The Book Glasses

by Arthur Bozikas

  “Yes, I just ordered that for our mains, plus garlic bread for entrée and a bottle of their good red wine. That’s it,” Sam said.

  “Who are you?” Billy whispered.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Sam whispered back and they burst into laughter. “I’m learning French at the moment.”

  But Billy’s face became serious. “Look, sorry to put a damper on things but since you started uni, I’ve hardly spent any time with you. The few nights we’ve had together at my place is not my idea of a relationship. Now you’re telling me you’re learning languages as well? No wonder you don’t have any time for me.” He folded his arms across his chest.

  “I’m sorry, honey, but you did tell me I have your support. You know what this means to me,” Sam said as the waiter opened the bottle of red wine and poured two glasses.

  He sighed. “I’m sorry too, sweetheart, I don’t know what got into me. Things are getting hectic for me and the stress is wearing me down.”

  “What’s happening? It’s not about your apartment, is it?”

  “No, everything is fine. My loan came through and I’ve purchased it. Because you gave me the deposit, I made sure I put both of our names on the title,” he announced with a huge smile.

  “You didn’t need to do that.”

  “Yes, I did, because I love you.” He picked up his glass of wine and kept looking at her as they both took their first drink.

  “So, what’s worrying you, honey?” Sam asked.

  “Nothing. Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry I said anything.”

  “Look, you’d better tell me. I need to know because I love you.”

  “Okay, here it is. When I’m stressed and alone, I go to the casino and gamble. I’ve been so worried about my parents since they split up and even though they’re back together and in counselling now, I keep worrying about them.

  “And since you’ve been away, I haven’t been able to handle the empty apartment, so I’ve been going to the casino every night. I didn’t want to touch my wages and risk missing mortgage repayments, so I borrowed some money from a loan shark and I’m now in the hole with him for one hundred and fifty Gs.” Billy looked down at the table, unable to meet her eyes.

  “Do you mean one hundred and fifty thousand dollars?” Sam asked in shock.

  “Yes. When I lost the first amount I borrowed, I thought that I could somehow win and pay him off, so I borrowed more. I did win some of it back, but I ended up gambling that too. Now he has cut me off and given me seven days to come up with the money or else,” Billy said while refilling his glass.

  “Or else what? Is he going to break your legs or something?”

  “No, he wants the deed to the apartment, or he will kill me if I don’t come up with the money within a week.” There were tears in his eyes.

  Her heart broke for him. “Billy, you’re smarter than this. I told you that I’m yours—I’m not going anywhere—and it sounds like your parents are working things out, so why are you stressed? I suspect it’s just an excuse because you have an addiction to gambling, don’t you? You didn’t just meet this loan shark recently, not if you’re in for that much money. You’ve been doing this for a while and that’s why your previous girlfriend left you, isn’t it?”

  He looked crestfallen. “Yes, you’re right, I do have a gambling addiction and I’ve been borrowing money for over a year, but my ex didn’t leave me because of my gambling. She left me because she slept with practically every student in her class and got pregnant to one of them. I’m sorry, sweetheart, yes, I’m a gambler. You’re right.”

  She took his hand. “It’s okay, honey. We can work it out. Thank you for admitting it. But let’s not worry about that now and just enjoy this wonderful dinner, okay?” Sam picked up her glass of wine. “Saluti!”

  “Saluti? What’s that?” he asked, puzzled.

  “It means ‘cheers’ in Italian,” Sam clarified with a smile.

  Their food was served, and they ate as if Billy hadn’t mentioned his dilemma. With every mouthful, she could see him watching her as if he was waiting for her to explode, but she just enjoyed the moment and the exceptional food while occasionally glancing over at him with a smile.

  Sam didn’t care about the money nor was she overly worried about the danger he was in. As long as she had the book glasses, she knew all that could be worked out. She loved the fact he had been honest with her about his gambling problem and did feel a little guilty about leaving him alone so much since starting uni. Unfortunately, she knew his gambling addiction was something she couldn’t fix.

  When they walked out of the seaside restaurant, they were greeted by the reflection of the full moon on the ocean and opted for a stroll along Manly Beach. A light breeze played with the tips of the waves and as they walked in the moonlight hand in hand. Occasionally, they would stop for a kiss before continuing as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Eventually, they took a seat on a bench to take in the view in silence.

  Sam turned to him. “Billy, this is what is going to happen. We will both go back to the casino one last time and win that money to pay off the loan shark. You need to trust me that we can do this. But if we do this, you need to promise me you will get help for your gambling addiction. Also, you must never go to the casino again or borrow money from anyone. If you love me, please agree to this.”

  From the look he gave her, she could tell he wasn’t convinced. “Yes, and I do love you, but we are talking about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, sweetheart. How are we going to win that much? I’ve been going to the casino for years and have never seen anyone win anywhere near that much money.”

  “That’s because you haven’t had access to the high roller room, exclusive to elite players,” Sam replied with a grin.

  “There is a reason for that. Anyway, how do you know about the high roller room? You don’t gamble. When I took you to the casino, didn’t you tell me you had never been in a casino before?”

