The Grasshopper Read Free Page A

not
involved anymore. But all this will be happening tomorrow. And this
is my night, Pascal. My last night with you. and it will be the way
I want it to be,” Svetlana turned over again, propped herself on
her elbows and looked at Pascal. “You didn’t thank you PR for all
the votes,” she said with a sad smile.
    “You? Of course I’m grateful to
you… And not only to you, to all our people, the entire
staff…”
    “No, no, primarily to me. My large
screen at your speeches brought you the votes.”
    “Well, I see that you’re joking
now.”
    “It wasn’t enough for people to see
you from afar, Pascal. I told the cameraman to shoot only your face
for the big screen.” Svetlana removed a lock of hair from Pascal’s
forehead. “For people to see your dark hair… gentle waves… the lock
that falls on your intelligent forehead… and you brush it away
without any concern, with a swift movement of your hand… or head.
You pull the long hair… on the collar of your shirt… behind your
ear. And those lips…” Svetlana ran the tips of her fingers over
Pascal’s lips, “beautiful lips, very beautiful… full, juicy… and
the chin, the round chin, not aggressive… it is charming, amiable.
And you know what actually secured the votes of the
women?”
    “Svetlana, please.”
    “Be quiet… just be quiet… This is
my night,” Svetlana whispered. “You never thought of it, admit it.
That very slightly pug nose of yours. Like that of a boy. It awakes
motherly instincts. And your eyes. Dark, deep… ‘Eyes, get the
eyes!’ I told the cameraman… because when they look at a person… it
is so, like… Every person feels that you are focused on them, that
you respect them, understand them… that you know everything about
them. And they don’t notice, captivated by those eyes of yours…
that at one moment your gaze went through them. It didn’t wander,
it didn’t. But it went someplace… only it knows where. Uncatchable,
untouchable to anyone else…” Svetlana started to cry.
    “Don’t, Svetlana, please,” Pascal
held her to his chest.
    “And then your gaze, Pascal,”
continued Svetlana without daring to look at him, fearing that she
would see acknowledgment in his eyes, “did in fact stop on someone.
It didn’t pass through someone. It reached its place… that it
loves. From where it doesn’t want to go… anywhere.”
    “Please, stop cry, please,” Pascal
kissed her hair.
    “Tell me… tell me… has your gaze
stopped?”
    “Stopped? My gaze? I don’t
understand a thing you’re saying, Svetlana, really. You’re too
upset. But don’t worry, calm down. I’m sure it will be as you said.
Seneca will arrest me and won’t let me go to the square. Raul also
would never allow me to. You’re completely right. And this is not
our last night. And stop sobbing,” Pascal smiled and raised her
face towards his. “I just don’t want to you be in any danger.
Tomorrow is a critical, uncertain day.”

Chapter 6
    Having come out of his father’s
suite, Prince Kaella did not go to his room. He took the elevator
to the hotel lobby, nodded to the inspectors who were watching the
hotel, and walked to the reception.
    “How can I help you, Mr. Kaella,”
the receptionist said.
    “I’m interested in whether the
members of the television crew were still working or whether they
had gone up to their rooms?”
    “Most of them are still working,
sir. Only the editor-in-chief and Miss Babe are in their
rooms.”
    “Very well. Thank you. Good
night.”
    “Good night, Mr.
Kaella.”
     
    Prince got off the elevator on the
third floor and walked down the hallway looking for room 314. The
head of Babe’s television station, Capital City TV, had booked the
same hotel, following Prince’s instructions, and informed him of
Babe’s room number.
    He stood in front of her door for a
while. There was no sound. Slowly, indecisively he raised his hand
as though to knock, then unexpectedly lowered it, turned