Lions in the pool house

A gourmet lunch

Chapter 14  Lions in the pool house

“Alphonia Queta,” she said as she extended her hand.

Caine had done a salutary kiss on her hand, so Charles just shook it.

“Charles Mohan,” he returned.

“Sanderson,” said the tall barrel chested man in the red swimming trunk.

“Mohan,” he said, with a firm grip on the ex-general.

There were all in their swimming attire as they sat at the table for lunch.

“How is Peruvian different from Spanish?” asked Sanderson.

“We don't do the flamenco,” she answered.

The waiter brought the appetizers and requested their instructions for the sauce for the main meal. There were having grilled steak, rare.

Caine gestured to Alphonia,

“I'll have my usual,” she said, looking at Caine.

“With the coca,” Caine reminded the waiter, “check with the chef.”

He turned to Mohan.

“Your concoction then?” he asked.

“Okay,” Charles said, “ its going to be a recipe.”

The waiter, flipped the page and waited with pencil in hand.

“ Four tablespoons yogurt, one lime (small), one ear garlic crushed not sliced, two tablespoons rum, one teaspoon olive oil, a dash of pepper and iodine salt.”

“I'll have whatever she's having,” said Sanderson.

“I'll have the madeira,” Caine affirmed.

They returned their attention to the appetizers.

During the meal, it became plain to see, where Alphonia got her beautiful complexion. It was showing on Sanderson as he cherished every bite that he brought to his lips.

“I tried it once ,” said Caine. “ it made me hurry for dessert.”

Alphonia peeled with laughter, showing teeth that presented a strong milky enamel.

“You'll have to work on your adaptation,” she said to Caine.

Then she looked across at Mohan and asked him for a bite piece. He cut a slice and stretched his hand out to her with the fork. She stood up partially and placed her lips over the piece and then withdrew.

Chewing on it, she then reached for the burgundy. She sipped it, then mused over its taste.

“You must have a lot of girlfriends,” she said. “I can see how you might discourage them from staying too long.”

Charles tipped his head. His appreciation showed in his eyes.

“An incredible insight, Alphonia,” he said sincerely, “ I am your student.”

“But I hardly know you,” she answered.

“That could be quickly remedied,” Charles replied, then continued, “ Queta, isn't that a mission orientation?” he asked.

“Queta might mean to stop,” she replied. “How is it a mission?”

“When you have seen it all, there's a tendency to want to stop. Most people would substitute that with a new mission in life.”

“That's very clever,” she replied, with both her hands clasped around her glass of wine.

Caine brought himself to address the general, with the question,

“Is it true General, that the American dream shut down the Latin favor for fun?”

The general took a moment to consider.

“You're referring to the battle with Santa Ana at the Alamo,” he answered. “ I....I....have to say, that we took quite a bit of loss ourselves.”

Alphonia looked at him with endearment and said,

“You're a gentleman, sir.”

“Thank you, Madam,” the general gushed with delight.

They retired to the bar after the meal. The conversation flowed with the same languid sense of what is possible in all things.

In a private moment, Caine pointed out to Mohan why they can't understand her theories. They were too engaged in the sense of the comfort that it produced.

“You'll have to break out before coming back to it,” Charles suggested.

“You'll have to tell that to the general,” Caine replied.

On the other end of the pool, the general was in a keen conversation with Alphonia. Her snowflake design blue bikini shone brightly in the afternoon sun. It appeared that she was murmuring with approval.

Reviews

[patricia]

just going with the flow now Sri as far as the plot is concerned..i must say in terms of maybe a psychological thriller it will appear to some, i sense mike is either some sort of would-be assassin or something, or maybe, as i remember in the last book, if it was mike...he was looking out over a lawn thinking about taking time out to find himself in india. maybe he has had some sort of break down, like the film...beautiful mind...and much of this is delusional...or maybe he has got himself caught up in some religious extremist stuff...anyway for me the heart of each chapter is in the wonderful chunks of knowledge that i find myself pondering and enjoying, you dish it out in such vast quantities, that much gets lost in the following of the story, but i know it is there, and will go back..as i have done several times, to your window to the soul chapter, with all the pathos, logo's and gnosis stuff. where i found myself debating why it sometimes seems the opposite way round...e.g. the east with the knowledge, the west with the..emotional ...maybe...am still thinking about it. anyway love it all up to now...great stuff..keep going...p.s. slightly difficult to keep up with all the characters you introduce, it is hard to remember who is who...not to worry, for now. Thanks.