Land
of the Giants: A Love Story
By
JR Thomas
Chapter Two: Rendezvous
10:02
“Ah come on honey, I’ve been here at the restaurant for nearly half an hour! I thought you said you were getting off early today?”
It was evident to Sylvana that Tor was not pleased. “I’m sorry dear. I had some work I had to finish for the Archon. I’ll be leaving soon.”
Tor was placated, but just barely. “OK Sylvana, but hurry it up. I’m starving!”
The secretary heard the door to Archon Obek’s office open. “Sylvana. Do you have a minute? I’ve got a special job for you in the morning.”
Sylvana turned her head. Still holding the phone receiver to her ear, she raised the index finger of her free hand to let the Archon know that she would be right with him. She then proceeded to wrap up the conversation with her boyfriend. “Honey, Archon Obek is calling me. I’ve gotta run. I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
Sylvana hung up the phone and swiveled her chair to face the man. She straightened her skirt as she stood up. “Yes Garm? What would you like me to do?” When others were around she always addressed her boss as Archon or Archon Obek, but she had been working for him long enough now that they were on a first name basis when alone.
The Archon paced slowly around the room with his arms clasped
behind his back. “I need you to go to
“Oh really Garm? Who?” The request seemed unusual, and it aroused her curiosity.
Obek stopped pacing and gave her with a slightly mischievous look. “When I said pick up someone, I meant it literally as well as figuratively.”
Sylvana’s eyes widened.
“Of course I am speaking of one of the little people. He is in fact the guest of honor at tomorrow afternoon’s reception.” The distinguished-looking man grasped the inside folds of his vest.
She smiled, recalling the brief conversation she’d had yesterday with the nice little man. With her left hand she played coyly with her thick auburn hair.
Obek continued. “Speaking of the reception, have all the invites been accepted?”
The secretary leaned over her desk, and after shuffling some
papers produced the guest list which she proceeded to skim over. “Let me see.
Dr. Gelsig, Grond Harko, Bertha Frye, Marc Callan,
Dr. Lefay……” She
looked up at the Archon. “Yes Sir. Everyone has accepted and will be arriving around
The Archon clasped his hands together. “Splendid! Oh and Sylvana…..”
She put the guest list down. “Yes Garm?”
“You don’t have to be here at eight tomorrow.” You may as well go right from your house to the park.” He smiled. “Why not sleep in a little?” He added rhetorically.
“Thank you Sir.” She hesitated for a moment, and as the elderly gentlemen returned to his office accosted him again. “Garm, may I go now? My boyfriend is expecting me for an early dinner and I’m running late.”
He almost absent-mindedly responded. “Yes, yes my dear, by all means.” Obek put a hand to his forehead. “Sylvana, one more thing. Do you have a small basket or something unobtrusive you can carry the little man in?”
The woman struck a pose with her right hand on her hip and her weight on her left heel. “Now Garm, what do you think a woman has a purse for anyway?” They laughed at her gesture.
The Archon and Sylvana exchanged farewells, and the woman headed for the foyer door.
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Archon Obek watched Sylvana depart, admiring her shapely legs, accentuated as they were by nude nylons and tasteful high heels. He smiled warmly. Obek really liked Sylvana. She was the best damned secretary he’d ever had. Furthermore, she had been working for him for nearly a decade and was still as lovely as ever. Oh sure, she had begun to fill out a bit as most women do after they turn forty, but to his mind, with her charm, intelligence, and good looks she would be a great catch for some lucky man.
That train of thought, however, turned his smile to a frown. It’s too bad she can’t get fixed up with some nice guy instead of that lunkhead fireman what’s-his-name, Brazen. He shook his head and returned to his office. It was going to be a big day tomorrow, and he still had some work to do.
**************************
Steve, Mark, and Valerie were crouching behind a tree just off the park walkway. From their vantage point they could observe undetected any giants walking along the path, and more to the point, see anyone at the park bench roughly 150 yards from their position. It was a beautiful sunny morning with nary a cloud in the sky. The three little people had been there for about twenty minutes awaiting the arrival of Archon Obek’s envoy. It had been decided by the Spindrift crew on the previous day that Captain Burton would go alone to the Archon’s estate. Steve likened it to a reconnaissance to assess the giants’ intentions. They reasoned that once the giants had given sufficient evidence of their goodwill, then others of the Spindrift crew, most notably the technical expert Mark Wilson, would follow on subsequent visits. Fortunately activity in the park had thus far been relatively quiet. The only giant they had seen had been an old man walking his dog; though at that time they did have to back away from the path to keep the giant dog from inadvertently picking up their scent.
