Planet-H: The End of the Beginning

by J. T. Winterlord

  It seemed that on that day time had decided to pick up the pace. Day turned to night, my feet tingled from walking. I stopped to admire the cakes in a homemade pastries store.

  The scent was totally intoxicating and I realized I was starving.

  I strolled off, looking for pizza. I decided to dine in a small restaurant away from the town centre and from where I was I could see some hopeful signs that I was on the right track.

  I walked on.

  Two young guys suddenly appeared in front of me, barring the way. I immediately recognised the sloppiness of penniless addicts. I sighed. This was my world. I knew it would be better not to show fear so I was direct.

  “Look guys,”I said,“Just get out of my way will you?”

  "Where are you going pretty blonde lady? Come on, keep us company for a bit? Have you got money?"

  I saw them look over my head and freeze.

  "Are these two know-nothings bothering you Kate?"

  Sammy’s strident tones gave me a pleasant surprise.

  “I was just getting ready to take them apart my friend but in respect to your good self I won’t spill any blood tonight…. brother.”

  They were my words but they still surprised me.

  I turned smiling to Sammy and the two boys took off at such speed that I heard them cursing in the distance as one of them tripped up the other and sent them both tumbling onto the asphalt.

  Sammy seemed to have strangely materialised from nowhere. His phone rang.

  "Excuse me just a moment," he said, smiling and raising his index finger.

  "Hi Matt. Everything’s fine, I’ll take our beautiful Kate to dinner. See you tomorrow!"

  He replaced the phone in the inside pocket of his jacket.

  Hesitantly, he asked me

  “Are you okay with that?”

  How could I not be? His presence had saved my bacon, I was very hungry and I saw him as a real friend that I could rely on. And yes, I was happy. This little incident was not going to spoil my evening and in the company of my muscular friend who appeared from nowhere I felt even better. In fact I preferred not to dine alone and he was really nice, he reminded me of an actor or an American football player. He was one of the good guys and I sensed enormous respect in him.

  The sign I had seen from afar turned out to be a Tuscan restaurant. We entered and were led to a table. Homemade focaccia and mineral water appeared.

  Sammy said,

  "I'm so hungry I could eat the cook, I hope for him that the waitress is quick to pick up our order otherwise I might go off to the kitchen and start cooking him myself!”

  I laughed, imagining Sammy browning off and testing the cook to see if he was done.

  But the waitress arrived almost immediately and handed us menus. Sammy made her wait.

  “Can I choose for you Kate?”he asked.

  “Certainly”, I replied.

  He ordered some lightly cooked beef slices for me, garnished with olive oil and spices. A gigantic Florentine steak for him with a mountain of fries. To the waitress he specified

  “Not frozen please, only fresh.”All to be placed in the centre of the table so we could serve ourselves. We ordered sparkling red wine.

  “Bonarda or Barbera,”he said,“I like the Chianti but I prefer something lighter for my friend.”

  “Try it and tell me”he added, with the spontaneous reassuring smile of an old friend who knows everything and would protect you to the last.

  My hunger grew. Homemade focaccia became only a distant memory for my stomach as I tucked in. The wine arrived and I sipped at it. Satisfying, crisp, slightly sweet, ruby red and a heady fruity aroma.

  The meat did not take long to arrive. Sammy’s plate could barely contain that huge Florentine topped with vegetables. My plate was covered meat strips, lightly cooked and seasoned with olive oil, sprinkled with spices. There was Tuscan bread and a veritable mountain of fries at the center of the table. I didn’t know where to start.

  I nibbled at a delicious crusty potato that tasted of real potato and dipped a piece of bread in the strange condiment on my plate. It tasted of freshly- made olive oil. I started on the meat which was exquisite and melted in the mouth. Really great food, I thought to myself, closing my eyes for an instant, almost trying to imprint the tastes forever on my mind. I thought again about Sammy browning off the cook and laughed. Sammy looked at me and laughed as well.

  We both ate like voracious buffaloes - great meat and vegetables and superb wine to bring out the various tastes.

  I felt as hungry as when I had arrived at the estate that first day and I captured the two unsuspecting bananas. Sammy looked at me slightly fearfully.

  "Kate, we’ve cleaned up everything here, what do you say if we start on the next table too?"

  We laughed at the joke, perhaps a little too loudly and the young couple sitting near us actually cast worried glances in our direction.

  We looked into each others eyes and in perfect understanding rose from the table. The occupants of the table next to ours had evidently heard us and made some clumsy movements in an attempt to defend their meal, but we headed to the checkout laughing.

  I was slightly tipsy and as the owner was preparing the bill I saw that my knight in shining armour had left a good tip for the waitress. I paid the bill myself, heedless of Sammy’s protests.

  I walked along by his side for about twenty minutes. I needed to work through the alcohol absorbed by the wine. We chatted about trivial things, just for the sake of talking. Finally I asked,

  "How did you get here?"

  "Here where?" he said.

