A Young Man's Game

by Paul Blake

‘I’m not going to comment.’ He held up his arm for her to take.

  ‘Wise decision.’ She wrapped her arm round his and snuggled close to his body. Is that because of the cold or something else, something better? They started walking to the restaurant. Light snowflakes fell, reflecting the streetlights. The ground was wet, but the snow wasn’t settling. They avoided the larger puddles.

  They crossed the road arm in arm and headed up Mommsenstraße, they crossed the junction with Wielandstraße. There was very little traffic on the roads, so Alec relaxed a little. I’ll be able to see any police cars or Russian SUVs. Within a minute they were there. The restaurant’s black awning with gold longhorn cattle head logo looked classy, as did the illuminated bushes in pots along the length of the pavement, their glow reflected in the darkened windows with “Der Private Businessclub” etched on them. Alec released Claudia’s arm and went up to the door and held it for her. She went in, and Alec followed in behind her. The smell from the open kitchen was the first thing that Alec noticed, the charred smell of beef caused his nostrils to expand, and he savoured the aroma, his taste buds ached. The second thing was the large black carpet with the massive cattle logo woven into it. He approached the hostess at her lectern. Without staring, he noted the tight-fitting black sweater she wore accentuating her curves. Come on Alec, what’s got into you? You’re like a horny teenager.

  ‘Guten abend,’ Good evening, Alec said, ‘I have a booking for two, under the name Duquesne.’

  The hostess looked in her bookings diary, ‘Ja, I can see you need to register for the day membership.’ She handed him a small form and a pen.

  ‘Danke,’ he said. He rested the form on the lectern and started to complete it. The hostess walked over to the kitchen window. Claudia came over and looked over his shoulder, her hand on the small of his back.

  ‘Duquesne? The German spy?’ She tutted and shook her head.

  Alec turned and smiled, ‘I’ll tell you why when we sit down.’

  ‘Ok, Frederick, or should I call you Fritz?’

  ‘Shhh,’ Alec said, putting his finger to his lips. ‘Loose lips sink ships, remember?’

  Claudia stuck her tongue out at him, ‘Spoilsport.’ She stepped back and haughtily turned her face away from him, she couldn’t hide the smile on her lips though.

  Alec completed the form and waited for the hostess to return. He went to put the pen into his jacket and stopped himself when he realised what he was doing, he put the pen down on the lectern. The hostess returned and asked, ‘Have you been here before?’

  Alec replied that he had, knowing that the hostess would give them a tour of the restaurant and the smoking lounge if he had said otherwise. Better to keep a low profile.

  ‘Could you follow me, bitte.’

  He turned to Claudia and held out his hand, ‘My dear?’

  She took his hand, and they followed the hostess past the five refrigerator cabinets displaying the available cuts of meat. Kept at the optimum temperature the sight of such an array made Claudia squeeze Alec’s hand tight. Alec decided to keep his comment about her loving meat to himself. The restaurant was reasonably busy with most tables taken by diners. It was well-lit with a large chandelier in the centre of the dining room, the bar was to their left, with mirrored walls, bottles of spirits and glasses lined up with parade-ground precision, that reflected the light back into the room. The hostess took them to a table in the middle of the restaurant next to the bar.

  ‘Excuse me, could we have a table next to the windows? Bitte, more private.’ Alec requested, having spied a free one away from the main area.

  ‘Certainly sir.’ She looked around for a moment and guided them to the table Alec wanted. It was back towards the entrance in the corner; however, three sides were enclosed by the blackened glass, meaning Alec could see anyone enter the restaurant and they’d have to walk past his table into the main area and turn around to see him and Claudia.

  Alec pulled out the chair for Claudia, it faced the entrance window, the black surface mirrored the restaurant behind her. Alec took the seat in the corner facing outwards.

  ‘Danke, this is perfect,’ he said to the hostess.

  ‘Bitteschön,’ you’re welcome. ‘Your waiter will bring your menus.’

  ‘Danke,’ Claudia said to her. The hostess departed. Claudia placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin between her fingers, looked at Alec intently. ‘So, you were going to explain why you use the surname of one of Germany’s greatest spies as a cover name.’

