by Phil Wheeler
Chapter 25
Tokyo has two airports. Haneda Airport handles mostly domestic air traffic and only a small number of international flights, but is located close to Tokyo. Narita International Airport is the arrival point for the majority of foreign visitors, and is located in the city of Narita in the Chiba Prefecture, about 38 miles outside of Tokyo. Dylan would be landing at the Narita International Airport. Most travelers to Tokyo would continue on by using one of the multiple rail and bus lines, but fortunately for Dylan his next stop was a private hanger right at the airport. He would be flying by company jet to the airport in Kagoshima, where the home office of Samuelson Ltd was located.
His flight to Japan had left from Cleveland Hopkins International at 6 am, and the next stop had been Houston, Texas for a 2 hour 36 minute layover until his 10:45 am departure for a non-stop 14 hour flight to Tokyo, Japan. Dylan took advantage of the 14 hours to read and catch up on some much needed sleep, and due to the wonders of international time zones he arrived in Tokyo at 2:45 pm the same day. He'd traveled a total of 6,626 miles, and over 19 hours – with meals provided, and was extremely happy that he didn't have to worry about meeting a connecting flight to Kagoshima.
Exiting the plane, he entered the main concourse of the airport; almost immediately spotting a young women holding a large sign with Dr. Teague written on it in big black letters. He assumed that the person holding the sign was Tomiko's assistant, Sora Hokkaido, for he'd been informed that she was to meet him upon arrival. Walking up to the young women, he said, “Hello, I'm Dr. Teague, and you must be Sora?”
“Yes, I am, Dr. Teague, welcome to Japan.”, she said with a smile. “How was your flight?”
“Long”, Dylan replied, “but, overall, it was very pleasant. Thank you.”
“Good, but you must be tired. Why don't we get your luggage? If you will follow me, I will show you to the baggage claim.”
Sora led him through the honkan, Japanese for main building, and down to the linear concourse. They took the terminal 2 shuttle systems to the baggage area located on the first floor. “This shuttle was designed by Otis Elevator of Japan.”, said Sora, “It was the first ever cable-driven people mover in Japan and is a very convenient way to travel through the airport.”
“It reminds me of the shuttle in the Chicago airport”, commented Dylan “This airport is really very beautiful.”
“Thank you.”, Sora responded. “We take great pride in our country and this airport, although not new, is still a point of pride.”
In just a few minutes they arrived at the baggage claim area and Dylan waited at the luggage carousel for his bags. He saw his coming out of the wall and grabbed them as they got to him. “That's it. I'm ready to go.”, he said.
Sora led him out of the baggage area. They walked to the main terminal, then turned down a hallway off of the main concourse. At the end of the short hallway was a door marked Private Samuelson Ltd. Sora produced a key card, slid it down the lock, and the door opened into a small room.
“Right this way, Dr. Teague.” Sora led him down another hallway, and into a hanger, where a rather large jet plane was revealed, its entry door hanging open. “This is the corporate jet.”, came the announcement from Sora. “It is a Gulfstream 650. They haven't been officially released for sale but, you know how persuasive Ms. Samuelson can be.”
Dylan looked it over, it was big, white, and looked fast. “I wonder how fast this thing goes?”, he said almost to himself.
Sora had overheard, and said, “It has a cruise speed of Mach .9, with a maximum speed just slightly greater. That's just a little over 600 miles an hour.”
“That is fast.” Dylan was impressed. He knew that most commercial airlines flew at speeds of 500 miles an hour, so this thing was hauling.
She led the way to the plane. “Yes. It is also equipped with a full kitchen and bar, a sleeping area, wireless internet, and a 50 inch Hi-def screen that can double as a projection device for business or a movie theater. The Gulfsteam is over 8 feet wide, and has ample headroom for you. It's 6 feet 6 inches to the ceiling.”
“Does it have a bathroom?”, joked Dylan.
“I can assure you that every need is met. This jet is totally state of the art. The aircraft is even fly-by-wire, with no mechanical control between pilot and flights surfaces. It is one of the few private jets to use that system. Shall we go on board?”
They entered the plane, and Dylan looked around. To say that the inside was well appointed would have been an understatement, he didn't feel like he was even in a jet. It looked like he'd just entered a corporate board room, the standard airplane feel was definitely missing. Fewer windows graced the sides of the interior, and were covered with expensive-looking curtains, the floor was thickly carpeted, and comfortable seats were placed around a large wooden table made from what appeared to be teak. The only concession to flight that he could see – the furniture appeared to be bolted to the floor. A hallway led off of the main room; he assumed that would house the bathroom and sleeping area. Toward the back and against a bulkhead, a row of large thickly padded chairs served as a seating area. At the front of the cabin, a kitchen area with cabinets, sink, and microwave graced the wall. The only break across the front was a door which, he figured, led to the cockpit of the plane.
“Please, Dr. Teague. “Please take a seat. We will be leaving immediately.”, smiled Sora.
