The Executioners

VIII

When I finally made it to the mainland, I walked down along the beach alone — slowly — my body tired — the job done. A deadly blow aimed at the South Pacific Defense Alliance had been deflected. There'd be reports and explanations and all the questioning to go through, but right now that could wait. I wanted to go back to Judy and see if she really delivered the promise that lay in her eyes. I hadn't expected to see the Mercedes still on the beach where I'd left it, nor the yellow bikinied figure that rose as I approached. She ran toward me and pressed herself against the wet scuba suit.

"Oh, Lord, I was so worried," she said. "I didn't leave right away, not really, anyway. I swam to a little coral reef that stuck up about a quarter mile away, and I thought I'd wait there."

She saw the set of my lips and the gathering disapproval in my eyes. "I know, it's not what you told me to do but don't start a ruddy fuss over it," she said. "Anyway, I waited there and waited and I started to get worried. Finally, I decided to come back here and I was just starting off when the whole bloody ocean seemed to be exploding. Well, I dived off on the other side and made a big circle to get back here. If I was worried before, I was sure worried then."

She leaned her head against my suit. I felt her body quivering.

"Hey, now," I said, lifting her chin up. "None of that." I took her arm. "Let's go back," I said. "I need some doctoring."

We were back at her place and I'd slept a few hours and was feeling a lot better as she came in with some coffee and muffins. I was in shorts and she had a thin cotton dress on. Her breasts moved softly under it. She could have had a bra on or they were just that beautifully molded and high. I finished the muffins and reached for the phone.

"I'm calling my boss," I said. "Collect," I added with a grin.

She put her hand over the phone and her eyes were unsmiling. "No," she said flatly. "Not till later."

She moved toward me and her lips opened on mine and I fell back on the bed. The cotton dress came off and Judy lifted herself high, pressing one round, sweet breast into my lips. I kissed her and ran my tongue in concentric circles around the pink tip of her nipple and felt it grow large. Her hands were holding me, moving up and down, exploring, and her body was alive with its own desires. She offered herself to me, not with the angry abandon that had been Mona, but with a sweet passion that was no less strong for its sweetness.

"Yank, Yank," she murmured, burying her face into my chest, biting against my skin as I brought her to the doorway of doorways, the dwelling place of ecstasy. And then, as I let her in, she cried out in a gasp that was part release, part joy and part gratitude. We lay together quietly, after, in contented happiness. Finally, when she stirred and looked up at me, I got up on one elbow and drank in the beauty of her firm, young body, the rounded breasts, high and proud, the girl-woman figure of her, the sweet sensuousness that was an echo of her smoke-gray eyes.

"Why didn't you let me call before?" I asked, watching her eyes.

"I didn't want you to think I was doing it because you'd gotten that visa for me," she said quietly. "You've done more for me than getting that visa could ever do. You've made me feel proud of myself again. And you've made me feel, which is more important. I was just living, just scratching, and that's no good. A person has to feel, even if to feel means to get hurt. Don't you think so?"

"I think so, Judy," I said and I reached out for the phone. The call went through quickly, and I heard Hawk's flat, dry voice.

"It's over, Chief," I said. "You were right. You don't have to be surprised. The Chinese Reds were behind it. They had a subtle, clever operation going. I'll give you all the details when I get back. I'll take the plane in the morning. Meanwhile, get an extended visa rushed through for me, will you? I'm bringing someone back with me."

"Someone who's helped you in this?" he asked warily. It was just his natural suspicion. He knew I wouldn't pull anything smart on him.

"That's right," I answered.

"A girl, of course," he commented, a touch of asperity in his voice.

"Not a kangaroo," I said and hung up. The visa will be waiting when we get there," I told Judy.

"Thanks, Yank," she said.

"Don't you think, seeing as how you're going to the States with me, that you might call me Nick?" I said. "Just once in a while?"

"As soon as you make love to me again," she giggled.

I took her in my arms quickly. She'd be calling me Nick often, I knew. After all, she'd be visiting in the States and I wouldn't want her to get homesick.