“Oh, wow!”
My hair is normally quite straight, but I had asked them to make it curly. Then they took some pieces, curled them extremely tight, and had those hanging around my ears. It was just like I had described to them. I saw Will’s eyes shifting down, so I did a little twirl.
“Oh, wow!”
The dress was pure white with little pieces of emerald green sparkles sewn into the fabric. The top part was kind of skimpy – my arms and shoulders were bare but I had gotten a tan the last couple of weeks so the white of the dress really stood out. This dress was different from the comfy clothes that I usually wear. Let’s just say that I wouldn’t be hiding any weapons underneath this top. A thin strap around my neck held the dress up. The back of the dress was – well, it wasn’t there. At least not above my waist.
“Aren’t you going to be cold?” Will asked.
“I have a half-cape,” I said and held it around my shoulders without fastening it. The cape was emerald green like my shoes. “If I do get cold, I will expect my gallant Zorro to lend me his cape.”
The skirt part of the dress was much looser than the top. Thank goodness. I wouldn't be able to walk let alone dance, otherwise. The front of the dress hung around my knees, but the back part fell to my calves. I saw Will looking at my shoes.
“You’ve spilled something on your toes, Izzy.”
“It’s called toe-nail polish and I have some on my fingernails too.” I held out my hands so that he could see. "The girl at the hair salon said that every woman uses this kind of polish when they go to a dance. We picked the colour to match my shoes and my cape. She said I should wear green on my lips and eyelids too, but I didn’t want to do that. I have a handbag in the same colour too,” and I held it up so he could see.
Will came closer and fingered the metal strands hanging from my ears. “Antennae for your pinky ring?”
“Earrings. Decorative only. They have little pieces of emerald in them too. I have to be careful when I put on my mask.” My mask was a band of emerald green cloth like my cape. When it was around my neck like it was right now, it was like the cuff to a sleeve. However, when I pulled it up over my face, taking care not to catch it in the earrings, it stretched. I pulled it over my face and the eyeholes became apparent.
“You know why I chose this dress, right Will?”
“White and emerald green, like your grandmother liked to wear.”
“Plus, I had the salon do my hair just like my grandmother wore hers. Tonight I’m Melissa, not Izzy. Do you mind?”
“Melissa,” Will smiled, and did a sort of bow.
“Zorro,” and I did my best at making a curtsey. “I’ve hired a pumpkin and six mice to meet us at the pier and take us to the ball.”
“Huh?”
# # # # # # # #
Will and I were back on the dance floor – we hadn’t been able to dance as much as I had thought we would. A lot of the time, people were dancing in ways we had never seen before and to music we had never heard before. We joined in when it was something we knew; otherwise, we sat at our table and gazed at the sea of costumes – just like all the other spectators were doing.
People watched us as well – mostly when we were dancing. We were one of the few couples who knew how to jive, and I saw people looking at us and smiling when we were on the dance floor. I’d like to think that it was because we were dancing well, but I think it was also because of our costumes. Everybody else was dressed in a medley of colours; Will and I stood out because of the starkness of our black and white.
But, we also received lots of attention just sitting. People would come by and talk to us; some would say that they had voted for us which I didn’t really understand; some would make a pleasant comment on their way to the floor; others would stop and ask who we were. They knew Zorro of course, but they hadn’t been able to figure out who I was. I said I was Melissa of the Wilizy, and then after too many blank looks and more questions, I started to add automatically that “She was a Spanish princess who was in one of the Zorro movies,” and that would satisfy them and they’d move on.
I’m not sure when it was exactly that I caught on. First, I noticed that the couple in the table next to us was upset that they had been given the wrong table and had to move. I remember watching the two people who were really supposed to have their table weave their way through the crowd and sit down. They weren’t wearing much of a costume; just some nice clothes and black masks over their eyes. I was prepared to smile at them when they looked our way, or even do my Melissa was a Spanish princess routine, but they never asked us about our costumes. They didn’t look at Will and me at all which was strange because everybody was looking at the people around them and their costumes. Instead, the couple took seats so that their backs were to us, which I thought was kind of funny at the time because that meant they weren’t looking at the dance floor. But, I didn’t think anything of that at the time.
