Max Arena (16 page)

Slipping slowly
sideways on the bed, Kris curled her legs up into a foetal
position. Tears streamed from her eyes. Trembling racked her entire
body and her face screwed up into a mask of pain, the source
invisible. All of this gripped her in complete silence, not a sound
coming from her. Elsewhere in the house, everyone was either asleep
or preparing for a night’s rest, but not Kris. In her room, her
demons held her hostage and she could find no escape. The night
drew on and the world outside became even more quiet, but not in
Kris’ head. In there, it was very, very far from quiet.

8am, 5
^th
July (the next morning).
Compassion

The early
morning sun warmed the western lawn, the rich green turf glistening
with a full crop of overnight dew like diamonds strewn across a
green blanket. Kris stood still, transfixed in the midst of the sea
of grass, her eyes closed and her lungs full.

The smell of
freshly cropped grass was one of Kris’ strongest and most personal
sensations she harboured, reminding her of her childhood and all
the times she had helped mow the broad lawns of their far North
Queensland home. The drenching, tropical rains made lawn
maintenance a common, weekend activity and she loved it. Sure, it
was hard work, but she had never considered it a chore. It was
something she and her father did together. It was their job and
their time as father and daughter, sacred and special.

When the job
was done, they would sit on the steps of the back patio and share a
lemonade to cool down, talking about nothing, but life in general.
It was relaxed. It was nice and above all, it was safe, unlike
today.

‘Anything else
you want outside, Kris?’ the assistant shouted from beside the
semi-trailer.

Breaking from
her day dream, Kris turned and looked into the lit interior of the
massive semi-trailer. Racks of dumbbells, barbells and other
fitness kit lined the walls. It was a virtual fitness emporium and
it was Kris’ source of physical inspiration for Max’s training
routine, as provided by Joe.

‘Grab two more
twenty kilo dumbbells,’ she called out, ‘and put them down the far
end of the course.’

‘Okay,’ came
the reply as the assistant turned and headed up the ramp and into
the trailer.

Kris lifted her
sunglasses and rubbed her eyes. It was going to be a long day. The
lack of a decent night’s sleep had seen to that. Quickly she turned
her attention to something else, not wanting to allow the still
buzzing fears in her mind to rise back up.

Turning, Kris
looked out over the wide swath of grass that had hosted yesterday’s
training course and impromptu political games. It was much clearer
and normal looking now with the helicopters repositioned onto the
eastern lawn on the other side of the property, the scene more
easily fitting the bill of a regular, billionaire estate, if that
really was normal? Kris’ assistants were still busy running around
the lawn, completing the final stages of setting up a new course
for Max to charge through and as she surveyed the scene, Kris’ gaze
was quickly dragged to the centre where with his back to her, stood
the man himself. Max.

Kris held him
in her gaze for a few moments. He was not stretching. He was not
warming up. He was simply still, statuesque. When Max was in
motion, Kris felt the overpowering purpose he exuded, but even now,
completely stationery, that same purpose radiated. He was a literal
force of nature and even though she had only known him for less
than a week, if the world needed saving, she could hope for no
better champion. Her only concern was exactly what value could she
add to his preparation? The man was already fitter than a team of
oxen and just as strong to boot. How was she going to make him
better?

Just then, a
new voice brought Kris’ attention around.

‘
As salam
alaykum
,’ Sheikh Abdullah said in his rich, rolling accent.
‘Good morning, Kris.’

Kris turned and
found the Sheikh standing behind her, dressed identically as the
day before. His pristine white robe gleamed flawlessly in the
bright early morning sun, his hands hidden inside his sleeves and
his face sheltered behind dark sunglasses. Abdullah’s countenance
emanated complete serenity and calm, his manner and speech soothing
and relaxed, but still Kris’ intuition held him in deep suspicion.
Abdullah spoke eloquently and logically, but so did Joe and she
trusted him, so why did she not trust this man? Was the Sheikh just
different or was it something else? Until Kris knew more about him,
she was not letting her guard down.

