Planet-H: The End of the Beginning

by J. T. Winterlord

  I walked out, pleased with myself. Now I had the perfect plan. Yes, of course, some details were still missing, but I had no doubt about the chances of success.

  I saw him, near the car. I looked at him defiantly. He smiled and asked

  "Will you come with me? Later we’ll see if there is a car that you can use. You do have a driver's license don’t you? "

  Of course I have a driver's license you idiot, I thought but I just gave a simple,

  "Um, I have had a European license for about six years.”

  "Great, jump in" he said.

  I hopped in and we headed away to ... where were we actually going?

  It really wasn’t that important. I looked at the scenery. Very pleasing it was too. The surrounding countryside was a verdant green typical of Spring. The sky was so clear it made every element more vivid, real and three dimensional. I didn’t understand why he kept grinning and repeating,

  “Good choice yes. It’s important to keep your mood positive.”

  We arrived at our destination after about fifteen minutes. I got out and studied the construction. Nothing special, industrial warehouses with an office block, a company like any other. An easy escape, very easy.

  Sonia was waiting for me at the front desk. She greeted me and gave me a quick tour of the organisation. I was so focused on finding areas of escape that I didn’t hear a single word of what she was saying. She became even more incomprehensible with the phrase

  "Yes, I like your style, sure they will all remember you!"

  She maybe had some suspicions about my escape? Nahhh ... and how could she? Sure they’ll remember me, I would be the person with the best escape plan in the entire history of escapes! I would be remembered in the annals of history.

  Well planned strategies!

  She kept staring at me, amused.

  But then maybe she does suspect? I began to worry slightly.

  We arrived at what was to be my temporary office. It was as big as my similarly temporary apartment. A large hardwood desk grandly dominated the scene–it would probably frighten away potential visitors, in stark contrast to the comfortable executive chair in white leather. A stained glass window filled the whole wall in front of me, giving me a wonderful view over the surrounding hills - and what beautiful sunsets you could see from here.

  For a moment I was almost sorry to run away.

  At the entrance to‘my’office there was a middle-aged woman, hidden behind a large pair of very refined spectacles. I was introduced to Alice, my personal secretary.

  I did not understand this woman’s strange smile, similarly the enigmatic phrase,

  "Finally, a boss with a bit of fun in her head!"

  Uh yes, there will be a lot of fun! You’ll hear about it on the television news!‘Kate the fugitive’- yes, I’ll have a good laugh!

  I sat down at my desk after saying goodbye to Sonia. She said she had matters to attend to that required her presence.

  “I'll leave you in good hands."

  Alice was kind enough to bring me a well - sugared latte. She laid in front of me a file containing a document that I should read. I quickly checked the translation of a contract that didn’t really seem that important to me. I put a couple of signatures on forms that had to do with economic transactions for the foreign market. A normal day at the office perhaps although I had little experience of these things. I was still trying to figure out who these people were and why I had been offered a job. There was some hidden purpose that was eluding me. Curiosity was driving me to find out more but not for a moment did I forget my main purpose - escape.

  All in all the day was going pretty well. Alice returned to the office and said I was being assigned a company car, a small Mercedes. She explained that the car’s navigation settings were for work and home and how to call up the routes. She pointed out the vehicle from the window.

  "Parking number four, please remember."

  I caught a hint of formality so I asked her,

  “Alice, please call me Kate, OK?”

  She replied with a magnificent smile that appeared both genuine and affable.

  “Sure Kate, I’d like that!”

  I returned the smile and stood gazing at that beautiful vehicle. Perfect for escape, I thought, satisfied. All the pieces were coming together. My strategic planning was up and running and I felt I could not fail.

  My office was on the fourth floor of the building. I leaned out the door to check how many people were around and how many offices were located on my floor. I didn’t see many, and they were concentrated mostly on the right.

  I was drawn to the door at the end of the corridor. It was different from the others. Instead of gray metal it seemed to be made of wood and it was a nice bright red.

  Above it I could clearly read‘ENTRY FORBIDDEN.’

  It seemed contradictory. Why make a door so noticeable and then tell you to keep away in large letters? Was it there on purpose to attract the curious and instigate questions? Maybe it was a trap or a test? Perhaps if you tried to open the door you got fired for not being able to resist curiosity? This was surely a strange organisation. I mentioned the door to Alice who replied carelessly,

  "There are archives in there ... I think. I'm not sure. I've never been inside.”

  I saw a familiar face leaving. Six foot five, black skin and muscular. Sammy. But what was he doing there? Should I hide? Had I been discovered? Almost automatically, I shut the door to my office and sat down at my desk. I heard the giant’s footsteps approaching. They stopped right in front of my door. Alice came in and said,

  "Mr. Sammy asks if he can come in."

  I was puzzled.

  "Sure, sure, show him in," I replied.

  Sammy came in with bright eyes and a radiant smile. He madea shooting gesture with his fingers.

  "Bang!"

