by Arthur Rawl
“My you have been busy. I expect you will be busier the next day and a half with Alana’s help trying to make a significant contribution to the welfare of the Brazilian economy.”
“I was thinking about making that kind of suggestion to her. Who knows, she might just be up for some retail therapy.”
“Please call Pedro Rossi, I would like to invite him to lunch tomorrow. If you are not planning to be with Alana, you could join us.”
“I’ll get Rossi for you. He’ll be on line two if I do … he’s on.”
“Hello Pedro.”
“Hello, congratulations and thank you. I’m always pleased to have a competitor retire from practice. Oh yes, my wife saw the announcement in the newspaper.”
“Thank you however I would not count on her retiring from practice. We have not discussed it but I think she will want to continue working.”
“Good for you and unfortunate for me. The congratulations remain with all good wishes accompanying them. What brings you to my telephone today?”
“Robin and I are temporarily leaving Brazil on Wednesday and I was wondering if you were free for lunch tomorrow. It would be good to see you and I want to thank you for all of your help and advice.”
“Why so soon?”
“We were visited last week by a pair of your ‘better’ civil servants. Their purpose was to deliver our formal business license so we can conduct work here in the future. They looked at our passports as a formality and found our visas were inconsistent with the purpose of the license. We were informed it is customarily in these circumstances for the Military Police to be called so they could immediately escort us out of the country. However, as a friendly gesture, they gave us a week to leave.”
“Why could you just deal with the visa issue here?”
“According to our visitors the required visas must be issued outside of Brazil and only after thirty days had passed since the applicant was last in Brazil.”
“It sounds like our customary governmental efficiency. You must know by now we specialize in unnecessary red tape. Some business newspapers say we lead the world.”
“I would not agree. Some of the government sponsored deals we tried to close in Africa were strangled to death by red tape. BrasTel got done and it did so with reasonable efficiency once everyone’s goals were sorted out. What about lunch tomorrow? If you can make it, I would like to include Juan Batista.”
“I will happily join you tomorrow and I will call Juan and make sure he joins us. I am sure he will want to meet at his favorite place, the little French restaurant around the corner from your apartment if that is alright with you. I will call you back within a half hour, Tchau my friend.”
As I hung up I heard the front door close followed by squeals and giggles, “That was a fast fifteen minutes, hello ladies.” I walked across the room and took Alana’s hand from Robin, “It is quite beautiful, from the outburst I can assume you all agree.”
Alana looked at her aunt and then Robin, “Yes, we are in agreement, I will not give it back. You are stuck with me.”
“I would not have it any other way. Have you spoken to your Aunt about New York?”
Alana glanced at her Aunt and when she turned back her face serious, “Yes twice, and she does not want to go. I asked my Guardian if someone could substitute for her and he said he would think about it.”
“When will he tell you?”
“He moves no faster than he chooses. I do not know.”
“We have to leave Wednesday night.”
“I know, I will ask him again tomorrow. That is all I can do.”
“I know and there are flights every day. But, I am not happy about the possibility of leaving you behind. Even with your escort between us it is much better for us to be together than you staying behind in Brazil.”
“I feel the same Querido. I will see what I can do. My Guardian does not like to say no to me but that never stands in his way when he is not ready to do something.”
“Well, if that is all you can do …”
“Don’t look so unhappy my love. I would kiss you but my aunt might have a heart attack. I’m sorry.”
Robin’s voice intruded from the other room providing escape from what could not be settled, “Pedro Rossi on two.”
“Yes Pedro.”
“We are all set for one o’clock tomorrow. Will it be just the three of us? I would like to congratulate the future bride.”
“I think just three. Alana and Robin will probably be out spending money in the fancy shops.”
“That is not a good habit for her to get into. Married people should save their money.”
“I agree but we are not married yet so there is little I can say.”
“… and less after you are married I think.”
“You are probably right. Thank you for arranging everything. See you at one tomorrow.”
Tuesday started with breakfast under my tree but my usual waitress had been replaced by another whose English was not very good. What had been a quiet and pleasant breakfast, except for that morning, was now an awkward and strained process that added to my overall feeling of dissatisfaction and displeasure with São Paulo in general and, in particular, my being pushed to leave on a moment’s notice. I wondered whether there was more at work than ‘customary’ red tape.
Last night’s dinner with Alana and her aunt was strained marked by obvious tension between the two women. The meal finished prematurely with Alana telling me her aunt had argued with the General a few hours before saying she would not abandon her duty to protect the family honor to some distracted woman whose true interest was being no more than a tourist in New York. It was an argument that seemed to carry the day and left little hope of Alana coming with me on Wednesday. When we parted the three of us were struggling to contain our anger and I was certain when the two women got home their struggle would be lost.
“Good morning Robin.”
“Good morn … shit you look like hell. Too much to drink?”
Continuing into my office, “No, not enough.”
“Let me guess, her aunt is a pain in the …”
“I don’t know. It could be her, maybe the whole being escorted thing or there could be something else.”
