She walks over to where Cook and Chris are eating cold rations, she stands waiting for them to acknowledge her, after some time when it becomes clear they have no intention of stopping eating, she says "Jameson says the equipments ready, I'm going to start listening in, OK?"
Cook licks his spoon looks up at her, "Nice one." She continues to stand; he looks up again "Get on with it then"
"It's Soraya"
"What is?"
My name, it's Soraya."
"Like the Queen?" Soraya and Cook turn to face Chris, he finishes his mouthful "Queen Soraya, ruled here in the 20's or 30's I think. Had to go into exile 'cause of her views on Women's Lib"
Cook frowns "Thanks for that Mr Encyclopaedia" he laughs. "Now fuck off to your post you layabout"
"I was named after her" Smiles Soraya.
Chris nods, gathers his kit together, jumps once on the spot to make sure nothing jangles or moves about, and pads silently into the growing dusk. Soraya looks down at Cook. "I can do my job, Captain"
He breathes in, "I'm sure you can, you wouldn't be here otherwise. You'll just slow us down, it's not your fault, you just will. Oh, and not out here, it's James or Cook, not Captain, OK?
Soraya nods, "OK, James".
The night was pleasantly cool, and Cook had been nodding off, suddenly his ear piece crackles into life, and Mark comes up on their frequency, "movement to my front, 10 maybe 15 unfriendly" at the same time Soraya rips the headphones from her head, "They know we're here" Cook is instantly awake, he holds the throat mike with a hand. "Chris, Mark, come back to RV, move" He looks about, checks the horizon, a couple of hours of darkness yet, they may just get away with this if they're lucky. There's no pretence of covert activity now as they hustle to get belt kit sorted, water and ammo take priority, Jameson gathers the big rucksacks together, rigs them ready to blow if they're tampered with. Soraya stands like a spare part. Mark hands her a canteen, "Drink". Cooks reaches down to his holster, hands her his pistol butt first "Can you use this?" She takes it, snaps the cocking mechanism back, flicks the safety off. Chris nods approvingly "That'll be yes then".
It takes them less than 5 minutes to get ready, finally Jameson puts a couple of kicks into the radio equipment, turns to face Cook. "Let's go" Cook faces Soraya, "can you run?"
Soraya thinks she may pass out if she doesn't stop running. They've going full tilt for over an hour now, and for the last 20 minutes she's had Jameson's hand on her shoulder pushing her along. She stumbles, tries to get up, her legs go from underneath her. Jameson calls out, "Cook, we need to stop"
"Fuck, OK, here'll do. Jameson get us a Helo ride, Mark, Chris, set up down there" he indicates back down the way they came, "Soraya, stay with Jameson, OK, like glue, OK?" knows they haven't put in enough distance, knows they're probably going to have to shoot their way out. He stands, breathing hard hands on hips, spits onto the dry ground, "Bollocks"
OooooO
Katie lays on the horn again "Come on" she says aloud to herself, smiles as Effy finally appears at her door, she skips down a couple of steps, and climbs into the passenger seat, throwing her bag onto the back seat. Katie watches her for a minute, then: "What took you so long?"
"Had to get ready, didn't I?" Effy looks affronted
Katie takes in her friend's un-ironed tee shirt, lack of any discernable make up, hair going in every direction "Right, of course" shakes her head, "Come on, we'll be late"
They pull into the Friday evening rush hour traffic. Quickly end up in an endless traffic jam. Katie becomes aware of Eff looking at her. She risks a glance in her direction "What?"
"It's the weekend" says Effy, as if it's obvious.
"Err, right, so?" Katie thinks Effy might have finally flipped.
"You'd said you tell me" replies Effy.
Katie suddenly remembers "Right, later alright" she's nervous, "Since when were you so interested in my love life anyway?"
"Since you won't tell me who mystery man is." She sparks up a fag, opens the window "I will find out"
Katie Steals the fag, takes a drag, another bad habit she's picked up from Effy, "Not before I tell you, you won't. "
"He's married, isn't he?" Effy can't leave it alone.
