that united them,no matter what.
"At least we didn't miss all the hustle and bustle."Her look teasing again.
"Well,where did you learn to talk like this?And where were you?...".
The first bell rung just on time to save her.A short but good looking young girl showed them to their seats,in the third row.Steed wasn't Scroodge.The lights went out and a set of divine voices filled the cold room.It touched her,in a strange way.The balance between reality and illusion was so fragile,she contemplated.An experience that could never be dublicated.When the curtain falls,it's over.She had tried some acting as a student and had found it appealing but her strong sense compelled her to find other ways to freedom.Steed was mesmerised.The colours,the music,the movement fascinated him.If sirens called him to join their world,this is the means they'd use.
Above the stage,a man dressed in black was walking on a small platform,used for supporting the lights.He was hiding,like a raven in the night.Looking through his telescope,he aimed.It would be so easy,as if someone tried to kill a caged bird.A rat passing by knew nothing about his plans.He almost stepped on it.Damn it!He had already pull the trigger.The gunshot was almost not heard,the tenors doing a good job.
People panicked and disaster followed.The orchestra stopped playing and the actors froze.The stage looked like a marble statue garden.
Everyone was trying to get out.Steed felt a pain in the chest.It was done,his worst fears coming true.Emma's dress was stained,the blood finding its way through the soft fabrick.He knew what it meant,had seen it many times,flow slowly.The last messenger of life.Not her..God, don't let it be her...He took her in his arms and urged the people around him to call for an ambulance.
"Emma,talk to me.Please.."
In her white dress,she looked like a hurt swan.Colour had left her face,but there was no pain.Still in shock she whispered:
"Steed it's not me...Just a scratch.Go find them".
He took a walkie talkie out of his jacket pocket.
"This is Steed talking to all units over.Nobody is to leave.Seal everything."
They have done that already.He didn't come to the opera alone this evening.A few calls to the right people and a bunch of under cover agents followed him.They were placed discretely in the crowd and the opera staff.It wasn't enough..what he had done wasn't enough..he wasn't enough to protect her.
The man in black was trying to find his way in the sewers.A ghastly presence,in a dirty world.
There was a knock on the door,she didn't imagine it.And then the doorbell started ringing.Steed.More punctual than ever,but with no patience at all.
"Coming!"
"Ready?Off we go!".He looked charming,in his satin black tuxedo,his best bowler on.She could tell the difference,he must have had a large collection of them.A white carnation right where his heart was.She casted a quick glance at him,then quickly averted her gaze,just in time,making sure that she wouldn't get caught.
"You look.."Steed, started.
"Uncommonly handsome."Oh,how easy it was for her to dare him.
"I can't believe you actually remembered that".
"Hurry up,Steed.I don't want to be late.It's almost one hour's drive".
Trust Emma to spoil a romantic moment in time.
They arrived on time.Most of the ministers were there and Emma could already spot some famous artists,some lordships and so on.Feather hats,fur coats, and so many other manifestations of human vanity were coming and going.
"You didn't tell me what happened in the morning".She asked him.
"False alarm.Someone else can handle it.I'm sorry Mrs Peel."
Mrs Peel wondered what happened to the diabolical masterminds of this world.Were they on strike or something?
Steed realised that someone was waving a hand at them.
"It's Byers!"Good,old Byers.When did he last see him?
"Hello Steed.Long time,no see."
Emma yawned.Boy talk.Exactly what she needed.
Apparently,Byers and Steed went to school together.They had seen each other only a few times since then.Byers was in to some kind of research.Very hush hush,as always.
"And you my dear must be Mrs Peel.How do you do?"He was staring at her.
"I'm fine,thank you.Nice to meet you."Hello and goodbye,her tone implied.
He was the scientist type with little glasses,loose hair and everything.Although at Steed's age,he looked older.Quite harmless,but with a weakness for the opposite sex.
When he finaly let them go they bumped into Sanderson,who used to collect agent reports and organise all missions.Retired now,he had bought a little cottage in the country.They both were very fond of him.
"Oh!My..Steed and Mrs Peel".
Some handshakes followed.
"I've been reading a lot about the two of you.You've had some big hits lately.Well done,well done."
"Well,we've had an inspired mentor."Emma said.
"I'll never forget that Ashford case.How did you ever know who.."Steed had an elephant's memory.
"Nonsense,nonsense.You two are what exactly the Ministry needs today.I'm looking forward to hearing some good news from you".