Sometime after that, Will and I came back from the dance floor to find that the couple at another neighbouring table had left. Both had been wearing the exact same costume – the Cat in the Hat. They were particularly noticeable when they danced because their hats towered above everyone on the dance floor and you could see them from anywhere in the ballroom. When another couple sat at their table, I thought that they were joining them, but the two Cats in the Hat never came back, which seemed strange to me because they had left so early. Why would they go to all the trouble of getting all dressed up and leave in the first hour? I also remembered wondering why the second couple had sat down at the table so that their backs were to us. But, I didn’t think anything of that at the time.
Things all clicked into place shortly afterwards. Will and I were on the floor dancing, and we were doing a lot of twirling back and forth which meant that I was always facing in a different direction. I saw two men in dark suits approach the couple sitting at a third table near us and lean over them. It didn’t look like they were having a pleasant conversation. I kept sneaking peeks as Will and I moved around the floor and saw the two men escort the couple to the exit. It was then that I noticed that the other two couples that had been ignoring us so intently were now turned slightly in their seats. I felt their eyes.
Will was still looking at me with a slightly goofy smile that told me the new Izzy was still a hit with him. Dancing automatically, I ignored him and began looking around the ballroom properly. Almost everybody there were in elaborate costumes. I saw only two couples who had not gone to a lot of work to get ready for the ball. Both of those couples were sitting within grabbing distance of our table.
Pairs of black-suited men were stationed at all four exits. I had assumed that they were like the ticket takers at the door – standing there to watch the doors so that no one could enter without a ticket. All of the men were husky. All of them were within a few steps of blocking the doors. All were looking at the sector of the ballroom where Will and I were dancing. I started leading Will on a series of dance steps that took us slowly through the crowd. Their gazes followed us.
A waiter was leading a couple to the recently vacated table next to ours. They were costumed properly but the lady was particularly interested in looking at Will. She was dark brown in skin colour, and I was too far away to be sure, but I think she had an IOF nose. I realized that the trap was now three-quarters complete. The couple at the fourth table near us would soon be asked to leave. Then, another couple would take their place. They’d ignore us at first. I stopped watching and began thinking.
# # # # # # # #
From Will's journals: April 19.
Izzy had really gotten into the dancing. A couple of times, I had started to take us back to our table because we didn’t know how to do the dance. Each time, she pulled me back and said something like “We should try this one,” so we did. I didn’t mind. I still couldn’t take my eyes off her.
When I wasn’t staring at Melissa’s dress, I was staring at her hair. Her red hair was all friz
zy around her forehead and around her ears, and the curls hung down below her ears and at the back of her head and sort of just dangled and bounced every time she moved. I had never seen anyone in the IOF look like this. I hadn’t seen anyone look like this anywhere. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. So did everyone else in the ball. I could feel eyes on us all the time.
I remember noticing that she wasn’t smiling any longer. I thought it was because we had been dancing a long time and she was getting tired. When the band started a new dance, I was going to take her back to the table so she could rest. Instead, she stepped into an embrace with me. I noticed that all the other dancers were holding each other too – they hadn’t done that before. I guessed that was because the band was playing something slow now. Neither Izzy nor I knew how to do that kind of dance, so we just held each other and shuffled our feet. I felt Izzy’s lips graze my ear and was going to give her an ear lobe kiss too when she began whispering.
“Don’t look around; keep dancing but listen carefully to what I tell you. The IOF is here.”
Naturally, I started to look around, but she was ready for that. The hand behind my head steered my face back against hers.
