Gate Deadlock (20 page)

We climbed the narrow staircase to
the deck, to find a comfortable lounge in the shade and two sun
beds. We lay on the soft, comfortable sun beds, which looked more
like huge armchairs. I was aware of his determination to carry on
the silent agreement between us, to put on the facade of the
ordinary, happy couple. I decided to go along with it.

The sun was burning hot. Christopher took off
his polo and I looked around to make sure we were alone before
following his example, taking off my clothes to lie under the hot
sun in my bikini. The absurdity of our situation made me chuckle
nervously. Christopher looked at me mystified, but then the waiter
showed up again to serve us ice-tea and cold sandwiches.

‘Do you want to talk about your conversation
with Plato?’ he asked, sipping his ice tea, while his eyes were
trying to read mine.

I tried to avoid his look. ‘Not really.’

‘Was it that hard?’ I could feel his eyes
calling for mine, like magnets. I gave up and turned my face to
him.

‘Well, mostly, we talked about you. It’s a
subject I am specifically sensitive about.’ I smiled. He could not
hide the grief on his face at my words, however funny I had tried
to sound.

‘I shouldn’t have left you alone with him.’

‘For God’s sake Christopher! I’m not made of
sugar! I’m much tougher than you think. Stop trying to protect me
from everything.’

He was not angry about my outburst. He just
shrugged and smiled, his disarming, childlike smile.

‘Force of habit.’ he said, and I could not help
laughing at his honest, self-criticizing remark.

I was curious to find out what impression I
had made to Plato. ‘What did he tell you about me?’ I asked
imitating Christopher’s casual manner.

‘That you intend to fight for us.’

‘It’s true. I do.’ I said with all
sincerity.

He shook his head. ‘That won’t be necessary. I
will fight for both of us.’

I thought that this was not the place or time to
argue over this.

‘So, what’s next?’ I asked him anxiously.

‘For starters, we are free for now. He has
managed to buy us some time. So there is no need to hide
anymore.’

‘Pity. I was kind of enjoying hiding with you.’
It was true. He had turned our manhunt into a lovers’ escape.

‘I know. It wasn’t that bad, was it?’

‘What else?’

‘Plato has asked for a Board Hearing, hoping to
reach a compromise.’ he said, keeping his face completely
expressionless. But he didn’t fool me this time.

‘Why would the League care for a
compromise?’

‘He can offer them something they might
want.’

‘Is this confidential too?’

‘I’m afraid so.’

‘Are you going to tell me when the hearing is
going to take place?’

‘There is no need for you to worry in advance.
It will not help anybody.’

As he lay next to me, my eyes fell on the tattoo
on his arm. Since then, I had been determined to ignore this too,
trying to forget its tragic significance to both of us. But at that
moment, I was unable to take my eyes off it. It was there, mocking
me, reminding me that they would always win, as he had once told
me.

Christopher noticed my frustration, of course,
and his face became sad as he reached for my hand. ‘You cheat.
Living for the day, remember? Don’t let them poison our time
together.’

I closed my eyes and he put his hand on my chest
to sooth the pain.

For the rest of the trip, we played
Christopher’s game. We were still the two carefree lovers, enjoying
their time together, as if there was no menace hanging over us, as
we would have done if things had been normal, if we both belonged
in this world.

They left us in Loutraki, a little after 9.00
p.m. Tom had parked the awesome Audi Q7 near the port and we had no
difficulty finding it.

On the way home, I was wondering whether he was
taking me to his house or mine for the night. The truth was, a
short visit home would not hurt, as I was in need of clean clothes
and some of my make-up essentials. But it was hard for me to stay
away from him even for a few minutes. I had become so attached to
him these last few days that I felt like I was addicted to his
presence. His absence, however short it would be, was so profound
it caused to me an intolerable pain.

Plato had warned me that there was no future
picturing Christopher and me together, but to me, that was totally
unacceptable. I was fully aware of my impuissance to go on living
without him, there just had to be another way.

Trying to put aside that painful thought, I
asked, ‘Christopher, can I stay with you tonight?’

