The beach near the pumice slopes was empty when I arrived<\/p>\n
Which angered me<\/p>\n
With a little difficulty I found a room for the night<\/p>\n
There was a note under my pillow<\/p>\n
Be at the beach at nine no later <\/i><\/p>\n
This is very important<\/i><\/p>\n
The note was not signed<\/p>\n
I did not dream or at least did not recount my dreams and as requested I walked to the pumice beach<\/p>\n
A few children were running down the slopes blissfully unaware of the movie<\/p>\n
In the distance two women sat in bikinis<\/p>\n
One was the in blue<\/p>\n
The other in red<\/p>\n
Although I knew who they were I was surprised to see them so far away from England<\/p>\n
Lynne looked up<\/p>\n
But Geraldine carried on reading<\/p>\n
You have finally arrived Stephen <\/i><\/p>\n
Yes <\/i><\/p>\n
Sit down <\/i><\/p>\n
Hi Geraldine it is nice to see you again our time in Dover was far too short <\/i><\/p>\n
Geraldine did not answer<\/p>\n
It she ok?<\/i><\/p>\n
Ask her <\/i><\/p>\n
Stop fucking about Lynne otherwise I will walk away now <\/i><\/p>\n
Geraldine stood up and kissed me on the cheek<\/p>\n
Sorry Stephen I was so engrossed <\/i><\/p>\n
Happy now <\/i><\/p>\n
What do you mean happy?<\/i><\/p>\n
That mummy has greeted you as you wished\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n
Lynne I am losing the plot what is going on? <\/i><\/p>\n
You are here for a reason <\/i><\/p>\n
There is a contract out on me <\/i><\/p>\n
Yes <\/i><\/p>\n
And I am standing here in full view <\/i><\/p>\n
Yes <\/i><\/p>\n
Are you taking something? <\/i><\/p>\n
No <\/i><\/p>\n
So <\/i><\/p>\n
So you are here for a reason <\/i><\/p>\n
What reason? <\/i><\/p>\n
You are going to assassinate Corbett\u2019s brother <\/i><\/p>\n
Like fuck I am <\/i><\/p>\n
You are or you will not make it off the beach alive <\/i><\/p>\n
Fuck you Lynne <\/i><\/p>\n
I moved forward and a bullet hit the sand in front of me<\/p>\n
At present I would guess that you are in the gun sights of at least five marksmen <\/i><\/p>\n
Sit down Stephen <\/i><\/p>\n
I sat down<\/p>\n
Lynne pointed to a bag that was propped up against a rock<\/p>\n
Inside that bag is a high powered rifle similar to the type you used to kill Corbett <\/i><\/p>\n
But this rifle is oh so sophisticated <\/i><\/p>\n
You will position yourself up there and wait until the ship you see gets closer <\/i><\/p>\n
At about five o\u2019clock it will move closer to the beach <\/i><\/p>\n
Corbett\u2019s brother will come on deck at about five thirty to have a cigarette <\/i><\/p>\n
You will then kill him as you did his brother <\/i><\/p>\n
And if I refuse <\/i><\/p>\n
You will not leave this beach alive <\/i><\/p>\n
Why do not ask one of your pretty boys to do your dirty work?<\/i><\/p>\n
That is impossible <\/i><\/p>\n
I shot Corbett nearly twenty years ago because he was a despot and ruining our country <\/i><\/p>\n
Would you do it again? <\/i><\/p>\n
Yes <\/i><\/p>\n
I looked at Geraldine she was still reading her book<\/p>\n
You brought up a fine daughter Geraldine just like you <\/i><\/p>\n
She will not answer Stephen <\/i><\/p>\n
Why?<\/i><\/p>\n
Because she is dead <\/i><\/p>\n
I stared at Lynne who had removed her bikini top<\/p>\n
I have nice breasts<\/i><\/p>\n
Do you agree Stephen? <\/i><\/p>\n
Fuck your breasts Lynne <\/i><\/p>\n
You already have <\/i><\/p>\n
Do not worry it is not for you <\/i><\/p>\n
You have lost me totally <\/i><\/p>\n
It is a sign to the chameleons with the rifles <\/i><\/p>\n
I want you alive <\/i><\/p>\n
Chameleons? <\/i><\/p>\n
Yes chameleons Stephen <\/i><\/p>\n
I am a chameleon Stephen <\/i><\/p>\n
You have not guessed have you?<\/i><\/p>\n
Guessed what?<\/i><\/p>\n
Do you know what a chameleon is? <\/i><\/p>\n
And no it is not a creature that changes colour <\/i><\/p>\n
I did not answer<\/p>\n
Lynne looked at the pumice slopes<\/p>\n
Do you know that I have always wanted to run down those pumice slopes ever since I saw the movie <\/i><\/p>\n
Then do it <\/i><\/p>\n
I will this evening after you have killed Corbett <\/i><\/p>\n
The place will be crawling with bodyguards\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n
Who would suspect a small girl running down the pumice slopes? <\/i><\/p>\n
