Alberta Clipper (41 page)

Ma
t
t didn’t move in his seat.  “She told you?”

Mark was beginning to feel a little disingenuous.  “She met Zoë’s father.  By accident.”  Mark hoped that he wasn’t being disloyal.  “She was very upset.  And, and I happened to be there.”

Matt closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.  “I suspected something had happened,” he said at last.  “Her sister had been asking her to visit her for months.  But she,” he stopped.  “She visits that grave every week.  She can’t let it go.”  Matt pressed his eyes with his fingers, before looking up suddenly.  “I’m so shocked she told you.  I don’t think she’s ever told anyone.”

Before Mark could say anything, Petra reappeared at the door.  “Mark, you need to get going if you are going to make that flight to Heathrow.”

“Yes.”  Mark stood.  “Look Matt, stay here.  Amanda and Petra will keep you informed as to any update.  Our best source is the Singapore office.  They’ll have better information from their embassy in Bangkok.  As soon as I know my travel plans, I’ll let you know.”

Matt stood.  “Thank you Mark,” was all he could say.

“I’ll get to her,” Mark said.  “One way or
the other.  I’ll get to her.”

“So I should be in Delhi at seven
AM
local time.  And then, well then I’m not sure yet.  The travel agent said that some flights are being diverted to Don Muang.”

“Where’s that?” 
Nina
sounded distressed.

“It’s in Bangkok.  It’s the old airport.  Apparently they’ve opened it to some international flights while all this is going on.”

“Right.”

“Otherwise, I’ll get a flight to Chiang Mai.”  Mark rubbed his eyes.  “But that’ll mean I have to get a twelve hour train ride to Bangkok.  Not ideal.”

“Jesus
,
Mark.  None of it’s ideal.”

“I know.  Anyway, how are you holding up?  It’s great news about Lucy.”

The phone went quiet, and for a moment Mark thought he had lost the connection.  But then he heard
Nina
take a sharp breath.  “I just can’t believe it, Mark.  It’s been such a nightmare.  But we’ll have her home tomorrow.  And she’s in such good form.  She’s keen to get home of course, but thank God she’s, she’s -”  The phone crackled, and
Nina
sniffed loudly.  “But poor Christine.  What must she be going through.”

Mark turned to lift his bag down from the seat he had left it on, as a large Asian family began to congregate next to him.  The mother smiled at Mark, and nodded her head in thanks.

“I know,
Nina
.”  Mark rested his elbows
on his knees, staring at the hard-wearing grey carpet on the floor.  “I actually feel sick.”

“But Mark,”
Nina
spoke quietly.  “I have to ask you.  Did anything happen between the two of you since New Year’s Eve?  I mean, don’t get me wrong.  If you think you should go to Bangkok, then you should go to Bangkok.  But, it’s just -” 
Nina
sounded like she was spending time choosing her words.

“I love her,
Nina
,” Mark interrupted her.  “And regardless of how she feels, I have to go.  I just can’t not go.”

Nina
was silent for a moment.  “I’m glad you’re going,” she said at last.  “You’re right to.  I just wish I was there to give you a hug.”

“I do too,” he laughed.  “But you have enough to be worrying about.  I’ll phone
Shay
from Delhi when I know what I’m doing.”

“Okay.  Take care Mark.  I mean that.”

“I know.  I will.”

~

“Petra.  It’s Mark.  Can you hear me?”

“Yes Mark.  How was your flight?  Did you get my text?”

“Yeah.  So it’s Air India?  And it’s flying into Don Muang?”

“Yes.  Although -”

“Although what?”

“Lorraine at the travel agency said that she couldn’t be one hundred percent sure that it will actually fly.  They’ve routed a number of flights to Don Muang but not all of them are actually taking off.  And a few of them were diverted to other airports at the last minute.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake.  Okay.  Look, I’ll pick up my ticket and get to the gate.  That’s all I can do.”

“Okay Mark.  I’m sorry I can’t do more.”

“No, no Petra.  You’ve been great.  It must be the middle of the night there in Dublin?  I really appreciate all this.”

“It’s not a problem, Mark.  And there’s been no change in the situation at the airport?  At least it seems that way from the TV here.”

“I do
n’t think so.
I’m going to call Henry Lee once I get my ticket.”

“Okay.  Well, you should hurry.  The flight is due to leave at nine-thirty local time.  And it must be -”

“It’s seven-thirty now.”

“Right, well good luck Mark.”

“Okay Petra.  Thanks again.”

~

“Mark?  It’s Henry Lee.

“Henry.  Where are you?”

“I’m still in Singapore.  At Changi.  I’m about to get on a plane to Don Muang.”

“Henry, I really appreciate all your help.”

“No, no Mark.  We are all worried too.  Christine’s very popular here. 
My staff
are very
concerned
.  They’re on my case.”

“Look, my flight is just boarding.  I should be there by three this afternoon?  If it lands there, that is.  Have you any more news on what’s going on?  Has there been any change?”

“Not really Mark.  But the Prime Minister is meeting a representative of the protesting group this morning.  I’m hopeful that it could all be resolved.”

“How hopeful?  You don’t sound hopeful Henry.  And what if they don’t resolve it?  What then?  It could escalate.  There’s already at least one person hurt.”

“Yes, but not a tourist, Mark.  The only injuries have been to the protestors themselves.  Overstepping their mark with the security staff, most likely.”

“But if the talks don’t go well?”

“We can never be sure in situations like this, Mark.  You know how these things can go.  I’m sorry I can’t be more, upbeat.”

“Yeah.  So am I.  Look, I’ll see you in Don Muang.  Wait for me in the arrivals hall.  Keep your phone on.”

~

“Mr. Harrington?  I’m sorry to disturb you.  But you were anxious to hear any news from Bangkok?”

