by Mark Green
“The timing couldn’t have been any worse!”
I jumped up from the bed and paced the room. I do that when I’m angry or confused.
Why hadn’t she told me she was married?!
I stopped pacing and clenched tufts of hair in my hands.
Was it really such a big deal? This was a business arrangement, nothing more. But was it really that simple?
I turned to face KT2. She looked ashen.
“You should have told me,” I said, in a more balanced, controlled voice.
“Why?” We made a deal. No sexual contact, remember. So why should it matter?”
“Because... I thought we were starting to get on, as friends. Starting to trust each other. But now...”
I took a deep breath.
What the hell was going on in my head? Why did all this matter so much?
“It’s like we’ve not been on the same trip, because you’ve been living a lie...”
“What lie?” she said sharply.
I checked myself, realising that if I wasn’t careful I’d really mess things up. How do you ask someone who you’re not with, why they kept something from you that might make a huge difference to the possibility of something developing between you?
“I shouldn’t have found out like this.”
“I agree. But you’d never have known if your friend hadn’t talked to the media.”
“You should have told me!”
“I’m sure you have a past too Jonny. Reasons for keeping some things locked away. If we’d been getting along that well, we’d have had the talk.”
There was a long awkward silence.
“You’re not with him anymore?”
“No. Not for a long time.”
I studied her, wondering what to make of the revelation and more importantly, the raw nerve it had touched in me. I sat back down on the bed.
“So what happens now?”
“We blame the idiot who wrote the eBay advert,” she said.
I had to chuckle as I shook my head.
“Yeah. What a knob.”
“Hey, I have a suggestion. It’s a bit, um, out there,” she said.
“I just shrugged indifferently. In case you were wondering.”
“Let’s roll back the clock a few hours to before all this blew up in our faces. We forget about Simon, the film crew and the cash and finish the trip the way we want.”
I sat there for a while in a detached, this isn’t really happening to me trance. There was nothing else for it. It was time to bite the bullet.
“One condition,” I said.
“Okay,” she said, a little hesitantly.
“We have the talk, about our pasts.”
“We will. But not now. In a month’s time. Whatever happens or doesn’t happen between us until then, we let the travel gods decide.”
Despite my need to resolve the confusion about our relationship, keeping my head buried in the sand and enjoying the rest of the trip without any further complications was an attractive proposition.
“Agreed,” I said at last.
Watching her smile, I knew what we had to do.
I picked the paperwork up off the bed, watching her grin subside as she heard the pages flutter in my fingers.
“Give me your hand,” I said gently.
“I’m not signing anything! We’d never have any fun. Those vultures will probe and try to engineer problems between us to make juicy TV. Do you know how nice it is not to be arguing constantly?”
“Trust me, we’re not signing anything.”
I lifted her hand and placed her fingertips on Kate’s letter.
“This is a letter from my ex-girlfriend.”
KT2 pulled her hand back, confused.
“She wants me back,” I said, watching KT2 shrink away from me.
I held the letter out and flicked my thumb on a lighter, setting the paper alight.
KT2 wrinkled her nose as the smoke wafted up to the ceiling.
“You’re burning it?”
“Yup, unopened. That chapter of my life is closed and there’s no going back.”
KT2’s face lit up.
“My only question now, is will you come with me?”
“I’m in, screw the money!”
Twenty Two
KT2
The rickety old train juddered, rousing me from my thoughts. Since the ‘ambush’ at Machu Picchu, I was less concerned about hearing Jonny’s descriptions of our surroundings, but I was aware enough to know we were in an open plan carriage and were sitting two abreast. I knew Simon was opposite me. I could smell his rank B.O. wafting across the hot, claustrophobic atmosphere.
A couple of hours had passed since we’d left Machu Picchu and we were now bound for Cusco. Last night we’d retired to our hotel room early for a project meeting. It was supposed to be time for us to consider the newspaper and documentary deal. But we were actually working out how we’d make our escape. The brilliant plan was conceived over several drinks at the Inca Trail meal.
Bob had seen to it that the TV crew was banned from the restaurant on the grounds of his religious beliefs. He convinced them his ancestral spirit would be very unhappy if he was captured on film. I have to take my hat off to him, he kept a stern poker face during the confrontation and the film crew scurried away to a nearby restaurant. Bob’s grin was apparently as wide as ever as he welcomed us back to the group. Everyone was intrigued to hear our side of the eBay story.
* *
So we told them the story of how we really met and some of our adventures so far. Jonny described the embarrassing scene with the customs officers at the start of our trip, which now seemed years ago. Was it really only five weeks since we’d boarded that plane? It wasn’t long before someone asked the hundred thousand pound question.
“Are you going to take the money?”
The background laughter and the boisterous conversations trailed off.
I shook my head, but I couldn’t see Jonny’s reaction.
“We may have to do a runner,” he said quietly.
“You’re mad not to do it, especially if it’s all expenses paid,” another said.
“I don’t think we’d have as much fun with a camera crew in our faces all the time,” I pitched in, hoping that Jonny really was of the same opinion.
