The Eye of Shiva

CHAPTER 12

Selena decided where they would stay in Manila. Most of the time they were in places where accommodations were lousy or nonexistent. She tried to upgrade whenever they had a choice. She had the money and she was damned if she was going to be uncomfortable just because they were on a mission in some foreign country.

She'd picked one of the large chain hotels with a five star rating, a modern businessman's hotel within easy walking distance of the American Embassy. There was nothing particularly unique about it. It was clean and you could drink the water. It was a slice of commercial America set down a block and a half from Roxas Boulevard and the waterfront on Manila Bay.

She was sharing a luxury suite on the twentieth floor with Nick. It had two bedrooms and separate bathrooms, which would come in handy if things didn't smooth out between them. There'd been no opportunity to talk when they were getting ready for the mission and trying to hold a conversation in the aluminum belly of a C-130 was a lost cause.

Ronnie and Lamont were down the hall. Nick looked out the window at the impressive view of the bay and the eight lanes of Roxas Boulevard and thought the wide, modern highway along the waterfront made a perfect route for marchers and protesters. It would also work well if the government had to bring in the tanks and water cannons.

There were signs the protest was going to be a big one. Thousands of people were coming in from the countryside and the outlying districts of the capital. Temporary campgrounds had sprung up everywhere in the parks along the bay, complete with cooking fires, makeshift shelters, and a nervous police presence. The demonstration was scheduled to begin early the next morning.

There was a feeling of tension in the air, a kind of unpleasant, electric anticipation, like the way things felt before a big storm. There was going to be trouble.

"I have a bad feeling about tomorrow," Nick said.

Selena came over and stood next to him at the window. "So do I."

They looked out at the fabled waters of Manila Bay. A large tanker was heading away from the port toward the distant entrance of the bay, where the island of Corregidor stood silhouetted against the most amazing sunset Nick had ever seen. The broad bowl of the sky was filled with colors of flaming orange, gold and red. Billowing black clouds taller than Everest scudded across the horizon, forcing the light of the setting sun into a kaleidoscope of fiery golden rays that spread across the sky.

They stood in silence looking at the spectacle. Selena felt Nick take her hand. She glanced over. His eyes had a distant look in them as he watched the sunset. As the sun vanished on the horizon, there was a brief, brilliant green flash.

"Did you see that?" he said.

"Yes."

"I've heard about the green flash but I'd never seen it," Nick said. He turned to her and took her other hand. "We need to talk."

"Yes, we do."

"I'm sorry about the other day. I shouldn't have surprised you like that."

"I'm sorry too." She paused. "It's just that…things seem to be moving too fast."

"Too fast?"

"We're talking about getting married," she said, "but we don't know what it would be like to live with each other all the time."

"We already spend most of our time together," Nick said. He kept his voice neutral.

"A lot of that is in the field," Selena said, "like right now. It's not the same."

"No, I suppose it isn't."

"I mean, why aren't we living together? My condo is more than big enough for two people."

"So is my apartment," Nick said. "Well, not in the long run. But I like it there. I like the privacy, doing things my way."

"And I like my place," Selena said.

Nick looked out the window again at the growing tropical twilight. "I meant it when I asked you to marry me," he said.

She heard an unspoken but in his voice. She wasn't sure where he was going with this. Was he backing out? Was she pushing him away?

"Have you changed your mind?" she said.

He looked at her. "No, I haven't changed my mind. I was wondering if you had."

If she were honest with herself, she definitely had second thoughts. Why else had she reacted like that in the jewelry store?

"Because of the ring?"

"That was a pretty strong message," he said.

"I told you, it took me by surprise."

"Yeah, I get that, but I think most women would have at least looked at the rings they had in that store. It wasn't like I was trying to force you into making a decision right then. It makes me wonder if I'm pushing too hard."

"So what are you saying?" Her heart was beating hard in her chest.

"I think we need to back off a little. Like you said, we haven't tried living together. It might be a good idea. See if it works."

"What about our engagement?"

"Nothing's changed," Nick said. "That jewelry store will still be there when we get back."

Nothing's changed. That's easy for him to say.

Selena took a deep breath. "I think I'll give Ambassador Cathwaite a call."