the grime is lifted

IX

the grime is lifted

the pane is stained

and mottles the walls

like dappled statues

who look upon

penitents seeking absolution.

beneath the soot

her smile is etched

in multi-colored glass.

veracity reflects into

knowing onyx eyes.

sharp as diamonds

her heart relents

and parcels

clemency for his

falsity.

It was about nine thirty p.m. when they got back from North Arlington.  The guy did a fantastic job. This was the final step in his transformation into Urial Angelis, a character in a dossier but is now reality. It evolved into his own creation. Zuri never asked about his past.  It didn’t seem to interest her in the least. They had to focus on getting out of New York.

Uri and Zurima left the apartment at 12:30 a.m. to go to Teterboro Airport where David & Solomon kept their private jet.  They got clearance earlier so they could fly the route they needed to go.  They met at David & Solomon.  David would be taking them to the airport and Solomon would stay at the office.  When they got to the airport two guys got out of a limo and approached them.  It was Andy and another guy.  He was another messenger that Uri recognized.  They had guns.

“You need to come with us.  Mr. Burkhart wants to speak with you three” Andy said.

“Alright. Just put your guns away. None of us are armed. If Burkhart wants to speak to us then that’s just fine,” David said.

They all followed Andy to the limo and opened the door for them to get in.  Burkhart was sitting there beside Chow. They got in and sat across from them.

“Well, Well. Stephen Phillip.  You just had to violate rule number one.  Even if you did I wouldn’t care so long as you followed through with the plan. Tell  me where it is or the girl gets it.

“I never told him where it is.  He never asked me.” Zurima said.

“Then you must know, David.” Burkhart said.

“I don’t know where it is either.” David replied.

“Zuri, we’ve known each other for a long time. Why did you go to David & Solomon? You know he’s my sworn enemy.”

“That’s the reason. You’ll never know where those diamonds are.”

He pulled out a gun. “Get out of the car,” he said pointing it at them.

They all got out.  The messengers were there with their guns drawn.

“It doesn’t have to be like this.  Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to pull this trigger at your face until it goes click.” Burkhart said to David. “ But I believe you don’t know where it is either.”

“Zurima, you better tell me or Stephen will die.”

“Okay. I’ll tell you. Just tell your messengers to put their guns on the ground. and Chow too.”

Burkhart looked at them and nodded his head.  He still had his gun pointed at Stephen.

“It’s somewhere between Russia and Siberia.” she said,

“You’re taking us with you,” he said.

“You’re not going anywhere, Burkhart,” said Chow. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Burkhart.

“Chow, what are you doing? We were both going to get the diamonds. We were going  partners into this thing.”

“Did you really think I would have anything to do with you?”

“We  started this whole thing together. “

“Let’s just say it was all my plan from the beginning. And you never had anything to do with it.”  he nodded at the messengers and they picked up their guns and pointed it at Burkhart.

“Take care of him boys.”

They took him into the field and  gun shots were heard.

“Now, Zurima, we are all getting on that plane and you are taking us to the mine.” David said pointing the gun at Stephen.

“That’s right, Stephen.  Chow and I orchestrated this whole thing from the beginning.” David said.

“You were supposed to get the information but you fell in love with her instead.  All you have to do is take us there. And you two can walk away  from this together after we get to the mine.”

“We came to you for help.  Why didn’t you just ask us then.”

“We had to be sure that Burkhart was eliminated.”

“Okay, David. I’ll take you. Just stop pointing that gun at Uri.”

They all boarded the plane.

“Let me call my partner so he knows to expect us.  There are a dozen armed guards that have instructions to shoot to kill.  That will most likely happen to you if they think you’re strangers.  It’s better if Ammar meets us at the gate himself.  

Chow and David deliberated over this and agreed.  David handed her his cell phone.

“You better make it look like everything is just fine.”

“Hello, Ammar?  it’s Zuri.  Uri and I are coming to the mine.  We’re leaving now. Yes. We are going in David’s plane.  Chow will be coming  too. Yes. They’re right here. Okay.”  She handed the phone to David.

“Ammar. David. Chow and I are coming to the mine and we’re getting the diamonds. And if you try anything stupid, I will shoot your partner.  Got that? Okay. We should be there in a couple days.”