  ‘Well there are a couple of reasons. First, it’s easy for me to remember. Second, in English it’s pronounced Doo Cain, in German and Russian, it’s Doo Quesner, which makes it hard for someone not familiar with the name to write down. Third, I just like it.’ He poked out his tongue, copying her earlier expression.

  ‘It’s just another sign of how reckless you are.’

  ‘I’ve been using it for almost thirty years, and apart from Arthur, you’re the only one to have picked up on it,’ he protested.

  ‘That you know about.’

  ‘Well… I suppose that’s true,’ he frowned, conceding the point. ‘I’m still here though.’

  ‘Your luck and charm have got you through this far despite your stupid name choice.’

  ‘You think I’m charming?’ Alec smiled.

  ‘Are you fishing for compliments? That’s very unattractive.’ She returned his smile.

  The waiter brought their menus over and asked them if they wanted to order a drink.

  ‘Sparkling water,’ Claudia said. Alec raised an eyebrow at her choice, ‘and a glass of your house white, thank you.’

  ‘I’ll have the same.’

  The waiter left them, allowing them to peruse the contents of the menu. Alec asked Claudia, ‘Are you having a starter and main or just a main?’

  ‘Just a main for me, as nice as the starters are, they are too much as well as a main. A girl has to watch her figure, you know.’

  ‘How about I watch it for you?’

  ‘I’ve seen you watching me since I entered the living room. You didn’t even gawp at the pretty hostess with the big boobs like I expected you to.’

  ‘She had big boobs? Where is she? I must see,’ Alec said. He lifted himself off the chair, motioning to stand up and look all around for the hostess. He sat back down. ‘I didn’t notice. I must be captivated by your presence.’

  ‘It’s been a long time since you have been. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way too.’

  What is going on? Where has that come from? We have always been flirty together, even when she was with Roger, never like this though, with this intensity. This is like we were when we were together… what? Twenty-three, twenty-four years ago. What about Roger? He was one of my best friends. Alec shivered as he remembered his dream. The words from Roger rattled around his head: “You failed her,” “She always loved you more.” Alec closed his eyes to try to calm his whirling mind.

  She reached out and took Alec’s hand in hers. He opened his eyes in surprise. The touch of her hand was cool and gentle against his rough skin. She started tracing lazy circles on his palm with his finger, while looking into his eyes. ‘I’m not wrong, am I? You are feeling it too?’ Her voice wavered with uncharacteristic nervousness.

  Alec didn’t give himself a pause to think. ‘To be honest, I don’t think I could describe how I’m feeling right now. A part of me is worried about what Roger would say seeing us here. However, another part of me just wants to sweep you into my arms and hold you close until the end of time.’

  A tear came to her eye. ‘Wow.’

  16

  The waiter returned with the drinks. Claudia released Alec’s hand and coughed to compose herself. The waiter placed the drinks on the table and asked if they were ready to order food. Alec looked at Claudia, her cheeks were flushed and eyes sparkling.

  ‘Can we have a little longer? I’ll call you over when we’re ready.’

  ‘Certainl
y sir,’ he said, retreating.

  ‘We’d better have a look at these. I know I want one of their steaks, that’s all I’ve been thinking about since the living room. Well, that’s not true, I’ve been thinking about—’

  ‘—steak sounds good,’ she interrupted quickly. She opened the menu and flipped the plastic-covered pages. ‘I’ll have the fillet,’ she flipped a couple more, ‘with the truffle potato puree.’

  ‘I remember that being lovely.’ Alec picked up his own menu. ‘I’ll have the prime rib Australian wagyu with grilled vegetables.’

  Claudia turned to the steak page, and her eyes widened, ‘The prime rib is one hundred and sixty-five euros!’

  ‘Like you said earlier this could be my last meal, I’m going to treat myself. Besides, the company is paying.’

  Claudia laughed, ‘Really? In that case, I’ll have some green beans too and a better wine than the house wine.’

  Alec smiled, he sipped his wine and said, ‘It’s not bad, but everyone knows its red wine with steak. I’ll get the waiter to choose a decent one for us.’

  ‘Good, if it were schnapps I’d trust your opinion, but a good wine, you’re okay, I’ll go with the expert.’

