THE IMPERIAL ENGINEER

by Judith B. Glad

  "No...no not that way. I want..." She writhed under him, her legs tangling with his, her hips upthrust. "Oh, please...please...please...."

  Tony awkwardly stripped his britches away, kicked them off his feet. Rolling back, he reared up on his hands, ignoring the sharp pain when he put weight on the left. Her legs encircled him, pulled him down.

  He slipped inside her, and when she clenched her legs, he broke through a fragile membrane and buried himself deep. A small faint voice in his mind told him to stop, but he could not. She was bucking, demanding, and he met her demands with his own.

  A wild, abandoned eternity later, he felt her convulse around him. The contractions forced his own explosion. And then he collapsed atop her, both of them gasping for breath, bodies slippery with sweat.

  After a while, their breathing slowed. He kissed her, rolled away. She was so small, so delicate, compared to his own stocky frame. Carefully positioning himself on his left side, he pulled her against him.

  Her eyes were closed. He wanted them open, wanted to read her thoughts. "Lulu?"

  She only shook her head.

  "Lulu, don't regret what happened. Please. It was right. Good." With one finger, he stroked her cheek. "I think it was meant to happen, sooner or later."

  "You're probably right," she whispered. Her eyes opened and she looked at him. "I just hadn't expected...hadn't planned for it to happen tonight." Rolling away from him, she pushed herself upright. "I'm a mess. I must wash." She walked to the screen in the corner.

  He saw a bright stain of blood on the soft linen of her drawers.

  Simultaneously moved and appalled, he buried his face in the pillow. She was a virgin--had been a virgin. He should have known. She was, despite her radical ideas, a lady.

  Lulu stripped and washed, scrubbing between her legs until the cloth came clean. She seemed incapable of coherent thought. Her body still ruled, demanding to be held and soothed and loved. She left the soiled drawers on the floor and dropped the camisole beside them. Her robe, fortunately, hung across the screen. She didn't think she could go back out there naked.

  And why not? There should be no false modesty between you. This is Tao Ni, the boy you loved. You never forgot him, did you?

  If only it hadn't felt so right, having his hands on her, his body coupled with hers. If only she could stop thinking of how it would be with him, now the terrible urgency was gone, and they could make slow, languorous, delicious love. Discovering each other, learning what aroused, what pleased.

  So tempting. So damned tempting.

  She stepped out from behind the screen and looked across at him. He was on his belly, his face buried in the pillow. He's sorry for what we did, was the first thought that came to her. He's ashamed.

  As if he'd heard, he raised his head. "I'm not sorry, Lulu. I'll never be sorry."

  Slowly she walked toward the bed. Instead of lying beside him, she perched on the edge and reached out to lay a hand on his shoulder. "I'm not sorry, either. I just wish things were different. Our lives. Our dreams..."

  Moving carefully, he pushed himself up to sit beside her. Catching her hand, he lifted it to his mouth, His lips were hot on her palm. "Nothing's impossible. I'll bet we can figure out some way..."

  "No, Tony, we can't. There's no room in my dreams for any sort of personal life. I chose long ago to live alone, to dedicate all my energy to fighting the prejudice and inequities that have forced my parents to live in Cherry Vale instead of a town, the laws that say my mother's only an extension of her husband, the insanity that if you were known to be Chinese, you'd have to prove you were an asset to the nation or be deported to China. I won't stop fighting until there are no more laws that restrict the freedoms of any man--or woman--on the basis of skin color, eye shape, beliefs, or any other quality that's a bit different from the herd's."

  Turning toward him, she caught his face between her hands. She kissed him gently, tenderly. "There will never be another time like this, Tony. I'll cherish tonight all my life, but it was all there ever will be for us."

  "No! That's stupid! We can work something out. I'll help you with your work." He clutched at her, tried to kiss her.

  Gently she slid from his desperate embrace. "Tony, there are many good women out there, women who'd be honored to be your wife. Go find one. I'll always be your friend, and I hope you'll let me be a godmother to your children.

