Planet-H: The End of the Beginning

by J. T. Winterlord

  Towards evening I passed by Vidmer for news. He had received offers from six different shippers and four of them looked interesting.

  I asked him if he thought in principle it was a good idea to take them on. He said it was feasible, and in all probability this would be beneficial to trading.

  I went back to my office with feet a little sore from walking around and again found Denise at the door waiting for me.

  I was tired but happy to receive her. She explained that Margot had taken on the job of preparing tenders and had even managed to catch up with the arrears from previous days. There had been no distractions and she had managed a lot more and with less effort.

  Danny had run the telephone traffic and helped out with telephone sales queries. He had also managed to close out a couple of interesting sales.

  She said that it had actually been an unexpected success. If I gave my permission they would extend the new working practice to the rest of the department the following day. Of course I agreed and she shot away back to her office.

  And so the week ran by almost chaotically, at least for me. It seemed like everyone was in a great rush to get my advice on strategies and I found myself running back and forth to the departments to give approvals on the various solutions adopted by their managers.

  Unsurprisingly, at the weekend I was feeling more than tired. I was actually exhausted but satisfied with myself.

  I took a bag from the office, I threw in everything I could find that came to hand and literally ran home.

  I do not remember if I ate that night but for sure I slept until the morning of the sabbath.

  A shower and breakfast were just what I needed to start the day in a relaxed manner and

  afterwards I sat under the big oak tree with my bag of documents.

  GUESTS

  Serena had served me a wonderful breakfast, and while I was busy devouring it I began to poke around inside the bag.

  I had placed some documents inside in their various wallets and I noticed the telephone was also in the bag. I had not switched it on until then. The number on the post-it label was still attached.

  I fired up the phone. I was about to lay it on the table when it began to ring.

  I felt a little intimidated but I picked it up and replied. A familiar excited voice exclaimed,

  "Hello big sister, so you've finally turned on the phone!" It was Irina shouting in my ear!

  She said,

  "Thank you for the new phone, it's beautiful, I'll see you soon!"

  I had no chance to reply, she had already hung up.

  What phone was she talking about? I'll see you soon? And why had she not even given me time to say hello?

  A large car drove through the gate and moved along the driveway of the estate. I recognized Sammy’s bulky form at the wheel and saw someone leaning with both hands on the window, peering around curiously.

  The car parked up. It looked like a huge lion puffing in the shade of an acacia tree after a grueling day of hunting in the African heat. The door on the driver's side opened and my little blonde sister spilled out, smiling and running towards me! I shot up like an uncoiled spring, overturning the tray left on the table by Serena.

  "Irina!" I yelled. I couldn’t contain my joy. I ran down to hug her, hanging on tightly as hard as I could. "Here's my sweet darling!"

  I was so glad to see her that I struggled to breathe, I could only hold her to me with such force that I thought I would crack her small bones.

  As I hugged her to saw and me I looked across my father and mother get out of the car!

  "Papa, Mama," I shouted. My father was intent on chatting with Sammy but he waved his hand at me. My mother’s face was lit up with that radiant smile that always put me into a good mood even in the saddest of situations.

  I hugged Irina and she kept kissing me on my cheeks and forehead and then my father, who was waiting to hold me tight, almost lifted me off the ground.

  I was in a state of dazed happiness, stammered a few words and I could not put my thoughts together, eager to know for what reason they were there? What are you doing here and how did you find me? How was the trip? All these questions were not put into words yet - I only managed to embrace Irina again, holding her tightly.

  Sonia and Matt came through the front door of the house and introduced themselves to my parents and looked after them for a while as I caught my breath.

  Irina began chatting, smiling:

  "Sammy wouldn’t let me drive!" She said with a little pout.

  I glanced at Sammy. He was standing still with hands at his sides with a smiling satisfied air, as if to testify that it was a difficult battle with that rascal, but in the end he had won.

  "Maybe because you're only thirteen?”I answered, looking at those sweet eyes.

  "Thirteen and a half," she said with a wise air, "but at home I’ve already driven dad's car!"

  I was in seventh heaven. I took Irina off to visit my house and a short time later mum and dad arrived, escorted by Matt. Irina was sweet, noisy and curious, touching everything and continuing to ask questions.

  Sometimes I could not even answer her, I would just look at her and smile, often finding myself laughing out loud because of the naivety of the questions.

  I talked a lot with mum. She kept thanking me for everything I was doing for them while Irina was glued to my side and I kept my arm firmly around her shoulders. Every now and then she looked at me and giggled happily.

  And what was my mum thanking me for? I hadn’t been in contact with them since the day I had left! I was confused and really had no idea what to make of that strange situation. How had they found me, how had they arrived here, how is it that my sister received a telephone from me and what were all the thanks for? I was a little worried that it was all a dream and asking questions would have broken the spell.

