If I disappeared for a while, it might scare her but good!
The more she thought about it, a trip sounded so nice. To get away from it all, leave her sister behind, not even tell her she was going.
But not a trip to a foreign land. Maybe a tour...to Hawaii.
****
Having finally made a decision, Gemma went on line to find the perfect holiday. There was one, a tour of the Hawaiian Islands' gardens, that she would give most anything to see, and it also, wasn't that bad for price. The costly part was the airfare to get across country to connect with the cruise ship.
Apparently, there was no direct scheduled route. One had to back track, all the way from the center of the country to the opposite coast, then fly back the other way again from east to west.
How stupid is that?
Gemma didn't like it much, but what could you do? It was the way things were.
She booked passage on the cruise, and the flight east, plus the one west across country; paid for the tickets, hoping all the while the two airlines would connect, as they were supposed to. If they didn't, it would put her in a real bind.
When the day of departure arrived, her worse fears were materialized. Nothing went as planned.
It seldom does.
****
The flight from the prairies was uneventful, but upon arrival at the large eastern international airport, the passengers of Gemma's flight were informed their connection would be delayed; it was having engine trouble, the plane was grounded, the flight cancelled. All passengers would be on standby until further notice.
I have ten hours before the boat leaves...it might still be okay.
Gemma could not return home, so like many others, she remained in the airport, hopeful of a quick resolve. The hours passed, while many sought rest in the chairs at their disposal.
Gemma had purchased a prepaid credit card for the tour, but to use it for food in the terminal would make it near impossible to enjoy any future entertainment, so she went without lunch, and then...supper, all in the hopes, this would soon end.
Eight hours later, she was no longer reassured.
"Are you the folks waiting on standby?" asked a uniformed attendant, coming up beside Gemma.
A number of people, slouching, half asleep, came to abrupt attention, at her words.
"We have a plane leaving in twenty minutes; everything is loaded, and you've already been through customs...you just have to get to terminal six, across the building, before they take off. Follow me..."
Twenty minutes was not much time to cover all that distance, but the woman seemed to think it possible. She took off, with a long line of followers, so fast, Gemma nearly got left behind.
Annoyingly, Gemma's vision picked that moment to go defective. The scenes all around her became mostly blurred...a strange place; always unfamiliar, at best. But Gemma was used to this happening, and had long ago learned to find other ways to feel her way through. She could see enough, just to guide her.
She pinpointed a chunky, short, middle aged man, just in front of her, latched on with determination to follow him as closely as possible. He and his wife had been the last to join the group in the waiting room. It seemed, they had just hurried through security prior to their arrival, and the man was still trying to replace articles removed during the search. He lagged, falling back more by the minute, attempting, as he ran, to return his shoes to his feet.
Gemma didn't realize, he'd been unable to replace his belt, until she watched him for a time. Her line of sight was fixed at his waist, and as he ran, the trousers slid down frighteningly over the nonexistent hips. He'd stop and pull up his pants, then run again for a space, only to have them slide down, over and over.
Gemma looked up, as the intercom announced the last call to their flight, and that was when she lost her guide, altogether.
She stood still, fuming.
I've missed it! Pokey old guy! Why did I even follow him?
Out of the fog around her, another attendant appeared at her side.
"Are you Gemma?"
"Yes!" she declared, relieved.
"The plane is waiting for you. Come with me."
Gemma breathed a sigh; she hadn't realized they kept such good tabs on passengers. But the woman did not take off after those she had been following; they turned about, and went back the way she had come.
"Where are we going?" asked Gemma, puzzled. She was getting her completely lost.
"I know a quick short cut..."
****
The airport, in this section, seemed crawling with foreign, bearded, brown-skinned men. They peered from around corners, and doorways, everywhere, ogling her.
It's only my imagination...
From the corner of her eye, Gemma thought she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.
Gemma stopped short, turning about abruptly.
I didn't just see Doctor Harmon talking to Doctor Gee back in that doorway, did I?
But, when she looked back, the entryway behind was empty; the two men had either stepped back from view, and vanished, or they had never been there at all.
Man! I sure do need this vacation. I'm seeing the ghosts from my past.
Chapter 10
Gemma had thought she was the last one to board, but half way down, on her right, there were still two vacant seats. She slipped into the window seat, so she could watch the scenery as they took to the air.
While waiting, she scanned the other passengers.
Where is old droopy drawers? Did he and his wife miss the flight?
Glancing at her watch, Gemma was hit with reality. Disgusted, she leaned back dejectedly in her seat. She had just realized, she
