Embedded Files
Kenneth Durand knows it is August 2035. That already happened, but that’s
Kenneth Durand knows it is August 2035. That already happened, but that’s
okay because it’s a beautiful day. He’s younger—in his midtwenties. O-3,
okay because it’s a beautiful day. He’s younger—in his midtwenties. O-3,
Lieutenant Durand, on ten days’ leave, walking in civilian clothes through the
Lieutenant Durand, on ten days’ leave, walking in civilian clothes through the
newly expanded Greenfield Terminal of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International
newly expanded Greenfield Terminal of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport alongside a younger Sowi Michael Yi Ji-chang. Yi frowns as he pokes at
Airport alongside a younger Sowi Michael Yi Ji-chang. Yi frowns as he pokes at
an actual handheld smartphone. They move through the busy terminal, dodging
an actual handheld smartphone. They move through the busy terminal, dodging
between Chinese businessmen and tourists. Durand’s stride is easy and relaxed
between Chinese businessmen and tourists. Durand’s stride is easy and relaxed
—though he has no reason to be relaxed.
—though he has no reason to be relaxed.
“Ken, this connection’s going to be frickin’ tight.” Yi motions for them to
“Ken, this connection’s going to be frickin’ tight.” Yi motions for them to
step it up.
step it up.
They’re catching a Safarilink flight from Wilson Airport to Amboseli—half
They’re catching a Safarilink flight from Wilson Airport to Amboseli—half
a dozen other squad mates will be trying to hold the plane for them. They have
a dozen other squad mates will be trying to hold the plane for them. They have
yet to collect their bags, deal with customs, taxi across town.
yet to collect their bags, deal with customs, taxi across town.
Durand just cannot work up anxiety over it. He’s not sure if that’s the way
Durand just cannot work up anxiety over it. He’s not sure if that’s the way
he felt at the time. He suspects not. This trip was important to him. He bought an
he felt at the time. He suspects not. This trip was important to him. He bought an
actual camera for this trip. Kilimanjaro. The game preserve. It all seemed really
actual camera for this trip. Kilimanjaro. The game preserve. It all seemed really
special. And it was special.
special. And it was special.
But not today.
But not today.
They’re pushing through the crowd at baggage claim. Durand sees his bag
They’re pushing through the crowd at baggage claim. Durand sees his bag
before Yi spots his own. Durand reaches for the handle at the same time that a
before Yi spots his own. Durand reaches for the handle at the same time that a
young Japanese woman does.
young Japanese woman does.
She looks up in surprise as they brush hands. “This one’s mine.”
She looks up in surprise as they brush hands. “This one’s mine.”
“American.” It is an odd thing for him to say.
“American.” It is an odd thing for him to say.
“Yes. And this is my bag.”
“Yes. And this is my bag.”
Durand lets go. He looks down and realizes she’s right. There’s a bright red,
Durand lets go. He looks down and realizes she’s right. There’s a bright red,
embossed metal tag on it, held fast by a beaded chain. It’s otherwise identical to
embossed metal tag on it, held fast by a beaded chain. It’s otherwise identical to
his own bag—a matte black carbon fiber shell with the closest thing to off-road
his own bag—a matte black carbon fiber shell with the closest thing to off-road
wheels. You could probably row the damn thing down the Nile. Now he sees his
wheels. You could probably row the damn thing down the Nile. Now he sees his
own bag coming up not far behind on the carousel. He points. “You have good
own bag coming up not far behind on the carousel. He points. “You have good
taste.”
taste.”
taste.”
taste.”
She laughs.
She laughs.
He collects his bag. It is a highly practical bag. Only attractive for what it
He collects his bag. It is a highly practical bag. Only attractive for what it
can do. Both their bags are scuffed from rough handling.
can do. Both their bags are scuffed from rough handling.
