Danilo Clementoni - Back To Earth

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said, trying to lessen the drama a little.

“Behind that outer image of a strong and indestructible woman, I think there’s a tender, frightened puppy. You're a delightful person, with a sensitive nature.” Perhaps he would later regret what he was about to say, but he took courage, and went on. “Frankly, I have no interest in one night of sex that would then be filed away, as pointless as many others, leaving me feeling nothing other than an immense emptiness. I need more from you. I confess I’ve always liked you.” Now he could no longer stop himself. He took her hands in his own and, squeezing them, continued. “Since the first time we met in my office, I’ve known that you were something special. At first, I was attracted to your beauty, but then your voice, the way you spoke to me, the way you moved, the way you walked, your smile...” He paused for a moment, then added “I’ve been bewitched by your charm. You’ve stolen my heart. I didn’t know how I would live without you any longer, and this evening hasn’t changed my mind.”

Elisa, who was not expecting a declaration of this kind, was speechless for a moment. Then slowly, without looking into his eyes, she drew close to him. She hesitated for an instant, then kissed him.

It was a long and lingering kiss. Emotions, both old and new, were resurfacing in both or them. Suddenly Elisa pulled away. Staying only a few centimetres away from him, she said “Thank you for your kind words, Jack. I wouldn’t have wanted our meeting to end up as a sleazy night of sex either. This evening has given me the chance to find out more about you, and to appreciate what kind of man you are. I would never have thought that behind that severe “colonel” there was a tender and sensitive person. I must confess that I haven’t felt my heart beating so fast for a long time. I know I’m not a girl any more, but I wouldn’t like to ruin everything by making you come up with me now.” She paused for a long time, then said “I’d really like to see you again.”

Kissing him again, she got out of the car and ran into the hotel. She was worried that if she turned back she would not be able to keep her word.

Jack watched her until she disappeared beyond the revolving door of the hotel. He remained there, immobile, watching the doors windmilling around until they came to a complete stop. Then, casting a last glance at the flickering hotel sign, he stepped on the accelerator and, with a sharp squeal of the tyres, he vanished into the darkness.

The two shady characters who had been watching the couple parked at the back of the hotel and took great care not to be seen. From this vantage point they were able to see Elisa’s room. After not even a minute, a light went on.

“She's gone inside, and she’s alone,” said the fat man.

The thinner one was quick to remind the other that he’d lost the bet. “Time to cough up, my dear friend,” he said, rubbing his fingers together in that gesture that meant he was ready to be paid.

“Well, everything went as I expected until now,” replied the fat one. “Our dear colonel seems to have developed a crush.”

“Yeah, and she seemed quite forward herself.”

“A nice little couple,” remarked the fatter guy, with his usual laughter. “Now all we have to do is wait for the chick to go to bed, then we’ll go in and copy all her data.” Getting out of the car, he added, “in the meantime I’ll get the equipment ready. You keep checking to see if she’s switched the light off.”

Elisa was tormented by the thousands of things on her mind. Had she done the right thing, letting him go like that? How had he taken it? Would he really want to see her again? In the end, though, it had been he who had suggested that they postpone. He had given an undeniably convincing show of being serious. He had seemed quite sincere in the way he had expressed himself in such a touching way. Was this merely a strategy to make her fall into a skilfully woven net? Something that would lead to another amorous disappointment, more pain, further suffering. She decided to try and take her mind off it for now. Her main objective for the evening, however, had met with success: the colonel had granted a further two weeks for completion of her research. The rest of it remained to be seen, and by now she had learned not to be under too many illusions. She could not permit herself to make another blunder. This time she wouldn’t recover.

Slipping off her clothes, she threw herself onto the bed. The alcohol had clouded her thoughts somewhat. Her only priority now was to get a good night's rest. She switched off the light and instantly fell asleep.

In the meantime, Jack was driving back to the base, thinking more or less the same things. Had she been deluding him? Would she really want to see him again? Despite these doubts, he felt sure that he had made a good impression by passing up the chance to go to bed with her in such a noble fashion. Few others would have done so, and he was certain that she would have greatly appreciated this. In the end, if there was going to be something between them, they had all the time in the world to be together. A day or so more would not make any difference.

“She’s switched off the light,” said the thin man in a low voice, as if frightened to wake her. He took hold of a large travelling bag. “We can go in.”

Moving cautiously, the pair made their way towards the hall of the house attached to the hotel in which they had rented a room.

“We absolutely have to do this now,” said the fat one. “She takes that damn handheld device everywhere, as if it were her underwear. The only time we’re going to get hold of it is when she’s asleep.”

They crept slowly up the stairs, taking care not to make any noise. One click of the lock and the door opened with a creak. The room was full of boxes, cartons and equipment of all kinds. It had the look of an abandoned storeroom. One wall lamp, soiled with the dust of many years, lit up the surroundings dimly.

“We’ll get in by climbing over the partition between our balcony and hers,” said the fatter of the two.

“WE will get in? You mean I will get in,” exclaimed the other. “How do you imagine you’re going to climb over to the other side with all that extra flesh you’re carrying?”

“Perhaps you’re underestimating my athletic prowess?”

“No, I can imagine. I wouldn’t want to think about it,” replied his thinner colleague sarcastically. “Stop talking bullshit and pass me that rope. If I slip, at least try to hold on. I don’t want to die splattered over the pavement of this seedy town.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” He wound the rope around his waist and wrapped it once around the handrail of the fence as well. “Here. Take this,” he added, passing him a small dart gun with laser pointer. “One pinprick of this stuff and our young lady will be sleeping like a baby all night. The needle is so tiny that, at the worst, she’ll just think she’s been stung by a mosquito.”

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