Not to sound cynical or anything, but this was a stupidly thought out plan. I concluded this when I realised three things:
500Please respect copyright.PENANAvWL2G4nwDg
Number one, you needed a plane ticket to get on a plane.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAxxaKnG6lKQ
Number two, you needed a passport to enter a different country – in this case, an entirely different continent.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAM5fVMJbpsQ
Number three, we didn't have either of the two.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAi85erVi6Iu
When I asked Everest about this, his answer made me contemplate the risk of going back to the Front and grabbing a pair of passports and a couple of shillings, instead.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAE7Wb5suUap
To put it simply, the genius' idea was to crawl through the mile-long air vents of the airport, get out once we reach the control room, knock out any staff if necessary, modify the plane's seating plan, conserving two extra seats, crawl back through the air vents until we reached the nearest bathroom to the terminal, get out and wait for our plane in the terminal, like the ordinary passengers we were.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA59iNxAXg4O
One part in particular perplexed me.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAfNrYVbMl9S
"Why a bathroom?" I asked.
500Please respect copyright.PENANADHkojQUT9j
"If you want to leap out of an air vent in the middle of a crowded terminal, be my guest," he replied, bitterly.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAfSEQXIr3XC
So that detail was pretty excusable, but the rest was imprudent. It sounded like something out of a James Bond movie; I was about to mention this to him, but then realised that it was essentially the only way. If we got caught, at least we would get caught doing something I loved: being foolishly reckless.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAqCSGxmN4RO
As we entered Gatwick, another part perplexed me.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAaI7pXIs7xi
"Um, Everest?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAaFc1QAKWPk
"Yes?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAk72ZHE32ZG
"How are we going to get into the air vents in the first place?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANA9IxyGfXboA
"Stop overthinking, and just follow me."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAvEhYWB5jyh
I tried to, for a few seconds anyway, until another thought occurred to me.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAwYdFWQJD6O
"Hey, Everest?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAW2HHMlqdvT
"Yes?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAKXx3wVn8gr
"Don't you think that it's a bit suspicious how we're traveling four thousand miles, without any bags?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAVTR0tfjYEl
"I think, at this moment of time, 202; bags are the least of our concerns. Even if they were, please; suggest how we would drag a couple of suitcases behind us through a few hundred meters worth of air vents."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAon8vuUHD94
I remained silent after that. He had a way with words, knowing exactly how to phrase them in a way to make one feel utterly dense. So, I did exactly what he said: followed his footsteps. Quite literally, for we were walking in sync.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAd5oZoM2YpM
Upon entering the entrance of the airport, he took a sharp right. A few dozen metres later and after a few more turns, here and there, we reached a narrow, isolated corridor. There was only one door at the end of it, with the letters STAFF ONLY blatantly sprawled across it. Striding down the corridor, his hand landed on its handle, twisting it.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAAu1zdNzAba
As if it were going to be open...
500Please respect copyright.PENANABB7lCSChoq
It opened.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAgqD5oc58Rn
My eyebrows furrowed. Why on earth would a room prohibited to the public, be left open? Surely, if you were to write STAFF ONLY on its door, the room must have held some sort of importance, that you wouldn't want any random person of the streets, entering it.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAY2kTygE6S6
However, when the door fully opened, and the contents of what actually lay inside it was brought to full view, I understood why no one bothered to lock it in the first place. It was a janitors closet. With mops, broomstick cleaning products, wipes... just like in any old janitors closet. And at the top of one wall of the room, clung a vent.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAekTnUfzKI8
A tall shelf, with cleaning equipment coating every inch of it, some even on the brink of fall off, stood in front of the wall.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA4o5oxTkB50
"We are going to have to climb it." Everest ordered. "Try not to move anything around too much. It will rise questions."
500Please respect copyright.PENANA7BqEdcGzzZ
I nodded, removing a couple of objects out of the shelf to create an almost clear pathway to climb.
