- By car?
- Yes. Why not?
- You know I hate to travel by car especially that far away. We could go by plane and get there in a few hours. That will take long boring days...
- Stop being a pain. The country is not even that big. It'll be fun. Take it as an adventure.
- That's what scares me. I remember very well what kind of adventure we had to go through the other times... and who had been screwed up in the end...
- How unfair. We always do well... at least in the end, anyway... Besides, going by car, we'll have more control of the whole trip. The intention is to rest and to have some fun. Let's drive all the way down just along the coast. We stop on the way, when we're tired, and we'll just do whatever we want.
The young man wearing glasses looked at his friend, not at all convinced that the argument was sustainable. It might have been a good idea, but he already knew what kind of adventures they were getting into. But the other man, totally thrilled with the idea, was not going to be demoted of it, so easily. He knew he was going to lose his argument, so he gave up without even saying it out loud.
- I've already received the confirmation of the permission to go on a leave. We will have two whole weeks, just to rest and do whatever we want to. I already rented a car... And, of course, we'll take the tent along with us, in case we need it, if we cannot find where to stay, anytime. It can be even cheaper if we camp sometimes and sleep in the tent for a night nor two.
- Why do you always do these things without telling me first?
- If I’d told you, you would start with unnecessary arguments and excuses, and it would take me much longer, until I got authorization and started the booking process and stuff.
- See?
- That's why I moved on. So you just have to pack your rucksack and enjoy it.
The other man threw himself into the bed of the room that they shared in the army barracks. He knew his friend was right, in a way. They needed holidays and a good and nice rest. Whenever they went out together, however, something unusual happened, leaving them with more action than they needed. This time, however, he did not feel that apprehension he felt on previous times, which seemed to be a good sign.
- I give up arguing with you! When are we going?
- In the morning. We must leave early to enjoy the day. The car is already available.
The young man got up and looked at the other one with a desperate look. He would not even have time to get used to the idea. He would barely have time to stuff his backpack in. At least they'd have a break from the army life... And they deserved those two weeks of rest. Now, however, he had to hurry and get ready.
Amazing how his mind worked at high speed when he was under pressure.
All he had to do was put a few clothes in - they were going to be on the beach longer than anywhere else - sunblock, a hat, shorts and flip flops... What else?
The room seemed more vivacious and full of life, in that momentary burst of luggage packing.
The young soldier stood by the window and closed his eyes. A soft, cool night breeze brushed his cheek. For a moment it seemed he could already feel the soft white sand touching his toes and the refreshing water of the sea washing his legs...
A hot and dry day, as the summer days should be, dawned behind the hills in an explosion of warm colours. The two friends were all dressed up and ready to leave and their backpacks were placed in the back of the rented car. They would stop at the first service station down the road and have a quick breakfast, so they did not waste much time. They did not want to get to the beach too late in the morning. The first part of the trip should take around three hours to the coast, where they would start driving down the sea shore, going southbound.
A little more than three hours later, standing in front of the mouth of the river, the two young men inhaled the pleasant salty air of the sea and the river. Nature was calm and inviting. In fact, it did not even require a special invitation for the two of them to go down to the beach and dive into the water.
- That's what I call life! No worries about tomorrow... or the day after tomorrow...
- Ahahah ... you bet. And we do not have any type of schedules for anything. It's good to rest from the rigidity of the Army, at least once in a while.
- By the way, I'm hungry. Let's have a bite to eat and then take some time off before we hit the road.
- We can continue the trip later or tomorrow only. We are not in a hurry. It's so good here and it's quiet enough...
- Let's see if we can get a place to sleep at one of the local inns tonight then. We can enjoy the day, go to sleep when we want and go back to the road tomorrow morning.
- OK. Sounds good to me.
A nice plate of grilled fish, accompanied by a ripe white wine, very fresh, followed by a mango mousse and a strong coffee, were enough to leave the young men satisfied and in very good frame of mind.
The night was quite pleasant, with no wind, although it was not hot. The two had chosen a restaurant with a terrace facing the sea, not far from the inn, where they would spend the night before going back to hit the road next morning.
