The Feminist Queendom Charlie’s War 59

© Beverly Taff

List of Characters.

Charlie Sage Maths and electronics genius.
Shirley Sage Charlies elderly mother
Chloe Charlie’s one time early school friend.
Josephine Flint Surgeon and associate of Chloe’s.
Mrs Jane Anston Director of Anston Aerospace.
Ronnie Garage mechanic at top of lane
Pauline Garage owner, Ronnie’s sister.
Briony Pauline’s teenaged daughter.
Billy Pauline’s middle son.
Abigail (Abby) Pauline’s youngest daughter.
‘Poppy’ Charlie’s little micro-runabout.
‘Doris’ The armoured mobile home.
‘Lady’ Chloe’s Sports Car.
Dawn Charlie’s armoured spaceship.
Colonel Wilson Vindictive misanthropist doctor.
Margaret Thomas ‘Failed’ police security guard.
Sally. 1st Oz Special forces trooper
Jacky 2nd Oz Special forces trooper.
Juliet Charlie’s Mal engineering assistant.
Laura The second mate of the Second Dawn
Kate (Katherine Bergson) The Australian defence minister.
Lieutenant Engadine Asi Charlie’s second prisoner.

Chapter 59

Charlie’s rushed preparations worked. He and Chloe arrived late after the food had been served and apologies were made as the couple tried to slip un-noticed to the banqueting table. It was a forlorn effort with two of the Prime Minister’s guards trying to masquerade as waiters while Charlie stood out in his dinner jacket and black tie. Juliet took the Dawn up into space for the duration of the reception to avoid unwarranted attentions.

Amidst the spectacular gathering of stunning ball gowns, Charlie felt painfully conspicuous as the only male present in his plain black dinner jacket. The Australian PM finally managed to introduce Charlie and Chloe to the Singaporeans where Chloe received admiring glances, while many curious faces turned to study the weird phenomenon who had turned latter-day physics inside out. Charlie felt extremely uncomfortable as the only entire man in the whole reception in his obvious male dinner-jacket and consequently found himself sticking to Chloe like glue.

His discomfort eventually became too obvious to the Australian PM and she tried to calm him.

“Why are you so nervous Charlie?” She asked him.

“I thought this was just to be a reception, it looks as though every ambassador in Singapore is here and some I recognise who are not ambassadors.”

“It would be extremely impolite to hold a ball for a visiting Prime Minister and not invite all the ambassadors who have delegations here.” She explained. “Diplomatic protocol demands it.”

“I’m only here to meet the Singaporeans. I’ll not be circulating and making small talk.”

“It would help your cause if you did.”

“How? There are ambassadors here of countries who are my sworn enemies. I don’t see the point of talking.”

“You are at least expected to stand in the reception line and meet them. It’s being held after the meal because of your late arrival. The security staff are going hairless managing the suddenly revised arrangements.”

“Never mind all that,” Charlie dismissed the PM’s observations, “I want to know if Singapore is with us, agin us or neutral. Have they admitted to the incursions?” He asked bluntly.

The PM glared at him and whispered angrily.

“Not so loud Charlie. We’ve got them to admit privately that the planes took off from their bases but they were under pressure from larger, more powerful interests.”

“Who are no longer a threat.” Charlie whispered back.

“That’s what this reception is for. To let those countries know that Singapore has a powerful new ally. Now, Katie has laid out the groundwork, all you have to do is smile and answer the occasional question. Katie will squeeze your hand discreetly if the ambassador is someone of consequence.”

Charlie sighed.

“I’d rather be dancing with Chloe.”

“Later Charlie,” Katie replied as she joined him in the reception group.

“I thought I was here just to talk business.” He complained.

“Hush now, here comes the Chinese ambassador. Try and show him some respect.”

Charlie watched the ambassador strut into the hall and walk straight up to the Singaporean Prime Minister. A few words were exchanged without smiles then the ambassador turned to look at Charlie, the only other man in the room.
Instead of walking respectfully down the line to meet the Australian prime minister, he marched straight up to Charlie. Without even exchanging a ‘hello’ or a ‘good-evening’ he went straight to business.

“So you are the man who invented this new gravity drive?”

“And good evening to you as well.” Charlie riposted without extending his hand.

The ambassador squinted angrily at Charlie’s total lack of fear or respect. Then he realised from Charlie’s easy posture and relaxed demeanour, that here was a man who did not fear the Chinese vast military superiority over the other Asian countries.

“Oh. Sorry. Good evening.”

“That’s better,” Charlie scolded him mildly, “good manners cost nothing. And in answer to your first question; yes, I am the person who invented and built my spaceship then visited the moon.”

Charlie did not elaborate by declaring he’d also been to the Asteroid belt and even landed on Mars. There was no point. Just getting anything to the moon by conventional rockets was still a major and dangerous logistical undertaking. The Chinese had only just achieved a landing for the second time that same year after two fatal earlier attempts.

Despite their being decades behind the first American moon shots, they had never signed up to any legal conventions concerning claims to the moon and they were at that very moment discussing a claim to the moon as Chinese territory. Technically and militarily, by dint of America having fractured itself politically into smaller feminista republics, the Americans were in no technical position to contest that claim either legally or militarily.

