Where have I been?

It has been so long since I posted.

Why? Typing one fingered on my phone is slow, tiresome ~ a method suited only to short messages or tweets. 

So when I get access to time and a keyboard I'll be back, till then please have patience. 

A philosophical thought

Social media ~ what's that all about? Well I've been into it for about a year now so some observations:

Twitter is the new on line non-dating escape for the middle classes~ I've flirted and developed twitter crushes, thought relationships were developing then not, been elated and depressed, all in a short space of time. And I have observed many others doing the same.

Boos are great for saying that bit more and pretending we are journalists on R4.

Out here we are safe, hidden from family and friends by pseudonyms and aliases, we can explore fantasies and desires we did not know we had.

My timeline has some amazingly great people in it, as well as those who are odd, weird, or just very different. I love the instant interactions and casual wit, the sarcasm and occasional put down. We can say things we'd never say at work and be free with our words.

I notice that many of us have some issues in our real lives and we use Twitter and other such escapes as a release for how we really feel. This is probably a great way of avoiding vast fees to counsellors or psychiatrists!

And is it a solution? Nothing is really a solution that fails to address the root cause of the pain and if you are in an unhappy relationship then flirting on-line or even taking it a bit further will only bring temporary relief. I've realised this now both from my own experiences and those of others.

I won't give up though, somewhere out there my Lady is waiting and one day we shall meet.

This is not really going anywhere but it's not intended to, just some thoughts on the first of May, the day when outdoor .......... is supposed to begin.

The Professor and the Chinaman Part 5

The plane banked as it began the descent, out of the window she could the lights of Hong Kong below. Until now just a transit point, she’d never left the airport but now she was entering the city, hopeful she could find out what had happened to her sister.

Glancing across the divider she saw the Prof, his hands were clenched on the seat rests, knuckles white with tension.

‘Hey Prof, it’s cool, most planes land safely these days!’

He turned his head and smiled wanly, ‘So sorry my dear, I am a real wimp at flying.’

She reached over and took his hand, ‘Hey Matey, chill... we have a job to do out here..’

‘You are right of course and I’ll be fine in a minute or two..’

 

He drew deeply on his e-Cigarette.

 

***************************************************

Their bags had come quickly; leaving the terminal she was surprised when the Prof burst into a stream of seemingly fluent Cantonese to the cab drivers clustering around.

He opened the door, ‘Come on let’s get out of here.’

Neither had noticed the Chinaman with the pigtails and pointed hat watching from a telephone booth by the exit.

******************************************************

The cab deposited them outside a large ultra modern block, ‘this way my dear’ said the Prof as he led her to the door.

Janey could not believe her eyes as she looked round the apartment. It must have cost a fortune with the prices here. She stared intently, ‘Hey I don’t want to pry but this is not what I’d expect from academic’s pay package, what’s going on Prof?’

He looked a little shamefaced, ‘Perhaps I should have explained earlier, my err ‘wife’ runs a very successful business out here, not quite sure of the detail, but it suits her to have the respectability of a London University Professor as a husband and she is happy to fund my research visits....This apartment is actually in our daughter’s name for tax purposes apparently, she uses the one in our son’s name.

So we see each other very, very rarely...’ He paused and looked at her, ‘Yes I’m not proud but it helps my research .....’

‘It’s OK mate, whatever, I’m bushed after that flight, where can I can crash then?’

‘So, sorry, terrible host and all that...that door there is the spare room, there’s an en-suite so you should have everything you need.’

***********************************************************

The Professor took his case into his room, unpacked then returned to the living room.  Placing his iPad on the coffee table he strode to the kitchen, returning with a bottle of claret and a glass. He sat down and began browsing.

 

Janey left most of her things in her case, stripping off her clothes she went into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

The hot water beat down on her body; she soaped herself, easing away the tension from the long haul flight.

She wrapped herself in the soft white robe and lay on the bed, sleep however would not come, a glass of water would help?

 

**********************************************

‘Jeez ya bastard!’

The Professor jumped.

‘You opened a bottle and didn’t call me!’

Once again he blushed, ‘I do apologise, I thought you were going to bed... I’ll fetch another glass.’

She sat down on the couch next to him, stared at the screen, ‘What are you looking at Prof?’

‘Just a little more research before I go to bed, just wanted to check out a couple of websites..’

‘That can wait, tell me the plan for tomorrow.’

Topping up their glasses, he began to speak.

*************************************************

The basement smelt dank, she wrinkled her nose as they led her down the steps. The only light came from flames guttering in the shadows. There was a hint of the sea in the air. Peering before her she saw shallow steps and water washing the edges.

