Tim wanted to fly to a place where communication would be difficult but the sun bright and warm. He was hoping that the trip might allow him to forget his current life even though it was relatively untroubled. In fact, he realized that was probably the problem, he had no problems. Thus, Tim decided he would go someplace hoping to find some problems so his life might be more interesting and he could appreciate his trouble free existence all the more in the future.
Deciding to go to Honduras was a relatively easy decision. He woke up one day, gazed at the beautiful mountains (he lived in a very nice cabin, near a lake in Colorado, rent free), fed his dog and then picked up a paper from the coffee shop and read it while he sipped café latte and meditated on how he would spend his afternoon.
Page 5:
Local Drug Cartel Brutalizes Honduras:
A local drug cartel seized control of all state run institutions and governmental agencies in central Honduras, an ex-government official reported “It was like a nightmare. They shot everyone in my local office. I only escaped because I happened to be in the bathroom when they began their attack. I hid in a stall and waited for it to stop and then when I came out everybody was dead.” Since that incident, local Government officials have been unreachable and the state-run TV station has been off the air. Peruvian and Mexican officials are looking into the incident and in discussions with an unnamed Honduran Government Representative about possible military action.
The cartel responsible for the incident is allegedly, “El Nuarpe”, a particularly violent drug cartel that has been responsible for over 55 murders in Honduras and other places in Central America since last year. El Nuarpe are known to be the leading trafficer of Cocaine to the United States and Europe. They are alleged to have affiliated drug lords and cartel personel throughout Central American and maintain a private “army” funded by profits from the drug operation. The cartel has been monitored extensively by the US and other Central America nations but thus far all attempts to stifle their expanding influence has
Tim stopped reading. That was all he needed to know. His head danced with visions of death, possible danger and Mayan ruins surrounded by indigenous palm trees. He took his cell phone from his pocket and dialed another relatively unhappy and unproductive friend who also didn’t have to work and could travel at a moment’s notice. His friend was named Tim too. Sometimes it got confusing.
Tim and Tim quickly decided that they could take the first flight out on Monday. That gave them two days to prepare for the trip and pack belongings and do other things that needed to be done before one took a long trip to another country that could possibly be dangerous. Tim smiled, put away his cell phone and climbed into his car and drove back to his cabin, pleased that death and danger lurked in his future.
Tim arrived at his domicile in a not so happy state of mind. Sitting in his front driveway was an unknown vehicle with someone he knew sitting in the front seat. The person he knew was from his college, someone he had kept in touch with sporadically afterward because they drank together, were in the same fraternity and sat in rooms together in silence or talking. This persons name was Louie, but everyone called him “Lou”.
“Hey Lou, what are you up to?” Tim greeted him as if they had spoken frequently but it had been years since they last talked.
“I was in town. Thought I would stop by and see what you were up to here.” Lou always did that in college too. He would stop by unannounced and then sit inside the apartment waiting for other people to talk.
Tim remembered Lou as being as flexible and chaotic as the wind. He was always able to do things on short notice which most people would require planning and preparation for. This always made people uncomfortable.
“Tim and I are taking a trip tomorrow. Flying out tomorrow morning.” Tim said this thinking that it would urge Lou to consider the fact that he wasn’t prepared for guests and that he would need to prepare for the trip.
“Where ya headed?” Lou said with a slight Texas drawl. He could’ve been an extra in a cowboy movie if he had wanted.
“Honduras.” Tim stated matter-of-factly.
“Honduras huh?” Lou replied as if he expected Tim to somehow explain the choice of location further.
“Yeah, heading out tomorrow morning. Early,” Tim repeated so as to drive the point home.
“Well I quit my job. I have nowhere I need to be. How much are the tickets?”
Inwardly Tim groaned. Lou was one of those types who always pretended to have money even if he didn’t, as if it might miraculously appear in the interim. Tim knew plenty of people like that because Tim did always have money.
“I don’t know. Expensive. I didn’t check the ticket prices.”
“Call them back. I want to go. I’ll buy a ticket.” This was more of an order and Lou had been in the habit of giving them since long before their college days. Lou was bigger than most people and he could be mean when he wanted. Once people had seen him mean they would accommodate him so as to make sure they didn’t see it again. Tim was one of these people.
“Sure Lou.” Tim dialed the number on his cell phone and then handed the phone to Lou.
Five minutes later Tim and Lou were discussing where and when they were going as Tim began packing two of everythign so that Lou might have everything he needed on the trip that he had not planned for with Tim and Tim.
Their flight was late, delayed by the new procedures required by the government to prevent incidents that might cause explosions and losses of life of unspecified amounts. They were patient and talked of old times when they were all in college and more oblivious to the world and its sorrows.
Tim, Tim’s friend wore a polo shirt with Khaki shorts that looked very similar to the clothes he had worn twenty years ago. Both the other Tim and Louie thought this though they did not say anything. Lou roamed the halls of the airport and tried to make small talk with a flight attendant who was impressed by his charm, his eruditeness and his looks but not in that particular order. Tim spent his time, while waiting to be checked for bombs (He felt certain he didn’t look like a Muslim but acquiesced to the searches anyway.) talking on the cell phone to his accountant, his broker and his father, all of whom had the idea that flying to Honduras was not a good idea. He felt buoyed by their joint disapproval.
The heat outside was searing and baked the asphalt to the point it was soft and pliable in places where repairs had recently took place. The birds avoided it and the sky rained bullets of sunlight on the metal, people and buildings while everyone thought about global warming and the consequences of four wheeled vehicles and exhaust. Time passed in molasses, weary and halting, for all involved.
Once they finally made it on board it became apparent that Tim and Tim had been seated in first class while Lou, forced to make accommodations in financial matters, was in coach. There was some small amount of consternation about this from Lou while both Tim’s felt relieved and pleased with the result.
The plane took off as the passengers considered odds that something might go awry and felt either scared by this or secretly hoped it might happen. Mortality seemed closer for most of them and all the more real as they considered flying thousands of feet above the ground in a machine made of metal which made noises and shook enough to doubt the constitution of the manufacturing process. Prayers, hope and nervous laughs were displayed by all depending on orientation.
The plane arrived in Honduras and Tim and Tim and Lou found themselves embroiled in a civil war.
They all died that day.
The End.
