| Author | Post |
|---|
dwfunk
Member
| Joined: | Tuesday March 21st, 2006 |
| Location: | Houston, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 109 |
| Visits: | 3 | | Currently: | married |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sunday November 12th, 2006 04:35 am |
|
OK, I've been asked to fill in the gaps. But before we can get to the story of the "Secret Agent Man." we have to go back and fill in some of my unfinished story of my first trip. I left the story hanging as we exited the airport in a taxi.
Re-capping - my flight leaving Houston was delayed due to bad winter weather in Europe. My connecting flight out of Paris was additionally delayed due to the same storm system that was still raging across Europe, including Russia. I arrived at Sheremetyevo-2 approximately 2 hours late. Due to a misunderstanding on my part, I did not bring my cell phone with me and I had no way to communicate any of these delays to Natalia.
I arrive, make it through passport control and customs. I brave the gauntlet of 'taxi' drivers, and my initial meeting with "Mr. Mafioso," because my Natalia was to meet me here. She had told me that if something happened and she was not standing in front of the exit doors from the "special security area," to "stand near wall, I find" So, I do. No Natalia. I was terrified that my Natalia had shown up on time, and because David hadn't shown up, she had left, possibly disappointed. Finally "Mr. Mafioso" convinces me he won't charge me for use of his cell phone, and I can call my "Friend." I pull out Natalia's phone number and he grabs it and immediately walks away. He places a call and after some time tells me that my "Friend" will arrive in 15 mins. That meeting is in "David goes to Moscow. The Flight Out"
Well I find out days later what transpired with the cell phone conversation.
Natalia had taken the bus to Sheremetyevo-2, and due to bad weather, Moscow streets and traffic, the bus was late. Natalia was afraid I was left standing there for nearly 2 hours and that I was thinking she was a 'no-show.' Then "Mr. Mafioso" calls her. He asked her if she was meeting someone at the airport. Of course, she didn't know the caller and demanded to know who he was and why was he calling her. Finally "Mr. Mafioso" figures out that yes, she is coming to the airport to meet someone and that someone is me. So, he proceeds to tell her that for a sum of money, he will tell her where I am!! Now she is terrified!!!! She's heard of the stories where foreigners have accepted rides, and have disappeared. She's afraid that before she even gets to meet me, somebody has taken me away and she will never see me again!! She told me she was hoping with all her soul and heart that I had NOT accepted a ride with anyone and that she would find me, that I did in fact 'stand near wall' and had waited for her.
It was then that I understood her reaction once we were in the taxi and leaving the airport. She had pulled my arms around her and seemed to just collapse and I held her close for the hour ride to her flat.
On to the rest of the story . . .
------
David & Natalia
Republic of Texas/ Moscow, Russia
УЛ. КОНЕНКОВА
16th World Spacemodeling Championships
|
Current time is 08:55 am | |
|
|
|