  ‘I wouldn’t trust my schnapps judgement either to be fair. I normally go for the cheapest, although I keep meaning to go to Austria and do a few of the tasting tours. Maybe you’d like to join me?’ He offered. While he was talking, he motioned to the waiter, who came and took their order. When the waiter left Claudia continued the conversation.

  ‘Now you’re thinking of taking a holiday? When was the last time you went away? Not just the odd day to recover from the night before.’

  ‘It’s been too long. I can’t even remember. Possibly Mark and Sophie’s funeral, I was away for that for almost a month, sorting out their stuff and making sure Sara was well.’

  ‘That’s not a holiday, also why didn’t Sara come and live with you?’

  ‘I spoke to Sophie’s parents, and they were more than happy to look after her. They lived nearby so Sara wouldn’t have to change schools and leave her friends. I thought that would be best for her…’

  ‘… even though she was your only family left.’ Alec’s mother and father were both dead. His mother died when he was twenty, she had had a massive stroke at work and died on the way to the hospital, and his father two years later. Alec liked to say he died of a broken heart, but the truth was that he drank himself to death. Like father, like son.

  ‘It was the right thing to do. I’m hardly father material, am I? I drink too much, I’m far too absorbed in my work, look at me I’m a wreck.’

  ‘Weren’t you worried it would affect your relationship with her?’

  ‘Of course, however, I felt that uprooting her from her life at that time would make an already tough situation worse. She’d either resent me or hate me. At least this way I can still be a part of her life. We speak on the phone all the time. She’s trying to get me to get a laptop so she can Skip me.’

  ‘Do you mean Skype?’

  ‘Yeah, something like that. She comes here four or five times a year for a few days, we go out to museums, bars, and exhibitions. I sometimes go to the UK to see her. I think she likes her cool Uncle Alec in Berlin far more than she would if she had to live with me.’

  ‘You think you’re cool?’

  ‘Well, it’s a relative concept. I’m no Justin Beaver, but compared to Sophie’s parents and even Mark and Sophie themselves, to Sara, I’m like the Fonz.’

  ‘I’m not going to comment on that, except to say you’re more like Potsie.’

  Alec put a hurt look on his face. ‘I’m the clumsy, bumbling one?’

  The waiter brought their dishes and laid them on the table. Wow, that looks and smells amazing. Alec’s prime rib was charred to perfection, the fatty edge rendered golden, the juices spread out to the grilled peppers, mushrooms, courgette slices. Alec looked at Claudia’s plate, her two-inch-high round fillet begged for attention. He could smell the truffle coming from the mashed potatoes.

  ‘Yours looks amazing,’ he said to Claudia.

  ‘Thanks,’ she picked up a knife and fork and sliced into the steak. The jagged knife slid through the meat like butter, the reddish-brown juices ran to the potatoes and soaked into the base. Alec could see the bright pink of the inside, a picture-perfect medium-rare. ‘It’s cooked just right too.’

  Alec picked up his cutlery and cut into his wagyu steak, it too was cooked flawlessly, rivulets of rendered fat from the marbling oozed through the pink meat onto the plate and joined the pool surrounding the beef. He placed a sliver into his mouth savouring the taste. Ah, that is heaven. A fitting final meal. Alec caught Claudia looking at him often, each time with a shy smile to her lips, or a flush to her cheeks. I probably look the same. I haven’t felt this way since we first got together all those years ago. At one stage he was looking at her face rather than concentrating on what he was doing and missed his mouth with his fork. The sharp tines of the stainless steel stabbed his top lip.

  ‘I told you that you were Potsie.’ Claudia smirked.

  Alec scowled at her, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. ‘I wasn’t going to point out the meat juice in your cleavage,’ he said, pointing with the traitorous utensil.

  Claudia reached for her napkin and looked down at her chest. ‘Where? Where?’

  Alec laughed. ‘Got ya.’ He then had to dodge as the napkin arched through the air towards his face.

  ‘You’re such a dick, sometimes.’

  The rest of the meal was uneventful. When the dishes were removed, Alec sat back in his chair, his appetite sated. ‘That was delicious.’