She telescopes the handle on hers and rolls it away—but only far enough to
She telescopes the handle on hers and rolls it away—but only far enough to
get clear of the crowd. She takes out a tablet and starts reconnecting with her
get clear of the crowd. She takes out a tablet and starts reconnecting with her
world.
world.
A glance. Yi still anxiously awaits the appearance of his own bag on the
A glance. Yi still anxiously awaits the appearance of his own bag on the
carousel.
carousel.
Durand turns back. He studies the young woman. She is dressed for travel.
Durand turns back. He studies the young woman. She is dressed for travel.
Sensible shoes. Lots of pockets. She is not a tourist. She has been here many
Sensible shoes. Lots of pockets. She is not a tourist. She has been here many
times before. He rolls up to her. “I have to ask.”
times before. He rolls up to her. “I have to ask.”
She looks up from her tablet, her expression guarded.
She looks up from her tablet, her expression guarded.
“That’s a serious bag.”
“That’s a serious bag.”
“That’s not a question.”
“That’s not a question.”
“You must have a serious job.”
“You must have a serious job.”
“I do.” She nods toward his bag. “And you?”
“I do.” She nods toward his bag. “And you?”
“Too serious. I’ve been considering a change. But then I’d have to give up
“Too serious. I’ve been considering a change. But then I’d have to give up
the bag.”
the bag.”
She laughs again. Her eyes smile.
She laughs again. Her eyes smile.
The connecting flight is suddenly not so important. “You’re arriving from
The connecting flight is suddenly not so important. “You’re arriving from
where?”
where?”
“Far away.”
“Far away.”
“I’ve been there.”
“I’ve been there.”
She points at her tablet. “I’ve got to get my drilling robots clear of customs,
She points at her tablet. “I’ve got to get my drilling robots clear of customs,
and then I’m headed to Mombasa with my project team. So . . .”
and then I’m headed to Mombasa with my project team. So . . .”
“Right. I’m meeting friends, too.” He moves away and then circles back
“Right. I’m meeting friends, too.” He moves away and then circles back
after going just a few meters. “But here’s the thing: I’ll be on the coast at the end
after going just a few meters. “But here’s the thing: I’ll be on the coast at the end
of this week, and there’s this great place on Diani Beach.”
of this week, and there’s this great place on Diani Beach.”
“Ali Barbour’s Cave.”
“Ali Barbour’s Cave.”
He laughs. “Right.”
He laughs. “Right.”
“I love that place.”
“I love that place.”
“There’s lots of people there. Come join me.”
“There’s lots of people there. Come join me.”
“I’ll still be with my project team.”
“I’ll still be with my project team.”
“Bring them. I’ll take your whole damn project team out to dinner if it means
“Bring them. I’ll take your whole damn project team out to dinner if it means
you’ll say yes.”
you’ll say yes.”
She laughs again. He could get lost in her eyes. “There’s a fine line between
She laughs again. He could get lost in her eyes. “There’s a fine line between
persistence and harassment.”
persistence and harassment.”
persistence and harassment.”
persistence and harassment.”
He nods, a slight smile on his face. “There is. But this is probably the only
He nods, a slight smile on his face. “There is. But this is probably the only
time our paths will ever cross. Unless I ask you.” He searches her eyes. “So I’m
time our paths will ever cross. Unless I ask you.” He searches her eyes. “So I’m
asking you.”
asking you.”
She eyes him back. “Do you have a name?”
She eyes him back. “Do you have a name?”
“I do.” He extends his hand. “Ken Durand.”
“I do.” He extends his hand. “Ken Durand.”
She shakes his hand with a firm grip. She has calluses on her hands. “Okay,
She shakes his hand with a firm grip. She has calluses on her hands. “Okay,
Ken Durand. I’m Miyuki Uchida.”
Ken Durand. I’m Miyuki Uchida.”
“Miyuki. Good to meet you.”
“Miyuki. Good to meet you.”
And it was true. He knew it the moment he first saw her.
And it was true. He knew it the moment he first saw her.
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