Crawler sat across from Rouddim at the café table, gently nibbling on the salad in front of her. Through the window, she saw the sun setting behind the distant mountains. While they did not speak, her mind was a whirl of thoughts.
Second time this week someone got me into a dress. This is really getting annoying. This stuff is short, revealing, confining, itchy as all hell, and now it seems like I'm EXPECTED to wear this stuff! growl If I wasn't a lady, I'd go kill someone on the spot for this insanity that these damn pantyhose are driving me to!!!
But I can't. I promised…
"Beautiful sunset, is it not, jamâl?" Rouddim asked, wiping his mouth with the corner of his napkin.
"Yes it is," Crawler stated. She sighed, fighting against the urge of taking her fork and using it to scratch the itching sensation the pantyhose was causing her legs. "It reminds me of the sunsets at my home when I was a child."
"You used to watch sunsets?"
"Well, I had to wait until the sun set as so I could see the stars. I loved to gaze at them, wonder about life on other worlds and what it would be like to live somewhere else."
Rouddim chuckled. "You had a wild imagination, I see. Life on other worlds… that is ridiculous."
Crawler smiled innocently. If only you knew…
At that moment, their waiter walked over to the table, a bit of hesitation in his face. "Bitte, Herr, Fraülein." He bowed to each in turn, then turned to look at Rouddim. "There is a person who wishes to speak with you one moment."
Rouddim nodded and stood. "I will be back in a few minutes, jamâl. Do not fear."
Crawler smiled and nodded, watching as Rouddim followed the waiter away. She waited about fifteen seconds, then followed behind, holding her small purse. He had made his way near the restroom, and as Crawler followed his trail, she found herself standing near a darkened corner where the pay phones were. Standing against the wall, she listened to the conversation happening around the corner.
"I didn't expect to meet you here." That voice was Rouddim's. Crawler wouldn't mistake that voice anywhere.
"I was told you had an extra guest." A female voice replied to him. A bit cold, clipped. And strangely it sounded familiar… the accent one that she had only heard a few times but enough to know it.
"She is not a problem. Merely a decoration. A gift from one of my bidders."
Crawler chuckled under her breath.
"She knows nothing besides what you want her to know?"
"Of course! You think I would be stupid enough to let a simple woman gain any more knowledge than necessary?"
A moment of silence, then the woman replied with a cold, "Simple woman?"
"Not you, my dear. You are like a jackal. There is nothing simple about you, and I knew that the moment you contacted me."
"And I hope you remember that. Now, to business. While we speak, my agents are delivering the component to your handlers. In two days, a train will take you from Germany to Turkey. Then, a boat will be waiting to take you from the shore into the Mediterranean."
"And from there?"
"From there you will receive more instructions. Now, this woman… she knows she is not returning to Paris?"
Rouddim chuckled. "I haven't told her. I was hoping to charm her into coming with me."
"And if your charm isn't all you think it is?"
"Then I know what I have to do."
"Good."
Crawler stepped away softly and quickly made her way back to the table. Moments later Rouddim approached the table and sat back down. The sun had set completely and now the sky was starting to darken, stars dotting the sky. "I'm sorry I took so long, jamâl… business."
"It's OK. I had my stars to keep me company."
As they arrived back to the factory, Cim was waiting outside to greet them. He didn't approach the two as they stepped out from the van, but waited patiently by the door.
Rouddim turned to Crawler and took her hand into his. "My sweet jamâl, it has been a most wondrous evening. I would like to extend it into the morning, but as you can see, my presence is wanted elsewhere."
Like I would let you "extend" this evening… "I understand. I should go to sleep anyway. It is late."
Rouddim nodded and kissed her hand. "Dream well, jamâl. Dream your simple dreams of life on other worlds and other child-like thoughts."
Crawler gave him a soft smile, then turned and went inside. She kept her threatening scowl off her face until she was safe in her room. But once the door was closed and locked, she dropped her façade. Tearing off the pantyhose and dress, she quickly slipped into her black flightsuit. Strapping her weapons in place, she secured her necessities into the hidden pockets of her suit. The package Wells gave her she thoughtfully tucked into a secret pocket on the inside lining of her suit, along with a tiny comlink and a few other important items.
With the lights out, Crawler knelt in front of her window, watching the men standing outside in the clearing. Cim then walked Rouddim to a different part of the factory and they disappeared inside.
Waiting patiently, it was a good hour before the two of them exited the factory. Cim locked the door behind them and both men walked back to the living quarters. Once they were inside, Crawler slipped out the window and blended into the shadows that were her home.
Above her, the stars of thousands of distant worlds smiled down at her.