  "That's all I can ever be."

  She rose and hurried to the door. Just before she pulled it closed behind her, she said, "I'll help you Thursday if you still want me to. But only if you'll promise never to mention tonight again."

  She didn't wait for his answer. With a final click, the door latched.

  The tears started falling before she reached the kitchen.

  * * * *

  Tony remained in her apartment the next day, in far more pain than he would admit to Lulu. She brought in books and magazines when she came to clear away his breakfast dishes. Mrs. Graham, her elderly neighbor, brought his dinner, a meaty soup and fresh, hot bread. "Miss King went out to visit with Imajean--that's Imajean Teller. She's my niece. Her man owns this house. There now, you're all fixed up. Careful! Don't spill the milk." By the time she had him settled at the kitchen table, Tony was exhausted. Unlike Lulu, who was a quiet, restful nurse, Mrs. Graham fussed.

  Unable to sit comfortably anywhere, he went back to bed soon after he'd eaten. Reading while lying on his belly gave him a crick in his neck. After the third time he dropped the latest copy of Atlantic Monthly, he decided he hadn't wanted to read anyhow, and so he dozed the rest of the afternoon away.

  When Lulu returned, all she did was stick her head in the door and ask if he needed anything. Then she disappeared until suppertime. She didn't eat with him, either, and after picking at the scrambled eggs and biscuits, he abandoned the half-full plate and went back to bed. By the time she came in to change his bandages, he was totally out of sorts. Bored, lonely, and feeling greatly neglected.

  "Mr. Eagleton caught me as I came through town. He wants to know if you're still going to test the system tomorrow. "

  "I'm burned, not crippled." He winced at a sharp pain on his shoulder. "Ouch! Damn it, you don't have to skin me alive!"

  "The bandage stuck. Hold still."

  He did, while she carefully peeled it away, taking a yard or two of skin with it, probably. Her fingers were cool against his skin as she touched him here and there.

  "It looks much better. There are only three places where the skin actually blistered. The rest is still awfully red, like a bad sunburn. Is it sore?"

  "In a couple of places. But I'll live," he hissed as the damp cloth came too close to one of the sore spots. "Take it easy, will you?"

  "Stop whining."

  Eventually she was finished and had helped him into a clean, soft shirt, one he'd never seen before. "One of Jacob Teller's," she told him. "Imajean dug it out of her ragbag."

  "Great God, did you tell them I'm here? Your reputation--"

  "Is safe. Mrs. Graham is seeing to that. Now let me see your hand."

  "Thanks," he said, when she'd replaced the bulky pad on his palm with a thinner one. "I'll be able to use it now."

  "You'll want to wear a glove, to keep it clean." Turning away, she began to gather up the soiled bandages. "I'll bring you some warm milk in a little while."

  He caught at her hand. "Lulu?" He wasn't sure what he was asking, except that he didn't want her to leave him. "Do you ever think about that last night? Before I went away...?"

  She pulled her hand free. A moment later he felt her fingers sift through his hair, a soft, fairy touch. When he looked up, he saw the shiny tracks of tears on her cheeks.

  Chapter Eight

  The telephone line is in working order in Hailey. This morning the bells began going and the transmitters to work.

