Dangerous Deception - A Short Story Read Free Page B

consisted of two metal beds with a single dresser positioned between them. An assortment of religious pictures hung on pale blue walls.
    “Do you mind taking that bed?”
    Gwen followed her gaze to the bed directly below the only window in the room. “Fine with me.” She dumped her stuff on top of the gray bedspread. A cool ocean breeze blew through the open window, along with the sound of a barking dog.
    Gwen turned to the three-drawer dresser and glanced over at Celeste. She had twice as much clothes. “You can have the extra drawer. I’m use to living out of a suitcase.”
    “Thank you.”
    Gwen left her jeans in the suitcase and placed her cotton knit skirts and blouses, along with her undergarments, in the drawer. Though a large Muslim society she knew the majority of the people living in Lerato were casual dressers, evidence of heavy American and British influence.
    Once her clothes were put away Gwen grabbed her equipment bag and took out her camcorder. Leaning back against the wall, she aimed the camera at her roommate who was still busy putting away her things.
    “So Celeste, tell me why you have traveled half way across the world to the lovely country of Dewana?” As the woman turned to face her, Gwen adjusted the focus. The expression she saw wasn’t one of amusement.
    “ Stop it.”
    “ Oh, come on. Tell the people why you’re risking your life to come to a country embellished in war and poverty?”
    “I’m serious, Gwen. I don’t want any part of this goodwill mission so turn it off”
    “Relax , it’s not on.” Gwen lowered the camera as Celeste sank onto her bed.
    Long locks of brown hair framed a taut, pretty face.
    Gwen had seen that look often in the field. She was scared out of her mind. “I’m sorry, I was just fooling around. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    “I shouldn’t even be here. I have a husband and children at home.”
    “You came to persuade your sister to leave, right?”
    “Yeah. I promised our folks I’d at least try. I doubt she’ll leave though. Candice loves it here. She’s obviously a lot braver than I am.”
    “How many kids do you have?”
    “Two. Ethan is seven and Angela is five.” She removed her billfold from her purse and held it open for Gwen to see a photo of the siblings.
    “They have your likeness. Ethan looks a little ornery.”
    “Oh , he is. He loves to terrorize his little sister.” She glanced over at Gwen’s hands. “I take it you’re not married?”
    “No. ” And she hadn’t given marriage much thought until this last year. The more she took stock of her life the more she realized how tired she was of living out of a suitcase.
    “Sorry I snapped at you. It’s just... I really don’t want to be here.”
    “We’ll be all right, Celeste. I doubt the fighting will ever breach the city limits.”
    She gave Gwen a brief nod before she stood and walked back to the dresser .
    Gwen left her to her unpacking and cleared off her own bed, then climbed between the sheets. She fell asleep to the sound of distant gunfire.

Chapter Four
     
    Gwen woke to the persistent crowing of a rooster right outside her window. Tossing back her sheet, she glanced out into the predawn light to find the culprit sitting on the cement wall below. She turned over and was about to cover her head when she noticed the empty bed across the room. It looked as if it hadn’t been slept in.
    She pulled on the pajama bottoms she had discarded during the night because of the heat, and walked barefoot to the bathroom. Finding it occupied, she continued on to the kitchen and found Tom, Evelyn, and Celeste sitting around the kitchen table already dressed.
    “What are you people doing up so early?”
    Tom stood and offered her his chair. “We were just discussing how you could sleep through all that racket outside?”
    “I spent three months in Afghanistan. If you can sleep through mortar attacks you can sleep through just about anything.”
    “Morning , sleepy