"We won't be able to see each other for a long time," she said. She
watched me drink. "We don't want to give our friends something to talk
about."
"I won't like not seeing you."
She patted my face. I put down my drink, caged her slender hand in
mine, and kissed her wrist. I saw the light blue veins criss-crossing
under the delicate skin.
I brought her close to me. I kissed her warm lips. "Baby," I breathed.
"Diane, baby."
"Paul, listen to me. We haven't much time."
"All right, sweet." I kissed her again.
"Come on. We can't afford to get there late."
* * * * *
I crouched low in the back of the racer. I heard the street noises,
the gab of the night crowds, the not-so-mild cursings of the taxi-jet
drivers.
It all seemed so unreal. Back there, on my haunches, a wrench gripped
tight in my sweaty hand. I was going to kill a man. A man I knew, a man
I respected. And for a woman. All for a woman. I thought about getting
up and telling Diane to go to hell and to get herself another stooge. I
thought about a lot of things. Then I thought of Diane. Her sweet white
body. The way she sighed when I kissed her hard. And I knew I was going
to go through with it.
The racer stopped, its jets cut off. I heard the hum as the door opened
and she got out.
This was it. I sweated. It dripped down in an endless stream.
The seconds went by. Then the minutes.
They got in and the door hummed shut and I heard their laughter
blending together. They settled back and the jets roared. The racer
woke up to new life and it shot away.
"How was the trip?" I heard Diane asking.
"Cold. And I'm not sure it was worth it. Those Martians drive a hard
bargain." He coughed. "Diane, you're not too set on going out tonight,
are you?"
"Why?" she asked.
"I thought how nice it would be if we spent the evening at home."
"Just as you say, Roger."
"You don't care?"
"Of course not."
She was so calm, so damn calm. There would never be another like Diane.
"You won't regret it," Roger promised.
"My, but this boulevard is deserted," she said. "Not a soul in sight."
That was for my benefit. It was my cue.