“They have agents sitting in three of the four tables closest to us. I’m not sure if they’re all IOF because they’re don’t have the IOF brown skin; but, I’m sure that they’re working for the IOF. In addition, they have two security guards stationed at each exit. They watch us when we’re dancing and their hands start fidgeting with their clothes any time we get near an exit – that means that they have weapons and we won’t be able to get by them. There may be a safe way out through the washrooms, but only one of us can take it. If both of us moved towards the washrooms at the same time, I’m sure they would become suspicious. Four of the security guards could get there before we could. However, they won’t be worried if you go to the washroom while I go back to our table.”
I started to speak, but she stopped me with a finger pinch on the back of my neck.
“We don’t have time to discuss this! This plan can work; we don’t have time to make another. The IOF is after you. They don’t care about me. I would not be able to rescue you, but you can rescue me. When I give you the signal, you and I are going to give each other a little hug like people do when they have finished a dance. You are going to turn and walk slowly towards the corner of the ballroom where the washroom sign is. You’re facing it now. Can you see it?”
I whispered, "Yes."
“You are in no great rush to get there but you must walk in an almost direct path so that the guards won’t worry about where you’re going. Meanwhile, I’ll return to our table and sit down. They will not worry about you when they see that I am sitting at the table. Go into the men’s washroom. It should be empty because everyone will still be dancing. Look for a window that is big enough for you to squeeze through and break it. Then, turn your sky-sling on and wait for someone to come into the washroom. It might be the guards, or it might be another dancer. Leave the washroom when they do and come back to our table and hover over it."
“Contingency #1: If there is no window, there should be ceiling tiles that can be pushed up. Turn invisible, go into the ceiling, find a way that you could conceivably escape and paint that picture. You’re not going to escape though – you’re going to watch at our table, or outside, while they capture me.”
“Contingency #2: There’s an exit sign by the washroom sign, so the emergency exit must be down that hallway. It’s bound to be guarded, but perhaps by only one man. He may be disguised as a janitor or washroom attendant. He won’t be stationed directly in front of the exit door, but he’ll be close by. If you have no other way to escape, find an excuse to walk close to the man and disable him. Paint a picture of yourself fleeing through the emergency exit and then return invisibly to our table.”
I managed to say But, before Izzy squeezed my neck hard.
“You are to let them catch me. Do you understand? You are to let them catch me! This is not necessarily a bad thing. Remember how we were wondering how we would issue our warning to Zzyk? We weren’t going to be bushwhackers, remember? We were going to find a way to let him know that we wanted changes to the IOF and that we didn’t want to get into a big war, but we would if we had to. I am going to tell them that I deliberately let myself be captured; that I want to talk to Zzyk so that I can negotiate with him. I will tell them that I am there under a flag of truce. I’ll tell them that you’re close by. I’ll tell them that if they break the truce, you’ll know it and will retaliate.”
“After they catch me, they’re going to take me out of the ballroom. They’ll probably have a copter nearby. They’ll put me in the copter and fly to Edmonton. Stay watching until you can confirm that’s where they’re headed and then go back to the Wilizy. Use the ship to catch up to the copter and trail us to our final destination. You’ll have a couple of hours of flying time at least. Use that time to think of ways that you can demonstrate that you’re watching me. You’ll probably have to create some explosions to get their attention – think of how you’re going to do that. Remember that anything you do has to be explainable in some way that doesn’t reveal that you can make yourself invisible.”
Again, I tried to speak, but she cut me off.
“I will try to find a way to send you signals. As long as I’m in the open somewhere, I’ll figure that you’re nearby watching. I’ll have my mask around my neck. If you ever see it over my eyes, you’ll know that I want to be rescued. If they take the mask away from me, or if my hands are tied so that I can’t lift it, I’ll use a 2 + 2 signal to ask you to save me. If you do have to rescue me, don’t reveal our secret weapon.”
Izzy gave me a quick hug and whispered. “Go now. Don’t look back – men don’t do that when they’re going to the washroom.” Then, she spun away from me and I couldn’t see her.