The flight proved to be an uneventful one, and just less than two hours in length. A flight attendant, a young man who apparently spoke no English, attended to their every need. He let Sora translate for him. They touched down at Kagoshima airport, and disembarked into a brilliant sunshine. On the plane, Sora informed him that Kagoshima airport was about 40 minutes from downtown Kagoshima. The city, situated by the sea shore, was notable for its hot springs as well as its active volcano, Sakurajima. Acting in her role as tour guide, Sora said, “At the airport there is a small hot spring for your feet to soak in. The airport’s onsen is one of many natural hot springs that Kagoshima is famous for but, unlike the island’s many public baths, Kagoshima Airport’s hot spring is free of charge.”
They walked to the area where the hot spring was located. Dylan noticed a large sign over the entrance that spelled out O YATTOSA “ What does that mean in Japanese?”, asked Dylan.
“OYATTOSA literally means Good work today in the Kagoshima dialect.”, said Sora.
“Interesting. Sora, will we be heading directly to the Samuelson headquarters?”, he asked.
“Maybe I can answer that for you.” The voice came from the side, and he immediately recognized it.
‘Tomiko.” As he turned, Tomiko Samuelson, herself, was standing next to him.
“Hello, Dylan. I hope that you had a pleasant trip. Welcome to Japan.”
He was surprised, pleasantly surprised, by the fact that Tomiko had come to meet him. He wasn't expecting it, and he felt indecently happy about it. She was wearing a simple pair of business slacks and a yellow silk top with Japanese characters printed on it. Walking to the hot spring, she Slipped off her shoes, rolled her pant legs up over shapely calves, and took a seat at the edge of the wooden deck that encircled the hot spring. Placing her feet into the water, she said, “I love coming here. It always feels so good to do this. Won't you join me?”
Sora bid them good bye, sighting other duties, and as they sat there relaxing, Tomiko shared with him the plans for the day. “I thought that I would take you to your hotel first; give you some time to unpack, maybe grab a shower. I will pick you up later, and we can grab a bite to eat. How does that sound?” Her eyes watched his face as she spoke. She had a way of making him feel like he was the only other person in the world.
“That sounds great. Where will I be staying?”, he said.
“The Kagoshima Tokyu, I have had occasion to stay there, myself. It's a little out of way from the hustle & bustle of town, but it is directly on
the waterfront, with striking views of Kinko bay and the Sakurajima volcano. I reserved you a room with a spectacular view from your own private balcony. The large rooms are quite elegantly decorated and equipped with all the modern facilities, including satellite TV. The hotel, itself, offers an outdoor swimming pool and natural hot spring baths.”
“That sound wonderful.”, he said.
They stayed for a few minutes more, talking small talk, and finally, they used the towels proffered by the attendant, dried their feet and prepared to leave. Tomiko opened her purse and removed some money, ready to tip the attendant.
“Please, let me get it.”, said Dylan. “How much is it?”
“A lot, 800 yen.”, she said, her face serious.
“I'm sorry, but I don't know how much that is in dollars, could you tell me, please?”
“Yes, that's a little over $9, US.”
“That's all, I got that.” He reached into his pocket for his wallet, and stopped. “I don't suppose that they take US. dollars, do they?”
“No. I got this one.”, she said, laughing.
They walked through the airport to the passenger pickup area. “I have a car waiting for us.”, she said.
A man in a gray chauffeur outfit meet them and took Dylan's luggage from him. Setting it to the side, he stepped to the door of a silver Mercedes-Benz, and opened it. Entering the vehicle Dylan whistled. “Wow, I am impressed. A Mercedes. I bet you this set you back a couple of bucks.”
Tomiko smiled, “It's a R350, with 4Matic and a gasoline-powered V6. Do you like it?”
“I like it.” The interior was a dark gray, and obviously leather. It had wood on the doors and the dash where most cars just had plastic that looked like wood. Baggage in the car, the chauffeur climbed into the driver’s seat, buckled his seat belt, and they were off.
“The hotel is about 19 miles from the airport. It won't take too long.”, said Tomiko. “You can check in, take a shower, and relax for a while. I'll come back for you at 7 this evening.”
Dylan looked at the view from his window. “I'm not in Kansas, anymore”, he said to himself.
Chapter 26
It was just a little before 7 pm when they entered the hotel restaurant. The Hibiscus offered both western and Japanese cuisine, and had a panoramic view of the ocean and volcano. Tomiko requested a table with a view, and the waiter led them to their seats in front of a large window overlooking the water. The view was truly as beautiful as advertised; across the blue waters of the bay the lights of the island reflected in the waters of the bay, looking like firefly's coming out as the sun went down.
“I have never seen anything quite like this. It’s really beautiful.” He was referring to the view, but might have been speaking about Tomiko. He looked at her, and smiled, she was dressed casually in something she called a yukata. It was red with a gold dragon print and it was form fitting without being skin tight, she looked dazzling. “Your dress is incredible.”
“Thank you. The yukata is Japanese traditional clothing and can be considered to be a casual version of the kimono.”, she said, “It is meant to keep you cool, and is made of cotton. I especially like the fact that there is no need for undergarments.”
