Sorry it has taken a while but real life and a number of other stories on the go got in the way. I hope you enjoy.
Hypatia

 

The Kingdom Of The Blind
by: Hypatia

 

PART 2

 

"Seeker are you there?" I asked in my mind

"Yes I’m here Sarah" Came the reply in the dark.

"Tell me more about your people I know so little, I don’t even know what you look like" I said

"We are an old race, not the oldest as there are many who we call ancient, but those ancient ones seldom communicate with young races. Our culture has developed over the years into a caste system, as you would call it. This means everyone of us is created to fulfil the task that will become ours at maturity" Seeker explained

"So you don’t have free will to do as you want?" I asked

"No it is not a case of free will to do anything else, it is more a case of wanting to do what I was designed and created for. When I wish to do anything else I can experience it if one of my race has done it" Seeker continued.

"I can see where that would be useful in some respects, people here can wander around all their lives and never find what they are good at, hating everything that they do. But the idea of being pre-programmed for life before your life starts is scary" I admitted.

"Yes our culture is closer to some of the Oriental societies than to yours but in other ways the difference between us is immense"

"What about how you look?" I asked

"Sarah human beings have a natural fear for that that is different from them. The further away from the known you get, the more fear, hate and revulsion is generated. Just look how snakes and spiders are treated and they are a totally natural occurrence on your planet. For the moment I will just say that we do not have bi-lateral symmetry and we are not bipeds" Sarah replied

"Your worried if I saw you we wouldn’t be able to carry on with our relationship like this"

"Yes" She admitted

"I’ll leave it be for the moment, but I think you might be a little harsh on me" I informed her.

I broke off contact for a while and I could hear Mike snoring softly behind me and I concentrated on that part of my mind where Seeker resided and pushed. I was in the bedroom a few feet from my body.

I headed up into the night climbing slowly with the lights of the city visible first, then climbing till the disk of the earth was visible the terminator from night to day paused in its relentless journey over India. Here close in to the Earth I could hear the whispers of the people on the planet, always too quiet to hear properly or make out what was being said. I found the thin filament of light that was Seekers presence and touched it.

"Can you hear it, the whispers of millions of people sleeping?" I asked

"No I can not" Seeker asked "but I can feel it through your experience"

"Do any of the other races experience what I can hear now" I asked Seeker

"I do not know of the Ancient races, but of the races I have contact with no. Your people are so different when they sleep to when they are awake, do you feel it the absence of hate or malice?"

"Yes, it is almost a warm pleasant sensation coming from the hemisphere" I replied enjoying basking in the sensations.

"I am leaving for a little bit I will be back soon" I told seeker and climbed. Leaving the twin disks behind I headed out towards Sagittarius.

Behind the great star clouds in Sagittarius lies the Galactic Centre, I headed in this direction feeling for anyone out there. I felt prickles on my body as I approached one system and headed in. It was a strange looking system I thought as I approached closer only five planet but two asteroid belts. Close in nearest to the sun was a huge gas giant, but the bands associated with Jupiter were nowhere to be seen. Instead this had such a dynamic atmosphere that bands would be impossible to survive. I felt around trying to find the planet that had life and paused for a moment to admire the huge nebula dominating half the sky. There it was I could feel and see the reason I was drawn to this system. I moved in close.

Orbiting the planet was a sphere of grey with the recognisable tendril of light of one of seekers races mind contact heading down. I touched it gently.

"I am sorry to intrude and please do not be alarmed" I said.

"Who are you? What do you want of me?" the contact said sharply then more curiosity came into the voice "Where are you?"

"Forgive me for intruding I am known as Sarah and I am known to your race" I gave a flash of the Earth from orbit.

"Sarah?" came the reply with a flash of an Elf then a dwarf.

"Yes that’s me" I admitted "Do you mind if I have a look around?"

"No not at all, this is a fascinating planet. The species I watch are a subterranean species with little technology but their thoughts are rich in quality" I got a long burst of intense happiness and sadness of joy and fear.

"This is what the one I know as Seeker searches for?" I asked

"Yes, Oh yes. The power of these feelings and expressions of emotions in a young race indicates the potential a race has for development." The individual said "and as one who watches, I must admit they are sensations to be savoured."

"You enjoy your work?"

"Oh this isn’t my work this is my life" The Watcher replied.

"Is this system unusual with such a large gas giant so close in to the star?" I asked giving images of our own solar system.

"This is more like a double system where one of the primaries failed to develop properly, this is a normal system the single primary of a system is in the minority" The Watcher informed me.

"If I have a look around down there do you mind telling the one I know as Seeker where I am?" I asked and I got a flash of how Seeker felt in my mind from The Watcher.

"Yes that is her" I said

"Her?" came the confused reply.

"Within my species it seems that we find it easier to relate to an object, even inanimate objects, if we give it human characteristics such as a sex. One of our languages bases it’s grammatical structure around the premise that all objects are either masculine or feminine" I told The Watcher

"I feel Seeker is more female than male. The Judge" I gave a blast of the feel of The Judge in my mind "Is a masculine personality"

"So you associate the empathic ties Seeker forms with races in her searching with females. The Judge who is a being who’s function forbids emotional ties with the creatures he must assess you consider masculine. This is interesting are these attributes you would associate with males and females on your planet?" The Watcher asked

"Yes I suppose it is" I admitted

"In my experience it is usually the other way around, the females, the ones who bare the young, are the most aggressive. In most cultures the protection of the young is the greatest inherited instinct and to that effect they are the aggressive sex willing to die protecting them. Males tend to be more deferential and more peaceful as aggression against a female can have fatal consequences" Watcher explained.

"Oh, with the bonding situation within our species the male tends to be the protector of both the female and the young" I answered.

"That is unusual, very unusual has this situation been reported?" Watcher asked

"Not that I know of why?" I asked

"Because this changes the whole outlook on the case against your planet. We accept that inherited instincts are hard to overcome but they are treatable, females on most planets will come into conflict for resources and to protect their young. If these facts aren’t known this could change the whole viewpoint on your planet" The Watcher was getting excited now.

"What do you mean? The Seeker and The Judge misunderstood the situation on our planet so much that they have turned me into a female, not understanding the sexual situation that existed on the planet" I said giving flashes of what had been done to me and the pain that had been inflicted.

"This is what the Council of Watchers has been arguing for, the inclusion of a Watcher with every planet that is called to judgement. The one you know as a Seeker is sensitive to races but has little understanding of them, besides their technological level. The one you know as The Judge well" Watcher gave me a blast of disgust with hate mixed in as well.

"So it may be we have been falsely accused and brought to Judgement?" I said astounded at this information.

"Yes" Watcher admitted.

"I need to talk to The Judge and Seeker" I said and broke off the contact.

I headed back to the Earth as fast as I could, no instantaneous movement from one place to another. I had to cover the distance between the two points but that I could do in a little time and the yellow rays of the sun became visible.

I approached the Earth and the Moon and came down on the Arabian Peninsula in the darkness and headed to my body, using the gravitational attraction my body seemed to have to me in this form rather than seeking it out. I opened my eyes and I was back Mike still sleeping next to me.

I got out of the bed, picked up a nightdress that had been left for me and walked through to the living area, closing the bedroom door behind me. The pain in my feet was less than it had been last time I walked without Seeker’s assistance. The slight pain and stickiness between my thighs reminded me of what I had done and enjoyed such a short time ago. I walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror, the dishevelled young woman in the mirror, still wearing jewellery surprising me slightly.

I cleaned up between my legs while sat on the toilet, the still puffy lips were sore with the chafing that they had received from our long walk. I stood up and walked across to the sink and looked in the mirror on the wall there. The makeup that had been so carefully applied had been smeared and in places my sunburn was clearly visible, I decided a shower was needed to clean it off and make myself look more normal if extremely burnt. I removed the jewellery that had been provided for me to use and slipped into the shower washing myself carefully.

I sat down on the sofa the lights of the city providing the only illumination to the room the towels wrapped around my body soft and fluffy against my sensitive and abused skin. I sat there for a while composing myself trying to figure out why I was not angry over what had been done to me, though my anger over what was nearly done to my planet was immense.

"Seeker are you there?" I asked

"Yes Sarah, something troubles you" Seeker said

"Yes I need your companion to listen to this can you link with The Judge?" I asked

"Yes…He is here now" Seeker said

"What the hell do you two think you are doing judging my people, from the information I have received you shouldn’t have even started this process, let alone be thinking about the extinction of a race. I wouldn’t trust you two to judge a dog show" I roared at them

"I have no experience of canines Sarah so I would not be an effective judge" Seeker answered nearly making me lose the determination I had built up with laughter.

"Look you two I have been talking to a watcher" I said giving them the feel of the watcher I had spoken to and a picture of the system and the planet I had visited.

"How can you have been there?" Demanded The Judge his presence forcing it’s way into my mind.

"Listen you" I said firmly forcing him back "you will be pleasant with me and I will be pleasant with you. Because if we both get nasty then I guarantee I am a lot nastier than you. I have been trained to be nasty and kill people who I have no hate for, you I could quite easily hate"

"I am not a politician or a diplomat I have no need for such qualities" came The Judges voice back and the personality forced its way back into my head. I surrounded it and squeezed hard for a moment.

"Listen to me very carefully" I said while holding The Judge "You will be polite you will be pleasant or I will keep you here like this for a very long time. I will not even leave you the option of suicide to escape me, because if you do I will be there waiting to find you and drag you back.

"I will comply for the moment Sarah" he answered the hate evident in the voice in my mind.

"Good now listen to me very carefully from what I gather my race should not be being judged" I told them and outlined the conversation that had taken place.

"We need to confer with others" The Judge announced and he left my mind

"Oh Sarah, I am so sorry. How could we have made such a basic error" Seeker announced her voice full of grief.

"Look I am not happy about the situation that we as a race faced from you and your people. The situation with me now is strange I do not hate it and I must admit I have enjoyed it" I said giving her a quick flash of the pleasure I felt with Mike.

"Your adaptability has been remarkable and I wonder if this has something to do with the ability you have to believe in events that have never taken place, your fiction." Seeker answered

"Maybe it is this adaptability that creates the fiction" I said back.

"Perhaps" Seeker mused for a moment or two "What is the value of the crystallised carbon products that are attached as ornaments to your body, for they were the object of much emotion in your evening"

I thought about this for a moment or two "I think that you might be mistaken as others may have been. I think they are very good copies which have fooled other people and that might have cause the envy" I answered and then thought a moment.

I walked through to the bathroom again and picked up the jewellery and the watch and coming back into the living area I switched on the light. I looked at the large, what I had presumed to be glass or cubic zirconia pendant earrings. They looked real and I placed them on the table then the tiara and again it looked very real. Finally I looked at the small watch which I now noticed bore the legend Rolex.

"Billy you sneaky bastard "I thought "Well tomorrow you get all this lot back"

"Sarah are you alright?" came Mike’s voice.

"Yes" I said "I have just had a lot of things happening tonight" I admitted looking around to find Mike in his trousers and his shirt.

"Leaving me?" I asked

"Well I didn’t want you to have any embarrassment tomorrow morning as we have only met a few days ago" Mike said sitting down next to me.

"Yes that might be better for now but I wish it was otherwise" I admitted "Though you probably think it is sick"

"Sarah, I know the situation is strange and neither one of us would have chosen this a week ago." He said holding my hand

"The thing is except for a few moments tonight when I felt I would be taking advantage of you, I wouldn’t have it any other way. You are everything I ever wanted in a woman looks wise, I am prejudiced but I think you are perfect. But more importantly than that you are still everything I ever wanted from my best friend, you are still intelligent, brave and selfless in your actions. I think I love you Sarah" Mike admitted the final words barely a whisper.

My stomach went into somersaults at this point, my nipples tightened and I felt the moisture start in my groin again. I moved over and sat on his knee throwing my arms around him and kissing long and passionately.

"I guess I shouldn’t have been so worried about saying it" Mike said when I released him.

"No, you had every reason to worry about my reactions and if I am honest I should be very concerned about it. But with all the things that have been going on the reassurance of having you near, having you care for me and the contact when you touch me or hold me has helped me keep it together, to stay somewhat focused" I explained his arms surrounding me as I sat there.

"Look Sarah as Simon you were one of the most together people I knew. Why do you think I was always willing to fly your wing? I’ll tell you, because I wouldn’t trust anyone else watching your arse and at least behind you I could hope to learn something" Mike said squeezing me tighter.

I sat there the pressure on my body felt good, I could smell both the smell of his aftershave and the musky smell of his sweat from our earlier activities. Both were pleasant to me now and I leant my head into his chest. I breathed deeply of his scent and I felt my body respond to it. Beneath my buttocks I could feel him responding to my presence.

I admit we were too wrapped up in our own little world to notice much going on. Some people later reported the flash in the sky and lots of people gave reports of the sound. It is believed that the Taliban controlled government of the Persian Confederacy was intending to take out the government, the Royal Family and cause mass panic and disruption. This had worked prior to the invasion of Iran by Pakistan and Afghanistan. Watching their long time neighbour and enemy falling Iraq was only too glad to help. Iran with its political structure destroyed in a wave of suicide attacks was left in no position to respond fully.

It is still not clear how many people died as I sat there on Mike’s knee and I don’t know what I could of done to stop it but at least a million people in the city of Ar-Riyad died in a second as for a short time the fury of the sun burnt on the planets face.

"Sarah something’s happened" Seeker shouted urgently and I was out of my body to see what she meant. I didn’t have to climb far before it became visible a fire on the ground consuming and destroying the city. I didn’t want to get too close but the power of this weapon was awesome and despite the horror and disaster of the moment it was beautiful in it’s slow motion crawl. I moved in close skirting the fireball that was expanding in the city. I could do nothing here and ran for my body.

"Mike we have a ground burst nuclear detonation in Riyadh" I screamed as I ran for the door leaving him sitting there.

"Billy" I screamed as loud as I could in the hall

"BILLY QUICK" I shouted and a European man emerged from a room opposite.

"Will you shut up now young lady as some of us are trying to sleep" he said standing there in his pyjamas.

"FUCK OFF ARSEHOLE" I snarled at him and continued to walk along the corridor.

"BILLY GET OUT HERE NOW" I screamed my voice sounding shrill.

"Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?" the man said behind me pulling me around to face him. I reacted on instinct my forehead found his nose with a crunch and I carried on along the corridor ignoring the pain it caused.

"BILLY GET YOUR FUCKING BUM OUT HERE NOW" I screamed

"Sarah what is up?" He said appearing wearing just boxer shorts.

"Riyadh has been hit by a nuclear ground burst" I shouted as behind me I heard a scuffle.

I turned around to find Mike fighting with the man who I had argued with.

"Listen will you stop it" I screamed as they rolled around.

"Listen they just fucking nuked a city. We could be next." I said turning back to Billy.

"What?" he said

"I had no warning of this so it wasn’t a missile that delivered it. It was a ground burst as well, I think it might have been a suicide bomb" I said to him and opened my mind to Seeker.

"Yes Sarah?" she asked her ‘voice’ seemed stunned.

"Can you detect a bomb before it blows?" I asked rapidly

"Possibly" she said "It will take some time to reconfigure though"

"Time may be the one thing we don’t have" I answered breaking off contact.

"Billy there could be other devices hidden. Pakistan has nuclear devices and Russian hardware isn’t exactly difficult to come by for the right price…" I paused thinking for a moment could I detect nuclear devices? I didn’t know exactly what I saw when I was out of my mind, I had no eyes to see with yet I saw and I saw things it would be impossible to see with visible light.

I focused on that portion of my brain where Seeker resided and left the hotel. I ignored the huge glowing monstrosity which hung over the burning ruins of the city to the north west and headed towards Britain. I needed to know what radiation looked like to me no matter what breed. Alpha, Beta or Gamma. Or even if I could see it at all. I worked quickly up the west coast over the Bristol Channel and the mountains of Wales. I crossed the River Dee and Mersey then started to slow down as I worked up the coast of Lancashire and into Cumbria. If you live in Britain and you hear the word radiation odds are you would think of this place. A factory with a reputation so bad they renamed it.

Windscale it used to be called but that was a name that became synonymous with scares and leaks. So doing the thing that people expected least they renamed it. ‘No more disasters at Windscale, we have changed the name to Selafield’.