  “Check this out, honey.” She handed him a business card.

  “Frederick Hans, Casino Manager, VIP Premium Specialist,” he read, his eyes popping wide open. “Who are you? Are you a secret agent and you’re not telling me?”

  Sam laughed. “Don’t be silly. Are we going to do this or what?” She took back the card and placed it in her purse.

  “Yes, of course, but I don’t need to tell you that I’m a bad gambler. I’m hopeless. How are we going to win that much money even if we get into the high roller room with your friend’s help?” Billy looked dejected.

  “Frederick is not my friend. He was the one who personally invited me to the high roller room after discovering I had just won ten thousand dollars. It was amazing! They gave me an array of expensive gifts and complimentary drinks and food. They really look after their high rollers.”

  “Ten thousand dollars? What? How? When?” He sat there in disbelief.

  “Never mind about that. Just trust me, honey, please. It’s best I leave out the details for our safety. Tomorrow is Sunday, so how about we have dinner first before making our way to the high roller room? That gives us five days to win the entire amount, so even if we have a bad day, we still have plenty of time to get the one hundred and fifty thousand dollars before next Saturday.”

  He took her hands, gazing deep into her eyes. “I promise I won’t ever disappoint you again. I will get help with the gambling. I would do anything for you. I know I want to be with you forever, and I couldn’t recover if I ever lost you. You are the love of my life.”

  Her heart swelled at his words and she leant forward, holding him close and kissing him. “And you are mine.”

  Three Men

  The next day, Billy came over early to help Sam move out of her apartment and into her university accommodation. She was not disappointed to leave that horrid place. She was jumping up and down with joy and had already packed all her possessions in boxes weeks earlier and cleaned the apartment from top to bottom.

  The rea
l estate agent had been notified and the vacancy papers had been signed with notice given in advance of this glorious day. All they needed to do was transport the boxes in the trailer Billy had hired.

  Although things were right on schedule, Sam suddenly had a sickening feeling that she had not told Sue, or anyone from the refuge, that she was moving out. Feeling like that part of her life was behind her, she didn’t want to open any wounds, nor did she think she needed to explain her decisions to anyone. She was tired of feeling that way and was determined that no one was going to tell her what to do ever again.

  But, to her surprise, the feeling worsened as the day progressed.

  “I love your little place here, sweetheart. It’s a bit small, but how good is it being able to live on the university grounds? That’s awesome!” Billy said, breathing heavily after carrying another box into the studio apartment.

  “I know. I’m so excited about being here, honey.” Sam kissed him.

  “If you run into my ex, tell her she did me a favour by breaking up with me,” Billy said, flipping the bird.

  “Didn’t you say she was pregnant?” Sam asked as she walked into the tiny kitchenette.

  “Yes, but I think she’s still attending classes, even though she’d be very pregnant by now.”

  “She’ll be easy to spot, then,” she said with a giggle.

  “I just need to pick up one last load. So how about you stay here and unpack while I go back and get the last few boxes?”

  “Thanks, honey. That would be great.” She kissed him and went back to her unpacking.

  Billy had just put the last box in the trailer when a black van stopped behind him with three men in it. They waited and watched him for a minute or two before the driver stepped out and approached him. “Excuse me, son, do you know where Samantha Page lives?”

  Billy was startled by the man’s appearance. The look was all too familiar from his recent dealings with the loan shark. The scars on his face and his aggressive stance painted a clear picture of the sort of man he was. And who wore a jacket on a hot summer’s day? Billy was pretty sure he was concealing a weapon, just as the loan shark heavies had when they’d approached him.

  “Samantha who?” he said.

  “Samantha Page. I have a package to deliver to her,” the thug said impatiently.

  “No, sorry. I don’t know anyone by that name. I’m just moving out of here myself after a short stay so I can’t help you,” Billy replied without faltering.

  “Okay, kid. Thanks.” As he walked into the building, Billy noticed a bulge in the shape of a gun under his jacket.

  Billy tied up the last of the boxes, relieved he had already locked Sam’s apartment and didn’t need to go back in. While the thug was still inside asking around, he quickly drove off. Although fairly sure he wasn’t being followed, he took the long route back to the university and kept his eyes on the rearview mirror. All the way, he wondered why people like that would be asking after his Sam.

  After ensuring no one was following him, he drove into the university grounds, parked, and ran to her unit. “Sam, guess what happened?”

  “What happened? Are you all right?” Sam asked.

  “After locking up your apartment up, I was tying down the boxes in the trailer when three men in a black van stopped directly behind me. The driver got out and asked if I knew a Samantha Page.”

  “Did you say three men?” Sam asked with a quiver in her voice.

  “Yes, three men in a black van.”

  “What did you tell them?” There was fear in her eyes.

  “I said I didn’t know anyone by that name and told them I was moving out after a short stay. I made sure I wasn’t followed.”

  She looked unsettled. “Why? How did you know to do that?”

