The woman looked formidable

The woman looked formidable

Even on a hot day

She wore a cashmere coat, long and dark

With an Astrakan collar,

An ermine stole over her shoulders

A Philip Treacy hat sat atop her head

The veil barely covering her eyes

But the effect was to add mystery

To the already beguiling

‘If only you knew what I was thinking.’

She said.

‘Perhaps you could write it down

In your journal

I see you here at this table every day

Jotting down this and that about everything you see

Over coffee

As I sit in the corner with my tea

Do you think my story would be interesting?

Where do you think I have come from

Where was I born

How many times have I loved

And lost

Was I always predisposed to kill?

Would I fill a paperback do you think

With my stories of intrigue

Secret meetings in far-off places

Waiting for trains in Siberia

Exchanging roubles for safe passage

Across the border

Smoking cigars with border guards

Flirting with danger

Making love to a stranger

Cavorting naked in the rain

On a beach in Hindustan

A hidden retreat for the wealthy

To be indiscreet’

She paused to take a breath

But only for a moment.

‘Of course, I could be spinning you a line

Reeling you in

I am the spider who caught the fly

A secret service employee a post-war spy

Perhaps I am a Mata Hari

Wouldn’t that be grand

And what a coupe for you

My fine young friend

To author the story of an exotic dancer

Or a draper’s daughter

Or was that the interrogator?

A woman who made love to a king

Before slipping away to be invisible again.’

She laughed

Just once

Before uncrossing her legs

As graceful as any dancer had a right to be

Rising to her full height

Towering over me

She put her lips to my ear and blew

‘I bet that sent a shiver

To quiver the sphincter.’

And before I could react

She was gone…

As if she was ever really there.