As I approached the factory I could see a bluish glow. As I looked carefully I could see as it got nearer to the factory I could see a second colour merging with the blue, a greenish light. Was this the Beta radiation I wondered for a fraction of a second. I turned climbed and returned to the east. From the height I was at the fireball of the blast was clearly visible far below. I could also now differentiate the visible light from the other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum that I now recognised.

I move close to the city of Dhahran and started searching for any sign of the radiation signature. I crossed the city backwards and forwards searching out any sign of the bluish light but getting some interference from the fireball now visible over the horizon as it climbed into the sky. I was just on the point of giving up when something caught my eye. I moved in close to have a look at it.

Deep in the cellar of a house sat a man alone with a box. Not a huge thing only about three feet by three feet. On the side was an open panel with a key in it and the numerals on the side said 16:37.

The box must have been heavily shielded as the glow was not exactly strong outside but inside was alive with fire. Within the centre of the box was a sphere surrounded by small plates with a wire from each. I examined it closely and tried with all my force to pull one of these plates off. I couldn’t they were tight on the Plutonium sphere a second structure was also in the box.

"Shit Billy we have one here" I screamed at him "Plutonium sphere surrounded by shaped charges, I can’t do anything to them I can’t apply enough force"

"Where?" he demanded

"Close I can show you we only have sixteen minutes" I said.

"Mike was dragged off the man with who he was fighting and Billy ran into his room. Returning a matter of seconds later with his phone and two of the flowing robes he normally wore. He bundled the two of us in the lift and as the lift descended he threw one of them to me.

"The phones are not working" he said as he put on his own robe and I tried not to be lost inside the one I was putting on.

In the foyer of the hotel was a scene of some panic for those who were still awake. Billy roared in his own language and a set of keys was shoved in his hand. We ran to the door my feet again sore with the lack of footwear and Mike saw me stumble. He had me up in his arms and was running carrying me before I had time to object. I was shoved in the back of a car and Billy screamed away from the hotel.

"Which way?" He demanded

I started flicking backwards and forwards between an aerial view of the city and the back of the car. Shouting directions we arrived outside the house in a matter of five minutes.

"Billy not yet" I shouted as he ran to the door "There is someone in there"

I left my body and entered the house ignoring the frozen figure of Billy. I searched the house first knowing that the time differential was in my favour. No one else was in the house, I descended into the cellar.

The man was still there he now appeared to be trying to see what the fuss was through a small window. I glanced at the clock 8:03 it now said. I turned my attention to the man and hovered over his motionless form. I dropped down into his skull, I could feel his fear, anger and an acceptance for what was about to happen to him. Though there was no light inside his skull I could see the structure of the cells around me. I moved through wondering where would cause the most damage to at least incapacitate this man. I came to the channel separating the two halves of the brain. I had heard something about damage to this causing death in car crashes, with no apparent damage elsewhere. I hit the interconnecting tissue with all the force I could muster. Then for good measure I repeated the operation on both frontal portions of the separate hemispheres.

"One second" I shouted at Billy returning to my body for a second to let the results of my actions take effect then returned to find the man sinking to the floor.

"He’s down. Go, only eight minutes" I shouted and Mike and Billy took down the door as I stumbled following in the oversize robe.

"In the cellar" I shouted and they were gone as I reached the door.

I made my way to the cellar and found Billy and Mike examining the large box.

"Look this thing is counting down despite the key being turned back" Mike was shouting.

"What if we rip out the electrics?" Billy asked

"If it is a device they don’t want stopped they will have it on a collapsing circuit. Pull the wires and it goes bang" He said "But…" he paused

"Get that fucker out of here he may be some use" Mike said to Billy who obliged dragging the fallen man.

"Get going Sarah" Mike said after looking around the room.

"No. Why?" I demanded of him as Billy returned having dumped my victim.

"Billy get her out and get as far away as you can" Mike said to him looking at the selection of tools in the basement.

"Mike what are you doing?" Billy asked.

"Look if I can vent the tritium the secondary part of the blast won’t occur but you still have a big bang. Not one tenth of the full device going up you two can survive now get her away from here quickly. MOVE" Mike shouted

"MIKE NO!" I screamed as Billy started dragging me away from him and up the stairs. As we left the house with me still kicking and screaming I could hear him going to work.

"Billy no. Mike please" I was crying as I was shoved into the car. Billy shouted something in Arabic before jumping in and putting his foot down hard. I wept in the seat next to him.

"Maybe he can stop it all together" Billy said gently.

"He might be able to" I answered "but it will cost him his life"

"Why?" Billy asked his face suddenly worried.

"The radiation that is going to be in that cellar just from the tritium might kill him. Then he will have a go at the primary system which will mean dismantling the shaped charge and possibly the plutonium sphere. With that he stands no chance." I said to him and returned to my tears.

"You mean he knew that there was no chance?" Billy said his face ashen and I just nodded.

"How long?" he asked as the engine roared

"I don’t know and I can’t look and see him there" I protested through my tears.

"Don’t try" he said gently

We drove for over seven miles at roughly fifty to sixty miles an hour and there was no explosion.

"You can stop" I said

"Are you sure?"

"Yes he did it. But I don’t want to look and see him" I said firmly

"But we might be able to do something for him" Billy answered

"We might be able to make him comfortable" I said "But I can’t look there to see what has happened to him"

"Don’t then" he said gently "I will make some phone calls"

He pulled over into a petrol station forecourt and stopped, we both went inside as I didn’t wish to be left with the man in the car. Billy had a swift argument with the young man in there and was passed the phone where he had a long conversation, followed by three shorter ones. I stood there numb and shaking, I kept breaking into tears and the young man said something I presume was comforting which I couldn’t understand. He offered me his chair indicating I should sit down. As I walked around the counter I glanced out of the window and saw our prisoner was out of the car stumbling around holding his head.

Picking up a baseball bat that was hidden behind the counter I walked out and over to the stumbling man. With all my force I swung bringing it across his kneecap on the left hand side. The force of the blow drove it from my grasp, but the man still went down hard.

"Please Sarah no" came Billy’s voice behind me.

"This fucker wants to meet his god, I will help him on his way" I said walking over to the bat again.

"Do not give him that honour" Billy said

"What?" I said confused

"If he dies now at your hands then we can’t interrogate him and he dies on his mission. If we get information from him then later he is executed his beliefs are that he will not find his place with god" Billy said gently to me.

"But this fucker tried to kill us, he killed Mike" I screamed back at him.

"This man will pay for that but not this way" Billy insisted holding out his hand for the bat that I now held again.

"No" I shouted and brought it down hard on the mans legs again. I stood up for another swing and Billy grabbed me from behind.

"You can’t we need to know if there are more out there" he said as his huge arms encompassed me.

"I can find out just let me finish" I screamed

"No" he said his hands preventing me from swinging and my struggles pointless against his strength.

"Sarah he is right" came Seekers voice in my mind projecting sorrow and comfort in my mind.

"No" I thought back at her but now with little conviction in my voice.

"Yes he is and I have just been informed that two more devices have been found" She answered drawing me out of my misery.

"Where?" I demanded and she showed me.

"We have another two of them Kuwait city and Jiddah" I told Billy then went out to find them.

Again I followed my view of the radiation to home in on the devices. The one in Kuwait City was in a disused factory a man was standing over it. I looked at the clock it hadn’t been activated yet. I entered his mind and with all the force I could muster I repeatedly hit at the structure of his brain, ignoring the effort I was now finding it I kept battering away. I left the man and headed to the Red Sea and followed the coast down. As I approached the city I could see the blue glow of the radiation as I approached it started to brighten significantly.

I dove in through the casing into weapon the primary was compressing to produce the initial fission reaction before my eyes. I looked there was no way to stop the primary so I placed myself between the primary and the secondary enveloping the secondary and trying to force back all I couldn’t see. The effort was immense though I couldn’t see what I was holding back.

"Oh god somebody help me" I screamed as I felt the energy flow from me with the effort.

I was suddenly aware of a second presence then a third and more all giving me a bit of their energy. Like many people pushing a car the effort required was less as now thousands and hundreds of thousands joined me. The fury was building up now in front of me the reaction building up rapidly as I watched, even in my distorted time sense this was happening quickly. As I forced everything away from me I could feel all those helping me getting weaker as they gave me all they could.

The casing of the device was starting to dissolve around me it seemed to be sublimating directly to a gaseous form, I couldn’t keep this force up for much longer even with the help I was getting from the unknown minds helping me. I threw them free of me not wanting to take them with me and I was lost in the expanding fireball.

I floated semi-aware of my existence for what seemed like days or possibly weeks. As I gradually started pulling myself together, I realised I was high in the atmosphere over the Pacific. I slowly started moving towards the west crossing the Indian Ocean and then the sub continent before crossing the Arabian Sea and working my way up the coast. I floated over the city trying to feel the pull of my body.

I could barely feel it just a slight sensation of being drawn to a large building. I moved in close, it was another hospital. I moved amongst the frozen people searching for myself. I dropped down to ground level and came to a casualty department. I was close now I could feel the pull stronger. But nowhere near as strong as what I felt even faraway from the earth. I slid through a wall into a room five people were in here.

I looked at them the two doctors a man and a woman, two nurses both women and Billy stood in a corner frozen. I didn’t want to go back to my body and face life like this without Mike, but he looked so worried. His face was a mask of anguish, a tear frozen running down his cheek. I thought about slipping into his mind to feel what was going through him at this moment and decided against it, I would not invade the privacy of a friend like this. I slid over the table looking down at the sun burned form of my body, the clothes cut open exposing me to the view of these people. I dropped down into myself and for a moment or two I panicked as I couldn’t reintegrate myself.

I relaxed for a moment and I felt myself being drawn down and suddenly I was back in. I took a deep breath and my ears could hear the panic around me. I tried to sit up and was pushed roughly down onto the bed again. I could hear urgent shouting and I tried to push the hands on me away.

"Sarah can you hear me?" came a heavily accented voice. I opened my eyes and looked into the face of a doctor working on me.

"Yes I can" I rasped "get off me"

"No you have been down for twenty seven minutes. Do you have any medical history as we can find no cause for this?" he asked

"Need sugar" I said "exhaustion"

Again there was confused talking and I felt blood being taken. I lay there, eyes closed, trying to regain my senses I felt a sheet being pulled over me.

"Sarah, how are you?" came Billy’s voice and I opened my eyes.

"Not with these here" I said looking at the people still in the room. Billy spoke there was a minor argument and the four left the room.

"Billy any news over Mike?" I asked

"Not yet it has been less than an hour and over half of that time you were not breathing" he answered

"Look there were two more bombs one in Kuwait City the other…" I tried to think of the cities name "Shit I can’t think my mind won’t work" I wanted to weep for a moment about this apparent inability to think and then pulled myself back together.

"City on the coast near Mecca" I said still unable to make my mind work properly

"Gidda?" he asked

"I don’t know. I got there too late and the detonation was in progress, I tried to protect the secondary but it was too much. I couldn’t stop it" I started weeping at the memory and Billy stood there holding my hand.

The doctor came bursting back in the room with a nurse.

"Sarah are you a diabetic, have you been taking insulin?" he demanded.

"No, just too much effort" I mumbled stating to drift off again as I could hear arguments around me. There was movement for a few minutes then I could feel myself getting slightly stronger.

"Sarah, your blood sugar was very low do you know why?" came the doctors insistent question.

"Too difficult, it was too hard" I said and again I was shaken, I roused a little more this time and opened my eyes.

"Have you been taking insulin?" the doctor asked.

"No" I said firmly "Billy do something please, I can’t explain to him"

Billy immediately jumped in to my defence and a long argument ensued. Eventually the doctor gave up and started nodding at what Billy was saying.

"Sarah there will be no more questions but they would like to keep you in for a night" Billy announced

"No I don’t need to" I protested

"For me will you? Please?" he asked

"Look I will stay here for a few hours but that is it. You have to keep me informed what is going on" I insisted.

"I will, but I need to find out what the situation is at the moment. I don’t know if any of my family survived yet" he said sadly.

"Look go do what you have to I will be fine" I insisted ashamed for keeping him at a time like this.

"I must go but I will send Alex" he said as he left.

I was left there amongst strangers, in a country and culture foreign to me and a body I had yet to accept. Mike had helped me with that to the extent I would have been happy with him, but I had failed. I was the senior officer it was my job to make sure he came back and if anyone had to do what he did it should have been me. I couldn’t criticise his decision, it was the only one to make but it was my job.

I left my body and headed towards the house where the bomb had been hidden. A massive police presence was frozen whilst cordoning off the area, clearing people away. I looked at the house and decided I had to know.

I slipped through the walls and floor into the room and was not given the luxury of being able to close my eyes. It looked like Mike had been working on the device up until it blew. His body had been blown across the room when the high explosive charge had gone off, near him lay a screwdriver. I could feel nothing from him and decided I couldn’t look too closely. I looked inside the device and found the reason it hadn’t gone off. He had been prying the explosives clear of the primary fission package as it had fired. The fact that half the charges were off had prevented the initial blast. I left and headed back to myself, the attraction of my body firmer now and reintegration instantaneous.

Back in my body I rolled onto my side carefully with the drip in me and cried for a long time.

"I have something here to help you rest" The doctor said approaching the bed.

"No I don’t need it" I said

"Young lady you need what I decide you need, I don’t know what exactly is going on but you need rest" he answered

I rolled on my back so I could see him approaching.

"No" I said again quietly.

"Now stop being silly" he said still approaching me.

"No" I shouted at him furious for being treated as if my opinion didn’t count.

What happened next was almost like a sneeze my mind struck out in defence and the syringe was knocked from his hand. I could feel his confusion and some fear over what had happened.

"Perhaps you should leave" I suggested and applied a little pressure to him with my mind, he couldn’t move fast enough.

"Seeker what is happening?" I asked in my mind

"Sarah we are lost we have no idea what is happening within your mind. All we do know is normally your species uses but a small proportion of your mind, you now seem aware of the other parts and are starting to utilise them. With the nuclear device you cried out to the stars and grasped those who offered to help. When you were done you cast them off as if they were nothing" she answered.

"I didn’t want to risk taking anyone with me if I died" I protested.

"Sarah we realise that, but this was a situation that has not been known before. You took the energy of millions and used it yourself to complete a task that we could not see" she said

"Can you see when you talk to others remotely?" I asked

"We can see what they see that is all. If nobody is at a location we can not see"

"You poor things it is beautiful when I travel the void choosing where to visit" I told her honestly.

"You see where you are?" she asked confused.

"Yes I lift above myself and I am away, free to go where I want" I said

"We cannot, we can only go where others are before us" she answered

"Oh" was my only reply for a moment "Can you see the minds in a communion?"

"No"

"They are beautiful each race has a different texture and colour" I explained

"No we feel the contact that is all" Seeker admitted

"What about the moving of objects with the mind, the telekinesis?" I asked

"Oh many races have that ability but to try and hold back a fission reaction is something new, as was the method of drawing force from others. This will have to be investigated more" She said and paused for a long while.

"I know a lot has happened and you have been through a lot, but many individuals are requesting that you read again. When you have time will you please?" she asked

"I will see what I can do" I assured her.

I lay there for a long time trying to keep my temper with Seeker and all those out there who seemed to be oblivious to what I was going through. All they wanted was their entertainment not to be disturbed, rather like the people here I thought.

Billy came back in and disturbed me from my thoughts.

"Sarah did you say you tried to intervene with the bomb in Gidda?" He asked

"Yes the primary was compressing as I arrived I tried to prevent the secondary firing. But I wasn’t strong enough to stop it" I said

"You were. I have been told it was a fizzle, the secondary didn’t catch" he eagerly explained.

"So we were talking kilotons instead of megatons, people still died didn’t they?" I shouted back angrily.

"Yes and we are talking tens of thousands instead of hundreds of thousands. It is a tragedy but a far lesser tragedy than might have occurred"

"How did they get them here so quickly?" I demanded.

"It wasn’t quickly. It is over thirty six hours ago that you destroyed the aircraft attacking. Pakistan has the nuclear weapons and sneaking them across the border is no problem. I don’t think they even needed to leave a man with them except for the fact the devices might have been found" he answered

"What about Riyadh?" I asked

"There is not a lot left of the city, most of my family were there" he said his voice flat without emotion.

""What is the situation now? How are the other nations reacting? Are we alone here?" I asked rapidly.

"At the moment I don’t know, I have been trying to organise rescue operations and the search for any more bombs" he answered.

"Get me some clothes. I can warn you of any more bombs, I know what they look like now. You need to start telling the world what has happened and get some help" I said firmly.

