Lady of Way

by Rosemarie McCants

  "Did you text back?" He asked, "Or call? Listen, I'm sorry I wasn't able to call back, my phone broke… I fell and hit my side… See Bee…"

  "How hard did you hit him, Linnie?" Lisa turned to a very tall and thin man standing in the shadows. Linnie stepped forward, wringing his hands nervously, "It was just a small…" he held up his hand, thumb and forefinger forming a circle, "Whack."

  "Mark, you're hurt. You need to sit still…" Lisa started, but he was not listening. Struggling up, he looked around him at the group and at the strange place he was in. Cave walls, he noticed, and several solar-powered bulbs lining up on the ceiling, going on as far as the eye could see…

  "We're busted," A girl's voice broke the silence, "See how he's looking at the place!"

  "That's because he does not know where he is…" someone else chimed in…

  "Am I at the cave?" He asked as he touched his face. It felt grimy.

  "Well?" The suspicious girl quipped.

  "This is a park, not private property; he could have known about the cave." A man spoke up.

  "And probably taken those pangolins," The same girl, "I say we…"

  "What is this place, and what is going on? Lisa?" He turned to her. She looked at him for a moment with a look of concern mingled with worry and… slight distrust? He couldn't tell as he looked around and locating a suitable spot, limped to it and sat. Lisa joined him as the others surrounded them. Lisa looked at them- Mark counted three minus Lisa- imploringly and one by one they nodded and moved away. The accuser was the last and as she turned to leave, gave Mark a piercing look. He turned to Lisa with a questioning look,

  "Shing, very distrustful," she gave him a slow once over, "What happened?"

  "I fell."

  "All this from one fall?" She pointed at his muddy face, torn pants, and ribs, which he kept rubbing.

  "No, not once, several times."

  "What… were you being chased?"

  "I'll tell you all about it but first, what happened, why did you leave?" She looked at him as if he had asked a question with a very obvious answer, and he stared back at her. With a sigh, she drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, "This is my job, Mark; this is what I do." He looked about him at the illuminated cave, at the others who were huddled in a group in one spot and beyond into the darkness, where he couldn't see anything. He turned back to her. "I don't get it."

  "All the animals in this park are in danger."

  "Now you sound like Jake. Hunger? Starvation? Poaching?"

  "No, deportation."

  "What?"

  "Did you know that this place was started in an effort to save African and Asian wild animals from the ongoing heat?"

  "Jake told me."

  "Did he tell you that they plan to take them back, at least the ones they can, and the others…"

  "Yes, the others?"

  "The camp plans to legalize hunting for sport."

  "They can't do that! These are exotic animals!" He had jumped up, drawing the attention of the others who had also heard his outburst. They trooped back one by one. Lisa stood up too and stood next to him.

  "Welcome to reality," Shing held out her hand which he took, "Your outburst is the password."

  "Where does Jake stand?" Mark asked, "When we spoke, he expressed the same concerns as you, but he never mentioned hunting, or deportation."

  "He is in the deportation group," Linnie, standing behind them and tall, replied, "We've been trying to draw him over to our group…"

  "Which is?" Mark looked at Lisa.

  "Pangotectors. Stands for Pangolin Protectors."

  "I still think it should be PaPro," Shing spoke up, "Pangotectors has lost its appeal."

  "It hasn't," Lisa turned to her; it is the deportation camp that has been soiling it."

  "Sounds like there's another group," Mark said.

  "Yes, there is, the Hunters. Sherry is one."

  "Sherry Partridge?" Mark was shocked.

  "Yes. Initially, she had been for deportation," Lisa spoke quietly, "But when it was realized that there was money to be made from hunting, switched sides."

  "This is all ugly, this is one ugly situation," Shing spat.

  "If they legalize hunting," Mark said thoughtfully, then that will be the end of the pangolin. It is one of the most highly prized sources of meat and scales."

  "Bingo!" Shing snapped her fingers, "I like you more with every word."