‘Be right with
you, Max!’ Kris called out. Max waved back to her without turning
around. Kris returned her attention to the Sheikh. ‘Good morning to
you, your Highness. Is there something I can help you with?’

‘No, thank
you,’ he said. ‘I have come only to watch. Max’s prowess yesterday
was absorbing and like nothing I have ever personally witnessed, so
without anything pressing to attend to right now, I wish only to
observe some more and not be in your way. Can I seek your
permission to do so?’

‘Sure,’ Kris
said, shrugging. ‘We’ll be over that way, so steer clear. I’d hate
for Max to clean you up with a barbell or something.’

‘Thank you,’
Abdullah said, bowing slightly.

Kris turned and
started to walk out towards Max when the Sheikh’s voice brought her
up again. She rolled her eyes and turned back.

‘What now?’
Kris asked a little more harshly than she would have with a good
night’s sleep.

‘My apologies
and I do not wish to pry,’ Sheikh Abdullah started, ‘but I could
not help that you are looking a little weary this morning.’

‘Yeah, tough
night’s sleep,’ she answered, realising her sunglasses were still
on her forehead and pulled them down. ‘Strange house and all
that.’

‘Yes, I am
sure,’ Abdullah said. ‘I do, however, have one further question to
ask, which is also of a personal nature and which you may ignore
and leave be as you wish?’

Kris squinted
behind her sunglasses as she unconsciously squared up a little on
Abdullah. It was at that point she noticed two of his hulking body
guards lurking a short distance away behind him, their massive
physiques obvious in their well tailored, casual slacks and shirts.
Kris also noticed Peter step into her field of vision a little
further behind the two giants, his attention firmly fixed on the
two guards.

‘What’s on your
mind?’ Kris asked evenly.

‘Your family’s
security and your well being,’ Abdullah said.

Kris tilted her
head slightly askew, eyeing off the man. ‘What are you talking
about?’ she asked, her jaws set.

Abdullah
paused, then answered.

‘I have been
informed that your brother’s house was broken into yesterday and
that he, his wife and your parents were present during the
invasion?’

Kris froze. She
suddenly became acutely aware of the buzzing in her head.

‘How do you
know about that?’ she replied sharply. ‘Have you been spying on
them?’

‘The only
answer I can give is yes, but please, let me explain as it is only
for the best of intentions?’

‘And those
intentions
are
?’ Kris asked, her tone rising and the buzzing
ticking up a notch as well.

‘To keep them
safe and...’

‘Fat load of
good that did!’

‘...to ensure
your peace of mind.’

‘My peace of
mind?’ Kris almost shouted, the buzzing ratcheting up. ‘What
business of your’s is my peace of mind?’

Abdullah bowed
his head. ‘I have come to offer you my help,’ he said quietly.

Kris opened her
mouth to shout again and then realised Max was standing beside her.
Momentarily startled by his sudden and silent appearance, she held
her tongue and just looked at him.

‘What’s going
on?’ Max asked, looking between Kris and the Sheikh.

Abdullah
started. ‘I have come to offer my assistance to Kris and her
family,’ he said, ‘but have unfortunately managed only to
offend.’

Max looked at
Kris who was still looking silently back at him. ‘Are you okay?’ he
asked.

Kris closed her
eyes and shook her head. The buzzing quieted slightly.

‘Yeah. Fine,’
she said tensely.

‘Doesn’t sound
like it?’ Max persisted.

‘Don’t worry
about it,’ Kris shot back. ‘Let’s get on with this. We’re
late.’

Kris started to
walk away. Max watched her go and then turned back to the
Sheikh.

‘Anything I
need to know about here?’ he asked.

‘Thank you,
Max, but I shall keep the details of my disagreement with Kris
private,’ Abdullah said. ‘However, when you manage a moment, please
inform her that I would like to offer the services of my own
personal body guards as full time security for her family until
this is all over.’

Max held Sheikh
Abdullah in his gaze for a moment, searching the man’s shielded
eyes and face for any hidden meaning in his words.

‘That’s pretty
good of you, your Highness,’ Max said finally.

‘My intentions
are directed towards maintaining Kris’ peace of mind by ensuring
she knows her family is safe.’

