Damned!

Laura Meets Ein

Laura did not recognize the man that approached her at the station in Medium Cruces. His face was brushed with a shadow of a beard and his hair was shaggier than the clean cut photo she had seen on his LinkedIn profile page. Highlights bleached by the sun glinted off the medium brown streaks in his tousled hair, giving him a strangely younger appearance than his 44 years.

Awkwardly she gave a quick wave, but then noticed she was the only passenger that had disembarked in suit clothes and knew she would be recognized.

"Laura Genesis, creator of the machine that will one day harness energy from outer space. I am in awe and I want to thank you for meeting me." Ein said in the same breath, reaching his hand forward to grasp.

Laura, already exhausted from a busy work week, was taken aback with the enthusiasm of his greeting and a silence engulfed her.

'Ahem, okay, to the point as always..." Ein continued with a smile in his eyes.

He explained their itinerary for the weekend included walking the market stands, a boat tour of the river, and visiting the local church.

"This may sound simple, but I wanted to take our time. We will be communicating with the locals, and fortunately for myself I might add, with my grandmother. I never miss meeting up with her when I am in town. Hmm, the roads here are impossible with dust. I take it you have never been to this part of the country?"

This much was true, she admitted to her embarrassment. They must look like an odd pair, Ein in Indiana Jones safari gear, and herself in her office clothes.

"Well, we are in the outdoor market here, plus there are plenty of clothing stores that border the weekly bazaar."

Ein led the way through the market with ease as if he had known the area for years. They soon found a store selling boots that were hand made. Ein insisted on buying for her. She noticed how easily he conversed in Gandan with the vendor asking about family and weather conditions.

"The price was a little much, don't you think?" Laura remarked.

"If you were a regular, you would bargain down the price; probably spend twenty minutes doing so. I am no longer considered a regular, I like to be generous to the Gandans. Besides who has twenty minutes? My stomach is already grumbling."

Soon after they came upon a thrift store, to which Laura quickly found a khaki shirt and jeans to complete her part of the "Indiana Jones" adventure duo.

Ein smiled at the reference, "One of my favorite movies as well. By the way, I was going to book an inn in Medium Cruces, but the lodgings are usually in shambles. Did I mention that my grandmother resides outside the town? She has graciously volunteered to provide rooms, separately. I hope this is okay?"

After she nodded a quick yes, admitting a place to crash would be welcome as she had had a busy first week and did not get much sleep last night. In response, Ein hailed a vendor gurney, and, offering a handsome amount of change, he was able to convince the worker to leave his stand in the care of a friend. The ride through the town indeed did kick up dust and despite Laura trying to see the surroundings, she found herself disoriented.

"Don't worry, the jungle road is muddier. Just another 20-minute drive."

Laura leaned her head back in her surprisingly blanket comfortable seat, already wishing she had taken the opportunity to have a restful weekend. To her later embarrassment, she soon drifted off to sleep.