by Tony Criddle
It was still a few days before Christmas when Nick called for any last minute thoughts. The town would virtually close for business until the New Year street parade irrespective of which god they worshipped, with all the religions praying for a good spring season. Not much else happened besides music, praying, dancing and especially boozing, until it was done. Sinclair got in first.
“We’d better put in some sort of report to Qom soon Nick. Another flight wouldn’t go amiss either. They know what happens out here around this time of the year and it’ll stop them wondering about what we’re up to. They’d need a company of soldiers if they wanted to move in so if everything looks normal they aren’t going to bother.”
Nick nodded. “You’re right Jock. We’ll do a flight this afternoon and I’ll fake up a couple of reports after it.” He turned to Farhad. “You come out with us in you gear and help with any humping and shifting Fred, but it would be best if you stayed here for a little while yet Lil. I know Sarah is dying to drag you into town and you can dress casually around here. Some women wear head scarves, but not everyone bothers with that.” Laleh nodded as Nick thought of something else.
“Are there any other things you need when we go shopping Lil? You know, ladies’ things.” He looked embarrassed. She smiled gently.
“Not yet Nick, but will I be able to go into Qom before the Christmas thing? I need a few cosmetics and I could do with something to sleep in. I’d enjoy a look around as well. It’s a girl thing.”
He was learning quickly, but military aircrew live in an insensitive, dangerous world.
“You’ll have to wear your chador but you can come in when we submit the reports on Christmas Eve. Sarah will need to do some last-minute shopping then as well. There isn’t a great selection of cosmetics anymore but you might get most of what you want if you tell them it’s to please your husband.” He was mortified when he realised that there was implied chauvinism in there somewhere, but Lily’s eyes crinkled.
“If I buy a fair bit I could say that I’m shopping for all my husband’s wives to share. That’s even more politically correct.”
Amini grinned but Sinclair couldn’t let that pass. “Well done Nick. We’re have to send you to your bedroom and only let you out when it’s dark and there’s no-one around.” Nick Evans turned his eyes to the heavens. It was agony, not theatrics.
It had happened again. He felt physically sick. He had to make amends, he had to climb out of the cesspit he’d dug for himself. But what would do it? The answer leapt at him almost as quickly. Everybody enjoys a ride around the local area in a helicopter. Some say it’s the most fun thing you can do without breaking into a sweat.
“To compensate for my big mouth can I fly you around the local ranges? I’ll wear a gag, I promise. You’d like that for a change.”
She smiled brightly. “I’ve wanted to do that ever since I knew what you did Nick, but you and Jock have done so much for us already. I was a bit too shy to ask.”
This time he thought about his response, already getting less defensive. “I would be honoured if you would accompany me Laleh, it would be the most enjoyable flight I’ve had for a long time.” He missed the nod and smile of approval from Sarah in the kitchen. The Scot didn’t.
Chapter Twenty-Four
With a plan roughed out, it upped the ante. Nick flew a pseudo survey over the ancient, icy hills and sketched in an imaginative negative report, and the next day took Jock and Farhad into the hills with the Tikka. They pulled down both a fast gazelle and a nimble ibex on that one. The ibex would be roasted over a spit for the New Year celebrations and the gazelle would be shared with those around them.
A spitted carcass was tradition, and Jock had cut a 44-gallon drum lengthwise to barbecue it. They would use it for the New Year. A lot of people dropped in to eat after the main street parade and nobody was turned away hungry. It was a big goat, the carcass barely fitting into the chest freezer, and Nick hoped it would be cooked before the fire-water started to take its toll.
The next day was Laleh’s time in the sky.
Though it was still early, the day was already crystal clear when Nick dragged himself vertical. He tried to look wind swept and debonair but hadn’t felt this anxious for years. Why he did eluded him. What was wrong with him? He’d taken people flying before, had often played the high income taxi driver for a number of VIPs, but somehow today it felt different. And both Jock and Sarah had warned him to think about some of his comments. They’d hardly been covert, and some of the things he said did seem to sting, but they were automatic responses, not deliberate. Perhaps that was it. Perhaps he’d become a cynic. That one would take more thinking about.