They stepped down, and suddenly pulled her to the ground, shackles clamped around her wrists then her ankles were pulled apart and again bound.

The water lapped around her feet as they pulled the thin robe high, uncovering her body to her stomach.

She tried to cast a pleading glance to Ho but he avoided her eyes. He spoke a few words then they retreated.

She lay there, spread-eagled, helpless.  A grinding sound and then a splashing, the water rose, creeping up her bare legs.

‘And what was that?’ The sound of something in the water.

Casey strained against her bonds but could not move, she felt something touch her leg and then move higher.

‘No, fucking stop it now you bastards!’ she screamed.  It slowly slid up her leg, a flicker at the entrance to her sex and then ...’FUCKKK... JEEZZEZ Fucking Christ.....’

The head of the sea serpent slip deeper inside her, its tongue flicking as it penetrated her soft folds. A piercing scream echoed round the cavern and Casey’s head fell to one side.

The snake slowly withdrew from the writhing figure, the gate opened again and it slipped back to its resting place.

Once the shutter was down, Ho re-entered the chamber, releasing the clasps he looked deeply at Casey’s face, the dead eyes, the same as all the others.....

A voice barked out over the chamber, ‘ Bring her to me’

*************************************

‘So, that’s the plan, sound alright to you?’

They were on the second bottle by now, he turned to look at her, the bathrobe gaped slightly, giving him a glimpse of a rounded soft breast, the hint of a nipple. She reached out, out her arms around his neck.

Janey felt she wasn't quite sure what but she knew what she wanted....

‘Prof, just fuck me now!’ She kissed him and he gathered her in his arms, stumbling they made their way to the bedroom....................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Professor and the Chinaman - 4

‘Well then, Cheers my dear and here’s to a successful outcome!’

Janey chinked glasses, ‘Thanks again Prof, I could have got my own ticket you know!’

‘Yes, but then you’d be at the back of the plane, and what’s the point of that?’

‘Yeah but....’

‘Nothing, dear girl, nothing. I cannot fly cattle class across the globe and as the whole point of the trip is you and your sister, it’s better that we sit together.’

‘Now you’ll forgive me, I hate flying and am a terrible companion.’ He pulled out his iPad, plugged in the phones and was gone.

Janey shook her head, ‘Blokes, especially English blokes, what were they on about?’

Catching the Stewardess’s eye she got a refill and checked out the videos.

 

The twins sat on the bed, naked their hands clasped in front of them. They could hear giggles, squeals and splashing noises from the bathroom.

Shen turned and looked at his brother, he raised an eyebrow. Han shook his head and returned his gaze to the floor.

A scream, pain? pleasure? They couldn’t tell.

The door opened, they looked up. There she stood, naked except for a string of pearls. Their eyes gawped at her pure white body, smooth, hairless, alabaster skin shining in the reflected light.

The Boss Lady, perhaps the most feared women on the island. European it was believed, though no one could be sure of her origins. Her appetites though were well known.

Breasts still firm, hard pink nipples stuck out despite the heat of the night. Down their gaze passed,  taking in the curve of her belly, the lips of her sex, swollen, a hint of moisture just visible.

In the background a girl hurried out of the bathroom, hastily pulling on her clothes, a glimpse of flushed cheeks, as she pulled the door shut behind her.

A thin smile crossed her lips, bright red and full.

‘Stand, Oh, and drop those hands boys,’ the command came.

Shuffling, they obeyed, hands falling to their sides, faces reddening as they displayed their obvious arousal.

She approached, eyed them and reached out a hand. Shen tried hard not to flinch as the long fingernail traced a line along his cock.

‘You shall be first’ He felt a slight chill or was it..? Her eyes moved to Han, ‘You, stand there, don’t move, don’t touch me, or yourself.’

Placing her hand on his chest she pushed Shen back on to the bed and climbed on. Easing her way up his body she grasped his cock and slowly lowered herself.

She began fucking him vigorously, using him like a living sex toy.  Her buttocks driving up and down as she sought release.

Han watched as his brother slowly grew redder and redder, till suddenly his face contorted and he groaned as he came.

She quickly rose from the rapidly drooping penis, Shen’s residue dripping from her swollen sex.

‘Useless,’ she spat, ‘You come here and finish now!’

She lay back. Parting her knees and pulled Hans’s face deep into her crotch.’ Lick me now and make it fucking good!’

