SUNGLASESS AND ROCKETS Part 2: The Machine

THE MOTHER OF ALL MISSIONS

I took a deep breath and walked decisively toward the door. Before ringing the bell I breathed again, but only through the nose, I had my heart in my throat and was afraid it would come out if I opened my mouth.

Anyway, my mouth opened up. Among the thundering noise of the propeller, a romantic melody began to play! I recognized it immediately; it was "Tell it like it is."

Astonished, I turned around and backed off a few steps. I looked up; the music was coming from the loud speakers of the chopper.

Darwin approached with a last instruction: he clasped the fingers of each hand and drew them close tip to tip.

"Kiss her," he outlined with his lips. "Kiss-her."

I nodded and turned back enthused. I rang the bell and waited with my ear glued to the intercom. Among the deafening noise and the beautiful melody, I could make out some shouts in Spanish.

And they didn't sound friendly at all...

Concerned, I put my mouth close to the intercom and practiced my best Spanish:

"My name is Gordo," I said puffing. "I'm looking for Vanessa. I come from..." I hesitated, I couldn't say the moon. "From Washington, D.C.!" came to my mind. "I'm a friend of Uncle Moses!"

I put my ear back on the intercom.

"What do you say?" the voice asked, after a moment of silence.

Again, I put my mouth near the intercom.

"I'm looking for Vanessa!"

I repeated all the references. I even remembered a couple more and added to it and waited.

Silence.

I used that moment to fix the flowers in my hand and held them firmly. The voice in the intercom was heard again.

"She's not here."

Did I hear right?

"I'm sorry. What did you just say?"

I gave myself the benefit of the doubt and waited hopeful for the answer.

Meanwhile, neighbors began to appear from doors and windows. They were watching the unusual scene with a puzzled expression.

And I still didn't get an answer...

I blared once more over the intercom in desperation.

"I'm looking for Vanessa!" I yelled in English. "I'm Gordo!"

Silence.

I insisted a couple of more times, but it was clear that communication was over.

The world fell on top of my head. I had to leave without even seeing the woman I loved so much...

More than one of the neighbors would have probably reported the unusual scandal to the police. And if I stayed any longer I would jeopardize the secrecy of the group.

I simply had to leave at once.

However, strength had abandoned me. I had stayed motionless at the door, hunched, sad, and desolated, and my eyes filled with tears, with the roses pointing downward not daring to let them go.

I wasn't sure if I could endure this last test: certainly, the hardest.

But I summoned up my courage. I had learned that from the doctor. Making a superhuman effort, I turned around to go back to the ladder.

A cab braked right there, in the middle of the street.

I lost my breath. Melissa was getting out of it. She walked swiftly toward me, but she stopped a few steps away, doubtful.

I looked at her openmouthed. Dazzled. She looked into my eyes. There was still music in the air.

"Tell it like it is," she said along with the chorus.

"Tell it like it is," I repeated enthralled.

My beloved smiled and threw herself into my arms. She hugged me so tight that I felt the accelerated pulse from her heart in my chest. Ah! I went from purgatory straight to paradise!

"I was on my way to the airport to see you," she said excitedly, "when Felix called telling me you were coming to my house..."

"Felix called you?"

Tears came to her eyes.

"He kept me posted."

I was speechless. Before I was able to react, Vanessa came close to my ear.

"I love you," she whispered with a broken voice.

She confirmed it! She confirmed it! Then she moved apart softly. She fixed her gorgeous green eyes on mine. Tears ran down her cheeks.

"I have loved you from the moment I saw you! I loved your chasing me at the Air and SpaceMuseum!" she cried laughing. "I loved your classes as Doctor Fuller's assistant! I loved the way you approached me at school!"

I didn't know what to say. I hadn't been trained for that. Besides, I was still mute...

"When my uncle told me that you were going to the jungle I begged him to be the guide!" She gulped down. "My uncle ordered me to run away from the silo when the lift off failed!" She gulped down again, "but I stayed," she shook her head. "I didn't want to lose you again..."

Finally I was able to talk.

"I love you! I've always loved you! You're the woman of my dreams!"

Vanessa took out a pair of dark glasses and put them on. The frames were heart shaped.

"I know!" she smiled. "The glasses don't lie!"

We kissed.