Lovers in the Woods (27 page)

“Ah, your question puts me in deep, deep
trouble because the lady of the house already told me what kind of
style she wanted done.”

Sajitar turned his head to look into the
small, restless eyes of the hair dresser.

“
That implies that I go along with that,
doesn’t it?”

“I hope so.” The smile was forced.

“I hope for you that she pays you grand.” He
turned back. “As long as you don’t cut it too short or shave me
bald, I’ll go along.”

“Thank you.”

Sajitar sighed and looked to the guards, who
patiently waited with folded hands in front of the bars.

“You can leave. I won’t kill him just for
cutting my hair.”

“And the beard,” Terendolo added.

“And the beard. I will sit here and let the
man do his work.” When the guards glanced at each other, he went
on, “Look, I’m bound to the chair and I won’t run away with it. I’m
fine, really. He’ll take his time. Go out for a drink of Beldrog or
whatever Sananda offers.”

Upon another exchange without words, the
guards left through the corridor, heading for the main wing.
Sajitar could not believe his luck. For the first time since he had
been imprisoned, he felt a surge of hope. He turned to look into
Terendolo’s eyes. The hair dresser smiled a restless smile, comb
and scissors in his hands.

“
Listen, Terendolo, you must tell the judge
that I wanted to come, but could not. Tell him about Sananda Wang.
He put up the trial against her.” And when the hair dresser stared
at the floor, he added, “Hey, are you listening? I’m a witness in
the trial against Mrs Wang. And it is your duty to inform the
police and the court about what’s going on. You have the
opportunity. You can walk free once you’re done here. I
can’t.”

Terendolo gently turned back Sajitar’s head
so he could go on cutting.

“
This is a great misunderstanding, Sajitar.
I was called to cut your hair and shave you, nothing else. I am in
no position to trade messages. If I did, guess how long I would
live? Ah, no, I can’t do what you bid me.”

“No, it’s not what you can do, but what you
must do. Sananda keeps me here because she knows I would testify
against her. She is a criminal, a terrorist!”

Terendolo bent to whisper in his ear,

“And she pays grand and lets me live. And
that’s all I want.”

Sajitar let out air and closed
his eyes. His hands cramped around the armrests while his heart
hammered against his ribs.
Does Sananda have everybody under her
heel?

“Please, Terendolo, you don’t have to risk
your life for that. Just slip a message to the police HQ. If the
trial takes place without witnesses, she’ll go on like she has for
years.”

“
I am but too small a man to do anything
about it.” Terendolo shook his head as he gently pulled Sajitar’s
head back to lather his face for shaving. “I love my work. I love
my life. When I got to Belthraine, I had nothing but a few pairs of
scissors, comb and brush and the idea of opening a shop. It took me
many standard years to establish my work. The women first thought
that on this remote planet there was no need for a very good hair
cut. I had to walk from house to house to convince them. Now look
at me. I am—”

“You are the hair dresser for the most
influential person in Belson Park, yes,” Sajitar agreed, “but you
earn your money from a criminal.”

“Ah, that is your point of view. What I don’t
see, I can’t accuse.”

This time, Sajitar’s laugh was short and
bitter.

“You don’t see that I am a prisoner instead
of a guest? Did they not lift the blindfold when you got here? Then
I really fear for my skin.”

“
I saw other men bound in places I don’t
want to mention and they looked very happy. I think if I started
untying them they would protest.” He shaved Sajitar’s face with
verve, forcing him to hold still. He shrugged once and a smile
blossomed on his round face. “This place is like none I have seen
before. Old rules don’t apply. Ah, if you would all call for help I
might be tempted, but right now you might just be playing with me.
The game is not mine.” Terendolo wiped the shaving knife clean and
used another towel to dry Sajitar’s face after he was satisfied
with his work. “If you want my advice, it would be best for you to
play along with her and be content. It is not common that Sananda
chooses a new man.”

“So you do know her better than you
said.”

