Back To Earth. Danilo Clementoni

at the back of the hotel and took great care not to be seen. From this vantage point they were able to see Elisa’s room. After not even a minute, a light went on.

      â€œShe's gone inside, and she’s alone,” said the fat man.

      The thinner one was quick to remind the other that he’d lost the bet. “Time to cough up, my dear friend,” he said, rubbing his fingers together in that gesture that meant he was ready to be paid.

      â€œWell, everything went as I expected until now,” replied the fat one. “Our dear colonel seems to have developed a crush.”

      â€œYeah, and she seemed quite forward herself.”

      â€œA nice little couple,” remarked the fatter guy, with his usual laughter. “Now all we have to do is wait for the chick to go to bed, then we’ll go in and copy all her data.” Getting out of the car, he added, “in the meantime I’ll get the equipment ready. You keep checking to see if she’s switched the light off.”

      Elisa was tormented by the thousands of things on her mind. Had she done the right thing, letting him go like that? How had he taken it? Would he really want to see her again? In the end, though, it had been he who had suggested that they postpone. He had given an undeniably convincing show of being serious. He had seemed quite sincere in the way he had expressed himself in such a touching way. Was this merely a strategy to make her fall into a skilfully woven net? Something that would lead to another amorous disappointment, more pain, further suffering. She decided to try and take her mind off it for now. Her main objective for the evening, however, had met with success: the colonel had granted a further two weeks for completion of her research. The rest of it remained to be seen, and by now she had learned not to be under too many illusions. She could not permit herself to make another blunder. This time she wouldn’t recover.

      Slipping off her clothes, she threw herself onto the bed. The alcohol had clouded her thoughts somewhat. Her only priority now was to get a good night's rest. She switched off the light and instantly fell asleep.

      In the meantime, Jack was driving back to the base, thinking more or less the same things. Had she been deluding him? Would she really want to see him again? Despite these doubts, he felt sure that he had made a good impression by passing up the chance to go to bed with her in such a noble fashion. Few others would have done so, and he was certain that she would have greatly appreciated this. In the end, if there was going to be something between them, they had all the time in the world to be together. A day or so more would not make any difference.

      â€œShe’s switched off the light,” said the thin man in a low voice, as if frightened to wake her. He took hold of a large travelling bag. “We can go in.”

      Moving cautiously, the pair made their way towards the hall of the house attached to the hotel in which they had rented a room.

      â€œWe absolutely have to do this now,” said the fat one. “She takes that damn handheld device everywhere, as if it were her underwear. The only time we’re going to get hold of it is when she’s asleep.”

      They crept slowly up the stairs, taking care not to make any noise. One click of the lock and the door opened with a creak. The room was full of boxes, cartons and equipment of all kinds. It had the look of an abandoned storeroom. One wall lamp, soiled with the dust of many years, lit up the surroundings dimly.

      â€œWe’ll get in by climbing over the partition between our balcony and hers,” said the fatter of the two.

      â€œWE will get in? You mean I will get in,” exclaimed the other. “How do you imagine you’re going to climb over to the other side with all that extra flesh you’re carrying?”

      â€œPerhaps you’re underestimating my athletic prowess?”

      â€œNo, I can imagine. I wouldn’t want to think about it,” replied his thinner colleague sarcastically. “Stop talking bullshit and pass me that rope. If I slip, at least try to hold on. I don’t want to die splattered over the pavement of this seedy town.”

      â€œDon’t worry, I’ve got you.” He wound the rope around his waist and wrapped it once around the handrail of the fence as well. “Here. Take this,” he added, passing him a small dart gun with laser pointer. “One pinprick of this stuff and our young lady will be sleeping like a baby all night. The needle is so tiny that, at the worst, she’ll just think she’s been stung by a mosquito.”