Paine Ellsworth

EXCERPT FROM P O I S O N   F A L L S . . . A few miles outside Paris, France, in the magical forest of Fontainebleau, two college students had found a little bit of heaven near the ancient château. Aleese Christophe and Nicolas Guillaume took turns chasing each other through the scattered beams of morning sunlight. Deeper into the forest they played. They had both been feeling burned-out and their grades were beginning to suffer. So they had decided to skip their classes and get away. Away from the drudgery of school, outside the people-packed streets of Paris, they found a mystical land of nymphs and sunbeams waiting just for them. Nicolas and Aleese were friends, best friends. She helped him with math and English. He was a whiz in science, especially biology, and tutored Aleese. They helped each other with studies and quizzes, with examinations and with life. Now they were helping each other to each other. The more they ran through the forest, the more they became intoxicated with their freedom. Laughing, Aleese looked back as Nicolas reached for her. She twisted and darted away, still giggling. He boosted speed and raced after her. As he drew close, he leaped toward her legs and tackled her. As they fell, Nicolas twisted his body so Aleese would fall on top of him. She love-slapped his chest several times and tried to jump up. But he had firm hold of her and was not about to let go. He sat up with Aleese's legs wrapped around his waist. Gently, he took her chin in his hand. They closed their eyes and allowed their lips to meet, first softly, then more firmly. Her tongue dashed past his lips to meet his. As if they had a mind of their own the two tongues darted in and around each other, building more and more passion within the two friends. Nicolas began unbuttoning Aleese's blouse. One by one as they kissed, each button opened to reveal a little more of her inner allurement. Her hands were busy as well, lifting his shirt and caressing his chest and back, as their tongues continued to taste each other. As if somewhere drums were beating faster and faster, they rushed to peel off their clothes and to expose each other to the sunbeams. "Stop! Wait a minute. Hold on, mon ami." Aleese tried to catch her breath, . . . Here is more!... . . . Mbouti was right.  Reviewing thoughtfully, Hume remembered the hateful, sidelong glances from the other board members, but never from Trask.  Some of the members had been vocal in their tactful ways of putting Hume down.  By comparison, Trask had seemed supportive, even defensive of him.  Mbouti was right.  They should all go to the research facility in India. "What is that noise?" Emilio's ears perked when he heard a sound like muffled drums being quickly beaten.  A familiar sound, he was immediately drawn back to his last day on Tortuga, his last day at home in Haiti.  The helicopter came in low and fast over the warm savannah.  It sported the huge, royal blue BTI logo.  A man was leaning out and training a high-powered rifle on the Landrover.  A ricochet caused the three men in the truck to duck and look up.  Mbouti began yanking the steering wheel to the left and then back right in an effort to evade the torrent of bullets.  Two small burning pieces of steel found their way through the roof into the seat.  They knew instantly that they were going to need cover from the metallic rain. As suddenly as the attack had begun, it stopped.  Something had diverted the men in the helicopter.  Mbouti stopped the Landrover, opened his door and jumped out.  Hume and Emilio followed.  A second helicopter, also with BTI insignia, had joined the scene and had fired on the first.  The man with the rifle in the first whirlybird was firing back. Mbouti saw a cave in the hills to the north and motioned for everyone to get back into the Landrover.  The second helicopter was hit and whirling around out of control.  Its pilot managed to regain enough stability to retreat, and they disappeared to the east.  The first gunmen resumed their chase toward the hills.  In a hail of gunfire the Landrover stopped a short way from the cave.  Some of the bullets had penetrated the hood of the truck.  Steam was rushing out the front and sides.  The three men raced into the cave. The sound of the helicopter grew faint.  "Have they left?" asked a shaken Emilio. Still breathing fast, Mbouti answered, "Not likely they have gone.  Most likely they land.  They know that truck is hit.  Here, doctor, you take rifle for to hold them.  An idea I have," and he was off in a flash. Hume, also still out of breath, had no time to protest or to ask Mbouti about his plan.  He and Emilio stayed near the mouth of the cave to await the attack that was sure to come.  They soon received what they expected.  A burst of gunfire pierced the rocks just above their heads.  Emilio pointed his handgun, but Hume touched his arm and whispered, "Wait, Mbouti's out there."  Then the firing stopped.  Several minutes passed without a sound. Hume heard a faint click to his right.  He turned slowly to see a man he did not know standing three feet away pointing a rifle at his head.  "Well, Dr. Hume I presume?" he laughed. . . DigiTale™ Formatting! "DigiTale's a sight for sore eyes!" The green-pastel background of DigiTale™ virtually eliminates eyestrain during long reads!