A Yoke Unequal

by Darrel Bird

I really am starved; I didn’t get a chance to eat lunch.”

  The helicopter shook as the pilot spun up the engines. There was no one on the ground to see them off, and only his two handlers would ever be a witness to that chopper lifting of the pad.

  Be sure your sins will find you out

  Jerry had been gone a week when Jane came by the apartment. “Want to see the town girl? I have instruction to take you out on the town, compliments of Uncle Sam. I told Madelyn to meet me here so she’ll be here in a few minutes.”

  “I suppose I could if Madelyn is taking care of the kids.”

  “That’s the spirit, I know a terrific restaurant just outside of DC where the drinks are cold, and the food is delicious, and I believe Madelyn just pulled up.”

  “How do you know it was her, you didn’t look out the window?”

  “Her car engine has a loose tappet; I told you the CIA takes note of everything, including lonely house wives.”

  “Oh, I’m not lonely.”

  “Honey, you can lie to yourself, and the rest of the world, but not me, I’m paid to know these things.”

  “Well…maybe just a little bit, we wouldn’t want you to be wrong would we?”

  “Only the men I work with dear. Now hurry and get dressed.”

  Madelyn came into the room, and immediately began straightening up, “I’ll sleep in the kid’s room with them.”

  Jane walked over and hugged her, “You’re a dear, and I love you for it.”

  In a few minutes Ellen walked out into the room dressed in an evening gown, “Oh, you look just spiffy now, we’ll have to fight the boys off tonight.”

  “Oh right, the boys, I’m a little past the boys attentions.”

  “You could pass for seventeen Ellen. Lets hit the old trail.”

  “After you.”

  She liked Jane and Madelyn, and it felt good to have someone she could trust with the kids to get a little me time. This time Jane took the Potomac River Bridge, and soon they twenty or so miles out in the country.

  “Where are you taking me this time, to a country hoedown?”

  “Fraid not sister, this is high class all the way; you just wait, and see.”

  They drove a while longer, and then she turned down a paved lane to a large house with tall columns in the front. A manicured lawn swept away past the house to a beautiful orchard behind it. A civil war cannon adorned the entrance to the house on each side of the door. Jane circled around the driveway to the wide double front doors, and a man stepped to the curb, and opened her door. He walked around, and did the same for Ellen, and then drove the car to some parking lot hidden by trees, and manicured shrubs.

  “What kind of place is this?”

  “You’ll see, come dear.” Jane guided her through the large doors, and into a formal dining room. A man pulled out a chair for her at the long table. There were already several people seated around the table, some in military dress uniform, and some in elegant suits.

  A uniformed man walked up behind Jane and covered her eyes with his hand, The man was undoubtedly one of the most handsome men she had ever seen.

  “Oh let me guess, those hands feel like major Walkers hands.” Jane said.

  “Are you never wrong?” The man asked.

  “If I were I wouldn’t admit it.” She returned.

  “I want you to meet Ellen Gray.”

  He bowed from the waist, “So happy to meet you Miss Gray.”

  “Its Mrs. Gray, and happy to meet you.”

  “Oh you couldn’t be married, not that young surely?”

  She knew he was just being complimentary, but it raised goose bumps on her arms, and when that happened her face burned a little.

  “I see I have been seated by you, oh what luck.”

  “The man who is trying to charm the socks off you is Major Jeff Walker.” Jane laughed.

  She looked down at her plate, and was relieved when they brought the food, it was small talk through dinner, and then Jane glanced at her watch ,and exclaimed, “Oh, I completely forgot I had an appointment further up the road, I really must go…Major Walker, could I trouble you to drive Ellen home after the party?”

  “I can get a ride back.” Ellen said, startled at the turn of events.

  “No, I’ll take you, and that’s final. We really have to see that you get home safe, and sound.” The Major said with finality, taking her hand in his.

  “I’m really so sorry Ellen dear. How stupid of me. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” Jane said with a less than convincing, almost manufactured tone.

  She got up to leave, and patted Ellen on the shoulder, “The Major is very dependable dear, I’ll call you tomorrow.” She then hurried out the door leaving Ellen confused, and irritated at what she had done.

  “Lets move to the tables, and get an after dinner cocktail.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t drink.”