All at once the silence was broken by the unmistakable
“clack, clack, clack” of giant high heels coming up the path. Steve glanced at his watch. It was shortly after
Mark nodded, and Valerie smiled as she replied. “Hmmmm…….a woman huh?”
Steve gave the ex-socialite a cool look, perceiving possible hidden meanings behind her comment.
The next moment the giant came into view. The first thing Steve noticed was the woman’s beautiful auburn hair. It curved down to a point below her ears but above her shoulders in a semi-circular fashion, and a bang of hair hung down over her forehead to just above her eyebrows. The mod hairstyle framed her face in perfect symmetry. She wore a casual but trendy light-blue long denim skirt outfit that seemed flattering to her slightly plump but curvaceous figure, with matching mule pumps. Steve couldn’t help but admire her lower legs as she walked by. He had to admit that giant or not, he liked what he saw. In any case, he thought that she sure beats the usual giant guys they encountered with handlebar moustaches and combat boots!
The woman stopped at the park bench, looked around, and then proceeded to sit down. She crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap.
Valerie whispered to Captain Burton. “Gosh Steve, she’s pretty, isn’t she?” She gave him a big grin, and he returned a blank stare. Valerie turned around to look at Mark and they exchanged knowing glances. Of course Mark had by now told Valerie all about Steve and the giant model they had encountered a few weeks ago.
Steve addressed the others in a low voice. “Well, I guess I’d better get going.”
“Steve, do you have your communicator?” Mark asked.
He tapped his left breast pocket. “Right here Mark. I’ll check in shortly after I arrive at Obek’s estate.”
They stood up behind the tree, and as Steve turned around to depart felt Valerie tapping him on the shoulder.
“Steve.”
He turned around. “Yes Val?”
She gave him a big grin. “Have fun.”
He gave her an incredulous glance and shook his head in disbelief at her comment, and then started walking in the direction of the park bench.
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In a few moments he arrived at a point just behind and to the left of the bench, and then looked around to make sure no other giants were in the vicinity. After satisfying himself the coast was clear, Steve cautiously approached the giant woman sitting on the park bench.
Captain Burton stopped within a few yards of her shoes, and he could now see they were at least eight feet long. He was struck by the immensity of her size; something that he had not quite appreciated when viewing her from a distance. The giant’s skirt ended just below her knees, exposing very curvy and healthy milky-white calves. He took in the sweet scents emanating from her skin, which, to his mind fit right in with this beautiful spring morning. She had the most beautiful ankles, notwithstanding the fact that they were around a yard wide. The shoe on her crossed leg was suspended in the air above him, and he was momentarily startled when she suddenly bent her toes and bobbed the shoe, exposing the bottom of her well-formed foot.
Oddly enough, Steve found himself wanting to reach out and touch those shapely ankles to get her attention. He thought better of it though; realizing that if he startled the huge woman she might inadvertently step on him.
He looked up and shouted “Miss! Miss!” He waited a moment, but could detect no response from her.
He shouted a little louder. “Hello! Miss!” This seemed to do something, as she turned her head back and forth as if trying to see where the voice was coming from.
He cupped his hands around his mouth. “I’m down here, on the ground!”
That did it. She looked down, and Steve could make out her face peering down on him in astonishment. She uncrossed her legs and stood up. Steve retreated so as not to have to angle his neck back too much to view her face, which was now looming better than sixty feet above him. The sunlight reflecting on her luxurious hair made a halo effect, giving her an almost angelic look. The tiny man gazed up at her, and seemed as astonished of her as she was of him. The view of this magnificent giant woman standing before him took his breath away!
Sylvana’s mouth opened wide, and she placed her hands on the sides of her face in wonder. There at her feet was this tiny man in a red uniform, probably no more than five inches tall! She thought to herself that until you actually see the little people in the flesh that it’s hard to grasp just how tiny they are.
She let her hands fall to her side, and her look of amazement turned to a big grin. The giant woman and the tiny man stood there a few moments more gawking at each other, and then she broke the silence. “Hi there little man.”
“Hello”, he replied. He thought for a moment that he recognized her voice, and then it dawned on him who this woman must be. He put his hands on his hips and craned his neck back. “Tell me Miss. Are you by any chance Archon Obek’s secretary?”