"But you should stay here" he said

"Look, what help have you got here now?" I asked

"None, I was here alone as you have seen" he answered.

"Right. You are in charge until we find if anyone else survived, so lets start things moving. Get Alex here with some clothes for me and claim somewhere for a temporary HQ. You can not do everything alone" I insisted.

Fifteen minutes later Alex arrived with some clothes for me. I carefully removed the drip and then I dressed with her help.

"What happens now?" she asked her face scared.

"I can find anymore bombs on their way in. But Billy is suddenly dumped in charge in a crisis like this, he needs all the help he can get" I told her

"Sarah, I am not strong like you. I am more scared than I ever have been in my life. When you went to help those children I couldn’t, I was too scared, what hope do I have now?" she said the tears on her face.

"Look if the job has to be done, then you do it. Mike knew that and he was the only one who could have had a hope in hell of stopping that bomb. He loved Star Trek and as Spock used to say ‘The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one’. He would have been glad to have a heroic death, one that will be remembered" I was crying again now.

"He will be remembered" she said holding me tight.

"Do I look presentable?" I asked as I managed to stop the tears. I stood up so she could see me in the white linen skirt and top she had brought.

"Come here let me do something with your hair" she said "It is not exactly what I think suits you but if we are working with Billy you need to be taken seriously today. There are some of Billy’s staff that are rather fundamental in their beliefs. You as a woman are a problem, but if you are displaying too much flesh…"

"I keep forgetting we are in a Muslim nation" I said ", Billy seems so accepting of everything"

"He is different, very different. He is a good Muslim but he is more tolerant of other cultures and beliefs than any other high ranking Muslim I have met. He would rather irritate a few of the old timers than change his views and opinions" She said

"Well he is going to need help" I said and I walked out of the room in the casualty unit that I had been left in. The doctor didn’t object too hard to my leaving, in fact he seemed glad to see me go.

The three of us stepped out into the early light of the sun, just rising in the east. If it was not for the general panic in the city it would look like nothing had ever happened last night. Millions of people had probably died and the world kept on going. Mike had died yet I kept on living.

"What do we do first?" Billy asked me drawing me out of my contemplation.

"Tell the world first. Not just of the bombs that went off but the ones that didn’t" I said "they can’t hide from this the fuel used for the bomb here is as individual as a fingerprint. They should be able to tell you where it was manufactured and probably when. If we contact the big news services BBC, CNN, SKY, NBC and whoever else you can think of then you start working on the other countries. With CNN if you play on the heroic efforts of the JFK and the callous disregard for all nationalities in Riyadh. With SKY and the Beeb concentrate on the actions of Mike. With all of them ask the question, what will happen if they decide to take out the oil fields. Whatever the governments foreign policy is, with the loss of their own nationals and the possibility of a fuel crisis, public pressure will do the rest" I told him.

"Should I start with the foreign leaders before the news services?" he asked.

"No use the public opinion first then talk to the leaders" I insisted.

"But…" he protested.

"Look Billy, you are now in control of this country until we find someone else who can relive you of the position. The majority of the western leaders have their eyes on the next election. You know the American Presidents dislike of foreign squabbles ‘America can no longer be the police force and the conscience of the world’, was what he said in his election campaign. It worked he has lower taxes, but the people will accept slightly higher taxes if it means the petrol prices stay low" I said

"What of Britain?" he asked.

"Play on the heroic efforts of Mike, a man who survived the Illustrious incident, then gave his life knowingly to try to stop a bomb. Play on the bombing of the hospital and the efforts of you, Mike and myself in saving the children. Then you hit them with the fact that despite the aircraft you took out, you did with minimal loss of life and the fact that you haven’t launched any attacks against Persian soil. That they had no compunctions about killing hundreds of thousand, if not millions in their anger at their impotence against you", I said after some thought about how the British public would react.

"Are you sure? It might reveal your part in this" he asked

"This has got beyond my concerns or wishes. Let the governments think you have some new weapon, if necessary I will claim asylum here. I can’t think of better company to be exiled in", I answered, with a little forced smile.

"Is Mike dead?" Alex asked

"Yes, I checked earlier. He was still working on the device when it went off. I don’t know if it was the radiation, the blast or the plutonium that killed him. I couldn’t look that closely at him" I said the tears in my eyes again. I sniffed a few times then managed to force my grief back inside.

"Well lets start making phone calls and telling the world" I said.

"I have an official of the Saudi Government who wishes to make a statement" I explained to the switchboard at the BBC.

"What?" the voice at the other end asked

"The Saudi Arabian Government wishes to make a statement. The question is who gets it first you, Sky or CNN" I said

"One moment please", the voice said, and I was transferred.

"You say you have a surviving member of the Saudi government wanting to make a statement. We have been told none could have survived the blast in Riyadh" A mans voice said.

"Look it has been on the news all day that not all of the royal family was in Riyadh. If you want to speak to the prince, call me on this number, but I think CNN will be more interested", I gave him the number and despite his protests, put the phone down.

It rang again less than a minute later.

"Billy you answer that and I will play with CNN" I said taking the phone off him.

"We have no proof of who you are and what your official position is within the Saudi Arabian Royal Family now" came an American mans voice from the phone.

"Listen don’t worry your little head about it" I said

"Who is this?" he demanded.

"I am no one, just a filthy girl who crawls through rubble with a British Naval Officer, now dead after disarming a device here in Dhahran", I answered "Don’t worry about it I prefer to work with an organisation like the BBC and they are interviewing the prince at the moment. If you want to talk later, give us a call on this number and we may be able to fit you in somewhere", I said to them, and gave them the number before putting the phone down. I heard Alex using similar tactics as I waited for the phone to ring again.

We had more people working with us as Billy finished his last interview on the phone, and sat there for a moment.

"What’s up?" I asked

"I am trying to figure out how a Muslim could commit this massacre if he was a good Muslim" He said

"It has little to do with beliefs", I answered, "It is usually for other reasons and Islam is not the only faith that does these things. Look at the Christian faiths over the years"

"I know it is just for years I have been trying to change the view of the Islamic faith, these people have destroyed all that in a moment. In the name of Allah they have destroyed my family and my people with no thought for the innocent", he answered, the magnitude of his loss just starting to sink in.

"Look Billy, now is the time to get things done, we have time to grieve later", I said.

"Yes", he said with a shudder, "I have things to do"

Seeker interrupted me at this point in the proceedings.

"Sarah we have aircraft coming in from the north" she said

"Show me where" I thought at her.

I left my body and headed north to the area that Seeker had shown me. I found the first of them, Black aircraft heading towards the southern Mediterranean coast, American stealth aircraft.

"Billy we have a retaliation attack coming in from the US, stealth aircraft. They had to be launched before the bombs went off" I said

"Well let us start with the Americans and thank them for their help, "Billy said ", how many are there?"

"Nine", I answered after a quick conference with Seeker.

You do not want to know how long it takes for anyone to get through the switchboards to talk to the American President.

"Mr President, first of all I would like to thank you for the nine stealth bombers you have authorised, but to avoid any unnecessary incidents, can you keep me informed of such action when it over flies Saudi Arabian territory", Billy said, and there was a pause where I could not hear the other side of the conversation.

"I realise the line of succession is compromised here at the moment, but I assure you that nine Stealth Bombers are approaching and if you wish I will give exact positions. But please remember that I am not working on a secure phone line", Billy said and again a pause.

"Yes, I realise that you would have authorised steps to be taken in response to the aggression against American military assets in the Persian Gulf. But, we are beyond the needs of the American people for a visible revenge now. The situation now impinges on the safety and prosperity of the world, we have had three nuclear devices in this country and one in Kuwait City", Billy announced, and again paused.

"Mr President, thanks to actions by people in my country, the one here in Dhahran did not explode, though it cost a brave British Naval Officer his life. The Jiddah bomb was interfered with enough that it was a fizzle, and the Kuwait City one was not initiated", Billy spoke into the phone.

"Mr President, they were willing to waste a bomb on Kuwait City, a city of less than fifty thousand people. This is a direct statement to the western nations, that is the only reason that a bomb was placed there. If you look to the west this is what happens. So as for your condemnation of these actions, as much as I welcome this, I feel I must ask for more firm propositions about your response", Billy was getting quite irritated now and again there was a pause.

"Mr President I need your backing now. You waited a week and a half longer than it took to get a response from the British, and this is a situation that has polarised since western intervention during the Gulf War", Billy shouted and again a pause.

"Look, we have a death toll in the millions here, and you tell me you can do nothing at the moment, yet you launch a strike against these nations for the loss of a carrier? We had more women and children die than that in the bombing of Dhahran", he shouted.

"Well then Mr President, I refuse permission for your forces to enter Saudi Arabian airspace, as a minor attack as you are suggesting will only add to the tensions here and increase the risk to my people", Billy said firmly.

"Well then on entry to our territorial airspace one aircraft will have its crew separated from it. We shall pick up the crew and they shall be returned to you immediately. If the aircraft continue to cross our airspace then we will repeat this with all of them. I will not allow you to provoke this situation further with a minor show of force for your own popularity. You either go all the way or not at all, you know where I am if you wish to talk to me further", Billy slammed the phone down.

"Problems?", I asked

"The most powerful and well informed country on earth and who do they elect for president this time, not a leader, not a warrior, not even a wise man. This time of all times they have to elect a professional politician", he shouted.

"Wait till you deal with the British Governmental structure", I said, "We have something worse than politicians, we have Civil Servants"

Within minutes Billy had hit the British political subsystem and bounced a few times with several different avenues of approach.

"Damn, I am going to have to call on some names here", he said, and started dialling another number.

"Yes can I please talk to his highness it is extremely urgent please?" Billy said calmly

"Yes I realise the time…Is that you Wendy?", he said with a grin

"Yes I always know that voice, it’s Billy, can you put me through as you have heard what’s going on here…Yes I know, but I can’t talk as I need to get through to the Prime Minister and I keep getting Civil Servants. Yes, thanks Wendy", he said and looked at me and covered the mouthpiece with one hand.

"An eye and a ear for the pretty ladies sometimes is in my favour", he said, "though I don’t know what she looks like, I have had many conversations with the lady, as I have waited for an answer"

"Yes Wendy thank you…No, we don’t know if any of my family made it, we don’t even know who was in the city…thank you, it is most appreciated and I know you mean it", he said back on the phone.

I checked on the incoming aircraft and found the first ones crossing Sinai Peninsula, about to cross the Gulf of Aqaba and down into the Arabian Peninsular.

"Billy the first aircraft have crossed the coast" I said

"Can you take one out without risk to yourself?", he asked, and I nodded and was gone.

The cockpit layout was unfamiliar but is always near enough to grab when necessary was the ejection system. It was getting easier, I thought, as I applied the pressure and came back to my body.

"Its done", I said, and he nodded, I closed my eyes for a moment as I was still weak from my earlier efforts.

"Sarah are you ok?", came Alex’s concerned voice.

"Yes I am, just weak that’s all. All these games take their toll", I explained, without telling her anything.

"I thank you for your concern", I heard Billy saying, "But it would have been much worse without the sacrifice of a British Naval Officer…Yes, he gave his life while disarming the bomb here…No, he didn’t, he used hand tools…Yes, he knew but didn’t hesitate"

I could feel my suppressed grief re-emerging as I listened to this one sided conversation about Mike.

"Lieutenant Michael Jennings a pilot off Illustrious. I picked him and a young lady up on the coast road the day of the air raid here, they had been picked up by a boat, probably smugglers and dropped off on the coast…We believe she is British but she has some memory problems, the yacht she was on was attacked, with all but her killed. She is the young lady who saved those children at the hospital…I know, but I need to talk to the Prime Minister but I keep hitting red tape, can you do anything?" Billy asked, his eyes turning heavenward.

"Yes, thank you and I promise to talk to you properly as soon as we stabilise things here. Thank you again, good night", he finished and put the phone down.

"Are you sorted then?" I asked

"Yes, though I thought I was going to be there all day. You British put your Royalty on a pedestal and then send all your press out to find the dirt on them. This means they have very few people they can trust to speak to, and to most of the world they talk about the most inane things. Whenever I get talking to any member of the Windsor family they never want to stop", He said

"No it is just you Billy", I said, "you are easy to talk to"

The phone rang and Alex answered it.

"One moment please sir he is on the other line", She said and mouthed the word ‘Presidents Office’. We sat there for a couple of minutes and then Billy took the phone.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Mr President but as you can probably gather a lot of things are happening here…You say one of your aircraft has come down…Well I did warn you that they did not have permission to cross into our airspace…Yes, as soon as the aircrew is located they will be immediately returned…Well I am sure you wouldn’t share such interesting military developments with us, if you had them, and with your reluctance to involve your forces here, I can see no reason to explain it. But I am not a malicious man and will never try to kill men obeying orders…I don’t care, you either respond or you do not, no half measures are acceptable. These people have used nuclear devices against my people…Terrorists? Well that can be checked out as we have two devices intact and from that, you can identify the place, time and probably the reactor the plutonium came from…Well if you can’t risk military intervention on what might be an act of terrorism, then I can not guarantee oil supplies as I am going to have to try and help those people helping me…Yes, just like Faisal did in the seventies…Goodbye", again the phone was put down.

"He is a good man but as you British say ‘he farts around’. He will make the right decision eventually, but at the moment, eventually might be too late", Billy said, the strain of the situation on his face.

"He was elected for his lack of foreign policies and his single minded attention to America", I said, "America needed the attention and the money being ploughed back into its own people for a while. They had been neglected for too long. But he is unwilling to change this attitude as the situation dictates"

"Yes, I know, but time is the one thing I do not have in my favour", he shouted at me.

"Listen, you are under strain and you haven’t eaten yet. You did well with The President there, but you are going to make a mistake unless you calm down and eat something", I said gently.

"Calm down and eat", he shouted standing up from his chair, "Do you know what is happening to my family, my people and my country?"

I pushed hard with my mind sending him back into his chair, and I kept the force on him as I stood up and spoke.

"Listen Billy, you are a nice bloke under an unimaginable stress at the moment. But remember, I am the reason that your city here isn’t radioactive dust. I have more of an idea than you what has happened, I have seen it. Mike stopped the bomb going off, and I have also seen him dead in that basement. You calm yourself down, because an angry and emotional leader is a bad leader", I shouted at him, then I let up on the pressure, "Now, Alex and I will try and sort out some food and you shall eat, as I would not like to have to get angry with you"

"Sarah…", he said

"Don’t, I am angry with you at the moment", I said, "I will speak with you after you have eaten. Come on Alex"

Alex stood there for a moment indecision on her face.

"Go Alex, Sarah is right", Billy said, "and I apologise for my attitude with you"

"Don’t worry about it, but both of us need some food", I said, "Have either of you got any money as I have none?"

As Alex and I started walking through the streets of the city, the feeling of fear was perceptible to me, but these people also had a fierce determination not to give in. Yes, people were in a state of shock at the violation of their nation, but the shops and businesses were opening as normal.

"Alex we need to get Billy out here", I said

"Why?" she asked confused.

"He needs to open his eyes and see", I said

We walked back inside, and Billy was back on the phone, I think to a member of the British government, he eventually put the phone down.

"We at least have support", he said, slightly happier than he had been when we left.

"Come on outside with us for a few minutes", I said

"What do you mean, I have things to do", he said

"Look, come outside with me for a while. Alex, do you mind putting calls on hold for half an hour at the most?" I asked

"I don’t mind, what if something else starts?" she asked

"I will know first", I said, and grabbed Billy’s hand ignoring his protests.

Outside Billy looked around, but didn’t feel the determination of the people in the city. I tried to concentrate what I was feeling and give it to him, it is a weird sensation trying to tune your mind to do something it has never done before. By chance, and the fact I could see Billy’s face suddenly change I managed to hit the right combination and hold it.

"What is this?", He asked, a look of shock and wonder on his face.

"It is how the people of this city feel, their fear, their anger and above all their determination to survive", I said, projecting it stronger now.

"Which people?", He asked.

"I don’t know, I feel it but I can’t identify if it is from near or far", I said honestly.

An elderly man stopped in passing and looked at Billy. He asked a question in Arabic and Billy answered nodding, eliciting a burst of happiness and pride from the old man, before a short conversation and he continued on his way.

"He fought during the Six Day War, and he is ready to fight again, for me", Billy said, sounding awed.

