"Howsabout buying a girl a drink," the tart said spiritlessly, and I
shook my head no with the same lack of interest. The hostesses, pallid
creatures of the night, were coming out as the evening progressed. I
was getting a good share of propositions since I had taken care to
look like a spaceman on leave, always a good source of revenue for
these women. This one was the latest of a number who had approached
me. A little better looking than most, at least better constructed. I
watched her walking away with interest that bordered on admiration. Her
skirt was short, tight and slashed high up on the sides. High heels
lent a rotating motion to this producing a most effective result. She
reached the bar and turned to survey the room, and I couldn't help
but appreciate the rest of her. Her blouse was made of thin strips of
shimmering fabric, joined together only at the tops and bottoms. They
separated to reveal enticing slices of creamy skin whenever she moved,
and I'm sure had the desired effect on masculine libidos.
My eyes finally reached her face--a long trip since I had started the
survey at her ankles--and she was quite attractive. Almost familiar....
Exactly at this instant my heart gave a grinding thud in my chest and I
grew rigid in my chair. It seemed impossible--yet it had to be true.
She was Angelina.
x
Her hair had been bleached and there were some simple and obvious
changes in her features. They had been altered just enough so it would
be impossible to identify her from a photograph or a description. She
could never be recognized.
Except by me, that is. I had seen her in the stolen battleship and I
had talked to her. And the nice part was I could identify her and she
would have no idea of who I was. She had seen me only briefly--in a
spacesuit with a tinted faceplate--and I'm sure had plenty of other
things to think about at the time.
This was the climax of the most successful day of my life. The fetid
air of the dive was like wine in my nostrils. I relaxed and savored
every last drop of irony in the situation. You had to give the girl
credit, though. She had adopted a perfect cover. I myself had never
imagined she would stay here, and I thought I had weighed all of the
possibilities. Because she had taken a good bit of the stolen cash with
her, I had never considered she would be living like a penniless tramp.
The girl had guts, you had to give her credit. She had adopted an
almost perfect disguise and blended neatly into the background. If only
she wasn't so damned kill-happy--what a team we would make!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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