I will be led away for my own safety but that\u2019s all <\/i><\/p>\n
Lynne stood up and walked into the sea and began swimming<\/p>\n
Geraldine what has she done to you?<\/i><\/p>\n
I put my hand into my jacket for my gun and as I did so a bullet whistled by and disturbed a nearby bush \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
My pocket was empty<\/p>\n
But I still had Ingrid\u2019s pistol concealed in my sock<\/p>\n
Lynne returned<\/p>\n
That was silly of you Stephen and yes I know about the pistol in your sock<\/i><\/p>\n
If you promise to not to do anything rash then I will explain things as I think I owe you an explanation<\/i><\/p>\n
Yes I think you do <\/i><\/p>\n
Lynne smiled and looked at the milky sea<\/p>\n
In 1711 a spaceship landed in Northern Russia or rather it crashed <\/i><\/p>\n
It was full of people or creatures from a different planet <\/i><\/p>\n
That\u2019s science fiction <\/i><\/p>\n
Do not interrupt me Stephen <\/i><\/p>\n
Well these creatures we quite hardy and within a few years had totally adopted human characteristics <\/i><\/p>\n
Well apart from one thing <\/i><\/p>\n
That being?<\/i><\/p>\n
We could change form at will and also we tend to live for a large number of years <\/i><\/p>\n
Change form <\/i><\/p>\n
Yes <\/i><\/p>\n
A shape shifter <\/i><\/p>\n
That is a rather crude way of describing it but yes <\/i><\/p>\n
Geraldine never existed you know <\/i><\/p>\n
Explain <\/i><\/p>\n
Geraldine was Lynne <\/i><\/p>\n
But I knew you when you were younger there were two of you <\/i><\/p>\n
And so there were <\/i><\/p>\n
But it was all an illusion <\/i><\/p>\n
There was only ever me <\/i><\/p>\n
So you are saying <\/i><\/p>\n
Yes <\/i><\/p>\n
To satisfy the authorities Geraldine took an overdose <\/i><\/p>\n
And the flower shop <\/i><\/p>\n
What flower shop?<\/i><\/p>\n
It was all an illusion Stephen<\/i><\/p>\n
As was Batgirl <\/i><\/p>\n
Ingrid Janet Rees <\/i><\/p>\n
Pauline <\/i><\/p>\n
Geraldine they were all me <\/i><\/p>\n
Why the games?<\/i><\/p>\n
I had to be sure of you Stephen <\/i><\/p>\n
That is why I wrote that awful poem and that sickly letter <\/i><\/p>\n
And your London life? <\/i><\/p>\n
I am in London at present doing a job I hate <\/i><\/p>\n
I will return home to my apartment this evening and be worshiped <\/i><\/p>\n
Perhaps I will let him fuck me
\n<\/i><\/p>\n
You are sick Lynne <\/i><\/p>\n
I am everything to everyone <\/i><\/p>\n
Why do you not assassinate Corbett as you are so good at everything?<\/i><\/p>\n
Because the Chameleons are a peaceful race <\/i><\/p>\n
We cannot kill <\/i><\/p>\n
I have no violence in me<\/em><\/p>\n Buit if I walked off of this beach one of your goons would kill me <\/i><\/p>\n He would die also <\/i><\/p>\n The acids in his body would overwhelm him which would be unfortunate <\/i><\/p>\n So what is in it for me?<\/i><\/p>\n Whatever you want <\/i><\/p>\n Me <\/i><\/p>\n Geraldine <\/i><\/p>\n Whatever you like<\/i><\/p>\n So there was never a Geraldine I was fucking you all along\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n Correct <\/i><\/p>\n But I could be Geraldine <\/i><\/p>\n I could be Batgirl in Gotham City<\/i><\/p>\n It is your choice <\/i><\/p>\n I can change into any woman you like <\/i><\/p>\n At tall Italian woman walked by<\/p>\n She looked down and smiled from behind her dark glasses<\/p>\n I could be her <\/i><\/p>\n I could be Ingrid Janet Rees <\/i><\/p>\n Anybody <\/i><\/p>\n You just have to do this one job <\/i><\/p>\n And me? <\/i><\/p>\n You might end up getting shot <\/i><\/p>\n That is all down to you <\/i><\/p>\n If you are good then you will escape <\/i><\/p>\n If not you will end up dead\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n Why does Corbett\u2019s brother offend you so much? <\/i><\/p>\n Corbett was a chameleon and so is his brother <\/i><\/p>\n You did us an enormous service when you killed Corbett <\/i><\/p>\n I knew that you had it in you <\/i><\/p>\n That is why I worked with you and shared your life <\/i><\/p>\n But the brother is even more dangerous <\/i><\/p>\n He is aware of our weaknesses and uses them against us <\/i><\/p>\n He is a risk to our race <\/i><\/p>\n We came here