500Please respect copyright.PENANATOnmTS92ny
Everest went first, initially bouncing a foot on the bottom shelf to test its strength. It held. Soon, perching on the top of the shelf, as it were the roof of a building, he worked on taking the air vent off. With minor difficulty, he removed it, then crawled through, as I began climbing the shelf.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAcQkV4HXqsa
I reached the top. "Move up!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAsFPZrC7p2Z
Once I completely entered the vent, which was just about wide enough for one person, I replaced the lid back onto the wall, and we fell into a dark abyss.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA917jsCWbHo
"How are you going to navigate in this?" I quizzed.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA3RsrVV6RgQ
Just then, the sound of the closet door clicking made my eyes go wide. Under the thin strips of light that fell upon Everest's face through the lid of the air vent, I saw how it remained unmoved.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA71r4r2vzJ5
"Stop asking so many questions!" He whispered. "Just follow m–" His sentence abruptly stopped. "No." He paused for a moment, presumably collecting his thoughts, as if he made an error. "I was supposed to be on the side you are on, to lead the way."
500Please respect copyright.PENANA99uYe7Tg8A
"Oh..."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAAOfaBu6IKc
"It's fine. I'll be behind you. Follow my instructions. Move forward."
500Please respect copyright.PENANALt10AoVsxh
I moved towards him.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAii4LKWznpq
"Not my forward! Your forward!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAvC8mm6CvVb
I scowled. "Be specific then!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAD9G3zUrCN4
The shelf creaked.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAQLNiwGOXMp
"Go!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAVkAeK1DczM
I crawled rapidly down the vent.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAz1o3sq9nMw
"Are you looking to wake all the jet lagged passengers? Move quieter!" Everest called from behind me.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA701LK8j1o6
"Oh, shut up!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAoGDu725YeQ
About a minute later, we ended up at a cross section. He was so close to me, I could feel his soft breaths on the back of my neck. Or was it the air conditioning? If air conditioning was hot, then yes.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAtsYsa954BI
"Left," he ordered, and I turned to the left.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA2O7AmxCy4f
About a dozen meters later, we reached another cross section. I waited for his next order, as voices entered through the vent. They were muffled, but there were lots of them, joined with the sounds of trolleys and wheels sliding across smooth surface. We must have been at the luggage check-in.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAVwiWRtJrzV
"Right," Everest instructed.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAveG1dzjrSu
I was just turning right, when the metal under me creaked.
500Please respect copyright.PENANARH2XhGW6K3
Crap!
500Please respect copyright.PENANA1pHQldDmcf
I tried to move, only for it to creak louder. My pulse shot up. The longer I spent at the spot, the more sound it made until I suddenly felt a jerk.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6Y4AIZlmo
"Everest!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAXctdPNlfxZ
Abruptly, he proceeded to the left of the cross section, opposite me, and his hands enveloped around my waist.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAgGdqBRb9oN
Lordly.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAigckJLPU2s
In a swift motion, I was pulled back. If I had thought my pulse was high before, it was less than nothing compared to now. I was breathing fast; too fast for my own liking. But what else would you expect? I almost plummeted down from air vent in the middle of an airport.
500Please respect copyright.PENANANyDfE6Ldg3
That's why you're breathing fast right, Emerald?
500Please respect copyright.PENANANMI6ReZDpz
Of course it was!
500Please respect copyright.PENANAEMrntjJD9F
"Wait," He ordered.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA7IDbToyh13
"Wait?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAE0thsZwtUJ
"They will know something is wrong if the vents continuously creak," he explained. "That, and you would probably land on the ground if you went back there, right now."
500Please respect copyright.PENANA2jVnBKnDeY
For some bizarre reason, I couldn't interpret what he was saying.
Not with...
500Please respect copyright.PENANA5Dg0bqMsWE
"Can you remove your hands now, please?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAS4pO6d2M4L
In an instant, his hands dropped as if I were on fire. At least, my cheeks were.