Laleh was probably sleeping better than she had in weeks when Sinclair and his boys trooped in. They all knew what day this was and couldn’t hold back on some mild joshing. Nick tried not to rise to the bait, tried not let them get through, but everyone seemed to be at it. And Sarah didn’t help much either.
“I make lunch for you and Laleh, so you show her round up there. Where your flask thing?” She’d said that loud enough for them all to hear and the boys made appropriate noises. Sarah was smiling quietly as she sliced meat but Amini couldn’t stop himself snorting out loud. Life had been tough for weeks and his rank as a CO had forced him to stay aloof, but now he was enjoying a close, family atmosphere for the first time in his life. Other’s expectations had always taken precedence over his own needs, but what really got to him was that it happened among such varied religions and social backgrounds.
The friendly, pointed hassle didn’t fade until Nick escaped into the courtyard with a brew. He didn’t hear his housekeeper curb the exuberance. “That enough. You all be quiet now. They both in need this so don’t spoil it.” All of them knew better than to buck her. Jock Sinclair followed Nick out.
“No more of your bloody wisecracks you Scottish asshole, I’ve had enough for one day. I made a few stuff-ups and now everyone wants to jump on the band-wagon. I haven’t been around an aggressive woman before and I didn’t know what to say.”
Sinclair’s look was shrewd. “Do you see Lily as aggressive or strong?”
“Aggressive or strong, what’s the frigging difference? Every time I open my bloody mouth I put my foot in it.”
“There’s a huge difference Nick.” The Scot reflected. “Do you remember that bit of soul searching we did when we were blubbering in our cups this time last year? You told me a bit about your growing up and your family. How your mum had an answer for everything, even if it was wrong, but everyone was her enemy if they didn’t agree with her. Even you recognised that when you were little more than a bairn.” He let that hover.
“People with low self-esteem are often like that Nick. That’s aggression. Not having enough confidence to be wrong, and hiding away from controversial viewpoints even though they’re true. You’ve been there before laddie. You know what that’s like.”
Nick frowned and tried to quantify. “I didn’t mean Lily was like that. I just say the wrong things when she’s around and she reacts.”
“Well you may be protecting your own iffy ego because of your childhood mate. Maybe you chose the women you’ve known, not because you wanted them, but because they didn’t challenge you. It could be why nothing lasted very long, but Lily isn’t like that Nick. We already know she’ll stand up for herself if she needs to, but she can see when she’s wrong as well. She’s comfortable with admitting it if she’s wrong and appreciates other opinions especially if it’s something she doesn’t know much about. I can see now that she’d fight just as hard for her bloke as for herself as well. She’s trying to tell you she may be a woman but she’s not a bloody wimp. That’s where the difference is.”
Nick was still truculent, still a bit edgy. “So when did you suddenly learn so much about bloody women.”
A dark shadow dulled Sinclair’s eyes. He sighed deeply before he opened up. “No-body knows much about this laddie, and I’ll no be repeating it, so you’d
better listen good. I was married to a bonnie lass from Stirling once, doing pretty much what I do now, and she was always going to travel with me. She got pregnant early on though and before the first wee girl was out of nappies, she got pregnant again. In the end it was the babies, nappies and kids schooling for her and I sent the pay cheques and occasional letters home. We never got to travel together.” Sinclair contemplated before he went on.
“Jesus, half the time she didn’t even know where I was operating from, and those times I did get home were few and far between.” Jock reflected before he continued.
“One year I turned up after fourteen months overseas, but the house was rented to someone else. The girls would have been in their late teens by then, and I had no idea where they might be, but their nan certainly wasn’t about to tell me. My wife had developed an aggressive cancer just after I left, and she died three months before I got home again. I didn’t know, and I wasn’t there to bury her.” Sinclair blinked rapidly.
