Ava had helped Adam get Vendetta under sail, and then she'd gone below and changed into her own crop-top and pair of shorts. Now she was curled up, bare-footed, on the cockpit banquette close to Adam at the helm. She was watching Aden disappear behind them. Adam was busy setting their course.

When Ava had gone below she'd noticed Adam had put the mystery packages in the guest cabin. It was driving her nutty wondering where Adam had gone in town, and what he'd brought back with him. He obviously wasn't about to volunteer the information so Ava decided it was up to her to start off their new relationship on the right foot.

She unfolded her legs and sat erect. She said, "Adam, recent circumstances sometimes made it necessary for us to withhold details and rely on a certain amount of... deception. I think it's time we came clean, trust one another explicitly."

"Sure thing, Slim. You got my vote."

Ava waited. She hooked a leg over a knee, swung her foot. Adam said nothing more, peered intently at the horizon. Ava unhooked her leg and planted both feet on the deck. She said, "C'mon, Adam. What's in those packages you brought from town?"

"Packages?" He grinned mischievously. "Golly gee, I almost forgot. Here, take the wheel."

Ava did so. Adam stood behind her. He circled his arms round her waist and squished her close. He nuzzled and kissed her below the ear. Shivers rushed over her shoulder and shot down her arm. She giggled. Amid chortles she protested, "That won't work. You tell me."

"Okay, you asked for it." He released her and jogged below.

When Adam came topside again he had one arm behind his back. Out front, he was holding an open box. He showed Ava. He said, "Wine and roses. That's what I got. And that's what we're in for, Ava, from now on."

Ava let go the wheel and took the box. "Oh, Adam, this is wonderful," she breathed in their lush scent, "they're beautiful. Where did you ever find fresh roses in Aden?"

Adam handed Ava the other package from behind his back and took the wheel. He said, "Here's another little surprise."

Ava sat down, placed the wine and roses aside. She looked at Adam curiously. The second package was about the size of a small bread box and was wrapped in brown paper. "What is this, Adam, I thought you'd gone to town for a resupply of Scotch."

"Nah, I've acquired a much more desirable addiction, Slim." He reached and placed his hand on the side of her neck, smiled with loving eyes that told the whole story.

But, naturally, Ava had to hear the words. She said, "Oh really? And what might that be, Sailor?"

"Opium," he answered levelly.

"What?" Her eyes sprang wide. One second, two... She bounced a jab off his belly, scolded, "You! You can't be serious for more than two consecutive minutes."

"Adam snickered, said, "Aw, don't look so scandalized, Slim. Who knows, maybe we will share a puff someday. Right now, go on, open your gift."

Ava pursed her lips in a look of reproof, said, "Well, compared to homicide, I suppose opium is a peccadillo rather than a mortal sin, at least." Then she got busy removing the wrapping. A plain, unmarked white box was revealed. She tucked the paper under her thigh. She wrinkled her brow at Adam as she lifted the lid a crack. She peeked inside.

"C'mon!? Nooo waaay! Oh, Adam, I can't believe it. How did you do it?"

"Wasn't easy, Slim. I ordered them at the Crater Mall the day I went into town to find robes and boots for you. I knew you'd need these soon enough. Today, I had to track down the store owner at home and persuade him to check their order office. That's what took so long. Miraculously, they had arrived."

"My size. How did you know?"

"A lucky-number-seven guess. Just like your chukkas."

"Oh, Adam, they're fantastic! You are full of surprises, aren't you?" Ava pulled Adam down and kissed his flushed cheek. "I have my vagabond shoes again!" she gushed as she slipped her brand new Elie Tahari ballet flats onto her feet. Ava stuffed the wrapping into the box and leapt up. She threw her arms round Adam's neck and smothered his face with salty kisses.

"Gene Tierney!" Adam cried as though he'd just spotted a three-ounce nugget of gold in a riverbed. He held Ava by the shoulders, looked at her, wide-eyed and adoringly.

"Huh?" She said. "Gene Tierney? What the..."

"The actress?The Shanghai Gesture? Remember?"

"Oh, yeah! She's the one. You got it," Ava said, and then wrinkled her nose to ask, "How the heck did you come up with it at this particular moment?"

