The Chair Read Online Free PDF

could still feel the chill of the place, which wasn’t very pleasant, but I guess every civilized country had to have a cold hard place for dissidents.
     Finishing her wine, she looked at me with half a smile. “This is all too much for you isn’t it?” She looked down biting her lip. “I mean, you’re hearing all about a strange island you’ve been taken to and now learning about some strangers you’ve never met.” Her blonde hair was radiant in the sun and her lips had a captivating luster as she talked. I noticed her fingers were delicate, very feminine, yet she was holding up this image of a tough girl exerting authority which I perceived as more forced than natural.
    I wanted to give an upbeat answer even though I wasn’t entirely sure of my feelings at this point. “Not at all, it’s kind of an adventure you might say. I just need to get back to―”
    She paid the keeper and we began walking down a few streets on the way back to her fathers flat. “You were saying there is someone you need to get back to?”
    “Well, yes…”
    “I see, it’s your wife.”
    “No, I’m not married, yet, I mean―”
    “Oh, a fiancé then? What’s her name?” She looked me in the eyes with one eyebrow raised and a slight smirk.
    “Her name is Catherine and we’ve been going together for about five years now. I should go back and at least tell her what has happened to me.”
    “Yes, you probably should, but there is one small problem. I have to find my father and I’m going to need the chair to do it. If you go back, what assurance do I have that you’ll return?”
    “Well you would certainly have my word Ara!”
    “Yes, well I’m not so sure of that. People can change their mind quickly and I’m not so sure I want to take the gamble, it is my father’s life at stake here.”
    Clouds had been moving over the island all morning and I was feeling moisture in the air. As we passed a church along the way it began to rain. As we walked together, I could see the people here seemed just as any others; they shop and worship and the kids play; there were store owners talking to each other about the day. They had really built a place of sanctuary here and everyone seemed normal and happy enough.
    “So you’re saying, as we speak, Anders and Paxton followed your father on his last mission.”
    “That’s right and they’re looking for the chair. At first, I thought they recruited you to come back and make way for them to return. Richard, if they gain possession of that chair, they could go anywhere, do anything.
    And you are right about Catherine, I feel guilty enough having you here against your will, and since I can’t trust you fully yet, I’ve decided what to do about it.”
    “What’s that?”
    “ I’m going back there and tell her not to worry about you.”
    “You? She won’t have the foggiest as to who you are.”
    “Relax,” Ara crossed her arms, “I know just how to handle this and you’re going to need to put a little trust in me Richard.”
    I didn’t like the idea of her going in my place, but I knew she probably figured she couldn’t trust me at this point.  And then there was Catherine, thinking I’ve disappeared or might even be dead. Suddenly Ara shows up telling her everything’s in the blimey pink and not to worry; a strange blonde, who she has never laid eyes on―that’s going to add insult to injury; what a bloody mess! However, Ara was holding a higher hand than me; in fact right now she was holding all the cards so I really didn’t have much choice in the matter.
    After further discussion with Ara, I learned that her father had been making regular trips to London. He had secured full time work there under a grant given to a group of researchers, which he was a part of, in the development of electrical power using a new material, tungsten. Utilizing his compensation for work, he had been able to purchase many things either to bring back to the island, or conduct private