Two Moons by J. Raymond Ractliffe - Part Two- Chapter 2

Two Moons is a new novel by J. Raymond Ractliffe that explores the inner spirit life of Africa, her people and their powerful faith in the world of the Unseen.

The Rising of the Moons
Chapter 2

      Christopher sat opposite Matthew in the plush seats they had found still vacant as they waited for their drinks to arrive. The glittering lights and pretty thirty something waitress with great cleavage and an assortment of silver bracelets added to the excitement they both felt on arriving. Like many of the young men she had seen coming in this evening, these two were better looking than most, the gold watches on each of their wrists and new car keys thrown casually on the table a clear indication these young boys would not be a waste of time in her own quest to the better life.

The drive here under the night sky had filled them with a fresh dose of adrenalin as they tore up through De Waals Drive, watching the wildebeest and zebra thunder past the tall fences that enclosed the national park lining the winding main road entering Cape Town from the southern suburbs.

Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepplin and Moody Blues never sounded better as the overhead city lights created their own wild disco as they sped through the traffic lights and past store fronts leading up to Long Street where the best bars and night clubs catered to every persuasion.

"Here you go" their waitress announced, as each drink was served with a paper coaster. "Let me know when you need anything else," she said while a plastic swizzle stick was pushed with a pink protruding tongue from one side of her red lips to the other.

"Just ask for Cindy" she said, her firm breasts gently squeezed together as she set down their drinks after following their open gaze.

She turned and left the young men to their own imaginations. The song of her bracelets now drowned out by the music suddenly playing. The first seed cast into the night's possibilities

"Whew!" Christopher said, "Weren't they just the perfect set.” He took one last glance at the departing bottom before it was enveloped in the swaying bodies that lined the hallway leading back to the wooden and brass bar.

Christopher was more conservative that Matthew, it was not often he would make an open comment on a woman's sexual appearance, but this was an occasion that it seemed time to both throw away any inhibitions they had.

Christopher had the boyish charm and dimples that had made the romantic senior girls at the local All Girls High School fall over themselves when he arrived at the private parties thrown during the season. His dark wavy hair, sparkling eyes and shy smile made him irresistible. Not quite as tall as Matthew but the years on his surf board riding the roaring green waves of the Cape shores had given him broad shoulders, not to mention a six pack and bronzed skin that could have been found in any of the ladies magazines found in the hair salons.

Matthew's tall muscular frame and blond locks now growing down his neck and devilish wide smile made the girls whose interests were more of the immediate physical nature more attracted to him.

Names and phone numbers scribbled on coloured scraps of paper had often been squeezed in his hand when they were leaving a party to enjoy a midnight trip back to the open sea air and blinking stars. He had a desk drawer full of them. Some of the names were dotted with hearts. Some were pretty clear as to their intimate intentions and left little to the imagination.

He had never phoned any of them of them.

Christopher watched Matthew as the next song began, the steady beat had the dance floor suddenly filled, the overhead strobe lights and glistening mirrored globes created a swirling mass of heaving bodies moving in every direction.

He was slightly envious of Matthew's easy manner and charm. Matthew was a hard one to keep up with. No matter what the situation or dare. Matthew was always the first one to volunteer, sometimes throwing all caution to the wind and quite often landing up in a bloody heap when what he had bit off turned out to be more than he could chew.

To Matthew, any of the harebrained stunts they had pulled over the years that had left them bruised and cut, not to mentioned a few broken bones along the way, tried to silence the memory of the thundering hooves that had bore down him and frozen a young boy's heart and spirit. Back slaps and thunderous applause drowned out the fear that always lingered beneath his mind. The victorious sports fields, trophies, polished medals proudly hung in his father's study, held back the shadows that the Dream Visions had kept alive all these years.

"What a very cool place.' Christopher finally said as the last thought of Matthew's courage disappeared from his mind. The music and lights had overtaken his senses, this was not a time for philosophical introspection.

From across the floor, a new set of sparkling eyes had found his, a beautiful smile inviting him to continue his observations as the lights danced all around them. Matthew had noticed their connection, he leaned over to Christopher and said, "Why don't you go over and ask her for a dance?"

The roar of the music had made it difficult to understand but Christopher got the jist of it.

"In a while," he said with a modest shrug and wide smile, "I'll wait and see what happens."

Matthew laughed out loud, a little too loud. Far easier spurring on another on than facing the prospect of crossing a wide open dance floor only to be rejected with a casual wave of indifference.

Christopher smiled back at his new admirer, then let his gaze wonder over to the dance floor, the immediate pressure for glory removed.

