Dark Destiny

Chapter Six - Joshua and Ace in India

Shimla is a medium-sized city of approximately 100,000 people, nestled at the gateway of the HimalayanMountains. It is the capital of the Himachal Pradesh province in India, and located geographically close to Kashmir, Nepal, and Tibet It is an eight-hour drive from New Delhi. At 2200 feet in elevation, it has beautiful views of the Himalayans and is a summer resort for many tourists each year.

Getting off a small commuter plane arriving in Shimla are Ace MacRae and Joshua Austin, each carrying their own carry-on sized bags, strapped across their shoulders. Ace is wearing blue jeans and his flight jacket, with wings in a circle on his right chest. Joshua is wearing slacks and a button-up shirt. He has a black wool peacoat on as well. As they step off the plane's steps, they make their way inside the small airport.

"What a long trip," Joshua muses, adjusting the strap on his bag, as he follows Ace into the airport, making his way past turnstiles, as he enters a main room, where other travelers are congregated, awaiting the next flight. "I've never had so many connecting flights."

"Well, at least they connected us from Chandigarh," Ace comments thoughtfully, although Joshua shrugs at the suggestion, "or else we'd still be on our connecting flights."

"You seem to be well acquainted with this area, Ace," Joshua offers. "Why didn't you just fly us here yourself?"

"I could have," Ace replies, "but I think Jeremiah wanted us to come across as regular tourists, so as to not draw attention."

"I guess so," Joshua responds, as they make their way through the airport. "No other excuse makes any sense—unless he's really a sadist at heart!"

"I think we can safely rule out that option," Ace replies, as they walk out the front door of the airport. He then turns to Joshua, a slight smile forming at the corner of his mouth. "But I'm surprised to hear you say you're not familiar with any place. You're the biggest world traveler I think I know."

"Ha," Joshua returns, nodding. "That might be so, but I don't think my act has caught on in this area...at least not yet." He looks around, taking in the moist mountain air, as he looks out over the parking lot of the airport, seeing the mountains stretch ahead of them in the distance. "I have to admit, though, this is a beautiful area."

"Well," Ace replies. "According to our itinerary, we're supposed to have a limo waiting to pick us up at the airport."

"It must be that inconspicuous-looking white limousine over there," Joshua comments, gesturing to a long, white limousine parked just outside of the main gate, to their immediate right approximately forty feet in the distance. "Of course, this makes us look like your typical every-day tourists," he adds. At the wheel of the car, they discover, as they briskly walk towards it, is a large Indian man in his mid-forties. He has dark skin and a moustache. Seeing them coming his way, the man gets out of the limousine to greet them.

"Are you our ride to the Cecil?" Ace asks.

"Perhaps I am," the Indian responds. His voice is deep, as is his accent. His English shows that he learned it by British instructors. He is carrying a handgun, attached to a holster on his belt. As they look at the man, they see that he is very large, standing six-foot-four and weighing two hundred fifty pounds.

"I think this fella might moonlight as the hotel's bouncer," Ace remarks.

Joshua walks over to the large man, shaking his hand. "Austin and MacRae," Austin offers, as he sees a glint of recognition in the driver's eyes.