MEMORIES OF DIANA, PART SEVEN
"Diana - If all goes well, I shall be back in Athens on the twelfth. Please meet me at the usual time and in the usual place. Looking forward to seeing you again, I remain, as ever, Carl."
*
Diane arrived at Carl's hotel suite as requested. When he helped her off with her coat, the alternation in her figure was obvious.
"Don't look at me - I am fat and ugly." she said.
"Pregnancy becomes you." said Carl, "You are more beautiful than ever."
He tried to kiss her, but to his surprise, she backed away.
"Please, Carl, I didn't come here for - I am afraid that if we make love, it will hurt the baby!"
Ah!" said Carl, "Well, I certainly won't force myself on you."
"Please don't be angry!"
"I'm not Angry, My Heart - just disappointed. I was rather looking forward to our reunion." said Carl. Seeing the look on Diana's face, he had a sudden insight. "Was - Alex angry?"
Diana nodded. "I - never refused before."
"Come and sit down." said Carl, "We don't have to make love; we can just chat and giggle. May I at least hold your hand?"
Carl took hold of Diana's hand and kissed it; then he turned it over and caressed the palm with his thumb, his touch feather-light, before pressing his lips to it; with the very tip of his tongue he tickled the tender pink flesh, then nibbled each digit in turn...
"Carl, stop! You are turning me on."
"You know, My Heart, there Are things we can still do." said Carl, his eyes glittering.
(Since this is wholesome family entertainment, I will draw a veil over the rest of this interesting scene. The reader can imagine whatever s/he likes. :-D )
***
"You were gone a long time." Demetrios grumbled.
"It takes time to set these things up." said Carl, "One cannot just march up to a wealthy collector and say: 'Hello - Can I interest you in buying stole antiquities?'. No, One must insinuate oneself into his milieu, socialize with him, get to know his obsessions , and then drop hints and see if he rises to the bait."
"And after all that?"
"My trip was a success." said Carl, "The Brazilian, the Japanese, both of the Americans and the South African are all interested in what we have to offer."
"We do not have Anything to offer Yet." Starvos pointed out."There is the little problem of actually Doing the robberies."
"I am working on that." said Carl.
***
"What do you think?" said Nikos, showing off a pair of diamond earrings.
Carl thought they were in appalling taste, though no doubt expensive; Nikos was a man who would value a possession according to how much it cost; he had no notion of aesthetic value. Perhaps that was why he placed so little value on his wife.
Aloud he said, "I take it those are for Diana?"
"Yes - they will be hers as soon as she gives me a son."
"What if she has a daughter?"
"Then, I will put them away and save them for the Next baby."