“That was ten years ago and the girls would have bairns of their own by now. I’ve never seen them again and I’ve never seen my grandchildren at all. I didn’t know much about women then laddie, but I sure as hell do now.”
By then his eyes were glistening.
Nick put an arm around Sinclair’s shoulder and pulled him close. “I’m so sorry mate but you’ve never said any of this before.”
“Well I have now so take your bloody hand off my shoulder. You two are a bit like the kids I never knew Nickie. Both me and Sarah can see there’s something different about you two. Something about the way you look at each other. I fucked up big-time and I’ll no let you do the same. Now, away with you and I’ll be in shortly. And you respond to that wee lassie a bit different in future.”
Amini, Imran and Laleh stood near the kitchen talking animatedly when Nick went back inside. She was eating from a bowl of sliced fruit as they chatted, and glanced over her shoulder and smiled. Nick felt more abashed than amused when he returned it. It seemed the more he had to think about the more he needed to. Sinclair had rattled his insulated cage again, but he tried to shrug it off.
“Jock’s almost ready guys, so we’ll go after I’ve had another coffee.”
“Sarah and her husband offered to take me around the stock yards, Nick. Can you look after Laleh if I go with them?” Amini asked.
No smart-arse replies even came close to the surface this time. “I can’t think of anything I’d enjoy more Fred.” Laleh was obviously expecting a different response. She blushed a delicate pink. Sarah switched on the kettle with a faint smile.
Nick nodded absently, manoeuvring passed the group to make his coffee and he was forced to hold on to the girl’s shoulders as a fulcrum. She was dressed in jeans, a duck egg blue T-shirt and brown leather moccasins that must have been under the chador when they brought her down from Tehran. It was a light touch, totally asexual, more a need to pivot.
Laleh didn’t move away, involuntarily she swayed towards him, but the slight movement was enough. There was no cringe, not even a flinch, and the warm play of muscles in her vibrant body, although minute, was still noticeable. Nick wanted to hang on, to prolong it a second longer, but he was almost through already, and reluctantly released her.
“Nickie, give me rest of water for flask thing after you make coffee.”
He poured and complied then turned with his mug. This time the girl was facing him just two paces away. Her T-shirt was tight and the brassiere marks showing prominently, but that’s not what got his attention. Her breasts looked larger, more up-lifted in the T-shirt, the smaller swell of her nipples now more proud and obvious. He looked up in confusion, hoping nobody had seen his reaction.
The men hadn’t, they were facing away, but Laleh had. She didn’t appear concerned although she looked at him steadily. He didn’t dare brush past again with his mug.
The boys climbed into the back of the Cherokee while Sinclair opened the front passenger door for the girl.
“You sit up here Lily or you won’t be able to see a damn thing in that bloody chador. I’ll hop in the back with my team.”
Nick hovered there too, holding out a tentative hand to help her in. He half expected a refusal with the others now present but Laleh took it without hesitation and levered herself up with it. She dragged the rest of the long skirts in with her before smiling her thanks. Really he could only see the expressive eyes crinkle.
They reached the galvanised hangar several minutes later and the maintainers piled out. Nick drove the short distance on to the office. When they were inside he started the flying ritual.
“A cup of instant Lily.”
“Yes please Nick. Are the things I’m wearing under the chador okay for the flight?”
“They’ll be fine love, and you can get rid of that now. The terminus people aren’t likely to wander over here.”
“You’re sure you won’t get too excited?” She was grinning playfully when she said that, remembering his earlier embarrassment.
“I think I can cope if you don’t wriggle around too much.” He grinned back at what he could see of her. Then he realised he wasn’t embarrassed.
She dragged off the heavy top and slate grey robes while Nick rummaged through the basket. He took out some long-life. Instant and sugar were in twist top jars beside the kettle.
“White with one isn’t it Lily?”
“Yes please.” Her response was muffled as she dragged the heavy under skirts over her head.
“Phew. I’m glad to be out of that bloody thing.”
