TIME-TO-SEE-78
"Do you think Spirit is safe in the baggage hold?" Sean asked Kevin as everyone tromped down the long adjustable loading boom. The boom reached from the terminal building to the doorway of the waiting aircraft.
"Oh, no question, Sean. The airline ships pets on all of its flights. Spirit is just another doggie passenger to Lufthansa.." Kevin said, trying to put Sean's mind at ease.
"When can we get him?" Sean asked.
"As soon as we pick up our suitcases in Frankfurt. He should be in the baggage claim area, maybe in the office there." Kevin replied.
"Oh, that's good, 'cause he'll be hungry for another bottle, I know..." Sean said.
"Well, that will be no problem. I think the flight is maybe 3 hours long? And you'll be thinking about feeling hungry yourself, by then," Kevin replied with a friendly smile, not revealing his own disconcerting, lingering discomfort with their new travel partners...
And those travel partners followed the group at a respectable distance down the boarding boom to the aircraft. As they reached the aircraft door Hans turned to Keil and spoke but made his words soft enough to avoid being heard by anyone else.
"Welcome to Lufthansa," the cabin steward smiled and spoke to Kevin and Hugo as they entered the aircraft. "Your party will be traveling in the first class cabin; please see the stewardess in there for assistance with your seating."
Jilder had arrived in the first class cabin first. "Wow! look at the seats. We got the kind that go in circles and rock too!"
Nicky was right behind, flopping into one of the chairs and setting it in motion, "Yeah! These are cool, just like the seats we had when we came to Ireland..."
Sean looked up at the Stewardess who said, "You may choose any seat in here that you wish. If you'd like a window seat, maybe you can use that one over there," and she pointed to an empty window seat.
Murph said, "Yeah, Sean. Let's sit together. I get the seat next to you."
Artie was a little intimidated by the whole process. He'd never flown before.
Artie turned and walked back to Kevin and asked, "Where do we sit, Kevin?"
"Oh, Artie. Don't worry. You have your choice of any seat in this area... Choose one of the big white seats. Maybe you'd like one by the window too," Kevin replied.
Then Kevin stood facing all of the boys, "Listen up, Guys! We're going to be guests here for our three-hour flight. Settle down; you've flown before; so you don't need to behave like chimpanzees on vacation...."
Jilder found that remark irresistibly funny, and he started laughing, which infected Nicky, which infected Murph... and before long ALL the boys were laughing.
Kevin turned in their direction and said, "Jilder?! Nicky!... Murph. Come on, now.."
Sean sat surprisingly composed... He looked out of the window with his eyes fixed on something down on the tarmac.
"What'cha looking at?" Kevin asked softly, leaning down close to Sean and looking out Sean's porthole himself.
"That black Mercedes down there...Why would there be a Mercedes on the ramp where the airplanes park?" Sean pondered.
"Good question... Humm?" Kevin commented.
As they were both looking at the car, one of its occupants got out. He was dressed in a grey suit very much like the suits that Keil and Hans wore. The wind along the tarmac was quite strong and gusty, and one such gust blew open the man's suit coat revealing a sizeable black handgun in a black leather shoulder holster underneath.
Sean looked up at Kevin. He looked deeply into Kevin's eyes but didn't say a word. Kevin reached over and patted Sean on the shoulder and said softly: "I think we'll be on our way in a few minutes... Don't worry, Sean," reading the worry in Sean's mind...
Sean looked back out of the window just in time to see the man waving to someone up inside of the aircraft. Then Sean glanced over at Kevin, but just behind Kevin, looking out another window Sean saw Keil nod to the man down on the tarmac. Sean realized that something was going on. "They were NOT just going to the Heidelberg seminar early; they were traveling with men who carried guns..." Sean thought to himself, and then he remembered, "The people who killed my mum and daddy carry guns!"
Sean got up and walked over to where Hugo was sitting, sat down, and spoke to him quietly, "Why are we here?"
Hugo looked up and replied with an answer that was consistent with what Kevin had explained to everyone earlier.
"Don't FUCK with me!" Sean said completely restrained, but with fire dancing in his eyes.... "Those men in suits have guns! Dr. Kavanaugh's doctors don't carry guns. What's going on?" And Sean suddenly took on the demeanor and power of a grown man, as he glared at Hugo waiting for the answer he had just demanded.
Hugo immediately explained to Sean what Max told them- the whole truth- how someone was trying to find them, and that the men in suits were from Interpol, the international police and security agency sent to protect them.
Sean continue to glare at Hugo, his expression taut and his eyes livid with anger. "You stupid fucker!" He stood up.
"Sean, where are you going?" Hugo asked quickly.
"I gotta go pee." Sean said in a low monotone voice as he moved slowly, stepping sideway, down the main aisle toward the first class cabin restrooms at the cockpit end of the aircraft.