He applied himself with vigour, his tongue flicking, teasing, while fingers traced the sensitive lips. Her orgasm was violent. Her body bucked and shook; his head felt almost as if it was being torn off as she shuddered and finally subsided.

Breathing more heavily, she rose slightly, ‘Go now, and do not breathe a word of this to anyone.’

Silently they nodded as they hastily dressed and left the room.

Pouring a glass from the champagne in the ice bucket, a laugh rang out, ‘Boys, once again they sent me boys!’

Never mind, Jurgen was flying in tomorrow and he knew how to treat a lady.

‘Could they be trusted?’ She hadn’t reached where she was by trusting. Decision made, she picked up the phone by the side of the bed, a few words and she hung up.

Watching what had happened to the girl earlier had aroused the deep need for sex in her and somehow she felt there was much more of such things to come.

 

 

Shen and Han climbed out of the taxi and headed into the bar. They sat in a panelled booth, a bottle of Scotch, glasses and an ice bucket in front of them.

‘Cheers my brother! Tonight we fuck Boss Lady!’

‘Shut up you fool! Do you want to tell the world and get us killed?’

‘Private bar, members only, we safe here, my brother. Drink!’

They drank, and drank again.  They did not notice the waitress, carefully listening as they boasted, embellishing the tale of the night, turning humiliation into triumph.

A quick glance and a nod was all it took, the barman read the signal and acted.

Once again the Boss Lady was right.

The brothers were too drunk by now to catch the faint sound as the panelling behind them slid back.

Wisps of smoke floated around them, fuddled they barely struggled as they were enveloped and then dragged thought the gap, mouths covered, wrapped up by a sudden cloud of mist.

The panel slid shut, the waitress cleared the table. There was no trace of the brothers.

 

 

Ho’s face went white when he heard the command. It had only happened once before and he still had nightmares but he knew better than to question an order.

Casey was pulled to her feet, the blindfold removed. She shook her head, blinked several times and stared at the Chinaman. He bowed, ‘Dinner and bath now lady,’ He took her bound hands, ‘This way please.’

Still naked, she was led to another room, hot food brought saliva rushing to her mouth. A knife cut her bonds and she fell upon the chicken and rice in front of her. ‘Wine too, what was going on?’ Thoughts rushed round her head as she ate.

She sat back and drained her glass, Was this her last meal? Was that the deal?

‘Come now.’ She rose, led though to another room and she was stepped into the tub awaiting her. The hot water soothed her aching body and her head fell back as she relaxed.

Her eyes opened when she heard the door open, Ho stood there, robed in white.

'It is time.'

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Professor and the Chinaman- 3

They sat in the courtyard of the cafe outside the British Library, having lunch.

 

'I think I know where to go next,' said Janey, 'The paper trail points to Hong Kong.'

 

The Professor finished his sandwich and looked at her. 'Do you know your way round there?'

 

She shook her head.

 

'Speak the language? Have any contacts?'

 

Again, negative.

 

'Well, I'm sorry then, you haven't a chance in Hell of finding her.'

 

'Bugger that matey,' Janey grinned back. ''I'm not the quitting type!'

 

He leant back, lighting a cigarette, 'Some company might help though...' A smile flashed, briefly, wrinkling round his eyes.

 

'Serious mate? You offering to come along for the ride?'

 

'I'm free for the next fortnight and could do with a break, well?' He smiled again.

She jumped up, ran round the table and hugged him.

'You lovely old bugger!' She yelled, drawing odd looks from the other tables.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Alan spent the afternoon on his laptop searching, making calls and planning. he worked meticulously, as with any other research project. It was nearly seven before he sat back, satisfied.

 

'Ok, that should do.' He said to the cat smiling. He rose from the desk, went through to the kitchen. took a bottle from the rack, opened it and went to sit in the garden.

 

He sipped the wine and pulled out his phone, He called, straight to voicemail, oh well.

 

'Hi, only me, the Prof, think I've got everything sorted now, I'll e mail you the details...I'll call again in the morning.'

 

He got up and went back inside to fix himself something to eat.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Janey sat on the bed in the cheap hotel room and wiped away a tear.

 

The phone flashing with a message had given her a brief moment of hope, but it was just from the Prof.

 

What had happened to her little Sis? It was two months now since she had last heard from Case and that just was not like her. Yes, she was much younger than her, nearly fifteen years but they had always been very close. Mom had died when Case was only three so she had helped out  with the bringing up.

 

Casey had been so excited when she was offered the job, a chance to travel, see somethign of the world. Calls and messages came from all over the Far East then the last one.