  Meanwhile, Dad was now chatting with Tony; he seemed determined to disturb everyone on the estate. I found him to be strangely active and spry.

  Serena, meanwhile, had prepared appetizers and Sammy was looking after the aperitifs. We sat at the table under the big oak tree, Irina was at my side and I held her by the hand.

  My mother began to talk and soon became emotional explaining how they had invested all the money that I had sent them.

  First they had bought a nice house then my father, with the help of my uncle, had started a small home delivery drinks business, renting a small yard and purchasing three vans.

  A portion of the money had been invested and some was placed on a separate account for Irina’s studies.

  I watched and listened to my mother with my mouth wide open.

  Fixed in my mind like a nail that someone diligently continued to hit on with a big hammer was the question just what on earth was my mother talking about? I held on to my adored sister tightly and the question reverberated through my mind. But for now I nodded and smiled without having the courage to ask the obvious question.

  Sonia interrupted the flow of my mother's words:

  "Oh yes, our Kate really is skilled as a manager. In fact, in a short time she has made a big contribution to straightening out our company - she has proved to be very serious and intelligent, a true professional."

  I thought - she’s lying through her teeth!

  But my thoughts were interrupted by the conspiratorial look that Matt gave me with a wink.

  My father looked me in the eye and with an air of great satisfaction he said simply,

  "I’m proud of you, my child!"

  The day I had left my father's house he looked like a grumpy old man. He had adamantly refused to see me off but now I found myself in front of a rejuvenated person, with hundreds of projects his head.

  I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I was delighted and enormously confused. I hugged back my wonderful sister and kissed her as if someone was going to take her away.

  After eating everyone seemed busy doing something and the afternoon passed with my dad torturing Tony wit
h questions, mother chatting with a talkative Serena and Irina and I entertaining ourselves.

  She wouldn’t leave me alone for a moment, she followed me everywhere like a playful puppy, spying on me; everything was new, strange and worthy of a question and I was very glad to have her around.

  The evening arrived and we were all sitting around a laden table. Matt explained to my parents that he was really happy they had come to visit now as I was going to be very busy and committed in the next few months. It may be that it would not even be possible to contact me by phone and it was likely I would be travelling for some months for the company. This was all new to me.

  "Kate can expect a mountain of work," he said, leaving me with even more questions in my head than before.

  I was determined to know what they were up to, but at the same time I was so happy with what was going on that I was not going to break that spell until we were alone.

  With dinner over, Serena showed my parents the guest room. At the rear of the estate there was a large area ear-marked just for this purpose.

  It wasn’t just a room but an apartment larger than my own. My parents settled in and Irina asked with her cute little voice,

  "Can I sleep with you, Kate?"

  I replied with a big smile, happy she had asked, "But of course you can, you adorable little rascal."

  We said good night to the others and spent some time together in my house.

  After a little jumping up and down on the bed and a pillow fight we lay down, exhausted. Irina was almost instantly asleep. I lay there for a few minutes looking at her, after which I closed my eyes and drifted away into the land of nod myself.

  In the morning I awoke refreshed, stretched a little and regarded Irina who was still sleeping. I caressed her on her sweet little head and then went off to wash my face. I didn’t manage to arrive at the bathroom before that crafty little blonde got there before me.

  “I can take a shower can’t I Kate?”It wasn’t really a question, more of a statement of fact. I had already turned on the water and motioned for her to jump under the hot water jet.

  She wasn’t actually taking a shower, just playing under the water enjoying herself. I looked on and adored her.

  I washed my face, brushed my hair and went to get dressed. I came out expecting Irina to finish and heard her singing under the shower. I didn’t want to disturb her but it wasn’t long before she was standing by my side holding my hand.

  I gave her a big kiss on her still damp head and we went to greet our parents in their apartment.

  They were already seated at the table, my father with his nose in a cup of coffee and my mother enjoying a smoothie freshly prepared by Serena. Irina wanted to taste everything and kept asking about the ingredients.

  They had already prepared for their departure and during our little family reunion we talked about various unimportant things, just happy to be in the company of each other, like a family that had never been separated.

  Matt and Sonia were waiting for us at the table under the big oak tree. As we approached with me still clinging on to Irina she asked me expectantly: "Can I stay here with you, Kate?"

  "Maybe when you're done with your studies darling," I replied, trying to hide the sadness I felt for their imminent departure.

  Sonia stood up. Tony had let in a guy who was wearing a courier’s uniform. He scrawled a fast signature on a form and came back to us with a package in his hand.

  "Kate, here’s what you asked for your sister."

  She looked at Irina, pretending to shake the mysterious package as if trying to guess what it contained.

  "I wonder what's inside?"She added. Irina looked more and more surprised.