“I certainly approve of that, the dress is wonderful.” Dylan was sure that his face was turning red, because he had just realized what he'd said and knew that his statement hadn't come out as he had intended. Tomiko didn't seem to be bothered by it, instead she laughed lightly. Continuing with the conversation as if he had not totally embarrassed himself, she told him about the traditional footwear she had on, something she called zori and tabi. “The tabi is a sock, generally ankle high, and has a separation between the big toe and the rest of the toes. The zori, is an open sandal.” They were eating at the western-style section of the restaurant, so there was no need for them to remove their shoes. “Today, one can see many styles of the zori being used with modern fashion.”, she said, “but I like them because they are slip-on and off easily.”
The waiter came to take their order, but neither of them were overly hungry, so they decided on sharing a salad and a shrimp dish, with some Saki. The meal came, and they eat in silence for a while. “Dylan, tell me about yourself.” Tomiko looked at him intensely, her hazel eyes reflecting the candlelight.
“Not much to tell, really. I grew up in the Cleveland area, went to Ohio State for my under graduate studies, then got my Masters from MIT and my Doctorate at Cal. I came back to Cleveland to be near my parents and I've been working there ever since.” He grew quiet, the mention of his parents brought back bad memories. He changed the subject, “When will we be going to the lab?”
“Not until Monday, so we have the weekend to get to know each other better. I know that your parents are deceased, but tell me about them.”
He looked at her for a moment, then shrugged. “Not much to tell. They were killed in a car wreck a couple of years ago.”
“What were they like?” The look on his face made her pause, “I'm sorry, is it difficult for you to talk about them?
Yes he said to himself, but talking with her about them somehow made it easier. “They were good people. My dad and I used to go fishing a lot. Mom was a great cook. I miss them.” He continued, “It was rough at first, when they died you know, but I feel like it made me more determined to succeed.”
“I think I can understand. My mother died in childbirth, so I only know her from what my father told me.”
“Where is your dad?”, Dylan asked.
“He's dead”, came the answer.
“I'm sorry. Has it been very long?”, he asked.
“Five years. He was on his second attempt to climb Mt. Everest. He and his guide were making an ascent when a snow storm hit. A week later, the guide was found frozen in the snow. They never found my father's body.” She looked at him, and he could see a certain sadness in her face, but she continued, “His name was Eric, and he was from Sweden.”
“You were an adult when he died?”
“Yes. Actually, I was already running the company almost full time. From childhood I was groomed to be his successor.” She looked across the table at him, and asked, “Did you know your grandparents? I never knew mine. Teague is English, isn't it?”
“Welsh, actually.”, he said. “All my ancestors were from a little town called Denbigh, in Denbighshire County, Northern Wales. They came to America after the first world war.”
“Do you have relatives still living there?”
“No - My dad's father died of a heart attack just after my sixteenth birthday. His mom died two years later. Dad said it was of a broken heart. My mom's mother died just before I turned eighteen, she just went to bed one night and never woke up. Her dad followed about 6 months later. Cancer.”
“I've lived in Kagoshima my whole life.”, she said. “I've traveled all over the world, but I still call here my home.”
The conversation changed to other topics. They decided to skip desert, instead opting for coffee to complete the meal. Finally, Tomiko looked at him, and said, “Dylan, you look exhausted. Why don't I walk you to your room, and you can get some rest?”
The effect of the sake was hitting him, and Dylan was feeling drowsy. He didn't particularly want to go to his room because it would mean saying good night to Tomiko, it had been an enchanting evening and he did not want it to end. Still, he had to admit, she was right. She paid the bill, and they walked to the elevator which would take him to his 6th floor room. They entered the elevator, and a few minutes later exited on the 6th floor. Walking to his room they stopped at the door and Dylan took out his key card, and then ran it through the lock. The door lock flashed green, signaling that the door was unlocked, and he swung it open.
“I will see you tomorrow. It's Saturday, and we can do a little sightseeing. How does about 9:30 sound?”, asked Tomiko.
“Soun
ds like a plan. Sorry I'm such a lousy date.”, he said.
“I had a very good time tonight.”, she responded. There was a moment of silence, as they looked at each other. Then, quickly and without warning, she leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Just as quickly, she was gone down to hall, leaving him standing in his doorway, wondering what had just happened.
Chapter 27
The clock at his bedside revealed in big red numbers that it was 13 minutes to 7 am, Kagoshima time. The room was still pitch black, the curtains closed, and he lay for a moment getting his bearings. He was refreshed and ready to go, but his mind was still confused by the events of last night. Tomiko had kissed him. He wasn't sure what to make of that. He decided that a good walk would help him sort out his feelings. Getting out of bed he moved to the curtains covering the sliding doors leading to his balcony, and pulled them open. The sun light was brilliant, and he shielded his eyes until they could become adjusted to it, it was a beautiful morning. Stepping out onto the balcony, he looked across to the Sakurajima volcano. The brochure in the room said that it had been erupting almost constantly since 1955. Thousands of small explosions occurred each year, throwing ash into the air. The city of Kagoshima is just a few miles away, said the brochure, and conducts regular evacuation drills. Dylan hoped that he would not be involved in any such event, drill or otherwise.
