Fighting Stance E-Book

Z.J. Galos

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

Goran, the golden one, is a famous modern Tai Chi fighter, having earned the top spot for the forthcoming European championships. Adored by women, his love interests include the gender sweethearts Kathy and Susan. Goran owns together with his Dad the popular Martial Arts Club-MAC, which Goran's opponent, Caltis, schemes to acquire with a sinister plan. In an amateur car race for charity, Goran has an accident due to a steering malfunction. All points to Celtis, whose car wins with driver Elena, his former lover, as huge amounts of money had been placed at the betting offices on Elena to win. Caltis celebrates his win with Elena, who starts a new life with her friend Iannis. Caltis, indebted to Nasos, the loanshark, arranges for killing him, as he is about to disappear, holding his daughter and the daughter of his friend, Takis, hostage for a huge ransom. Gordon has been saved from a burning car and he is flown by helicopter to the nearest Burns-unit at J&S-Clinic, where Susan tends to his badly burned face. Elena is requested to donate her blood, matching Goran's. Caltis and his friend Takis attack Nasos' stronghold and catch the loanshark before leaving with his loot. Elena, Iannis, are exalted about their windfall from betting on Caltis' car; driven by Elena. Kathy, who was tipped off, had placed a huge bet on Elena to win. With the huge win, they intend to help Goran pay for his facial transplant. Caltis has qualified with dirty tricks for the finals of the European Tai Chi championships but fails to win. Goran heels fast after a successful facial transplant, cared fr by his two sweethearts. The underground searches for Nasos and huge amounts of misappropriated cash. At an assassination attempt on Susan, Kathy takes the bullets. Gordon visits with his Dad the Don, who promises help in destroying Caltis, who stole from Nasos Don's money. Susan is adducted by Caltis' gang and brought to their safe house. Goran and his security army attack Caltis' safe house to free Susan. Will Goran win his man to man fight against Caltis and get Susan freed?

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Prolog

Chapter One: Goran.

Chapter Two: Caltis & Takis

Chapter Three: Kathy & Susan

Chapter Four: Nasos

Chapter Five: Elena

Chapter Six: Takis

Chapter Seven: Kathy

Chapter Eight: Rina

Chapter Nine: Elena

Chapter Ten: Goran

Chapter Eleven: Kathy & Susan

Chapter Twelve: Nasos

Chapter Thirteen: Elena

Chapter Fourteen: Susan

Chapter Fifteen: Susan

Chapter Sixteen: Caltis

Chapter Seventeen: Kathy

Chapter Eighteen: Elena

Chapter Nineteen: Chronis

Chapter Twenty: Kathy & Susan

Chapter Twenty One: Chronis

Chapter Twenty Two: May

Chapter Twenty Three: Kathy, Susan & Goran

Chapter Twenty Four: Goran

Chapter Twenty Five: Chronis & May

Chapter Twenty Six: Greg

Chapter Twenty Seven: Caltis

Chapter Twenty Eight: Susanna

Chapter Twenty Nine: Susanna

Chapter Thirty: Goran

Chapter Thirty One: Castor

Chapter Thirty Two: Goran & Caltis

Chapter Thirty Three: Susan & Goran

PROLOG

He was the golden boy of his village. They called him chryso agori, or short chryso. With his athletic figure, his sporting activities came naturally to him. He competed with an inert fun of living a life in a relative unbridled freedom, and he was always way ahead of his classes and colleagues, winning most competitions. His parents were pleased with his growing up and considering his talents, they arranged for his private tuition in studying anatomy and the basic training in the Olympic disciplines.

Watching movies, he took a liking to Chinese and Japanese movies with their dream-like demonstrations of smooth body movements flying around on roofs and in space while fighting. The modern Kung-Fu-style of movies enticed his fantasy. Daily walks to the beach on the island of Delos, inspired him not only mentally, but he started to imitate the flowing dancing styles of Ti Chi fighters. The physical and mentally balance, he felt after his exercises, gave him a glow of harmony that reflected on his appearance. People bowed to him, as if he would emerge as a demi-god born from the crest of the Mediterranean Sea.

As he grew up into a handsome men with gilded curly hair, many young women adored him, especially watching sporting events and competitions. Soon he had a fan club, his parents administered for him. Taking up an interest in traveling, he arrived in the USA, where he met a friend who introduced him to Tai Chi martial arts. He was soon hooked on this sport and he mastered his classes with distinction. His career as a Tai Chi sports-educator seemed to be the choice for him, as he won his first European championship in the martial art section.