We continued walking till we found a small bar type affair which appeared to be serving coffee and a selection of pastries, we walked into the darker interior and found it was full of men. I could feel the suspicion I was being regarded with and was still broadcasting the emotions to Billy. Billy said something to them and I could make out Sarah in the speech and suddenly the emotions changed to gratitude. It was honest gratitude from the bottom of their hearts, at the girl who had risked herself for the children, I was overwhelmed and tried to block it out.

"Sarah are you well", Billy asked

"Yes it is just rough, this much pure emotion being directed at me", I said honestly

"We are an emotional people unlike the British, by nature, I think that may be the reason I have found it so difficult this morning, I have been treating this as if I was British", He said

"Look you have been doing a wonderful job, you just needed to get some food in you and a little perspective", I said, as I climbed up onto a bar stool that had been vacated for me, rather a problem in a long skirt.

"You are the lady who saved the babies?", a man asked to my left in poor English

"Yes", I said.

"You are a brave woman and I thank you for your efforts for the children of my city", he said, holding out a hand uncertainly.

"I could not leave them there while I could help", I said honestly, shaking it and suddenly, I was besieged by men wanting to speak to me.

"Billy this is getting a little much for me", I said, as the emotions battered at me sending me from joy to sadness and back to joy in a matter of seconds. Tears were freely running down my face

"Sarah what is it?" he asked, and I re-established the link that had broken between us with the first emotional battering.

Billy said something again in Arabic, I heard my name and Michael Jennings spoken and suddenly a wave of compassion flooded from these people to me.

"You told them what Mike did", I said more tears running down my face.

"Yes", he said

"Your companion was a hero and we shall remember him", said the man who had spoken to me in English first.

"Thank you", I mumbled back

After the coffee, I did not feel like eating the pastries, Billy looked concerned at me.

"Sarah you should eat", he said

"I don’t feel like it now", I said, "are you going to cope now?"

"Yes, things are in perspective again now, I know what I need to do", he said

"Do you mind if I escape to the hotel, I am not feeling too good"

"Go, you should be resting anyway", he said, escorting me outside, where he found a taxi and paid for it to drive me back.

I entered the hotel foyer after sitting silently in the taxi, lots of activity was taking place, lots of people leaving quickly. I managed to explain my key had been left in my room and it was arranged that the room would be opened for me if I went up. As I exited the lift, I was met by the man from last night bruises evident on his face from Mike, and a swollen nose from me.

"You young lady", he shouted, "You and that man I am going to report to the police"

"Fuck off", I said walking away and again his hand was on my shoulder to stop me.

I turned around and felt power flood through my brain. I slammed him against the wall, his head near the ceiling and I looked at him.

"Mike, that man, died last night disarming a nuke that would have blown you to shit before you had time to wonder what hit you. Now fuck off and go", I said with a flat voice, and let him slide down the wall. He ran for the still open lift, leaving his bag behind. I walked round the corner to the room where the maid was waiting disapprovingly for me, with a key, she opened the door for me.

"Thank you", I said as I entered the room and looked around. Mike’s jacket and the sword from Billy were there from last night and I sank down clutching the jacket sobbing for a long time. I didn’t leave the room again physically for two weeks.

Over that two week period, the Middle East fell to shit.

The instability left by the lack of an effective air force in the Persian Confederacy territories, left them wide open. The Shiites revolted in Iran, breaking away from the Confederacy before the retaliation started. The western nations, under UN sanction and led by the US proceeded to destroy all military, communications and control structures within the remaining countries of the Confederacy. Despite having no sanction for their action India and Syria started expanding their borders into Pakistan and Iraq. China, the big power, watching all this action so close grumbled, and the world held its breath for a while, then breathed as nothing was forthcoming. Israel for no particular reason other than the instability at the time and the strength of the Arab nations moved back into the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

I lay in my room, the curtains closed, watching these events not interfering just observing the madness within the world. Billy and Alex tried to get me up and about but I refused. I didn’t even talk to Seeker in this time.

"Sarah, we are having Michael’s funeral tomorrow and it is going ahead if you like it or not", Billy said one morning.

"Fine go ahead", I said, without opening my eyes to look at him. I had been in the depths of space away from the emotions of the real world. I was living out of my body long enough for each day to seem like a month, so Mikes death seemed like a distant memory.

"Are you going to come?" he demanded, and I though about it for a while, whilst examining the cratered surface of the moon. I was looking for the various Apollo landing sites. As I left the surface and returned after what seemed like an hour or two, I answered.

"No I don’t think so"

"You are going to come", he said firmly.

"No I don’t want to, he’s gone. I can’t find him" I said.

"Sarah listen to…", he started to say, as I escaped over the Pacific Ocean. I had always enjoyed flying over the sea. Probably why I joined the Navy to fly. Why else take off and land from a small hunk of metal bouncing up and down, as you try to put her down gently. I entered a cloudy area, and rose above it high enough to see the circular pattern of the clouds, then turned my attention to the sky, climbing till the stars became visible.

"ARE YOU OUT THERE?" I screamed, as I left the solar system. In the void I sat listening for a response, none came.

"…me", Billy said, as I returned. "You can not spend your life in here and you should be there to say goodbye, for Mike"

"The man is dead", I said callously, "I wasn’t able to help him then, he doesn’t need me now"

"Listen to me, you will be there", he shouted at me, reaching towards me. I could feel his actions and his intent without opening my eyes. I stopped him and raised him up from the floor, his legs kicking. Living out of my body for the years of subjective time, had strengthened my skills and control significantly.

"I don’t care, Sarah, if you kill me, I won’t let you do this to yourself" he shouted, causing me to open my eyes.

"Billy, I would never hurt you. You are a good man and to that end you are a rare thing that needs to be protected. There are not enough like you and…", I paused unable to say his name.

"Come on say it", he shouted at me, "Let it out"

I lowered him down but still prevented him approaching me.

"Listen to me. You haven’t grieved yet, you have just locked yourself away from the world ignoring everything" He said

"No, I have watched every thing", I said, "Why do you think there is so little collateral damage? I am there as they drop their ordinance, watching and guiding. When necessary, disarming" I said.

"You have been doing that", he said

"SAM, anti aircraft fire and radar systems as well. But for what?" I asked

"To make sure this doesn’t happen again", he answered.

"It will though, it is all pointless, in the end we will just find another reason to kill each other", I said

"But is that any reason for you to die?" he said

"Is there any reason to live?" I asked him

Millions or possibly Billions of voices suddenly answered me through Seeker.

"Yes, because we have shared your pain and we feel it too", they said, filling me with emotions of hope and sorrow. Hints of wonders to see and experience, if I lived.

"But he has gone", I shouted at them, feeling the structure of the communion shudder at the force of my reply. But it held solid.

"Sarah please", they pleaded, and I felt all the emotions I had held at bay, trying to break free.

"No", I shouted with my mind, but the force of the people out there damped it to nothing.

One voice came through stronger, sharing his/her/its loss of a family with me. Then another and another, all who had lost those they loved. They had felt their world had ended. The grief in me overflowed and I forced Seeker and the communion from my mind.

"Billy he’s gone and I couldn’t do anything to save him", I cried, "An hour later he wouldn’t have had to do it but I didn’t know how. It was my fault he had to die…"

Billy held me for a long time as I cried. Fed by the sadness and compassion this man had for me I let loose the feelings I had been repressing. I cried for a long time.

The funeral the next day was a simple affair in theory. In practice with television encroachment into the outskirts of the small cemetery and the crowds who appeared, it was a circus. Every thing I feared came to pass it wasn’t a funeral, it was a platform for many people to express their outrage at the recent events in the Middle East and to assure all who were listening it would stop with the addition of their forces into the chaos. The thing was, they didn’t even believe what they were saying.

The representative from the Admiralty an unknown Commodore did believe his words that this was in the truest traditions of the British Navy, but he was scared silly about fallout and the risk of another attack. He felt he had drawn the short straw having to appear here.

Mike’s parents had been flown in at Billy’s expense and I concentrated my attentions on giving them a feel of what was coming from the crowds and people in the city. Honest sadness, gratitude and compassion for their loss. I was introduced at the end and I left it at that, not wishing to intrude on their sadness and unwilling to explain my existence.

I didn’t cry. My crying had been done the day before and I had nothing left to give for him.

"Billy I have nothing against you, your hospitality or your country, but I need to get away from here", I told him as we returned to the hotel.

"I haven’t made any enquiries yet as to getting you repatriated", Billy said honestly.

"Well do you mind? I need to be far away from here and the emotions in this city", I answered.

"I will make enquiries straight away and see how soon we can get you moving. Though I will be sad to see you go", he admitted.

"I promise to keep in touch, this isn’t a case of I wont see you again just a case that I need to go for a while", I tried to explain to him how I felt in this city, though I could tell from his emotions, that this was unsuccessful.

"Look Billy you are my friend, a very dear friend, who loves me as a friend", I said

"But…", he started to protest, and I interrupted him.

"Billy it is nothing more than friendship as I feel the same towards you. I know you love me as a friend but you are deeply in love with Alex", I said

"You can tell much", he said.

"Yes I can and I know she feels deeply for you. If anything comes of it, it is up to you two alone, I can not tell the future", I said.

"We will have to see", he said gently.

"I need to go and find myself, I don’t think England is the place to do that but it is a place to start from"

"What about your family?" he asked.

"No family will be found. It will be as if Sarah did not exist before I arrived on your shores"

"How do you know? Have you got your memories back?" I could feel his confusion.

"By a lucky set of coincidences, the person who I am, came into being with these gifts I have, just at the right time", I said to him .

"And Mike?" he asked.

"Was a brave man who gave his life for a lot of people", I assured him.

We were silent for the rest of the journey back and as I got out of the long black dress provided for me, he began the process of getting me back to a home where I had never existed.

It was as difficult to cut through the British red tape as trying to stop the nuclear device. I was merely an irritation in the ordered lives of the diplomatic staff. The first problem they faced was the fact that the British Embassy had disappeared with a large proportion of the city of Riyadh. I had no proof that I had ever existed and it was suggested I might be the daughter of an expatriate or possibly an Australian, American, New Zealander and any other country with any European white speaking population. Three weeks on and I was getting more and more depressed.

"Sarah", Billy said one evening. He visited me often but I refused to eat with him and Alex, as despite their kind words and assurances, I was in the way.

"Yes, Your Highness", I said, he was in full working dress which he disliked and it was fun to tease him.

"Sarah I have tried all ways to try and sort your repatriation to the United Kingdom. But what I am finding is that due to the system this is not something that will be sorted quickly. If you were starving on the street possibly you would be repatriated then they would sort it out in Britain but as it is…", He paused and I took over.

"I am trapped in this deluxe suite of five star hotel, all expenses paid, at the behest of the King of Saudi Arabia", I said.

"Yes exactly", he announced, "I had thought of just putting you on a plane to England and seeing what happens. But on further thought they might admit you into the country then not issue another passport. In effect stranding you there"

"No, I want to go home, but it is a point to start from rather than a destination", I admitted.

"There is one other way we may do this", he said, his voice sounding unsure.

"Come on out with it", I said with a smile.

"Well you realise that I am an absolute ruler", He started and I nodded, "Well laws are things I make up and I decide. If I was to adopt you into my family I could then issue you with Saudi Arabian Nationality and Passport. But odds are, you would never be a British National again"

"Let me think about it overnight", I said, "How much work would it involve?"

"About as long as it takes me to say it and get a photograph taken", he said smiling.

"What about the fact that I am not a Muslim?" I asked.

"Sarah, over a forty eight hour period, you saved my country and more Muslims than anyone else before of any faith. I believe your arrival and the timing of it has Allah written all over it. So if you believe in a god by any name or even if you have no faith, I know from my faith that Allah believes in you. I don’t care what your faith or lack of faith is, I can always pray you will be enlightened", He finished with a smile.

"What and give up the bacon sandwiches, that is a tough one Billy" I said

"Yes that is one of the things that makes me convinced you are British, bacon, sausage and tomato sauce. Only the British call that cuisine. You have a wonderful history, fantastic traditions and the total lack of taste as far as food goes"

"Yes I know", I said as I though of Alex’s face as she watched me shovel the food away.

"Billy do you mind contacting the appropriate authorities for the last time. If there is no progress, then yes, I will accept your offer, though it is not my reluctance to be part of your family that makes me hesitate", I said, not wanting him to think that I felt his offer was second best.

"I understand Sarah and I will try again and tell you the situation first", he assured me.

The next day I was officially, Sarah ibn Abd al-Aziz Saud. Not actually part of the governmental structure, but part of the family. With the ink barely dry on my new passport, I decided it was time to move.

"Billy it is time for me to leave for a while", I said.

"I know. Though I am sad that you go, I will be overjoyed when you return", he said.

"I know, you have done much for me, but I must ask you for money for a flight as I have nothing", I said

"What do you mean you have nothing? What do you mean, I have done much for you?" he said leaving me rather confused.

"Well I have the clothes and things that you or your grandfather gave to me that is it", I said.

"Has Alex not told you…No, she wouldn’t she has been busy and I didn’t think of it with all that happened", Billy said.

"What?" I asked, even more confused.

"Well, my grandfather transferred money to an account for your use on the day I told him of your actions. The clothes and jewellery were a gift, but he felt that you would need some money during your stay with us", Billy answered.

"I can’t accept that", I said.

"You expect me to take back a gift made by my Grandfather only hours before he died", Billy said, extremely seriously.

"How much is it?" I asked.

"Not much, around one hundred thousand pounds", he said, "But as part of my family you do get an annual allowance"

"No Billy, I will accept the gift from your Grandfather but I will not live off you", I said firmly.

"Well arrangements have been made already", he said.

"Well unmake them", I said.

"No, I cannot unmake them", he said firmly.

"Well invest the capital and give the profit to charity", I said.

"I will do that for you, but the money is yours for the taking whenever you ask"

The money was converted to dollars and suitcases were purchased for me. Due to the situation in the area flights to and from Britain were limited. We decided it would be easier for me to fly to Jordan then get a flight from there. The ties between Jordan and Britain had kept the air link open despite the hostilities. I refused Billy’s offer of a private flight all the way home but accepted for the short flight to Jordan.

At the airport in Amman, in a private room, I kissed Alex and wept as she did and I then kissed a sad looking Billy goodbye before boarding a British Airways flight to London Heathrow.

"Excuse me miss", I said as I was led along the Jet to first class, "I am travelling standard, rather than first class"

"One moment Ma’am, let me check", she said and returned a moment later.

"Yes, your family have changed your booking arrangements. There is a message, to the affect that as a member of the Kings family you travel first class", she said, surprise radiating from her.

"That’s Billy for you", I said as I sat down in the seat and waited for take off.

The flight was uneventful I eat little and read most of the way, my audience at the moment were having the works of Anne Mc Caffrey read for them. In the time since Mike’s funeral I had tried them with various books. Horror they understood and enjoyed, Science Fiction, if it was emotional they liked and Fantasy was wonderful. The work of Raymond Fiest was particularly liked. I had tried comedy and found it was a rather subjective thing. Douglas Adams was loved by one race out there but the rest of them just didn’t understand it.

I was just about half way through Morreta’s Ride, one about self sacrifice and bravery during a time of plague when I was interrupted from my reading, causing a ripple of protest to echo back to me from the communion.

"What have you been doing in Jordan then dear?" came a mans voice.

"I haven’t been in Jordan I have been in Saudi Arabia", I said looking at an overweight business man in his late forties.

"Yes well what can you say about that, you put them in charge of their own countries and they fall to bits. You see it in the African countries and just look at India. They were better off when they were colonies", he said.

"I think you will find that Saudi Arabia was never a colony of anywhere. It was invaded by the Turkish-Ottoman Empire for a while but that is all", I said, having listened to Billy talking about his countries history while I was there.

"Well you know what their like over there, no idea of how to run a country, it just falls to shit when they are left to their own devices. I think its something to do with the fact they are all family, too much interbreeding. Have you noticed how alike they all are", Welcome to Britain I thought, land of cultural tolerance, understanding and love to all men. I also wished the irritating man would stop looking at my legs.

As he kept on talking to me, I started gradually altering his perceptions. In his eyes my legs which he was so enamoured with, thickened and grew more muscular, black hair also sprouted on them beneath the stockings. I could see his confusion as he was now openly staring at my legs and he looked up to my face.

He shouted as he saw Billy’s bearded face smiling at him and stood up in the aisle staring at me.