  Wood River Times

  ~~~

  Lulu helped Tony all day Thursday, attaching wires to terminals when his one good hand was not
enough, checking all the connections on the switchboard, to make sure none had worked loose since the last time they had been inspected. She drove the wagon as he went from subscriber to subscriber, making a last check of their wet cell batteries, "You speak of these wires as if they're alive and determined to escape," she told him, in one of their few moments of camaraderie.

  "'The total depravity of inanimate things,'" he said, grinning at her. "It happens every time. Just as soon as you want everything to work perfectly, nothing does."

  "That's a quote, isn't it?"

  "Uh-huh. Some woman Back East."

  "I thought so. Gail Hamilton, right? She writes extremely intelligent articles about women's lack of independence."

  "I guess so." He seemed entirely absorbed in the connection he was making.

  That was the last real conversation they had. When he took her home, he thanked her and said good night, without ever looking her in the eye.

  * * * *

  Miss Petersham came by Lulu's apartment after school on Friday. While they drank tea, Lulu told her about testing the telephone system. "I had no idea what I was doing most of the time, but I found it interesting, nonetheless."

  "There is a certain fascination about all these new gadgets," Miss Petersham agreed, "but I personally dislike the idea that someone can invade my home simply because he is too lazy to write."

  Chuckling, Lulu nodded. "Or in too much of a hurry. I fear we'll see a rapid proliferation of telephones soon, particularly in businesses."

  The older woman sighed. "One cannot stop progress, I suppose." She set aside her teacup. "Miss King, I have a favor to ask of you."

  "Yes?"

  "Are you planning to stay in Hailey for a while?."

  "Yes, I--" Suddenly the idea of staying here, where she might see Tony at any time, seemed more than she could do. "No... Actually, something has come up. I'll be going to Boise soon." Something that had nothing to do with her cause, everything to do with her heart.

  "Perhaps when your schedule is more firm, we might talk about a possible date for you to speak to my older students. We've been studying the events that led to the recent war, and some of its results. I'm particular interested in their hearing about your experiences with Reconstruction."

  "I'd be delighted, but I'm not sure I have much to offer. By the time I began working on the reconstruction efforts, most governmental funds had been used. I worked with volunteers for the most part." And what a futile task that had been, fighting a century of ingrained beliefs, a simmering resentment against the victors and those they seemed to favor.

  "Still, that's more than anyone else has personal knowledge of. I will ask, however, that you do not speak of the subject closest to our hearts. The School Board would not approve."

  "I'll be here all next week. Is that too soon to plan something?" While she wanted nothing more than to be on tomorrow's train, she knew that to do so would only be indulging herself. She had much to accomplish before she could travel again, even for her own peace of mind.

  They decided on next Thursday, to give Lulu enough time to put together an hour's lecture.

  * * * *

  Tony looked up from the drafting table when he heard the back door open. In a moment, Mr. Eagleton stuck his head in the door. "What're you doing here, boy? The sun is shining. This may be the last fine day we'll have 'til spring. You oughta' be out having fun. Chasing girls or whatever it is you young fellers do these days."

  "I just got back from the dynamo a few minutes ago. It's running just fine. The batteries are all charged up." The dynamo was turned by the waterwheel, providing a constant trickle of electrical charge to the bank of batteries that powered the switchboard. Without it, the switchboard would soon cease operating. "The only problem is, somebody may have tried to break in."

  Eagleton's eyebrows went up. "How much damage?"

  "Not enough to matter. A few scratches on the padlock and some dents in the door, as if whoever did it used a rock, but gave up when it turned out to be work."

  "Probably kids then, wanting to get a look inside. I wouldn't worry." He eyed Tony closely. "How're you feeling today?"

  "Too sore to be chasing girls, that's certain, but fine overall. I was just looking over these plans for the bridge, trying to make a list of what we'll need and how much it will cost." He laid the pencil down. "I wanted to do some detail renderings, but can't seem to draw a straight line." He'd removed the pad that had protected his left palm and replaced it with several thicknesses of wrappings, but still found himself unable to hold a pencil steady.

  "Hmph! Some folks don't know when they're well off. A lot of fellas would be taking advantage of being crippled up for a spell."