But his love for Greece let him return time and again, to see his parents, who helped him to establish his own Tai Chi Club, from his earnings. It became a well-known venue for sporting events, with an emphasis for Tai Chi martial art. His intentions were to stage a European championship event, besides to extend this local venue to become a place of sports and worship. Tai Chi sport had led him to the philosophy of LaoTse and the studies of Taoism based on the history of Tai Chi and its growing popularity. Were martial arts a way of practicing Taoism?

Certainly Tai Chi served also for health benefits, and it also became popular for self-defense worldwide, even if the Western society had originally a cautionary approach to this culture.

Chapter One.

Goran.

His movements are swift and elegant. The aesthetics of Tai Chi are all important to him, especially stances. One recalls animals and at times a butterfly, being here and there, resting for a few seconds with sudden bursts of movements that are of dire consequence to his opponent, and certainly deadly to his enemies in battle. Yet he always seems a dancer, fleet-footed with bursts of speed and in repose as if frozen for a moment, to gain the concentration resorting back to his inner and outer balance he'll need to finally overthrow his opponent with harmonious arm movements. And at times it looks a confusing exchange of fast and furious arm movements, pushing hands, as it’s called in general terms, trying to catch the opponent for a throw. It becomes faster, more furious and reminds Kathy of kungfu movies she had watched with Goran, when he studied other fighters in various disciplines.

Goran seems to have slowed down and his opponent senses an opportunity for a throw, but just as he attacks and thinks he has gained control of a move, Goran turns with the speed of a feral cat and catching his opponent unaware throws him to the floor. There’s big applause from the Goran camp, who wants their favourite fighter to win. At the opposite side the hall the supporters of his opponent are quiet, some are booing, with a dusky man in their midst looking angry.

"It is wonderful to watch Goran, don't you think?' Kathy addresses her friend Susan; she had asked to accompany her to the quarterfinals of the local championship, where Goran is contender for the top spot again.

"I do not understand much of martial arts," Susan replies, "but it certainly draws one into its ban." Kathy smiles. “I guess I am biased,"

"After all he is an exceptional man, Kathy."

"I adore him, venerate him and I am in love with him."

"I am glad for you Kathy."

The fight has passed its main part and Goran leads the scoreboard. The gong announces the end of the fight. Goran is declared the winner by points. Kathy jumps up with joy and sends a kiss to Goran who bows.

While the two friends have a drink at the adjoining cafe waiting for Goran to fetch them, Kathy congratulates him on her cellphone. Shortly thereafter Goran calls her back.

"He'll be here in 10 minutes," Kathy tells Susan, whose emergency beeper signals and she checks it.

"Unfortunately, I have to go now Kathy, a patient needs my urgent attention.

"Pity you cannot meet Goran, but I appreciate you could come at such short notice."

"Sometimes I have a chance to sneak out." She smiles. "Bye Kathy, stay in touch."

"Bye Susan, seeing you sometime soon."

"All right, when I have another chance to get away." Kathy watches her friend move and she muses about her. What a wonderful person Susan is, always ready to help people in need, especially in the burns unit, she had put up from her fundraising: Selfless and capable, one of the best maxillofacial surgeons in Europe. It had been not an easy start for Susan. She had been sponsored by a wealthy eccentric, marked by a bouts of sexual deviation, during which he abused her. However she wanted to be a surgeon and financed her studies by succumbing to her sponsor's unusual needs.

"A penny for your thoughts."

"Hi Goran," Kathy kissed him. "Congratulations for your win."

"Thanks, it was not an easy fight."

"But you did well Goran." He smiles at her with a boyish grin, his lips curling. Kathy loves this expression, the one she remembers best when she fell in love with him the first time.

"Where is your friend?" Kathy stirs.

"Oh you mean Susan. She had to run off to a patient."

"Ah doctors are always on the move."

"She promised to keep in touch. Perhaps we can arrange a lunch?"

"Certainly. I would like to meet her."

"Let's go Goran; I have booked a table at your favourite restaurant."

"In that case I am ready."

"All right. I drive." Kathy takes his arm and Goran's sinewy body touches hers for a moment. A spark of electricity enters Kathy's thighs and she is stirred. Wow, she thinks, one touch and she is feeling all ready for his embrace. It is wonderful to love Goran and sense that our libi-dos are working so strong. She presses the remote to her car and Goran opens the door for her. She swings into her seat with her mini dress sliding up her legs. Goran joins her and he gazes at Kathy's legs. She has started the car and drives off. Goran places his hand on her thigh. Kathy looks at him shortly and a pleasurable feeling chases up her spine. Kathy drives the short distance from the club to the restaurant. Goran’s hand aroused her and she opens her legs slightly. By the time they arrive at the restaurant she senses that Goran is ready for some more intimacy. She parks the car. Then she cannot wait to embrace him. They kiss and she touches him. He is aroused.