The plane was spacious and looked more like a lounge than a cabin. There were two levels.  It came with its own flight attendant. She went through all the motions of an attendant on the commercial plane showing the oxygen tubes and exits were.  Her name was Serena.

David and Chow were sitting toward the back of the plane.  Uri and Zurima sat on the sofa up front.  In a few hours the attendant brought out champagne.  It was the expensive kind.  Crystal.  Stephen had never had champagne before.  He was thinking his ex-girlfriend was drinking this every night.  He chastised himself for allowing her to invade his thoughts.  He was in a situation where he could get killed.  He was really worried about the woman he loves because it was her life at stake.  In a little while there was the aroma of food being cooked upstairs.  In a little while Serena brought out salads.  There was actually a dining table where they all sat around eating their salads.

After they were through with their salads she put the dishes away then brought out the first course. It was oysters rockefeller, shrimp cocktail, and fried calamari.  They must have a full on kitchen up there because these were all fresh.  It turns out they had a chef from the Waldorf Astoria cooking on the second level.   Uri was thinking this was amazing for a last meal.  Serena passed out hot towels for them to freshen up.  She then brought out cups of lime sorbet.  He looked at Zurima and she informed him it was supposed to cleanse their palate so the previous meal would not invade the flavors of the consequent dish.

The conversation mostly involved David and Chow.

“So do you think Solomon knows anything?” Chow asked.

“I doubt it. He just thinks i’m helping them get away.  He has no idea what’s going on.  He thinks you’re Burkhart’s go-to man.  He doesn’t have a clue that you and I have formed an alliance against himself and Burkhart.”

“We’ve come this far. We are going to take the diamonds and give them to the highest bidders.  I think we should go to Brunei first.

Serena brought out those hotel plates, with the metal cover over it.  It was prime rib, pickled vegetables and a side of basil parmesan grits.  It was delicious.  The meat was so juicy and tender.  He had never had grits or knew what they were but he discovered he really liked them.  He still didn’t know what they were. After the meal Serena brought out some more sorbet. She brought out coffee and various fruit and pastries.

After coffee, everyone repaired to their former place.  It was thirty minutes when Stephen noticed that David and Chow were asleep.  Stephen addressed Zurima,”I can’t believe all that double-crossing.  I was getting confused. I wonder if these two are going to turn on each other.”

“They had me fooled. I always knew Burkhart wanted the diamonds.  I really thought Chow was his partner.  I trusted David.  We worked with him for a long time.  We gave them standard diamonds at first.  Then we decided to distribute Zurima’s Collection to David & Solomon because it was a respected name in the diamond community.  Burkhart was just starting out.  And I always thought he was sleazy and underhanded.”

Serena came out and said, “Excuse me, Miss Archimedes, I want you to know that the pilot and I work for Solomon.  He knew what was happening because he had overheard David talking with Chow, about how they were going to  kidnap you and Mr. Philip then kill you after they got their hands on the diamonds.  I put something in their coffee so they would fall asleep while the pilot turns the plane around and goes back to Teterboro where Solomon will be there waiting with law enforcement.”

X

the clock has been reset

it finally stopped blinking

ghost minutes are reappearing

twelve arises from the dead.

the clock on the wall no longer ticks

the batteries all ran out

like a stream in a drawn out draught

the fan desists its steady clicks.

the silence of the clockface

immortalizes the moment

we consummate the covenant

and the Universe blesses our embrace.

Time ensures eternal fulfillment

Destiny had aligned the stars in place.

He was in bed watching the sunrise through the french doors while Zuri was still asleep.  They had decided to get away after the ordeal  They went to the Canary Islands.  He looked at the spotless panes.  A bird could mistake it for more sky.  He remembered that grimy pane he woke up to every morning at the first place he had in Manhattan.  He remembered growing attached to it and bringing it with him when he moved to Central Park.  It was good of Solomon to let them into the apartment to gather their items.  He contemplated bringing it but decided against it. It would feel like he was being unfaithful to Zuri.  He didn’t need a grimy window to write poetry.  He had his muse lying right next to him.

His transformation to Urial Angelis was complete. He was all Zuri knew.  He was starting over with a clean slate.  He came to New York a country bumpkin and became a worldly gentleman who wooed the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.  She and Ammar decided to take the miracle diamonds and disperse them in the diamond district so no one would have a monopoly on them.

After having been a struggling poet all these years, Zurima set up publishing house for his own .  He called it Window Pane.