Read Online Mission: Earth "The Enemy Within" by Ron L. Hubbard - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ron L. Hubbard
Tags: sf_humor
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they tried to sell her and that they better get some decent hi-fi equipment in if they wanted her for a customer.
"But actually, she was very sweet about it. She's very shy and not forward at all. You can tell from her accent she's been raised amongst the wild nomads of Russia. Really, she's the most mannerly and demure person I ever met. Except, of course, when she gets behind the wheel of that car!"
So I had no slightest clue of how I had upset her.
The day dimmed for me.
I could hear some laughter coming from her private garden, her own throaty amusement and the high-pitched little squeals from the two small boys. So she wasn't mad at them. She had drooled over the car. She had not been mad at the merchants. She had gotten her driver's license. She was not upset with Karagoz. There was only one conclusion I could reach.
She was mad at me.
I stared for hours unseeingly into a discarded pile of shriveled grass.
I knew I could not live without Utanc.
Chapter 9
Now and then in a lifetime, somebody catches a glimpse of Heavens and then promptly plunges into Hells. And that was what was about to happen to me.
That night, there was no messenger from Utanc. I fretted away the hours fruitlessly.
In the morning, red-eyed and bushy-haired from lack of sleep and worry, I thought that if I could just speak to her and ask her what was wrong, it would all come out all right. At least I would know.
Accordingly, realizing it would be fruitless to knock and fearing to just get the door slammed in my face, I conceived a cunning plan. I would lie in wait in the patio and when somebody came in or out, I would be able to go in and quietly put my question to her.
Looking back on it now, it still seems sensible. Yet it was rash beyond belief.
I took a position behind a high-backed wicker chair just outside her door. The tall and curving weave of the chair hid me rather effectively, yet, kneeling there, I could peer out and keep an eye on her door.
Faintly, from within, I could hear water running and then splashes.
After a bit, suddenly the inner bar of the door was being lifted!
The door opened!
One of the small boys, stark naked, came out of the door!
He stopped!
He yelled, "Melahat!"
From within came Utanc's voice, musically calling to him, "Ask her for a back brush, too!"
The small boy dashed through the patio and out into the yard, shouting, "Melahat! We need some towels!"
My chance! He had left her bedroom door ajar!
Out I came from behind the wicker chair.
I tiptoed into the room, taking great care not to make a sudden noise and frighten her.
Water splashing was coming from the bathroom. Its door was wide open.
Silently, I crept forward. If only I could say a word or two and see her smile back, I knew everything would be all right.
Then, there she was!
She was lying in the tub! The bubble bath was white froth clear up to her chin. Only her head and the tips of her fingers were showing. Her hair was tied high upon her head to keep it out of the water. She was in profile to me. Her eyes were upon her hands and a bar of soap she was lathering.
I had passed by a low table. A small book was on it. My trousers must have brushed against it. It fell and made a small sound.
Utanc must have heard it but she did not look in my direction. She said, "Did you get the back brush?"
The sound of her voice sent a shiver of delight through me. How utterly sweet she looked, just her head and hands above the bubble froth.
The sound of her voice and sight of her in her bath was making it almost impossible to speak. My love for her welled up. I fought for control of my vocal cords. "Utanc..."
Her head whipped round toward me. She opened her mouth in shock. She turned bright red!
I took a step forward to reassure her, trying to find my voice.
She cowered back, trying to shrink into the bubbles. Suddenly she screamed, "Don't kill me!"
I recoiled!
I gazed in horror at how I had frightened her.
I backed up out of the
"But actually, she was very sweet about it. She's very shy and not forward at all. You can tell from her accent she's been raised amongst the wild nomads of Russia. Really, she's the most mannerly and demure person I ever met. Except, of course, when she gets behind the wheel of that car!"
So I had no slightest clue of how I had upset her.
The day dimmed for me.
I could hear some laughter coming from her private garden, her own throaty amusement and the high-pitched little squeals from the two small boys. So she wasn't mad at them. She had drooled over the car. She had not been mad at the merchants. She had gotten her driver's license. She was not upset with Karagoz. There was only one conclusion I could reach.
She was mad at me.
I stared for hours unseeingly into a discarded pile of shriveled grass.
I knew I could not live without Utanc.
Chapter 9
Now and then in a lifetime, somebody catches a glimpse of Heavens and then promptly plunges into Hells. And that was what was about to happen to me.
That night, there was no messenger from Utanc. I fretted away the hours fruitlessly.
In the morning, red-eyed and bushy-haired from lack of sleep and worry, I thought that if I could just speak to her and ask her what was wrong, it would all come out all right. At least I would know.
Accordingly, realizing it would be fruitless to knock and fearing to just get the door slammed in my face, I conceived a cunning plan. I would lie in wait in the patio and when somebody came in or out, I would be able to go in and quietly put my question to her.
Looking back on it now, it still seems sensible. Yet it was rash beyond belief.
I took a position behind a high-backed wicker chair just outside her door. The tall and curving weave of the chair hid me rather effectively, yet, kneeling there, I could peer out and keep an eye on her door.
Faintly, from within, I could hear water running and then splashes.
After a bit, suddenly the inner bar of the door was being lifted!
The door opened!
One of the small boys, stark naked, came out of the door!
He stopped!
He yelled, "Melahat!"
From within came Utanc's voice, musically calling to him, "Ask her for a back brush, too!"
The small boy dashed through the patio and out into the yard, shouting, "Melahat! We need some towels!"
My chance! He had left her bedroom door ajar!
Out I came from behind the wicker chair.
I tiptoed into the room, taking great care not to make a sudden noise and frighten her.
Water splashing was coming from the bathroom. Its door was wide open.
Silently, I crept forward. If only I could say a word or two and see her smile back, I knew everything would be all right.
Then, there she was!
She was lying in the tub! The bubble bath was white froth clear up to her chin. Only her head and the tips of her fingers were showing. Her hair was tied high upon her head to keep it out of the water. She was in profile to me. Her eyes were upon her hands and a bar of soap she was lathering.
I had passed by a low table. A small book was on it. My trousers must have brushed against it. It fell and made a small sound.
Utanc must have heard it but she did not look in my direction. She said, "Did you get the back brush?"
The sound of her voice sent a shiver of delight through me. How utterly sweet she looked, just her head and hands above the bubble froth.
The sound of her voice and sight of her in her bath was making it almost impossible to speak. My love for her welled up. I fought for control of my vocal cords. "Utanc..."
Her head whipped round toward me. She opened her mouth in shock. She turned bright red!
I took a step forward to reassure her, trying to find my voice.
She cowered back, trying to shrink into the bubbles. Suddenly she screamed, "Don't kill me!"
I recoiled!
I gazed in horror at how I had frightened her.
I backed up out of the
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