“I want you Goran.”

“I want you too Kathy.”

“It’s not possible to do it in the car.” Kathy fantasizes about it.

“Let’s try the backseat.” Goran smiles and opens the back door, takes a seat and waits for Cathy to follow. Kathy’s sexual appetite heightened, she falls over Goran’s body, opens his waist button and lowering his pants she starts devouring him. Their body heat is misting up the windows. Goran slides his hand below her soft top. Their intimacy is intense and Goran peaks.

“Kathy you were wonderful, how I enjoy your oral attention.”

“I love all of you Goran, my man!” Kathy cleans Goran up and they adjust their clothes. Kathy locks her Subaru and both head toward the restaurant’s facilities to clean up.

The maître welcomes them.

“Ah, Mr Goran, nice to see you again and beautiful Mrs Cathy.”

“Good day Alexandros, nice being here.” The maître takes them to Goran’s usual table overlooking the Saronic Gulf. Goran gazes at Kathy, still in awe of her seducing skills. ‘The kiss of life’ she calls it. Goran smiles.

“Look Goran how wonderful calm the sea looks today.”

“It is you who look wonderful,” he says and Kathy takes his hands and squeezes them. Their knees meet below the table. Goran feels a new sensation through Kathy’s touches and as he gazes into her eyes, he feels great desire for her moving his hand below the tablecloth and touching Kathy’s inner thighs. “Oh Goran,” she moans, “You have the sparks to arouse me again.” He looks into her eyes that have taken on the blue-green colour of the sea. A scent of jasmine is in the air from a bowl of flowers nearby. She is so special to me, Goran muses. My hurting from the fight is gone and I feel like a reborn child. Kathy looks into Goran’s eyes that have a lively brown sprinkling around his iris that had become translucent green.

“We complement each other Goran,” she coos, but by now my stomach grumbles.”

“OK, let’s order Kathy.” He winks at the maitre‘d who takes their orders.

Chapter Two

Caltis & Takis

Caltis wakes from interrupted sleep. He feels mentally drained but his body is tensed up and he has to get rid of pent-up energies mixed with his desperation of finding money to pay Nanos the interest on his loan. It is a never-ending task of avoiding executing myself, he thinks aloud, murmuring as he sits up in bed. In his dreams he saw himself standing on a box with a noose around his neck. Nasos the loan shark sits in a chair opposite, his foot leaning against a box.

“You have not paid me the interest this month.” His foot pushes against the box. Caltis feels the nooses tightening around his neck.

“I will get it tomorrow.”

“You said that last week.” Nasos grins and lights up a cigar. The acrid smell wafts toward Caltis and he has to cough.

“Stop torturing me Nasos.”

“I will if you pay me my interest due.”

“I have some money.”

“Oh, you have?” Nasos foot pushes against the box again and Celtis fears to tumble down and strangle himself.

“If you take me down I will give it to you.”

“Hah, no way, tell me where it is and I will consider if it’s enough. Celtis directs Nasos to his metal chest. Nasos looks for the cash.

“It’s only 300 and the interest is 500 this month.”

“It’s all I have left for food.”

“Sorry chum, but that’s not good. You have to go I am afraid.” Nasos kicks the box and …Caltis wakes. Sweat covers his forehead. “Damned dream,” he mumbles, “I must have dozed off again.”

I have to win the European Masters championships, even if I have to get Goran out of the way. Dark thoughts infuse his mind and he thinks about ways to get rid of Goran. He showers and when he towels himself off. His strategy to reach his goal and rid himself of debt shapes in his mind: First, he has to assemble his gang, as he has to stay officially clean and only pull the threads. He cannot risk that somebody would detect him being involved with neutralizing Goran. Everybody in the club knows that he is on a highly competitive footing with Goran that borders on a hateful relationship and the club members are already divided about it. Goran still holds a majority share in the Martial Arts clubs and most members stand by the ‘Chrysos Iroas’ - The Golden Hero - as he is called by all his fans, especially as he is popular with all women. Caltis feels a twang of deep-rooted jealousy pervading his innermost core and he bangs his fist on the breakfast table. A glass of tomato juice tumbles and crashes onto the tiled floor, a puddle forms on the white tiles and it looks like blood. “Death to Goran,” he shouts. A startled neighbour’s shepherd dog close to the window starts barking.

