Travel new short story

 

Travel

In our line of business certain things are done. Sometime those things are legitimate and other times illegal, as we say business is business. Our aims are our goals and vice versa. Take the other day I was in the mountains in the far north. There I met a man whom I did business with. We share a similar view and want the same desired result. I’m not at liberty to say what those are or what we discussed except to say we did business. I also ate his wife’s cooking and intimately got to know his sister and drank with his brother. Such things are allowed and encouraged in our line of work. This is similar to a trip I once did in the Arctic three summers ago. I miss the cold and whiteness of the snow. The desert is different. It doesn’t matter if I don’t like it; the concern is that business gets done. Some things must be done face to face and not by letter, by messenger, by satellite phone or other means. So my boss sent me to that place to meet those people and to work. I travelled slowly, simply, securely and serenely in a different world unlike the city or snow lands or off world planets. How many people still considered that part of our own world could be alien? They were too busy looking upwards where they saw wonderful things and made new discoveries. I’d shared their desires, joys and beliefs but rapidly tired from it. I decided to keep my feet on the ground and stay on world. I believed in what was here and took an oath to protect it. I liked to feel I did my bit while others lived their mundane lives oblivious of the truth. We made it that way for a reason and would continue to do so. My job here was done and results had been achieved. I had two days off to meditate or explore the shifting sands and mountains. Then I would be reprofiled and sent elsewhere. I had a sneaking feeling I’d end up deep in the jungle next time. I had some acclimatisation pills just in case. Anywhere was fine for the work was the same as was our cause. I missed my sister who had vanished three years before. We knew where she was but couldn’t get her back or even a message to her. I worked for two reasons. They were my cause and my firm belief I would see her again. Our line of work had risks and the rewards far outweighed them. That didn’t stop me missing her or wondering what she would’ve achieved if she had still worked with us. Her capabilities were far more than mine and the results she obtained were equally impressive. No worries, I was pleased with my work here and would be equally committed to my next job. If it was jungle or high seas. You see we simply had no choice doing what we did. If you were one of us then you’d understand. And if I could show you then all would be fine. I planned to relax over the next two days. Then anything would happen.