500Please respect copyright.PENANALTIJXwz1Di
"What now?" I questioned.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAkriPCW797y
"When I tell you to, you have to move as fast you can across there." He instructed, referring to the part I just moved away from.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAUvmDeAxmYP
I nodded.
500Please respect copyright.PENANABzbPMFIfpR
"Okay... now!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAvAONHC7YTP
I moved as fast as my knees would carry me, the sound of the metal bending, making me cringe.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAVkSveVb3rY
After a few more turns, and a lot more crawling we reached the air vent just above the control room.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAAYk6pigSbB
I looked through the lid. Much to my gratitude, there was no one in there. Pushing off the stern cover, we leaped out of the vent and onto the ground, one after the other.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAZKoT8xI6ne
"We need to do this quickly," I said, hands ecstatically fumbling over the mouse of a computer.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA5zaH1SVjEh
"Do what quickly?" A foreign voice spoke.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAc2T8cL1gCO
Crap!
500Please respect copyright.PENANAO4MFVVrU6F
My eyes widened, meeting Everest's. He didn't so much as bat an eyelash.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA4LlL9aAlYZ
Slowly, we turned to face a small young man, whose eyes narrowed, under thick rimmed glasses.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAEAea02smQJ
"Well?" He persisted.
500Please respect copyright.PENANABwq2WpWMiF
Everest gave me a weary look out of the corner of his eye as if to say, knock him out.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAloyfGouXDZ
But, that was stupidity.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAaKwfdXYvPo
I turned around, facing my back to the worker. "Don't be daft! We won't make it five feet into the plane, if they found an unconscious employee in here!" I whispered.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAbGEZ73vhJH
"Miss, turn around!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAHJGgUGOFLN
I turned, flashing a sweet smile. It wasn't returned.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAM9WlglXA4m
"What business do you two have in here?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANA2r7i5csvxb
Just as I was about to come up with some pathetic excuse, the door opened and three more people stepped in. It was woman, in a blazer and a skirt and two men, also in the same outfit, minus the skirt. All in all, the woman looked the most powerful of the three. Yay, women!
500Please respect copyright.PENANAzFzES9eIw4
Double crap!
500Please respect copyright.PENANAnwh6WEYo9d
Everest, if you could actually freeze people with that glare, now would be nice, thank you.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAF1LQFs4Tc3
"What's goin' on?" The first huge man spoke. He had about as much hair on his head, as we had money.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAUUPAITo18n
"These two seem to be a bit lost," Glasses replied. He turned to us. "You didn't answer my question. What are you doing in here?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANA5qS0VbmjEJ
The woman's eyes flickered up to the air vent, which was left open.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAnJKAhmEApv
Triple crap!
500Please respect copyright.PENANAKA7BdF5L2K
"Oh, I see." She observed the pair of us, pursing her red stained lips. "Looks like we've got a pair of stowaways on our hands, boys." Well, at least she was smart, and didn't waste time asking stupid questions like the other guy. I must say, I quite admired–
500Please respect copyright.PENANAds5y31Ek3M
"Arrest them." Damn you!
500Please respect copyright.PENANAR4DYPSAjOH
Just as the second big guy stepped forward, Everest put his hands in the air. "Woah, woah!" A completely distant tone overtook his voice. It sounded almost... soft, the velvety kind – harmless and innocent. Great, we're all going to die. "You didn't even give us a chance to explain—"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAVq1ZJ7aguD
"Save it." The guy cut him off, putting a hand on Everest's shoulder. "Let's go. You too," he said to me.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAE1sMnsOusW
"No, hold on—" Everest took the colossal hand off of his shoulder with ease. Although his voice sounded astonishingly glacé, his actions begged to differ, and the look on the guard's face proved that had it been anyone else, such an act would have required the manpower of a mammoth.