  His voice was not as deep as you would have imagined given his size. He blew down the barrel of an imaginary pistol.

  "Hi, how are you?"

  I wasn’t sure how to reply.

  He went on,

  “Well, you look great. I get the violet scarf, first day of work…. get yourself noticed like a lighthouse at night but…why the socks over the shoes? You do look good though. Bye now, I’ll catch up with you later.”And he left with a smile.

  I looked down at myself, feeling stupid. Not only was I wearing a lurid tacky scarf but, distracted by thoughts of escape, I had put yellow wool socks over my shoes!

  I sank into the chair feeling dumb but, strange to say, for the first time in my life not at all ashamed of how I looked!

  I started laughing so loud that Alice came into the office, concerned. She calmed down, seeing me laughing with tears in my eyes. She also enjoyed a giggle and returned to her work station.

  I undid the scarf and left it across my shoulders. I ran a hand through my hair to try and sort it out and got out of the lurid yellow socks.

  I was still smiling at the absurd way the day had gone. What was happening to me? Kate, only twenty four hours ago you were sold dammit! Don’t forget who you are and why you’re here. Right…. and exactly why was I here?

  Last night’s events came into my mind and a tremor ran through my back. The chill seemed somehow to clear my thoughts. I still did not understand, yet I felt within me a strange calm. I thought of escape once more.

  I left my socks neatly on the luxurious desk, said goodbye to Alice and headed towards the parking lot.

  I felt restful, immovable, serene and oddly decisive.

  A part of me was busy with escape plans while the other part was trying to logically analyze the situation. It was new to me this way of thinking. I didn’t even know that it was within me. I walked to the car. It looked new. I opened the door and I was hit by the smell of an unused leather interior. The seating was still protected by the factory’s plastic covers and the vehicle seemed to have just been delivered from the concessionaire. I sat in the driver's seat and adjusted it.

  The i
nterior odour was strong, exquisitely new. I gripped the wheel, soft, comfortable to the touch and I fell in love. She was mine. I twisted the key and the engine turned over effortlessly and silently. I dropped the window, selected first gear and found myself moving along the road that led away from the company.

  Finally! The smell of freedom! I glanced at the fuel guage. Full, perfect.

  My body felt free and tingly along my back and limbs. I was floating in a bathtub of bubbles. I was bubbling.

  Free!

  I headed to the motorway entrance. There was a telepass in the car for the toll charge so I didn’t even need to take a ticket. I took any direction, settled to 130 km per hour and drove off to meet my future, feeling radiant.

  THE DECISION

  Around a hundred kilometres later I stopped at a gas station. I wasn’t hungry, it was simply a chance to savour my newly acquired freedom. I would be celebrating alone drinking a nice coffee.

  So I did exactly that, very calmly, with a tranquility unusual for me, especially after leaving in search of work, abandoning my family. I missed Irina most of all, my little sister. I loved that tender little blond child.

  I sat in the car with two little tears running down my cheeks. Remembering my sister rekindled emotions that I had pushed aside for some time. It was not the leaving so much as what that animal Kurl had put me through with the other girls, with that life. It felt to me like years had passed instead of only a few months.

  A path strewn with pain, from the very beginning to the false promises and ending up on the streets.

  But yesterday, my twenty-sixth birthday ... yesterday, something has changed.

  While these thoughts were running through my mind I realized that I was unconsciously exiting the motorway and turning back the way I had arrived. Return to what? I asked myself. That strange way of thinking that I had experienced a couple of hours before returned once again. I was cold and calculating, no longer the passionate individual. I was reasoning, and perhaps for the first time in a long period I managed some clear thinking rather than the broken trains of thought of a few hours before. What was I doing, really?

  That question keptme company for a long while on the return road. The fact remained I did not know exactly why I was going back, but it seemed the logical thing to do.

  Since the previous evening I had thought only of escape. I managed a laugh. Had I really had all those thoughts of being the master of escape? Well-planned strategies? Really?

  I could hardly believe I was the same person who had generated such ideas.

  Nahhhh .... I went back over my decision to escape. I thought about it and it didn’t take me long to discover that the real flight had already taken place.

  Aided by a strange hooded man and his equally strange companion I now had a job, a house and my wonderful car. Well, now it’s time to find out what they want from me, those two odd individuals. I felt I could confront them, without overdoing things yes, but I was at least due an answer.

  Without any further thoughts I programmed the navigator as Alice had explained to me. Route number one straight home. Easy! Journey time thirty minutes.

  The voice of the navigator surprised me.

  "Bon voyage Kate!"

  They’d even programmed it with my name! These people play seriously…

  So here I am again at the electronic gates. They open automatically and very conveniently. Let’s see if there was someone there to meet me - no, nobody.

  I parked up and headed off to my accommodation. Ah yes, I was now thinking of it as‘my’house.

  On the way I came across Serena who, with her usual smile, informed me that dinner would be served shortly and if I wanted I could dine at home. I declined and said I would gladly join my hosts later. Satisfied, she walked away.