"Can I help you sir?" The Stewardess said as he was pointing and mumbling at her then me. She could only see me a sunburnt redhead.

"Look at her, did you know one of those was on board dressed like, like that?" he shouted.

"Look, I know I caught the sun a bit much but there is no reason to be like that. You couldn’t take your eyes of my legs a minute ago", I protested in Billy’s voice to him.

"Just look, and in a dress too…What are you doing, letting them on board, amongst decent people and she suddenly changed to that thing", he had a lot of attention now.

I decided enough was enough and I let him see me as I was, his face was a picture, total confusion. He dropped his hand and walked back towards his seat.

"Are you ill at all Sir?" the Stewardess asked in Billy’s voice and he was backing up the Aisle away from her. I let the illusion drop and suddenly he saw her again in her uniform, rather than Billy.

He stood there for a moment, looking at her.

"Excuse me miss, is there another seat you can put him in? I would suggest away from women, as he was damn near drooling, before he went strange", I asked

"Yes, we will put him in a corner out of the way Ma’am", she said, then walked towards the man.

"Sorry, I thought you were a man", he said as she approached him, he was studying her intently.

"Come on sir we have a quiet seat over here out of the way", she suggested, and led him away.

She returned minutes later with a smile, "Sorry about that we occasionally get people, who with a little too much alcohol in them, get rather funny while flying"

"Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind the lack of company", I said

"Yes, he was a bit greasy in his manner wasn’t he", She said

"Yes, not exactly a nice man", I admitted, and she was gone.

Turbulence announced the start of our decent towards London and I admit I tensed up for a while. I never could stand anyone else flying me around. As we touched down, I felt relived that I was down.

Immigration was the next problem.

"Miss ibn Abd al-Aziz Saud", the man said stumbling over the words.

"Sarah please", I said

"Sarah, you have arrived in Britain on a Saudi passport, would you like to explain that for me please", the officer said

"Not really. I have accepted an offer of Saudi Citizenship and I am travelling on my passport", I said

"I have to think that this is a way to sneak into Britain through another means", he told me.

"Yes, I sneaked in first class then presented my passport at the desk", I answered.

"That sort of attitude is not going to get you very far young lady"

"Look, before we take this little game to a conclusion that would be rather unsatisfying for you, please look carefully at the name on that passport and find someone who knows anything about Saudi Arabia", I told him.

"Can you speak the language, are you a Sunni Muslim, are you even born in that country?" he asked

"No, no and no. My citizenship was granted for services rendered to the people of Saudi Arabia and if you want to make this an international incident you are heading in the right direction. I wish the representation of my embassy here before I answer any more of your questions", I said firmly

"Three weeks ago you were claiming you were a British Citizen with no memory of who you were. Now you arrive first class on a new passport, how should we feel about this Sarah", He asked

"I wish to make a phone call to the Saudi Arabian Embassy", I stated

"And what exactly do you expect that to achieve?" he asked, then continued without a pause. "You are carrying an extremely valuable collection of jewellery with you, how did you acquire this"

"What are you insinuating? It is stolen, or perhaps I prostituted myself for it?" I said, getting angry with this man now.

"I don’t know, perhaps you should tell me", he said

"You haven’t commented on the little under one hundred and fifty thousand dollars I have on me", I replied and closed my eyes for a moment.

I lifted up through the shambles that was the airport and headed up and east. Over the clear Arab peninsular, I dove down seeking out the familiar feel of Billy. I couldn’t though, Seeker could tell where people where I couldn’t, my sensations were of the whole area I could see and I couldn’t differentiate between people.

I looked for Seeker’s trace and found it.

"Seeker, do you know where Billy is", I asked

"He is in the city here", she said, giving me Amman as his location.

"Can you give me a closer fix?" I asked and she obliged.

I entered the hotel and started in the suites looking for Billy, I couldn’t find him down in the restaurant, I found him sitting down to dinner with Alex. I pushed hard at each of the items on the table and for good measure pushed at a few empty chairs around the place. That should grab his attention I thought.

I returned to my body only a moment having passed.

"I think I want a drink", I stated.

"What?" he said.

"I have now been here for two hours, most of that time sitting and waiting. Now I want a drink before you start getting some very angry phone calls", I informed him.

"Listen Sara, it is I who decides if you are allowed into Britain or not, and as yet I am not satisfied by your answers. Don’t start getting any ideas that someone is going to come running to your rescue. I don’t believe this amnesia game and a large number of people involved in your case, feel the same", He said.

"Am I or am I not entitled to a drink?" I asked

"I will get you a drink then I need some serious answers", he said, standing up and walking out of the interview room. Minutes later he returned with a plastic cup that may have contained tea or coffee. The taste wasn’t enough to allow it to be distinguished beyond a warm wet and sweet drink that was undrinkable.

"Now can I have some answers please?" he asked

"Well it is like this the aliens kidnapped me and since then I just haven’t been the same man I once was"

"Listen, enough is enough", he shouted, standing up from his chair, "do you realise what can happen to you if I let customs loose on you?"

"Probably a lot less than is going to happen to you very, very soon", I answered. I could feel confusion and panic starting to radiate from other people in the offices. Billy had been quick.

The door opened and a man came in, obviously, this mans superior.

"McCain what is the situation here?" he asked sharply

"Well it is rather confused at the moment, Sarah here isn’t giving me any answers sir. All I get is flimsy stories", he answered

"Well there is an urgent phone call for her I will get it put through here", he said picking up the phone, saying a few words then passing it to me.

"Hello", I said

"Sarah, what is happening why are you still at the airport?" came Billy’s voice.

"Well, Mr McCain here feels it might be unwise to let me into the country, bad influence, dodgy passport and unwilling to answer his personal questions about how I earned the jewellery. He also decided to try a few hints about what customs let loose on me may be able to do. That is why I decided to get your attention", I said glad to hear a friendly and familiar voice.

"I will sort this out now, then we can talk", he said

"Sort it out for me and we can talk tomorrow. I don’t want to ruin your meal totally", I said with a chuckle.

"You knew?" his voice sounding astonished

"Yes but don’t worry Billy I don’t peek, I just needed some help. Say the magic words O mighty king and go enjoy yourself"

"Fine put the nice man in charge back on please and I will speak to you tomorrow", he promised. I did and for a long time he was talking to McCain’s boss, with the man just saying yes sir repeatedly.

"McCain what do you know of Saudi Arabia?", he asked.

"Very little sir. Deserts, oil, camels and a lot of people trying to get away from there at the moment", McCain answered.

"Well does the name Saud, mean anything to you?" he asked

"No Sir"

"The country is named after the Family Saud, and you have been holding here the kings adopted daughter. Questioning her how she got jewellery given to her by the late King and threatening her with body cavity searches", He shouted

"I have had my arse chewed off by a minister who was spoken to harshly by the Prime Minister after a certain royal with a love for Polo rang him. As you can see, as it works it way down the line things get nastier. You can imagine how your life is going to be for a while. Ma’am I am sorry The Embassy has a car waiting outside for you", he said to me

"No problem, thank you for sorting this little misunderstanding out", I said standing.

Waiting for me outside was an Embassy car with diplomatic plates. I was escorted into the car by an Arab gentleman who sat down opposite me as my bags were loaded.

"His highness has arranged accommodation for you, for as long as you need it. He suggests you find your feet again before you think of moving out." He said

"Oh I didn’t want him to go to any trouble", I protested

"It is no trouble, His Highnesses cousin owns the hotel. So I believe you are family", He said with a smile.

"You are Billy’s cousin?" I asked.

"Yes, I am Fayed and I believe you have had the pleasure of one of my establishments before", he said

"Yes, just before it was redesigned", I admitted.

"Buildings can be repaired, the lives lost can never be brought back. Though many are alive thanks to you", he replied, I looked at him for a moment wondering what Billy had told him.

"Those children you saved are irreplaceable, we owe you more than we can ever repay", he said studying my face.

"It had to be done", I answered. I was convinced he suspected more but wouldn’t voice his opinions openly.

"Yes, well you are the one who did", he paused for a moment seeing if I could be drawn any further. I could feel his curiosity above all other feelings he had. Lust, guilt and sadness were there but these were subdued.

"I am taking you to one of my other places, it is classed as an airport hotel, but Billy felt you would be more comfortable out of the city", he finished

"Yes, I would, it would be too much, all those people", I agreed as the car started moving.

We were silent for the rest of the journey as I knew that his main interest was what had gone on between me and Billy. I was soon safe in a large room rather than a suite and I slept till morning.

The next morning I looked through the clothes I had and realised how out of place most of these would look here in Britain. I decided on a dark blue dress which left my arms bare then came the problem of which shoes and which handbag.

Eventually I was dressed and with a lot of help from Seeker I had a face that worked. Alex had tried to show me what to do and probably with more time I would get a style of my own, but for the moment I was happy enough to let Seeker decide.

Breakfast though was a totally unnerving sensation. I was being judged by every man and woman in there from the moment I walked in. Yes I know that men look at women and compare, as do women. But the feelings they radiate while they do this. Lust, jealousy and even hate was tangible in the dining room, I nearly turned around and walked out.

With advice from the reception about where to change money at a proper exchange rate and my valuables and most of my money locked in the safe, I headed out of the hotel. I could again feel the interest in me as I entered the taxi.

I was dropped off in the city outside a Midland Bank advertising tourist currency exchange. As I entered the bank I suddenly felt interest in me again, an anticipation edged with fear, but it was the same feel as the hotel. Someone had followed me.

"I would like to change some money please, Dollars for Pounds", I said to the man, when my turn came up. Back to the world of waiting in line was not good on my feet.

"Certainly how much would you like to exchange?" he said rather bored

"Fifteen thousand Dollars please", I said.

A burst of joy came from near me as I said this, someone had marked me at the hotel. I was a target.

"That is a large amount of currency to change miss, I will need some form of identification and a few minutes", he said

"Fine can we do this in an office then please, as my feet are in no fit state to stand on waiting", I asked

"Yes certainly", he said after a moments hesitation and indecision, I was directed into a little room.

A man was sitting in there, ‘assistant manager’ was the title proudly displayed on his desk.

"Yes, I believe you wish to exchange a large amount of currency", Mr Gibbons asked me according to the name badge, that was out of place on the pinstripe suit.

"Yes", I said, placing one hundred and fifty hundred dollar bills on his desk with my passport.

"Yes Miss Saud", he said after a glance at the passport, "are you any relation to the Saudi Arabian family of the same name"

"Yes, I was adopted", I said, and some confusion could be felt, but he said no more.

As he left with the money I closed my eyes and looked around the bank everyone was frozen in their actions. I found the man examining some of the literature in plastic holders around the walls. I could feel the greed and a little fear. He looked like a normal business man in a suit, possibly mid forties a little overweight.

Mr Gibbons returned, "That is a large amount to be carrying around with you", he said

"Yes, I know and I have been followed by a man since I placed the rest in the hotel safe", I told him

"You have?" he asked

"Yes, a man near the door pretending to look at the leaflets"

"One moment", he said and picked up the phone.

"John, casually look over at the door here. Is there anyone there?" He asked

"Mid forties, blue suit and a bit thin on top", I said.

"Yes, that’s him John. He’s following the customer I have here, yes put them through to me", he said

"We are going to take as long as we can over your money, and John there, the other assistant manager is contacting the police", He said as his phone rang. After a short conversation he passed the phone to me.

"Hello Miss Saud, we have a plain clothes officer on the way but what makes you think you are being followed?" a mans voice asked.

"I noticed him hanging around the hotel. He took an interest in me when I deposited things in the safe and then he appears here at the same bank I visit, just looking around rather than having business", I explained

"Fair enough just give me a description please", and I did.

Five minutes later I was walking out of the bank, my money being held safe by Mr Gibbons with a padded brown paper envelope in the bag. I started walking along the street as if I was unaware of his presence behind me. I tried to leave my body to check he was still following. He was close behind. I returned to my body and stumbled slightly on the return.

"Watch yourself dear", came a voice as a hand steadied me and the man helped me then continued walking past me. For a moment I thought I was mistaken about the whole thing, when my hand bag was ripped from me and I was shoved to the floor by a young man in a crash helmet. As I was trying to figure out what the hell was going on he ran to a waiting motorbike and jumped on a pillion.

I ripped the ignition lead away with my mind leaving the bike immobile, then looked for the first man. He was glancing back in my direction before he started moving quickly. With a savage blow I knocked his feet out from under him as police, uniformed and un-uniformed started appearing all around.

"Are you hurt Miss Saud?" came the voice of a woman in her late twenties.

"No, and how do you know my name?" I asked

"I am D.I. Kirby your escort for today", she said with a smile as she helped me up.

"Have you got them all?" I asked

"We have the two there and the man who marked you. Some days you just hit it lucky, if they had got that bike going we would have lost them. Then he falls over his own feet", she said, as I brushed myself down.

"Well, he was too busy looking back at what was happening here to watch what he was doing", I said, just making sure that she wasn’t suspicious.

"Yes, well we got them" she said, as I watched the men being led away, "Sorry it got a bit physical, but we thought he was just going to lift the money as you were walking. If we had known it was a snatch…well we would have found another way"

"Look, I am a bit bruised, a bit dusty and these stockings are ruined. Otherwise I am fine" I assured her, "Just a rather rough welcome to London"

"Yes, they pick the hotels to stakeout and the better the hotel the better the pickings" she explained as we walked back towards the bank.

Mr Gibbons was waiting for us there and immediately started fussing over me. The two of us were led into his office.

"Here is your money Miss Saud." He said after he had assured himself I wasn’t hurt.

"That is a lot of money to be carrying around" D.I. Kirby said, looking at over ten thousand pounds on the desk.

"I am just here from abroad and what I have to wear isn’t exactly fit for a British summer. I don’t even have a decent coat" I said

"Well do you have to carry it in cash?" she asked

"I don’t have plastic or a bank account. I am staying with a relative at the moment" I explained

"Well we can sort you out with an account though it will be a few days before we have, cheque book and guarantee card" Mr Gibbons said, "What is your relatives name?"

"Fayed ibn Abd al-Aziz Saud" I answered

"The hotels?" he asked

"Yes"

"We will hurry things along then" he said, "How much would you like to open it with?"

"Well it will only be a token deposit today" I said, "a thousand or so. But I have one hundred and thirty five thousand dollars in the hotel safe. I am concerned about moving it though" I admitted.

"Too bloody right" said D.I. Kirby, "Look you have done us a favour, how about we do you one. If I get a car here we can get you back, you can get cleaned up and then we can drop you and the rest of the money here safe"

"Are you sure?" I asked, "I don’t want to put you to any trouble"

"Yes Miss Saud" she said firmly, and I could feel her concern for me.

"Yes then, if you call me Sarah" I said.

"Sarah what has happened to you?" Fayed demanded as I entered the hotel.

"She spotted someone staking out your hotel lobby for potential targets" Kirby said

"Again you make an impression on your first day" Fayed said, "What would you do given a week?"

Kirby and I headed upstairs where I started looking for something to wear.

"You have a lot of nice things and a nice room" she said pleasantly, but beneath I could feel jealousy surfacing.

"You should have seen me a few weeks ago, I had nothing but the clothes I wore and a bad sunburn" I said to her

"What do you mean?" she asked

"I arrived in Dhahran with nothing at all" I answered

"Oh shit that’s where I know you from" Kirby said, "the kids in the hospital"

"Yes" I admitted

"I have to apologise, I thought you were just a rich kid" Kirby said

"Oh no, definitely not. All this is just courtesy of the Saudi Royal Family, otherwise I would be living on charity in Dhahran"

"From what I saw they have got a good deal" She announced, and I could feel the jealousy dissipate.

"Thank you, now what the hell am I going to wear out of this lot in Britain?" I asked, indicating the clothes I had.

"You have lots of nice things" she said

"But no memory to work with"

"No memory?" she said

"Yes I was pulled from the sea, the boat I was on was shot up. They say it may come back at any time or maybe never"

"Oh, how about this" she pointed to a pale blue dress with a large floral print.

"Do you think so?" I asked

"It’s not exactly Britain but it will do for the moment. More what I might wear on holiday" she admitted.

"I know that is what I was heading out for, some decent clothes to wear" I said, as I grabbed another pair of stockings out of the drawer and walked into the bathroom. Five minutes later and a change of shoes, I was fit for the public again.

"Yes that looks good on you" Kirby said.