  Claudia smiled, ‘A fitting meal for the condemned man and his glamorous assistant.’

  ‘Thanks, Claude,’ Alec said. ‘Hopefully, it won’t come to that. Arthur will be furious with me though. It will take a lot of fast talking to keep my job.’

  ‘What will you do if you can’t talk fast enough? Will you stay in Berlin or return to the UK?’

  ‘I’ve been here for over half my life, I barely know London anymore and know even less of the rest of the UK. I’ve got savings and my pension so I should be ok for money. Sara will probably stay in London, so I’ll probably just stay here and drink myself into oblivion, unless…’ He trailed off, unwilling to put his hope into words. Unless there is going to be a future for us.

  Claudia stayed silent. Alec could see she was thinking. ‘We better get back; we’ll have to be up early to see Arthur.’ he said. He gestured to the waiter and asked for the bill. He removed his wallet from his jacket pocket hung up on the back of his chair. He opened it and removed five hundred Euros, more than enough for the meal and a decent tip. He laid it on the table tucked under his glass.

  He stood up and put on his jacket. Claudia also stood; she pulled on the shawl and smiled. ‘Come on then,’ she said, holding out her arm for Alec to take. They left the restaurant and headed back to Claudia’s.

  They arrived at the apartment without incident. Alec was breathing heavily from the stairs. She really needs to get a lift. Claudia opened the door and went in. Alec followed. He wiped his shoes on the coarse mat and removed them when he stepped inside. He closed the door behind him. He hung his jacket on the coat hook in the hallway. He could hear Claudia in the kitchen, glasses clinking as she took them from a cupboard. He joined her in the kitchen as she crouched down to get a bottle of wine from the refrigerator. He silently admired the shape of her figure, as her black dress clung to her in interesting places, the sequins glittering in the artificial light.

  ‘I thought we might have a nightcap,’ she said, standing up.

  ‘That is a great idea.’

  She poured the wine, dark claret, and passed him a glass. He held the glass up and toasted, ‘To my glamorous assistant, without whom I would have been lying frozen on the street, or worse.’

  Claudia clinked her glass against his and took a sip. ‘You’re lucky I have a soft he
art.’

  ‘I’m forever in your debt.’

  ‘I’ll hold you to that.’

  Alec drained his glass. ‘I’d better check to see if Sara has replied. Back in a sec.’

  ‘Do you want another?’ She said, indicating the bottle.

  ‘Nah, better keep my head relatively clear for tomorrow.’

  ‘Wow, that’s a first.’

  Alec stuck out his tongue and went to the hallway. He reached into the jacket pocket, took out the phone, battery and SIM and assembled the phone. He powered it on. Once it had started up and connected to the network, it dinged to announce a new message. “Hi Uncle Alec, flight arrives at 1:30. I should be at Alex for 2:30. I’ll meet you at the usual spot.” Alec was pleased she had replied. Two-thirty, I should be finished with Arthur by then. Maybe I’ll take Claudia with me if she’ll go. Sara always liked her. Called me a fool when she found out we used to be together. She had a point. He disassembled the phone and put it back into the jacket. He returned to the kitchen, Claudia was washing up the glasses.

  ‘All sorted. I’m meeting her at two-thirty at Alexanderplatz Station. We should be finished with Arthur by then. Do you want to come?’

  Claudia thought for a moment, ‘Yes, that would be lovely.’ She looked at the clock on the wall and said ‘Right, we better get some sleep.’ She dried her hands on the tea towel next to the sink.

  Alec walked over to her and held her hands; he looked into her eyes, smiled and said. ‘Thank you for everything, I would have been lost without you.’ He kissed her cheek, the touch of his lips on her skin and intoxicating smell of her perfume made his knees shake. He let go of her hands before she could notice the tremor of excitement that flowed through him.

  ‘Good night, Claude.’

  ‘Night Alec,’ Claudia replied, with a strange smile on her face. ‘I’ll use the bathroom first.’

  ‘Of course, it’s your home after all.’

  As Claudia walked past Alec to leave the kitchen, her hand brushed against his, sending more tremors through him. Really Alec? At your age? You shouldn’t be having these feelings. I thought you dried up past a certain age. He gripped the counter to support himself.