  She handed it to me, giving me a wink to try and blunt the puzzled expression that I was certainly wearing at that moment. I took the package carefully as if it contained explosives and gave it to Irina with a smile. Irina began to rapidly open it.

  I was curious to know what I had‘ordered’for my sister.

  She opened it and I saw her mouth open slightly in amazement and her eyes light up as she slowly pulled out the contents of the mysterious package. It was a simple but tasteful necklace with a small gold pendant in the shape of a heart in a set diamond.

  I had the strange impression that it was a parting gift. One of those that you give in the hope of not being forgotten. You imagine the receiver touching the object, bringing to mind the person you will never see again. I was happy, but at the same I felt a stomach cramp that flashed out warning signs of sadness.

  Irina wanted to put it on immediately and she ran off excitedly to show it to her mother and father. She then proudly exhibited the pendant to Sammy who arrived exactly at that moment. She didn’t even allow him space for a word.

  “Look what Kate has give me!”she cried madly,“it’s lovely isn’t it? It’s the jewel of a princess! Sammy, you will let me drive won’t you?”She added in her shrill little voice without even taking a breath.

  Sammy looked at her. She was stubborn, but he liked her ways and he gave her a wide, loving and patient smile. He answered,

  "Of course my nice little friend, maybe in two or three years!"

  She again took on her pretend pout, then she smiled and with a serious tone said,

  "Promise on your honour."

  Sammy stood up smiling and pretending to attention he rested his left hand with a closed fist over his heart and said seriously.

  "Ipromise you, my young princess, and this is a promise made with the heart and on my honour."

  Irina grinned with satisfaction but added,

  "Promise, promise ...?"

  Sammy smiled and replied,

  "Yes, sweet thing, and remember, I always keep my promises."

  He was a large hard-eyed man but he had the ability to get into your soul.

  Irina ran to me, I hugged her again and held her more than usual. I did not notice that the tears were running down my cheeks.

  She said, "I love you, Kate," and I could not continue to hide anything; I cried, happy to have my sister in my arms. I let her go and wiped away the tears that welled up again out of control when I said goodbye to my parents.

  It was extremely hard to leave them, especially Irina. I had to make a special effort to bid them goodbye and let them go to the airport.

  I watched the car depart, wiped my tears and, with still wet eyes I went to the big oak table.

  I tried to relax - the visit had filled my heart, but the parting had left me very sad.

  Matt and Sonia joined me and keptme company. I looked at them gently, thanking them with my eyes and asked quietly,

  "Do you want to explain to me once and for all exactly what is happening here? Why are you doing this to me?" I continued, feeling emotional," you know I cannot repay all this in any way .... so please explain.”

  A NEW EXPLANATION

  Sonia began talking.

  "First of all, you have already re-paid us. In fact you started to repay us from your very first day here at the estate."

  She continued, smiling,

  "Money seems to be a very important thing but if you think about it carefully what does money represent?”

  She looked at me quizzically for a moment, leaving me time to think. I was going to say that you need money for this or that and without it your life would not be good but she didn’t allow me time to reply before she said,

  "Just think about this and then I’ll let Matt speak. Money is just a notion of possession, really a false goal to achieve in life.”

  Matt cleared his throat to attract my attention. I was not very clear what he wanted me to take from Sonia’s words and so I turned to him with a puzzled look.

  He said,

  "Kate, we wanted to give you a surprise by inviting your family here - we know how much you wanted to see your sister again.”

  "Thank you, it was a wonderful thing and I am very grateful," I said.

  "We have decided that it is time for you to begin your
education at N Technology. Don’t ask me any questions for the moment as everything will be explained to you tomorrow.”

  "What education are you talking about?" I asked immediately.

  They just laughed and Sonia said,

  "Tomorrow you will be madeaware of everything and you will meet your instructor, but as Matt says don’t ask questions for now because you won’t get any answers in any case."

  I asked if they could at least tell me the name of the instructor, hoping secretly that it was Valdes.

  "He’s called Sgrunff," Matt said as he walked away chuckling.

  Sonia advised me to spend a quiet day as she believed all the emotions I had experienced in the last couple of days could tire me even more than a week of hard work.

  She went off to join Matt and I found myself alone under the great oak, incredulous and curious.

  I thought back over the words that I had just heard but I still did not understand. I went back into the house, re-living the moments I had spent with Irina, grabbed a pillow and hugged it to me continuing to think of her. Her scent was still on the pillow as I drifted into sleep.

  When I awoke I realized with a slight shock that I had slept since the afternoon of the previous day and a new day had dawned.

  After a quick breakfast I set off to my destination. Today I would be able to satisfy at least a part of my curiosity.

  When I arrived at the offices I passed by the shipping department to see how the work was progressing. They seemed to be at quite a good point and had almost completed the changes.

  Gianni greeted me from a distance and I peered in Jack's office but he wasn’t there.