He looked at me surprised. ‘And I thought you
would never ask!’ he teased me. ‘Where did you think I was taking
you? Besides, we have to make up for the night we missed, don’t
we?’ He put his arm around my shoulders and I rested my head on his
chest, lost in Christopher’s world again.

His house felt cozy and safe. It felt like
home. I took a shower and Christopher gave me one of his long,
sleeveless cotton T-shirts to put on. When he was in the shower, I
started making a light dinner for us with
omelette
, Greek salad and cold
beer.

I was putting everything in the large tray to
take it to the porch, when my mind started playing tricks on me. I
pictured us being normal and together in a world big enough for
both of us, with me taking care of him and our children, in this
beautiful house by the sea. My eyes began to moist. What would it
take to be worth of such bliss? Living for the day, Christopher had
insisted, but I knew this was not enough anymore. For I did not
want just a glimpse, just a taste of paradise. I craved for the
whole package.

I wondered what life in his world would be like.
Would there be room for me in his real life? The thought started to
grow with tremendous speed in my mind. What if…he took me there
with him? I was more than eager to follow him, because my life here
would be meaningless without him. I would be ready to do what the
League asked me as long as they allowed me to be with Christopher.
Why hadn’t I thought of this when I was with Plato? Could he be
expecting me to ask him exactly that? Or, was there any chance that
this was what Christopher had asked him to help us with? I decided
to talk to him about it that night.

I found him at the porch. He was lying on the
sun bed with his hands folded behind his head. In the dim light of
the vanilla scented candles, another detail of Suzan’s decoration
ideas, he looked even more gorgeous. His hair was still wet and he
was only wearing a pair of long, black shorts. His strong, slim but
muscular body seemed more attractive than ever, an absolute magnet
to mine.

‘You’ve gone too far tonight Emma.’ he teased.
‘You didn’t have to cook, love. I was about to order us some
pizza.’

I pretended to be offended. ‘Well, I wanted to
take care of you for a change. Does it bother you?’

‘Quite the contrary. But I don’t want you to
waste your time in the kitchen. I want you right here.’

He grabbed my arm with a sudden move, as he had
done so many times, a second after I had placed the tray on the
table, and pulled me close to him. I fell clumsily once again, but
his fast, strong arms were able to hold me before I crushed my face
on his shoulder. He laughed and tightened his embrace pressing me
on his chest, permitting me no escape, not that I needed one. He
kissed me with a deep, demanding and much promising kiss, as his
hands burnt my skin, touching me under the soft, cotton T-shirt. I
felt his hot breath in my mouth and the fast movement of his chest,
as once again I was not the only one breathing fast.

‘Our dinner will get very cold if we go on like
this. I don’t want it to be a waste of effort for you.’ he
whispered.

‘Mmm.’ was all I was able to utter. I needed all
my strength to let him push me backwards as he sat up. Besides, I
had to take the chance to talk to him before he was able to
distract me again.

Christopher either pretended he loved
my
omelette
or was really
hungry, because he emptied his dish before I was able to take down
a couple of bites. The truth is I had suddenly lost my appetite, as
I was engrossed in this new idea of mine.

He noticed I was playing with my food. ‘Is there
something I should know about this omelette?’ he asked playfully,
raising his eyebrows.

I looked at him surprised. ‘What? It’s not
good?’

‘No, I don’t mean that. I’m just wondering if it
is poisoned or something because you’ve barely touched yours.’

‘Oh, well, I was not really hungry, as it
seems.’

‘Aha!’ He wiped his mouth with his napkin with a
slow move and leaned back on his chair. ‘I know this look. Last
time I saw it, you were plotting against the League. So, let’s hear
it.’

‘Hear what?’ I pretended to be ignorant of
whatever he had suspected. He knew me so well; I couldn’t keep a
secret from him anymore.

‘Obviously, something is troubling you. Do you
care to share it with me?’ he insisted.

I looked at my dish, playing with a piece
of my
omelette
.

