All in One Night

That's it, of course that must be it as my thoughts finally coalesced into clarity and resolution!.

Misery likes company, but slags like Holgate just enjoy hurting others for the thrill as well, especially when they feel inferior and thus have the deranged compunction to attack the very person who makes them feel bad!.

Holgate certainly had absolutely no achievements whatsoever in her worthless so-called "life" to be proud of, which is why the useless slag hated me so much and tried to cause so much trouble in my marriage as a result!.

Turn the wife against the husband, hurt and humiliate him and damn the consequences, that's Holgate to a tee!.

That must be it and now Sophie has succumbed to the brainwashing over the past 18 months from that vile slag, I was now sure of it!.

Damn them both!.

I knew I was right regarding my suspicions of her over time, so now they feel sufficiently confident with me out of the way to finally act, unless Sophie has already been unfaithful?.

Could that be right I mulled?.

Sophie and I were seldom apart after only three years into our marriage as we holidayed together, socialised and we both worked in our respective careers, but then as I carefully recalled, Sophie has never actually been alone in the evening at home, even though she has had ample opportunities to be unfaithful during her work hours.

Oh no, just how long had she been doing this to me, I wondered?.

The sickening realisation made me angry as I struggled to control my fears, breathing deeply I concentrated and wrestled to regain control of my emotions.

Gradually though from a flurry of confused feelings and thoughts, I finally resolved within myself some coherence as I articulated in my mind my fears;

Fears for my marriage and fears for my self-respect!.

Sophie and the sub human slag Holgate were planning something tonight, I was now sure of it and that explained Sophie's distraction and utter disinterest in something we both would usually have done together if things were right between us, such as this Astronomy foray!.

That's it, that's bloody it and here I am in some fucking remote Sylvan glade, helpless to learn the truth and to act!.

I knew that panic wouldn't help, but what if I was wrong?.

Should I go speeding back home and find out what was happening in my absence, but what if I was wrong and I discovered that all was innocent and a non-event?.

Then I would look like an insecure fool, so some discretion would be the best approach I decided, even though I was now sure in my own mind that I'd be checking on her but what about the campsite and the observing run with the comet?.

Perhaps a telephone call would be best?.

No, that would alert them and they'd lie anyway as to what they were up to, so what would be the point?.

If Sophie had been lying for me, then it would have been for a long time, so silence and surprise were the best approaches, but how?.

Then it hit me, a solution, actually two solutions in reality.

Firstly, I could programme the telescope computer to automatically track the comet across the sky tonight and to also set the computer to take a series of photographs at random times throughout the night so as to give the impression that I was here all the time, whilst in reality I could use this ongoing programming to then return home at best speed in my little car and find out what was going on!.

If my fears were fruitless, then I could quickly return to this place later tonight and then cancel the telescope tracking and photography programming!.

That would work and no-one would ever know!.

My camp site was isolated and it was unlikely anyone would come here tonight as all would be dark with no lights to alert unwanted eyes to its existence.

Brilliant!.

The other solution was in the form of my little Renault 'Zoe' electric car.

It's quiet running would help me arrive home unheard and unseen in the dark, especially with the lights off!.

Indeed, I recalled reading that just a few decades ago many nations armed forces "commando" units cried out for quiet electric vehicles so they could operate unheard in near silence.

Idly, I wondered if they now operated such modified civil vehicles in this modern age?.

Perhaps the Aussie SAS commando's, who are arguably the best in the world, now drive around in modified Renault 'Zoe's' like mine?.

Naahhhh, surely not, that's bloody ridiculous!.

Shaken from my reverie, I made my plans for returning home to see what I could discover.

Swiftly I completed the equipment preparation; aligning the telescope and programmed the telescope tracker and attached camera via the on- board computer.

I then chose random times for the camera to take a snapshot from the comet's apparition upon full darkness until shortly before dawn when I'd plan to stop anyway.

Using the computer, I rapidly selected different times over the next several hours until I had over thirty set times all pre-programmed into the telescope computer.