  “Just a tiny one won’t hurt, it will get us loosened up, I have got to dance with the most beautiful and charming woman I have met in a while. Come dear.” He took her by the hand and led her to the cocktail tables in the grand ball room.

  She appreciated the early American charm of the room, “This was once one of the richest plantations in Virginia. It goes all the way back to the seventeen hundreds.” Major Walker volunteered. “It was in my family for generations.”

  “Do tell.” Ellen said, becoming interested, and delighted at meeting someone who actually was so closely acquainted and knew the history of the place. She loved early American history.

  She sipped the cocktail as his mellow voice told of the history that lay behind the plantation, and of the early sailing ships that plied the entrance to the Potomac. Some of the women came by to try to get him to dance, but he put them off, and this played on her starved emotions.

  “Lets dance, shall we?” His deep blue eyes stared into hers, and she was lost in them. He lifted her up out of the chair by a simple tug of his hand, and soon she was dancing on a cloud. The time literally disappeared, and then it was suddenly time to leave.

  When they were sitting in front of the apartment, he leaned over and began to kiss her passionately and she responded. She all of a sudden awoke out of the dream of temptation, and jerked away. “Please don’t do that.”

  “You know you want me Ellen, and I want you.”

  “You want a roll in the hay, and I’m a married woman who has just ignored my vows.” She exited the car slamming the door behind her, and rushed to the front door of the apartment. She shook as she took out her keys, and opened the door.

  Madelyn was in the living room with the TV turned low, and saw her enter the room shaking. “Whats the matter Ellen, you look as if you had seen a ghost.”

  “I just did, and the ghost was me. Thank you for caring for the children. Your services will no longer be needed.”

  “Oh? Why is that, have I done something wrong?”

  “No, I have, and I’m going back to being the wife, and mother I was born to be.”

  She handed Madelyn a twenty, but she refused it, “I am well paid by the CIA, and I can’t take your money. I enjoyed sitting for your children though.”

  When she was gone she dropped on the couch, “Oh my God, what have I done? Oh God, please forgive me.”

  She knew that forgiveness was part of Gods plan, but she also knew the road ahead. “Lord, I am really good at presumption. I presumed to think your word doesn’t mean what it says, and now I must reap what I have sown, and I don’t really know how I’m going to bear up under it.”

  All the kings men

  “Ok Mr. Gray, we’re going to fly over the peninsula, and when you jump, I skedaddle on out of there. I’ll try to pick a spot clear of the trees, but it’s pretty woody down there.”

  “Going in is much better that being swooped up by a jet plane catching a diaper. I’m ready when you are.”

  Fifteen minutes later Jerry was being propelled toward the ground. Jumping at a thousand feet left little tim
e for the chute to open, and the cold was already affecting guidance of the parachute. Oh crap, I’m going to hit a tree. Before he could finish his thought he heard, and felt the limbs beginning to snap off in the extreme cold of the Siberian arctic. He felt a stab on his arm as one of the limbs actually penetrated the cold weather gear. That was what had been worrisome in the tests. He shoved away from the tree with his legs, and hit the ground hard on his back, and buttocks. The snow was deep enough to cushion his fall somewhat, but he still felt his teeth click together.

  He was able to work the chute off a snag, and he dug a hole in the snow, and shoved it in, pulling snow over the top of it. He stood up and looked around him at the snow covered forest. A few evergreens dotted the landscape. He checked his Sat-Nav, and began walking south. He stopped and took the radio out of his pocket, and unwound the long range wire antenna. He found a limb to hang the wire on, then keyed the radio, and said two words in Russian, “I’m in.” Radio silence would be maintained until he was on the frozen lake ready to be picked up. Being picked up by a plane going a hundred twenty five miles an hour was a dangerous maneuver that he had practiced once. It had left him with a sore body, and a bad nose bleed. The CIA said it was the best way.

  As he went further south, his goal still twelve miles away, he knew he wouldn’t make it before darkness fell. He could still navigate in the dark with the Sat-nav, but it would be more risky, on the other hand laying in the snow for hours at a time didn’t seem all that inviting either. He decided to just see how it went, and act accordingly. He thought he saw a shadow or something dark flit through the edge