No one paid any attention to his heading to the restroom except Hugo, who rose and followed along a few steps behind him, as if he too were going to use the restroom.
The two passed Keil and Hans who had seated themselves at the forward end of the first class cabin, just aft of the hallway off of which the forward restrooms were situated.
Sean didn't look in their direction as he passed by. Hugo looked at them, smiled, and nodded politely.
When Sean reached the first restroom, which was out of Keil's and Han's sight, he passed it deliberately, allowing Hugo to use that one. Sean went into the second lavatory and bolted the door.
"What the fuck can I do?" Sean thought frantically. While he paused, there was an immediate knock on the lavatory door. "That HAS to be Hugo...." he said to himself...
"Yeah?" Sean said out loud.
Hugo whispered with his mouth up very close to where the door and the doorjamb met. "Please, Sean, let me in." he asked.
There was a click of the lavatory door lock, and the door opened inward, toward Sean. Hugo didn't wait for Sean to clear the doorway; he forced himself into the tiny space quickly and closed the door behind him.
"Sean. How do you know that these men aren't here to help us? Your dad, Max, said that we were to be met by men from Interpol... I have no reason to disbelieve these men..."
"God! Hugo. You are so naive. My REAL dad, before he was killed, told me NEVER to trust any man who carried a gun, unless I knew his family. These men can be frauds, fakes, and YOU are ready to put your life in their hands. That's STUPID! I'm gettin outta here, Hugo," Sean said looking up into Hugo's eyes, again with the boldness of an equal..."
Hugo just returned the penetrating visual connection, realizing that Sean knew more about the deceptions of these kinds of men than he could ever dream. After a moment he spoke. "I won't try to stop you, Sean. Here," and Hugo pulled out his cell phone and gave it to Sean.
"Look in the directory, here...." and Hugo pointed out Jake's telephone number in the United States, Jerome's cell phone number, Max's cell phone number, and Kevin's cell phone number... Keep in touch. Don't ever use your name. Call yourself SPIRIT! You got that? SPIRIT!" And Hugo looked deeply into Sean's eyes unable to give him more than the most profound infusion of love, respect, and deep concern possible.
Hugo reached into his pocket, "Oh, and here..." he handed Sean $1,800 in US currency, in small bills. "You may need this..."
Sean took the cell phone and the cash and looked into Hugo's eyes conveying his surprise and innocence.
"Don't worry, Sean. You'll make it. When you get away, telephone our friends, Jake & Craig, in San Diego. Tell them you are Spirit and whatever else you need. They will try to help you." And Hugo reached over and embraced Sean. "You're a great kid, Sean. We all love you and look forward to seeing you again when we're all safe and peaceful..."
"Yes, sir," Sean said choking back tears but aware of the element of time.
"I gotta go now, Hugo." And Sean opened the lavatory door carefully. He noticed that the bulkhead door into the aircraft from the loading boom was still open and unattended at that moment.
That was the instant he had to move. Sean opened the lavatory door far enough to squeeze past, and then bolted across the aisle and out the door in the aircraft bulkhead; Sean disappeared back up the loading boom into the terminal...
Hugo left the lavatory and made his way back to his seat in the first class cabin where the boys were still visiting one another and keeping the cabin in general confusion. Sean's absence was just not that apparent with such roaming about going on.
"Are you feeling alright, Hon?" Kevin asked when Hugo was close enough to hear him.
"Yes. Why?" Hugo asked as he seated himself back in his chair.
"Because you took a rather long time in the restroom. And where is Sean? Didn't he go to the bathroom about the same time you did?"
"Yes." Hugo replied, but with no real explanations to Kevin's inquiries.
"HUGO!" Kevin said, sounding desperate! "What's happening?"
Hugo looked into Kevin's eyes and spoke very slowly and very carefully....
Just at that moment, the Steward came on the aircraft public address system and drowned out Hugo's reply: "Good day ladies and gentlemen, Meine Dammen und Herren... "
Hugo heard the whirring of the bulkhead door as it slammed shut and latched. "Sean is free and safe!" ran through Hugo's mind.
A little while later, when Hugo finally finished telling Kevin what had transpired in the lavatory, Kevin slumped in his seat, his eyes unfocused staring into space.
"Kev! What's wrong?" Hugo said.
"God! I failed Max. I told him that we would take care of Sean, and now we aren't with him, AND we don't even know where he is!"
"Oh, Babe. You didn't fail Max. We both did the right thing... I did what the moment required. And you kept all of the boys cooperating with us. I didn't have any idea what to do when I went into that lavatory with Sean. I just allowed my mind to go blank and wondered what does God want me to do to help this boy. And then it came to me: 'You are not here to stop Sean; give him your cell phone; give him cash; tell him you love him, and explain how to get in touch with Jake and Craig who will surely help him...' And so that's what I did..."
