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you know. All hotel records are entered atitomatically into the police files."
"I didn't know. But I've stayed often enough at the Kingsmills so it won't
appear out of the ordinary."
"No. You are fine, the perfect cover. But I don't dare appear on any records.
And I
don't think I'll be able to catch the last train back tonight. I'll have to
stay in your room, if that's all right with you?"
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'Absolutely delighted."
When she said this Jan experienced a delightful warming experience somewhere
in the middle of his body. He rcmembered her breasts revealed so quickly in
the cafe' in
London. He smiled unconsciously at the thought-and found her smiling back.
"You're terrible," she said, 'just like all the other men." But there was more
humor than anger in her words. "Instead of thinking about the dangerous
business ahead I
suppose that your hormone-drenched brain is thinking only of seducing me?"
"Well, not only that..."
They laughed together and Sara reached out and took his hand. "What you men
never seem to understand," she said, "is that women can enjoy love and sex
just as much as you can. Is it unladylike to admit that I have been thinking
about you since that first disastrous night in the submarine?"
"Unladylike or not, I think it's wonderful."
"Very good," she said, all business again. 'After you check in, go out for a
walk, get some fresh air, or go drink in a pub. You'll pass me on the street
and just tell me yotir room number without stopping. Then go to your room
right after dinner. I
don't want to hang about the streets too much after dark and I'll join you as
soon as I find out what the plans are to be for tomorrow. Agreed?"
'Agreed."
Sara left the train before he did, vanishing in the crowd. Jan waved a porter
over and had him bring the skiing gear to left luggage. It was a short walk to
the hotel with his almost-empty pack on his back. Packs were more in use than
suitcases in the
Highlands at this time of year and it elicited no notice, even when he checked
into the hotel.
"Welcome back, Engineer Kulozik, always a pleasure to see you. We are short on
rooms so we can't give you your usual one. But there is a fine one on the
third floor, if you don't mind."
"No problem," Jan said, taking the key. "Would you have the pack put in the
room? I
want to go out before the shops close."
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"Our pleasure."
Everything went as planned. Sara nodded when she heard the room number and
continued past him without stopping. He had an early meal in the grill and was
in his room by seven. In the bookcase he found a John Buchan novel, almost
required reading here, and he sat down with that and a weak whiskey and water.
Without his realizing it the lost night's sleep caught up with him and the
next thing he knew he was starting awake at the light tapping on the door.
Sara slipped in quickly.
"Everything has been arranged," she said. "You will take the local train
tomorrow to a station named Forsinard." She consulted a scrap of paper. "This
is in the
Achentoul Forest. Do you know it?"
"I know of it. And I have all the maps.
"Good. Emerge from the train with the other skiers, but look for a local inan,
very husky, with a black eyepatch. He is your contact. Follow him and he will
take it from there."
"What will you do?"
"I'll be on the seyen o'clock train south in the morning. There is nothing
more I
can do here."
"Oh, no!"
She smiled, with a warmth he had not seen before. "Turn off the lights and
open the curtains. There is a beautiful moon tonight."
He did, and it drenched the white landscape with an even paler light. Shadows,
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darkness, 'and snow. Jan turned at a sound and the moonlight fell on her body
as well. The firm, round breasts he had glimpsed so briefly, her taut stomach,
full hips, long thighs. Sara held her arms out and he gathered her to him.
Twelve
"We're not going to get much sleep this way," he said, tracing the contour of
her arable breast with his finger, her outline still clearly visible in the
moonlight from the window.
"I don't need much. And you'll have plenty of time for it after I leave. Your
train's not until noon. Did I thank you yet for what you are doing to help
rescue
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Un?"
"Not in so many words-but there are other ways. Who is Un that he is so
important?"
"He is not important, not in himself anyway. It is what will happen if
Security discovers who they have. His cover is an Italian seaman, and it is a
good cover. But eventually they will discover that it is false. Then the
interrogation will begin in earnest and there is no way to stop them from
finding out he is an Israeli."
"Is that bad?"
"It would be disaster. Our cpuntry's international policy is one of strictly
no contact, none whatsoever except through official channels. Some of us in
external security don't see it the same way. We have to know what is hap p
ening in the outside world to protect our own nation. And once we discovered
what life is like here it was hard to remain neutral. So, despite all orders
to not get involved, despite the logical reasoning that any involvement is a
threat to our homeland-we are involved. It is impossible just to stand by and
do nothing."
"I've been standing by, doing nothing all of my life."
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"You didn't know," Sara said, puttingher finger to his lips to silence him,
moving the warm length of her body against his. 'And you are doing something
now."
"Oh yes, I certainly am!" he whispered, gathering her in his arms. He silenced
her laughter with his lips.
Jan was awake later when she dressed and left, but there was nothing for
either of them to say. He did not think he would be able to sleep after that,
but he did. It was full daylight when he awoke and he was ravenous. The
breakfast did justice to the Highland cuisine, the smoked kipper was a thing
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