Twenty-Eight

July 13th, 2024
2051
Goa, India

Night descended on the humid Indian seaside, providing a few degrees’ respite from the stifling heat.

Limousines, heavily armored SUVs and exotic sports cars lined the roadway leading up the great stone ramp of the ancient Portuguese castle’s entrance, a remnant of Goa’s colonial past. Valets rushed to open the doors of the vehicles, allowing sharply dressed guests to climb out and make their way inside.

A full moon illuminated the scene, and the air was hot. Daniel and Reyes made their way on foot toward the ancient castle, invitation in hand. Daniel admired the lush indigo silk of the sari that Reyes was wearing, the fabric skimming her curves and leaving one perfectly tanned shoulder bare. The color made her eyes seem even bluer, and her chestnut hair was arranged in a careful updo, a few strands artfully framing her face. She was a knockout, and tonight it was even more obvious than usual. He had to admit that he found her intoxicating.

Reyes had run a simple AI on the regional Bollywood favorites, and had altered her appearance to appear as a composite of the most popular actresses of the season. Her subdermal micro lattice implants rounded out her form so that she was exceptionally curvy, and her skin tone was a gorgeous honey-brown.

Daniel shook himself out of his private reflection as they neared the towering mass of stone their host called a home. The place had a sense of age and history about it that also spoke of great wealth. Dozens of windows glowed with warm, welcoming light, and he could see silhouettes moving behind the glass, partygoers enjoying their evening. As they ascended the ramp that led to a pair of open, heavy wooden doors, he scanned their surroundings, taking in possible threats and opportunities. Two toughs awaited them at the entry point, and Daniel knew there were plenty more inside. He could see the bulges beneath their jet-black suit jackets: the telltale sign of a shoulder holster. That meant that this party would get interesting if any shooting started.

Lucky for him, he was dressed for the occasion. Of course, he thought he looked good in his traditional Indian clothing. He wasn’t a conceited man. He simply had an athletic face that many women found appealing, and his job required that his body be fit and muscular, ready for action at any time. There was nothing to be smug about. He’d found a suitably luxurious kurta that was nice enough to pass muster, but not flashy enough to draw attention. He had found that if he wanted the flashy route, there were plenty of options, and for a moment he considered that it would have been a lot more fun to grow up in a culture where formalwear was incredibly detailed and brightly colored.

As they ascended the ramp, Daniel thought the stone seemed volcanic. He didn’t know if there were volcanoes around, but the stone was interesting. He did his best to contemplate the stonework as nonchalantly as possible.

He had managed to purloin a copy of one of the invitations. One of the sophisticated three-dimensional printers on the Norseman had recreated the ornately filigreed, tube-like invitation, including its security symbol. In passing, Loki had mentioned it was patterned on a courier tube from the days of the Raj. A student of history, Daniel had made a mental note to do some more digging into that time period.

Reaching the top of the ramp, he tried his best to keep it casual but held his breath as he passed the invitation to the grumpy looking maître d’. He gave the hulking guards flanking him a disinterested glance. The maître d’ accepted the invitation with a smile and a flourish, then scanned it carefully. Daniel held his breath.

“Welcome, Mr. Locke and Mrs. Locke,” the man pronounced finally in his thick yet regal Indian accent. He handed the relatively heavy 3D printed tube back to Daniel with a precise little nod as if to say that they had passed muster and were socially acceptable.

Daniel smiled blandly and felt Reyes relax a fraction as they glided into the inner courtyard. Here again, the opulence was obvious. One side of the large green space was dominated by a white tent. A majestic white stallion stood nearby, held by an attendant. A dance floor was set up a short distance away, and sensuous Bollywood music played over the speakers positioned around the space. A trickling waterfall cascaded down one wall, ending in a pool. The scent of bougainvillea was heavy in the air, mixing with the drugging smell of the incense burning in holders scattered here and there.

Daniel noticed Reyes had caught the eye of a guest who was overtly admiring the stunning woman. She smiled back at the handsome tuxedoed gentleman. A sly smile crossed the man’s face as he turned slightly and noticed his date’s jealous glare. She threw expensive wine into his face and stalked off.

Drama seemed to follow this woman everywhere, Daniel reflected. So much for keeping a low profile. He hadn’t thought this was a good idea. Reyes attracted too much attention, and Daniel was not accustomed to subtle field craft. But Markus had assured them plan B was just that, and they should go enjoy the party.

An older Indian woman walked by. Short and fat, she looked at Reyes disapprovingly. Beside her was a man with weary eyes, tall and astute-looking. Daniel immediately recognized the trappings of a university professor who had returned to his homeland. A lifetime spent in the West made the professor almost as much a fish out of water in his native land as Daniel was.

Daniel kept his smile in place and scanned the area, looking for the person they’d come here for. He might be hard to find in this crowd considering his insubstantial height, but Daniel had one purpose here tonight, and Rupinder Schurani was it.

A couple walked around a smoking incense pyre as a priest performed a ceremony. The guests, strangely to Daniel’s western perspective, paid them no mind and milled about talking freely, only occasionally glancing over at the couple.

Then Daniel saw him. He was a short, squat Indian man in a pure white kurta, watching the couple intently with a smile of approval. He casually took a wineglass off a passing tray and continued watching.

“Let’s get a closer look at who we’re dealing with here,” whispered Daniel.

Reyes nodded in approval, then fixed a smile on her face as they glided forward to begin their balancing act for the night.

To be continued. Upvote for more!

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