“Where you gonna go?” someone else asked.
“It’s probably best no one else knows, just in case we decide to fly to Las Vegas and get married!” I said, grinning, remembering how my previous reference to New Year in Rio had freaked Jonny out. A gentle tapping of metal on glass caught everyone’s attention.
“Friends, congratulations. You have all experienced the magic of Machu Picchu, you have walked many miles with positive steps and now you have memories that will last a lifetime,” said Bob.
I felt for my beer and lifted it up, relying on the others to chink their drinks against mine. Bob really did have an eloquent way with words. Listening to him was inspiring. He was the sort of person who had a passion for life and the kind of positive outlook that stayed with you long after other memories have faded.
* *
Eventually the rest of the group had to catch the tourist train back to Cusco, which brought the boozy lunch to a premature conclusion. We’d booked to stay on an extra night and visit the hot springs. The plan was to catch the train back the next day. Eight of the group were going to be in Cusco the following evening, so we made tentative arrangements to meet up for a farewell dinner and drink.
“If we don’t turn up, it’ll be because we’ve made our escape,” I whispered to Madge as we hugged to say goodbye, careful not be overheard by the film crew, who had left their restaurant and followed us to the station.
“Then in the nicest possible way, I hope we don’t see you tomorrow. Keep in touch via e-mail and good luck!” she whispered back.
* *
We avoided Simon’s interrogation for the rest of the afternoon by saying we needed time to discuss the co
ntract in private. And that’s how we found ourselves at the hot springs, sitting up to our necks in hot sulphuric water in one of the dozen or so pools.
“Are they still there?” I asked, sinking back into the hot water, such a luxury in South America.
“Yup, they’re sat up at the bar looking down at us. The longer we’re here, the more they’ll drink and hopefully the less they’ll be on the ball in the morning.”
I nodded and sank further into the soothing hot water.
“Tell me more about this place, it has a nice relaxed feel to it,” I said, my body soaking up the warmth.
“This place is fantastic. We’re sitting in the largest pool, about ten feet by twenty. A few yards to our left is the river which flows over a rocky path cut in the rock. In places it’s almost a waterfall due to the steep valley sides. There are tropical plants and trees all around us so I can’t see the rest of the town from here. It’s like we’re in our very own hot spring oasis. I could get used to this, it’s really quite lovely.”
“Uh huh, sounds just gorgeous. You’ll have to pinch me, I must be dreaming...”
I heard Jonny chuckle, then felt him shift position, sending ripples of water across the pool. I flinched, waiting for his touch, my heart rate stepped up a notch, but his playful pinch didn’t come.
“I think those cheeky buggers have got a camera on us,” he said quietly.
“Come on, let’s try another pool.”
I heard the rush of water cascading off his body as he stood and stepped out.
Damn!
I stood and held out my hand, having to make do with his hand in mine. Before I could get carried away at the thought of our swimming costumed bodies being so close, the cold air made me shiver and I was grateful for the towel he wrapped around my shoulders for the short journey to the next mineral pool.
I sat on the bed in our hotel room as Jonny emptied the entire contents of our rucksacks onto the bed.
“If we do this KT2, we’ll only be able to take a small daypack each. Only bring what you really need. Space is at a premium…”
We started on my clothes and belongings first. Jonny would pick up various items, describe them to me, I’d say yes or no and he’d make two piles; stuff that was coming with us and stuff we’d leave behind.
What could have been a potentially stressful exercise was actually pretty light-hearted and fun. Despite having to seriously cut down on our clothes, I felt a buzz of excitement. We were like school kids running off together, only with a touch more life experience under our belts.
* *
Me
I stared at the piles of clothes and wondered how on earth we’d fit them all in.
“We still have too much stuff, we have to be mercenary. KT2, are you with me?”
“Off course, I’m just wondering if we can wear more clothes, you know, to save on space.”
I had to laugh. Many women would be in a right strop at having to leave so much stuff behind. I sifted through the first few items from her pile.
“Underwear. How many pairs and which ones?”
“Ten, mix of practical and pretty.”
“Angel… think minimalist.”
“Okay, four pairs, you choose.”
Wow, that was easy. Or was it? I held up her underwear, wondering what to take.
“If it makes it any easier to decide, imagine which you’d like to see me wearing.”
Damn! She’d read my mind!
“These are all clean, right? I mean, there’s no point taking …”
She held out her hand. I took a moment to catch on, then handed her knickers over.
“I don’t think we’re that advanced in our relationship,” she said. I watched her hold each pair to her nose.
“Clean. Clean. Clean. Nope. Clean. Hmm, not sure...”
I ducked as she threw the last pair in my general direction, laughing at her wicked grin.
“You choose four from here,” she said, passing me the ‘clean’ pile.
I was a little embarrassed by now, so I quickly selected three fairly practical looking pants, and one black partially see-through pair.
“Which ones did you choose? Are the racy black ones in there?”