  "You can ask him out," the one who had remained quiet for most of the time spoke up. Mark looked at him-her-them- it was hard to tell, for not even the voice betrayed their gender. They must have noticed his wondering look and stepped forward, "Angel," they held out their hand, "Neutral." Mark shook it, "Mark Thinn," he smiled, "Male."

  "I gathered, from the way you latched onto Lisa here. Shing is the one who has been whining about a man, so," Angel smiled, "Be generous."

  "This is not a matchmaking meeting guys," Lisa said sternly, and Mark's heart sank- but then fluttered and rose to thud loudly as he sensed her move closer and seek out for his hand in the semi-dark. He welcomed her cool, soft one into his.

  "Just helping out," Angel said as they moved away, "It's what I do." Shing remained quiet, but had Mark observed her carefully through his glazed eyes, he would have noticed that she was looking at their linked hands.

  "So… what… next?" Mark asked and felt that his voice sounded strange, even to himself. Lisa let go of his hand and moved nearer to the mouth of the cave, where she turned to address them all.

  "The plan in action continues," she looked at Mark, and he sensed motion in his groin, "Nothing changes."

  "Him?" Shing indicated at Mark. Lisa mulled over the question for a while, "He …" Mark held his breath, "…stays if he wants to. Otherwise, he's free to leave."

  "I'll stay." The finality in his voice surprised him. Shing moved closer, "Just one thing," she whispered close to his ear, "Remember she has a mission. Don't let the love erase it from her mind." Lisa hadn't noticed it for she had been conferring with Angel near the cave mouth. Linnie did, but whatever he made of it, he didn't let it be known.

  "If you're staying, then we'll fill you in," Angel spoke up, "Beyond this," they pointed at the darkness further in, "Are specially constructed burrows. We're holding all the pangolins in there until the hunters and the deportees change their minds and find better ways of accommodating the wildlife here."

  "Ah, I see. That explains the demolished burrows." Mark guessed correctly as the others nodded.

  "Jake talked of evolution, of the pangolins demolishing their burrows so as to deter their enemies…"

  "I knew it!" Linnie hooted, then suddenly covered his mouth, "Told you he would believe it!" The others smiled proudly at him while Mark his senses still aware of Lisa's possessive hand in his, ached, with pain and with need. He tuned out the rest of their discussion as he sat and went over how his day had started and ended, and now, here in front of him was Lisa, the woman who had invaded his thoughts, work schedule and even dreams. He was wondering if she would head back to camp with him, perhaps see him to his room, then after a moment's hesitation, step in tentatively, and after a few words step into his open arms, still tentatively but with a trusting look in her eyes, and afterwards… his mind came back to the present to see them all looking at him, "I said we're leaving," She said, "You planning to spend the night here?"

  "If you remained he would," Angel joked then laughed, "He looks like one of those guys who love with their whole being," they turned to Lisa, "Lucky," they whispered loudly and walked out. Linnie followed, then Shing. Lisa gathered Mark's bag where it had been put and looked at him,

  "Proving Angel right?"

  "Depends," he said as he approached, "Will you remain?" Rather than answer, she smiled and turned around, still carrying his bag. He followed her, and they walked out into the cool night air. The others were still there. Once out, Linnie and Angel put out the lights, gathered the branches that had been cast aside and placed them at
the mouth of the cave. Linnie followed this by picking a twig and erasing their footsteps around the place. Once done, they gathered in a group around where Mark and Lisa stood.

  "As usual, Linnie and I are going in the same direction," Angel said, "And Shing and Lisa the other. How will it be now?" They eyed Mark with a meaningful look.

  "I have a car." Mark said, "Roomy enough for the five of us."

  "Need we say more?" Angel asked and started walking. The rest formed a file and followed, Lisa and Mark bringing up the rear. Shing, who was immediately in front of Lisa, turned slightly, "You may hold hands, no one is looking…" she laughed, "No one is peeking."

  "God is," Angel's voice floated back to them.

  "To hell with God, he can barely take care of his creation…" Mark tuned out the debate that started in front of them and looked at Lisa as she walked in front of him.