"Fine now lets get that money safe, I didn’t realise how bad things were in London" I said

"They work the hotels, airports train stations and anywhere else that strangers to the city frequent. As a tourist to the city, you tend to have money, camera and jewellery" Kirby explained, as she watched me check the door was locked.

"Well they didn’t catch me out the first time and I will be paying more attention now" I assured her.

The money deposited and my goodbyes said to Kirby with an assurance that I would be in to make a full statement. I wandered around shops totally lost in the emotions of the city, fear, anger, loneliness, greed, jealousy and lust. The city was a cesspit of the most basic of human emotions and I was receiving them all without anyone shielding me from them I did not linger in the shops or the streets.

I grabbed the most basic clothes I was missing, jeans, leggings, tops and trainers and finally went into a bookshop for the essential supplies.

Fiest, Herbert, King, Miller and McCaffrey were about the limit of what I could carry and finally getting a taxi, I made my way back to the hotel.

Settling down with Dragonsong I spoke to Seeker.

"Seeker. Is there anyway I can tune out the emotions of the city?"

"Sarah you should not be able to sense the city, to what extent you can repress that ability I can’t say" she answered apologetically.

"Well I don’t think I am going to be staying in London for long" I said as I opened the book, I could feel the anticipation of the minds linking with Seeker. Even her impatience was perceptible.

"Is everyone sitting comfortably?" I asked, and an unknown number of people echoed her eagerness "Then we shall begin" and I started to tell them about Pern. The sensations produced for me were incredible as I ran to escape thread and was rescued at the last moment by a Dragonrider. I was no longer reading these books. I was experiencing and it was as addictive as drugs. I took a break at the end of the book to catch my breath.

"Did you enjoy that one?" I asked, and the echoes of joy came back to me. I sat there luxuriating in the sensations and the feelings washing over me.

"Look I am going to have to eat" I said to them all, and received some subdued protest but mainly acceptance.

I made my way downstairs to the restaurant and as I entered Fayed arrived, as if by magic, except I had felt him waiting in the office behind the reception.

"Sarah do you mind if I join you for some food?" he asked

"Not at all. I don’t mind you saving me from the horrors of eating alone" I said with a smile.

"How are you finding being home?" he asked

"I want to get away, this was but a starting point for me and to that end now is the time to start" I told him as he pulled out a chair for me, "Thank you"

"Where do you intend to go?"

"Anywhere away from people. I can’t cope with the feel of the city" I answered.

"Possibly the countryside somewhere?" he asked.

"No I think further away, I wouldn’t mind doing some island hopping in the Med"

"Billy has a yacht which he has no use of I am sure you can make use of it and it’s crew" Fayed said happily.

"No I want to do it myself. Something over thirty foot, rigged up for solo operation with a decent engine as well. I want to get away from everything for a while" I said to him.

"That will take a large chunk of your money and not leave you much capital. Have a word with Billy see what he can do" Fayed said

"No Fayed. I am not willing to live off he charity of your family, I am grateful for all they have done though" I said to him, then took a more gentle approach feeling his sadness, that I wouldn’t accept help.

"Look you would accept help off me for as long as you needed to. Once that initial need was over, you would be as I am, unwilling to keep taking off you" I said.

"Well how will you survive?" he asked

"I am not willing to part with the jewellery given by your grandfather. So I need to start earning some money. You don’t know of a decent poker game do you?" I said joking.

"Yes you need twenty five thousand to enter and an invitation" he said, not catching my humour. I thought about it for a moment.

"Fayed, this game, is anyone going to be hurt badly if they lose that much money?" I asked him

"No, it is a backroom game at a local casino" he explained "I have been invited, but gambling is one thing I do not do. My faith and my common sense forbid it" he emphasised the last few words.

"You have never seen me play cards, it is not gambling it is theft" I assured him "How soon could you get me an invite?"

"Tomorrow, but I do not think you will have access to your stake money by then. You know how long banks take to process things" He said

"Damn. I had forgotten about that" I told him.

"Look I will arrange the game and the stake money. But if you lose, I cover your losses and you promise me you wont play again" He said firmly.

"But if I wipe the floor with them, I repay your stake and we see what we can do to arrange a couple of other games. Bigger money though" I said.

"Fair enough but I know some of these people. They will not be easily beaten. Now let us eat" he said.

We ate and talked for a few hours and eventually I said my goodnight and escaped back to my room. I gave the expectant masses Dragonsinger and Dragondrums before I escaped to bed.

The next morning I started making enquiries about decent yachts. Once in the Mediterranean sailing would be easy and it would probably make more sense to buy a vessel somewhere in the Mediterranean, but I wanted a decent survey and probably a refitting to my specifications. I had no need of numerous cabins perhaps one visitor room but the rest would be for my use. I had no worries about the technicalities of sailing, I had been sailing for years. But to work a reasonable size yacht some muscle is desirable. Muscle is something I would not have in this body, the telekinesis would help but I wanted something with as much automation as possible. Roller reefing and self steering gear were essential. I had found a few possibilities when there was a knock at the door. I opened it and Fayed was there.

"We have a game on tonight but it is fifty thousand entry winner takes all. It could be a long game" He said

"Do you mind staking me that amount?" I asked.

"No if you lose you will have learnt something very important. If you win, well…" He said

"Oh, I will win. Have no doubt over that, I just worry about the people I am going to be taking the money off" I said.

"Don’t worry, the five other people are playing this for fun and will not be hurt by the loss of money" Fayed said and I could feel his concern for me.

"Don’t worry, as Billy knows I am full of surprises" I assured him and he left me to my plans.

As evening grew near I went down and collected the jewellery that was in the hotel safe and with Seekers help I dressed in the same outfit that I had worn out the night Mike died. Then I headed down to meet Fayed.

"Sarah you look beautiful" he said taking my hand and kissing it.

"Thank you" I said, tingles spreading over me unbidden, "It might just give me a little advantage"

"It might just do that. You will most assuredly be the most beautiful player there" he said.

"Right, you can stop that now" I said firmly, "Tonight is business"

We headed out to his car. This time a rather nice Jaguar E type, rather than the diplomatic car.

"Very nice" I said, "But I would of though you would be more into the all singing all dancing modern things"

"No" he said opening the door for me, "I like classic designs and for tonight this little bit of history isn’t too flashy"

"Oh and what would you consider too flashy?" I said trying to get in and retain some modesty.

"Oh, the Aston Martin DB6" he answered as he closed he door, "I would have come on one of my bikes, but I felt that it would be a problem for you"

"What bike would you have come on then?" I asked him as he started the car.

"The Brough"

"SS80 or SS100" I asked.

"SS100 of course reputed to be one of the many Lawrence owned" he said with a grin.

"For that, I would have put up with the problem" I told him firmly.

We made our way to a small casino and Fayed parked up. Taking my arm we walked into the noise and the emotions of the building. As Fayed disappeared and went to talk to a man, I watched the roulette for a while. I could feel the desperation of some of these people putting everyone into the belief that it would be their time for some luck next.

"Sarah it is time" Fayed said and we were led into a back room where five people were waiting. I looked round them three were classic older businessmen types one was a younger rich brat and the fifth was mid thirties and unremarkable. An empty chair awaited me and chips were waiting for me.

"So this is your secret weapon Fayed" the unremarkable man said.

"Yes this is Sarah" Fayed replied.

"Good evening gentlemen" I said "If you can’t afford to lose it I would suggest you leave now"

"Oooh, aren’t we the cocky young thing" One of the businessmen types said in an extremely effeminate voice.

"Cocky no. Confident yes" the unremarkable man said.

"We will see Daniel won’t we" effeminate voiced man said.

"Well Sarah we have a slight difference of opinion. I feel you are confident Russell over there feels you are cocky. James, Howard and Stephen aren’t willing to give that much away at this stage" He said pointing to the other three men in turn.

"But then again they are here for the thrill of playing Russell and I" he said as I took my chair.

"What’s the game here?" I asked.

"No wild cards, aces are high and a grand in to start" He said "to ensure no cheating is accused, Antonia here has been provided by the house to deal"

An older woman in her forties sat down opposite me.

"Right you all know the game or you wouldn’t be here. No messing around and will the other people in the room remain seated while hands are being played" Antonia said firmly.

We put in our thousand apiece and the first hand was dealt. Two sevens, an ace, a six and a two. We had a round of betting and as the pot filled I felt the emotions of each of the people. Only Stephen was happy. We drew cards I took two and as Stephen received his one card I felt his disappointment. I took a quick peak at his cards. Six, seven, nine and ten in various suits. The last card he received was the three of clubs. I took two and received a queen and another seven.

The pot increased to twenty seven thousand and there was just me and Daniel left in. I had checked his cards and he had two pair and he was trying to force me to fold.

"Eight thousand in so it will cost you sixteen to see me Sarah" he said

"Oh and what if I don’t want to see you, I just want to match your eight thousand?" I said and I could feel the indecision hit him.

"That means it is sixteen to you to see me dear" I said, and he took a long last look at his cards.

"I fold" he said and the first pot was mine.

"Fayed any chance of a drink?" I asked as I sorted out the chips.

"Certainly what can I get you?" he asked.

"Just a coke please" I said.

"We are adventurous aren’t we" Russell said

"There is money involved, alcohol and money are never found together" I said firmly.

"Bravo another person with sense" Daniel said "any chance of a mineral water Fayed?"

We continued playing. The next few hands I folded early until I got a nice flush which again I played up the pot and took it. I carried on in this vein for a while playing when I had the hand and folding when I didn’t. At the same time I analysed each players style. Stephen was rash with no thought of the odds he would play for the bigger hand, which he rarely got. James and Howard were playing steady and losing steady. Russell was about even and wasn’t taking much notice of the cards and Daniel like me was well up.

After about two hours playing and seeing the departure of Stephen I requested a two minute break.

"Yes, why not" said Daniel and everyone else nodded. I grabbed my hand bag and asked Antonia where the toilet was.

I made my way in and remembered to go in the ladies hiked up my dress and sat down. For the last hour or so my stomach had been bloody awful. I had a pee and wiped. I was just about to flush when I noticed blood on the tissue in the toilet. I wiped again and again there was blood.

"Seeker is this what I think it is?" I asked in my mind.

"Yes Sarah it is what you think it is, if what you think it is, is your menstrual flow" Seeker answered.

"Fucking brilliant" I said

"Yes it is amazing how your species procreates" Seeker said missing the sarcasm.

I left my body and checked the toilets for the necessary machine. They had one. I checked my bag on my return and found I had no change. I walked over and stood before the machine I examined its workings applied a little pressure in the right place and pulled the knob to receive one sanitary towel. I repeated it three more times shoving the spares in my hand bag for later. I then made my way back into the toilet and managed to get the thing stuck in my panties and then headed back out to the game trying not to walk funny with the object shoved between my legs.

I sat down again feeling the centre of attention thinking everyone must know what I had been doing. I felt around and all I could feel was some impatience to start again.

"Sorry about that gentlemen. Shall we continue?" I said pleasantly and the game resumed.

Howard and James were soon dispatched leaving Russell, Daniel and I. I was slightly better off than Russell and thanks to a couple of big bluffs Daniel was doing best. With a low straight in spades I made a big dent in Daniel’s winnings as he had to pay thirty thousand to see me. He had a flush at the time and was feeling confident, with the loss of this hand his confidence evaporated. He didn’t make anymore big plays and Russell and I whittled him away to nothing, he left the table smiling at both of us. I could feel no resentment at all.

"That was fun, we must do it again some time when luck is more on my side" He said as he left.

"Well dear just you and me now, I think they let their good sense be lost with your looks. Well I don’t work that way" Russell said.

"Fayed do you want to sit here?" I asked and Russell laughed.

"Fair enough we aren’t talking blood here just money. Lets play" he said and we carried on.

Even with my unfair advantage it was tough to get money out of him, he was unwilling to play a weak hand. The good hands I had coincided with his weak ones. Then my chance came he had two pair after a lean run. I had a full house and I wiped him out.

"Dear that was a most enjoyable game. We must do it again some time and give me a chance to win it back" Russell said.

"I will look forward to reliving you of some more money" I said shaking his hand and he smiled.

"Congratulations how would you like your money?" Antonia asked and I looked at Fayed.

"They play cash here so twenties or fifties" he said

"Make it fifties then" I said "if you don’t mind driving me to the bank tomorrow?"

"I would have today but I was detained elsewhere when you left. Billy feels he needs me as part of the new government" he said

"What is your view on a important position like that?" I asked.

"Well if I must, I will. But I would rather not" he said.

"Get yourself a job as foreign minister. Then you might have some freedom" I suggested.

"Well the problem you get as a government official, you can not be quite as ruthless in your dealings" Fayed answered

"It is not the money your into it is the game, like these men today" I said

"Yes. Money is just a way of keeping score" he admitted "I also lack Billy’s social conscience"

"What you will rip people off?" I asked

"No, but I will not stop them making big mistakes through greed" he said

The money arrived in a suitcase provided by the establishment, where from I don’t know and we made our way to the car. We made our way back to the hotel and after depositing the suitcase in the safe I made my way to my room. After finding the biggest pair of panties I had, I changed into them with a fresh pad and slipped into bed for a rather bad night of guilt wracked sleep.

The next morning dressed in the new jeans and having spent twenty minutes trying to decide if the pad was visible through the jeans then I went hunting for my new home.

The first major decision, wood or fibreglass. Wood is nice, very nice, high maintenance, expensive, susceptible to rot and is heavy. Fibreglass is light and practical easy to maintain but with very little character before it is shaped.

I decided on GRP as practicality had to be addressed and after Fayed took me to the bank to make Mr Gibbons very happy with the deposit of quarter of a million pounds. I then got a good selection of magazines and returned to the hotel, I spent two days deciding what I wanted to look at then three days on the British railway system.

I was starting to get very disillusioned the craft were there but nothing was catching my eye. Nothing up with them, they just did nothing for me, then I saw her.

I had been down in Southampton looking at a Moody 39, a nice cruiser, something I would have gone for in a second if I wasn’t planning living on board. Then as I was starting to leave I spotted her.

I had decided that practicality was the most important thing in my purchase, this was not. It was, big, old, wooden, gaff rigged and beautiful. The Eleanor was her name and I just stopped and looked. I walked around the brokers yard trying to find someone to talk to.

I waited patiently while a elderly man was shown around a small 24 foot boat and as the man walked off with indecision the broker came to me.

"Hello what can I do for you?" He asked looking at me up and down.

"What can you tell me about ‘The Eleanor’?"

"Bristol Pilot Cutter built in Cardiff in 1902, pine on an oak frame, pine decks. Sleeps eight, four in the bow, two on settees and two in the skippers cabin" he said rather bored.

"Show me" I said

Two hours later we motored out of the Hamble onto the Solent. The mainsail took a lot of my effort to raise but I insisted on doing it myself. I then set just the single jib and took her bows out of the wind. She chuckled as the water of the Solent lapped against her hull.

"Are you willing to crew for a while?" I asked the salesman.

"Yes Ma’am" he said

"Good. Ready about" I shouted and the man got ready on the jib.

"Ready" he shouted.

"Lee Ho" I shouted and pushed the tiller away from me. The Eleanor swung her bows through the wind without a complaint and we were away on the opposite tack.

"Lets take her towards Portsmouth" I said, taking her round so we were on a run with the wind behind us.

"Well what do you think?" The salesman asked.

"Well I was after something over thirty five foot in GRP to go hopping around the Med in" I said, trying to adjust my course without having to jibe.

"Watch it your sailing by the lee" He shouted, warning me that the boom could do with being over the other side of the vessel and at any moment it might just come flying across.

"Well keep your head down then" I shouted back as I worked my way around some of the small craft on the Solent. He relaxed slightly as we came out of them and I stopped weaving.

"I have nothing against GRP but why are you set on it?" He asked me moving aft towards me.

"Well I am looking at sailing solo" I said "The one advantage of GRP is the lack of maintenance needed. A fifty foot wooden gaff rigged craft of this age is a lot of hard work, to run solo. But…"

"Yes she is nice isn’t she" he said smiling "been in the same hands for the last thirty years. It is only that the owner is now too old to handle her that he is getting rid of her. Have you seen the motor cruiser off your port?"

"Yes I’ve got him" I said "When was she last surveyed?"

"That is something I would suggest you get done yourself. I could show you bits and pieces saying she was the safest craft since the QE II, but it would still be people doing work for me not you"

"In other words, she hasn’t been inspected since she last changed hands, she has been maintained by the owner and you are acting as broker alone, getting your cut for the sale" I said.

