REMEMBER ULYSSES
by Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Huff
Chapter Seven: Betrayal
------
James awoke finding himself disheveled. Annika looked down at him tending to a lump on his head. "I told you it was dangerous. You of all people should be more careful."
He checked to see if he was bleeding anywhere. His stitches had held; (thank goodness they had). "I am careful Annika. No one is perfect." He sat up slowly. "What time is it?"
"a quarter past ten." She helped him steady himself.
"Ande. She's going to be ready to hang me." He tried not to speak to loudly.
"Lady friend, a dinner date." She chided him teasing.
"Long story. She's a Dr. from England. I owe her dinner." He tried to straighten himself up a bit.
She shook her head understanding. "Mouse would you please show Missure Bond the way to his hotel." She faced him. "I will see you tomorrow; They may be holding Jeanette under the ruins of the palace of justice. Be careful Missure Bond; beware those around you."
Mouse gestured for James to fallow him. They walked in silence. The gentle giant led him to a grate behind his hotel. Bond thanked him, and they parted company.
-----
Bond walked through the lobby. Ande was not there; he hadn't expected her to be. He was now four hours late. She probably wouldn't want to speak to him ever again. (Perhaps she will be in a good mood tomorrow.) He made his way up the stairs to his room.
Bond entered his room; wishing he could make it up to Ande. "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts."
To his surprise there was Ande draped across the bed looking at him. On the table was a bottle of wine on ice, and two glasses. "Hamlet?" He tried to look cool.
She sat up slowly; trying not to look at him. "'As You Like It'." She looked at the clock, and sighed. "Four hours late James! I was wondering if you would ever return."
"I can explain." He paused to think up a good excuse.
Ande looked at him; her expression softening in an instant. "Oh James; you're a mess." She stood up, and walked toward him. "You're hurt." She brought her hand to a scrap on his forehead.
He drew back; not wanting her to touch him. Though he ached to be held by gentle arms. "I was mugged; by a large man this afternoon. It's just a scrape." He walked past her; setting down on the bed. Keeping his eyes toward the floor.
"No doubt what kept you, but that's not all there is to it." She sat by him on the bed.
He looked towards her, but not at her. "Why do you say there's more to it?"
"Dr. of psychiatry; remember. When some one doesn't make eye contact; there's a reason. You seem to push everyone away." She reached out to hold him.
This time he welcomed her arms. "Your right Ande there's more, but I wouldn't want to burden anyone else with it." He held her in his arms. (Damn she smelled wonderful.)
Ande saw opportunity;(Now is your chance Ande, take it before it's gone.) She moved for the syringe.
(What was that? He felt her shift.) "What's the matter Ande?"
She fidgeted a moment. "Nothing James. Must you be so paranoid." (Move now Ande he's suspicious.)
There was the shift again. He grabbed her hand; it was heading for something under her dress. Putting his hand over her mouth before she could stop him. He shoved her to the bed; finding the holster on her inner thigh. a syringe; this was outrageous. She tried to speak, but he wouldn't let her. "So you are more than you seem Ande." Pulling the syringe from it's hiding place; he held it up to the light. Ande grew pale, and struggled beneath him. "So what's this for Dr.?" He plunged the needle deeply into her thigh. a few moments latter she was limp. "Ah! I see; a sedative. No doubt hidden there for unruly patients." He disposed of the needle, and searched her purse. Nothing there; her jacket. Bingo; the things in the pockets had Q-Branch written all over them.
He placed the things back as they had been. Then he arranged Ande in a slightly more dignified position. Opening the wine he pored most of it down the drain. (Shame to waste it.) He pored a little in one glass; then smeared some of her lipstick on the rim. After setting this by her on the floor; he headed for the lobby. No doubt he could find help there to move his inebriated lady friend to her own room.
-----
Bond walked up to the front desk in the lobby. "Pardon emwo Jean- Pearre. Dr. Lamont was to meet me for dinner, but I was so late she drank the wine without me. The lady has passed out on my bed, but I think she would be more comfortable in her own room. I cannot move her myself; I had surgery not long ago. If I tried; I would surely tear my stitches." He paused a moment; looking at the clerk in feigned-desperation. "Can you help me?"
The clerk looked at him understanding. "Oui Missure James. You do not wish Mamsel to think you less than a gentleman." He gestured toward a room at the side of the desk. "Fracewo, Jerome; would you help Missure James solve a small problem in his room." Jean-Pearre turned again to Bond. "Now your stitches are not a worry. No." The clerk smiled down at his work; as Bond led the two bell-hops away
"Merci Bocue Jean-Pearre. Merci Bocue." Bond was glad that was so easy.