They both watched the rhythmic seductions taking place on the dance floor. It was easy to watch the couples as to who the hunter was. Tall good-looking males had their scented dance partners touching them at every chance, open smiles inviting them ever closer. The attractive females had dance partners that were either physically trying to wear out the dance floor, or trying their best to look totally disinterested as they danced, either way, it was a scream to watch the endless cycle as each side jockeyed for position, vying to capture what they thought under the bright lights and booming music, the partner of their dreams.

Or if their interests were limited, a partner for the night.

As if on que, a slow song began and except for the couples already there, the dance floor emptied and Christopher suddenly rose, staring ahead, eyes fixed on the dazzling smile that had caught his attention when they had arrived.

"See you in a bit." was his only comment as he rose and made his way through the returning dancers, all eager to find their half empty drinks, or, the ladies gathering their hand bags to file away in small groups to the ladies room.

Matthew watched as Christopher walked directly over to the sparkling eyes that had not broken the connection between them. Seeing him coming, she had not taken advantage in the sudden lull and joined the other departing young ladies, but had seen him coming looking directly at her and had remained in her seat smiling.

A few feet before he got to her, she rose, her right hand lifted out to him which was duly taken with a wide shy smile. A spot was easily found on the dance floor where they began the slow dance that had been offered them.

Matthew watched a few more minutes until newer sights flooded his senses as his attention was attracted somewhere else. A tap on his elbow, Matthew turned to find Cindy with a smile, her serving tray held up at the ready.

"Can I get you anything good looking? "she asked with a smile, the swizzle stick ever present. Matthew laughed suddenly, the tight air in his lungs suddenly escaping.

"Why not, a couple more brewskies, Windhoek please!" he said flashing his own smile right back at her. He did not realise he had momentarily looked down at the wonderful cleavage that caught their attention on arriving. As his stare rose to meet hers, he suddenly blushed even under the bright lights of the club, caught in the act.

"I never thought they were also called brewskies," she said teasing him.

Matthew looked away and over the dancers, his own smile doing little to reducing the widening blush that had spread to his face and neck.

"Sorry." he said.

"Not to worry love, that's what they are there for." she said, "Be right back."

Matthew blew long air through his lips as she returned to the bar to order their drinks. The way she walked on it was evident she was sure he had watched her departure, the gentle seductive stride and flick of the hair, just a little too noticeable.

He was smiling, feeling a little good about himself.

It was not often he could joke and play without feeling the tension that inevitably stalked him during the sexual playtime encounters. He had always avoided the sexual dance that began after a date or two with the high school girls he had taken out. The long kisses had been great with him, the romantic African moonlight fueling their own hungers as tongues met and exchanged dreams. Many a confused look as probing hands were pulled away, half open zippers making the odd noise of returning to their former position.

A few returned to their own dormitories wondering if Matthew's interests were with those he schooled with. No word mentioned to the other female hopefuls. Better the silence than talk of a reluctant lover.

By the time Cindy returned, most of the blush had faded and newfound courage filled his mind. The cold beer had fuelled his youthful courage, casting aside the thundering hooves that lived in his dreams.

"Thanks, keep the change." Matthew said, peeling a few notes off and casting them onto her tray. His smile matched her own, the dance lights touching the glistening lipstick that accentuated the warm blood filling her full lips. Cindy glanced over to the dance floor, seeing that Christopher and his new dance partner had minimized the dance space between them. They slowly rocked gently side to side, the slow dance casting them both on a sea of their own dreams, hands gently touching as they steadied each other against other dancers who gently bumped into them.

"I'm off in ten minutes. Maybe we can join them?" Cindy smiled at him.

Matthew found himself on new ground. The awkwardness of the matric girls and their young eagerness always left him wondering what any next move could have brought. Unsure of any outcome that might reveal what the rhino might have completed, it was better to leave the unknown away from his mind and away from the possible certainty of a defeat that would last a lifetime.

Matthew looked at her, the sudden seriousness of his words lost to her.

"I don't dance." he said quietly. "Don't know how."

Cindy waved away his uncertainty, looking at him straight in the eyes she said, "Honey, you can be taught to do anything, trust me, I know."

Matthew's smile found hers, and after what seemed like an eternity, he finally said, "OK, I'm game. Teach me."

Cindy stared back at him for a moment as if making a decision. Matthew suddenly played with his car keys, trying to distract his own mind from the sudden awkward moment, his shy smile going from the keys then rising to her wide smiling eyes.

"Christ!" Cindy thought as she realized this tall beautiful creature with the new car and golden looks was a virgin. She felt the sudden tingle at the end of each breast, her own voice suddenly husky.

"I don't care if he doesn't stay. I'll be his first and will be with him forever."

"I'll be back. Wait for me." she said finally disappearing back down the hallway.

"He's all mine for tonight." she said to herself with a smile, at least a small part of her dreams coming true.