13 May 2012
We rode through open country, sunlight on our backs and a brisk morning to wake us up. We had left early, sleeping overnight in a tent. I was surprised he wasn't tired, he had stayed up all night guarding me, not just from danger outside but also escape. Escape hadn't crossed my mind the night before, I needed to know the content of the envelope. I needed to know the significance of the smiley face keyring. We drove quickly, a standard procedure army jeep, open topped. Even in this vehicle I somehow doubted that he was part of the army, or a branch of it. We sat in silence, and I realised that the lack of communication was purely because he couldn't hear my questions, as I discovered he was listening to the foo fighters on hidden earpieces. I decided to sit back and take in the scenery. We currently sped through a forest, just as beautiful as the valley I had previously sat in. It was alive with sound and colour, and the diverse range of trees created a mash up of all sorts of animals. I was brought to this place because of one call. A faded, raspy voice crackled "Meet me at the Montganicium valley on the very top". The line went dead and I knew it wasn't a friendly invitation for drinks and a catch-up. I assumed they needed someone with certain skills I had been gifted with. I never turned a job down and I didn't want to start. Besides, it's not often you get a fully paid invitation to the most beautiful place on Earth. I was brought back to reality by a sudden lurch and the obvious change in road type. We were heading down a dirt track and from that moment I began to concentrate. Taking in details, scanning for possible weaknesses in the complex we were probably about to enter. I was wrong however. We screeched to a halt outside a rustic wooden shack and the driver removed his ear pieces. He surprised me with speech, and his first words to me were "Play nice or I'll break your legs". I could tell we'd have a great friendship. I started towards the wooden hut. A figure appeared and I could hear in the distance "So it's you".
Purple Skies 2 • Opuss № I