Chapter 24

It was a windy Tuesday and a beehive of activity goes on at the airport: Natalie, Alessandro and Marcus inspect large consignment of heavy-duty machines and consumables being moved ahead of them on board a maroon cargo aeroplane boldly in scripted on it 'DHL logistics' to the arctic circle.

They oversaw every single operation at the site: from the loading of equipment on board the plane, to when the plane taxied to the run-way and its takeoff. They cheered and clapped at each others' hands and declare the job a successful one.

A Nissan Blue Bird airport shuttle pulled off at the frontage of Alessandro's residence in the late evening not too long after their return.

Ulan heard noises from outside the house and set out at once to find out who it was. He walked noisily with his flip-flop and peeped through the front window; a lady has already alighted and was backing him so that it was difficult for him to recognize her. He again 'zoomed' his eye on the lady and the result he obtained was unbelievable. Ulan leapt for joy and ran back to break the good news to Alessandro.

"Boss!" He cried out, "Madam Deloria is back." Alessandro, who neither show any sign of sadness nor excitement, jumped out of the bed and held Ulan on his shoulders.

"What, boss?"

"Nothing," answered Alessandro.

But the looks on his face suggests he weren't expecting her. A countering impression on Ulan's face says: this is her home, that she has the right to come to it at whatever time she wants to.

They both scrambled to the door only to find out it was Khaterina. They both went stiff; eyeing each other. Ulan looked stupid before his boss for lying to him, and Alessandro was aghast, wondering how she got to find out his whereabouts.

"Surprise, right?" Khaterina finally breaks the long silence. "Oh yea," Beamed Alessandro, pretending he was happy to see her, but Khaterina could see through his misleading smiles.

"Ulan, would you please move this luggage to the visitor's lodge?" "Yes, boss."

Khaterina and Alessandro watch him drag the wheeled bag away.

"Am in trouble," pondered Alessandro; she's here for a long stay.

Ulan has now disappeared to the interiors and they now face each other in a close shave.

Khaterina is looking more beautiful than ever before; with her hips shooting out visibly in the blue denim she wore. Khaterina initiated a kiss, and she did it passionately which left the peeping Ulan more confused than ever before.

"Go and prepare something for her while she takes her bath." Said Alessandro to Ulan.

In their absence, Alessandro finds it difficult to keep still; he paced himself religiously like a Jackal from the place of the Grand Piano to the foot of the staircase leading to the bedrooms, wondering what to tell Natalie and a whole bunch of others after he had completely tricked them into believing Omahley was his wife. Who then would I introduce Khaterina to them? A sister? Not; Khaterina will wedge war against me if I dare say that. To make matters worse, they will think of me as irresponsible. What do I do?"

Ulan cut him short in his contemplation to announce that dinner was served. "Thank you, Ulan, but I think I've lost appetite."

Khaterina is through with her bathe and now climbs down the staircase majestically. Ulan quickly withered away before she arrives at the dinner table to save himself from coveting his boss' almost cloth-less mistress H.se thought of the worst that could happen if the real boss lady, Deloria, should appear from nowhere; the person that will live to tell the tale will have a lot to narrate to his audience.

"Fair well," said Alessandro to Khaterina, holding her hands as she descended the last step of the stairs. "Come to the table, my dear; the chef has something wonderful for you there."

"Am not starving, Alessandro."

"Then let me take you out on a joy ride around town and show you all the good things there."

"Am not going anywhere, Alessandro; there's no better place where all the good things are concentrated like between the sheets in the bedroom. Let's go, Alessandro, we've got a lot to talk about."

9:00 am the next day, Khaterina was still in bed but Alessandro was not. He went out of the room surreptitiously to meet Natalie in the company of Irina, Lada, Marcus and Khristina, all standing in his parlour with their backpacks strapped to their backs.

Alessandro rushed down the stairs rubbing one of his palms on the other and said to them jokingly, "you look set to me." Suppressing his voice so that Khaterina wouldn't hear him.

"Give me two minutes to get prepared." He said, sticking out two of his fingers to them.

"Make it one, Alessandro," replied Irina, "we are late already."

Alessandro tip-toed back to the bedroom and made a fire brigade approach to dressing himself and sneaked out of the room stealthily with his boots held in his hands and hurried down the rungs of the staircase. He called Ulan aside and implore him to take good care of his new friend: "Tell her am off to someplace and that I'll be back soon."

"That wouldn't be necessary." Said the sharp voice of Khaterina coming from the balcony, nicely sheathing her nakedness in an immaculate bedspread and drags the long beddings on the floor, and down to the staircase, one step at a time so that it looks like she wears a wedding gown.

"You are not going anywhere without me!" She declared, stamping her feet on the floor. Irina, Khristina and Lada were bowled over, and so were Marcus and Natalie. Ulan felt like crying for his boss; he looks unsettled. His boss had bowed and lacked the courage to look into his friend's faces. Khaterina's laser eye focused on him to see how he would manage the situation.

"Guys," said Alessandro, "I had an unexpected guest last night from Moscow, her name is Khaterina, my girlfriend. His plausible way of communication was no longer there; he faltered in his pronunciations particularly the word 'girlfriend,' which sounded in his mouth like a toddler. At Khaterina's side, the hitherto tensed mood around her dissolved at the instant of his confession. She then smiled an impish smile.

"Our number has now swirled to seven, including the unexpected company." Continued Alessandro.

Irina gave

him questioning looks that need no interpreter to tell him what it means.

"Well, you are welcome," said Natalie, "get dressed quickly and let's hit the road."