Chapter 12

Matches Bryant:

There are times when to achieve a desired end, it is necessary to ‘bite the bullet’ and just face an issue. I really needed to get leave and take my fiancée to meet my parents. The only problem with that is everyone at The Lodge believed that Yelka and I were the proverbial ‘item’, and we’d done nothing to disabuse the notion. In fact, I’m sure that it was common knowledge, if unspoken, that we slept together whenever possible. Now, if Yelka had agreed to marry me, the problem would not have arisen. However, she was adamantly opposed to the idea of marriage, and made it clear that her twin sister should be the recipient of my ‘troth’. The sister, Alena, was the physical ‘spit’n’image’ of Yelka, but not, very definitely, identical in personality. The two of them argued that Yelka was the ‘warrior’, whilst Lena was the nurturer and home-maker. Once I got that through my head, and the two girls presented a united front, I overcame my discomfort and found that, indeed, Lena was every bit as loveable as Yelka. She accepted my proposal but insisted that she wanted to share me with her sister. Can you see the issue appearing? I formally requested a moment of the Major’s time.

“I need leave, sir.”

“You could have requested that through more normal channels, Sergeant.”

“Yes, sir, but I thought you might require some explanation. You see, I’m taking my fiancée to visit my parents.”

“So you need leave for Lieutenant Smallbridge as well? Why did she not make the request herself?”

I could feel my face heating. “I’m not marrying Yelka, Major, she turned me down. I’m marrying her sister, Alena.”

He frowned. “Is this going to cause problems, Sergeant?”

“I really hope not, Major. It wasn’t my idea. Yelka – Lieutenant Smallbridge – as I say, she turned me down. We’ve ... we’re good friends, anyway, sir, but she suggested I should approach her sister. They’re identical twins. But they aren’t identical in personality. It’s a bit complicated and involves the personal background of the two girls, which I don’t want to go into without their permission. It’s weird, but ... I love them both. Sir, I’d suggest you ask Lieutenant Smallbridge if you want details. I’m happy for her to talk, if she’s willing.”

“Very well, Sergeant. I know a little about Lieutenant Smallbridge’s background, but perhaps this is the time to probe a little deeper. Discreetly, of course. I don’t want to lose her skills, or yours. Is there anything else?”

“No, sir.”

“Then you are free to go, Sergeant. Dismissed.”

I departed the office, and made my way to the range where I got into a discussion with Sergeant Norris about an outdoor ‘shoot/no shoot’ course. I was surprised we didn’t have one already. Once we agreed on an outline proposal and a choice of sites, I went through my own practice with a Glock before spending some time with a Browning semi-auto 0.45”. At the end of that it was time for lunch. Cookie had French bread rolls prepared with salad, feta cheese, ham or chicken pieces. Coffee, not as good as Sally Smallbridge’s, but still perfectly acceptable. I was sipping that when Yelka arrived and plonked down next to me.

“I’ve been summoned into the Presence,” she said, with a questioning look, taking a bite of her sandwich.

“Earlier, I spoke to him about leave to take Lena to see my parents. He was troubled about our relationship, and I didn’t want to go into details about you. Either of you.”

She sighed and nodded. “I suppose I need to tell him. Thanks for the warning.”

Yelka Smallbridge:

I can’t say I was actually worried to get a summons to the Major’s office. I think there’s an inherent anxiety involved in any call to see a superior. Matches’ explanation gave me time to get my head straight.

“Lieutenant Smallbridge reporting as ordered, sir.” I stood, stiff, but I didn’t salute. I needed to think about whether a more military comportment was needed.

“Relax, Yelka. Take a seat. This is personal. I’ll say up front that your personal affairs are yours alone. I’m just seeking reassurance that there isn’t going to be any friction between Sergeant Bryant and yourself.”

I sat, and made a deliberate effort to relax, breathing deeply. “Sir, if you have time, I think it would be appropriate for me to tell you my story.”

“I have time.”

“Sir, you may be aware that my sister and I were rescued from sexual slavery, and adopted by Mama Sally and Papa Jerry Smallbridge. We are identical – monozygotic – twins and were very popular with the ... customers.”

“I knew you’d been trafficked, and of course that you were Russian originally.”

“Yes, sir. Well, we were adopted by the Smallbridges and treated as loved daughters. But we were taught to defend ourselves. Mama Sally and Papa Jerry both were involved with a black group, as you probably know, and inevitably, Lena and I also played a part. Then, I had the opportunity to join the company. Sir, both Lena and I were ... ambivalent, I suppose ... about the idea of sex. What we’d experienced of it was very negative, but it was obvious that Mama Sally enjoyed something much different. Matches ... Sergeant Bryant ... and I became friends, and I decided to trust him. I wanted to see if I was permanently damaged by my history, or if I could have a, a, normal relationship. I might have expected him to feel a responsibility towards me after the experiment was very successful, but I have no desire to settle down. I want to use my skills, to fight for justice, to free the oppressed, if that’s not too presumptuous. I am a warrior, sir. My sister is a nurturer. She can fight as well as I, but her whole being yearns for a home and family.” I managed to get all this out through my feelings, but I couldn’t control the tears trickling silently down my cheeks.