500Please respect copyright.PENANASeXQQY8F67
"We need to ask you some questions," The woman spoke. "So, please follow us into the interrogation room, or we will have to take you by force."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAg9e0uwiT1T
Ah, good luck with that.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAiaxAoTcRAl
"You can question us in here," Everest rebutted.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAFlcoGi0XF2
I watched, amused, without saying anything. Besides if I did, chances are, it would have gotten us into even more trouble than we already were in. All that crawling would have gone to waste.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAeCmYJcikWJ
"Sir, we would like you to cooperate with us, and come into the interrogation room, or I am afraid there will be consequences," the woman said.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAS96NKFCulS
"Consequences," he scoffed. Very distant indeed. "Because you couldn't ask your questions if the environment wasn't perfectly set out for you?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAKl24LjhRPQ
Wit? Had an unseen phantom from the air vents, possessed him?
500Please respect copyright.PENANAwDIz5gb3TG
"Sarcasm is only deepening the hole you've dug yourself into," the way woman spoke, calmly. "I will ask you one more time–"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAmNmglHMI1E
"To be fair, Heather, it ain't too big ov-a deal," astonishingly, the first, hairless guy told her. "I mean, the lad's gotta point. Maybe you should jus' listen tuh him; question them in 'ere, get it ovah with."
500Please respect copyright.PENANA6rbyqyEij5
Losing her tranquility, the woman's eyes flared. "Have you gone ballistic, Gary? What are you—"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAOhHywzua8n
"Yeah, Heather, maybe you should listen to me," Everest teased, in a honeyed tone.
500Please respect copyright.PENANADP4Bbh4k5W
I think I'm going to faint.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA5PHY0Kv39R
"There's no harm done," he finished.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAg8BbVG67Dl
Ha! Just watch.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAg8yef2K7Ol
"You," she pointed at Everest. "Stop speaking." Oh please, if she were in my position, she would have been begging him to speak.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAlZCKnt1F6H
Her eyes then landed on me, raking me up and down. Well, this was uncomfortable.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAFLHJ3N6VTV
"You," she commanded.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA0DZck3eJPa
I lifted a pierced eyebrow. "Me?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANA0t1bruKrMB
"You haven't said much."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAn39ZZIrQEa
"Please," Everest's still sugary voice interrupted. What was up with him? "If she begins, you'd be begging her to stop." He did it again! He read my mind!
500Please respect copyright.PENANATHKihl7AK8
The woman, or perhaps I should say, Heather, glared at him before turning to me.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAm7k3z464pp
"Really?" She cheered. Her expression changed as soon as her chocolate eyes landed back on me. "Let's hear it then. What are you doing in here?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAhTosrQRpsg
I could evidently see what she was thinking: this is going to be easy. Unfortunately, I was going to have to rain on her parade.
500Please respect copyright.PENANARWn0cd25PB
"Didn't you just tell us to save it for the interrogation room?" The smug question escaped my mouth before I could prevent it. I tried, really I did!
500Please respect copyright.PENANAvO7VyPjAt4
On the exterior, she tried to remained calm, but I could practically see the smoke fuming out of her ears. She smiled, nevertheless, but it seemed off. "I didn't realise I would have to deal with two smart mouths?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAuWWt9aG1KY
"Did you just call me smart?" I placed a hand on my chest. "I knew I always liked you."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAGHRLJIzhQg
"Flattering," she said in a flat tone. "But I'm afraid, I will have you put in prison if the next thing that comes out of your mouth isn't the answer to what you are doing in here."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAFkGoABqgXN
I kept my smile up, unfazed. In fact, I should have been smiling wider! Prison seemed like the perfect safe haven! At least Director couldn't get ahold of me if I were in there. "Clearly you are in need of a few brain cells. Any idiot knows that the first question you ask a suspect is their name." I tapped my temple with my index finger to emphasise her stupidity. And here I thought she was smart.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAPvIaShrM5F
"I am warning you," she... well, I guess, warned.