“Yeah, like you’re over analyzing again. Leave it alone. Believe me, it’ll work out.”
“When are you meeting Alana?”
“Changing the subject. She’s coming here in about an hour to say hello to you and get me. You’ve got time to work on your smiley face greeting for her. Use it wisely and remember you willingly signed up to all this shit. It’s all part of the package to keep her General daddy happy … remember.”
“Fine, what else do we have to do here?”
“There’s just about nothing left here. You should take one more trip through your desk to be sure there’s nothing you want to take with you. Some details about today and tomorrow. I’ve packed any documents we may need from the safe and left copies behind just in case. Alana’s having my hotel room packed the day after we leave and my stuff will be shipped to my New York address. Your flat on Haddock Lobo will stay the way it is but be sure your safe is emptied and tomorrow you pack the stuff you want to take. No more than one small carry-on bag and your brief case. After you’re gone Jóse Carlos’s sister will straighten up the place and then will come twice a week to keep it clean. As for Jóse Carlos, he’s being given a five-week paid vacation and will be available during that time on his cell phone. I have our passports and tickets. Jóse and I will pick you up at five-thirty tomorrow evening to go to the airport. Our flight leaves at nine-thirty.”
“… and Alana?”
“She has two seats reserved to leave with us. You have to talk to her about the details.”
“Sounds like we have tomorrow free.”
“I thought so until a few minutes ago. Juan Batista and the head of BrasTel security will meet us here at ten tomorrow morning. He said it is to cover a few business points.”
“What business points? The deal is history.”
“I asked but he wouldn’t say and politely suggested it wasn’t a topic for lunch today.”
“More cloak and dagger but they mean well.”
“Whatever it is we’ll find out tomorrow and not before. There was also a call from the General’s secretary. He said the General wishes you and I a safe trip and a peaceful holiday in New York. He also said the General looks forward to seeing us both in a month to discuss our next assignment. He’s damned sure of himself.”
“That is a big part of why he has gotten to where he is.”
“Well I’m not in his damned army. I’ll decide what I’m going to be doing in a month without his help.”
“Cool down please. I suspect he meant it more as information about an opportunity and then let his secretary turn it into something else. You should not take offense it is just his way of doing business.”
Alana breezed in right on schedule and wearing a big smile. Her aunt, faithfully on duty, appeared to be her usual sour self. “Good morning everyone, looks like everything is packed up here. I’ll have the shippers move the boxes out tonight unless there is a reason not to.”
“Good morning my dear. You certainly seem to be in a better mood today.”
“Much better, my Guardian’s younger sister agreed to stand in for the older sister so New York is on. She lives on the family fazenda in Mato Grosso with her son and his family and will need a day or two to get ready. My Guardian is arranging a visa for her with the American Consulate. It will be ready on Monday and then we will fly to New York on his airplane Tuesday morning.”
“You will not be with us tomorrow. I was hoping …”
“It is the best we can do Querido. I am sorry, you will have to do without me for several days. After that we can stay in New York until you return to Brazil.”
“I will be very unhappy until you get there. You will send me an email with the information where to pick you up.”
“It will not be necessary. The Brazilian Consul General in New York is arranging for that and we will stay at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue on a secure diplomatic floor. My Guardian says you should go to the Consulate on Monday to get a Diplomatic Identification Card so American State Department Diplomatic Security people will let you pass to our suite and our people will let you in. The Consul has already been sent a file with the necessary information about you.”
“How many people will be traveling around New York with us?”
“When I traveled alone there were only two Brazilian security officers because then I had not been identified as part of the family. Now with my aunt and the newspaper announcement about our engagement it is more complicated.”
“What will it be like after we are married?”
“Less complicated, much less complicated but some security while my Guardian is alive. After he is gone there will be more security for both of us and our children. You still want children don’t you.”
“Of course, I still want children. And, since you said you will not give me back my ring, I guess I will have to put up with all that comes with it.”
“You should say that with a smile so I know you are making a joke.”
“Is your Guardian’s younger sister more relaxed.”
“Oh yes, she has had a fuller life. Even though she is now a widow, she is happy in the home of her son, his wife and their children. She is much younger at heart and looks to enjoy her life. I am sure you will be pleased to learn she speaks English and Spanish as well as Portuguese”
“That will be a very pleasant change. I look forward to meeting her.”
“In just a few days.”
Robin marched in with her hands on her hips, “Are you two finished? We have some serious shopping to do and very little time to do it.”
Alana chucked then broke out in a big smile that could melt an iceberg, “I am sorry Carl, I promised. Can we all meet at Margarhita Pizza at about eight for a relaxed dinner?”
“Sure, Robin can be your aunt’s date.”