“Wait and see!” I said, stuffing them into her day pack.
It took another hour to sift through our remaining stuff and decide what was coming with us and what was staying. KT2 of course was unaware of exactly what I was packing, she had to trust me. Silly girl, because it meant I might get my own back at some point — heh, heh, heh!
* *
KT2
We’d worked out our plan like a military exercise, with code words and
everything. There was a stop just before the main Cusco station where we’d jump the train. Jonny would keep an eye on the time and ask me what I fancied for dinner, which would signal a five minute countdown. Then it would be over to me to say I needed to go to the loo. It all worked like a dream.
“Jonny dear, would you mind, I have to visit the facilities...”
“Sure. Please excuse us for a moment,” said Jonny.
“You’re going together?” said Simon.
“You ever seen a blind girl pick the wrong door on a moving train? It’s not pretty,” I said quickly, putting the little bastard in his place.
“Jonny, do you have my bag please?”
In preparing for the Inca Trail, we’d brought matching day packs, which fitted the plan perfectly.
“You sure my stuff is in here? I don’t think your smelly socks will do the trick,” I said.
“Not sure.”
“I don’t want a repeat of the customs check-in. I was so embarrassed you’d brought our special toys with you…”
“You like Mr Big.”
“Not in public I don’t. Bring the other pack too.”
“Jesus! Come on then woman,” said Jonny, the irritation in his voice highly realistic. I heard him rummage over his head for the other pack and I stood, holding my hand out for him. As he led me down the carriage towards the bathroom I felt the train start to slow. Our stop was approaching!
* *
Me
My heart was beating fast as we walked away from Simon, Justin and the camera crew. We ducked around the corner at the end of the carriage, out of sight.
The train was now slowing rapidly.
“One minute to go,” I whispered, preparing myself.
From the last couple of stops, we knew the train would wait two or three minutes at the most, less if there weren’t many people getting off.
I eased the window down as quietly as possible and glanced out. The platform was very basic, just a raised walkway and one dim low energy light.
As the train came to a complete stop I pressed the start button on my stopwatch and waited to see how many people left from our carriage, which was none. I kept glancing anxiously down at my watch, wondering how long we should wait, it was a test of nerves now. I reached out and clasped the door knob.
“Ready?” I said, reaching for her hand.
“Ready!”
I opened the carriage door just as a whistle sounded.
“One thousand… two thousand… three thousand….”
I stepped down and quickly guided KT2 onto the platform then turned and pressed rather than slammed the door shut. I grabbed KT2’s hand again and we hugged the side of the train, walking away from its direction of travel until the rear carriage passed us. I finally allowed myself an anxious glance over my shoulder.
“We’re clear KT2,” I whispered, not sure why, possibly because the platform was eerily quiet.
“Check canopy!” she shouted, completing a parachutist call. KT2 lifted her arms above her head, a huge grin on her face.
We’d made it!
Twenty Three
KT2
It was an exciting but daunting feeling, stepping off the train with only the clothes we were wearing and our small packs. I remember feeling a bit vulnerable because of it — had w
e done the right thing leaving the bulk of our stuff behind?
As the last carriage rattled away, the cold hard reality began to sink in. The small outlying station of Poroy had sounded interesting and viable when Jonny had read out its name in our planning stage, but now it seemed a bit too quiet.
“Let’s get moving. We’ve probably only got a couple of hours head start,” Jonny said, clasping my hand and leading me away from the platform and the distant rumble of the train.
I couldn’t tell you much about Poroy. There was little background bustle to speak of, no clamouring taxi drivers desperate for a fare or mass of people transiting through. I guessed it was a local village that just happened to benefit from a train station.
“I hope you’ve got a plan, because this seems very quiet for our transportation needs…” I said.
“Fortunately I’m not quite as hopeless as you might think. I’d been mulling over the problem of our escape long before we discussed it.”
“You did? When?” I said, curious as I heard the rustling of a piece of paper.
“At the restaurant. I had a chat with the only person there who I’d trust not to blab, unwittingly or otherwise. Someone who knows the lie of the land.”
“Lovely Bob?”
“Yup. You didn’t think I’d throw us into an escape completely blind, did you?”
I had to chuckle, that was Jonny all over, he was such a German, organising everything down to the last nut and bolt.
“Don’t worry, from here on it’s spontaneity all the way, okay?”
I nodded, grinning. Perhaps a bit of organisation was a good thing.
“We have a few miles walk to get to Bob’s village, but I have a sketch map and he’s kindly offered to put us up for a couple of days with his family. It seems he’s taken quite a shine to you. Not many blind girls walk the Inca Trail, so in Bob’s eyes you’re a bit of a celebrity.”
“Then I can expect celebrity-like treatment from you Jonny. I’d like to start my list of diva demands with a nice hot bath, in ass’s milk, nothing less will do. Next, I’d like an Inca throne to take me to Bob’s, carried by eight muscular men, naked of course. Hmm, what else?…”
“How would you know if they were naked?”
“Believe me Jonny, I’d check!”