“Why yes, I’m Sylvana Noor” she replied, continuing to regard him with amazement.
Steve crossed his arms. “I’m the one you spoke with on the phone the day before yesterday.”
His response immediately registered with the woman, as her smile grew even broader, and she clasped her hands just below her chin. “Oh really?” she said. She swayed her hips subtly back and forth, and then putting her weight on her left foot slipped her right foot out of her shoe and rested her now exposed toes over the heel.
Form his vantage point at her feet, Steve couldn’t help but notice that her toes were very well-manicured and delicate looking in spite of their enormous size. He tried to pretend that he hadn’t noticed anything, and looked up at her. “I’m pleased to meet you Sylvana.”
She continued to slowly gyrate her hips whilst staring at him admiringly. The woman unclasped her hands and began to lower her body. “Well little man, in that case…..” She reached down with her right hand, and Steve instinctively backed away. He wasn’t nearly fast enough, however, and before he knew what was happening she had her fingers firmly wrapped around him. Her huge hand nearly covered his entire body, and he squirmed futilely as she lifted him up to her face. “Don’t struggle little man. I won’t hurt you.”
The other two little people had been watching everything, and Steve’s apparent capture alarmed Valerie. She stood up slightly, but Mark grasped her arm and pulled her back down, motioning her to stay put.
Sylvana raised her left hand and set Steve down in it. She then cupped both hands, and regaining his senses Steve stood up to find himself peering right into her enormous face.
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“Well little man, remember how you said that you could probably fit in my hand?” She said rhetorically. “I guess it’s true.” She laughed lightly bordering on a giggle, and recalling now his comment to her over the phone Steve couldn’t help but laugh as well.
“Touché”, he said.
“Sorry?” She responded quizzically.
Steve put his right hand on her soft thumb to steady himself. “It’s an Earth idiom meaning that you have me on that point”, he said.
Sylvana and Steve continued to stare at each other for a moment. She managed to keep her hands reasonably still, so Steve was able to stand upright without too much difficulty. Viewing her face now close up, Steve could see that she was no young girl, but rather a mature woman in her late 30’s or early 40’s. He could detect maybe a trace of wrinkling in the corner of her eyes, but the woman had an otherwise flawless complexion. She had the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen, notwithstanding the fact that it was nearly three feet wide. What caught Steve’s attention the most; however, were her beautiful blue eyes. They were truly glorious! He could have lost himself in those luminous blue-on-white orbs the size of his head. Additionally, Steve found the sweet scents from the giant woman’s perfume, makeup, and hand lotion mildly intoxicating.
Sylvana broke the silence. “You must be a very clever little man to have survived so long at your size on our world. How did you ever do it?”
Steve peered directly into her huge eyes. “Well Miss Noor, it has not been easy. It’s taken a lot of hard work, discipline, stamina, careful planning, and a good deal of luck.”
She lowered her gaze slightly and smacked her lips. “Oh do please call me Sylvana.”
Captain Burton crossed his arms. “It’s a deal Sylvana, as long as you call me Steve.”
“Alright little…….I mean Steve.” They laughed.
Steve steadied himself as she moved her hands slightly. “Uh, Sylvana. I hate to interrupt this pleasant conversation, but don’t you think we should be going? It probably isn’t safe to linger here too long.”
“You are right Steve. I’m sorry, but I’ve never seen, let alone held a tiny man before. Here, let me……” Sylvana immediately folded her right hand over until her fingers wrapped around Steve, and with her left hand now free opened her purse slung around her shoulder. She then brought Steve up to her face. “It’s about a twenty-minute drive to Archon Obek’s estate. Do you mind riding in my purse?”
He shook his head. “No problem Sylvana. It’s probably the most discrete way for you to transport me.” As he rested his free arms over the top of her index finger, he thought to himself that being held in the soft hands of this sweet giant woman was not at all unpleasant. In the three years that the Spindrift had been stranded on this world he had been handled by more giants than he cared to remember, but this was the first time that he could honestly say he didn’t mind.
She gently placed him in her purse, and Steve found himself sitting on a makeup dish. He leaned his back against the wall of the purse, and straddled his right arm over a large cylinder that was obviously her lipstick.
Looking up, he could see her huge face peering down on him with a big smile. “Are you comfortable?”
