Tara Across Time--NaNoWriMo

Chapter Six

Tara listened with care to her new, handsome benefactor,  but in spite of her reservations, she trusted him. Besides, she feared for her life. He was the only hope she had, slim as it was.

"My name is Tara, as you already know. Let me say that I appreciate your having saved my life from those armed goons."

"Goons? That term is quite archaic nowadays". Her companion paused. "My name is Robert Livingston." He picked up a cup and offered her a strange beverage with ice. "Don't trust me." He drank its contents." Then offered her the opportunity to pour her own drink. "A mild non-alcoholic stimulant that will refresh you."

"Thank you, Robert."

He looked at his watch. "I think we can trust each other."

Tara cocked her head. "You have your own reasons for confusing the guards. You need my cooperation for something as well. Don't you?"

"Tara, you're too intelligent.  That will make my job easier." Robert sat back in a nearby chair, suggesting Tara could also relax a bit. Her tension disappeared.

"Does this lead to getting me off of Mars and away from these Antiquities perverts?" She took another swallow. "You know? This stuff is refreshing." She leaned forward. "How can you possibly smuggle me off of Mars when authorities are looking for me?"

"You'll assume another identity and travel as my vacation guest to the Maldives on Earth."

"The authorities have my DNA on file. It's unique to the 21st century. Once they swab my nose at the spaceport, my goose is cooked!"

"Ha ha," Robert said. He slapped his knee.  "I love your ancient English idioms!" He leaned back and then toward Tara. "A worker in entertainment  just died. The coroner will scan her body and find your ancient DNA. "

"What about me?" Tara said.

"When they scan you, they will only read her DNA."

"Amazing." She said. "But how long will the effects last?"

"A week maybe," Robert said.

"But I have to be take the identity of a whore again?"

"Whor--?" Robert grabbed his stomach. "Ha ha, I am sympathetic but you have to look like my vacation sex partner to make it work."

Tara furrowed her brow.  "Why go through all this and involve me?" She brought her hands together. "I appreciate you're helping me get back to Earth and out of the clutches of these perverts. But I think you need me."

"Yes, I have to warn the American President about plans to disable Earth's defenses in a cyber attack and follow up with a strike force on the major capitals on Earth." He leaned forward.  "Mars authorities need to think I am taking you on vacation. Swimming, night life, and sex."

"You have no plans to force yourself on me?"

"You'll have to beg me." Robert smiled . "So far I have summoned the will to resist you."

Tara pressed close to Robert. His heart beat faster.

 "On the Maldives we'll convince them we are husband and wife." She kissed him.

Tara and Robert woke up in their bungalow with the cool breeze of the Indian Ocean bathing their bodies.

They dined on a rare fish with curried rice.  The white wine.  Tara looked lovely in her rainbow  saree.

"Tara," Robert said as he looked out from under the thatched restaurant,  "maybe you're not my wife, but your moaning these last three nights would be enough to convince a spy from the Martian station."

Tara leaned her body away from her half-finished fish, touching his arm, her other hand on his quivering leg.

"First of all, Robert, I like you.  You've saved my life.  Why not  enjoy ourselves while we convince our enemies we're but man and wife on vacation. We'll go swimming today?"

"Yes, Tara. Then we will take a sail boat to a remote island where tomorrow I have arranged for a helicopter to take us to a sea plane.  We will then take a jet to Ramstein Airbase in Germany. "

"Why Germany?" she said.

"Agents likely will be watching Reagan-Dulles Airport near Washington.  We will take Lufthansa to New York and catch the train for DC at Grand Central Station."

"How will we cover our tracks, we're in the Indian Ocean and are expected back at our hotel?"

"All agents will find is our sail boat. Bad weather is predicted tomorrow."  Robert too a drink.  They'll find the boat.  By the time they guess we are still alive, we should be in Washington. "

Robert and Tara splashed in the incoming tide and spent what looked like carefree time on their beach towels. Her Bikini couldn't have been more seductive and they went over their moves the next couple of days.

Then Tara said what Robert was aching to hear.

"Make love to me again tonight? It's  the last time as husband and wife. Would that we had met under normal times."