SUNGLASSES AND ROCKETS Part 1 : New Moon

TOURISTS

We got in a taxi at once.

"To the Camino Real hotel," the doctor said from his place beside me in the back seat.

The short, squat driver looked out of the corner of his eye.

"That will be thirty dollars," he replied, in accented English.

Sixty dollars! I said to myself in surprise, we're going on a long ride.

We got to the hotel in less than five minutes! A line of palm trees made a border around the elegant entryway. It looked like a five-star hotel.

I have to admit that up to that moment, everything was going along without a hitch. The bellboy took care of the abundant luggage, and Darwin and I did no more than watch. Then we waited comfortably seated in the luxurious lobby, while the doctor and Felix filled out forms at the reception.

"What do you think?" Darwin asked, looking around, clearly satisfied.

Huge lamps hung from the ceiling and classically-themed statues decorated the corners. It was an extremely elegant place. Carpets with sophisticated designs covered the floor everywhere.

"It's not bad," I conceded, faking indifference.

Darwin looked impatient. He got out of his chair and went to a corridor with huge windows all the way along it. He was smiling, and he would not stop fiddling with his glasses, moving them around while he looked out the window. He called me over with a wave. Spurred by curiosity, I got up and went to the corridor.

"Do you see that?" he exclaimed.

Outside there was a lovely swimming pool. Lots of people were sunbathing. Among them, a group of well-built girls stood out in their suggestive swimsuits...

"They're women," he continued. "They are beautiful women, and we're men. Men in a far-away country," he said, letting himself smile and adding, "Single young men!"

Darwin was right. Unfortunately, I could count myself as being single. An image of Vanessa appeared in my head...Ah! I couldn't forget her, even while I looked at girls in bikinis! I think I need professional help, I told myself worriedly. Yes, when I get back to Washington, D.C., that's the first thing I'll do; look for professional help.

"Gordo! Look!" my impassioned friend went on. "Look at the girl in the pink bikini, she's got a..."

"Where have you gotten to!" you could suddenly hear.

My friend gave a start. We turned around. The doctor was right behind us. Darwin cleared his throat.

"Hee hee. It was hot...and we..."

"This is the plan," the doctor interrupted, without taking any notice of the spectacular sight of tanned bodies through the window, "after midnight we'll go to the Bat Cave."

"That's the plan?" I was surprised. "Nothing more?"

"It's a simple plan..."

"Which part of the country is the BatCave in?" I asked.

"You'll find out in due time..." the doctor murmured.

Felix was standing next to the doctor, lost in thought and staring at the ground.

"How do we get to the Cave?" asked Darwin, pretending to be interested.

In actuality, my friend was peeking out the window.

"You'll see," the doctor replied, looking at his watch, and then he took two stacks of dollar bills from his pockets. They were thick! "Here are three thousand dollars for each of you," he explained, handing us the money. "I'm assuming that this amount will cover your expenses until you get back to Washington, D.C. on Friday morning."

I was speechless, and Darwin smiled.

Then we went to our rooms. The doctor gave us the key, and one last instruction: Rest.

Life was good again.