He rushes to his desk and writes the names of his former army buddies into his diary. Then he picks the names from his address book and adds the phone numbers. He dials the first one, Takis. He is not available, so he leaves a message. He continues through his list of ten names. At the fourth name, Georgios, he leaves a message on his answering machine. By the time he dials the eighth name, he gets a direct connection. “Altis,” he recalls the voice of his former army buddy. “It’s Caltis.” There’s a short pause on the other end. “Geewas Caltis, for a moment I was not sure if it is you.”

“How are you Altis?”

“Thank you, not too bad.”

“You sound as if you have trouble.” Altis coughs.

“Well, who has no trouble nowadays?”

“Indeed, tell me.”

“What can I do for you, Caltis?”

“Well it’s not a matter I wish to discuss on the telephone, could we meet?” Altis pauses and rasps.

“Yes, if that’s the case, I have my day off tomorrow”

“OK, let’s meet at the old windmill outside town. I let you know the time.”

While Caltis prepares his notes and tools, his mobile phone rings. It’s Takis.

“Hi Takis, could you come to the old windmill in an hour’s time?”

“Is it urgent?”

“Yes,”

“OK, I will be there.” Caltis takes his notes and his knapsack with him, where he keeps basic tools, just in case he has to force a lock.

Caltis muses about the prompt reply from Takis. It seems that he was prepared to meet him. Well I have emphasized that it’s urgent, Caltis thinks, but I never thought he would be ready at short notice. Yet I had saved his life once in a brawl, perhaps he feels that he owes me.

Caltis leaves a note for his daughter to phone her Mom and see how she is doing and that he had urgent business and will be home later as usual. Then he steps into his Fiat 600 and drives the short distance from his apartment toward Voulagmeni motorway heading out of town.

Takis arrives minutes after Caltis, who had already opened the door with his set of burglar-tools, he still kept from his time when he worked as a locksmith. It comes handy now; he murmurs, places the lock picking tools back into his knapsack, fixes a new lock onto the wooden oak door and tests its operation. Perfect.

“Hi Caltis!” Takis emerges from his blue Hyundai, he keeps washed and waxed.

“Hi Takis.” Caltis embraces his old army friend. “Long time no see.”

“Indeed, but I have a good idea that it will change from now on,” Caltis replies. “Let’s go inside, I have changed the lock.” Caltis notices that Takis has kept in good shape.

“I recall your lock-picking skills from back in army times.” Caltis laughs.

“Let’s check the place out.” It is poorly lit from small and dirty windows. He climbs the wooden stair that squeaks now and then, but all seems in good working order. On the first floor they find a table and some chairs. Caltis takes a rag and wipes the table and then a chair.

“Not even much dust, the window frames seem to be in good condition.

“They do not build like this anymore.” Takis replies and pulls up a chair dusting off its wooden seat, when joins Caltis who had seated himself and taken his notebook from his knapsack.

“Now Takis, I have found your details on the Internet and thought about to call you first, as we go back a long way and have been best of army buddies.”

“Yes, true, I am glad you phoned me Caltis.” He rolls his eyes as if he would thank a deity up in heaven.

“Are you in trouble?”

“Well I have lost my job as an accountant in a multinational firm.”

“Well, of course you could carry on to take that job with the company I intend to form,” Caltis replies. Takis’ eyes light up and he sighs.

“That would be just great! Tell me about it.” Caltis moves his seating position getting closer to Takis as if he would confide him.

“It’s top secret Takis, and I am relying on your absolute discretion trusting you with what I have to say like a partner in crime.”

“Yes, like old times at the army. Not a word about our secrets ever came out of my mouth!”

“Yes, that’s it. Now let me tell you.” A sudden sound startles them. It came from upstairs.

“Damned, somebody here?” Caltis shouts. “Let’s check it out!” He takes a torch from his knapsack. The wooden stairs to the second floor were of smaller width and there was only a handrail at the rough plastered wall. As Caltis arrives on the tiny top floor, something grazes his hair. He steps back and directs the beam of his torch upwards. Skeletal feet dangle in front of him. He searches higher. In his beam of light the dried out skeleton of a woman becomes visible, hanging from a rope tied around her neck. Her skin dried out like a mummy’s. “Look at this!” Turning to Takis, he points at the horrid scene in the semi-darkness. Takis says nothing. “She must have been murdered, Caltis says, “look at her belly.”