-----
Bond walked the streets of Paris. It was morning; he had switched hotels last night. He wasn't going to be easy for Ande to find. The day was bright, but cool. The fall months were near. Still it was beautiful here. He was dressed semi-casual; slacks and blazer no tie. There was a fruit vendor near by. He bought an apple as he passed. "Bonjour." He said cheerfully to the lady as he paid.
"Merci Missure comente allie vou?" The woman asked kindly.
Bond smiled at the woman's kind face. "Tribien, merci." He walked on; munching the apple.
He found himself by the Arnuo Curio shop. Finishing his apple; he dropped the core in a rubbish bin. Walking around back he found Annika waiting for him. She stood there in a mid-calf skirt with stretch pants underneath, blouse, and jacket.
Her dark hair was tied back, and she had a small knap-sack on her shoulder. She was smoking a cigarette; fidgeting nervously.
She noticed him, and smothering the cigarette on the ground she baaed him to fallow. Down they went to the sewers; where Mouse was waiting. "I was right Missure Bond. I know where they are holding Jeanette." She seamed ready to bust.
Can you tell me where she is?" He needed to find her quick. Time was running out, and she was the only one who knew where the ciphers were hidden.
Annika shook her head. "No Missure; the tunnels are tricky. Twists and turns all over. I will show you." She spoke with resolution.
"I couldn't let you; it would be to dangerous." He already felt responsible for Jeanette.
She didn't back down. "You are no good to anyone if you get lost." Her face was stone.
"You have a point." He admitted grudgingly. "What do we do now?" Bond looked at them both.
"We'll need a few things to get to her. After all we can't just walk in, and ask if she can come out to play." Annika lit up another cigarette.
Bond looked at her wondering. "I didn't know you smoked."
She looked back at him. "I don't. At least I haven't for a long time." Annika shrugged leading on. "So how did things go with your lady friend?'' Changing the subject.
He tried to think how to fraise it. "Somehow I doubt we'll ever be on good terms again."
Annika took pity on him. "She was that angry; was she?"
He stifled a laugh. "More like she will be that angry; when she wakes." Bond looked away from her.
"Interesting, but I think I'll skip the rest of the story." They fell silent.
-----
Chapter Seven: Betrayal
------
James awoke finding himself disheveled. Annika looked down at him tending to a lump on his head. "I told you it was dangerous. You of all people should be more careful."
He checked to see if he was bleeding anywhere. His stitches had held; (thank goodness they had). "I am careful Annika. No one is perfect." He sat up slowly. "What time is it?"
"a quarter past ten." She helped him steady himself.
"Ande. She's going to be ready to hang me." He tried not to speak to loudly.
"Lady friend, a dinner date." She chided him teasing.
"Long story. She's a Dr. from England. I owe her dinner." He tried to straighten himself up a bit.
She shook her head understanding. "Mouse would you please show Missure Bond the way to his hotel." She faced him. "I will see you tomorrow; They may be holding Jeanette under the ruins of the palace of justice. Be careful Missure Bond; beware those around you."
Mouse gestured for James to fallow him. They walked in silence. The gentle giant led him to a grate behind his hotel. Bond thanked him, and they parted company.
-----
Bond walked through the lobby. Ande was not there; he hadn't expected her to be. He was now four hours late. She probably wouldn't want to speak to him ever again. (Perhaps she will be in a good mood tomorrow.) He made his way up the stairs to his room.
Bond entered his room; wishing he could make it up to Ande. "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts."
To his surprise there was Ande draped across the bed looking at him. On the table was a bottle of wine on ice, and two glasses. "Hamlet?" He tried to look cool.
She sat up slowly; trying not to look at him. "'As You Like It'." She looked at the clock, and sighed. "Four hours late James! I was wondering if you would ever return."
"I can explain." He paused to think up a good excuse.
Ande looked at him; her expression softening in an instant. "Oh James; you're a mess." She stood up, and walked toward him. "You're hurt." She brought her hand to a scrap on his forehead.
He drew back; not wanting her to touch him. Though he ached to be held by gentle arms. "I was mugged; by a large man this afternoon. It's just a scrape." He walked past her; setting down on the bed. Keeping his eyes toward the floor.
"No doubt what kept you, but that's not all there is to it." She sat by him on the bed.
He looked towards her, but not at her. "Why do you say there's more to it?"
"Dr. of psychiatry; remember. When some one doesn't make eye contact; there's a reason. You seem to push everyone away." She reached out to hold him.