"NO, leave it, alright?"
They're both quiet for a while, Effy knows she's pushed her luck, Katie knows she's still being too aggressive, when she finally speaks again, she's purposely calmer
"Panda says Naomi's coming this weekend, Royal visit from Mrs London Advertising..."
Effy rolls her eyes, "Oh great, Em's coming too, right?" She looks across at Katie "Ding Ding, round 2"
"Oh Christ, I fucking hope not, I don't think I could spend another weekend at Pandas listening to those two shouting at each other."
OooooO
Naomi lets Panda open the front door to let Emily in, She stands in the middle of the small lounge, arms wrapped around herself, turned away from the door. She breathes in once, lets it out slowly, closes her eyes and listens to them in the Kitchen;
"You'll never guess who's turned up Em...It's...COOKIE!" Panda still over excited
"Emilio man, looking good in leathers muff monkey"
"Fucking hell, look at you, are you wearing that for fancy dress, or did you steal it?" Emily laughs her throaty laugh.
"Nah, it's legit, proper respectable these days"
Naomi can hear them hugging, can hear Emily's leathers creaking.
"Fuck me Em; you do realise your fulfilling most male fantasies right now, don't you? Nights would have flown by with a picture or two of you"
"Eeeurghh, good job I've not eaten, keep your dirty fantasies to yourself you creep" Emily's laughing
Naomi decides it's got to be now or never, she walks to the kitchen doorway. Stands for a moment watching the small girl in her white leathers, feels her face heat up.
"Emily" she tries to keeps it flat, noncommittal.
Emily turns around, doesn't smile, "Naomi" pauses for a minute, shrugs "How are you?"
Naomi nods "Fine", her mouths dry, she squeaks it out. Swallows, and coughs, tries to cover up "Cool, good" She's aware of Cook, and Panda watching them both.
Emily nods, "That's...good" shrugs again.
Panda buts in as the two continue to stare at each other, "Cookie, you should have seen it; it was like World War flippin' Nine or sommat last time they were here. You two are going to be nice..."
It's unfinished as Emily finally registers what Panda talking about. She starts too harshly; "Panda, shut up" she says, not taking her eyes of Naomi, then more softly, "I'm sure we can behave like adults, right, Noams?"
Naomi knows the use of her nickname is a deliberate effort to wind her up. Something she realises she still can't deal with. Makes an excuse "I'm going to unpack" Turns and leaves before it gets out of control. Emily smiles as she watches Naomi walk away.
OooooO
Naomi is still sitting on a spare bed upstairs as she hears the doorbell ring again, and hears Katie and Effy come in, hears the loud exclamations, and welcomes for Cook, hears Cook's familiar short potted history, wonders again to herself what he's hiding from them still after all these years. The sounds of reunion drift up from the Kitchen, snatches of happy voices, laughter, all talking over each other, she hears cans opening, and a cork pulled from a bottle, crisp packets opened, the sounds of a group of friends catching up after too long apart, and she feels excluded. She lies on the bed, rummages around for her Marlboro lights, places an ashtray on her chest, lies back, and takes a long drag. "What you doing?" She asks herself.
She's still in a world of her own as she sort of hears a snatched "...take a shower" from downstairs, and as she hears feet running up the stairs, hurriedly stubs out her cigarette, trying ineffectually to waft the smoke away. From where she lies she has a view of the bathroom, and watches, breath held, as Emily walks past her, and into the bathroom. She hears the shower being turned on, and risks a look, to see Emily snaking out of her leathers. The door still slightly ajar, watches mouth open as Emily pulls off her racing backed vest, and shimmies out her knickers. The door is finally kicked closed, and Naomi's head falls back onto the pillow and she lets out a groan. Only then she notices Effy, half way up the stairs smiling at her:
"Pervert"
Is all she says.