500Please respect copyright.PENANASBfbF5Uxcq
"I mean, don't take it personally, but I could easily perform a double roundhouse kick, followed by a nutcracker choke, and escape whilst you lay collapsed on the floor. And, when they ask you what happened, you wouldn't even have a name to give."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAdcF5tZ6U6J
Her eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAX55GCLItfi
"See, you're focusing on the wrong part, Heather! The names! You must ask for the names first! It's policing 101!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANA7iVdzImmQN
I think.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA7fWnsmL5eg
"Do not tell me how to do my job."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAvdrOaqKpmt
"Is that what I'm doing?" I asked, innocently.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAoRdLJUOwDP
"Yes."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAD85gZmqVh1
"Are you sure?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANA3nkOsqP8Ar
"Yes!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAOKOmiHTkXO
"Would you bet your life on it?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAzIzCdK12ak
"I'm supposed to be the one getting answers from you!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAna1mFuQlhY
"Really? How's that working out for you?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAMYcfhrTSFH
Her little finger twitched. "I will have you locked up until Prince George becomes king!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAbYbo0LOlb3
"For what?" I laughed. "Being told the truth?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAI8Irh1sXmK
"I mean it."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAGVRurDjNFt
I pouted. "Is someone looking for that promotion?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAdg792QrsfV
Her finger twitched again. "You watch your mouth."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAFRY9m2ReTq
I looked down. "That's... tricky. Besides I was giving you free advice," I grinned. "Take it or leave it."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAHGJZZpFtpj
She looked away. After a few moments, she glanced back at me. "What is your name, then?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAc3qKutDum4
"But we're not in the interrogation room yet!" I mocked.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAlcb1mh9inW
She clenched her jaw and focusing closely, I saw a tear begin to form in the corner of her eye.
500Please respect copyright.PENANASJAsklxMc7
Oh, now I feel bad.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAT0YhBqwzI4
"Forget the interrogation room!" She hollered, losing all tranquility. "Answer the goddamn question, you imbecile!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANA3VEjjRMeTO
There goes my sympathy.
500Please respect copyright.PENANACOL1YmAPRz
I grinned. "But, you just said it."
500Please respect copyright.PENANA5So3U84xP6
She cursed at me.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAGzFMEbZTfr
It may have been my overactive imagination acting up again, but I could have sworn, I saw the corners of Everest's mouth twitch.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAr7nUCkx2JG
"Thank you," I replied to Heather.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAF1XNoURrWq
She groaned in frustration. "Shut up!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5sNUgsquW
"I told you, you'd be begging her to stop talking if she started," Everest made sure to remark.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAYlOUUvxvGq
I smiled, for real this time. Why couldn't he always be like this? Such a pity.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAMog8IaugCz
Heather blinked. "You know what? Fine. Fine!" She turned away. "I think I'll pull my own hair out if I speak one more word with her."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAuHltjem3fR
I laughed. "I see you've been taking fashion tips from Gary."
500Please respect copyright.PENANA2yjF9typ7j
My humour was not appreciated by the big guy.
500Please respect copyright.PENANACNauuKu1Qf
"Sorry. That was mean," I apologised to him.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAzqcYu4FJPv
"So, what exactly happened?" Heather asked Glasses, this time, knowing that it would be a hopeless case to ask either one of us.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA9wDF3a0kjG
"I'm not sure of all the details. I came back from my break earlier than you guys, and these two were...."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAY3wpfcwiel
I edged closer to Everest. "This is useless! What's your Plan B?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAmkvagOb75D
"I don't have one." His voiced inched with that infamous frost, again.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAvciDUtIv6G
I glared. "What do you mean you don't have one? Are you telling me, you came in here without—"
500Please respect copyright.PENANA313zmyTEWe
"Hey you two! Stop talking. And separate." The second guy demanded.