Terendolo sighed and stood beside the chair.
His demeanor changed and his glance became compassionate.

“You are very special to her, Sajitar. Don’t
waste the chance to win her over once more. I don’t know what you
did to her in the first place, but she wants to have you back and
truly not behind bars.”

Sajitar hung his head. The ground beneath him
could have crumbled and he would not have noticed.

“She sent you to test me.”

“She regrets that you left without giving her
the chance to make up. She does not even know why you ran away.”
Terendolo wiped his hands and, after folding the towel, collected
and cleaned the comb and scissors before he put them back into the
kit again. Sajitar watched him with growing misery. “To her,
nothing has changed. If you want your place back you will get it.
Ah, I would not try and pretend if I were you. She is much too
clever to be fooled. Either you take your place or you—Well, I
think you understand the consequences much better than a hair
dresser.” He presented a mirror and Sajitar was astonished to look
like a civilized person. The hair was short in an acceptable way
and the beard completely gone. “Are you satisfied?”

“Did I have much of a choice?”

“
Ah, no. Still, I am a hair dresser, and I
like my work complimented.”

“Sananda will praise you, I’m sure.”

Terendolo put away the mirror and took his
tool kit.

“I apologize for not being in the position to
open the cuffs. I am sure the guards will return in time.” He bowed
to Sajitar and left.

Sajitar woke from a restless sleep and,
sitting up, wiped his eyes. In his dream he had been up in a tree
once more and a flying Horlyn had gently stroked his hair with a
fur-covered claw. While the sun shone in his eyes it had tweeted to
soothe him, telling him without words that everything would be fine
and that he would live long and in peace if he only stayed around
and did not attempt to escape.

He pulled the loin cloth that a guard had
brought around his waist, tied it with a knot and got up. The sun
shone in his cell. Through the window he watched four women
currying their B-horses. They were dressed for a ride, chatted
happily and had no eyes for the man behind bars. Beyond them on the
paddock, Tessla stood grazing. He could not help but rattle the
bars. The wood was hard as stone under his hands and did not budge.
Not that he had expected it to. His prison was solid, built to last
and serve the owner.

He pressed his forehead against the warm wood
and enjoyed the sun through closed lids, thinking of his former
travels through Emerald Green and how he had impressed the young
folk he had worked with at the spaceport. He had always been
happiest while staying outdoors. He knew it would not take him long
to go crazy being forced to live in this small room. Sighing, he
settled on the broad window sill and watched the women carry
saddles and bridles. One B-horse shied away and the woman landed on
her butt. The others laughed themselves silly, but helped her up.
Together, they bridled the fidgeting B-horse until it relaxed
again. The joyous chatter went on as they collected their bags to
upload them behind the saddles.

“You could be out there, too, my beloved
Sajitar. I always loved to watch you ride.”

He turned around. Sananda Wang had
noiselessly opened the bars and come in. As usual she wore high
heels, this time paired with long, loose pants and a dark red
blouse that was tight enough to show her well-formed breasts.
Strands of black hair dangled at her cheeks while the rest was
artfully arranged on her head. Her pouting made Sajitar’s heart
jump. In spite of all he knew about her, she still excited him and
he was tempted to run to her. His legs had a life of their own, but
he willed himself to remain at the window, hands cramped on his
thighs, one foot nervously tapping the ground.

“You look truly miserable, Saji. Come with me
and let me show you how much better your life could be if you
wanted it.”

“What’s the prize, Sananda?” His voice was
strained as he fought for control. “What do you want from me in
return if you let me out of this cage?”

“Aren’t you a tad harsh to the woman who
found out what you wanted most?”

