Andromeda

image source: http://artcontrarian.blogspot.com/2010/11/sorolla-museum-pictorial-report.html
Joaquin Sorolla (1863 – 1923, Spanish)

“You can’t climb up that window! And don’t tell me about your CIA conditioning. The only toned muscles you have left are in your pelvic region, and your jaw.”

“Thanks Liudi, I’m sure those muscles in you are much better conditioned.” Anna surveyed the streets. The two guards standing in front of the main entrance were bored. They peered around the corner every few minutes then returned to the front entrance of the consulate to continue chain smoking. “If I don’t make it, tell them who I am: Anna Singer, code name Andromeda. Tell them everything; tell them how Uri kidnapped us. Tell them where I’m likely to be. But above all: tell them you seek political asylum. If you both confirm each other’s story, the Brits will listen and take you in.”

“No, we can’t do this if there’s a chance that you won’t make it.” Liudmila murmured. “That was your plan, sticking together. Remember?”

“You’re not leaving me!” Anna said. “I’m just saying by off chance — if.”

Just then a Lada came to a screeching stop in front of the main entrance. A man in a black silk suit stumbled out. He held a gold handled cane. A woman with long golden hair in a short silver evening dress got out of the passenger side. The woman helped the man straighten himself up.

“We’ve come to see the consul!” the man said, loud and drunk.

“Closed sir. Come back morning,” the guard said in broken English.

The two of them pushed past the guards and walked up to the door. The guards were around them trying to usher them back into their car.

“I am British and I demand to see the consul, now!” the man said, agitated. He had a patch over his right eye.

Anna looked at them from behind the car.

“That’s Odin and Freya!” she said.

“They’re distracting the guards for us,” Liudmila said. “We should get moving. Who goes first?”

“You,” Anna said.

“But!” Liudmila started to protest.

“Don’t argue!” Anna jumped up onto the ledge of the window sill and pulled Liudmila up to stand beside her. Then she gave her a boost up with interlaced fingers. Anna was surprised to see how light the girl actually was. She lifted her up, as high as she could. By the time Anna had her foot chest high, she felt her load lighten as Liudmila took hold of the window’s edge. Anna watched as the girl scrambled over. Secretly, she wondered if the iron frame would give out under her weight and send her to her death as the thick glass self-destructed into spiked shards. Liudmila pulled her torso, then one foot, then the other over the edge. Anna could hear a thud as the girl fell to the floor on the other side. She was relieved to see the frame was able to bear her weight.

“You next, Aida,” Anna said, taking the girls hand and hoisting her up to the sill also.

“But, but, Anna, who will boost you? There is no way you can make it up on your own.”

“No time to argue,” Anna said as she held out her hands for Aida to step into. Indeed, how would she make it up? she wondered. But Odin had forced their hand before she could think things through. Would he provide an escape for her? Or would he have her be left behind, to suffer General Konstantine’s wrath? Would he then come to her at nights to visit upon her his steady stream of perverse release? “Okay, Aida, up you go!” she said as the young girl stepped into the stirrup of Anna’s hands.

Aida missed the handhold of the top of the window and fell out towards the sidewalk. She fell, scraping her hand and stifled a cry.

“Come on, try again!” Anna said, hoping Odin was still distracting the guards.

Aida caught hold of the top on her second try. Anna had to push her up, almost loosing her own balance as she lifted the girl over her head.

“Okay,” Aida panted, “I think I’m half over.” Anna watched as Aida, too, pulled herself up onto the sill. Again, she held her breath hoping the window would hold her weight. One foot then the other disappeared inside. Then came the thud as she landed on the floor on the other side.

Anna jumped for the window’s top. Her reach was more than a foot short. She, too, stumbled back and fell off the sill onto the sidewalk. She climbed back up onto the window ledge, that was the easy part. She jumped again, again her reach was far short of the top.

“What’s keeping her?” Anna heard their desperate voices from the other side

“Shh, be quiet.”

“Quick do something!”

“What do you want me to do!”

... to be continued ...

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Andromeda

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Andromeda, a novel by Joe Nobel, Part 43 -- window at the British Consulate