The Tomb (Repairman Jack)

'And take—'

He reached into the open front of her blouse, grabbed her bra between the cups, and tore the center piece, exposing her breasts...

'—off—'

...then pushed her down on the bed and yanked brutally at the waistband of her skirt, bursting the seams and pulling it from her...

'—these—”

...then tore her panties off...

'—obscene—”

...then tore away the remnants of her blouse and bra.

'—rags!'

He threw down the ruined clothes and ground them into the floor with his heel.

Kolabati lay frozen in panic until he finally calmed himself. As his breathing and complexion returned to normal, he stared at her as she huddled naked before him, an arm across her breasts, a and over the pubic area between her tightly-clenched thighs.

Kusum had seen her unclothed countless times before; she had often paraded nude before him to see his reaction. But at this moment she felt exposed and degraded, and tried to hide herself.

His sudden smile was sardonic. 'Modesty doesn't become you, dear sister.' He reached for the flat box he’d brought with him and tossed it to her. 'Cover yourself.'

Afraid to move, yet more afraid of disobeying him, Kolabati drew the box across her lap and awkwardly pulled it open. It contained a light blue sari with gold stitching. Fighting back tears of humiliation and impotent rage, she slipped the tight upper blouse over her head, then wrapped the silk fabric around herself in the traditional manner. She fought the hopelessness that threatened to engulf her. There had to be a way out.

'Let me go!' she said when she felt she could trust her voice. 'You have no right to keep me here!'

“There will be no further discussion as to what I have a right to do. I am doing what I must do. Just as I must see my vow through to its fulfillment. Then I can go home and stand before those who believe in me, who are willing to lay down their lives to follow me in bringing Mother India back to the True Path. I will not deserve their trust, nor be worthy of leading them to Hindutvu, until I can stand before them with a purified karma.'

'But that's your life!' she screamed. 'Your karma!'

Kusum's shook his head slowly, sadly. 'Our karmas are entwined, Bati. Inextricably. And what I must do, you must do.' He stepped through the ruined door and looked back at her. 'Meanwhile, I am due at an emergency session of the Security Council. I shall return with your dinner this evening.”

He turned, stepped through the remains of the shattered door, and was gone. Kolabati didn't bother calling his name or looking after him. The outer door to the deck closed with a loud clang.

More than fear, more than misery at being incarcerated on this ship, she felt a great sadness for her brother and the mad obsession that drove him. She went to the table and tried to eat but could not even bring herself to taste the food.

Finally the tears came. She buried her face in her hands and wept.

3

For the first time since Gia had known him, Jack looked his age. Dark rings under hung his eyes, a haunted look hovered within them. His hair needed combing and he’d been careless shaving.

'I didn't expect you,' she said as he stepped into the foyer.

It annoyed her that he could just show up like this without warning. On the other hand, she was glad to have him around. It had been a long, fearful night. And a lonely one. She began to wonder if she would ever straighten out her feelings for Jack.

Eunice closed the door and looked questioningly at Gia. 'I'm about to fix lunch, Mum. Shall I set an extra place?'

The maid's voice was lifeless. Gia knew she missed her mistresses. Eunice had kept busy, talking incessantly of Grace and Nellie's imminent return. But even she seemed to be running out of hope.

Gia turned to Jack. 'Staying for lunch?'

He shrugged. 'Sure.'

As Eunice bustled off, Gia said, 'Shouldn't you be out looking for Nellie?'

'I wanted to be here.'

'You won't find her here.'

'I don't think I'll ever find her. I don't think anyone will.'

The note of finality in his voice shocked Gia. 'W–what do you know?'

'Just a feeling,' he said, averting his eyes as if embarrassed to admit acting on feelings. 'Just as I've had this other feeling all morning that I should be here today.'

'That's all you're going on—feelings?'

'Humor me, Gia,' he said with an edge on his voice she’d never heard before. 'All right? Humor me.'

Gia was about to press him for a more specific answer when Vicky came running in. Vicky missed Grace and