  "I know you're checking me out," though he couldn't see her face since she was walking in front of him, he detected the smile in her words.

  "What amazing intuition," he smiled back.

  "I'm still curious," she turned slightly but did not change her pace, "Where did you fall and injure your ribs?"

  "My room?"

  "And the mud on your face?"

  "As I was coming. We passed the spot a while back.”

  "The rip in your pants?"

  "The second fall. Just before I saw the stars."

  "Any other fall?"

  "Yeah. And it had the most impact." He waited, but she did not ask. "I don't need to," she must have read his mind, "I fell too." Her words sent a pleasant shiver up his spine and a dizzying feeling in his head, and he tripped. Mercifully he did not fall.

  "Careful, not ready for that yet…" she turned slightly, "Not while we're walking."

  'Then let us stop…" the lust was evident in his voice, "For I ache with need…" he whispered just enough for her to hear, and she laughed with pleasure, he deduced.

  "Lisa," he called, and she turned slightly. He noticed that they were at the spot where he had first set eyes on her. The car was not very far now, "Shiny- I mean Shing said I must have taken some pangolins. What did she mean?"

  "Three are missing," Lisa replied, "We knew them by name, number, tag and burrow, but we can't locate those two."

  "I hope nothing has happened to them," the sincerity was evident in his voice, "We'll search till we find them."

  "I hope so. If we can convince the management to consider our case and give the place another chance, that'll be a dream come true."

  "They may point out the fact that you hid the animals."

  "True, but if word gets out about hunting or deporting, some impatient characters will start killing and exporting them immediately. Very soon they'll be dodo."

  "Meaning?"

  "Seen in pictures only."

  "Oh. Ah, we're near. Hopefully, I'll find my car safer than last time."

  "Nothing's happened to it," Shing had stopped, "We regret the action but it was justified." She had a glint in her eye, and Mark suspected why,

  "Was that the day you realized they were missing?"

  "Yeah," Shing nodded, "We thought that perhaps we could get whoever had taken them before they left camp."

  He turned to Lisa, "And Jake staying in my car,"

  "Wanted to be sure, you could have driven off during the night…"

  "Oh. Here we are. Everyone in…" he said as he unlocked the car, "Driving back to camp," he said as he slid in.

  "It's… nearly ten," Linnie, who had sat at the back with Shing and Angel said. "Still early, we'll make it."

  "Shit!" Mark cursed quietly, and Lisa sitting in the next seat glanced at him,

  "Left something?"

  "Yeah," he patted his pockets, "My flashlight. I lost it when I fell." He started the car and started reversing it as the headlights parted the dark in front of them, "I'll come get it first thing in the morning." He engaged the forward gear and eased off. In his mind, he thought of all Lisa had said, done and indicated ever since finding her that evening. He weighed and measured everything carefully, trying to glean from whatever data he was able to gather whether she felt as he did, or was planning on just having a good time. The way she had held his hand possessively in the cave, her cool fingers…

  "The road! Watch the road!" Angel warned from the back seat. Mark adjusted the wheel and rubbed his eyes with one hand, marveling that his face still muddy…

  "Stop," Angel spoke up again. Mark obeyed, slowed down and brought the vehicle to a stop by the side of the road.

  Angel opened his door got out then leaned in, "Out," they pointed at Shing, then at Lisa, "You too."

  "What is going on…" Mark started and stopped when he noticed Angel standing at his window.

  "Mark, Lisa, to the back. Shing, to the front. I don't plan on dying from a love crash."

  "What?" Mark started, but Lisa shushed him with a look and implored him to obey. With a sigh, he got out and went to the back. Lisa got in from the other side, and Linnie was between them. But Angel's eyes indicated that something was still wrong, "Linnie, slide over, let them have the moment," they said. Linnie obeyed and passed over Mark, who ended up in the middle of him and Lisa. Even before he had settled in, he was seeking for her hand in the dark, and finding it ready and waiting, grasped it and didn't let go. In front, Angel, with a satisfied sigh engaged the car and eased smoothly into the road. In the seat next to them, Shing dozed. At the back, Linnie looked out his window, thoughts private and unknown. Next to him, Mark was thanking every existing and non existing thing which had made it possible for what had happened. Most of all he thanked Angel for such was a moment he had wished to replay, he and Lisa in the back seat of a car, holding hands, pleasures flowing but none minding, and in his mind, doing more than the hand holding.

