Chapter 16: El valor de Amor
May 26, 2001
7:30 A.m.
Rolek Estates, Columbia, South Carolina
If she were Edgar Allan Poe, she’d say she heard a tapping at the door. A tapping, a clapping, and ringing that wouldn’t let her sleep evermore.
We return to the far Eastern state of South Carolina to a more peaceful dwelling, one that was liberally enjoying the morning from one’s bedside. Resting, with eyes glazed over, it was only until the bell began to ring that Padma Maheswaran began to wake, conscious thoughts taking hold from the odd dreams of her culturally rich youth, of Rama and Krishna, the millions of roamers in cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
There was him, of course. He was present all the night through, this Hercules of the Western lands. Even now he was on her mind as she rose from bed, slipping feet into slippers that rested within the well vacuumed carpet as she made the way to the door, flattening out the tank top over her long pajama pants as to appear at least somewhat decent.
A good choice, for as she came to open the door she found the man she had been anxiously waiting. While his attire was still something she expected him to wear, dark jeans with a Gray and White striped flannel shirt, there was a certain nervousness as to his stance as he waited upon her patio, hands in his pockets as he looked for the words to say.
So Padma said them first. “So, my hero returns in one piece. You look tired.”
“Yeah… long drive. We can talk about it later though… you still need to get to school, right?”
“You know today is Saturday, right?”
Jack blinked, glancing about as if to look for a calender. Finding none, he chortled as he moved a hand through his hair, sighing as he explained “Must have slept longer than I had planned... no wonder Fred told me to get you myself. Sorry to wake you… I’ll come back later, if you wa-”
“NO!”
The soldier, taken aback from the force of the answer, said nothing as he saw the dark skinned girl from India blush as she took him by the hand, rubbing her fingers between his own as she massaged them, beckoning him in with a plea and a temptation.
“I’ve missed you. Really. I’d much rather you spend the morning with me than going back to bed for an hour or so. Come on in, if you don’t have anything else you have to do.”
“At this point… I don’t think it would matter if I did.”
So Fred’s plan worked, the limo pulling away as Jack nodded for his departure, practically dragged into the comfortable abode that the enterprising mercenary had bought and paid for in full some time ago. The smell of almonds, a favorite of his friend of the female gender, greeted him as she finally let go and went into the kitchen, telling him to sit down in the living room as she asked
“You must be hungry, especially after your trip to LA. Turn on the news; it’s all most stations are talking about right now.”
“Hm?” The soldier grunted, taking a seat on a long sofa that could have been meant for four as he powered the screen with a click of a remote. While the girl training to be a doctor typically turned to the news for matters of great importance only, whatever had caught her eye the night prior was the first thing the television turned to this morning.
The news caster was caught mid-speech, an image of the highway where Jack had destroyed several of La Mara 18’s escort being shown within the background. “-tity of the squad is alone, our sources have reached out to both the local police and the governor to learn of the circumstances of the gang violence. Both responded with what seemed to be a prepared statement, in that while they will not disclose the identities of the heroes who fought with La Mara, it was done under their direct support and supervision.
“Additionally, while we are still being refused the names of the men who were seen all over the city yesterday, the names of the victims have been given, the most important of which is Rodrigo Morales. An illegal immigrant from El Salvador, he was the head of the gang known as Los Ocelotes de Justicia, until his own death yesterday as he ran his car off the road during a police pursuit and into the ocean, where he was confirmed drowned.
“Republicans, citing this as yet another example of the dangers of illegal immigration, cite once more for increased border security while Democrats, concerned with the collateral damage incurred by the special task force sent to dispatch these mobs, have begun to question under what authority and sanctions…”
Jack’s eye was turned away as his nose began to pick up the smell of buttered toast, cut banana and herbal tea, brought over on a tray by the accommodating girl with unkempt hair as she set the plate of food on the clear glass table in front of him. While it was certainly a kind act, one that wasn’t too far out of her nature, it was a rare deed considering how much he went out of the way to serve her.
“Hey Padma… you want to talk? Take a seat… I won’t bite.”