‘Yeah, I get
that,’ Max replied, nodding slowly, ‘but it’s still a hell of a
nice thing to do.’

Abdullah dipped
his head slightly. ‘I cannot abide injustice where I can
assist.’

‘You know, I’m
not a deep and meaningful kind of bloke, but I can usually pick the
good guys from the bad pretty quickly and I have to say, you’re
well and truly on the good side.’

‘Thank you,
Max. Again, your honesty and forthrightness are refreshing and
appreciated.’

‘And don’t
worry about Kris. I’ve only known her for a few days more than I’ve
known you and she’s right up there on the good side with you, so
whatever’s bugging her right now, she’ll be right. I’ll get Elsa to
talk to her and I’ll pass on your offer as well. She’ll take it up.
I know she will. She’d be mad not to.’

‘Again, it is
appreciated,’ Abdullah said.

‘Okay, well, I
better get out there,’ Max said, jerking a thumb back over his
shoulder. ‘Got a human race to save and all that. I’ll see you
later.’

Sheikh Abdullah
bowed again and Max turned and jogged over to Kris. The Sheikh
looked back up and watched as Max and Kris held a short
conversation and then Max began his training session with push ups
and burpees. Kris flicked a quick glance in Abdullah’s direction
and then turned her back on him. A pang bit into Abdullah’s chest.
He barely knew Kris, but she had strength, mountains of it and that
was good. She would need it, as would they all.

The Sheikh then
looked across at Peter who was now standing alone off to the side
of the course. The man was looking directly back at him, his own
sunglasses hiding his eyes, but even from where he stood, Abdullah
knew Peter’s gaze was acute.

Abdullah looked
away, thinking to himself. They were all good people and strong
too, but they were not yet the team they needed to be. He had to
find a way to bring them together. As individuals they were each
formidable, even Elsa in her own way, but until they all bonded,
Max, Elsa, Kris, Joe and even himself, would sooner or later be
swept up in the chaos threatening to engulf the world and their
doom would be assured. Together though and with God willing, they
stood a chance. Despite the darkness encroaching all around them,
they might just be able to light the spark that would keep the
light alive. Maybe, they could do it. Maybe, but time was short and
it was already darker than he had expected.

10:30am, 12th July (7 days later).
Fractionation

Looking out
over the pool and through the fence to the lush expanse of the
western lawn basking in the warmth of the winter sun, Elsa tried to
convince herself it was just another normal day, but the news she
had just heard, coupled with everything else going on around her
forced that fantasy far, far away. She wondered, not for the first
time, if life would ever be normal again.

Elsa could hear
Millie and Jason inside with their teacher, doing their schooling
in front of the electronic whiteboard, learning about natural
landscapes versus artificial ones. The kids liked their new
teacher. He was patient, considerate and well skilled and the
curriculum he taught was excellent, but it was wrong. The kids
should still be in their normal class room, surrounded by their
school friends. Not here, hiding. Fair enough they were hiding in
luxury, but it was still hiding. Their childhoods had been
kidnapped and their friends stolen away. They were being deprived
of a basic right and it tore at her.

Meanwhile, here
she sat by a resort style pool, surrounded by military grade
security sharing a coffee with the Prime Minister of Australia.
There was absolutely nothing normal about that. The constant sound
of circling helicopters had become the standard white noise on the
estate. Heavy vehicles came and went at all hours and while their
privacy was essentially respected, they also had to tolerate the
roaming patrols and general knowledge that they were never truly
alone. Not truly.

‘
I’ll leave you be,’ the Prime Minister
said, pushing his chair back from the table
and standing up.

‘
No,
wait?’ Elsa said, breaking from her thoughts. ‘Please,
stay? I just…drifted off for a minute. Sorry.’

Joe stood looking down at her, waiting
patiently.

‘
Really,’ Elsa said, holding both hands
out, palms down. ‘I’m okay. It’s just…tough news to take. That’s
all.’

Joe sat back down again.

‘
Please, keep going?’ Elsa insisted,
picking up her coffee.