Alex Ayers - The soldier_s wife

"I hope so," Martin said, dipping his finger into the glass and pulling the olive out. "The way our policy is dragging its feet, no telling how long it may take to end our involvement."

"Lets talk about something more pleasant," Gwen cut in. She didn't want to talk about war, to be labeled the war widow with everyone sour and fawning around her like a lost child. She felt like dancing and laughing and getting drunk.

Bob was in the corner with another couple who had stopped in for a quick drink before going on to the theater. She spotted him and excused herself.

"Bob? Bob?"

He nodded to the couple and strolled toward her, a smile on his face, his drink sloshing gently like small waves lapping at the cylindrical sides of the glass.

"Yes, Gwen?"

She looped her arm in his.

"I'd like to dance. Could you put on a record or something."

"Sure. Sit tight. I'll pump something smooth through the intercom."

Sybil flowed out of the kitchen, a tray of canopies in her hands. She proffered them around, then found a seat next to Gwen on the couch.

"Feet hurt, assistant hostess?"

"No." She smiled at Sybil and looked admiringly at the way the woman folded her hands in her lap and tilted her head. She tried to ape the posture. "As a matter of fact, I just asked Bob to dance with me. I was being cornered over there…" she nodded toward the Sievers, "and had to find a way out."

"Well, you be careful of my lecherous husband; he's got the hands of an octopus and the mind of a bull in mating season."

Gwen blushed.

"I'm serious," Sybil confided. "Sometimes I don't think I'm woman enough to satisfy his desires. You know what I mean." She patted Gwen's leg and winked at her. "I better mingle, like white wine and caviar are supposed to."

Sybil floated toward the Sievers, her arms outstretched, her long, smooth fingers dripping supplely from her hands. A low, melodic tune licked out from the speakers stationed around the walls and a moment later Bob appeared in the hallway, beckoning Gwen to join him.

"In here," he said. "We won't be noticed here." He took her by the arm and led her into a large carpeted room off the hall with only couches and pillows lining the walls.

"We won't embarrass those who don't want to dance."

He pulled her close and moved slowly around, dipping and turning, pulling her waist against his groin, nuzzling against her creamy smooth neck.

"I wanted you this afternoon," he said into her ear as he felt her breasts brushing against his chest and her hand squeezing tightly against his back.

She said nothing, for her throat was suddenly parched.

She felt his lips brush the thin hair behind her ear and his tongue dance lightly across her prickled skin. She pulled him closer and rubbed her "V" against his hardening penis. His leg slipped between her thighs as he slowed his movements to gentle sways. Her lips touched his neck and she instinctively snaked her tongue out and licked at his flesh, pushing it down with the force of her slender organ.

"Knock. Knock."

Startled, she broke away and saw Sybil leaning against the doorway, two fresh drinks in her hands.

"I told you not to trust him, Gwen," she said narrowing her eyes. "The minute you think he's your friend he sneaks you into his private room."

Nervously, Gwen brushed at the front of her pants and forced a smile.

"He can dance well," she said awkwardly, stepping toward Sybil and taking the drink held out to her.

"And other things too, the beast." Sybil laughed and patted Bob's stomach. "He's quite a man. Quite a man. Now, come on you two. The other couples have left, but one interesting guest just came. I'd like you to meet him, Gwen. Very entertaining."

She disappeared around the corner of the hallway.

Gwen hesitated. "Bob, maybe I'd better leave before we do something we'll both be sorry for."

"Don't be silly, Gwen. Just keep people around us. We aren't going to do anything we'll be sorry for anyway. Celebrate. Relax. Don't think such ominous thoughts."

He squeezed her arm and nudged her out the doorway. "Come on, now. Sybil and her guest are waiting."

The other couples were gone. Sybil sat on the couch talking with a man who stood and smiled as Gwen and Bob entered.

"Hello, Bob. And hello."

He was tall and slender, with a long face and deep brown eyes that glimmered black in the low-lighted living room. A trim, dark beard manicured to a sharp, neat point below his chin offset his dark complexion and angular nose. His eyes were recessed deep in his head and his brows protruded over the indentions like two ledges limned with the bushy growth of thick, coarse eyebrows. A gold chain dangled from his vest pocket to the third button as he reached out and took Gwen's hand in his.

"Gwen, I'd like you to meet Mister Loyd Largo. Perhaps you've heard of him. He's quite well known around Hollywood."

"Are you the nightclub hypnotist?" she asked, her face lighting.

"In person." His voice was deep and mellifluous.

He kissed her hand and she felt the soft, loamy consistency of his lips linger on the back of her hand.

"And Bob, haven't seen you in a long time." He pumped Bob's hand and smiled, his glistening white teeth reflecting the light like aluminum foil.

"Well, everyone sit down," Sybil interjected, tugging Largo's arm.

"Just call him Largo, Gwen, everyone does."

Gwen forgot completely what had happened moments ago and stared at the man's mesmerizing eyes. A candle sat on the coffee table and its flickering flame was captured in Largo's eyes, dancing like a subdued ballerina within the abyss of his pupils.

"Largo is an old friend, Gwen," Sybil said. "We thought you might enjoy some of his parlor tricks. Excuse me, Largo, you don't mind if I call them tricks do you?"

"Since I make my living by them, I suppose not. Although it's always refreshing to think of myself as an artist or a scientist…"

"Or the devil," Bob cut in, rocking back and laughing.

"Sometimes, yes. Even the devil."

He fixed his gaze on Gwen and she stared back at him, with awe and compulsion. "How about some tricks, then?"

"Certainly. Who is willing?"

"Not me." Sybil stabbed herself in the throat with her fingernail. "How about you Gwen? The last time Largo hypnotized me he turned me into a chicken and had me squawking around the floor for an hour while Bob took movie pictures of me eating olives off the floor."

"Will it be that bad?" Gwen said, her eyes widening.

"I promise to have you fully enjoy yourself," Largo said, his lips barely moving as he spoke.

"I'm game."

"Good."

"What do I do?"

Deftly, Largo pulled a large crystal from his vest pocket and dangled it over the candle flame. It was cut with hundreds of facets and reflected the colors of the rainbow as it wound counter-and-clockwise from the dangling chain.

"Sit down here on the floor and watch only the crystal and listen only to my voice and your breathing. Concentrate fully on what I am telling you. Nothing else. Can you do that?"

"I think so."

"Excellent. Now, do you wish to be hypnotized?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Sit down here and relax, all your muscles, let them relax."

He motioned to Bob, who rose silently and turned the lights down, leaving only the flickering candle flame and Largo's flowing voice to dominate the room.

"Look deeply, Gwen. Deeply. Feel yourself slipping, pleasantly slipping down into the bed of pillows. Feathers are rising out of the pillows, feathers all around you. They are soft and they don't tickle. They brush against your cheek like the satin on your blanket when you were a child. Remember Gwen? Remember when the satin rubbed against your nose and you fell asleep with your thumb in your mouth? Satisfied. Happy. Remember. See it all now. The crib, Gwen. See the crib. See the feathers fluffing up around you. Look deeply into the crystal, Gwen. Everything is there. Waiting for you to relax. Close your eyes, Gwen. Sink softly into the feathers. Watch them rise up before your eyes like little balloons. Watch them. Join them. Deep and deep down, as far and silently as you can go. Sink down and join the feathers, feel them touch your body, feel them make you happy. Secure. Happy."