to do good <\/i><\/p>\n But to do well sometimes you have to make cruel decisions <\/i><\/p>\n If you kill Corbett then we will progress <\/i><\/p>\n If not then our work is compromised <\/i><\/p>\n I thought all chameleons were good <\/i><\/p>\n They were genetic mutations <\/i><\/p>\n We have neutralised most of them save for the odd dictator <\/i><\/p>\n But this Corbett is out of control <\/i><\/p>\n I will leave you now Stephen <\/i><\/p>\n Do as you will <\/i><\/p>\n You are free to leave <\/i><\/p>\n But I know you will not <\/i><\/p>\n If you do kill Corbett and survive then meet me at the villa by the pool\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n I will be whosoever you wish <\/i><\/p>\n Nothing more will be asked of you <\/i><\/p>\n And by the way you will get paid for this <\/i><\/p>\n Review your bank statement when you have time<\/i><\/p>\n Lynne threw a black batman shirt over her shoulders and walked away<\/p>\n Geraldine slowly faded in front of me as Ingrid Bergman had previously<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I was in position by five and hid behind a sparse bush<\/p>\n I had the deck of the boat in my sights<\/p>\n There were a number of other people on deck<\/p>\n But not Corbett<\/p>\n At 05.29 he came out on deck and lit a cigarette<\/p>\n I had a clear shot<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was a return of gunfire which was heavier than I had anticipated<\/p>\n His bodyguards were on the island around me<\/p>\n I had not anticipated this<\/p>\n I am an assassin not a hit man<\/p>\n I shot one who broke cover<\/p>\n But the others soon surrounded me<\/p>\n Kill him don\u2019t ask questions<\/i><\/p>\n But\u00a0<\/em> That is an order<\/em><\/p>\n Suddenly a small girl grabbed my hand and together we ran towards the pumice slopes<\/p>\n This illusion will only last for a matter of seconds Stephen and then you are on your own<\/i><\/p>\n I had not seen much magic in my life and had spent a considerable amount of it in prison but as we ran down those white pumice slopes I felt I was floating<\/p>\n I could hear music but could not identify it<\/p>\n The small girl held my hand tightly until we reached the sea<\/p>\n Then she released her grip<\/p>\n Swim swim as hard as you can Stephen <\/i><\/p>\n I ran into the sea and swam as fast as I could<\/p>\n Bullets were cutting the water<\/p>\n The small girl was being led to safety by the very men who were trying to kill me<\/p>\n I was alone<\/p>\n Respiro<\/i><\/p>\n Respiro<\/em><\/p>\n This was the only word I heard as I swam out of sight<\/p>\n Beyond the range of the bullets<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Six weeks later I was at the villa<\/p>\n Nobody was trailing me<\/p>\n The road was quiet<\/p>\n Pauline was sunbathing by the pool<\/p>\n So you made it <\/i><\/p>\n Yes <\/i><\/p>\n It appears that you were killed in an exchange of fire <\/i><\/p>\n So the papers say <\/i><\/p>\n You do not exist Stephen<\/em><\/p>\n I know<\/em><\/p>\n Pauline sipped a shiny cocktail<\/p>\n A drink Stephen?<\/em><\/p>\n I am a poor host <\/em><\/p>\n No<\/em><\/p>\n You have come here for your payment<\/em><\/p>\n Don’t play games Lynne<\/em><\/p>\n It is up to you who you want to be?<\/i><\/p>\n Who do you wish to share your life with ? <\/i><\/p>\n I can be Geraldine again<\/em><\/p>\n I have not really considered\u00a0 it<\/i><\/p>\n For me the future the past and the present have merged <\/i><\/p>\n For now I am happy just to be who I am <\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n End <\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The beach near the pumice slopes was empty when I arrived Which angered me With a little difficulty I found a room for the night There was a note under my pillow Be at the beach at nine no later This is very important The note was not signed I did not dream or at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2863"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2863"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2863\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuartmillerosborne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/i><\/p>\n