‘I’m not sure.’ His intense look made me have
second thoughts.

‘Emma,’ he said in an authoritative manner but
then softened his voice, ‘…please?’

I put on a brave face and took my chances. ‘Do
you think you can arrange another meeting with Plato?’

He certainly did not expect me to ask this. He
slotted his eyes, trying to comprehend the meaning of what I had
asked him. ‘It depends. Why do you want to see him?’

‘You see, I’ve come up with an idea that might
get us both out of this, together.’

‘Let’s hear it then.’ he said in a composed
manner, but I couldn’t help feeling that the look on his face was
not at all encouraging.

I put my fork down and hid my hands under the
table, trying to conceal my nervousness. He was staring at me, with
his hand under his chin, his eyes fixed on mine, imprisoning me
again in his deep blue.

‘You’ve said you and Plato are going to trade
with the League. Well, I have something to trade with.’

It was obvious that he was making a considerable
effort to keep himself composed now. ‘You mean the excavation
plans.’

‘Exactly.’ I smiled, a little jaunty this time.
‘And something you don’t know. The rest of the files in my father’s
archives. I’m sure that if I study them I’ll be able to find
information about other Gateways. You’ve said it yourself. This is
not the only one in Greece.’

‘It is true.’ he agreed. ‘But may I ask, what
you intend to trade this with?’

That was the worst part. There was no easy way
to say this, as I had been able to realize Christopher’s mind-set a
long time ago. He was obsessed with protecting me. This meant that
there was no way he would welcome my idea. I decided to get over
with this fast, so I let it out, speaking surprisingly fast.

‘With their permission to let me come with
you.’

He slotted his eyes again, leaning his head
sideways. ‘Come with me where?’

I took a deep breath. ‘In your world. To let me
stay with you, in your world and time.’

His expression changed instantly. His face
twisted with anger and his blue eyes were as cold as ice when he
spoke again.

‘
That is certainly out of
question!’

I cringed in surprise, taken aback by his abrupt
tone. ‘But why?’

‘Because it will never happen.’ He had stressed
every word to underline the impossibility of what I had suggested.
But he should know better than that. I was not going to give up
that easily. After the first shock, I was ready for a second
blow.

‘Can’t you see that it is the only way to stay
together? They may never let you stay here but they have no power
over me. It’s easier for me to follow you there, don’t you
see?’

‘Follow me there? Where? To a world hundreds of
years away from this? Do you have any idea what this means? Leaving
behind everything, your family, your career, your friends, to start
over in a world you hardly understand? Do you realize the huge gap
between your world and mine?’

‘I know it will be hard in the beginning. But
you will be there to help me get over the problems.’

‘What if I’m not there? What if something
happens to me? Let’s face it, I’m doing a dangerous job, will you
be able to go on, on your own?’

I looked at him, totally crestfallen. ‘Don’t
talk like that.’ I whispered.

‘Why not? I’m not immortal, you know. Besides,
what makes you think that I am willing to carry the burden for such
a sacrifice?’

That was an option I had not considered. He
should not take the blame for this too. It would have to be
entirely my decision. Plato had said it needed a decision for my
future to be reformed.

‘So, I guess that means this is not what you
have asked Plato to help us with.’ I said, disappointed.

‘Of course not. I would never do anything like
that.’

I thought he was being very cruel to me. My
stomach fluttered, as a new fear had started to grow in my
mind.

‘Don’t you…want me in your life back there?’ I
muttered.

He looked down with his hands supporting his
forehead. ‘I wish … I wish I could lie to you about it. I wish I
could tell you I don’t want you and sound convincing to you. But I
have promised myself never to lie to you again.’

He looked straight into my eyes and his voice
sounded unbearably sad as he went on.

‘Don’t you think I would do anything to be
with you? Make no mistake though. I’m talking about what I would
do, not what
I
would
have
you
do. You are so
special to me as you are, and I want you to remain like this. I
have seen people who were
accidentally transported
into a different world and lost their sanity. I’d never like to see
such a thing happen to you. I will not be the cause for your
destruction.’