Broken Brakes 10

Laila walks to the front door, and rings the bell. A tall and still beautiful middle age woman opens the door, and greets her with a smile.

'You must be Assistant Laila ...Welcome to Bristol Manor !..Come in, please ! '

Laila smiles back and follows the woman down a long corridor , up to a door that leads to a small parlor , in the far end.

'I'm Mrs. Woodward, the Manager. you're here to interview Subject AZ608, isn't It?'

Laila nods ,as they enter into the room. It's small but very bright as the walls are painted a light orange and a French door opens to a wide veranda leading to a beautiful flower garden.

'Yes...Ray!...Ray, isn't it ? ' Laila's heart beats faster at the sound of that dear name.

'Yes ! Ray...Please sit down...I have the file somewhere... Lets see... Ah! Here it is !'

She looks into a drawer and takes out a black folder.

'Here it is !...Yes...Hmmm....He's been here for almost a couple of weeks now....Would you like to interview him today? Or would you prefer tomorrow?'

'Today will be just fine! Maybe in a couple of hours...First I would need to...'

'Oh! I'm so sorry!...How can I be so dumb?!...Of course you're tired and thirsty, after the long drive here.!...Would you like something to drink?'

'Thanks ! Water would be just fine!'

Mrs. Woodward smiles and rings a bell. In no time a maid knocks at the door and comes in with a tray full of drinks and snacks, and leaves them on a side table.

'Thanks Jenny!' Mrs. Wooodward gives Laila a glass of water.

'So...I'm sure you'll find this place very comfortable! And I'm sure everything will work out pretty well for Ray as well...He's so eager to begin studying!... He's very fond of Astronomy, it seems.'

'Well...I have to interview him first and then we will decide what's best for him. Anyway ,I'm sure Astronomy would be right for him.' Laila remembers Ray's childish enthusiasm for stars and planets.

She begins to feel nervous. She dreads this encounter with Ray. It's been so long ! Ray!...Just saying his name, makes her all warm with longing.. She knows she has to remain calm and remember that, even she's going to meet again her husband's memory, she's not going to meet his body. It's going to be a shock! She knows that. It would have been easier if the Subject's name had been another. Oh well!... she drinks the water and sighs.

'Oh well!!....'

Mrs. Woodward stands up, finishing their conversation .

'Let me show you to your room.'

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Ara kisses Ray's lips tenderly. Ray opens his eyes and grabs her playfully by the neck.

'Where do you think you're going ?!'

'Not far...'

Ara kisses him again and jumps off the bed.

'Got to go, you know... Be back in a jiffy, sweetheart !'

She laughs and goes into the bathroom. Ray hears the water running. He loves this woman ! She's so sensual, so sexual! Like an animal... a panther.

Twenty minutes later, Ara is fully dressed and ready to go.

'Dinner tonight?' Ray asks eagerly. He hates it when she leaves.

'Sure darling !..At eight ?'

'Sounds fine ...Lets meet in the greenhouse'

'At eight. sharp! Bye darling !'

Ara sends him kisses with her pouting childish full lipped mouth, while opening the door. Before leaving she looks smilingly out of the window to the wonderful day.

And then she frowns.

She walks back in, to see more closely.

'Something the matter, hon ?' Ray has never seen that look of annoyance on her face before.

Ara, without paying attention to him, bents over the window sill, with that terrible look of disgust still on her face.

'What's the matter ,darling?'

'Nothing !...Nothing...I just thought...Never mind !' She turns around and smiles at him, and walks out of the room, waving goodbye.

Ray, intrigued, goes to the window and looks out. Near the pond, a woman is watching the ducks and peacocks eating some crumbs from an old man's hand. The gardener.

The woman is stunning from that distance. Wavy long black hair , and long legs. Something stirs inside him. A longing. An uncontrollable desire to hold this strange woman in his arms.