"Excuse me?"Steed said.Emma was speechless.
"I always believed that the two of you..Well.you know what I mean.You should think about your personal lives.Time goes by very quickly."Then he started to realise what he has just said.
Nobody knew how to forward the conversation.
"We must have given you the wrong impression".She was more icy than ever.Now people were talking about them?Was it so obvious?It was difficult enough between them.
"I'm most terribly sorry."Some more apologies followed.
"No harm done."Steed was happy that at last someone else shared his point of view.
If Emma didn't wear this dress,she'd put some sense into him.No harm done,right.
In fact, something was pulling her from behind.Was her dress caught somewhere?She turned around.Behind the corner there was a little girl holding her dress tail.She must have been about seven years old.A redhead,rather skinny.Her freckled face was shining.
"Excuse me,miss".
"Yes?"
"This fell".She held Emma's revolver in her hand.Her purse was half open.The carpet was thick and she hasn't heard it falling.Even Emma had to stuggle for her control at a time like this.A gun wasn't a child's toy.It was loaded,but locked.
"Thank you very much sweetheart.I'll take that now,all right?"How could she have been so careless?She put the revolver back where it belonged.
The girl kept looking at her.
"I know what it is!"She exclaimed.
You don't,do you?Emma thought.She leaned in and tilted her head,waiting for the next breakthrough.
"You are a spy!Aren't you?"She was whispering now,talking in to hear ear,her little palm in front of her mouth.The girl giggled.
This is what television will do to your kid.What a cute little thing ,was she though...
"And you are a very smart little girl".Emma swore her to secrecy.Spies are supposed to trust each other.
"What's your name?"Emma asked.
The answer came from the other side of the foyer.
"Marlene!..Marlene come here right now."
"Got to go.Bye!"
Brown eyes looking at brown eyes.
"Bye".Emma watched her disappearing swiftly into the crowd.
She heard an other-oh!so familiar- voice.
"Mrs Peel!"
Sanderson has left Steed and now a bunch of female existences were buzzing around him.When they saw Emma,they left seeking for another potential possesion.
"I'm glad you're enjoying your self."
"Enjoying?But you've just saved me.They were about to..and quite a few of them,indeed!!"
She laughed.There was a bond that united them,no matter what.
"At least we didn't miss all the hustle and bustle."Her look teasing again.
"Well,where did you learn to talk like this?And where were you?...".
The first bell rung just on time to save her.A short but good looking young girl showed them to their seats,in the third row.Steed wasn't Scroodge.The lights went out and a set of divine voices filled the cold room.It touched her,in a strange way.The balance between reality and illusion was so fragile,she contemplated.An experience that could never be dublicated.When the curtain falls,it's over.She had tried some acting as a student and had found it appealing but her strong sense compelled her to find other ways to freedom.Steed was mesmerised.The colours,the music,the movement fascinated him.If sirens called him to join their world,this is the means they'd use.
Above the stage,a man dressed in black was walking on a small platform,used for supporting the lights.He was hiding,like a raven in the night.Looking through his telescope,he aimed.It would be so easy,as if someone tried to kill a caged bird.A rat passing by knew nothing about his plans.He almost stepped on it.Damn it!He had already pull the trigger.The gunshot was almost not heard,the tenors doing a good job.
People panicked and disaster followed.The orchestra stopped playing and the actors froze.The stage looked like a marble statue garden.
Everyone was trying to get out.Steed felt a pain in the chest.It was done,his worst fears coming true.Emma's dress was stained,the blood finding its way through the soft fabrick.He knew what it meant,had seen it many times,flow slowly.The last messenger of life.Not her..God, don't let it be her...He took her in his arms and urged the people around him to call for an ambulance.
"Emma,talk to me.Please.."
In her white dress,she looked like a hurt swan.Colour had left her face,but there was no pain.Still in shock she whispered:
"Steed it's not me...Just a scratch.Go find them".
He took a walkie talkie out of his jacket pocket.
"This is Steed talking to all units over.Nobody is to leave.Seal everything."
They have done that already.He didn't come to the opera alone this evening.A few calls to the right people and a bunch of under cover agents followed him.They were placed discretely in the crowd and the opera staff.It wasn't enough..what he had done wasn't enough..he wasn't enough to protect her.
The man in black was trying to find his way in the sewers.A ghastly presence,in a dirty world.