“Indeed it still shows a bulge, as if she was pregnant, but she has dried out up here completely.”

“I guess whoever did this had knowledge about mummification. The corpse is over 10 years here and her features are clear and recognizable.”

“You could be right “Takis replies, “we have to get outta here!”

“Don’t panic Takis; this has nothing to do with us. Besides it will be a symbol for our secrecy.” Caltis grinned as he looked at Takis’ frightened face.

“How do you mean?”

“I will tell you soon. Let’s go back to the bigger floor below.”

“We have to open a window.”

“No! The smell would give it away.” At that moment a crow flies down toward Takis’ head. Caltis took a piece of wood nearby and shouted at Takis to duck. With one well-aimed hit he killed the black bird, hitting it again on the floor. “It must have feasted on the corpse.”

“It’s a bad omen,” whispered Takis, “but how did the bird ever get in here?”

Caltis pointed to a small hole around a rafter of the roof support. “There. It must have entered as a small bird sensing the corpse.”

“Let’s have a drink.” Caltis took a bottle of tsipouro from his knapsack and filled two plastic beakers. “Cheers!”

“Yamas,” Takis replies, as he prefers toasting .in Greek. Caltis refills the cups. After some drinks the gruesome find of the skeleton has lost its initial hair-raising impact on the friends and Caltis explains to Takis between cups of the clear white and potent drink his intention to form a brotherhood, a gang that will go through thick and thin. “Like brothers,” he utters as the alcohol seeps into his blood and affects his speech.

“Like Spartan brothers,” Takis lulls and downs another cup.

“I am glad you are with me, Takis,” Caltis joins his toast. With the bottle half empty, Takis uses the torch, setting it on the table and he takes a candle from his knapsack lighting it. Stay here Takis, while I check out if this candlelight is visible through the higher windows to the outside.” He walks down the stairs and switching the torch off, opens the door and walks around the windmill in spiraling greater circles until he has convinced himself that there is nothing to be seen, with the few windows all remaining dark. However, he will place black curtains onto the windows as the beam of the torch walking up the stairs, where most windows are placed, could give away their presence. He will ask Takis to arrange the blackout curtains, as he knows somebody at an alteration shop. When Caltis arrives back he notices Takis snoozing, with his head on the table.

“Takis, Takis, wake up!” Takis stirs.

“Must have dozed off,” Takis mumbles.

“We need some coffee,” Caltis says.

“Let’s drive to the next espresso bar.” Takis agrees.

Chapter Three

Kathy & Susan

Kathy meets Susan in the hall of the Martial Arts Club where Goran will be fighting in the finals for the local championships. There is a buzz of a crowd filling the hall to capacity. Susan tried to be in time, but an urgent matter had held her back at her clinic, yet she could leave to reach the championships at half time, when Goran’s fight would start.

“Hi Susan, glad you could make it.”

“Thanks Kathy for the invite, unfortunately I could not attend the social gathering ahead of the fight.”

“It’s all right Susan; I will introduce Goran to you another time.” The bell sounds for the finals to start in a few minutes. Kathy has reserved a seat for Susan. The seats are excellent overlooking the area of a blue mat, indicating the fighting area. Kathy is nervous and she cannot hide her emotion. Susan sensing it takes Kathy’s hand. A relief from tension flows from Kathy to Susan, who experiences a tickling of her erotic spots, as if she would have been touched on her nipples. Kathy had watched Susan’s reaction as parts of her nervousness abides. She observes Susan’s nipples growing hard through the soft cotton of her top. She smiles, Susan has a great liking of her and it is erotic. She had no idea why Susan had attracted her when she met her at first at the clinic for facial reconstruction, where she had accompanied a friend, who had a bike accident and his torn off ear had to be attended to. As she visited, she involved Susan in discussions about her work as a surgeon. Besides having gained great respect for her skills and surgical successes, Susan could not find time enough to follow Kathy’s invitations, until now. The good chemistry between them had taken off to a friendship that became closer with each meeting. Kathy knew that Susan would become more than a friend, perhaps a soulmate, a love interest or a curious partner for an experiment with gender love. She was attractive and sensual, intelligent and highly skilled in her profession. Kathy, the artist sensed her need for intimacy with women. She sketched images of Susan into her journal and added lines of poetry about her.

“Thanks Susan,” Kathy smiled at her.

“My pleasure, I hope I have taken away some of your nervousness.”