The girl did, though the tension and unspoken issues that kept them apart became manifest physically, the girl opting to sit at the end of the long couch. The man regretted that, sad that this is what they had come to; normally she was a very affection person, more than happy to rest on his chest even when he was trying to eat.
So the question that came from her surprised Jack greatly. “Are you mad with me?”
“Padma… what makes you say that?”
“I was rude, quiet, and cold on the ride back from that cathedral the other night. You shared something personal, something great, and I simply shell up and treat you like a freak. You’re offended, aren’t you?”
Jack shook his head, a bit brighter as he found that they weren’t as lost as he had feared. In fact, he even let out a small laugh before he faced Padma again, his Blue eye shining bright as he replied “No… you actually took the truth better than most. I’ve had people call me crazy, pass out in shock, or simply run away… I don’t think I’ve met anyone with the faith you’ve had in me.”
Padma perked up at that, coming to realize the same as her now officially redeemed boyfriend. “Then we’re still a thing? You aren’t here to tell me you’re going away?”
“Actually… I was hoping to spend some more time with you. Take a break from the mercenary business… and get to know you better.”
Time may heal all wounds, but a few words can work faster than even it can. With the rift gone and filled by the simple power of affection, the Indian med student crawled from the corner of the long furniture as she went from far and distant to close and intimate, hugging her boyfriend hard as she locked lips with him once more. Jack, finding himself missing the family life, was all too happy to receive it; he placed his own hands on her uncovered hips, moving them to her back as he felt the smooth skin that he longed to feel against his own.
Yet that was as far as they took it, their morals denying them the complete act of love making as they separated and moved away, the unconscious agreement staying true as Padma moved off of his knees and simply balled up at his side. With a grin, Jack held her and rubbed her shoulder with the hand wrapped around her, the two turning to watch the TV as they saw more and more of his handiwork.
Which brought up all sorts of fun questions from Padma. “So… can I ask you anything?”
“Anything you want.”
“Am I… how many girls have you been with? Have you been with… you know?”
“No, no guys for me… wouldn’t want to be teaching Jesus that it’s okay to be Gay when the rest of the scriptures clearly say otherwise... not to say that I’m attracted to them. Not my burden to bear… only women for me.
“As for that… I’ve been in many relationships. Some only lasted a few weeks, some went until I had to tell them the truth… some married me and divorced after they learned of their responsibilities, and some were with me until they day they died… I could tell you by name, but that’s not something you want to hear, do you?”
Padma thought it over. “No, it would just make me jealous... but how about kids? How many
rug rats am I going to have to worry about at our next Christmas dinner?”
“That depends on what you consider an heir… I’ve been cloned, had my sperm stolen, and even offered to sire a child in the name of wealth or peace. I have dozens of people running around with my blood… but only a few that have my name.”
“Every day for you must be something out of a book.”
“It will be with you.” Jack replied, only half a joke as he stroked her hair. The girl purred at the small gesture, the frizzles turning neat as he moved fingers between the long locks, as she settled more tightly into his chest and listened to the soft beat of his heart.
Until he opened his mouth. “Now, Padma… my turn for a question.”
“Shoot. I have no secrets to hide, nothing like yours anyway.”
“Not so much an inquiry as it is a plea of help… My question is… Well…
“What the hell am I going to tell your mother?”
The young Padma Maheswaran snapped alert, pulling herself from the man’s chest as she looked at him in a panic, only imagining the heart attack her mother would have. That she was dating someone who looked to be ten years her elder was one thing; to be dating a half god was another entirely.
“Honestly, I haven’t the slightest idea Mr. Wallace.”
“That’s okay… guess we now have something to do.”
An agreement to kiss on as the two lost themselves once more in love, fretting for nothing as they held each other and let the morning, the day, and weeks pass away. For all the pain, all the misery, and all the strife that the world had to offer, they had found something to cherish and hold onto…
Their own pearl of great price, a peace worth even more than the lives they worked so hard to live. For as much as a man is worth, it’s true value is not measure in how much he does for himself… but how much he does for anoth-
Times of Peace: Volume 1 of the side adventures to The Mercenary's Salvation Page 29