“I’m fine Sylvana, thank you.”
“See you in a few then.” She closed the purse, and Steve braced himself for the inevitable swaying motions as she walked to the car.
Mark and Valerie crouched low behind the tree as the giant woman walked past them along the path with Captain Burton ridding in her purse. She went up over the rise and in a moment was out of sight.
Valerie turned to Mark. “I wonder if Steve will be OK?”
He placed his hand to his chin. “Val, something tells me that he is in very good hands.”
She grinned, and then stood up. “I guess we’d better be heading back to the Spindrift, huh?”
“Not so fast honey.” Mark reached up and pulled her back down. “Val, it’s a beautiful morning, we’re reasonably secluded here, and we’re not expected back at the Spindirft for a while yet.”
She gave him an amorous smile and leaned close to him. “And what did you have in mind, Mr. Wilson?” She said teasingly.
Without replying, Mark put his arms around Valerie and gave her a very long and deep kiss. Although it was only a thirty-minute hike from the park to the Spindrift, they didn’t make it back until dusk, shortly before Steve did.
Sylvana, cognizant of the precious cargo she was carrying in her purse, walked to the car with slow, deliberate steps, careful to minimize any swaying body motions. She reached the car, and opening the passenger-side door carefully placed the purse on the passenger seat. Getting in the car, she slowly pulled out of the parking area.
All Sylvana could think about while driving was the tiny man in her purse. He was such a nice and handsome man, and she had especially enjoyed the feel of his tiny muscles while her fingers were wrapped around him. She sighed.
Steve, enclosed in darkness inside Sylvana’s purse, took the opportunity to relax. Although the odors from her perfume and makeup inside the purse were a bit on the heavy side, he found himself not really minding it, indeed thinking that she had good taste in cosmetics.
Steve settled in for the ride to the Archon’s estate. They had been driving along for maybe ten minutes, with no sound perceptible to Steve other than the constant drone of the giant car engine, when all at once he heard singing. He could tell right away that it was coming from Sylvana and not the car radio. “La, la, laaaaaa, la, lulay. La, la, laaaaaa, lulay.” It was soft and soothing, and Steve wrapped his arms around himself and closed his eyes. Sylvana had the most beautiful voice, he thought. It was a very pleasing alto. Not too high, not too low, just right. “Looooooooo, lulay, lulee.” Her beautiful singing made the trip for him go quickly, and he thought to himself that he liked this giant woman.
****************************
Archon Obek looked up to see Sylvana enter his office. “Ah, Sylvana. I trust everything went well?”
She smiled at the Archon, and walking up to him gently un-slung her purse and set it on his desk. Opening it up, she slowly reached in, pulled out Captain Burton, and carefully set him down on the desktop.
Archon Obek put on his glasses and leaned over to better inspect the tiny man standing before him. “Captain Burton, I presume?”
Steve looked up into his gigantic face, and it made Sylvana’s seem small by comparison. “Yes I am Sir, and I take it you must be Archon Obek.”
“At your service”, he politely replied. “It is an honor to finally meet you, Captain.”
Steve crossed his arms. “The feelings are mutual Archon.”
“Indeed Captain, indeed.” He continued. “And thank you for coming. I take it the trip was uneventful?”
Steve began slowly pacing the desk. “Yes Archon, everything was fine, and I also wanted to say that I couldn’t have asked for a better chaperone.”
The woman walked up close to the desk. “Thank you Steve, you’re very sweet.” Her use of the word “sweet” prompted Obek to give his secretary a slightly surprised look. Sylvana clasped her hands at a point just below her abdomen and peered down on him with what Steve thought was a most admiring gaze.
“Yes, we are rather fond of Sylvana around here.” Obek looked up at her from where he was sitting and could see that she was blushing slightly.
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Steve pondered the two giants before him in close proximity. Obek was a slightly heavyset, graying and balding man in his early 60’s wearing a long-sleeve business shirt and tie. Although he had a very kindly look about him, Steve thought that the giant men of this world always looked rather grotesque up close. As with all the other giant men Steve had seen in close quarters, he could make out the big, ugly pores and shaving bumps on his face, here and there accentuated by short stubs of sickly-looking bristly hair. Sylvana, however, was another thing entirely. If anything she seemed even more glowing and radiant to him than she had been when he first met her this morning. She was beautiful, he thought, despite her enormous size.
“Well Captain Burton, I daresay this day has been long in coming”, Obek said.
