We left the station and walked
past a row of shops, I was following him at a small distance, he was walking
quite fast. Then he turned towards a quiet and pleasant resident street, which
had rows of white houses and the pavements were lined with trees. While he was
walking in front of me, his big imposing stature seemed bigger, like a mass, a shadow
in the bright sunny light. At no point did we talk, nor did he acknowledge my
being there, occasionally he would turn to see if I was following then he would
go on with the brisk walking.
After a few minutes, we arrived
to another, smaller street, he stopped by the last house in the corner,
impressive and large. He walked up a few steps to a black door then he rang the
bell. A few seconds passed, I slowed down, and started hovering on the
pavement, looking at the man, waiting for instructions, a sign… The door
opened, a big man, also dressed in a suit, greeted the other man with a bow. He
then turned to me, and signalled towards me, saying “come in” before
disappearing in the house.
I walked up the stairs and was
greeted by the other man. Cleanly shaved, completely bald and shiny head, thick
shoulders, arms, neck and big built, he was an imposing and impressive sight; he
was wearing a formal, morning dress, the type I thought you would wear at well-to-do
weddings, or at races events when you go to the Royal enclosure for example. He
looked incredibly threatening, in a brute and thuggish type of way, yet also
amazingly appealing and alluring. He did not say very much, but clearly was
unfazed by my being here. He directed me to a room on the other side of the
house, which had some open French windows leading to a garden. I was signalled
to sit, and wait.
A few minutes passed, before one
of the side doors open and the man that I had followed from the station came
in, his red tie had disappeared and his shirt was now unbuttoned down three or
four buttons, revealing a hairy torso. He was sucking on a thick long unlit
cigar, and was wearing half moon reading glasses. The other man, who was
carrying a tray of glasses and bottles, followed him in the room. I felt
uncomfortable in the slightly grand and formal setting and felt somewhat out of
place in my jeans and tee-shirt. The two men with their imposing physique and
few words were making me feel slightly unnerved and anxious, I was thinking of
making some excuses and leave when the cigar man sat in the sofa across from me
and in a distinguish and very deep voice asked me to get undressed. Uncertain
and looking at the other man who was now serving drinks, then looking again at
the man sat in front of me, I was about to tell him that I needed to go, when,
as if he guessed what I was about to say, said “Do not worry about Clifton, he
will help you getting ready”.
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