- It was a good thing deciding to stay here tonight. I like this quietness here. For me, we can even stay longer.
- I know. But if we do not continue the trip, we may miss seeing more interesting things on the way... We can come back earlier and spend another night or two here again anyway.
- That's not a bad idea at all...
- Let's go for a walk on the beach and enjoy this lovely evening. I need to walk a little after all this food and wine... I’m so full…
- I give up arguing with you! When are we going?
- In the morning. We must leave early to enjoy the day. The car is already available.
The young man got up and looked at the other one with a desperate look. He would not even have time to get used to the idea. He would barely have time to stuff his backpack in. At least they'd have a break from the army life... And they deserved those two weeks of rest. Now, however, he had to hurry and get ready.
Amazing how his mind worked at high speed when he was under pressure.
All he had to do was put a few clothes in - they were going to be on the beach longer than anywhere else - sunblock, a hat, shorts and flip flops... What else?
The room seemed more vivacious and full of life, in that momentary burst of luggage packing.
The young soldier stood by the window and closed his eyes. A soft, cool night breeze brushed his cheek. For a moment it seemed he could already feel the soft white sand touching his toes and the refreshing water of the sea washing his legs...
***
A hot and dry day, as the summer days should be, dawned behind the hills in an explosion of warm colours. The two friends were all dressed up and ready to leave and their backpacks were placed in the back of the rented car. They would stop at the first service station down the road and have a quick breakfast, so they did not waste much time. They did not want to get to the beach too late in the morning. The first part of the trip should take around three hours to the coast, where they would start driving down the sea shore, going southbound.
A little more than three hours later, standing in front of the mouth of the river, the two young men inhaled the pleasant salty air of the sea and the river. Nature was calm and inviting. In fact, it did not even require a special invitation for the two of them to go down to the beach and dive into the water.
***
- That's what I call life! No worries about tomorrow... or the day after tomorrow...
- Ahahah ... you bet. And we do not have any type of schedules for anything. It's good to rest from the rigidity of the Army, at least once in a while.
- By the way, I'm hungry. Let's have a bite to eat and then take some time off before we hit the road.
- We can continue the trip later or tomorrow only. We are not in a hurry. It's so good here and it's quiet enough...
- Let's see if we can get a place to sleep at one of the local inns tonight then. We can enjoy the day, go to sleep when we want and go back to the road tomorrow morning.
- OK. Sounds good to me.
***
A nice plate of grilled fish, accompanied by a ripe white wine, very fresh, followed by a mango mousse and a strong coffee, were enough to leave the young men satisfied and in very good frame of mind.
The night was quite pleasant, with no wind, although it was not hot. The two had chosen a restaurant with a terrace facing the sea, not far from the inn, where they would spend the night before going back to hit the road next morning.
- It was a good thing deciding to stay here tonight. I like this quietness here. For me, we can even stay longer.
- I know. But if we do not continue the trip, we may miss seeing more interesting things on the way... We can come back earlier and spend another night or two here again anyway.
- That's not a bad idea at all...
- Let's go for a walk on the beach and enjoy this lovely evening. I need to walk a little after all this food and wine... I’m so full…
They paid the bill and got up.
A white van stopped in the street outside the restaurant, unnoticed by both of them. On its side, painted in red, the three letters, N.M.E., called no more attention than the vehicle itself.
The two men went down the three roughly cut granite steps and began to walk along the shoreline, with their flip-flops in one hand and a newly purchased beer can in the other. Despite the pleasant evening, the beach was almost deserted, which was no impediment for a healthy walk.
A flash of lightning struck the sky from the front of them, drawing their attention, especially as the sky seemed clean and starry. It looked like a small comet, but it seemed to be very low. The sound of something hard hitting the sea, right behind where they came from, made them stop and look back.
The light from the poles reflected on the strange metallic object, floating in the salty water and swaying with the waves, still smoking, not far from where they were.
The two did not hesitate and dropped their flip-flops and beer cans, jumping into the water and swimming with energy, toward the smouldering object. A few meters away, other men also got into the sea at the same time and with the same intention. The two groups arrived together to where the metal capsule was and joining forces began to drag it to the beach.