  It was in fact time to get some answers. This was the only dominant thought in my mind at that moment.

  I went inside and draped my delightful violet‘ornament’across the sofa, heading off to the bathroom to freshen up.

  Half an hour later I went down to the kitchen of the big house where Sonia was preparing places. It didn’t appear as if meals were cooked in this large kitchen. It was dominated by a long and solid wooden table placed in the center of the room. The massive raw unplaned timber seemed to come from a single giant and ancient tree.

  I entered and greeted her as if nothing had happened, with the air of someone who has concluded a busy but satisfying day's work. I sat down on a chair that was graciously offered to me by‘the man with the hood’. The thought occurred to me that I did not actually know his name, but Sonia conveniently remedied this. She said,

  "Matt, dear, would you bring in the appetizers from the kitchen? ... thanks honey!" She added, without even waiting for a response.

  I was offered a fruity tasting drink and recognised the flavours of mango, papaya and a vodka splash, served in a martini glass garnished with a slice of strange pink coloured lemon.

  It was simply delicious. I relaxed into the back of my chair after the first sip, while Matt looked at me, grinning.

  “Admirable your choice of yellow socks today - my compliments.”He followed up with a wide smile.

  I didn’t feel challenged in any way, it actually came across as a real compliment. Sonia however was good at the art of making you feel at ease and she tried in any case to lighten tension - she told him not to make fun of their guest.

  I found myself starting to appreciate those two, even liking them, although my question was still pending.

  Serena came in and put on the table what she called a‘frugal’meal, three lobsters, white rice, caviar that by its odour appeared fresh today, all served with soft croutons.

  White wine and water completed the dinner. I was wondering what a frugal meal like that would cost in a good fish restaurant, but I put to one side any questions on the subject.

  We exchanged a few words about the day's work and towards the end of dinner something unexpected happened.

  Sonia said,

  "Matt my love, you've been busy all day but admin were asking for justification of the thirty thousand taken yesterday. What should I tell them?"

  I felt rising panic. Heavens, he hadn’t told her the truth!

  I lost interest in food as my digestion partially blocked. I was hoping that a situation I was beginning to appreciate was not about to be turned upside down. I did not realize Sonia’s insight led her as usual to ask the right question at the perfect moment.

  "Honey, the thirty thousand was for Kate," said Matt.

  "Ah," replied Sonia. She asked,

  "What did you need the money for Kate?"

  I froze. The part of my digestion that had not yet locked up now did so.

  I did not know what to say. Matt interjected

  "No, my treasure, Kate didn’t need the money, the money was needed FOR Kate.”

  "Ah," replied Sonia, "Now I understand .... but needed exactly for what ? "

  "I bought her," replied Matt.

  "Bought?" Repeated Sonia, wiping her mouth with a napkin and placing it gently on the table. The contraction of her eyebrows mademe realize that she really did not understand what he was talking about.

  Damn! This was all going down the tubes! It was too good to be true in any case. And now? I moved nervously on my chair.

  I watched Sonia as she stood up and shook her head slowly. From her lips I saw her whisper the word‘bought’repeatedly. She turned her back and rested her hands on the ultra modern mantlepiece.

  I looked furtively and saw the man's reaction - speechless, staring at his partner.

  I watched Sonia’s shoulders - she seemed to shake, as if she was sobbing. I watched her tremble and sob some more. I was sure now - Matt must be suffering from some strange vice. That's the catch and this must be where the party ends!

  She was still sobbing. He moved to her and said in a persuading tone,

  “Come on now, stop. It’s always the same story.”

  She pu
shed him away and sobbed ever more convulsively, still with her back to me. She turned to him and he took her in his arms. I saw a couple of tears drop from his eyes.

  I was thinking that this whole beautiful story was coming to a bad end. Here was the answer to my question - she knew nothing.

  “Stop it now”repeated Matt more seriously although a half smile flitted across his face as if he wanted to somehow trick his partner.

  She pushed delicately away from him with her arm. She was crying strongly while at the same time trying to hold the emotion inside her and hide from me as if her pride was deeply offended.

  I couldn’t take it any more, I just wanted to leave, to run off.

  She placed her hands across her stomach and, still sobbing, sat on the edge of the table as if she needed it for support. It was a tragic sight for me to unwillingly witness. She turned slowly, still holding her stomach, convulsing with tear-covered eyes.

  She looked at me. I didn’t understand. She seemd to be having problems breathing, and yet….. damn! She wasn’t crying, she was laughing! She turned completely around and a noisy guffaw of laughter exploded.

  “That’s enough,”Matt continued. But meanwhile he too had started to chuckle, seemingly contaminated by Sonia.

  I watched those two idiots until I too began to laugh hysterically, the empty laughter of someone who does not understand, but that laughter was so contagious that even Serena reacted from the other room.

  Sonia looked at me and howled. It was hard for her to breathe, she was waving at me incomprehensibly with one hand and with her other hand on her belly.