Clifton Falls

by L A Taylor

  Gary disappeared into the kitchen while the others remained seated. Even Blake sat down now. His eyes scanned the faces of his friends as he waited for the other man to return.

  After around five minutes, a tray filled with hot drinks was laid down on the small table located in the middle of the room, and everyone grabbed a cup. The men waited for Blake to begin.

  He slowly took a sip from the hot, sweet coffee before glancing at each of his friends again. He desperately tried producing a positive smile, but it wasn’t to be. The exhausted man was still very fragile and on edge, but knew he had to focus on the long conversation ahead. Blake was now ready to relate his awful journey to his friends.

  “Let’s go back to the beginning.”

  THREE (MONDAY)

  Blake lived in a countryside town called Clifton Falls. It was situated around ten miles north of Westbrook County. Everything that meant anything to him was in that county; his old friends, childhood, and family.

  He was the boss of an agricultural factory that supplied the nearby towns with crops. Blake’s factory was one of the leading suppliers for companies abroad not so long ago, but times were hard now, crops were slow to develop, and maintaining a profitable business was at its lowest.

  The local caravan park was the main attraction surrounding this tiny town. Positioned deep in the forest, this caravan park filled up with thousands of tourists every year. They came to take part in the family adventures, camping facilities, and fishing, as the local lake attracted a vast array of stunning fish during the summer months. This small town had managed to keep itself afloat over the past ten years or so by using the forest as an extra income.

  The local cemetery was another reason why this town attracted strangers, as it was the main graveyard for the nearby towns.

  On this particular morning, Blake received news from head office that the chemical-testing company, (Crop-techno Ltd), was about to launch its latest invention of pesticide/fertilizer. It was the right time to use this experiment on the crops because the toxicbeetle, a deadly plant bug and newcomer to these parts, was about to come out of hiding. These nasty bugs had originated in countries with a warmer climate, like Australia and New Zealand, so must’ve sneaked into the UK via a delivery. It was a mystery to Blake why the climate hadn’t killed them off, but the climate in Britain was changing, so all in all wasn’t too surprised. The bugs often chose springtime to unleash devastating disease onto the harvest. These tiny creatures would eat away at anything appearing in front of them, including the crops and soil. They also attack humans, and once bitten, a toxic residue called Cantharidin is injected. This causes a nasty, blistering rash on the unfortunate victim.

  Blake took the information and headed toward the main part of the factory. News about the fertilizer had spread quickly because by the time he’d entered the main doors, people were already engaged in conversation about the product. “All right everyone. Can I have your attention please?” He waved a clipboard above his head. “I see some of you have already heard the good news about the new chemical, and yes, it works.” He began to read the vital information from the piece of paper attached to the board. “It’ll make the crops grow better as well as killing the insects.” Everyone remained silent as they listened to his words. “We’re about to put this chemical to use on our fields. It’ll be arriving in the morning so I want everyone involved with spraying the crops to be here bright and early. We must get this done as soon as possible, as we need to stop the fucking beetle bugs before they put a stop to us earning money this summer.” The staff members listened intently; not once interrupting him. “That’s all I want to say on the subject at this time so if you don’t mind, can you please do some work today or I’ll be sacking a few of you by the end of the shift.”

  Blake chuckled. It was an indication that he was winding everybody up again, but most of the time they actually fell for it.

  He left the factory building, smiling to himself as he returned to his office. He had his fingers crossed that this new idea would be successful.

  Monday’s shift was over and Blake watched his employees clocking out. He smiled after noticing just how quickly their movements were when it came to home time and thought about how much work could be done if his staff actually used this pace in working hours. After a quick tidy up of his desk he was also ready for home.

  Blake smiled as he opened the front door of his house. This became broader once he’d entered the hallway.

  “Honey, I’m back. What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”

  From the shadows of the next room appeared a magnificently sculptured masterpiece of a woman, with long brown hair and soft, silky skin. All she wore was a see-through, satin negligee. “You can have me for dinner if you want to, tiger?” “Tiger” was the nickname she gave Blake when she was feeling very sexy.

  His eyes glued themselves onto the beautiful vision in front of him and for a brief moment his mouth opened, letting his tongue unfold. “If I have you for dinner then what do I get for pudding?”

  “You’ll not need a pudding after what I’ve got planned for you. Anyway, you’ll be too tired to eat it.”

  Karen couldn’t stop herself from laughing at what she said and because she was doing it, Blake also chuckled.

  She grabbed her beloved by the arm and led him to the bedroom. Tonight was going to be fun.

  The room appeared clouded in darkness, which wasn’t normal for this time of day. A gleam of light shone over a highlighted spot, splitting the room in half. The curtains, although drawn together, left a gap, and this produced the thin beam of fading daylight.

  She placed an index finger onto Blake’s sensuous lips before locking her eyes onto his. Their bodies pressed together, forcing Blake back against the bedroom door. He was curious by her fast approach to them having sex but wasn’t going to complain. “Have you been drinking, girl?” he asked. A cheeky grin now spread across his stunned face.