Back to the Table of Contents
Chapter 16
From Izzy's journals: April 19.
I saw the consternation of the guard returning from the washroom hallway and caught the signal that he made. I lowered my mask to my throat and stood up, my handbag in my hand. “Took you long enough,” I said to the first person to reach me. I wrapped the half-cape around me in preparation for leaving.
My table neighbours quickly surrounded me but they paused automatically when I held up a hand. “Let’s not make a scene. Do you really want people to realize who you are? You can put on the restraints outside.” I brushed by them. They were caught standing around looking foolish and I made them run to catch up to me before I slowed down and led them out of the building.
A four-passenger copter was waiting for us. I stopped in front of the doors and held my arms out for restraints. The dark black woman with the fancy costume approached me and I took a good look at her as she began to pat me down for weapons. She didn’t have the IOF brown skin, but it’s easy to dye skin darker than it really is. I was pretty sure who she was, so decided to take a little gamble. It would be worth it if I were right. “You don’t think I would be foolish enough to ask for a truce meeting and then walk in with a weapon, do you Abby?”
The woman, Abby, looked up with a start. I had been right about the nose; up close I could recognize the mouth too. Months ago, I had watched Abby trying to conduct a discreet surveillance of Will’s camp and failing badly at it. She had spent most of the time chewing on snacks, and not too prettily either. It made sense that the IOF would send someone who could confirm Will’s identity.
“The people you pay to spy in Surrey aren’t very good, Abby. I trolled myself around Surrey for 3 days before your spies finally noticed me. The free tickets to the dance were a nice touch, but by then, I would have pretended to fall for anything.”
I had spent some time trying to figure out how they had found us. The IOF was waiting for us at the dance. Will didn’t know about the dance until he returned from his excursion, so I had to have been the one to break security. I h
ad talked about the dance with staff in the dress shop and the hair salon, but there was nothing about me that would have made them suspect I was from Alberta. Changing an IOF gold coin at the bank however was obvious, at least in retrospect. We had never thought that Zzyk would have white-skinned spies in B.C. More proof if we needed it that he had territorial ambitions.
“I’ll keep the handbag,” she said.
I shrugged. “I won’t mention the slackness in the operation. Just make sure that someone is at the other end who can make decisions.”
“Why? We know what we’re going to do with you.”
“Don’t you recognize a flag of truce when you see one? The white dress? How obvious can we be? You think I’d be wearing this monstrosity if I weren’t trying to get caught? Just be sure that someone who can arrange the details of the truce will be waiting. Will won’t like it if I’m harmed.”
“Who’s Will?”
“Zurt didn’t like his name. He goes by Will now.”
“Zurt, Will, whatever. Where did he go?”
“When we saw you come in Abby, we figured the trap was almost ready to be sprung. Will’s going to meet us in Edmonton. Our copter isn’t as fast as yours, so he had to leave early.”
Abby strapped me into a back seat with a chain that went around my waist several times and then through a bracket in the copter. She took a seat next to me. Interesting, I thought. They've tightened up how they transport prisoners.
Halfway to Edmonton, I turned, tapped Abby’s knee, and indicated I wanted to talk. She leaned over. “I'm kind of hungry. Do you have any sunflower seeds with you, Abby, or do you gorge on those only when you're in the woods?"
I don’t think she liked that.
# # # # # # # #
A man in a blue suit was waiting for the copter when we landed. Abby unfastened the chain around my waist and led me to him. “What’s this about a truce?” he asked.
“I’m here under Zurt’s white flag of truce,” I said as confidently as I could manage. "Zurt has taken the name Will now. Will wants me to give Zzyk a private message. I’ll take Zzyk’s reply back to Will. I am carrying no weapons but I don’t expect to meet Zzyk face-to-face. We can talk via a secure visual circuit. I’ll wait over there until you can set it up.” After pointing to the terminal building, I started to walk in that direction. Abby moved to stand in front of me.