No regular pattern, just varying times such as 7.51PM, 8.24PM etc. through to 6.06AM.

The telescope computer and camera both used fully charged batteries, so I had ample power for the night as well.

Now all I'd have to do is delete the programme times afterwards just in case anyone checked, then act naturally and pretend I was here the whole night on an observing run!.

No-one would ever know as I had "plausible deniability" and it was unlikely anyone would come to this place tonight to contradict my story, so as long as didn't give myself away, then I'd be alright.

If I was wrong about Sophie then I could sneak back home and no-one would ever know!.

Looking one more time around the campsite I made sure there were no lights on, I then activated the telescope computer programme and finally jumped into the little French hatchback.

I quickly started the electric motor, disabled the satellite navigation system and turned off my P1 pocket phone before removing the battery as I didn't want any unwanted calls, nor any "official" tracking giving me away either!.

So much for a free society with freedom of movement eh!.

Then I thought about what I would do if I did indeed find Sophie up to no good such as cheating on me?.

Proof would be useful to have during any confrontation or later action such as a divorce and I would of course divorce her in any case of adultery, of that there was no doubt!.

I then remembered that little "Leica 720S" digital holographic camera I carried down here as a backup.

That would be ideal if any proof were required, so I immediately dashed out of the car, went to the tent and retrieved the pocket camera.

I switched it on, checked the batteries and turned it to "silent" mode, that took still, video and audio modes all available.

I decided to leave the "Agfa" plug in bubble memory unit attached, as I didn't know what I'd be recording tonight so that extra memory unit might be useful?.

German technology at its best, I reflected as I deactivated the camera.

Taking a deep breath, I hoped for the best and re-entered the little electric car before quietly driving away, briskly but not too noticeably as although the Renault 'Zoe' was a near silent electric car, there was no benefit in drawing attention to myself from even casual observers as the last light of the day faded and my tense journey home began.

Soon I left the gravel road and then turned north onto the main road, the Midland highway linking Hobart the southern capital to the north of Tasmania including my home near the small historic rural hamlet of Bishopsbourne, still some 160 kilometres away or thereabouts!.

I switched on the headlights to low beam and settled in for the drive home.

Was I being foolish I pondered as I accelerated slowly to cruising speed and then settled into my best economical speed?.

Perhaps I was being silly but I still needed to know of any possible wrongdoing tonight and besides no-one would ever know what I was up to tonight anyway, so what's the fuss!.

Looking at the main instruments behind the steering wheel I thought that this little electric car wasn't really suitable for my purposes in many ways, despite its sleek teardrop shape that was designed to cut down on as much aerodynamic drag as possible to help the batteries and improve torque, its performance was lacklustre to put it mildly, despite the advantage of near silent operation I'd need when I arrived home.

Barely able to reach a paltry 135 km/h at top speed, in truth I'd be limited to quite a bit less than that as the range of the batteries was only 400 kilometres on a full charge, at best!.

Admittedly I had sufficient range to reach home and may at times take the 'Zoe' up to her maximum speed if the charge allowed when I was closer to home, but really a mere 135 km/h now in this worrisome situation just wasn't enough for the job I now conceded and by extension the "game" of energy management for this now emotionally fraught trip was no longer the fun it once was when it was a part of a relaxing astronomy run earlier!.

Good grief I reflected, whatever happened to that affable, comfortable man of leisure having some fun not that long ago?.

Was I really a civilised man at leisure, but now reverting back to something more basic at the perception of a threat to himself and his relationship, imagined or real?.

Or was that potential in all people when threatened and if so, then how far would I go?.

I considered myself to be no "push-over" despite my below average size and being a bright lad growing up here in Australia meant that I was protected and encouraged by wider society and our ethos to an extent.

That said, there were always bullies and when they appeared I certainly stood up for myself and knew that I had a certain "driven" aspect to my character which served me well in bringing me success in life, but I'd never been pushed to my limit and wondered what I'd do if that time ever came?.