  But the sweet moment lasted too short, Mark felt. It seemed like a minute had barely passed, and Angel was driving into the camp parking lot. Parking the vehicle with more ease than they exuded, they switched it off and handed the keys to mark who after everyone had gotten out, locked it. He looked about him and noticed Lisa still with his muddy bag. He thought of taking it from her but thought better of it. I'll let her carry it to my room. If not at least up to the door.

  Angel and Linnie had already walked off.

  "I'll be a moment," Lisa turned to Shing, "If you don't mind." Shing turned, "I'll be in the cafeteria," she said and sauntered off. The two were alone. Mark, giddy with pleasure felt that he would explode if he did not do something about the woman walking beside him as she carried his bag for him. The pain in his side had receded, but a slight ache in his temples increased with every step as they entered the hallway. Aware of every pounding of his heart and every throb in his pants, they reached his door. She held out his bag. He unlocked his door and stretching out his hand as if to take it walked inside backward. With a smiling frown, she stepped in- two steps and stopped. He walked over and made to take the bag, but grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. Her eyes protested, but her body did not as she melted into his aching one. Aiming to savor the moment, he gazed into her black eyes before crashing his lips onto hers. He found them ready and waiting, and he pulled her closer, defying physics' law that no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time. The kissing couple defied that law as she was where he was and he was where she was in mind, yearning, and want. Their fantasies melded, and everything became one- save for the explosion that should have followed this blatant defiance.

  Extricating herself from his embrace, she took his hand. He gazed into her eyes and for a moment, wondered why anyone would say love sucked. Still staring into each other and without letting go of their held hands, they walked out of the room till they found themselves outside where the breeze was cool, the moon bright and to Mark who gazed at the heavens anew, the stars fully dressed. He didn't bother to wonder why such a phrase would come into his mind, but he did wonder how the wind, the moon, and the stars would react to two i
n love putting up a show for them. To find out, he turned to her, her hand still in his, and they merged, bodies and lips. This time round he balanced his mind with his lust, realizing that she needed as much as he did, and also that she yearned too, not only him. His tongue sought and finding, stayed and played. Hers sought too, and he gasped with pleasure as it probed everything, leaving nothing unturned until he was sure he would go mad with unrestrained desire… the wind applauded by sending nightly fragrances the lovers' way, while the moon, at first pretending to be shy and darting behind a mini cloud, finally increased her brilliance, giving the lovers a nightly colorful world in which everything was, but was not yet fully revealed. The stars twinkled with silent loudness, which they sprinkled down to the lovers below them, and the lovers, taking in each other's sighs, thanked them by looking up at them with twinkles in their own eyes.

  Chapter 5

  She was in the cafeteria and had already ordered breakfast. For a moment, he had been afraid that she would leave again, and this time round, he wouldn't be knocked on the head and delivered to her, but he shouldn't have. There she sat, all of her, scrambled eggs and a glass of juice in front of her, and she waiting for him with a smile. As he approached he had the sudden urge to fall down on his knees and to thank and praise something, only he didn't know what. Not sure how best to greet her, he thought with panic. Hand? Hug? Grandma peck? A repeat of the previous evening… he groaned audibly as with a smile, he slid into the seat opposite hers. This woman knows how to dress; he thought as he took in her- he leaned over the table to check- short white dress with tiny orange and purple petals and a grey button cardigan which did not cover her bosom too much. He hoped his look had not lingered too much as he took her hand on the table with such ease that surprised him, "I just love the way you match colors in your clothes," he said, "Though in a few moments I'll be seeing it in black and white."