500Please respect copyright.PENANApfmAkNXpMT
I liked Gary better.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAei7XD6hgUA
Everest and I walked to either ends of the room, choosing to be obedient for the first time. Gary stood close behind me, whilst the second guard stood cautiously near Everest. In the center, a fuming Heather had just finished listening to watch Glasses had to say.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAhCW9BiuhOC
She back turned to us. "It is obvious that the two you are here with criminal intentions," she said glancing up at the air vent.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAfdnkmAyrGD
Criminal? We were only trying to change the seating plan of one your airplanes to California, so that we can board without actually paying for a ticket!
500Please respect copyright.PENANAnihaeQGWWI
"We will not need any further answers. It is clear that why you are here," She spoke distinctly to Everest, avoiding me.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAfFi3PgwYko
"Amuse me." His voice sounded syrupy, again. Alright, that's got to be a talent.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAbuSeRxfQPC
"It is quite obvious, is it not? This is room is prone to being bombarded by stowaways. In other words, people who do not possess a plane ticket. Why? Because this is the only place with the plane's seating plan. But I am sure you already know that."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAI2BCN8RTcC
Wow, she was smart.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAVXs3MB7rLk
Everest's face remained unmoved. As always.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAnHdhkKTWq2
"As you two have strongly opposed to cooperate with our interrogation protocols," She continued. "We have decided to arrest you here, right now."
500Please respect copyright.PENANANZFpQFiVGf
"We have?" Gary asked.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA78mRQ4VVa4
"Shut up, Gary!" She snapped.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAjutWnqHPNd
"Someone's working hard for that pay rise, am I right?" I joked, smacking Gary's shoulder.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAKJcd2ElMZm
"Tell me about it," He muttered.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA7fIhI4AIN3
"Gary!" She thundered.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAD9ZDfz9QrD
"I mean, yes! You are under arrest," he parroted.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA5JkwnWnT8K
Aw, Gary man.
500Please respect copyright.PENANADqelVkA0OX
"Please hurry up with your arresting. Our flight is going to depart soon," I responded, cockily.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAAGXuCF6r66
"Make her stop talking!" She shouted.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAwYed35oYkU
"What do you want me to do?" Gary quizzed.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAG75heWi126
"You don't want to shut me up," I exclaimed. "You don't even know my name yet! How are you going to find out my name if you shut me up?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANApRs46LBfqa
She closed her eyes for a moment, and spoke in a cool tone. "Alright I'll make you a deal. If you tell me your name, I'll make sure they go easy on your sentence. So, I'll ask you one more time. What is your name?" It sounded something in between a question and a command.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAVyCdxmix8j
I smirked. "202." Under different circumstances, I would have hated addressing myself that, but now, I realised it could finally be put to use.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA3wvHQck61N
She stormed towards me. "I am not fu—"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAsJ9Y6NCHRa
"Ah, ah, ah. Language, Miss. It doesn't reflect very well on your company." And trust me, I know a thing or two about companies.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAFoaqNpBMF9
"What. Is. Your. Name."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAyd4aiAxtrb
"You heard me."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAHSm0CCIgPe
"You just said a few numbe—" Abruptly, her sentence stopped in midair. Suddenly she started towards me. Once she got close enough, her eyes oogled my face. "Wait, just a second." They narrowed. She gasped. "No, you're not!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAXwIH5A1iRQ
I gasped too. "Yes, I am!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAMqRzgvjS6b
"You are...?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAXymYtPrQPs
"Pleasure to meet you." I put forward a hand for her to shake.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAxXLP9JpIWH
She stared dumbfounded for a while, before speaking in a monotone voice –not quite Everest-monotone, but monotone nonetheless. "The fact remains as it is. You have breached this airport's protocols. You will arrested."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAZUs7w7McWv
Now would be part where they all mysteriously fall into unconsciousness.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAzHVR0JzInq
But then, she spoke, again. "Unless you've got a £6000 cheque to pay for today's plane ticket to California... and another £5000 cheque as a gift to those who are about to get you out of this terrible situation," she hinted. "I hear the Front is worth billions." Bribery. Admirable, yet useless at this moment.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAWiLwyu3w3a
"We don't have money on us," I replied. "We would have done things the legal way if we did!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAM2cGuWNsFN
"That's unfortunate," she paused. "Not even a credit card?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANA2HRelewkao
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, my invisible purse can hardly close shut, because of all the credit cards I have stashed in there."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAbVUmYnQHlz
"At least a cheque?" She seemed to be pulling on strings at this point. Seriously how low were this woman's wages?