  Whenever his employer started speaking like a backwoodsman, Tony knew he was teasing, so he ignored the comment. "We've tested the whole telephone system. Everything worked fine. At eight o'clock Monday, we'll be open for business." He didn't bother to keep the pride from his voice. This project was a success, thank goodness.

  One bushy eyebrow lifted. "'We'?"

  "Lu--Miss King helped me. I was too clumsy to make the connections."

  Eagleton fiddled with the pencils and straightedge for a moment. At last he said, "You gonna start keeping company with her?"

  I wish I were! "No, I don't think so. She's totally committed to her causes, and I don't think there's room in her life for a man."

  "That's good. I was afraid you'd go and fall in love with her and get your heart broke."

  Too late. I already have. He only shook his head.

  Eagleton took a turn around the small office, then returned to stand next to the drafting table. "You find a place to stay yet?"

  "No sir. I've looked around a bit, but haven't found anything." He had slept on the cot in the storeroom last night. Too many nights of that and his back would be permanently swayed.

  "Well, if you don't mind the ride, there's the house on the old Witherspoon ranch, just north of my place. It's been sitting there empty since I bought the property. Don't know why I didn't have you move in a long time ago."

  The thought of living alone, with no one snoring on the other side of a thin wall, appealed to Tony. "It sounds perfect. Thanks."

  "Go on out now and look it over. See what you'll need in the way of furniture and fixings. Use my buggy. Just get back here before suppertime."

  Tony picked up his hat. "I will, Mr. Eagleton. And thanks. Thanks a lot."

  The house was in good repair and even had a few pieces of furniture in it. He'd have to buy a bed, but otherwise he could get by with what was there. Tomorrow he'd pick up some dishes and a couple of pans so he could cook.

  As he tooled the buggy back towards town two hours later Tony gave some thought to the matter of transportation. Although there was an old barn in pretty good condition, the corrals were in need of repair. Besides, he didn't want to be bothered with a horse's upkeep. What he'd really like was a bicycle.

  "Why not?" he said aloud. "I'll bet Cliff & Mackey has one. Or if they don't they'll know where I can get one."

  And in the winter, he could snowshoe to town. Or ski.

  For the first time since he'd come to Hailey, he felt as if he'd really like living here.

  * * * *

  The telephones began ringing Monday morning. To Tony's deep satisfaction, the entire system operated perfectly. Before the day was over, he had hooked two new subscribers into the system, and had received orders for service from half a dozen others. Within a week or two, the entire valley would be linked with near-instantaneous communication.

  Monday night he and Mr. Eagleton celebrated with dinner at the Nevada Chop House. "I want to thank you for giving me this chance," Tony said, as they relaxed with whiskey and coffee. For the first time since they'd sat down, they weren't besieged with potential subscribers or local businessmen offering congratulations.

  "Boy, I didn't give you anything. Jamie Winter said you were an honest, hard-working fellow, and that was good enough fo
r me. Now you've proved your worth, I hope you won't decide to move on to greener pastures."

  "I'll stay here as long as there's work, Mr. Eagleton. This isn't the job I had in mind when I came, but it suits me. And I've come to like Hailey. It's close enough to where I grew up to feel like home."

  "Close enough? You didn't tell me you were a local boy. Where from?"

  "I spent a good bit of my childhood in Boise City and up on the South Fork of the Payette. A place called Cherry Vale."

  "So you're kin to Emmet Lachlan?" Eagleton sat back and regarded Tony. "I guess that means you don't need to work for a living?"

  "Hardly. We're all expected to make our own way. Uncle Emmet and my father don't believe in making things easy for us. Once we're done with school, we're on our own."

  "I've heard tell Lachlan is a wise investor. Any chance of meeting him sometime?"

  Tony had learned that Eagleton had a thousand schemes to make himself rich. Some held promise. Some didn't. He was relieved when he was able to say, "It'll be a while, I'm afraid. He's off on a world tour. In fact, they should be somewhere in the Indian Ocean right now. I haven't any idea when they expect to come home."

  "Too bad. I've got some ideas for a resort up the river a ways. I figure with all these new rich folks, they'll be looking for a place to play. And we've got it all here in the Wood River Valley. Fishing, hunting, spectacular scenery. We could build a place something like Newport or Mackinac Island. A big hotel, cabins for them who want privacy." He pulled out a cigar and bit off the ends. "There's no reason why we couldn't keep it open in the winter, so folks could sleigh ride, or ski. What d'you think?"