"It's you." He grimaced apologetically. "I can't help it, Ava, I gotta say it: You two foxy dames could be identical twins, I swear." Adam had a look on his face as if he'd been caught with his skivvies round his ankles.

"Really?" Ava said, taken aback. But she quickly gathered herself, added, "Well, Adam, I believe you are saying that only because... it's true." She produced her best, Hollywood-starlet, sweet and innocent smile. And was able to hold it long enough for Adam to swallow her vanity line. Then those Tinker Bell giggles rang out.

Adam dropped his head back, and then snatched Ava into an embrace. "I guess there's nothing about you I don't adore, Ava. As far as my heart is concerned, you have cornered the market." He rocked her to and fro. "But I know you're bound to drive me right round the bend and clear over the cliff, Slim." He chuckled.

Later, with Vendetta borne on fair winds and under blue skies, Ava sat, legs extended, feet waggling, admiring her sparkling red slippers. She was happier and more content than she'd ever believed possible. The career of her dreams, the man of her dreams. Who could hope for more? Yet even though immersed in all these positive vibes, Ava still had a niggling uneasiness, and she just couldn't shake it. It was always the way. No matter how perfect things were, Ava would invariably scratch and find a thread to pull. She hated herself for this character flaw... but she'd work on that later. Right now she couldn't help herself. She said, "Adam, there's something we need to discuss."

"Yes, I agree," he replied instantly. He set the wheel and came to sit beside her. "Exactly when did we decide on stopovers in Egypt and Syria?"

"Huh? Oh that. It'll be a big help for my series of articles. And it only makes sense... they're on our way."

"That, they are. But I hate to think of how many shades of shit we'd get ourselves into in those countries." He rested an arm round her shoulder.

"My imagination obviously isn't as colorful as yours, Sailor. But c'mon, fess up, you enjoy the rush, the juice."

"Hmm, I dunno. Possibly. But even so, maybe it's time for one of those compromises I was talking about?"

"You're right, Adam. That is fair. So, yes, I agree to compromise next time, and you agree to do it my way this time."

"Huh? Wait a minute," Adam retorted but...

Ava interjected, "No-no, don't worry. I agree, it's only fair."

"Oh, you are a peach," Adam said with a grin and shake of his head. "Okay, fine. I'm all in." He gave her a peck on the cheek. "The upside is: We can pick up a new tender in Cairo. Before then, though, we'll need a brief stopover in Djibouti, we're running low on fuel."

Ava said, "Sure. But that's not what I wanted to discuss. It's the Badaki thing."

"Ahh, great. Here we go."

"Adam, I need to know if you would've shot that man."

"I had no intention of shooting Badaki," Adam stated flatly.

"Hmm," Ava murmured skeptically. "What about Ali Khan? Would you have killed him at the Fortress if I hadn't stopped you?"

"I had no intention of killing Ali." Adam stood and faced her. "But what about you? Would you have shot me to protect Ali?"

"Er, I'm not really certain... maybe just a little, in your leg, through the same hole so it wouldn't hurt too much." She gazed up at him and batted her eyelashes twice.

"Yes, well, that pea-shooter was not aimed at my leg, Slim. And you had no idea you'd be firing blanks. I think you were prepared to ventilate my head." He sat beside her again. "

"Okay, okay, let's drop it," Ava said in frustration. "That's all in the past. Let's draw a line in the sand. No more lies. Innocent fibs once-in-a-while? Meh, sure, they help keep the zing in things. But no more lies." She patted Adam's thigh. "So, I will grant you one final lie and after that you must promise to tell me nothing but the truth forever more. K?"

Vendetta bucked over a maverick swell; Ava was deposited into Adam's embrace.

"Aw right, that's cool," he agreed. "But I say again: I have not lied. In any event, can I use my first and final lie right now? Fair warning, it's gonna be a friggin' doozy."

"Umm, sure." Ava had no idea what was coming. All of a sudden she wished she hadn't forced the issue. She looked at Adam nervously.

Adam held Ava's shoulders and fixed her eyes with his. They were deep green and brimming with what appeared to be candor and sincerity. He said, "I don't love you, Ava Blair."

                                                                         -- END --