“I’ve got to admit that I much prefer you without it myself. I’d never make it as a Muslim.” He grinned again. It was another automatic response but he was getting a lot happier with where they were going.
Nick spread his coloured topographical map over a table and pulled out chairs before he collected the coffees. The faint but heady musk she wore was more noticeable now their bodies actually brushed against each other, and both were conscious of how close they were. Nick had to concentrate hard to get going.
“Do you prefer Laleh to Lily, or aren’t you worried? I can remember if you kick me hard enough.”
“I’ll answer to either Nick. It really doesn’t bother me as long as it’s not Rottweiler. I wasn’t too keen on that one.” They both grinned, and Nick shuffled even closer. “Right, we’ll keep within this area for this trip.” He put his left arm around the back of her chair and traced with his right index finger, pointing out Shahabad, Arak and Khomeyn.
“It’s fairly high country that far in. Some summer huts are built alongside the mountain streams, but no permanent villages.” He pointed out a nearby peak almost in the centre of the area. “That one’s the highest with a great view and a couple of small flat meadows on it. Sarah packed us a picnic hamper so we’ll stop there for lunch. We can always look at other places on the next trip.”
“It’s not a problem then, parking it?”
The terminology had Nick smiling. “It’s not a thing we did much in the navy. We flew bigger, long-range choppers with different missions, but I worked with the Army Air Corps for a while and they fly smaller things like this. They’re air cavalry, and treat helicopters like horses anyway, and when I started flying surveys I found that we did too. We were forever stopping to chip out chunks of stuff for assaying. Jock will stick a spare battery in the cabin, just in case, because we’ll shut down out there. But if I know that bloody Scotsman he’ll take the other chopper and come looking for us if we don’t get back on time.”
“Okay Nick, I’m in your hands, but I didn’t know Jock could fly.”
“The silly bugger can’t Lily, but it wouldn’t stop him from trying.”
It’s not unusual for military pilots to get a bit blasé after years of flying, even the exciting stuff. They get jaded repeating even the most adventurous things, but showing a novice the ropes swings the pendulum back again. Nick’s interest had climbed a significant notch. Laleh’s astute questions were breathing new
life into it for him.
She must have spent most of her life in cities, and wanted to know a lot about her country’s flora and fauna. The questions she asked about cheetahs, and panthers, about wolves and camels were pointed and relevant, but she already suspected they would be too far south for most of the carnivores.
“Mostly that’s right Laleh. Jackals and hyenas live on the desert fringes as well, with maybe the odd tiger up north, but that’s around the Caspian and the northern Zagros mountains. We’ve only ever hunted ibex and gazelles in our mountains but we have seen wild donkeys and small herds of camels. We’ve never shot them, we only shoot for the pot, but we have had a go at the odd pig. In a country that’s so anti-pork I’m surprised there are any still up there.”
Laleh giggled. “When I was in England, bacon, eggs and tomatoes were a breakfast tradition on Sundays. I loved it.”
Nick grinned. “Okay then. We’ve got a couple of roasts and a side of bacon in the freezer. Only Jock and I eat pork but we could have that for a change.”
“Farhad won’t touch it so it can be our little secret.”
“The higher streams have got some beautiful trout in them as well. We can always do a fishing trip if you want?”
“I love trout. I’d really look forward to that, and all of us eat fish.”
“Okay, we’ll give that a go too. Having the chopper helps, but we’ll do it later. There’ll be enough to do on this flight.”
Sinclair barged through the door as Nick was finishing up, pausing dramatically when he saw them hunched over the map. “You’re ready to go laddie.” They both looked up.
“I don’t remember you getting that close when you were showing me where we were going. Should I fetch a lever or a bucket of water or something?” He grinned.
Nick picked up the grubby rag he’d used to clean the plastic map covering and threw it. “I wouldn’t dare you ruffian, you’d think I was trying to crack onto you.” Lily grinned at their banter. She was female and could already sense the deep bond between them.