  Karen licked her wet, pulsating lips. She was definitely intoxicated with something, but it wasn’t alcohol, it was lust. She had a thirst for some passion in her life and tonight she would get it. “Do I need to be drunk to want to spend the night with you?” she replied, her eyes glowing a bright blue in colour.

  She pinned Blake’s arms over his head with one hand, slowly kissing his neck, while her free hand stroked the right side of his cheek. It gradually moved down, resting on the collar of his suit jacket. Karen slowly slipped the jacket over his shoulders, watching it slide down his arms and onto the floor, then, unfastened his shirt buttons, leaving an opening for his chest to appear. She smiled naughtily, looking up again before compressing yearning lips against his. Their mouths opened and closed in rhythm. Their eyes remained shut. Both hearts beat faster and faster from the exciting sensation overcoming them.

  Karen sucked hard on Blake’s top lip.

  “Ouch, be careful baby. I know you’re hungry but I’m sure you can think of something more enticing to suck on besides my lip?”

  “Really, are you telling me that your little friend has decided to wake up and wants to play?”

  “My so-called little friend, so you imaginatively put it, isn’t so little anymore.”

  Karen managed to restrain herself from revealing a raucous laughing sound again. “Okay, I think it’s time to let him out, don’t you?”

  “Anything you say, you’re in control not me, but please be gentle.”

  “Ooh, don’t you worry, I will,” she said, while grinning.

  She pulled on Blake’s shirttails, leading him across the lighted area of the room. The door was kicked shut. A soft nudge led to him landing on the bed. Karen’s eyes glowed again as her mouth broadened. “Now, where were we?” she said with a teasing tone.

  Blake tried concentrating. This woman was an erotic, filthyminded whore tonight and it wasn’t even his birthday. It was best if he enjoyed every minute of this because who knew when it was going to happen again?

  “I think it had somethi
ng to do with you playing a musical instrument,” he said, while sniggering again.

  Karen twitched her nose, staring at her husband. Her actions were of someone who never had a clue where this conversation led, but she did. “What do you mean an instrument?”

  “I thought you wanted to play the organ?”

  Both almost choked from the joke. Karen fell onto the bed next to her man. She remained giggling when climbing on top of him, but automatically stopped after depositing her lips onto his to transfer a soft kiss. “I love you,” she whispered into his ear.

  “I love you,” Blake whispered back.

  She undressed him very slowly, finding time to produce passionate butterfly-kisses onto his lips, neck and face before gradually shifting toward the top end of the bed.

  Blake’s items of clothing went through the same ritual. Each piece was removed from his goose pimpled frame and tossed onto the floor. Now it was his turn. He slowly lifted Karen’s nightwear to reveal perfectly toned legs. The item of clothing then moved up her body before slowly passing her perfect breasts and slipping over her head. Blake produced a pleasing smile as he watched the negligee land on the carpet.

  Stripped bare, they slid inside the satin sheets that he hadn’t seen before today and the perfect night of passion became reality.

  (TUESDAY)

  A clear sky penetrated brightness into the kitchen as Blake sipped his morning cup of tea. All thoughts were on today. The quicker he had this thing sorted out with the fertilizer, the better it would be for everyone concerned.

  Half an hour went by before he crept upstairs to see his wife. Upon entering the bedroom and noticing Karen still asleep, he leaned over the bed, kissed her on the forehead, sneaked back down, grabbed his lunchbox and left the house to start another day of work. He had a large smile on his face on this particular morning.

  Blake never drove to work if the day appeared to be a pleasant one and today the sun shone. Walking the mile or so from his home to the factory was good exercise and made him feel great for the shift ahead. Today, Blake felt like he could walk a thousand miles and still feel great.

  Ten staff members waited outside the factory gates as he arrived. “Bloody hell, you lot are eager to get some work done.”

  Todd, a tall, dark-skinned, stocky, Asian male made his way to the front of the crowd, speaking as he did so.

  “You told us to be here early, so here we are,” he said, with a deep huskiness in his tone.

  “Did I give you a time?”

  “No,” Todd replied quickly.

  “So, what time did you arrive this morning?”

  “Four o’clock.”

  “You’re joking. We never come into work that early. When I said come in early, I meant about seven.”

  Blake felt slightly embarrassed that his workers had waited for nearly three hours, but the staff members produced tiny smirks. “Yeah, I’m joking. We’ve only been here about ten minutes.”

  Fingers pointed at the boss. Comical giggles indicated that the others had played a joke on him for once.

  It was a bit early for messing around, but whatever rocked their boats was okay as long as the job was completed today, Blake thought.

  “It’s about time someone got one over on you. We did get you, didn’t we boss?” Todd said childishly.

  Blake wasn’t expecting this, but had to admit to being caught out by his foreman. “All right, you got me. Now are we going to do some work today or what?”

  “Yes boss,” Todd replied on behalf of the others.

  “Okay, in we go to start another great day.”

  Blake unlocked the main gate and everyone moved down to the factory to be let in. The staff members positioned themselves into groups. They all knew what was expected of them and Blake had no need to interfere with their daily routines; that task was down to Todd.

