by CW Hawes
After the radioman sent the message for Karl, we went back up to the deck. Hand in hand, Karl and I walked to the bow. We were sailing to America and that was a good feeling. Behind us were death, destruction, and failure. Ahead of us was the imminent death of our boss. Not everything about the venture was bad. Kit and Klara got married. My friendship with Kit wouldn’t suffer over conflicting interests. Dunyasha, my best friend, was going to live with me. And then there was Karl. My near death drove him to the realization he can’t live without me. Maybe, just maybe, we are that much closer to being husband and wife, in addition to lovers. At least a girl can hope.
Epilogue
New York City
We arrived in New York harbor on the fifteenth of May. Walter Ramsey Hall was in the city to meet us. He gave Karl and I each a half million dollars. Four days later he was dead. Karl spent several days with me and then went home.
Klara moved out the day after our arrival. She and Kit live in a brand new “suburb” in New Jersey. The “suburb” covers three square miles and is a two thousand five hundred foot tall building. The shape of the massive skyscraper is that of a domed cylinder. From a distance, it reminds me of Ernest. Radiating out from the cylinder are twenty columns which comprise the living units. Each column is one thousand seven hundred feet tall and has one hundred ten floors. The “suburb” is called Grand Futureton. Inside the cylinder are places of business, shops, department stores, light industrial establishments, roads, and parks. A rail line enters the cylinder on the ground floor. Airships can dock in the dome. Surrounding the skyscraper is an enormous park.
Dunyasha moved in the last week in May. I’m glad she is with me. Being back home, Karl has somewhat returned to his old self. I still see him; however, as both of us are currently without employment, our times together are not frequent nor of long duration. John Ramsey Hall took over Hall Media. He is favoring younger reporters over us veterans. So with no work and not much time with Karl, I’m glad Dunyasha is here. She and I have something of what used to be called a Boston marriage. She is my best friend and I love her very much.
We are well into June and summer has come to New York City. Karl is looking for work with a foreign newspaper. Kit is selling Grahams and has resigned from IRIS. He said he has had enough of the spy business. He just wants to sell cars, which are now his second love. Klara is the perfect housewife and loves keeping house for her man. With the death of Mr Hall, Branson lost his employment and has disappeared. Mafeking went back to London. I heard through my friend Cathy, he is on a dig somewhere in French Indochina. Doctor Elise Rodman resigned her teaching position and is living somewhat as a recluse. She hasn’t gotten over Franzen’s death. Sergeant Sax and Private Milano are still in the Army, as far as we know.
With the fleece having gone back to Poseidon, I have had no more visits from the one who called me his “dearest Theophane”. Once more the gods are wherever they live and we mortals continue on without them.
The civil war continues to rage. The news reports indicate the Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse. Moscow fell to the Germans two days ago. The Georgian Liberation Army splintered into several factions due to infighting. The Italians and Czarists have divided the country. I’m writing a book about our adventure. Karl, Dunyasha, and Klara are assisting me.
Today, though, on this bright sunshiny day in June, Dunyasha and I are in Washington Square Park, enjoying the weather and playing chess. The day is alive with honking cars, laughing children, and people walking dogs. After our chess game, she and I are going to shop for new hats. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this happy. And that makes me happy.
The Moscow Affair
Did you miss Lady Dru’s initial adventure? Would you like to know how she met her friends Dunyasha, Kit Somers, and Klara? Or what her relationship was with the dashing Captain Mikhail Turbanev and her past confrontations with the evil Count Neratoff?
The Moscow Affair is available on Amazon here:
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Other Books by CW Hawes
If you enjoyed The Golden Fleece Affair, you can check out the other books I’ve written by going to my Amazon author page.
About the Author and Cover Artist
CW Hawes, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, has lived in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota for the past forty-five years, with occasional sojourns here and there. His interests range far and wide, but he doesn’t do windows and isn’t a good dancer. He does like to cook, though, and is especially fascinated by steam power, sailing ships, airships, streamlined locomotives and automobiles, and all things streamline moderne. He also loves pizza and tea.
You can visit him at www.cwhawes.com .
Raihana Dewji is married to the author of this work and gets lost in another world when she has a paintbrush in her hand.