On a seemingly endless stretch of road, brown sand stretching into the wind on both sides of it, a white jeep sped across the asphalt, the driver having the vehicle’s engine roar with power as it moved forward. Whatever horsepower the vehicle possessed was being fully revealed on this road, its torque pushed to the extre.
"How long does the desert stretch?"
"Not much. We’re just passing through a small region of it in the state. It does stretch for much longer to the East, but if you go west, the brown earth expands until it seems as if the whole world is made of it."
Nadia had turned into my tour guide, a large map spread open on her lap as she constantly studied it, updating as we moved forward. A flight to our destination had very much been on the table, but we had decided instead to go by road.
"How much longer till we reach?"
"A second." My PA traced her fingers over the large paper, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "An hour max."
Having been awake watching the scenery outside for most of the journey, I leaned back, my head hitting the back of the seat and eyes closing. I remained silent for several minutes, then suddenly spoke.
"If you don’t relax your face muscles, you’ll find yourself ageing faster than you expect."
"Thank you," Nadia replied, but her features did not change.
It amused that at a certain point Nadia made it a point not to care about , but now she frowned constantly just to make her displeasure known.
"My next international trip will be just the two of us. You’ll be my liaison to Martha."
Nadia didn’t reply for several seconds, and just when I was beginning to think she wouldn’t, she grunted.
"That will just be a business trip."
I knew what she wanted. My spontaneous trips where I sohow got to experience the impossible and play a big part in the creation of global news.
"You an sothing like Martha trying to kill us."
Nadia’s mouth imdiately opened to answer, but scenes flew through her head and she stayed quiet.
"Don’t up and disappear, leaving in the dark till you return."
"I won’t."
"That’s what you said the last ti, but you still left ."
"The situation was honestly complex. I couldn’t divulge information to you concerning my departure."
"But you made contact with my master."
"You’re right. I should have also added you to the mix, and today, I promise you that I will next ti. But you have to be ready to provide value. The matters during such monts aren’t light."
"I won’t fail you."
"Good."
A smile didn’t appear on her face, but her features lightened by a mile, and I guessed that was all I would be getting for the mont.
Our journey faced no mishap, and we reached our destination. As we drove past a long, tall block of cent with bold writing on it, I was fully awake.
WELCO TO KERRVILLE
From Houston, we had traveled to the central region of Texas, stepping into hill country. A few minutes more of driving and no longer were we moving between trees and bare land, but instead between cars and tall, stretching buildings.
The car ca to a stop in front of a hotel, and quickly we made our way to our suite. Nadia took care of the greetings from the staff and, following that, questioned them on matters pertaining to the hotel and the city as a whole.
In my room, just as I prepared to step into the bathroom, Nadia knocked on the door.
"Co in."
The woman pushed open the door, but when she saw dropping my pants, she imdiately froze.
"Maybe I should co back later."
"You ntioned having a contact here in the city," I questioned.
"Yes," the woman answered and, seeing wave awkwardly, stepped in.
"Have you made contact?"
"Not yet."
Nodding, completely naked, I approached Nadia, watching as her breath hitched before she quickly cald her nerves.
"What did you co in here to tell ?"
"The school called. I inford them you were in the city and then wondered if you could make it today."
"When?"
"Now."
"There goes my plan to invite Wanda to shower."
My right hand ca up and stroked Nadia’s cheek, pushing her hair behind her ear.
"Would you like to join ?"
"You have a pending appointnt, sir."
"True."
I didn’t spend much ti in the bathroom. In a couple of minutes, I was wearing brown pants and a black shirt, putting on black sneakers, slling good and carrying a brown file in hand. I stood at the front of the hotel, looking for a taxi.
"2:23 pm. Not much ti to work. What do they want for?"
We had chosen a hotel close to the school, so I didn’t spend much ti on the road.
SPAULDING TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Walking through the parking lot, I looked up at the tall brown building with dark glass stretching across its surface in front of . There were no students outside, and even as I stepped in, finding myself in the hallway, I saw no child.
Echo!!
Information poured into my head and I realized where I was likely needed, but there was a process for such institutions, and I followed the process.
Knock.
Knock.
"Co in."
"Ma’am," I greeted.
The woman behind the desk looked up at with a creased forehead. She clearly had a lot on her mind, but the sight of made her features relax, her back straightening, and before she knew it, she was on her feet.
"Sir, welco. I wasn’t inford of any arrival today... please have a seat."
She rushed her words as she spoke, smiling brighter than necessary, my arrival obviously making her panic. It was tis like this that reminded of the aura I passively gave out.
Normally, I wouldn’t notice the pressure I exerted, and it was because, so far since I joined Ford, I only interacted with individuals either below or above .
"How may I help you, sir?" the woman said, and I could faintly sense that she was racking her brain for my identity, like it was sothing she should know.
"I’m Marcus Lawson, the computer expert who volunteered to help in the school’s science week."
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