Returning from my musings to reality, I again looked somewhat obsessively at the curvaceous central instrument column, making doubly sure the "Galileo" satellite navigation, trip computer and even the wireless communication systems were all switched off in order to save both precious watts and because I just wasn't in the mood for any blaring music on the car radio and I certainly didn't wish to give any indication that I was on the move at this time.

This was an electronic age and I was now in an electronic battle of wits!.

So just keep calm, stay alert, watch the instruments for range, speed and time, as it's only an hour and a half until home I kept telling myself.

No-one knew what I was doing, my phone was turned off and with luck I could sneak home and determine the state of my marriage without anyone ever being the wiser.

Yes, this covert jaunt would work, so I pressed onwards towards home as the night enveloped me and my near silent little electric car!.

Yes home I considered, as my mind drifted again, my home 'Hedgeleigh' was a glorious white multi-story mansion built in the early 1930's in the so called modernist Art Deco style and situated on a large verdant rural property.

Modelled on "Joldwynds" in Surrey, England, it was of a similar shape in the form of a "T" planform coupled with that elegant geometric white coloured simplicity within the lines of the house, both internally and externally.

Richly furbished with Tasmanian woods lining the many rooms and lavish gardens, again all arranged along simple geometric lines, I loved everything about it as a man's home truly is his castle you know!.

I'd bought the place a few years ago, before I met Sophie of course and paid for it in cash outright, such was the healthy state of my bank account via my work.

A "modernist" representation of the future or what they thought of the future and what it would look like back in the thirties, the place had an elegance all of its own.

Yes the house and property was home to me and it was all mine, I considered possessively as yes a man's home is truly is his castle!.

I always felt safe and comfortable there, always cool in the summer and warm in the winters, just the sort of place where a well disposed young man could relax and get away with wearing a sharp navy blue blazer and a cravat if he felt like it, I half smiled to myself!.

Despite my familiarity with 'Hedgeleigh' and its associated warm and comfortable feelings, I anxiously continued to wonder just what I would find upon my arrival, indeed what if Sophie wasn't there, I considered with sudden alarm?.

No just stay calm and carry on, home was getting closer....

Fortunately, the batteries in the little 'Zoe' were holding up well as the heater was only occasionally used and with no radio switched on to distract me from my thoughts and plans, the range could only be extended and thus a slightly higher average speed attained which translated to an earlier arrival!.

Thus, at times I was able to accelerate the little curvy car out to its maximum speed, even though it was only a paltry 135 km/h!.

So with the batteries running inexorably lower but with enough range I drove steadily onwards, safe in the knowledge that I'd make it in good time and with no traffic problems either as everyone else just overtook and sped by me as I drove further north at my modest speed!.

Actually, that low speed helped me as these days all major Tasmanian roads were now fully "open roads" with no speed limits, which was an excellent idea we borrowed from the Germans and their superb "Autobahn" network of roads.

With a smile I again reflected fondly;

'Ah Germany, the last refuge of freedom in the world today!'.

Indeed, "Free driving for free citizens" was the rough translation of a well-known German slogan in the 1970's!.

Thank God, we were following their lead now with the Midland highway and most roads now without limits, a fact that I was acutely conscious of as an intermittent procession of much faster cars roared past me, situated as I was in the outer "slow lane" on my way home further north.

Also, thank goodness too for the new Australian government lead by our great Prime Minister; Jeremy Clarkson and also his Roads and Infrastructure Minister; James May as well as the little fellow who was the Transport Minister; Richard Hammond!.

They even had a mysteriously silent white suited character who supposedly drove around on every road in Australia, just to determine the highest speed possible for any given road!.

No-one knows his name, but some say his genitals are on his body backwards and his voice can only be heard by cats!

Anyway leaving this mysterious character aside, I wondered what the Germans would instead call me driving this pissy little French electric car?.

"Die Langsame" most likely- "The slow one"!.

Oh well at least I can still smile despite my growing apprehension.

