SUNGLASSES AND ROCKETS Part 1 : New Moon

HOTEL ANTIGUA

Naturally, I received the news of my speech as if it were a joke. But it was not. I protested in the prospect of such an assignment, which seemed to me to be too much of an improvisation. The doctor took in my griping with fatherly smiles, clarifying that one of his assistants giving a speech was part of protocol. The diplomatic corps will just love you, he assured.

What a mess I had gotten into!

I didn't have time to review my lines.

"Eighth Street coming up," the driver suddenly announced. "We're here."

The small bus stopped in front of the hotel. Before getting out, the colonel gave each one of us a watch.

"I'll be waiting for you at 12:46 a.m. on the corner. As soon as you hear the alarm, leave the hotel immediately."

I carefully examined the watch. It was an Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33. It was already counting down by hundredths of a second... The alarm will go off three minutes before the time indicated, the colonel concluded.

Elegantly-dressed people were getting out of luxury vehicles parked all along the avenue. The doctor and Felix went in front of us towards the hotel entrance. All of those distinguished people looked like they were headed for the same hotel...the Hotel Antigua.

"I get the impression that there's going to be a wedding," Darwin commented excitedly. "Or at least a huge ball."

"I hope so..." I replied nervously. "Where could the bride's limo be?"

"It must be on its way."

"You know what?" I said as we went up the stairs to the foyer. "The doctor wants me to speak to the guests."

"You know the doctor," Darwin reasoned, without paying much attention. "He's a typical eccentric."

Obviously my friend had not realized the gravity of the situation.

We went into the foyer. It was a welcoming place, with an ochre wooden floor and walls in shades of brown, soberly decorated with colonial motifs. Enormous lamps hung from an elaborate high roof of burnished wood. Our outfits—jeans rolled up to my knees, in my case—sneakers, and sweaty t-shirts, greatly contrasted with the suits of the wedding guests that passed by us.

"What else did you find out about the plan?" Darwin asked, looking around us.

"Basically, that we have 20 minutes to get into the silo, when we get there at one in the morning, and that later Colonel Croft will bring us back to this hotel at about one-thirty."

"Colonel Croft?"

"The bus-driver is a colonel..."

"I see...then our mission effectively ends at one-thirty."

"If everything turns out okay, I suppose so," I answered with a shrug.

"Perfect. Tomorrow we'll have the whole day free to enjoy this paradise!"

Darwin never lost hope. I decided it was time to ask him for a small favor. I stopped.

"Darwin," I said, resolvedly. "You have charisma..."

My friend stopped and came up to me, looking toward the entrance.

"Maybe..."

"What do you think about using your way with people to speak in public, tonight?" I asked. "Would you give the speech?"

It would be a favor between good friends.

"Did you say something?" he asked, distracted, looking over his shoulder.

"Would you give the..."

"Gordo," he interrupted; he adjusted his glasses and signaled with his chin. "Do you remember the girls we saw in the park?"

I looked in the same direction he was looking. The girl in the blue dress and the brunette, dressed in the elegant white dress with the plunging neckline were on their way in, speaking with and being entertained by some people on the entrance steps. Both of them had their backs to us. My heart jumped in my chest. I don't know how that could have happened, but I was sure that the blonde was again the one responsible for it. There was no doubt. I was ready to forget Vanessa.

It was time to make peace with the past.

"Look at her," I heard myself say with the true voice of a male in heat. "She's a beauty!"

"Gordo!" Darwin exclaimed, putting a hand on my shoulder. "You're back! Welcome!"

Suddenly the two men made a gesture, inviting the girls to enter the hotel. We reflexively stepped back. My heart accelerated. We both turned towards the wall, pretending to be looking at some portraits. We kept quiet.

Suddenly I perceived the pleasing fragrance I had smelled in the park...the scent seemed familiar. Among the voices that spoke Spanish, I recognized a female voice. A very familiar voice. Altogether too familiar. My heard raced even quicker. Darwin elbowed me.

"Did you hear that?" he murmured.

I furtively separated my gaze from the painting and directed it slowly towards the right. It was hard for me to make out the blonde's face. There were many people crowding together to enter what looked like a ballroom. That was surely where the party was. Suddenly an older woman moved, making the blonde's face clearly visible. I couldn't believe it. Oh God! My God! It was Vanessa del Valle!

A fit of dizziness set me off-balance. I supported myself on the wall so I wouldn't fall down. I couldn't catch my breath.

"Calm down, champ," Darwin said, holding me up. "Breathe deeply. Come on! In, out...in, out..."

"Boys," the voice of the doctor could be heard.

I timidly lifted my head. The doctor and Felix were a few steps away from the ballroom. Vanessa and her friend were going in just at that moment.

"What are you doing standing there?" Moses Masterton said with a gesture. "They're waiting for us to start the reception. Let's go!"

There was no wedding. All of those people were the elegant guests at the reception in honor of Moses Masterton. Darwin sighed.

"Let's go, Gordo. The time has come. Go get your woman."

"Let's...let's go," I stammered. "Let's...let's go."