Read Online Counterpoint by John Day - Free Book Online

and drifted
away from the building towards the roadway. Suddenly the updraft of
air rising up the mountain and curling over the plateau, hit the
craft.
    Max watched every move the pilot made
with interest. The pilot adjusted the controls and after a few
seconds of lurching and bucking, rose smoothly into the crystal
clear, blue sky.
    The flight lasted an hour. It was hot
in the cabin due to the sun, but Max hardly noticed, with the world
stretched out below him.
    They landed in a small clearing, and a
car came to meet them. It took them to the city and set them down
outside a large Bank.
    The driver asked Carla to let her
office know at least one hour before she wanted to be picked up.
She nodded, being familiar with the routine.
    “Wait here, just outside the Bank and I
will just be a few minutes,” she said. Max did so without comment,
though he was dying to know what it was all about.
    The rest of the day was devoted to
shopping and exploring. Carla loved the clothes and the more
expensive they were, the better she looked in them, though she did
not actually buy much. Max was happy to take in the sights; some of
the old buildings were fascinating.
    After a late snack, lunch, they planned
to return and prepare for the evening. They set off for the town at
about 7.00pm, the air was still warm even without the sun, another
romantic evening thought Max looking up at the stars.
    The Restaurant was quite busy; the
smell of burning pine-wood tinged the air, from the open fire and
grill. They sat at their table while complimentary drinks, and
freshly toasted garlic bread, was served, with the menu.
    There was a lot going on in the
restaurant. A singer and his musicians set up their equipment on
the stage and started playing.
    “I know him,” said Carla. “He has a
great voice and does Frank Sinatra very well.”
    “How come?” Said Max.
    “Just a ship that passed in the night”
said she said, wishing she had not mentioned it.
    The food arrived, so the subject was
dropped.
    “Don’t you want your drink?” Max
asked.
    “I don’t drink much anymore,” she
replied rather subdued.
    Then she looked at him and said firmly.
“I am an alcoholic!”
    Max was a bit shocked, not at the fact
she had a drink problem, but at the way she said it. It was as if
she wanted him to use it as an excuse, to walk out on her. He
shrugged and said, “Well, I’m not bothered about drink either, so
I’ll order water.”
    The food was superb; they chatted about
many things, but kept away from personal subjects.
    During the singer’s break, he came over
to their table and greeted Carla like an old friend. She responded
warmly and introduced Max as a close friend. Peter, the singer was
a tall and confident fellow, probably hugely popular with the
women, thought Max.
    Peter asked if Carla would join him on
stage as a special favour to him, for old time's sake.
    She agreed and said. “The usual?” He
nodded.
    She said. “I want a favour too.”
    “OK!”
    She whispered in his ear. He nodded
again and said, “a bit different for this place, but just for
you!”
    Peter started singing again, and after
the song, he announced he would perform a little duet with a friend
of his, Miss Carla Day.
    She calmly rose to the
applause and walked confidently onto the stage. She sang as Nancy,
and he sang as Frank Sinatra in “ Saying
something stupid, like I love you. ” The
two of them were perfect in pitch, timing, and actions, the
audience loved it!
    Max was amazed at her voice, the slight
huskiness and wide vocal range made her a natural, and she could
easily become a professional singer.
    Carla announced that she would like to
dedicate the next song to a special friend with her tonight. The
audience looked around and settled on Max. Oh heck he thought,
what’s coming next!
    She sang,
“ I turn to you. ”
By Mel C of the Spice Girls, looking and sometimes pointing to Max
to emphasise her meaning. Max was overcome with emotion, no one had
done