The soft seduction crawled into
his ears and wound him around like a flower’s scent caused insects
to fly to the pistil. He swallowed dryly. If there had been a hole
he would have vanished on the spot, no matter the depth of his
fall. He knew well how she worked with words and touches. She got
closer, unwavering, and self-confident. There was no fear in her
stance. Her eyes told him of love and passion. Her rosy cheeks and
painted lips were an invitation hard to ignore. He wanted to break
eye contact and could not. His heart was about to jump out of his
ribcage and he pressed his nails hard into his flesh to not pull
Sananda into a tight embrace.
What does she do to me?
She was the strong predator who was
used to cornering her prey and letting it think about its fate
before being swallowed. No one withstood her power and prowess. If
she wanted someone, she could not be deflected from her
decision.
Who
am I to say no?

“You don’t want me, Sana, you just want to
win.”

Her eyebrows, two perfect black lines,
twitched as she smiled at him. Her fingers gently touched his
shoulder. He shivered and it was not at all unpleasant. He waited
with bated breath for her next move.

“
I do want you, Saji,” she cooed. “It is up
to you to throw away all the bitter things you made up about me.
Just let go and love me again.”

Her whisper was close to his ear. He closed
his eyes, trembling and waiting, fearing her touch and craving it.
Her hand slipped under the loin cloth.

“Hmm, so smooth, so wonderful to touch.” The
last word was like a feather caressing his mind.

Sajitar panted and summoned all the strength
he had to put his hand over hers, keeping her from further
advances. He could hardly speak.

“Sana, please, stop it.”

“
You don’t want me to stop, because if I do
I might not start again. Do you want me to leave?”

“
No! Yes.” He flinched when her nails dug
gently but noticeably in his flesh. He looked at her with all the
decisiveness he could muster. “Sananda, we cannot go back. I know
who you are. I know what you do.”

“And it does not concern you. I offer you a
life without pain, without the pity of your former existence. I
offer you myself. With everything I have.” She put his hand on her
bosom and sighed. “You can live here and have me whenever you
want.”

Sajitar looked at his hand that slowly found
its way into her blouse. The first two buttons gave and he touched
her breast, felt her heart beat and gently touched the hard nipple.
Her skin was warm and smooth and he wanted more, right now. Sananda
smiled at him like only lovers do and Sajitar lost the strength to
resist her. The blouse buttons were open in a second. Both his
hands were out to explore her bosom and he bent to kiss her neck
and shoulder. He inhaled her perfume and closed his eyes, willing
to give in to the trance she offered.

Sananda chuckled deep in her throat before
she gently pushed him back and closed the buttons without
looking.

“I know, Sajitar. I feel the same.”

“Then—”

She kissed his nose and stepped back to pull
a thin black net out of her pocket. In its center swung a yellow
stone the size of a marble.

Sajitar lowered his chin to wipe his face
with one hand.

“No.”

Sananda swung the carefully knotted net on
her index finger right before his eyes, like a pendulum.

“Choices, Sajitar, shall not be easy. I see
how much you are excited to get back into my pants and I will
welcome you there. Yet, first you have to prove your devotion. It
was you who ran away. I was here all of the time, craving to see
you again. You cannot imagine how I suffered, how I yearned for you
to lie beside me.”

“Why can’t you just take me the way I
am?”

“
Why would we pass on a game we both
love?”

“You love this game, Sananda. I just…”

There was a sparkle in her eyes.

“Go on.”

Sajitar knew he was cornered, pushed there
by his own argument. He shook his head. His body craved to be
caressed and taken and so his mind threw in the towel and
resigned.

“I’ll play along.” He could hardly think
clearly anymore. Knowing he had lost, he snatched the net from her
finger and pulled it over his head. The yellow stone fit in his
mouth and he grimaced at the taste. “The same as before?”

Sananda smiled instead of an answer and
fastened the loose ends behind his head.

“
Don’t take it off until I tell you. I will
send the other items with one of my guards.” She ran her fingers
along his shoulders and down his spine, letting them vanish under
the loin cloth. Strong fingers kneaded his buttocks, promising more
and intimate moves.

Sajitar felt his knees buckle. It was an
overkill of lust assaulting his mind and lower regions of his body.
He turned at the same moment the caressing hands were gone, Sananda
made clear just with a look that she would not leniently endure
another minute of his hands-on admiration.