"No if you choose your surveyor then you only have yourself to blame, she’s been maintained at a yard in Fareham. She is big and heavy to solo, but not impossible, at the end of the day it depends on your abilities" He answered.

"Lets head back, I am sorely tempted, but not before a survey and a discussion with the yard" I said and swung her around close to the wind. We tacked back up the Solent until we reached the mouth of the Hamble and we motored back to the brokerage.

"Are you interested then?" he said.

"Possibly" I lied through my teeth.

"Have a think about it and here is the name and address of the yard that she has been maintained at, the owners son runs it now" he said passing me a sheet of paper. Forty eight hours later I was sixty-five thousand pounds worse off and the proud owner of The Eleanor.

Three weeks in refit and two weeks of preparation and I was ready to move out. If it was replaceable, it was replaced. Modernisation was done discreetly and below decks, I kept the same layout, leaving me with a small cabin with a chart table and a lot of storage space, with room for six other people.

Early in the morning I said my goodbye’s to Fayed and after the night before having a long conversation with Billy on the phone, I promised to keep in touch. I motored out of Portsmouth Harbour past the naval dockyard and HMS Warrior, Clearing the Spit Sand Fort I was out into the Solent making passage for the Cherbourg peninsular.

"Sarah you seem happier already" Seeker said, as I was clear of the Solent.

"Yes, I have never been happy amongst lots of people, even before this. But now with the echoes of everyone in the city impinging on my thoughts it is damn near impossible to cope" I explained to her.

"What is your fascination with this vessel?" She asked

"It is just the peace and serenity of sailing, being away from everyone and the total dependency on the elements" I said.

"Yes I understand that" she said "Why did you choose something that you had decided was not suitable and then endow it with sentience in your mind?"

"Most man made machines get treated as if they had intelligence, usually because they decide to act up at the most inopportune moment. As for why I decided on The Eleanor, just look at her she is beautiful isn’t she?" I exclaimed eagerly.

"No" Seeker said bluntly, "The vessel is a number of dead trees held together by iron spikes"

"No imagination you lot" I replied, "Just no sense of romance or adventure"

"No we haven’t, that is why we enjoy your fiction" Seeker said.

"That’s all you want me for isn’t it?"

"No, but we do enjoy it" Seeker answered with some guilt.

"Relax I’m just teasing" I said, "hitch a ride and feel what I do while I am out here"

"Do you mind, as though I am always close to you I rarely spy on you"

"Not at all" I assured her and felt her snuggle down inside my mind, something she had avoided doing except at story time.

Hours later we entered a small harbour called Port Racine on the Cherbourg peninsular and I dropped anchor. Absolutely exhausted by the days events I went below decks to sort out some dinner and fell asleep on the couch before I even started cooking.

I was woken from my deep sleep by a harsh London accent.

"Ahoy Eleanor is there anyone aboard?" I stood up and climbed up the still open hatchway onto the deck where the sun was now setting. Nearby was another yacht a smaller thirty foot or so fibreglass craft. On the deck was a couple in their fifties the man was shouting me.

"Ahoy there Eleanor where do you hail from and where are you making for?" he shouted.

"I have just made passage from Portsmouth and I am heading into the Med" I shouted back.

"We are too would you like to come across for a drink?" he asked.

"Well I haven’t eaten yet, I was going to start cooking but I fell asleep" I shouted back.

"Fine come and eat with us, how many do we expect?" He asked

"Just me" I said sensing he would not accept no for an answer.

"I will come over for you in about an hour" he said and they both waved as I slipped back below deck.

This I didn’t need, all I wanted to do at the moment was sleep for a long time.

"Why didn’t you say no?" Seeker asked reminding me that she was still with me.

"Some people you can’t say no to and those two have nothing but good intentions. However little I fancy their company" I explained, Seeker was silent while she digested this.

I dressed in jeans and a T-shirt after a wash and put some makeup on, I was now able to do a half decent job without Seekers help. I was just slipping on some trainers when I heard the London accent again.

"Ahoy Eleanor"

I slipped up on deck and found the man in a small inflatable at my stern. I shut the main hatch and climbed a small ladder down to him.

"Hello I’m Barry" he said.

"Sarah" I answered as he rowed us back to his yacht.

"Is your crew ashore?" he asked as we approached his yacht which proudly proclaimed the name Jackie.

"No I am solo" I said.

"Jackie grab the tether" Barry shouted at the woman on board and she did.

"Sarah this is my wife Jackie who The Jackie is named for. Jackie this is Sarah who is alone on The Eleanor" Barry said.

"Oh you poor thing" Jackie replied radiating concern for me.

"No it’s hard work, but nice to be on my own" I said quickly and I could see she wasn’t convinced.

"A little large for one to handle isn’t she?" Barry said.

"Possibly but with all the mod-cons she isn’t too bad. Besides it is nice to have the room and be a little different" I answered and again I could feel his concern.

We sat down to eat in the cramped saloon area a pleasant meal with a nice red wine I brought across and we talked for a long time. A large proportion of our conversation was about The Gulf situation which they knew very little about. But their hearts were in the right place.

"I am going to have to love you and leave you" I said as a break in the conversation came up "I am making an early start in the morning"

"So are we" Jackie said quickly giving her husband a glance.

"Yes we are" he said quickly at her glance.

"I might see you out there then" I answered, disguising my reluctance.

"Yes we will, we are heading in the same direction. Company is always welcome" Barry said. I kissed Jackie goodbye as she seemed to be expecting it and Barry rowed me back. I slipped into bed wondering how long they would be with me for. An hour was spent on Thomas Harris and Red Dragon for Seeker and my fans and I slipped off to sleep.

My alarm woke me up shortly after dawn. With some cereal inside me I slipped into some shorts and a T-shirt and made my way onto the deck. Barry and Jackie were already up and about.

"Sarah we suggest you make for Perros-Guirec there is a nice marina near there. Unless you can suggest anywhere else?" Barry shouted.

"No that’s fine" I shouted back. I might have to put up with them for a couple of days, but I could lose them over the Bay of Biscay.

I motored out of the little bay and with the self steering gear keeping her head to wind I raised the sails. It was a pleasant days sail except for the fact of the sight of the Jackie over my shoulder all the way. The Eleanor though she carried a lot more sail was a big heavy bitch. In the light winds that we had I could not lose them.

I moored in the Marina visitors section and shortly after The Jackie moored alongside.

"Get yourself ready there is a nice restaurant in town we always visit" Barry said as he made sure of my knots.

"I don’t want to impose on you" I protested.

"Nonsense" Jackie said loudly "If you think we are going to leave you to eat alone you have another thing coming. As you said this is your first run down to the Med, we know all the places to visit. Its always nice to have company"

My heart sank at this and I decided no matter what I had to escape these people. Before I killed them.

That night we ate in a restaurant offering an all British menu as it was ‘just like at home’. Later on we had drinks on board The Eleanor and tried to arrange an amicable separation.

"Barry how are you planning to do Biscay?" I asked

"We normally just run around the coast for three or four days. Why?" he asked.

"Oh I’m planning to just cut across, live on coffee for thirty six hours and get me down to Gijon. I can sleep there" I said.

"Oh we have never done that have we Barry?" Jackie said.

"No it always seemed a long run over a rather uncertain stretch of water" he answered.

"Yes though there is a rather large difference in yacht size between us" I said "I just feel like testing her a little, the costal hops are fun but if I venture further at any point I need to know what she is like at sea"

"Yes I can see that, I just worry about you being out there alone" Barry said.

"Look I don’t step on deck without a harness and if it gets rough I chuck on a life jacket and ride it out" I said to him feeling like I was arguing with my father.

"Yes. She’s just so big for such a small thing as you" Barry said as he sipped on a drink.

"Size isn’t everything" I said as I grabbed another drink for each of us.

"True" Barry said.

The next night just around the coast from Brest we had a last meal together and Barry said he would make a move as I did the next morning. Under an overcast sky and with a rather heavy swell I waved goodbye and headed out into the bay.

Late evening I was starting to doubt the wisdom of trying to do Biscay in one jump. It was getting lumpy and the wind was gusting force nine. The weather forecast was still telling me five to six occasionally seven but as I reefed down the mainsail and stuck up the storm jib I was worried.

Then about ten in the evening the tone of the weather forecast changed totally, force nine to ten gusting eleven. I was in shit. I took her head to wind and just hoped to ride it out.

"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday this is yacht Jackie, Jackie, Jackie" came from the radio. It suddenly had my full attention.

"Go ahead Jackie this is Brest Coastguard" came a heavily accented voice.

"We have hit what we think is a submerged container, we are taking on water in rough seas. I can not start the engine and the seas are getting worse" came Barry’s voice.

"What is your position and compliment?" came the Coastguards voice.

"Oh yes sorry" Barry said, radio procedure having deserted him in the heat of the situation.

"We have two people on board and we are roughly one hundred and ten miles out of Brest heading for Gijon" Barry said, he had tried to follow me.

"Do you have an accurate position Yacht Jackie? Over" the Coastguard asked.

"No our GPS is out with our electrics, this radio is on batteries" Barry answered.

"Hold on channel Yacht Jackie" The Coastguard said.

"Brest Coastguard this is Yacht Eleanor, Yacht Eleanor, Yacht Eleanor. I am roughly twenty miles south of Jackie’s position and I am responding to her Mayday. Over" I said.

"Yacht Eleanor what is your situation? Over" the Coastguard asked.

"I’m a fifty foot cutter with a decent engine, its rough but I am in no danger. Over"

"Roger Eleanor. Monitor this channel. Out"

"Yacht Jackie this is Brest coastguard, the weather prohibits the use of air rescue at this time. But The Eleanor is responding to your Mayday. Over"

"Yacht Jackie do you read me? Over. Yacht Jackie do you read me? Over" there was no response just silence.

"Brest Coastguard calling Yacht Jackie" again silence.

"Brest Coastguard calling Yacht Eleanor"

"Go ahead. Over" I said.

"Can you raise her at all? Over"

"Yacht Jackie, do you read me? Over" I said into the mike again nothing.

"Brest Coastguard, I get nothing. I am going to have to leave you as I am out here alone I will call you with any news" I told them "This is Yacht Eleanor out"

I took her around onto a run the wind right up my rear and started surfing the waves trying to keep her from jibing on the way down. I set the self steering gear and risked a little more on the mainsail letting a little out from the roller reefing and then taking the tiller again. Making sure my safety harness was fastened tightly and attached I settled down.

Letting my conciseness leave my body I searched ahead in the dark for the little craft. I felt their fear before I saw them immobile in the stationary waves. I moved in close and looked them over carefully, I couldn’t see any obvious damage and returned to my body after finding both of them alive.

I adjusted course slightly and wedged myself in so I wasn’t sliding about as much, tightened up the fastenings on my waterproofs and watched the waves as she climbed them then would suddenly drop with a bone shaking crash as her centre of gravity passed over the crest and she fell. I stayed like this for almost two hours. Then as I got close I reefed in the main all the way let the jib flap and started the engine. I eventually caught sight of them and flashed a torch at them to get attention, just in case they hadn’t seen my navigation lights.

"Eleanor is that you?" came a weak radio signal.

"Yes it is me what is your situation Jackie as we couldn’t hear you?" I asked.

"We rolled and lost the aerial with a big wave. The rudder is damaged and we are still taking on water, though the manual bilge pump is working. My engine wont start and my electrics are down" Barry said his voice strained.

"Right prepare to receive my line and we will see if we can stay head to wind" I said and returned to the deck. When we were reasonably close I threw a line and gave it an assist with my mind taking it directly to Barry he made fast and I took us both into the wind on a long line to try to absorb some of the shock between the two craft. I got us into the wind but was making no headway. I headed down onto the radio again and called the coastguard.

"Brest Coastguard, Brest Coastguard, Brest Coastguard, This is Yacht Eleanor, Yacht Eleanor, Yacht Eleanor. Pan. Pan. Pan." I said "Position forty six degrees thirty four minutes north four degrees seventeen minutes west. I am a fifty foot cutter one person on board and I have yacht Jackie in tow two people on board"

"Good work Eleanor what is your situation? Over" came the Coastguards voice.

"I can keep us into the wind but if it gets much worse I don’t know" I said honestly.

"Eleanor the weather shouldn’t get much worse but it is going to be morning before it eases. Can you cope?" came the concerned voice.

"If I cant I will call you. Eleanor out" I said heading back on deck to take the tiller again.

The night was rough, the anemometer said fifty knots over the deck and the sea was mountainous. I started playing the throttle easing off down the huge grey waves letting the Jackie climb slowly over the wave, trying not to pull her bows under then powering up as she came down towards my stern. The spray worked its way inside my waterproofs. I was cold, wet and bruised from the tiller.

"Sarah do you want our help?" Seeker asked.

"How long will it take for you to get here and pick us up if we need it?" I asked

"Five minutes at most" she said

"Standby just in case it all falls to pieces but I do not want to abandon her" I said.

"We standby Sarah and I am with you" Seeker said and I felt her enter my mind.

"Can I regulate your bodies systems a little?" she asked.

"Be my guest. Anything to make me feel a bit better" I told her and suddenly the sore and aching parts of me weren’t so sore and aching. I also felt slightly warmer.

"Thank you" I said and concentrated on the task at hand again.

Just as dawn started to break the fury of the storm increased for a while and I was scared. It seemed as we crested the huge waves that we would just be swallowed by one. It was only Seekers reassurances that the storm was nearly over that kept me on course. Then suddenly the seas started to ease and the wind dropped significantly down to force five to six in a matter of minutes we were through. I headed down to the radio again.

"Brest coastguard, this is Yacht Eleanor. Over" I said.

"Go ahead Eleanor. Over" came the voice back.

"The wind is dropping and we are now out of danger. Thank you for monitoring us all night. Over" I said to the man who had been there since the night before.

"You did the work mademoiselle not me. It is good to hear you are safe, I have a large charter yacht approaching your position. Do you still need any assistance?" he asked.

"I’m dead on my feet if they have a body I can borrow to help me get the two of us in it would be appreciated. It is going to be a long trip in towing. Over" I said.

"I will see what I can arrange" he said.

"Eleanor, The Sea Dreamer is going to meet up with you, they have a body you can use as you wish. Their words not mine and now I wish you au revoir and I will see you when you make port. This is Brest Coastguard Out" he said and was gone.

I carried on heading north towards Brest for another hour when I got a shout on the radio.

"Eleanor, this is Sea Dreamer do you read me? Over" came an English voice.

"Yes Sea Dreamer, I read you and you are a welcome sound" I said.

"Well if you look off your port bow you can see us we will be alongside soon" said the voice, I stuck my head out of the hatch and looked. I could see the white sail.

"Yes I see you Sea Dreamer" I said

"I am a charter yacht with a decent charter on board. I can let you have the crew who has been bumming around with me for the last few months. He is a good seaman but like a rope around your propeller he is difficult to rid yourself of. You have been warned Eleanor" the man said with a chuckle.

"After last night any help is welcome as I am way behind on sleep and food Sea Dreamer. I think I will risk it" I said back.

"Your choice Eleanor be with you soon. This is Sea Dreamer out" he finished. Soon after the white yacht was along side as I chugged into wind again. Fenders out she came in close and I looked at the six people on deck.

At the wheel was a man with a beard who smiled at me and nodded as he matched with me carefully. Two couples were also on deck all in their forties. These were obviously the paying guests.

The last one was a long blond haired young man in his twenties wearing a t-shirt with no arms, deck shoes with no socks and obscenely short shorts. He was clutching a large carryall bag and waiting for his moment to jump. He launched himself across and hit the deck hard. He was on his feet in a few seconds and we separated with a wave.

"Strewth, I thought you were on a yacht not a bloody antique" the man said with a strong Australian accent.

"Well she did better than the modern one I picked up on the way" I said feeling slightly hurt by his comment.

"True but I was expecting something built in the twentieth century" he said looking around the deck.

"Look if you don’t like it I can chuck you onto the modern wreck back there and I will cope without you. Otherwise shut your gob" I shouted at him.

"Don’t get so worked up" he said "I like old things I was just taken by surprise that’s all. I’m Russell by the way"

"Sarah" I said back "Do you want to dump your kit down below as I wouldn’t mind grabbing something to eat and a drink. I haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday morning"

"No worries. I can happily take her" he said

"Well I will see how you do for a bit then decide if you can handle her" I said.