  "Here in town! Where else? Exactly in the place where I was about to take out those two idiots! "

  His answer was halting and stammered and appeared more of a question.

  "Um…by train?" He seemed almost to be hoping the answer was plausible enough not to warrant further explanation.

  "Ah ... well, if you don’t know, who does! Want a ride?" I asked, jingling keys in front of his eyes.

  "I accept with pleasure, madame," he replied, and within minutes we were on our way.

  "I just need to say a couple of things to Tony," he added.

  We went in the house and said a quick hello to Sonia and Matt. I heard them say something about SUVs. I dropped off my keys and found myself with a steaming coffee in hand. Sonia said,

  "Tomorrow we'll be gone all day Kate."

  "Make yourself at home around the estate as you see fit," added Matt handing me a box that I opened curiously.

  It contained DVD films, some recent, others less so. I was not that interested but I gave a glance at the various titles -‘Avatar,’ ‘The Matrix,’ ‘The Thirteenth Floor’... I didn’t know this last one.‘Naked Gun’however ... I smiled and accepted the box willingly. Seeing Leslie Nielsen’s comic face would makeme laugh again, and Trinity was a real cinematic legend.

  The others seemed to be comedies. I left Matt and Sammy to their conversation, gave Sonia a big kiss and headed home.

  My feet were still buzzing from the afternoon’s walking and my head slightly heavy from the feasting with Sammy.

  I undressed and stayed under the shower’s hot water jets for at least half an hour. When I had had enough I dried off and put on a dressing gown. Serena had placed a jug of Kefir in my fridge and I drank a glass, feeling somehow lighter and re-formed. I decided to watch‘Naked Gun’again - a great way to finish off the day.

  I was still laughing twenty minutes after the movie ended, and I wasn’t at all sleepy.

  The next day was Sunday so I decided to watch films all night. I prepared for this undertaking by piling a stack of rubbishy fast food snacks on the table in front of the sofa, without forgetting the jug of delicious kefir kindly prepared by Serena.

  My choice fell on the title I didn’t recognise -‘The Thirteenth Floor’.

  Even though it didn’t attract me much and the beginning was unpromising and boring, from the moment when the hero is projected
into the virtual world of old Chicago I was lost and watched all of it with rapt attention. I really felt transported by the experience and something incomprehensible was timidly born within me.

  Caught up in this strange and morbid curiosity, I again viewed‘The Matrix’and then finally pigged out on a feast of comedy films. Well done Kate! A great night of revelry and self-indulgence!

  When I finally threw myself into bed it was already morning, but I didn’t care. That was my Sunday, I would get up only at the precise moment when I tired of sleeping ... and so it was.

  After a sleep full of strange dreams about aliens, talking sausages and strange creatures with four arms I woke up, stretched and turned over. Oh nooo! I was getting out on the wrong side! But movement was quicker than thought and there was no more bed in that direction so I hit the floor. I got up laughing, dazed and rubbing my butt I walked into the bathroom.

  I looked with interest at the marks left by the folds of the sheets on my cheek and on my arm. Certainly not very presentable.

  But it was Sunday and time was my own. I went out wearing my robe, savouring the delicious feeling of silk on the skin. I let the wind lapping up the hill shyly caress me as I sat under the big oak tree for a few minutes.

  Serena bid me good afternoon and brought some orange juice.

  "What time is it Serena?”I asked.

  "Um ... about half past six."

  Wow, I thought, but I didn’t much care.

  I drank the juice slowly. I felt a real lazy bones.

  I wanted to just stay doing nothing and thinking of nothing for a while.

  I meandered aimlessly around the estate and really nothing else of import happened that Sunday. I spent an idle day for the most part with my head relaxed and emptied of thoughts and actions.

  THE NEW WEEK

  Monday morning. Come on then, up you get! I jumped from the bed like a cat, dressed in a flash and made a fast breakfast. I felt really motivated, I wanted to try at least and make things work. I had no meetings to attend so I went straight to work.

  So a quick good morning to Alice and there I was seated at my desk. Right, where to begin? I tucked away some files in the drawer of the antique desk that I used every day.

  I noted that Matt and Sonia were not around. In fact I didn’t see them until late afternoon. Later I found out that they had not returned last night. What had he said, Matt? Point number one - observe. Okay, that seemed easy enough. I told Alice where she could find me if needed and she murmured something into her hand held device. I was already on the move.

  First stop was the Sales office where I met Denise. She seemed happy to see me. She also impressed me as a very self-assured woman. She was soft and rounded, noted for her resolute manner. High heels did nothing for that figure however although the complete effect was in a way curiously harmonious.

  I closely scrutinised the work of the five employees under Denise’s control without making comments and after a swift chat about the products I left.

  Second stop was Production. I remembered where Matt had taken me during the first inspection and I slowly re-traced my steps, memorising everything I saw.

  Third stop was Shipping. Beyond the production departments there was a large warehouse and the department that took care of deliveries.

  I took a look at the merchandise packed and ready for delivery and greeted those department workers responsible for loading and unloading. I chatted for a while to the department manager and again made no comments, only observations.

