The Script of Evil

04 - The solving of the puzzle

"You are now sounding like a philosopher. I would like to bring you and my father together someday and then you can then ask him all these difficult questions. It would be quite interesting."

"I'll rather play squash with him. We'll never find logical answers to these questions because life in many instances is not logical. Doesn't matter how deep we delve."

Kadin laughs. "You sound just like my dad!"

A man enters through the main gate and friendly greets them. "Hello, I am Ben, the caretaker. What are you doing here? Can I help?"

Billy answers quickly. "We are just inquisitive about the place and the people who pray here."

"I'm the caretaker here and my family lives on the premises; we have our own quarters. Why don't you come on Sunday to the Krishna temple when the ISKCON people will be praying here? A special, holy man is visiting Port Elizabeth up to the end of next week and he will lead the prayers on Sunday.

Kadin smiles happily. "What is ISKCON? At what time should we be here and what must we wear?"

"It's the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. It starts at nine in the morning and they would like to have visitors. Plain clothing is all right, but mind you, remove your shoes before you enter the temple."

Billy pushes his luck: "Do you perhaps know someone that knows Sanskrit and can read it?"

The man laughs. "I'm only the caretaker. I don't know much about their faith and luckily it doesn't bother them."

Billy looks at Kadin. "Damn, it is a long wait until Sunday and we don't even know if it will be worth our while."

***

They slip through the side entrance with Billy's special key. Kadin rushes to the cloakrooms en quickly puts on her one-piece, black costume. She struggles to get her hair into the cap. She wraps the giant towel around her as to hide most of her body. They move to the shallow end of the pool.

Kadin looks at Billy. "What is the distance of the length?"

"Sixteen metres. This is an uncomfortable length. I usually swim 64 lengths of roughly one kilometre at a time."

"Sixty four lengths, you must be mad!"

"No, it's few. I like to swim a five kilometres once a week, sometimes more."

Kadin's eyes widen stunned. "Hundred fifty-six rounds, you must be playing. I only start and then must stop."

"No, it's easy, you'll see. You will soon get accustomed to it and then it will feel as if you are flying. I'm mad about it."

"Just remember, I am not a good swimmer."

"If you struggle, I will give you a few tips and then it will be wonderful, you'll see."

Billy suddenly takes off his clothes and stands in front of her in his black Speedo. He is looking away from her and astonished she observes his sturdy body. Good definition overall; the abdominal muscles; the scapulae and broad shoulders must be the result of swimming. She marvels about his legs with full definition overall and thinks this must be the result of the running. Her eyes follow him while he walks into the water and fasten on his firm round buttocks. That's definitely the squash's contribution.

Billy is up to his knees in the water and looks up. "Don't just stand there, girl. Time for action."

She blushes and feels terribly shy. Why is she so reluctant to shed the massive towel under which she is hiding so comfortably thus far? She knew beforehand this moment had to arrive. He is waiting. She drops the towel and walks hastily down the steps into the shallow water while she feels his eyes burning on her. She can't get into the water quickly enough and tries to hide under the water from Billy's eyes. This part of the swimming pool is so shallow that even toddlers can bathe here and in a desperate move she tries to go flat on her stomach to hide from his gaze.

"Why are you shy? There's no reason for."

"Is it so obvious?"

Billy laughs shamelessly. "You're so weird. Swim to the farthest side, I want to see how you do."

Kadin enjoys the time at the swimming pool immensely. Billy teaches her different techniques and before long she swims like a fish incessantly only by regulating her breathing. She can just keep on swimming while Billy passes her time and again and after his kilometre, he changes to butterfly stroke. It fascinates her when he passes her underwater like a dolphin.

Later he accompanies her to her front gate and she smiles happily. "Thanks for a wonderful day. I've never enjoyed a day like this before. You are full of surprises, Billy Shaw."

Billy takes her hand and goes down on his one knee and kisses her hand. "Your knight at your service, my princess Kadin Bosch."

She blushes and smiles shyly before she pulls her hand from his. She runs to the front door and waves.

That night Kadin dreams of a water world in which she is the princess of Atlantis in the arms of her underwater prince that swims with the dolphins.

The Script of Evil continues in Edition 5