Chapter - 9

The plane speeded across the runway and slowly came to a stop in the place allotted. Clyde was closed the book he was reading, his co-traveler, Miss Anna, was still asleep. He shook her awake, she slowly opened her eyes and looked around her,

“Don't worry, I haven't abducted you, you are still on the same plane you boarded last night.”

“I didn't ask you any of that; I know I'm on a plane.”

“But the way you looked around told me you need a briefing.”

“Well, thank you for that. Don't repeat it.”

He replied nothing. He took his baggage from the space and stood in the line of passengers moving out. George came to be in front of the line. Clyde finally was in the airport building, he searched with his eyes for George, finally having found him, and he walked towards the line George was standing. George was unaware of the fact that Clyde had made his way past the others and was now standing behind him. He was again startled at Clyde's call,

“Call yourself a detective and getting freaked out so very often. I say, shame on you. Learn to be like Spider-Man.”

“Clyde you bastard, one more time you do that, you are getting one across the face.”

Clyde laughed with a childish innocence. Just then his phone rang; he answered it,

“Am I talking to Mr. Clyde, I'm from the Canada school.”

“Ah yes, I'm Clyde; I'm in the immigration; I'll be out soon.”

“Transportation for both of you is waiting is outside; the driver is there in the waiting room, I'll text you his number.”

“Thanks, I'll call the guy. I'll let you know if I'd have any queries.”

But just then as he declined the call it struck him, where is his partner. He'd have to have her along. He turned and looked; he couldn't find any sign of her. He walked backwards towards the end of the line. She was not there in the line. He searched around all possible places and finally found her coming out of the lavatory. He went up to her, she had a wicked victorious grin over her face when he saw her, they spoke nothing, and she followed him silently at his nod. Miraculously, the whole queue moved fast but George was nowhere to be seen. They were soon outside, before he could call the driver, the call came by; he answered it. They found the guy who had come to pick them. He put their bags into his car's trunk. Both of them climbed into the backseat, the guy had been already instructed to drop them at the accommodation arranged for them. He was considerably quiet and reserved, spoke only when necessary and drove fast. The journey which should've taken almost an hour was over within just forty minutes. The accommodation was actually a hotel, at the counter they registered and collected their keys. They had adjacent rooms on the third floor. When Clyde stopped outside his door, she too stood there and eyed him; he smiled, opened his door and got inside. She still stood there, so then he asked if she wanted anything; she nodded her head and walked away. She opened her door and walked in, closing the door behind her. She dropped her bags beside her bed; she placed her handbag on the bed. She stripped and walked into the shower for a long cool shower.

He was checking through his Facebook timeline when he heard someone knocking the door, he thought it was the waiter and went to open the door. To his surprise it was not the waiter, but Anna standing there. She looked bright and elegant, her hair was tied in a bun, she wore a blue top and a black tracks. He let her in and closed the door behind her, he walked in after her.

“Would you like some coffee or tea,” he asked.

“Don't worry, I've already asked them to bring us some, they'll be here any minute. By the way, am I disturbing you?”

“That's something girls never ask, so good of you, keep it up. And don't worry, you are not disturbing.”

“Thank you; I thought I was kind of rude to you during the journey. So then, when I was back in my senses, I thought I could make it up.”

There was another knock at the door, it was their coffee. Soon they were sipping some warm coffee and biting some tasty cookies. He raised the question,

“Anna, just that; don't you have a second name or something by which I can address you.”

“Well actually, my name is not Anna; it's Sulthana. A British citizen by birth and an Indian by blood; I've never actually been to my parent's hometown and so I'm pure British."

"So you are a Muslim, I've never met before such a modern person from that community."

"Oh, please don't be stereotypical; well, I'm not an orthodox believer; yet I do my best to do my prayers though not on time. I believe and respect the Quran, Allah and the Prophet.”

"I'm sorry about my stereotype thinking, I'm always a learner and I promise to not repeat this mistake."

"Ah, it's alright; it's not you, many people judge the Muslims with limited knowledge. For the world, Muslim men are terrorists and anti-nationals, the women are restricted and reserved. The world as a whole need to come out it. Leave that; tell me about yourself!"

“Clyde Stewart, former journalist at the German Teutonia Times and now here with you.”

“That was short and quick.”

“I like it that way, I'd prefer if you wouldn't ask further about my past.”

“Okay, I wouldn't ask you more about that.”

“So what are we exactly going to do these days, I don't have the slightest idea.”

“They'll tell you everything, don't worry.”

So they spoke not realizing they talked till lunch time. When at one point of time Clyde looked up at the clock did he realize they had talked for a lot of time; they went down to the restaurant for lunch. They saw many others who had also come as like them; after taking for themselves necessary food on their plates, they sat down and chatted between themselves. A random boy came and sat down at their table but moved to another table when Anna gave him a look. After lunch, they decided to go out and see around the place, they paid some personal cash and got a Mercedes the hotel had for people who would like. Anna had been to Canada once on a journey and so she was trying to remember any place they can visit. Finally they ended up in a small park where few people were sitting; they walked through the walking space. They finally sat down at a bench staring at the city's arresting beauty. When Clyde just looked sideways at a point of time, he thought he saw someone familiar. He looked again and couldn't find that face again. When they finally stood up again to leave, he saw the face again, the German policeman, Axel Andrews. What is this man doing here, Clyde thought; what he is thinking, Anna thought. He followed the man with his eyes, Axel, walked along the roadside until he stopped at another Mercedes, got into it and drove off. Clyde and Anna also got into their car, Clyde was still looking ahead, and so he failed to see the first familiar face he had seen at the park now driving past him; George Miles, clean-shaven, wearing a blue cap and a black shades.