“Yes.  Was I asleep?  God.  Is there, has something happened?  Is there news?”

“Yes.  It’s good news.  It seems that the situation has been resolved.  The protest is over.  The airport is open again.  Not for air traffic yet, but the people are free to go.  Yes?  You wanted to know?”

Mark stared at the kind face of the air stewardess.  He reached out across the man sitting quietly next to him and took her hand and squeezed it.  “Thank you,” he said, and she nodded and drew her hand away.

Mark looked out of the small window beside him.  He stared out at the cloud horizon which was illuminated with the purest of white lights.

“Thank you,” he said again.

~

Their yellow and green taxi-cab moved at pace as it entered the airport with Henry and Mark bouncing along in the back seat.  Traffic in the opposite direction flowed, unfettered, like water from a broken dam as those who had been trapped at the airport, some for three days and nights, made their escape.

“She’s not picking up.”  Mark looked at his phone to see if the problem might be with his signal.

“She may still have no charge,” Henry said calmly to him.  “Just leave us here,” he ordered the taxi driver.  “Here is fine.”

Mark jumped from the taxi, leaving Henry to negotiate the fare.  He didn’t even know what part of the terminal they were at.  He looked around for a sign, but all he could see were throngs of people.  The air of panic was palpable.  Rather than the usual welcome hugs, exhausted looking men and women were being greeted aggressively by red-eyed parents and spouses.  He could see that inside the building was the same, the many conspicuous armed policemen adding another layer of anxiety to the chaos.  Mark felt a hand on his back and Henry guided him through the glass doors, into the cold embrace of the conditioned air.  The drop in temperature soothed him.   They looked around, unsure how to proceed.  Then Mark’s phone buzzed in his hand.  A second later, Henry’s rang too, and the two men turned from each other, fingers stuck in their exposed ears.

“Mark?  Mark, can you hear me?  It’s
Shay
.  Mark?”

“
Shay
?  Yes.  I’m here now.”

“Mark, I can barely hear you.  Listen.  She’s okay.  She phoned her father.  Mark, can you hear me?”

Mark took a moment to allow the relief wash over him.  It seemed to relax every part of his body, his heart, his stomach, every muscle.

“Mark?”

“Yes.  Yes, I’m here.”

“Her father said that she’s flying on to Sydney.  The flight leaves tomorrow morning.  It’s one of the first out.  That’s what he said.  Mark?”

“Okay,
Shay
, I hear you.  I’m here now.  At the airport.  I’m going to go now.  I’ll call you later.”

“Okay.  Mark, are you okay?”

Mark stood with his bag at his feet, being pushed and jostled by anxious people around him.

“I am now
,
Shay
.  I am now.”

~

“I’m very glad Christine is okay.”

Mark looked at Henry properly for the first time in over an hour, when he had met him in Don Muang airport and Henry had hustled him into
the
waiting taxi.  “Henry.  I don’t know what to say.  Thank you.  I’d have been – it was great to have you here.”

“Well,” Henry blushed, “you didn’t need me in the end.  And I’m glad.”  The two men nodded.  “My Thai is not that great anyway.”  Mark looked at him, and they laughed.  “As I say,” Henry looked serious again, “we are all very fond of Christine.  We are all glad she is okay now.”

They stood awkwardly for a moment.

“I’m going to go through,” Mark said.  “I’ll book a flight, and then try and find her at the departure gates.”

“You think you will?”  Henry looked doubtfully at the throngs of people around them. 

“I don’t know,” Mark was suddenly exhausted.  “But I have to try.  And I have to get a flight out of here anyway.”  He focused suddenly on Henry.  “What will you do?  Are you going to fly back now too?”

“No,” Henry looked at Mark like he was mad.  “I’ll let this calm down.  I have friends in Bangkok.  I had planned to stay with them tonight.  You too,” he grinned at Mark as i
f it
might have been a fun night out
,
had the situation been different.  “I’ll stay with them.  Tomorrow too, if necessary.  I can fly back on Monday.  CarltonWachs will survive a day without me.”

Mark nodded.  He wanted desperately to get going.  He was so close now.  He just wanted to see her.  To hold her.  To confirm that she really was okay.

“Go.  We’ll talk again.  Call me if you need anything.”  The two men shook hands.  “You are due a trip to the Singapore office I think?  Although,” Henry almost laughed at his own suggestion.

“I might get this trip over first,” Mark smiled.  “But thanks
,
Henry.  We’ll talk soon.”

It was strangely straightforward to buy a flight ticket considering what had been going on over the past three days at the airport.  Mark queued at the Qantas desk for less than twenty minutes to be told that he could book a seat on a flight to Sydney the next day.  And yes, that it was the only flight as yet scheduled to leave the airport to Sydney the next morning, although it was likely that there would be more announced later.  And that whereas, of course Sir couldn’t be told if a Ms. Christine Grogan was booked on that same flight, considering what everyone had been through over the past few days, Sir was very likely to find that yes, a Ms. Grogan would be on that particular flight to Sydney. 

Mark took his ticket and headed straight for the departure gates.  The security checking area was absurdly quiet.  As he removed his shoes from a plastic screening bucket and stooped to tie his laces, he started to sweat.  He had no idea what to expect when he found her.  If he found her.  He couldn’t even work out what time it was.  Was it Saturday?  It felt like he had been travelling
for
weeks, but he had only left Dublin the previous afternoon.  He looked at his watch, and then at his
BlackBerry
.  One said eleven-twenty
AM
, the other four-fifty
PM
.  He couldn’t remember if he had changed the time on his watch, and he didn’t know if his
BlackBerry
had adjusted itself for Bangkok yet.  It might still be on Delhi time.