500Please respect copyright.PENANALZFhdsuLRl
"I told you—"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAg9oOAxLRBH
Hold on! That might actually work.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAQbru5y2XP4
"On second thoughts," I smiled. "Can you give us a second?" I pulled Everest aside, without waiting for their response. "We can do that. We can write them a cheque!"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAKuVvZHtkQT
Despite the expressionless expression on his face, I could practically see his brain working like a complex system of clockworks. And then: "You can't use your account. Director will keep track of any transactions, and the last thing you want him to see is that you purchased two flight tickets to California."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAt7nq7nqJRw
Way to drop a bombshell.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAPySk4UYdT4
My face dropped. "Oh yeah... I don't remember all the numbers, anyway," I can shamefully admit this was true. I never really bothered with all of those digits. Then, an idea worked its way into my mind. "I don't suppose, you can use your bank account, do you?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAqYV7HCH5Qd
He began walking away.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA37AuZ6sODv
Cone on, again?
500Please respect copyright.PENANAHLFH3E26jS
"I mean, do you have one?" I called after him. "Or do you, at least somehow, have £11,000 sitting in there?"
500Please respect copyright.PENANAH0v80ZhNpc
Without answering me, he went straight to Heather. "I'll write you the cheque."
500Please respect copyright.PENANA4kIB4UNGEY
So he does?
500Please respect copyright.PENANAvd76GGbcI3
I'll take his walking away from me as a "That's a good idea, Emerald! I don't know why I didn't think of that before, but instead of admitting it, I shall ignore you."
500Please respect copyright.PENANA5An9BREaDQ
That brought us to the cheque book. How he was scribbling away the details onto that soon to be precious piece of paper, and how I stood there gawping at his ability to remember all of that information.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAdMXPvjjUxz
He filled his name in last. Some part of me found myself wondering if he did that deliberately. However the most interesting bit was that, from my side elevated, birds eye view, I made out two names.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAPHHEWEFubw
"Just Everest."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAD5pmZnICf8
Yeah, right.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAf2Xt2Sq3xv
Unfortunately (and I'm guessing also deliberately), despite the neatness of the rest of the details, his name was written in the most atrocious writing known to man. It was visual torture. It butchered written English. It was one that you'd have to look at for a few moments, rather than a rapid sly glimpse (like I was doing), to fully decipher. He handed it to heather, who practically had pound signs in her eyes as she took it.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAmLvHOrPA9K
"I'm going to have to check this. If it's valid, I'll print off your tickets."
500Please respect copyright.PENANAdYFiPMwDX1
____________________________________________________________________________
500Please respect copyright.PENANAOeH5ia7Sn5
500Please respect copyright.PENANANX0HMhr9Kf
Author's note:
500Please respect copyright.PENANAeb3Iw20sCo
Get you a guy who takes you on holidays like Everest, over here –or whatever the hell they're doing.
500Please respect copyright.PENANA098otHhSwD
In addition, 'Gary' just resembles a guard name. I think I know quite a few security Garys... off tv. It goes without saying, 'Gary' just seemed to be the perfect name for our insignificant security guard.
500Please respect copyright.PENANAk36zFzrRV0
Please like comment and share. Thank you for reading!
500Please respect copyright.PENANAnuKXzEaLnX
-Ruth
ns 172.70.134.222da2