The two friends did not pay much attention to the other men who helped them in the rescue, thinking they were random passers-by, who noticed their efforts and decided to help, being as curious as they were.
They could not be more mistaken...
***
- Hey! Are you all right?
- I think so. What happened?
- You slept on the beach. You must have been very drunk.
- What? No!
The man wearing glasses was nauseous and his head was very sore. He looked like he had a horrible hangover, but he could not remember drinking that much.
The fishermen found the two young men asleep on the beach when they were on their way to the sea. The men were only in shorts and seemed to be cold because they were bent like babies. The sun was still a thin, pale band of light rising up on the horizon in the pleasant cool summer morning. Next to their bodies there were a few empty beer cans.
-What happened to the metal sphere we took out of the sea?
- Did you take drugs?
- Of course not! We took the ball out of the water, with the help of some men. We thought they were fishermen or tourists...
- You'd better tell another story, if anyone asks. This one will not get you out of trouble. Are you staying around here?
- At the boarding house.
The men laughed.
- Then you have just lost the cost of the daily rate sleeping on the beach. If you're okay, better go back to the boarding house and take a good shower and dress clean clothes. You are covered in sand and stinking of sweat and alcohol.
The two guys picked up their belongings scattered on the beach, thanked the fishermen and went up the street, towards their quarters. A red mark on their backs went completely unnoticed until they were alone, after taking a good warm shower and getting dressed to continue the journey.
- What is it? There is a red mark on your back. It looks like it’s burned out.
- You have one too, but yours is closer to the side... How strange! It looks like an electric burn... something like a... a Taser, maybe?
The two soldiers looked at each other and began to suspect that there was more mystery than they could have imagined in that story.
- We were knocked over and left on the beach. Those men…
- ... They robbed us ... They were thieves!
- Do you think they were mere thieves? And by stealing what they did, they took what was not ours... So why did they help us?
- We were used to help get that ball out of the water. Our help was used, because we were at hand. What was it that was so important in that metallic sphere?
- I do not know, but I do NOT want to know. Let's get ourselves out of here as soon as possible. I know this look... You're starting to think about putting us in big trouble. Let's go before it gets too late to come back.
The young man was frowning and his mind was working at high speed. He repeated the thought aloud.
- What could there be, so interesting or important, in that sphere, that led them to take us down and remove it from here, but not before making us look like two drunks lying on the beach? Why the concern in making us look like junky fools?
- Think. If we were drunk or drugged we could tell any story and that would be taken as a hallucination... no one would ever believe in us.
- It is true…
- But if for all intents and purposes we are only tourists on holidays, why would anyone be so concerned about making fools out of ourselves?
- That's what we need to find out.
- Oh! No, no and no! We are on holidays and we will not look for trouble. It's not right and it's not fair.
- What is wrong is to get out of here, leaving the idea that we are two junkies, who tell lies and sleep drugged on the beach... It's a matter of honour. Imagine if the army knows that...
***
- The car's ready. I got my lunch and my backpack. We just need to check out and leave.
- I'll finish packing mine too. You can go down to the reception, to check out and I'll follow soon, then.
A few minutes later, when he came down with his backpack in hand, the man wearing glasses did not see his friend. When asked about him, the maid attending the reception informed that he was talking to two men and that the three of them went out in a white van.
- And he did not leave me a message?
- He did not say anything when he left with the two men after paying the bill. He still looked back, before getting into the van, but he did not look worried. For all that matters, I remember that there were three letters painted in red on the side: N.M.E.
- And now, this one! Where did he go?
As he walked out in the direction of the car, which was parked in front of the boarding house, the young man noticed that the front tire was flat. He looked around to see if he could see anyone. At that hour of the morning, even before the sun was any far above the horizon, the streets were still empty. He walked around the car and opened the trunk, taking out the spare tire, the wheel wrench and the jack, with feelings varying between the angry and the confused.
As he bent down to begin unscrewing the tire locking nuts, he heard a noise behind him and felt someone touch his arm. Even before he could see who was behind him, he felt a sting in the back of his neck and everything went black immediately.