“Certainly not before time”, Steve responded. “I’ve talked things over with our engineer, and we think there are a number of problems we can help you with such as communications, computers, and the miniaturization (he paused at his unintended pun)……of your electronics.”
“That would be marvelous Captain. And how can we reciprocate?”
Steve crossed his arms and looked up at the giant. “Some real food would be great for starters.”
“Is that all?” He looked surprised.
“That will do for now Archon.”
The Archon turned to his secretary who was still hovering around the desk. “Sylvana, go to the kitchen before taking Captain Burton back and see what you can find.”
She nodded, and Steve turned to face the woman. “Sylvana, we do have a wheeled cart for carrying large loads, but you still don’t want to make the load too big.”
“Sure Steve. You can see what I prepare before we leave and let me know if it’s the right size.” She smiled at him, and he reciprocated. She had the most beautiful, warm, and friendly look about her, he thought.
He turned back to his host. “Archon Obek, food will be much appreciated, but I think you know that the thing we are most interested in is help repairing our ship so that we can return home.” Interesting enough, he thought he noticed out of the corner of his eye Sylvana’s smile fade a little at the mention of this.
Obek casually placed his huge hand on the desk a few feet from Steve and lowered his face close to the tiny man. “Yes Captain Burton. You can discuss this with our technical experts along with our own needs at this afternoon’s reception.”
Steve looked up at him with mild surprise. “A reception?”
Obek glanced at Sylvana and then back at the Earthman. “I’m sorry Captain. I neglected to mention that I’ve invited a number of our scientists and some other notable people to an afternoon reception to be held in your honor. I thought it would be a nice, friendly way to start negotiations off on the right foot. You don’t mind, do you?”
Steve paused and looked down for a moment. Actually, Steve was not sure that he relished the idea of being the center of attention from a roomful of giants, but he thought the kindly Obek meant well enough. “That would be fine Archon, providing there are no SID agents among the guests.”
Obek shook his head. “Rest assured Captain that my activities concerning you little people have the sanction of our High Council, and there will be no SID anywhere near the premises.”
“I’m glad to hear it Archon. Forgive me for being blunt, but the deal will be off the moment that I suspect any of your employees or guests are working for the SID.” Steve crossed his arms and looked somewhat sternly at the giant politician. He always felt a little strange on the infrequent times that he could speak to the giants from a position of power and authority, considering that one of them could squash him like a bug with a casual move of the hand.
Obek took a deep breath and lifted his hands from the table. “Believe me when I say Captain that Inspector Kobick and the SID would not be at all welcome here.” He looked at Sylvana and continued. “In fact, I’ve assigned Miss Noor to keep you and any other little people that accompany you under her wing while here, and she has special instructions to immediately take you back to the rendezvous point if trouble should ever arise.” She smiled and nodded in agreement.
The office door suddenly opened, and a handsome and elegant-looking woman in her mid-fifties walked into the room. She approached the Archon and started to speak to him, but then became silent when she noticed what he and Sylvana were peering at on his desk. The woman gasped in astonishment at Steve in much the same way that Sylvana had earlier, and Steve thought that with the prospect of meeting many more giants later that day that he might as well get used to it. He smirked.
The Archon got up from his chair. “Dear, allow me to introduce Captain Burton of the Earth ship Spindrift.” She clenched a fist to her mouth and gasped at the tiny man before her. “Captain Burton, this is my wife Honoria.”
Steve looked up at the woman and gave her a bow. “It is a pleasure to meet you Ma’am.”
She lowered her hand from her mouth and addressed the tiny man. “My, my, Captain. Are all of the men of your planet as polite, and dare I say, as handsome as you?”
The Archon looked at his wife with a feigned crossness. “Be careful dear. I might get jealous.” He hugged his wife lightly, and Steve and the three giants all had a good laugh at Obek’s facetiousness.
Steve reciprocated the compliment. “You are very kind Ma’am. Are all of the woman of your planet as lovely and elegant as you and Sylvana?”
“Well Captain Burton, you are certainly a little charmer”, she said with a big smile.
Steve noticed Sylvana move close to the desk and look down on him admiringly, obviously impressed with his compliment. He returned her gaze, taking in her beautiful auburn hair, milky-white complexion, and ruby red lips. He kept thinking how magnificent she was.
The little man is adorable, Sylvana thought. She smacked her lips and batted her eyes.