Kevin put his head in his hands as the engines revved, and the aircraft moved slowly out of its parking spot. It lumbered out onto the taxiway from the tarmac as the engines screamed their way through the pilot's checkout routine.
Very shortly everyone was pressed into the backs of their seats as the force of the engines at take-off seized everyone's bodies...
The aircraft left the earth. Its wheels folded into its belly, and the whole fuselage rolled up on one side making a graceful turn to head out over the North Sea. The boys were enthralled, as they usually were, and Artie was taking in the experience with eyes bulging out of curiosity... On the surface, everything was perfect.
Once back out in the terminal, Sean realized that he had to conceal himself before people began looking for him.
He went over to a long row of seats and took one nearest the big glass windows on the outer sides of the terminal. He pulled out the cell phone that Hugo had given him, and he idly scrolled through the names. When he came to Jake and Craig's names, he decided to call them, but he had no idea what he would say...
Sean pressed the Place Call button and waited. It took quite a while for the call to be completed, but finally Craig answered. "Hello. Craig, speaking. Can I help you?"
Sean sat speechless just looking straight ahead and listening to the empty airwaves...
"Hello? Hello. This is Craig. Who is calling?" Craig spoke again.
"Uh. This is Spirit," Sean said.
"OH!" Craig replied suddenly alarmed lest he not handle the call properly...
"Oh! We weren't expecting your call, but we're very happy to hear from you. Are you alright?" Craig asked.
A little voice, now very different from the bold adult-voice who took its fate into its own hands and bolted from the departing aircraft said: "Uh! Yes, Sir..." Sean replied.
"Where are you? Aren't you with Hugo and Kevin and the boys?" Craig asked.
"Uh! I was, but I got away. There are men who have guns, and they can't be trusted... I'm very afraid for my life, because my dad told Kevin that some men are after me. They want to kill me..." Sean said practically in tears now.
Craig realized how intimidated this boy was and was about to go insane to find a way to help him. "Don't you worry, Spirit! We'll be with you all the time. Just be very careful not to run your cell phone battery down quickly, and you can call us whenever you want," Craig said.
"Alright, Sir." Sean said.
Clearly the boy had no plans whatsoever, at the recognition of which Craig said, "Spirit. If you will wait in the airport until late tonight (or if you go off, then you come back very late tonight), Jake or I will fly there and join you, then we'll bring you back to San Diego with us. That way no one will know where you are"
"Do you really think you can do that?" Sean asked, finding Craig's proposal highly improbable...
"Well, Spirit, to tell you the truth, I have no idea, but we'll sure as hell try! Don't you move or get into any trouble. Keep out of everyone's way, especially the police..." And then Craig paused for a moment to think, and Sean just waited not knowing what to say or do... Finally Craig returned to the conversation: "Do you have any money, Spirit?"
"Yes, Sir. Hugo gave me some money just before I ran away... I can eat and keep myself safe for a few days, I think..." Sean said.
"Good," Craig said. "Just avoid the police and watch for us. I'll be wearing a Mad Hatter hat...."
"A what?" Sean asked.
"You know, the storybook character, The Mad Hatter. He wore a silly looking hat. Well, I'll be wearing a silly looking hat, and we'll page you in the airport. Do you know what paging is?" Craig said.
"Yes, Sir. I know" Sean said.
"Good. So let's hang up, and I'll call you back in about an hour to tell you when to expect us... In the meantime, why don't you go get something to eat and maybe buy a comic book and look like you are waiting for someone... Does that sound okay to you, Spirit?" Craig asked, not knowing AT ALL whether he sounded as mad as a Hatter himself, but this is what he wanted to do: go get that boy and bring him back home to safety!
"Yes, sir. I'll do that." Sean said, and they hung up.
After ending their conversation, Sean looked around for a cheerful place to eat. Not far away he spied a McDonald's Golden Arches; so he tucked his cell phone safely in his pocket and headed in that direction.
Sean had just finished his veggie burger sandwich and fruit salad-- not forgetting that Hugo warned all the boys to eat healthy food, and french fries and Big Macks aren't healthy. The cell phone in his pocket jiggled and tinkled a few bars of Maleguena.
"Hello?" Sean said, realizing from the words and picture that flashed on the screen that this was Craig and Jake calling.
"Spirit?" Craig queried.
"Yes, Sir." Sean replied.
"I will be on Jet Blue Flight 555 departing Los Angeles at 8am; that's in just three hours from now. It's 5am here now and 1pm where you are right now--correct?"
"Uh? Yeah! I think... about that," Sean said.
"There's an 8-hour time difference between where you are and San Diego. It's LATER where you are, Spirit.)