 

'Janey, you won't believe this! New secret project - can't tell you where!! So up for it xxx'

 

She stared at the message, long saved on her phone, nothing since then, bugger all, no replies to calls, e mails, texts, even the Twitter was silent.

 

She hadn't been concerned for the first couple of weeks, but gradually a feeling that something was wrong grew. That was when she had started her enquiries.

 

Every avenue was blank, No trace of her since that message from Singapore. Then one day, out of the blue a letter. Written in poor English, the ill formed letters suggesting someone not familiar with Western script, it gave her a name, four Chinese characters and the words 'Bitish Ribry'.

 

She'd tried to translate the characters using her computer but only two gave any vague suggestions: something to do with blood, liquid or river and doom, death or end.

 

That was the start of her journey to London and the chance meeting with the Prof.

 

The characters had caught his attention but it took him a couple of hours searching ancient texts to come up with a rough translation.

 

Put together the four characters said, 'The river creature seeks the ruby, death lies in that path.'

 

She lay down to try and sleep, she'd read his e mail in the morning. Perhaps there was still hope.

 

 

 

 

 



 





The Professor and the Chinaman -2

The Professor looked down, the ashtray was full, he glanced at his watch. An hour really? Looking up, he spoke.

 

'Fascinating, perhaps incredible, but fascinating yes. If half of what you tell me is true, then I that  is enough for me.'

 

Janey blinked in the sunlight, 'Does that mean you'll help me?'

 

'How could I do otherwise? You have intrigued my imagination and luckily I now have some free time.....' Smiling, he rose, 'Shall we try Henry again?'

 

They entered the British Library and this time passed straight through, Henry giving a deferential nod as the Professor escorted his companion in.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Meanwhile on the other side of the world....

 

 

'BASTARDS' Casey spat out a curse as the stick struck home again. Her body twitched against the bonds that held her, raw welts crossed her naked back and buttocks, sweat mingling with the faintest trails of blood where the blows had struck harder.

 

She hung, suspended from her wrists in a dank cellar. She could smell the mustiness and the sweat of the man wielding the stick. Blindfolded, her world was dark. The only sensation came from the blows.

The voice came again, disembodied, devoid of feeling. Cold, the same words again and again.

'Tell me where you put it, tell me and the pain will stop.'

'Fer Christ'sakes, I don't bloody know what you are talking about!' She yelled for what must have been the hundredth time.

Silence, the pause ominous, she heard the breathing of her tormentor, then the sound of a door opening and the click of heels on the stone floor.

Click, click they grew closer.

She felt breath on her cheek, then a sharp fingernail scraped her neck.

'Tell me what I need to know and I will make it stop.'

It was not a local voice, she couldn't place the accent but European for sure.

'I have no fucking idea what you are talking about, just let me go please, I can't tell you what I don't fucking know for God's sake..'

The nail slid down her neck, scratching her breast then flicked the bare nipple. Casey flinched. The one thing they hadn't done yet was sexually abuse her. Was that coming now?

'I may have to introduce you to one of my pets, you really won't like that you know.' The voice hissed in her ear.

Drawing reserves from somewhere deep, an inner determination drove Casey to twist and spit in the direction of the voice.

'FUCK YOU LADY!'

A sharp slap stung her cheek.

'You really shouldn't have done that you know..'


The heels clicked away and she heard some instructions in Mandarin spoken sharply as they left.


Rough hands pulled her free and she was thrown to the floor.


Other hands grabbed her and she was taken away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

They hadn't noticed the time till a librarian came over.

 

'Sorry to disturb Professor but we do close in ten minutes.'

 

'What? really? Is that the time?'  He rose, 'I do apologise, we'll be going now.'

 

He nodded to Janey who rose, gathering up her notes which ran to a dozen or more pages, and they made their way to the exit.

 

'I think we are nearly there.' She nodded, 'Yes, just two more sources to check and then ...'

 

'Yes - we need to discuss the 'and then', a drink perhaps?'

 

She smiled, 'I could murder a beer right now!'

 

'Then let us murder a couple together!'

 

Smiling, he led her to the pub opposite.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back home later the Professor sat in his favourite chair with a glass of whisky and mused over the day.

A strange one indeed- from the mysterious Chinaman at breakfast to the distressed Australian lady and the subsequent day in the library.

'Something is going on here old fellow, are you sure you want to dive in?'

'You know what? I think I may just do that.' He answered to himself.

Did her believe her? Well, yes he did, and was it out of chivalry or middle aged lust that he felt inclined to help this good looking Aussie?