I was the last one to arrive for lunch and found Juan and Pedro deep in discussion over which of the two leading São Paulo soccer teams was going to win tonight’s battle of São Paulo. To stir them further I added that the ‘Corinthians’ could not lose but it didn’t work. Both turned to me and broke out in peals of uncontrolled laughter. Juan was the first to stop laughing long enough to blurt out, “Of course they will win but that is not the point. It is by how much and whether the handicappers will win or lose.” It set the tone for the rest of our lunch, not a serious word spoken by any of us about anything important other than the choice of wines. It was a perfect business lunch.
Juan was the first to return to the reality of time and even that was not without serious intent. “Forgive me my friends but it is almost four, I am Spanish and I must go to my siesta. There is still wine to finish so please do not stop on my account. They will start serving dinner in only an hour.”
“Can I have a rain check? I have a dinner date with Alana, Robin and the official escort, Alana’s aunt.”
Pedro broke out a wide smile, “We must be turning the clocks back to a different Brazil. You are a patient man my friend.”
“There is nothing for me to say. It is what her family wants and Alana wants their blessing.”
Juan stood with a little difficulty, waved at the waiter, said “Put it on my bill”, shook our hands and slowly walked to the door. Pedro and I followed along after him until we were stopped on the sidewalk by the still painfully bright sunlight, “Your car is coming down the street Pedro. I’m going to walk to my apartment and stand under the shower until my head clears. Good afternoon my friend.”
“Be careful not to drown. I look forward to continuing this meeting when you come back. Tchau.”
I started walking, Alana had said after a while you stopped being aware of the security people around you. Well I guess not enough time had passed because even after too much wine I was still aware of the one across the street, the one behind me and the one half a block ahead. In New York it will probably be like traveling with a crowd. After we are married there will be some changes.
At seven-thirty the face looking back at me from the mirror appeared to be still asleep even though its dull eyes were open. The shower and shave that had taken the better part of an hour to finish failed to clear away the coma-like nap induced by Juan’s far too free hand to with the restaurant’s best wine. Alana’s aunt would be a smothering influence at dinner that wouldn’t help my aching head.
A few minutes later when I walked out of the elevator lobby a dark suit stepped out of the deepening shadows blocking my way. “Mr. Matthews, my schedule says your appointment is for eight o’clock. Perhaps you would prefer to sit here in the garden until I receive notice that Sra. Luz has arrived.”
“I thought I would walk down to the corner and buy a newspaper.”
“I will have one brought to you in the restaurant.”
“I need the exercise. A short walk would …”
“That would not be wise Mr. Matthews.”
“Why not?”
“There is a routine alert in effect tonight. We should use extra care.”
“What is a routine alert and why does it matter to me in my own neighborhood.”
“The Military Police has issued the alert because it believes there is now a higher risk to Class A people including important guests in our country.”
I was going to ask why but remembered I was dealing with a functionary who only knew what he needed to know. What he did not know could not be misused nor be the source of disquiet for easily frightened citizens. “Thank you, I will sit over in that corner where I can watch the street. I would appreciate the newest English or American newspaper they have.”
“Thank you for cooperating Mr. Matthews. The newspaper will be brought to you.”
The dark suit faded into the evening shadows filling the sheltered spaced between the
garden’s mature bushes and broad trees. I could just hear him talking into his radio then I saw movement on the street as two of his team repositioned themselves, one on the near sidewalk between my bench and the street, the other across the street from where he could watch the adjoining buildings and the approaching pedestrians and cars. It was a well-choregraphed performance executed with deliberate lack of speed so as not to attract attention. In a comforting way it all made sense as I became more relaxed on my hidden bench and wine-driven sleep began to retake control.
“Mr. Matthews, please Mr. Matthews, the Sra. Luz’s car is less than five minutes from the restaurant.”
“No … I was only here a few minutes.”
“It has been twenty minutes Mr. Matthews. I think you slept, are you alright, you should go now?”
Pushing up off the bench, “I will go but I need to walk around the garden. Too much celebration this afternoon, I need a few steps on level ground to clear my head before going down the hill.”
After being escorted down the steep half a block by three black suits I was met at the restaurant door by a very ordinary looking man in a plain grey polo shirt and khakis who handed me a today’s London Times. Very ordinary looking until he walked away and I saw the bulge of a gun nestled into the hollow of his spine under the loose-fitting shirt. Three suits, at least one in plain clothes and more than one driver. Was this the size of the ordinary security team or was it result from the alert?
I went in, recognized one of Alana’s guards at the same moment he recognized me and turned in the direction he pointed. The three women were at a table near the back of the dining room against the inside wall as far as possible from the large open windows facing out onto Haddock Lobo but, I theorized, there was still the possibility of someone slightly uphill on the opposite sidewalk having a clear view of them. That was most likely why one of the security team was always stationed on the opposite sidewalk.
Damned, what was happening to me? In the past I never worried about such things. Was it just Brazil or had I become less certain about my safety, something I had always taken for granted. I turned and walked back to Alana’s bodyguard who I knew spoke English. “Alana’s table is in an exposed place. She can be easily seen from outside the windows.”