"Fair enough, though I am Australian" he said

"Yes and you can shear a sheep, cook a barbie and find a beer in the desert as well" I said

"Yes as I said I’m an Auzzie" he said with a smile as he headed below decks. Moments later he returned.

"Get some food and a drink. If I hit any problems I will shout" he said taking the tiller off me.

"Thanks" I answered honestly and slipped down below.

Fed watered and with a change of clothing I headed back on deck to find him coping very well. I wedged myself in a corner and just relaxed for a while.

"How does a Sheila like you end up out here alone on a yacht like this?" he asked.

"I like my own company and I like wooden ships" I said.

"Yes but out here alone?" he said "Why didn’t you hug the coast?"

"I was trying to get away from those two so I decided to try the hop across Biscay. I was doing quite well till they decided to follow" I said nodding back at the Jackie.

"Why what’s up with them?" he asked.

"I became their adoptive daughter for a while and I had visions of them following me all around the Med" I said and he smiled.

"Yes I can understand that" he said "You say your heading for the Med. Any chance of dropping me off somewhere warmer, The Balearics, Greece or Turkey?"

"Lets see how it goes" I said and he didn’t push it.

I dozed as we made our way in towards Brest and eventually the harbour entrance became visible. I took the tiller and we made our way in as directed. Mooring alongside a jetty we pulled Jackie in along side us and when she was secure Barry and Jackie came across.

"Sarah thank you" Jackie said hugging me tight "I don’t know what would have happened without you"

"You would have made it" I said

"No I don’t think so" Barry said "before you turned up we had rolled. I couldn’t keep her head into the wind" he gave me a hug also.

"Don’t worry about it. All done now and nobody hurt. What condition is The Jackie in?"

"A few weeks work and she will be as good as new" Barry answered "But I think we stick to coastal hopping from now on"

"Yes" Jackie said firmly.

"Can I have permission to come on board?" asked a heavily accented French voice.

"Brest Coastguard radio?" I asked.

"Yes I am Pierre. I had to see you make port" he said

"I’m Sarah. Did you get some sleep?" I asked

"A little but overnight you became news. The solo Englishwoman sailing through the storm to rescue the Yacht in distress. Then holding them on course through the gale till the dawn came" he said, "Did you see the cameras as you came in?"

"No, and though The Eleanor is British registered and I am British by birth, I am a Saudi National" I said.

"It makes little difference. The harbourmaster is keeping all press out for the moment but we will have to let them in eventually. Can I have all your details it may keep them quiet for a while?" he asked.

"We are Barry and Jackie Simon from Sussex and Sarah here saved our lives" Barry said.

"Where are you from and what is your full name?" Pierre asked me.

"Sarah Saud and just leave it as of The Eleanor" I said.

"Fine it should quiet them down for a while after you have sorted yourselves out we will let them come down" he said as he left.

"TV cameras Jackie" Barry said, "we are going to be on telly"

Wonderful I thought a nice quiet cruise turns to shit. I was tempted to slip my mooring and make a run for it. If I had been moored outside The Jackie and with more fuel I would have.

"They are coming now" Pierre said running back down, "as your last port was France customs do not need to bother with you"

Behind him could be seen four or five TV cameras and about two dozen people approaching. One of the first to approach started to climb onto The Eleanor.

"I wouldn’t do that if I was you mate" came Russell’s Australian twang.

"Why not" demanded the man in a southern English accent.

"Because it would be a shame to throw you and that expensive camera in the water" Russell said.

"But we were told we could come down here by the man at the entrance" he protested loudly from the ladder.

"That mans responsibilities end at the bottom of the ladder. You do not set foot here without the owners permission. You lay one foot on this deck and I guarantee before the other one touches the deck, you will be swimming. Any sharks around here Sarah?" he asked loudly.

"I don’t think so" I said.

"Pity but the waters deep anyway you can easily drown. So don’t be such a drongo and wait at the top like all the rest"

The man thought about it for a moment and then decided to climb back up.

"Thank you" I said to Russell.

"If he thought you were going to let him loose on this decking in those shoes he had another thing coming" Russell said, glancing up at the cameras now pointing down towards us. Barry headed up to talk to them for a while, his head appeared back over the side after a few minutes.

"Sarah, Jackie they would like you two up" he said. Jackie climbed up and I slowly followed her.

"What was it like out there last night?" a man with a microphone asked me.

"Dark, wet and windy" I answered getting a few laughs.

"Where you scared at all?" he asked.

"I was too busy to be scared" I said.

"The Eleanor looks old how old is she?" another man asked.

"She is a 1902 Bristol Pilot Cutter" I said happily, this was one question I didn’t mind answering.

"Why were you out there alone?" He then asked.

"Because I dislike crowds" I answered, I let them wrap it up with a few photographs then slipped back down to The Eleanor and went below decks. I cooked some beans on toast and sat down dozing again.

"You need some sleep" Russell said.

"I know but I need to watch the mooring lines" I said.

"Look sleep, I can do that" He said.

"Get what you want to eat, there is food and beer in the fridge. Are you sure you are alright?" I asked worried about leaving this man alone in charge.

"Just sleep" he said and even with my tiredness, I could feel his sincerity.

"Thank you" I said, and slipped into my cabin. I stripped down to just my panties and I was asleep.

The smell of bacon cooking woke me from a deep sleep. For a moment or two I panicked wondering where I was and who was here. Then it came back to me. I slipped on some shorts and a top and opened my cabin door.

"G’day" came Russell’s happy voice.

"What time is it and where is some coffee?" I asked.

"Its nearly midday local time and if you sit down I will sort you a coffee" he said. I did and I looked up to see his rear in too tight and too short shorts again.

I don’t know what it is about Australian men but there seems to be a competition going on. Who can wear the biggest, silliest shorts and who can wear the shortest, tightest ones. Russell was well on the way for at least a honourable mention for his shorts.

"Any problems last night?" I asked.

"Nah, just kept checking every hour. Though I did get through a few of your tinnies though" he said.

"Don’t worry about it. That was what they were there for" I said receiving a cup from him and a bag of sugar. I put some sugar in and headed up on deck.

The mess that I had left the day before when I entered the port had been cleaned up and generally Eleanor had been put back into order again.

"Russell did you clean up on deck?" I asked.

"Yes, but its Russ only my mother calls me Russell. Normally when I have done something wrong" he shouted from below decks. "Any sauce on your bacon sandwich?"

"No as it stands" I said and he came on deck with a plate and four rounds.

"Ok Russ, where are you heading?" I asked.

"I was heading down to the Mediterranean, trying to get to the Greek islands. I was going to do some bumming around down there for a while till I got bored and decided to try something else" he said

"Well I’m going that way, I was planning on going solo but if you want to crew for a while your welcome" I told him "But you start saying strewth, bonza, drongo’s, dunnys or anything else like that before I am awake. I will throw you overboard"

"That is fine with me" he said carefully laying on a bad English accent.

"Have you got any decent shorts?" I asked.

"You want me in something daggy?" he said his face dropping.

"Just a little less revealing, they are a little too much to go with breakfast. But you can add daggy to that list" I said.

"These are my decent pair" he said looking down at them.

"Can’t you get some ashore?" I asked.

"Well I was due some money for crewing on that charter. But I left before we hit port" he said uncomfortably.

"What if I buy you some?"

"No way. I work for my money I don’t scrounge off women" he said firmly.

"Look. How about if I treat you to some clothes for last nights work and donate a few quid to the stranded Australians fund, due to the fact that helping me got you stuck here without cash?"

He didn’t look convinced.

"But of course I will get my moneys worth on the hop across Biscay. I’m am still intending to cross it in one go" I said

"You are?"

"Of course I am. But it will be a lot easier with your help" I told him with a smile.

"So this is a business deal then?" he asked.

"No I am just after your body. I intend to use you, abuse you then dump you leaving you heartbroken for the rest of your life" I said laughing.

"Travelling in a VW kombi, On a hippy trail head full of zombies" he sang with a smile on his face.

"I met a strange lady she made me nervous. She took me in and gave me breakfast. She said" he continued.

"Do you come from a land down under?" I answered and he smiled.

"Yes I’ll play" he said with a smile.

"Good I would hate to see my crew arrested for indecent exposure. It reflects badly on the ship" I told him.

"After your performance with The Jackie I could run around with no strides on and just The Eleanor tattooed on my arse and they wouldn’t touch me. You have made an impression on people around here. We even had some Arab around first thing this morning full robes the lot asking for you." Russ said.

"Did he leave a name? What did you tell him?" I asked urgently.

"I told him you needed your sleep and I wouldn’t wake you up no matter what. I think he said his name was Bill"

"Shit" I exclaimed loudly, "Did he say where he was staying?"

"No. Have I done something wrong? We had people around all night and I told them to come back when you were awake also" he said concerned.

"No I just would have like to see Billy that’s all. Let me get sorted and we can see if we can find him"

Ten minutes later after a quick wash, the addition of a bra under my t-shirt, sandals and my hair tied back I reappeared on deck with a handbag.

"Jeese that was quick" Russ said looking me up and down "I expected you to be at least another half hour"

"Why is something up?" I asked suddenly self conscious.

"No not at all" he assured me "I’m just use to British girls taking forever to get ready. Not like the girls back home"

"Where exactly is home?"

"A little place called Broome in north west Australia" He said as we climbed onto the jetty.

"Sorry it means nothing to me" I admitted.

"Means nothing to me either" he said leaving me wondering.

"Have you seen Barry and Jackie this morning?" I asked changing the subject.

"Yes they headed off early to talk about repairs. Most of the water they took on board was through the damage to the rudder. Turning turtle just messed things up down below, no real damage" he replied as we walked through the dock complex. The area seemed to be dominated by the naval base and many people in the area seemed to be naval personnel. Again I appeared to be the centre of attention from the emotional responses not all of it was due to my looks. Though one emotional flash was very much centred on Russ. A man in a suit approached us from a waiting black Mercedes

"Miss Saud?" he asked.

"Yes"

"His highness asked me to pick you up when you awoke" he said indicating the car.

"Fine" I said and I pushed a confused Russ towards the car.

"What is going on?" he whispered in the car.

"I think I am going to get some grief. You are coming along as backup" I said leaving him none the wiser. Our destination was a rather fancy hotel which I wondered if it was one of Fayed’s. The door was opened for me and suddenly I was engulfed by Billy’s arms. I admit I stayed there for a minute enjoying it before breaking away.

"What brings you here then?" I said looking up at him.

"What brings me here?" he roared "I am informed by my cousin that your vessel is involved in an incident during one of the worst storms for years. The rescue aircraft cannot reach you, so I came to see what I could arrange. Only I arrive here in time to find that you have turned the situation around and come sailing in as the heroine who braved the storm alone to rescue others"

"Well I have my uses, I just wish it was less public" I said, smiling at him.

"Well publicity has found you this time and I want you to come back with me. Stop this dangerous and foolish venture now, you have nothing to prove" he said taking one of my hands in both of his.

"No Billy" I said gently "I will come and visit often and I may live there someday but for now I need this"

"Sarah please, don’t make me forbid you to do this" He said and despite his concern for me that he was broadcasting my anger flared.

"Billy, you don’t want to say things like that, we are friends and I wish to remain friends. But if you start throwing your weight around with me I will respond in the same manner. Who do you think will win?" I asked him.

"I am sorry Sarah, I do not mean it as it sounds. I just worry about you" he said, and I hugged him back.

"That is part of friendship" I told him as I hugged him, "But I am not he same wretch you pulled off the road mere months ago"

"No you are not" he admitted and turned to Russ, "Who is this?" Do I have reason to be jealous?"

"This is Russ, Russ this is Billy." I introduced them "Russ helped me bring Eleanor in last night. As he lost his berth to help me he is bumming a ride down to the Mediterranean with me"

"Good. I will sleep easier knowing you are not out there alone. Now come eat with me I have not eaten due to worry and anticipation." He said.

"Well we are supposed to be shopping for supplies and some decent clothes for Russ here" I said.

"Look let one of my people get what you need and eat with me. I have flown far and have but a short time here" he said with sad eyes that I was unable to refuse.

After a nice dinner, where I felt very out of place and Russell’s discomfort was even greater at our eloquent surroundings, we talked for a while.

"How come you have the entourage now?" I asked.

"In my new position I have to take precautions. Gone are the days of travelling alone at will. Now it is a major exercise to do anything" He said sadly, "I envy you"

"How is Alex?" I asked changing the subject as I had no response for him.

"She is well and sends her love. She is running my business enterprises as my responsibilities are elsewhere now" he said again sadly.

"If you don’t like your job change it or get another one?" Russ said.

"It is not that easy" Billy protested.

"It is if you are not enjoying life then you are doing something wrong. You have but one life if you look back at the end and say what a bloody miserable time you had it is wasted" Russ answered.

"True" Billy said

"What is your job anyway?" Russ asked

"King" Billy answered. Russell was quiet for a long time afterwards.

We made our way back to ‘The Eleanor’ and all went on deck.

"So this is what you were seeking" Billy said, looking around the deck "I approve"

"You like her then?" I asked.

"Oh yes, though we are a people of the desert, we do not love it. We have existed there for centuries and it is our home. This though I could love and get use to" he said sinking down in the cockpit.

"Do you want to play for a few hours?" I asked.

"Do you mind?" he said, a twinkle in his eye that had been missing for a long time.

"Come on lets move The Jackie and we can head out for a while. Your bodyguards and staff are going to have to wait here though" I said as we started to walk The Jackie along to our stern.

"If you are in your usual rig under the robes, strip below decks. No passengers allowed here, you want to play, you work" I said and he headed down below. A few minutes later, he reappeared in shorts, sandals and a Mettalica T-shirt.

"What’s with the t-shirt?" I asked

"My own form of rebellion" he answered smiling.

"Good, there is still hope for you" I said, "Cast off bow line, cast off stern line" and we motored out.

It was fun. ‘The Eleanor’ on my own was hard work. With these two big men at work, it was easy, and soon we had her under full sail with her heeling over nicely. This is not exactly efficient sailing but for the newcomer there is nothing quite like it. As I eased her so she was running before the wind, Russ headed down below and came up with two cans of beer and a can of coke.

"Well then what has been happening to get you so tensed up?" I asked.

"Politics" he said as he drank his can of coke, "While my country is mortally wounded they still play politics with me"

"Well don’t play politics" I said, "Politics are beneath you, but you should have no worries about using the media as you need to. You have no popularity contests to win, they do"

"I am" he said, "But that is enough of that. Teach me what to do with the stick you steer with" he said with a smile.

"Tiller" I said, with some pain in my voice.

That night, after the goodbyes, Russ and I sat on the deck talking.

"What is it with you?" he asked

"What do you mean?" I said suddenly worried that something had slipped.

"Look you have kings running around after you and you are arguing about paying your share of the bill" he answered, "let him pay for dinner next time, he can afford it"

"Is that why you didn’t object to he clothes he bought you?" I asked with a smile.

"Look he has sent someone with decent taste for them, though have you seen these shorts?" he asked.

"Seen them? There may be people somewhere in France that aren’t being blinded by those things. But at least they’re longer" I said with a smile.

"I don’t know what was up with the other ones" he said, "when do we move? I’m bored with France"

"Tomorrow we get ready, the next day, at dawn, we take Biscay" I told him and he grinned.

"Good night and I will see you in the morning" I told him and slipped down into my cabin.

"Sarah, you seem happy" Seeker said as I started to get undressed.

"I think I am, sort of, at least for the moment" I admitted.

"Sarah despite all the things that have happened to you because of me and my people, do you think you could help us?" Seeker asked meekly.

"What are you after another book?" I said.

"No my people need your help" she said.

"What is the problem?" I asked.

"Something is happening to my people. It started not long before I first met you a seeker was lost. Normally if one of our race is in danger we know all about it. The seeker in question just went silent and nothing has been heard since" Seeker explained.

"So you have lost a man and need me to try and find him" I said

"No that was the first occasion it has happened again and again since" Seeker said "but I have only just been given permission to talk to you about it"

"How many have you lost?"

"Over twelve thousand" she replied.

"How many have you lost before this?" I asked her.

"Seven in one hundred of your years" she answered.

"You, my dear, have a problem" I said, "Someone has declared war on your race, any idea who you may have pissed off?"

"No" she answered.

"Why has my life got so complex since I met you?" I asked.

"I have no reply to that Sarah" Seeker said.

"Never mind, tell me about it"

 

To Be Continued…

 

 

 

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