  A quick look over the waiting area for the trucks and then back to the office.

  I needed to write notes because I couldn’t keep all my observations in my head. I wanted to keep a clear head for thinking processes rather than to remember stored details.

  I also needed a computer - where could I get one? It was a rather obvious piece of equipment for an office. Ahh! If only I had my old notebook.

  In fact, on my expensive desk there was only a monitor - large but rather useless without the rest, it seemed to me. Why on earth would they give me a monitor without linking it to a computer? Maybe it was something like a television, used for video-conferencing?

  I took a closer look at the monitor. There was a brand mark on the back - a chewed apple. What an idiot you are Kate! It’s taken you three days just to find out the name of the company! What the hell...! The village idiot wouldn’t have done so badly!

  It was obviously a Mac and the keyboard was below the monitor. Nobody could have been more stupid than me.

  Back to point number one: observe carefully! Don’t think, watch.

  It was all so damned simple, in fact so simple that normally people forget. I realised that from the first day I had avoided observing, I had only watched. And they are two different actions.

  “Idiot!”I said aloud.

  Alice heard me. She came in and asked,

  “What’s happened Kate?”

  I made some understanding noises because she could not have read my mind.

  “Nothing Alice - I just realised that at times I can be incredibly stupid!”

  She smiled at me gently and motioned for me to look in the top drawer.

  I opened it and found a new handheld computer and a post-it with a phone number and message that read‘When you want to turn it on, you will find some useful numbers already stored. Enjoy your work!’

  I switched it on and at the same time picked up the MAC keyboard and weighed it in my hands. No wires. I remembered using one at a friend’s house when I was following college courses. There should be a switch on the back of the screen. I found it and turned on this marvel of technology. The operating system came on line quickly. My Notebook would have been enough but this was much better.

  "OK, so it’s on,”I whispered to myself,“Now what?”

  The keyboard was fine but the mouse?

  I ran my finger over a strange square flat contraption the same colour as the computer and saw the cursor move on the screen. How did I do that? I asked myself nervously. The Mac obviously didn’t answer.

  I found myself tapping on wood, watching the colourful picture on the screen and trying to figure out what the strange little square was. Stroking a finger across it I saw the cursor move in the same direction. So that was the mouse! I really had no idea!

  I remembered a browser called Safari with an icon that enlarged when you placed the cursor on it but I had no idea how to switch it on. I started again nervously tapping and saw a web page open.

  I persisted and didn’t lose heart until I had learned to how to manipulate that strange but not inconvenient mouse.

  The wireless keyboard allowed me to write with ease and I managed to create my first short report on what I had observed that morning.

  Sonia and Matt dropped in to say hello in the afternoon and exchange a few pleasantries. They saw me immersed with my work and left me to it.

  By the end of the day I had mastered the MAC functions I needed, aided by the experience of Alice, and I had met, even if briefly, the key personnel of the departments entrusted to my care.

  I locked myself into the work for a fortnight in the knowledge that I had collected enough data and met almost everyone on the managerial staff. It was time to draw some initial conclusions. On the plus side, being immersed in my work allowed me to forget events that had occured earlier and I also came into contact every day with people prepared to do everything possible to help me.

  Sammy and Valdes limited themselves to saying hello and then going their own way. I spent weekends at work, trying to summarise the salient points of my observations.

  But there came a day when it was time to plan

  THE FIRST OPINION

  I went into Matt’s office which was deserted. I spotted Sonia typing quickly at the keyboard but I decided to disturb her. She beamed across at me and asked me to sit.

  I hadn’t noticed before that there was a wonderful De Chirico hanging on the office wall.

  "Do you like this?" Sh
e asked. She then answered her own question without waiting for my answer.“Yes, I presume you do.”

  I made no comment but I was actually enchanted by the picture and admired it.

  “Hector and Andromeda”said Sonia,“in Andromache mythology she was kidnapped and taken to Troy to give Hector an heir. She was forced against her will to marry him but then she discovered she was in love with him.”

  There was silence for a moment, I looked at her and realised I had almost forgot the reason for my visit. I said,

  "Sonia, I’m so sorry, I was so enchanted by the painting I nearly forgot what brought me here."

  My tone must have sounded a little wistful.

  "It is not the original of course, I can do you a copy this weekend if you like," she replied,

  I looked in admiration, my eyes alight. Sonia was aware of this and she smiled and asked the reason for my visit.

  Now I remembered. I handed her the analysis resulting from my observations and she read through the document very carefully. While she was absorbed in reading I dropped my gaze onto the picture. I really liked it. I did not understand what it was giving me but the work really struck a chord.

  After reading, Sonia looked into my eyes, paused and said,

  "Your research has produced some almost ridiculously simple strategies if you consider the ease and speed of application."

  I was dying. I had done a thorough job and I knew I had worked honestly without neglecting the smallest detail. But nonetheless I felt I had been punched in the stomach and was left with the bitter taste of bile in the mouth.