This time he welcomed her arms. "Your right Ande there's more, but I wouldn't want to burden anyone else with it." He held her in his arms. (Damn she smelled wonderful.)
Ande saw opportunity;(Now is your chance Ande, take it before it's gone.) She moved for the syringe.
(What was that? He felt her shift.) "What's the matter Ande?"
She fidgeted a moment. "Nothing James. Must you be so paranoid." (Move now Ande he's suspicious.)
There was the shift again. He grabbed her hand; it was heading for something under her dress. Putting his hand over her mouth before she could stop him. He shoved her to the bed; finding the holster on her inner thigh. a syringe; this was outrageous. She tried to speak, but he wouldn't let her. "So you are more than you seem Ande." Pulling the syringe from it's hiding place; he held it up to the light. Ande grew pale, and struggled beneath him. "So what's this for Dr.?" He plunged the needle deeply into her thigh. a few moments latter she was limp. "Ah! I see; a sedative. No doubt hidden there for unruly patients." He disposed of the needle, and searched her purse. Nothing there; her jacket. Bingo; the things in the pockets had Q-Branch written all over them.
He placed the things back as they had been. Then he arranged Ande in a slightly more dignified position. Opening the wine he pored most of it down the drain. (Shame to waste it.) He pored a little in one glass; then smeared some of her lipstick on the rim. After setting this by her on the floor; he headed for the lobby. No doubt he could find help there to move his inebriated lady friend to her own room.
-----
Bond walked up to the front desk in the lobby. "Pardon emwo Jean- Pearre. Dr. Lamont was to meet me for dinner, but I was so late she drank the wine without me. The lady has passed out on my bed, but I think she would be more comfortable in her own room. I cannot move her myself; I had surgery not long ago. If I tried; I would surely tear my stitches." He paused a moment; looking at the clerk in feigned-desperation. "Can you help me?"
The clerk looked at him understanding. "Oui Missure James. You do not wish Mamsel to think you less than a gentleman." He gestured toward a room at the side of the desk. "Fracewo, Jerome; would you help Missure James solve a small problem in his room." Jean-Pearre turned again to Bond. "Now your stitches are not a worry. No." The clerk smiled down at his work; as Bond led the two bell-hops away
"Merci Bocue Jean-Pearre. Merci Bocue." Bond was glad that was so easy.
-----
Bond walked the streets of Paris. It was morning; he had switched hotels last night. He wasn't going to be easy for Ande to find. The day was bright, but cool. The fall months were near. Still it was beautiful here. He was dressed semi-casual; slacks and blazer no tie. There was a fruit vendor near by. He bought an apple as he passed. "Bonjour." He said cheerfully to the lady as he paid.
"Merci Missure comente allie vou?" The woman asked kindly.
Bond smiled at the woman's kind face. "Tribien, merci." He walked on; munching the apple.
He found himself by the Arnuo Curio shop. Finishing his apple; he dropped the core in a rubbish bin. Walking around back he found Annika waiting for him. She stood there in a mid-calf skirt with stretch pants underneath, blouse, and jacket.
Her dark hair was tied back, and she had a small knap-sack on her shoulder. She was smoking a cigarette; fidgeting nervously.
She noticed him, and smothering the cigarette on the ground she baaed him to fallow. Down they went to the sewers; where Mouse was waiting. "I was right Missure Bond. I know where they are holding Jeanette." She seamed ready to bust.
Can you tell me where she is?" He needed to find her quick. Time was running out, and she was the only one who knew where the ciphers were hidden.
Annika shook her head. "No Missure; the tunnels are tricky. Twists and turns all over. I will show you." She spoke with resolution.
"I couldn't let you; it would be to dangerous." He already felt responsible for Jeanette.
She didn't back down. "You are no good to anyone if you get lost." Her face was stone.
"You have a point." He admitted grudgingly. "What do we do now?" Bond looked at them both.
"We'll need a few things to get to her. After all we can't just walk in, and ask if she can come out to play." Annika lit up another cigarette.
Bond looked at her wondering. "I didn't know you smoked."
She looked back at him. "I don't. At least I haven't for a long time." Annika shrugged leading on. "So how did things go with your lady friend?'' Changing the subject.
He tried to think how to fraise it. "Somehow I doubt we'll ever be on good terms again."
Annika took pity on him. "She was that angry; was she?"
He stifled a laugh. "More like she will be that angry; when she wakes." Bond looked away from her.
"Interesting, but I think I'll skip the rest of the story." They fell silent.
-----