“Thank you ... Yelka. I understand, a little, anyway. You are happy for Sergeant Bryant to take your sister to visit his parents? To marry her?”

“Yes sir. We’ll always have a unique relationship between the three of us, but there will be no friction, no jealousy. At least, nothing more than any family.”

He chuckled. “I’m happy to hear that.”

“By your leave, sir?”

“Certainly, Yelka. By the way, if you wish, your commission could be made official and you could be an Army Reserve Officer, if you wish. You would not, of course, be deployed with other Reservists, but it would give you an official identity. Think about it, and perhaps talk to Sergeant Bryant. Learn to salute, perhaps. Dismissed.”

I left the office and went to the range to run through a course with a Tokarev. Not a bad weapon, but not nearly as accurate as a Glock, in my opinion. Jim Norris disagreed.

“With a little work on the action, I don’t see why it couldn’t be as good,” he told me. “I might have a go at one to see. Come to think of it, I might set Matches on the job, too.”

“If I have to use one in the field, though, Sergeant, it’s unlikely to have had your attention to the action.”

He nodded. “True. And most of our weapons should be as made, just so everyone knows what to expect.” He hesitated, “Sergeant Bryant was suggesting a new ‘shoot/no shoot’ course.”

I thought about that. “Sounds like an excellent idea. Would you like input from everyone?”

“Yes, I would. Perhaps we could introduce variations. Thank you, Lieutenant.”

“Could I be ‘Yelka’ in private, Sergeant?”

“Only if I could be ‘Jim’, or ‘Sarge’.”

“It’s a deal, Sarge.”

Matches Bryant:

“Hello Lena. I’d like to take you to meet my parents. I’ll come up Friday, and we’ll drive down Saturday, stay a few days, come back.”

Silence, then a very small voice. “Will they like me? Will it be okay?”

“They will love you. It’s inevitable. Mum’s been nagging me to marry for years. It’s only now I’ve found someone I want to marry. You are perfect.”

“Okay. If you say so.”

“I do say so. It’s quite a long drive, so we’ll need to leave early on Saturday.”

“Okay. I love you, Matches.”

“And I love you too. You are very precious and very beautiful.”

“Thank you. I’m beginning to believe you, but it’s difficult.”

We made our good byes and I hung up and redialed.

“Hello, Mum. I’m getting married.”

“That young woman you told me about, who you work with?”

“No, Mum. Her sister.”

“Well, when can we meet her?”

“I’ve got leave next week. I’ll collect her, and bring her down on Saturday.”

“Well, it’s about time. Will it be one room or two?”

“I’ll check with Lena, but probably one, Mum.”

“We’ll look forward to it.”

Happily no crisis arose in the intervening time, and I set off for Cumbria. I was going to rent a car, but Ginger offered me their Caterham Seven, just before I was offered the use of one of the Land Rover Wolfs. It was no contest.

I arrived at Woodside Lodge at 2100, put the cover over the cockpit, and was greeted at the door by my fiancée with a scorching kiss, before being dragged into the lounge to say hello to my hosts. Sofia abandoned the piano to give me a warm hug, and I was duly hugged in turn by the other girls and by Sally Smallbridge in her customary nudity. I staved off an immediate erection with difficulty before shaking hands with Jerry. He seemed amused.

“Welcome, Matches. It’s good to see you again. You’ve got quite a drive tomorrow. Early start?”

“I hope so.”

“We’re early risers here, as you probably know. We can have a cooked breakfast and coffee on the table at six, if that suits?”

I glanced at Lena, who nodded, her expression serious. “Don’t worry, Darling, please,” I tried to reassure her.

She twitched a small smile. “I’ll be nervous until I actually meet your parents, but I’m looking forward to time with you. Do you want a drink or a snack? I’ve made a date’n’walnut cake...”

“Earl Grey and cake? Yes, please!”

As we were talking, the family resumed their previous activities. Sofia began playing something pretty that I didn’t recognise, Lena went to fetch the promised snack, and I sat in the remaining place, a two-seat sofa. A family at peace – Jerry, patriarch, stroking his wife’s hair as she knelt leaning against his knee. Daria and Yana, engrossed in a jigsaw puzzle, Sofia immersed in her music. Lena appeared with a tray, which she placed on a table in front of me, knelt next to it and poured two cups before handing me a porcelain plate bearing a large slice of cake, with a smile. She then adopted a posture similar to Sally’s, leaning against my knee. I didn’t have a free hand until I ate the cake, and then I found myself stroking her hair with my left hand. My eyes caught Jerry’s. His twinkled, and I smiled in response.