After what seemed like an interminable drive in this now inadequate little car, I finally neared home and in the darkness pondered my next move as I noticed traces of fog starting to appear about the countryside, which would help obscure my movements I reflected.

'Keep quiet Andrew, just slowly drive up and sneak inside and see what you can find out', I told myself.

Easy in this quiet little 'Zoe' electric car, it should be a doddle!.

Approaching the main gate with its buttressed brick walls that guarded the entrance, I slowed and extinguished the headlights, noticing at once that the main gate was fully open, even though I knew that I had closed it many hours ago when I departed on my astronomy expedition.

Why had Sophie gone out or has someone come to visit her?.

I decided to continue cautiously as the tension in my stomach began to build.

On minimum speed, I silently crept up the driveway, my familiarity with the road making headlights unnecessary and now thank goodness this quiet little electric car made no discernible noise that anyone could detect even at close range!.

Edging closer up the long tree lined driveway, I again muttered a silent thanks that it was a smooth flat stone surface with just a slight uphill angle the closer I got to the house, which began to loom ever closer in the darkness as I crawled forward almost painfully slowly, no more than walking pace so that the closer I got to the house and past the darkened trees and bushes, the more it made me feel as if I was actually visiting Dracula's castle at night!.

Driving closer, the white painted upper floors of the modernist house were now shrouded in total darkness and towering above me, their featureless silhouette stared down at my small form as the slightly lighter night sky made them look sinister and unapproachable even to my eyes!.

Odd that I never noticed that until now as what was once familiar, now seemed remote, strange and forbidding as the house stared blankly down at me!.

Then as the front entrance loomed ahead I began to see some lights in the downstairs front rooms.

Not too many lights though, so could that mean Sophie was leaving a few lights on for herself as she pottered around perhaps watching the telly or having a snack?.

Perhaps she left some lights on if she went out?.

But if she did that, why not leave an outside light on for her return, say if she went to check on something such as a possum in the trees?.

I increasingly felt more and more uneasy as I drew closer, my beloved elegant home now seemed like a fearful house of mystery and danger, one where I was an unwanted trespasser, as the evil within didn't want me near!.

Nearing the front well-manicured lawn and courtyard now, I felt my eyes unconsciously widen and I gasped when I suddenly saw two cars parked out in front that instantly shook away my unease and instead began to really, really annoy me!.

Due to the lights emitting from the house, the first car I immediately recognised as belonging to that disgusting slag, Holgate.

A fucking pastel green Nissan Juke!.

Clearly and indisputably the ugliest and stupidest car in the entire world with its exaggerated wheel arches and excessive pinching of its central body, it looked like a partially melted drink bottle I've always thought!.

A car with no redeeming features whatsoever and appropriately so like its owner, a woman who was a festering pustule on the anus of humanity!.

The other car was unknown to me but it looked equally ugly; an old Chrysler PT Cruiser, with what appeared to be a fabric convertible top and appallingly, a faux wood panelled brown colour on the exterior!.

What kind of demented moron would drive a car like that?.

At some level though, I instinctively knew that this was a car driven by a man, even though I had no evidence, I nonetheless knew I was right and could feel it in my soul as I silently came to a halt and despite the instant chill from the icy air, carefully exited my car for a closer look around!.

Sitting right at home beside these two interlopers though was Sophie's lurid daffodil yellow Renault Clio RS200 which had a cold engine when I touched the bonnet to check whether it has been recently driven?.

As cold as a witch's vulva, which matched the cold misty air that surrounded me and caused me to shiver involuntarily!.

So what do I do now?.

I assumed that I was still unseen and undetected as for starters no-one was looking for me as they simply didn't expect me to be home at this time, but for how long could I remain undetected and maintain my level of surprise?.

Still with "invisibility" in my favour, I decided to creep the little 'Zoe' silently past the house and toward the large converted barn that I now used as a garage further up the driveway, past and a little offset to the side of the house.

Climbing back into the little Renault I again moved forward past the house too the side, where from this perspective I could now see a few upstairs lights on that lead to the bedrooms which only heightened my disquiet further still!.