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That disgusting creature! Shatz was thinking with deep revulsion, while drivingthrough Moukas main street.

How come the ambassador trust such a man, does Everon extort him in some way, or

what? Thats one thing I cant grasp and on what grounds can these two base their

assumptions; its no more than a pile of nonsense! Everon didnt leave his table andhis sacred cards game, during the whole evening.

Clandestine business that must be their winning card, security breach thats what theymean the damage Ive supposedly causedAm I a potencial extortion victim? Is

Janine or her father secret agents of some mysterious intelligence organization, who

would extort me or did already pump precious information out of me? Its sheerstupidity!

What damage do they fear of, the ambassador and that pompous ass? The worthdamage has already been realized long before Ive set my foot in this country, and it

was the delegations cut down in manpower! Ive nothing to do with it; Ive no

influence on the little thats being done at the embassy or at the farm. What do I know

after all, what secrets do I keep?Reaching her street Shatz parked his car in front of her door, got off and knocked on it

with the lily like hanging handle the French royal emblem.

Well shes my queen isnt she? He thought amused.Now, after my previous queen leftthe scene, God bless her. Her despise for Everon is justified and every word she said

against him, was true! Shatz summed up his thoughts about Everon and their last

nights incident.

Janine herself opened up the door, an apron was tied to her narrow waist, and

hastened to let him in, with an excited and warm smile.

Shutting the door after him she rushed to his arms, clinging to his body and raised her

face, offering Shatz her soft ruby lips. Shatz kissed her with growing fervour

clutching her slim body to his own; and when her breath was almost.cut off and she

detached her nouth from his, he watched her lovely face surprised.

Where is your father and the loafer, are we all alone?

Yes, Papa is in town he took the loafer with him, he needs him; but they might return

any moment now, for there isnt much left for him to do there She hastened to add.

Please stop, we must be careful. She warned him detaching herself from Shatz

craving body, against her own will, removing his hands from her own body. Lets go

in, youre coming to the club tonight, arent you?

Oh, Im supposed to have dinner at the ambassadors table, with all our delegationmembers

Then I wouldnt see you tonigh? She asked worried sending her hand to his chin,

caressing his face slightly.

Ill come, I must, I wont go to the ambassadors residence! He answered

vehemently drawing her to his body again, covering her face with his kisses.

She yielded to him relieved, embrcing him with her white delicate arms. But then

looked up into his eyes with a sudden start.

Come alone at eight when all the members are already there, and wait for me at our

place

While all these few words were said in whispers, as if her father was at the front

door, ready to come in. Still embraced in Shatzs arms, she led him into the livingroom.

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Stay here, I must run to the kitchen. Im preparing lunch, Ive put things in the oven.

She added laughing and squeezing out of his arms she ran to the kitchen.

Just a few seconds passed and she was back, smiling happily rushing back to his arms.

Papa wanted us to dine at La Couronne but I objected, Ive told him that Ill prepare

lunch; you came, Im so happy and everything is going well! She laughed delighted.

No, not now! Sit down please She urged Shatz almost pushing into his chair.Well have to behave with much restraint when Papa will be back! She told him with

a grave look on her lovely face. If well be carried off hell catch us red handed!

With these words said she rushed back to the kitchen.

Papa likes you, Janine noted as soon as she returned and sat on Shatzs knees. But

he doesnt have the slightest idea, and if Im wrong She added in a whisper with a

sudden fright, he hides his feelings exceptionally well.

A few moments passed when the wine grower came back from town, having ended

his errands. Their boy followed him in, carrying two loaded baskets in his hands.

He wasnt surprised to see Shatz with his daughter; he didnt even bother to ask when

did Shatz arrive. He seemed to accept Shatzs presence as if he already was part of hishousehold. They sat to eat lunch and Dariot carried on with Shatz a lively

conversation.

Janines delicacies came out well enough, and both Shatz and her father kept

complimenting her. The warm atmosphere and the fact that Janines little hands

prepared that food for him, gave Shatz an extra amount of pleasure.

Shatz didnt say a single word of course, about his troubles, the abrupt turn of eventrs

that did worry him; and when he left Janine and her father, he felt as if he was sent

straight into the storms eye leaving his comfortable refuge behind him.

Outside Dariots home, which he left in haste that wasnt clear at all to him; Shatz

kept reproaching himself. Why did he leave in such a hurry, he could have stayed with

Janine and her father two more hours at least.

He had nowhere to go as a matter of fact. He did not feel like going to the embassy, or

to the swimming pool knowing he wont find Janine there; his professional obligations

were not required yet, particularly when his stay in this country was in doubt. Thus till

his future would be clear, hed rather pass his time as relaxed as possible, he told

himself.

He loitered in town, picked up his mail, bought a few things that seemed to him as

necessity; then he drove outside town and found refuge in a palm grove near the

coast; there he spread a straw mat that he has just purchased, and sat down to read his

mail and papers waiting for the fall of night and his appointed date with Janine at

the club.

At about eight thirty at the same evening after a delay of some fifty minutes, the

ambassador reviewed his few guests Everon, Peleg, Avisar and their wives with an

impatient stare. His intense stare interrupted their convestions.

The incident between Everon and Shatz has revived his dwindling authority, to his

own surprise.

We had better sit down to the table, he isnt coming he must have been hurt, or he

simply continues to see the daughter of that French wine merchant brazenly, against

my instructions, its incredible! He added angrily.

Although everyone was already seated round the table, the conversation wasnt

resumed yet; and if last night sensational incident and its dramatic resumption just a

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few hours ago at the embassy, wasnt treated yet it was quite obvious that its going

to burst out right away and things would be sorted out excitedly.

The ambassasors young wife Rivka didnt like at all the incidents direct implication

on her relationship with her own middle aged husband. She wasnt ready of course to

let these unexpected developments, to interrupt her plans and have any influnce on her

own delicate relationship with her husband even for a short while. Everon as far asshe was concerned, has gone too far this time; and it wasnt the first time that his

extravagant initiatives, his excessive involvement in her husbands decisions, did

interrupt her own plans.

Last nights incident convinced her that she must release her husband from Everons

clutches. Right after having sent the boy that served as their waiter to the kitchen, she

attacked her husband and Everon, who was sitting next to him.

Are you out of your minds, what have you done to this young man whod just

arrived whos hardly acclimatized here and you make him feel as if hes unwanted,

as if hes some loathful felon! What has he done after all?

The ambassador who didnt expect such an extreme reaction from his wife, and before

all his inferiors, turned pale as if he was struck by a lightening.The rest of their guests jesticulated with uneasiness on their seats, or froze in them

dumbfounded. Everon straightened up in his seat, reviewing the battlefield and his

chances to gain some more achievements.

We didnt prevent him from coming He noted with emphasized indifference,

cutting the short silence that fell as a result of the ambassadors wife blitz attack.

We didnt even hint such a possibility! Retorted the ambassador who managed to

regain his senses. If hes burning his bridges with his own hands, I dont understand

why you should defend him with such vehemence, particularly when you dont know

all the details, which are invovled in this unfortunate case!

His wife lowered her head with embarrassment, regretting her tactless outburst. The

ambassador watched each one of his guests with an intense look, from Peleg at his left

up to Everon on right who was sitting upright in his seat. A hint of a smile sneaked

to his lips, he was celebrating him triumph.

Theres one more thing I want everyone of us to remember, this unfortunate affair is

defind as confidential, no matter how it should end up; it shouldnt leak out of our

small circle on no account!