"I'll be in the air flying for ELEVEN HOURS! That means my flight ought to arrive at your terminal at MIDNIGHT tonight your time! Can you hold out that long, Spirit?" Craig asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"Where will you go after supper tonight? The people in the air terminal may start to notice you being around that long, and they may come up to you and ask questions..." Craig conjectured...
"Yes, Sir," Sean listened carefully.
"I think it might be best for you to change terminals maybe once every 4 hours or so; that way you shouldn't arouse any suspicions... Think you can do that, Spirit?" Craig asked.
"Yes, Sir." Sean said
"Okay. Now I know I've said a lot. Just remember that I'm on Jet Blue Flight 555 and I'll arrive at your airport at MIDNIGHT tonight. I'll be wearing that stupid-looking Mad Hatter hat, and I'll have you paged. Be sure to be back in the international terminal before MIDNIGHT. Okay?" Craig reiterated.
"Yes, Sir... Are you finished now?" Sean asked.
Craig laughed and said, "Yep! I know I talk too much, but I just wanted you to know that I mean business, and I'll be there at MIDNIGHT-- Jet Blue Flight 555-- unless the flight gets screwed up... I'll telephone you! Don't run your phone battery down..."
"Yes, Sir." Sean replied.
"Just hold on, Buddy. I'm going to hang-up right now, but I'll be calling you back... Call me if you want. " and Craig closed their connection. "Click."
Sean carefully returned his phone to his pocket, looked around the McDonald's restaurant, and began thinking about what he could do for the next 14 hours... "Jesus, that's a long time.... By the way, God, what do YOU think I ought to do?" And he stopped talking and listened.
Sean went to a travel store and bought himself a little carry-on bag; so that he looked like everyone else-- just a traveler waiting in the airport.
"No, Mama." Sean said to the cashier... "I don't have any Irish money."
The cashier smiled and said, "I think I'd go over to the exchange window and have a few dollars changed into Irish money. It will cost you a little bit, but if you're going to be in Ireland for a while, you'll need some."
"Yes, Mama. I'll go do that now, and then I'll come back for me carry-on bag."
"I'm not going anywhere, my boy..." she said smiling again. "Whenever you're ready..."
Very shortly Sean had his little bag, and he went to the magazine shop and bought some interesting looking, shiny magazines with pictures of cool cars on the front. Books in his bag, he then decided to take a little walk outside of the terminal....
"Oops!" he realized. "If I go outside of this boarding area, I won't be able to get back in without tickets... I'd better stay put and outta sight." So, again, he went to the end of a remote row, near the huge windows, where he sat down to read his new magazines...
Sean looked up at one of the big clocks and noticed that just barely two hours had passed since he spoke with Craig... "Only 12 more hours to go," he thought.
"Hummm?" Then it occurred to Sean that SOMEONE would need to feed the real Spirit very soon. "How could he get a message to Murph? Certainly, Kevin and Hugo would make sure that Spirit got to eat... "
But Sean was worried like any loving parent would be. To put his mind at ease he began to think of things he might do.
Finally Sean couldn't resist any longer. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Craig again....
"Hello?" but the voice sounded different to Sean.
"Uh... Hello. Is Craig there?" he asked.
"No. He won't be here for a while. Who shall I say is calling?" Jake said.
"Uh... This is Spirit, and I gotta get a message to Murph, my brother who's riding with Hugo and Kevin on the plane."
Jake realized that he had the boy on the line... "Of course, I'm Jake. You can talk to me while Criag is gone."
Sean continued "Well, Spirit needs to eat. Murph has got to feed him a bottle. Please send Kevin an email message telling him to get Murph to feed Spirit," Sean asked, speaking very clearly and with an edge of urgency in his voice.
"Oh! Of course, Spirit. I'll send an email right away. You know that you shouldn't telephone anybody there in Ireland, unless it's a MAJOR EMERGENCY-- and I emphasize MAJOR, because they can trace your call and find out where you are that way. Just hold on... Craig's flight is due to arrive at your location at MIDNIGHT tonight your time-- like in less than 12 hours now.... Just stay put and keep out of the way of police and airline authorities until Craig finds you... And now, don't worry about your message to Murph. I'll send it off to Kevin as soon as we hang up... DON'T YOU WORRY!" Jake was very reassuring the way he handled Sean's concern for his dog... Jake understood.
Jake went on: "Right." I'll be here anytime you want to telephone me... Just call ANY TIME, Spirit!"
"Thank you, Sir. And thank you for sending the message to Murph. He'll know exactly what to do..."
"Good boy!" Jake said.
"Alright, then, Sir. I'll hang up and read some more of my new car magazines... Some of those cars are awesome."
"I'm sure they are... Okay. Good-by for now, Spirit. Be Well..." and at that moment Sean closed his cell phone and returned it to his pocket.
"Maybe things would go smoothly after all," Sean thought to himself, and he began to relax.