Krysalis: Krysalis

Krysalis: Krysalis Read Online Free PDF

Book: Krysalis: Krysalis Read Online Free PDF
Author: John Tranhaile
Tags: Fiction, General, Espionage
must have hung up. I will not cry, Anna told herself. And I must not drink any more, either, because that will …
not … help.
    She kept to her resolve until eight-thirty. By that time David still had not rung, so she poured another double, to give herself Dutch courage, and called him.
    While the phone rang she entertained herself by planning all the things she was going to say. How was he? How had his day been? Were things going well? Yes, they must be going well because his seminar was so important and he had to triumph … then she would tell him about losing the case, but lightly, not in such a way as to worry or distract him…. And then he would say …
    Someone picked up the phone. Anna asked to speak to Mr. David Lescombe. It seemed ages before he came to the phone. She was aware of a comfortable buzz of conversation in the background; something about it told her that David wasn’t going to be pleased, and the longer she waited the more chance her heart had to sink from its euphoria of a moment ago.
    A clung, then a brisk voice said, “Hello.”
    “David? Anna.”
    “Hello, love. Yes?”
    “Have I interrupted anything? Are you busy?”
    “I am, rather. Sorry. Can you make it quick?”
    “You promised to ring me, that’s all. When you didn’t, I was worried.”
    A long pause. “Oh, damn.” He sounded dispirited. “I am sorry. I forgot.”
    “Not going well?”
    “So-so.”
    “Me too.”
    “What’s up?”
    “Oh, I lost a case today, that’s all.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “It doesn’t matter. Not important.”
    “I see. Look, Anna …”
    “Yes?”
    “Can you do something for me? I’ve made a hash of things, rather.”
    “Yes, of course.” She picked up a pen. “Shoot.”
    “It’s the marina. They’re expecting us tomorrow. I ordered fuel and one or two other things before I knew about this blasted weekend. Can you phone in the morning after nine-thirty and cancel? Only I don’t want them to charge us, you see.”
    “No problem.” Suddenly she felt so happy to be of use. “Anything else you’d like me to do?”
    “No, that’s it. I’m really sorry I forgot I was supposed to phone you.” His voice seemed softer, the tension in it had faded somewhat. “But … well, it’s a bit embarrassing to be called out of committee by one’s wife, actually.”
    “Mustn’t keep you, then. I love you, David.”
    “I love you too, darling.”
    “Bye.” Anna quickly put down the phone, even though she knew he had started to say something else. She was worried that it might take away from the power of “I love you too, darling,” and she couldn’t bear that, not tonight of all nights, so she cut him off.
    Afterward, there didn’t seem to be anything to do except make herself a cup of soup and go to bed. Lying propped up on the pillows, she reran her conversation with David, savoring it, wishing she could have brought him greater comfort. She needed to cushion him. Why did she always feel that way?
    Anna had never told David that she’d spent years in psychotherapy. She’d wanted to, but Gerhard had always talked her out of it. Tonight she felt the habitual vague feelings of guilt that beset her whenever she considered the omission. Perhaps tomorrow she wouldask Gerhard about it again. Yes. It was time David knew.
    The last thing she did was appropriate Juliet’s pajama case, the one in the shape of a pussycat with a zipper up its stomach, and lie down hugging it to her. She liked its smell. Juliet’s smell.
    On Saturday she got up early and agonized over what to wear. In the end she chose a dark blue suit and—an impulse, this—a rather bold hat, hoping that the contrast in styles would end up transmitting only nonsensual messages.
    She felt virtuous about her early start, but she soon discovered that virtue, as well as being its own reward, can also exact a special kind of price. She parked the car and was just stepping onto the pavement, when she glanced up in time to see a girl
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