Redkin Sergey - The Perfect Match стр 3.

Hi Lizzy, Mark, she said. Its good to finally meet you. Im Irene.

Irene was a white lady, about the same age as Yana. She had an intelligent face and looked like a university professor in her brown horn-rimmed glasses, a beige jacket over a white blouse. She was the second leader of The Committee.

Tom is leaving and Im afraid youll have to spend a bit of time with me now, Irene said. Would you actually like something to drink?

They went back to the counter. Lizzy ordered a macchiato and a scone, which she had been craving for some time. Mark got himself a cup of tea and a chocolate croissant, which for some unfathomable44 reason he had never had.

How on earth 45have you never tried it? Lizzy couldnt give it a rest46 on the way back to the table.

I dont know, Mark said, sitting down. Lets see if I missed anything.

Irene was patiently waiting for them to enjoy their beverages and food with a smile on her face. Mark realized that he did miss a lot and announced that he was going to have a chocolate croissant every day for the rest of his life. Both ladies applauded his decision.

Well, lets talk shop47, Irene said when the beverages and food were finished. Well have to take a few samples of your blood and do a few tests. Theres this new technology that were still working on, but getting closer each day, which will allow us to eradicate any threat that viruses from the Two Moons may pose48.

The Two Moons? Lizzy asked.

Thats what we call the other world, Irene said.

Have you been there?

A few times.

How do you explain the very existence of it?

Without getting too deep into the inflationary multiverse theories and trying to explain unresolvable metaphysical issues, I can only shrug and say there it is, and I have no clue why its there. Your father spent quite a bit of time researching the phenomenon. I believe he shared some of it with you. I can tell you one thing though. I dont have my copy there. She ended with a smile.

Youre unique then, Mark smiled.

I suppose I am, but we arent going to talk about my uniqueness today. You, Lizzy, have Ro subtype, which makes your blood incredibly special because it can treat some blood-related disorders, but its ability to disintegrate49 viruses makes it unique. Its something that we still dont know much about, but we are working extremely hard to understand it. We believe its some sort of a mutation and were planning to make it work for our cause.

So, Im a mutant, Lizzy said and looked at Mark. How does it feel to live with one?

Im a copy and youre a mutant. Birds of a feather flock together50, right? he said with a smile.

Different types of birds, but yeah, we are flocking together, arent we? Lizzy covered Marks hand with hers.

Irene looked at her watch. Im afraid we should be going now. My associates are waiting for us. They are ready to start.

***

Tom who was waiting for them in the car took them all to another location that was conveniently hidden in the depths of the park on the outskirts of the city. It took them one hour to get there during which Irene was chatting with Lizzy and Mark about everything but the purpose of their trip.

Were here, Irene said when their car stopped in front of huge green gates.

These gates are big enough for the Jurassic Park, Lizzy said.

The person who used to own the place was, shall we say51, a bit concerned with his security. He gave this place to us, and its been our research center for some time now.

When the gates slowly opened, Tom drove inside, nodding to two guards in civilian clothes who nodded back. Lizzy noticed that the guards were armed with automatic rifles.

The inside looked more like a recreational52 space with a country house which it probably was with three smaller buildings. The main building a big hunting lodge53 could have been designed for a royal family and its entourage. The first floor was built with big soft beige stones and the second floor sported54 large brown pine logs. The attic of the building was under a steep tiled roof with a big, red-bricked chimney55 that suggested a fireplace. The three other buildings perhaps, guest houses and space for staff- were designed to complement the main building. The whole ensemble provided a sense of comfort and a feeling of rustic nobility 56with its earthy tones.  The area was covered with evenly trimmed grass and stone trails that connected each building on the premises. There were no people outside, except for the guards at the gate.

Tom pulled over in front of the main entrance of the house and helped Irene get out of the car. Not that she needed any assistance, it was more of a gesture of respect.

Its spacious, Mark said when he got out of the car, right after Lizzy.

Were happy with it, Irene said and showed them into the house.

As they were getting closer to the house, the massive wooden entrance door opened and a spectacled man in his forties with a beard and in a white doctors coat came out to greet them.

This is Max, Irene introduced the man. Hell be working with you today, Lizzy.

Hi Lizzy and Mark, Max said. Its great to finally meet you both. Please, come in.

The entrance hall was what one would expect from a hunting lodge the walls covered with antlers57 and a few paintings of hunting dogs. The comparison ended as soon as they proceeded to the former58 living room, which was turned into a laboratory with different equipment that neither Lizzy nor Mark knew the purpose of. There were two female lab assistants who were busy looking into microscopes and computer screens and barely59 noticed the visitors.

This is our team and the place of business, so to speak60, Max said. Im afraid Ill have to steal Lizzy from you, Mark, for the rest of the day.

Theres a nice room upstairs where youll be quite comfortable, Irene told Mark.

Yes, there are books, a computer, snacks and a fridge with beverages, Max added enthusiastically.

Lizzy looked at Mark who didnt look like he liked the idea of being away from her. Ill be fine. Go get some rest. Then she looked at Max. Ill be allowed bathroom breaks, wont I?

Oh, sure. Of course. Therell be lunch and dinner.

You see? Lizzy took Marks hand. Ill see you later.

***

Lizzy came to see Mark twice during the day. They had a quick lunch from plastic containers that were brought up by Max. It was simple turkey sandwiches with some salad but delicious. After five hours, which Mark spent watching two old movies Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Godfather, Part 1 and browsing through some old magazines, they had another plastic container meal. Chicken pasta and cheesecake. Not the Michelin star quality, but passable61. Lizzy did not have enough information to tell Mark what exactly she was doing downstairs, or, rather, what they were doing to her. They spent the minutes they had together comparing Indiana Jones with Tom Lesseck, the adventurous geologist, and Michael Corleone with Paco De Niro, the cold-blooded mafia boss (the fictional characters from the other world). Lizzy promised to watch the movies Mark grew up with the next time they would be in the Two Moons.

At about 10 pm, Lizzy came up and woke up Mark who apparently found The Sleepless in Seatle too relaxing. Tom was waiting for them downstairs. Lizzy was tired and took a nap all the way back to their cottage, resting her head on Marks shoulder. Mark barely moved, watching the stars through the car window. When they got home, she was still asleep, Mark took her gently in his hands to the bedroom and covered her with a blanket. When Mark returned to the car to get their coats, Tom told him that he would pick them up at 8 AM tomorrow and left. Mark went back to the bedroom, lay down next to Lizzy and watched her peacefully sleeping with a smile on his face before falling asleep as well.