Mountains of Dawn

Tanya splashed through the cool waters of the brook bordering the vineyard on the north of the property. She followed its meanders as it looped to the east around the backyard of the house to finally cut across the orchard. She climbed from the water to look at the trees, each baring ripe, juicy fruit, too much of a temptation to resist. Each tree she passed gave up an apricot, sweet with the tastes of summer. She nibbled as she strolled, and chose several fruit from another group of trees. These seemed somewhat different, although the color was the same. She bit into one, and stared at the cluster of four pits in place of the single pit she had expected. She gathered a few more, then headed home.

"Edda, look here, look what I've found," she said, holding the fruits before her. "Strangest fruit I've ever seen, and growing on the trees with the apricots."

"They're medlars," a voice said from behind her. "Medlars, from the Orient-Japan, I believe."

"Kevin! Oh, you're back!" Tanya glowed, delighted. She reached for him, then stepped back, suddenly aware of Edda's presence. She blushed. "Welcome back," she said, letting her eyes tell him of her happiness.

"Came looking for you, to discuss my portrait," Kevin said, with a quick look at Edda, "And I couldn't find you. Wandering around, eh?" He leaned toward her and whispered, "Let's go home."

As they crossed the cedar hedge, Kevin drew her into his arms and hugged her. "God, I missed you. I missed you so much-"

"Kevin!" Tanya said. "I missed you, too, but you're squishing me. I can't breathe." She giggled.

Kevin pushed her against the wall in the villa's entry. "I can't wait. No time to go upstairs, no time to lie down." His mouth moved over her face, her neck, down to her breasts as he unbuttoned her blouse. "Let me feel your body, all of it. Now. Right here."

Two days later, Kevin received a phone call. "How do you do, Mr. Matwin," a smooth, elegant voice said, a voice that immediately proclaimed the speaker to be someone of aristocratic heritage. "My name is Luigi Amedeo di Monteturro. I am a friend of Ms. Vanessa White. She told me of your laboratory for the reproduction of artistic material using compact disk technology."

"Ah, yes, Ms. White told me about you," Kevin said.

"If I understood correctly," Luigi Amedeo continued, "this would be for your own use, as well as for the use of other interested publishers."