However, Charlie’s unexpected appearance with a vastly superior spaceship had wrecked the Chinese ambitions. The Chinese ambassador was acutely aware of this for the revelation of Charlie’s several visits to the moon had caused ructions in the Chinese politburo. He was under considerable pressure to try and somehow get rid of Charlie or kidnap him and try to force the secrets of Anti-gravity.

Having now come face to face with China’s nemesis, the ambassador realised that it would be no easy task to kidnap the six-foot three scientist: a giant by oriental standards. He was tempted to strike with a small calibre poison dart there and then but he hesitated when he noted that both guards poised beside the scientist.

It was quite obvious that the Singaporeans, emboldened by having discovered that Charlie was sympathetic to their own political endeavours to bring back equality for all, that they were now more than determined to protect their ally. The ambassador also ruefully noted the distinct bulkiness of a bullet-proof, stab-proof unitard under Charlie’s tuxedo.

There was no way he could extinguish the scientist in full view of the world’s press and politicians as China had previously done before when they felt sufficiently powerful to ignore the protests of a weaker country.

Having exchanged no more than a brief sentence, the Ambassador was forced to move down the line while Charlie exchanged a knowing glance with the Australian PM.

The diplomatic introductions were soon completed and Charlie was excused from the secondary formalities as assorted celebrities and notables savoured the occasion. From there he quickly slipped into an antechamber to chat to Katie and the Singaporean Defence Minister.

“That bastard was carrying a pistol did you see it?”

“Yes. He was abusing his diplomatic immunity but we were on to him. There were about a dozen marksmen aimed at him from the moment he entered the room and he was told this. We also told him we were no longer to be considered servile attendants upon Chinese ambitions.”

“Seems a bit steep,” Charlie grinned.

“Needs must when the Devil cracks his whip,” the Singaporean defence minister replied. “Your appearance with your spaceship has been a very timely opportunity for us. Apparently, the Chinese once spotted your spaceship approaching the moon. They saw it casually land at several different locations near the Lunar pole and they almost wet themselves. They are still perforce to land within the Moon’s equatorial parameters which means they are seriously constrained by the suns midday lunar heat.”

“Yeah, Charlie nodded. You’ll remember Katie that we dipped down into a deep polar crater where the sun rarely shines.”

“Yes, I understand now. When we returned to earth, I asked one of our astronomers about it and he explained that the best place to get protection from asteroid or meteor strikes plus avoiding the sun’s direct heat, was to build bases in deep polar craters.”

Charlie nodded affirmation.

“Got it in one Katie. I see the dancing has started. Can I have a couple of spins around the floor with my wife?”

“Watch out for the Chinese ambassador and his wife.

Charlie stepped into the hall where the girls were dancing as couples of in groups. He stalked across the floor while Chloe was swaying trancelike with her eyes closed to a slow beat. Gently he took her waist and span towards him as her eyes opened wide with surprise.

“What the – oh it’s you. I thought you’d be talking all night with those politicians.”

“No,” he whispered in her ear, “I’ve got nothing to say to them. They know who I am and they know I’ve got nothing to say to them. I’m just the ‘big stick’ that the Ozzy PM and the Singaporean are holding discreetly in their metaphorical fists.”

Chloe grinned and pushed herself into Charlie’s arms as the soft slow music rolled on.

After a few minutes Chloe squeezed Charlie’s arm and caught his attention.

“Just look at them all, jealous as hell!”

Charlie frowned uncertainly. “I don’t get you.”

Chloe giggled softly as she realised just how inured Charlie was to social tensions and female mores.

“Don’t you see it you big dumb ape.”

“What!” Charlie furrowed his brow.

“The women, you big lummox, they’re staring, nearly all with jealousy.”

“Can’t say as I noticed,” Charlie confessed as the music picked up a much faster beat.

Chloe became alive with excitement for she and Charlie recognised the music to which they had often practised their favourite dance.

“Come on she enthused, let’s Jitterbug.”

Charlie needed no encouragement as he took Chloe’s hand and span her round while their feet picked up the rhythm.

Having a partner who can at the same time hold the rapid rhythms, while simultaneously providing a stable dynamo off which a girl can spin and fly whilst preventing her from spinning uncontrollably into oblivion, is every girls dream in a dance partner and the pair had often practiced it in the privacy of their home.

Now they had a whole dancefloor and it wasn’t long before the other dancers had pulled back to watch the show. Chloe grinned as she savoured the jealous looks and flashed her eyes at Charlies to tell him to go for it.

Having been given a licence to let rip, Charlie seized Chloe by the waist and span her around his shoulders before sliding her between his long legs and hauling her upright again whilst constantly foot-tapping to the frenzied beat. There then followed a series of routines with Chloe almost flying at times as they deliberately and provocatively demonstrated what a couple could do with a man’s strength and a girl’s fluidity. Soon there where whoops and yells as the other dancers felt compelled to admire the show, and more importantly, envy the girl in the man’s arms.

They did not stop until the little orchestra called a halt and a breathless, smiling Chloe finally collapsed into Charlie’s arms. They staggered back to Chloe’s table and slumped into the chairs where Engadine and Angela had been staring mesmerised at the show.

“Where the hell did you two learn to dance like that?” They chorused.

Neither of the breathless couple could answer for long moments as Chloe waved her fingers to signal she was still out of breath. Finally she gasped to Charlie.

“I need some air.”

Charlie nodded towards a pair of French windows and the pair stepped out onto a large veranda.

ooo000ooo