Inner Workings

Inner Workings - Part 11

Beni and Reese looked around the kitchen doorway, cautious of the giant soup pot on the stove.

"There's a note saying it's for anyone," said Beni.

"But what is it?" said Reese, patting the sweat off his brow with a handkerchief. Even from this far away he could feel the heat of spice in the air. "Free or not I'm not keen on eating something that'll set fire to my insides."

"I'll give you five bucks to try it first."

"Tempting, but no. How about you try it for five dollars?"

"No way."

"Chicken."

"Scaredy cat."

One the verge of getting into an argument, Milton, humming, walked past them with a bowl and ladled out a generous helping of the brick red curry from the pot. Beni and Reese quieted.

"There's plenty left if you want seconds," said Milton.

"You've already had some?" asked Reese.

"Yeah."

The shrink left, and the two agents smiled.

"Hey, Milton, he likes it!" said Beni.

"Me first," said Reese.

"No, me!"

Three minutes later they found out Milton had a very high tolerance for spicy food, and they did not. After both downed a large glass of milk, they added another post-it to the soup pot.

Eat at your own risk.

***

"Passengers are now free to move about the cabin."

"'Bout time," muttered Louis.

Will looked up from his book as Louis made for the lavatory at the front of the plane. Massaru had the window seat next to Louis while Will had the seat across the aisle, sitting next to a teenager more interested in getting the high score on his touch phone game than talking. Will scooted across the aisle.

"Everything okay with Louis?" Will asked quietly, his concern louder than the engine roar.

"I should be asking you that," said Massaru, filling in another square on his Sudoku puzzle. "He seems preoccupied."

"It might be the plane. He doesn't take well to confined spaces." Will took a deep breath. The stale air, always tainted with someone's airsickness, made Will nauseous, but Massaru still smelled of warm curry.

"I think it is closer to whohe is being confined with."

Will's fingers feathered the pages of his book. "He's been grouchy lately."

"As have you," said Massaru. "You two should talk. You do not joke with him as much as you used to. When was the last time he hunted you down for a silly coffee mug?"

Will smiled. "It's hard to top the old lady "bottoms up" gag."

"You should. Promise me that at least."

"I will."

Massaru put down the Sudoku book. "This might not be the right time to say good-byes, but I'll miss our lunches together."

"I'll miss talking with you."

"Indeed, but I wonder if you tell me as much as you think you do."

No, I don't, Will admitted to himself. But I don't think I could tell anyone what I think right now.

***