Distant Annihilation. (Tarquin Collingwood Adventures Book 1) Read Free Page A

where this was leading.
    “The point is that we’re seeing a gradual and perceptible shift in the power balance between nations in this early part of the 21 st century. Europe and America are declining relative to others, whilst Asia is becoming more powerful in every conceivable regard. Whenever this happens there is bound to be friction and tension, sometimes it leads to war.”
    “You’re being rather dour. I was expecting our meeting to be a cheerful one,” I chastised.
    Jules gave a little laugh, “I don’t mean to be. But let me say my say. The Middle East, China, Central Asia and those Russians; whether it be because of energy, border or water disputes, nationalism or just a explicit grab at power - these are the places to watch.”
    His talk was ominous and I was not in the mood for it, “Rest assured, watch them I shall,” I said contriving a show of gravity.
    We were both leaving Stockholm today; he this afternoon to god knows where and I this evening back to London. During a Swedish lunch of fried marinated Herring, potato puree and lingon berry preserve we spoke of many things; a new American heavy machine gun we’d heard of, sport, books and politics. The talk was amusing and convivial. We parted outside the restaurant with a firm shake of hands and a degree of solemnity; for we had no idea whether we would meet again and if so when. Had we been foreigners, we might even have embraced, but such a show of emotion would have been as unnatural to us as it was revolting. I returned along the Vasterlanggatan and then across Vasabron Bridge to my hotel where I had arranged a late checkout.
     
     
    I had rarely seen a finer pair of breasts - pert, rounded and pleasing on the eye, as they bounced up and down glistening in sweat as the twenty two old Swedish Chambermaid rode me as I lay on my back in bed. I had noticed her in the corridor the very first morning I had arrived at my hotel. Camilla was the type of girl a chap could hardly fail to notice - even though she was just a Chambermaid: five foot eight, brunette, blue eyes, flawless skin, slim hips and a mischievous smile. After lunch with Jules I could hardly imagine a more laudable way to spend the afternoon. She gave out a large exhalation of breath as one invariably does when reaching congress with me and sighed in admiration, “Oh.....Tar....quin.”
     
    Camilla was quite exhausted, but impressed with her lover, or was I just flattering myself? She de-coupled herself and lay down beside me. Both of us breathed deeply as we recovered our breaths, our naked lean young bodies, sweaty with the exertions of an afternoon of unadulterated sensual debauchery. I looked to the bedside cabinet on my left and saw the time. If I was to make my flight to London, I would have to leave soon. I got out of bed and walked straight to the bathroom for a shower - without acknowledging Camilla in the slightest. The girl had fulfilled her purpose; proving useful in allowing me to sate my loins and thus kill a couple of hours before my flight. No point in developing any feelings for her. I stepped in the shower and turned on the water. The sights I have seen this afternoon in bed were preferable to any I have seen in the whole of Stockholm, I mused to myself as the water washed away an afternoon’s sport.
     
     
    Heathrow was not as ghastly as it usually is. I sighed with relief after a wait of only 13 minutes as my luggage appeared on the carousel. I caught a taxi to Kensington where I lived in an Edwardian building - Burlington Mansions; consisting of luxury mansion flats, one of which was bequeathed to me by my late uncle who died childless. I was loath to sell having become rather attached to the place. It was in a good neighbourhood, convenient for all the best parts of London. The flat itself was ideal: high ceilings, spacious rooms, quality fixtures and fittings and three bedrooms. I had sensitively modernised the flat in the three years I had lived there. Now I