More Phoenix Work
WHAT THE COO THOCHT ABOOT THE RAIN
by Billy Horsburgh
Auld folks are aye sayin’
Coos ken when it’s gonnae rain,
They lie doon tae keep the grund dry,
Soonds like a bit o’ a strain.
Bidin’ in this weet land o’ oors,
Ye’d aye be lyin’ doon,
If ye iver managed tae get tae yer hooves,
Ye’d be back lyin’ doon again soon.
Ther widny be time for chooin’ the cud,
An’ ye’d certainly niver be full,
Coos dinnae think aboot the rain at aw,
It’s jist a load o’ bull.
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BLACK MADONNA
by Hugh Ashcroft
When a lonely tomcat
Seeks to find a mate
Searching through the shadows
In gardens dark and late –
Does he even notice
The silver lovers’ moon
Yodelling his eternal love
With a throaty croon.
Will some black Madonna
Pause a heartbeat still,
Over hawthorn hedges
On her window sill.
Starlit by the heavens
Windblown scents are borne
Above, an owl soars, hunting
Before the pressing dawn.
Yellow eyes are peering
Straining hard to see –
Beauty, stop your waiting,
Won’t you come to me?
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FINAL CHAPTER
by Colin Macbeth
Jerking awake, he tried to focus through the lifting mists of sedation. Licking his dry lips, he made to sit up but found he was secured by steel restraints on his wrists and ankles to something resembling a dentist’s chair. He lay back and scanned his surroundings – a surgery or laboratory with high windows and a metal door. Beside him, to his right, a canister with a screen indicator sat on an aluminium table. He realised suddenly, that outside was the alpine scenery of Switzerland, jagged peaks and resin-scented forests while here inside was an air of menace with the aroma of disinfectant.
The metal door swung open and a rotund figure in a dark business suit, entered and stood in front of him – somewhat reminiscent of the great Alfred Hitchcock but with spectacles sporting unnerving pale yellow lenses. The bald head inclined towards him and he recognised his captor as Jacob Tussenthaler, shadowy global powerbroker.
‘Welcome to Adlerberg, the Eagle’s Peak. Please accept my apologies for your discomfort but you should not meddle in areas over which you have no control. I assure you, your stay here will be brief.’
‘Tussenthaler, you swine!’ he spat back. ‘You cause misery to millions and call it business. You are unhinged. You must hear my requests!’
‘Silence!’ snapped Tussenthaler, as he removed his spectacles and slowly polished the lenses. Calm again, he continued, ‘Before you leave, I feel the need to explain my position in the world, to your government in particular. You see, Europe is already in financial turmoil. India will fail because of the inherent divisions in its peoples. China has continued its traditional pastime of gambling, on a monumental scale. Only I know which countries to nurture for my aims. Look at your chancellor of the exchequer. Do you really think that his appalling performance will save your country? Puppets such as he do my briefing in the great game. Look at Strauss-Kahn and his fall from grace. I was proud of my success there.'
He squirmed in his seat and looked straight at Tussenthaler. ‘What on earth possesses you to act out these fantasies?’ The portly figure turned away and laughed drily.‘When I started work in Zurich, they called me the Gnome of Einsiedeln. They mocked me. Some of these banks have paid the price for their insults. Others will follow. It is time for you to go. This device will count down to release a special gas which simulates heart failure. With your past, no one will suspect. Goodbye.’ He waddled towards the door and left, shutting it with an audible clink.
He realised there was no escape from these electronic shackles and again examined the equipment beside him. The display showed no movement. Nothing was happening. The steel door opened suddenly and he gulped, stunned by her appearance and severe beauty - always in control but much more so now. Without a glance in his direction, she glided over and activated the timer which immediately displayed glacier blue numbers scurrying towards zero.
‘Darling Jacob,’ she murmured, ‘he can be so – forgetful.’
‘Why?’ he croaked, ‘why in God’s name?’
At the door, she turned to catch his gaze.
‘You lost your chance years ago. You never did work it out, did you?’ she sneered.
‘Why, Moneypenny? Why?’ He sobbed.
As she closed the door on his career, she paused. Her voice took on a harsher, husky tone and the words floated back to him.
‘I was born in Leningrad, James. I was KGB.’
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