  Thirty minutes slipped by before the sound of a farm truck was heard in the distance. With the engine generating extreme noises, which gradually increased as the seconds ticked by, the big machine headed toward the factory gates. Blake saw the vehicle from his office window, opened it, and shouted down to the waiting staff.

  “We should be receiving fifty fertilizer sacks, so you’re going to need a couple of wooden pallets.”

  The window shut and he returned to his desk. He needed to wake Karen because he’d forgotten to reset the alarm clock, so a quick phone call was required. A faint murmuring noise was heard on the other end of the line.

  “Hey, baby, are you awake? It’s gone half seven and the clock is ticking as we speak. The sun’s shining and it’s going to be a wonderful day.”

  “Why didn’t the clock go off?” said Karen, sighing sleepily. “You didn’t forget to reset it again, did you?”

  “I’m sorry, but at least I remembered to call.”

  “Why’d you sound like you’re in a good mood this morning? Did you have a good night last night?”

  “No,” Blake answered seriously.

  He tried so hard to sound disappointed, hoping not to let on that he was overjoyed when she seduced him. He couldn’t keep up the pretence and so said things his wife did want to hear. “It was a great night. The things you can do with your tongue are unbelievable.”

  Karen became alert at once. “Mine. What about yours? I’m surprised you’re able to speak today after what your tongue did.”

  Blake grinned, but then noticed that the delivery truck had come to a standstill in the yard. “Sorry, love. I’ve got to go. We’ll finish this conversation later. The delivery’s just arrived. Love you, bye.”

  He was a bugger for talking rude on the phone then disconnecting when it got exciting, but on this occasion Karen was willing to forgive him. “Okay. I’ll see you tonight. Love you back.”

  The driver stood by the side of the truck, smoking a cigarette as staff unloaded the fertilizer. Blake went outside, wandering over to speak to him. “All right, mate. Do you know if this stuff’s really as good as they say it is?”

  The scruffy, stubble-faced driver left the cigarette butt in the corner of his lips while turning his head in Blake’s direction. “Yeah man, I’ve heard it does what it says on the packet. They’ve been testing this stuff for months in this giant greenhouse in the city, but I don’t know where. I think you’re the first customer to try it out.” A sadistic grin escaped the driver’s features as the cigarette flipped from side to side. “You’re going to be a fucking guinea-pig.”

  “Really, so I’m highly honoured then?”

  “Too right you are, pal.”

  The unloading was over. Todd double-checked the amount, exactly fifty sacks. Blake signed the delivery note, peeled off a copy for office use, and handed the original back to the driver. The man returned to the lorry, slamming the door shut as he sat down, then a hand emerged to indicate he was ready to leave. Blake

  acknowledged the wave as the driver began his departure out of the yard.

  “I want this stuff on the fields before the end of day. Come on, chop, chop,” Blake said, waving a hand toward the sacks.

  Bodies flowed from all angles to manoeuvre the fertilizer to its destination. There was no way all the bags would be used at this stage of proceedings so half were placed in storage for a later date.

  Now the work would begin to destroy the insects. Once this had been achieved, Blake could ensure the success of the fields of wheat, corn and barley, as they were the priority crops, gaining the most profit. His plan for the future was to grow a vast array of vegetables and expand the factory in order to produce livestock for other sources of income, but today was the beginning of putting his plan into action.

  FOUR

  Karen had been employed at the National Bank for the past two years. She’d witnessed the violent robbery. Although everyone had moved on from the awful incident, and the workplace had gone back to normal, her mind still spurted out past memories. She knew it could happen again. Even though the bank had put up new security cameras and sensors, it was
n’t enough to stop her from worrying about her own safety.

  Karen also had a work-related problem to deal with and that came in the shape of her boss. He was such a pleasant man before the robbery but now was a bit of a sex freak. If anyone complained, he would always blame it on the knock on the head that he’d received at Christmas. He would use sexual gestures in an attempt to persuade Karen to go out for a drink with him. She hated the way he behaved, but for now had the situation under control.

  Vincent was an overweight, pompous fool, who was in his late fifties, so just thinking about having intercourse with him made Karen want to vomit.

  He walked by, shouting out to Karen as she tidied her desk. “Karen, could I see you in my office for a minute. I’ve got important information to discuss with you.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right there.”

  The troubled walk to face the manager began and soon she was tapping on his office door.

  “Come in,” he shouted.

  “Grunting old fool,” Karen muttered, as she entered.

  “Please, sit down,” said Vincent, so she pulled back a chair. “There’s something I need to ask you?”

  Her heart beat faster. She was alone in the room with him and he seemed gentle, polite. This worried her.

  He’s after something again, but he’s not going to get anything resembling sexual activities so why bother asking, she thought.

  Vincent carried on with his speech. “I’ve just heard there’s a new kind of fertilizer being delivered to your husband’s works.”

  This information totally stunned the bank-clerk. Her heartbeat slowed down again. Vincent had said nothing to indicate sex, so now a tiny thought of disgust entered her mind. She disliked her boss for thinking of rude things to offer her but changing the subject and talking about fertilizer lowered her self-esteem. An opportunity to use the usual flattering charms and he’d chosen this conversation instead.