'Pass on that one,' he muttered to himself, stroking the cat, who had somehow insinuated herself on his lap.

The thought of the package in the safe crossed his mind but he dismissed it-  that was his wife's business and she couldn't be connected to what Janey had told him.

So, an early start tomorrow, he'd agreed to meet Janey at ten, he knocked back the last of the whisky, placed the glass in the dishwasher- not full yet, would put on tomorrow, and went to bed.

The Professor and the Chinaman

Mid-June sun lit the Morning Room, Professor Alan Baker sipped his coffee and stared at 22 across. It was the start of his summer vacation and he was taking a leisurely breakfast with the Telegraph crossword.

 

<Hmm, could it really be that simple? It was the last clue to solve>

 

Possibly, but a cigarette to clear his mind would help. He rose and headed for the back door when he heard a furious banging.

 

<For God's sake we do have a doorbell you know>, he muttered as he reversed direction.

 

He blinked, there stood a Chinaman, not so much a Chinese man as a real Chinaman from the old Imperial days: Embroidered navy tunic, pillbox hat, extravagant moustache and capped with a thin pony-tail.

 

<Package for Boss Lady!> the man barked.

 

<Sorry..?>

 

<God'sake, you really dumb as she say, PACKAGE FOR BOSS LADY! you take now!>

 

He thrust an object into the Professor's hands.

 

Flustered, and not a little annoyed, the Professor accepted the tightly wrapped package. No bigger than a paperback, it weighed only a few ounces and was wrapped and sealed with wax. He peered at the seal, trying to make out the character. It was slightly blurred, as if the stamp had been worn but looked very much like the sign for 'Fate'.

He looked up, intending to quiz the man further but he was nowhere to be seen. The Professor stepped down the first step and looked up and down the quiet suburban street but the Chinaman had vanished.

 

Shaking his head, he retreated inside, laid the package at the bottom of the stairs and went out to the back garden for that cigarette.

 

Must be something to do with his wife's business,, she was away at the moment, had been for a few weeks now. Macao he thought but couldn't be sure. They tended not to communicate much these days.

 

Back in the Morning room, he turned on his phone. It blinked with notifications- 12 emails, 3 texts and something on his Twitter feed.

 

Opening up the email first, the top three were from his wife. he opened the first.

 

'Am  expecting a package, stay at home till it arrives then lock it in the safe!'

 

Short and to the point as ever, the other two from her were the same, as were all three texts.

 

Sighing, he rose and went to get the package. He locked it in the safe and prepared to go out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

He ambled across the courtyard towards the main entrance to the British Library, intending to mark the first day of his vacation with a new line of research. Small groups sat at the tables in the June sun, sipping coffees, talking lowly. In the lobby a young woman was having an altercation with Henry, the 'Guardian' of the entrance. About to walk past, some impulse made him stop.

 

<Look, please, you have to let me in. Jeezus mate I just need to copy some papers I know they're here, it is really so, so important to me!> she pleaded in a strong Australian accent.

 

<I'm sorry Miss but without a ticket you can't just walk in you know>

 

 

<Is there a problem here Henry?> he asked.

 

<No, no problem Professor Baker, this person does not appreciate the rules I'm afraid, you go ahead now>

 

 

<This young lady is one of my post-Grads Henry, no problem there surely?>

 

 

Henry frowned, <She didn't say so Professor>

 

 

He turned and looked at her. Mid, perhaps late thirties. Longish blonde hair and the most striking green eyes.

 

 

He was normally a cautious and reserved man, but the morning so far had left him in an odd mood.

 

<Sorry, perhaps I should have explained our protocols better, before you came here> He smiled at her, <Shall I do so now over a coffee perhaps?>

 

She stared suspiciously at him for a moment, then broke into a wide smile. <My fault Professor, I'm sorry, yes of course>

 

<We'll be back later then Henry>

 

<yes, Professor, sorry about...>

 

<Not at all, not at all, just doing your usual splendid job dear fellow>, he beamed and turned back to the courtyard.

 

They took their coffees to a free table and sat.

 

<Hope you don't mind?> as he pulled out his cigarettes.

 

<No, but now tell me who are you and why the hell are you helping me?>

 

<Candour is much to be admired, but sometime discretion is the better course.>

 

<Me? I'm Alan, a Professor at University here, just starting my long vacation and for some reason I'm feeling unpredictable this morning> His face crinkled into a smile. <Now what are you looking for and why is it so urgent?>

 

Drawing on his cigarette, he sat and listened as she relaxed and  began to recount a very odd tale indeed.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

TBC