  “It was easy. They looked like the thugs who work for the loan shark and immediately I knew something was wrong.” Billy noticed the change in her face. It confirmed his speculations. “There was no way I wanted them going anywhere near you.”

  “Thank you, honey. You are fantastic.” She threw her arms around him.

  After holding her for a minute, he drew away, taking her hands in his. “Why are people like that after you, sweetheart? And don’t give me the ‘trust me’ bullshit. You need to tell me just like I told you about my gambling problem, okay? We need to start being honest with each other.”

  To his relief, she agreed. “You’re right, sweetheart, but you need to first understand that by not telling you, if they ever talked to you, they would know you didn’t know about it. All I was doing was keeping you out of harm’s way.”

  “Know about what?” Billy asked. He firmly gripped her face with both hands and looked into her eyes.

  “The book glasses. It’s all about the book glasses,” Sam finally said, her eyes filling with tears. “If anything happens to you, my love, I don’t know what I will do. I’ve had too much disappointment in my life.”

  The book glasses? What book glasses? The fear on his face made him hold her tighter. “I’ve never seen you like this. Nothing will happen, sweetheart. Don’t worry, okay? Are you all right?” After another hug and a kiss, he looked at her. “What are the book glasses, Sam?”

  “Back while I was working at the museum, the CEO Mr Harman, with his last dying breath, gave the book glasses to me and made me promise not to tell anyone about them.”

  “Why was he dying? Was he ill?”

  The tears traced her cheeks. “No, he was murdered. Three men killed him. They stabbed him and left him for dead in his office. They were looking for the book glasses. I think the three men you saw were the ones who killed him and now they’re looking for me.”

  “How do you know all this?” Billy was almost afraid to hear her answer.

  “After leaving him for dead, they brushed by me in the hallway as they took off. I ran into Mr Harman’s office to find him on the floor with a knife sticking out of his chest. He told me where he had hidden the book glasses and made me promise I would never tell anyone that I had them. Then he died, right there in front of me.” She choked back her sobs.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but what is so special about these glasses?” Billy asked.

  “They’re not just reading glasses. When you read a book while wearing them, that’s when the magic starts. Somehow all the knowledge in the book is transferred to the reader.

  “They also turn their wearer into a super-computer. The speed is incredible. I can read a four-hundred-page book in less than twenty minutes and completely understand every word and concept. In fact, the knowledge acquired from any book I read while wearing the glasses appears to stay forever in my memory. That’s why they’re called the book glasses.”

  “Where did Mr Harman get them?”

  “I don’t know. But they are over two-and-a-half centuries old and they were specially crafted for the pope at the time and for all future popes. I know this because the detectives who interviewed me immediately after Mr Harman’s murder visited me again later to ask me about the glasses and they showed me what Mr Harman had on them. But how he got them is a mystery to me.”

  “The police asked you about the glasses?”

  “Yes, I told them I didn’t know anything about them and I’m sure they believed me. The police haven’t got a clue I have them and I’m puzzled how the thugs knew about me and where to find me.”

  Billy could see the fear in Sam’s eyes and was even more frightened for her. “Pope’s glasses? Maybe someone from the Catholic church may know something about them?”

  Her eyes were frantic. “No, Billy. The reason I’m still alive is that I don’t ask questions. And you must never ask any questions or mention the glasses to anyone!”

  “Sorry, I understand. Does anyone else know?”

  “Yes, I told one other person after I was frightened due to the terrifying visions I started seeing. But don’t worry, she wouldn’t tell a soul, even if her life was threatened.”

  “Okay, what do you mean by �
�terrifying visions’ and who did you tell, sweetheart?”

  “I discovered that if I wore the book glasses for more than eight hours at a time, I started to see visions of dead people. I told a friend at the local women’s refuge, Sister Sue, who runs the place, who gave me a better understanding of what was happening. I now know not to wear them longer than eight hours at a time.”

  Billy held her again, trying to understand what all this meant. What were these glasses? Why did they have this power?

  But they weren’t the most pressing questions. The most important thing in all this was how the thugs had found out about Sam and what did they do about it?

  Paying Off The Loan Shark

  Nothing else was said about the book glasses that afternoon as they continued to unpack Sam’s belongings. By the time Billy returned the rented trailer and got back, Sam was dressed and ready to go out to dinner.

  They dined at the same Chinese restaurant as on their previous visit but this time they chose the buffet and avoided any alcohol. They both need their wits about them. They planned to start small to avoid attracting any attention.

  “Let’s set our cut off at fifty thousand dollars,” Sam said.

  “Why fifty thousand?”

  “If we win any more than that per day, it will set off alarm bells at the casino and two things could happen. One, we could be interrogated or two, asked to leave.”

  “How do you—”

  “Please don’t ask how I know all this. Just trust me that I know.”

  Billy nodded.

  “So, given a maximum of fifty thousand per day, hopefully, in three days we can win all the money we need. That’s the plan and two idiots with a plan will always do better than the smartest people in the world without one.” She smiled. “Are you on board with that, Billy?”

  He saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I like the way that sounded.” Sam kissed him passionately.