Chapter 9: The Dragon’s Breath

February 1999

I decided to take advantage of the curbside check-in kiosk to avoid the long line at the ticket counter. Keeping my briefcase with my laptop inside as my carry-on, I proceeded to make my way to the American Airlines gate section for departing flights. As I walked, I felt a presence invading my space before I noticed the man, dressed in a black suit, with striking features walking along side of me. I could almost hear him breathing on my neck as we walked. He wore dark glasses, possessed a tanned complexion with sharp features and had a stride, matching me step for step. It was as if my shadow had come alive. The man kept looking over at me, as we walked. I was too intimidated to look him straight in the eye, so I avoided eye contact. When I got to our gate section, I noticed that the man was not around anymore. I did not give it much thought, only that I was glad he was not around.

Lou saw me arrive. “Amigo, glad you are here. Are you ready for some adventure?” He smiled his crooked smile, which reminded me of a pirate.

“I guess I am as ready as I will ever be. I wish there were other ways to do this. Something just doesn’t feel right.” I was right. I noticed the mysterious man appeared again. He had such strange mannerisms about him. He was always looking at you as if he knew you. Of course, he did not, but he always seemed to be looking at us when we would glance over at him. “See that guy over there?” I asked, not wanting to point. Lou already knew the man I was referring to, sitting in the terminal. “Yes, I do. I was wondering if you would notice him, amigo. He has been staring at me since I got here!” The man’s presence clearly annoyed Lou. Finally, they called overhead to start boarding our flight.

As we boarded, I noticed that Lou kept looking back, and off to each side of him. I asked, “What do you keep looking for?”

Lou just kept looking around, not saying a word. As we went on board it occurred to me that the stranger had not gotten up to get in line to board. He had remained in his seat in the airside lobby. I wondered if that was who Lou was looking for. My questions always seemed to have a habit of finding answers. As Lou and I got to our seats we noticed at the same time, the man in the black suit, so smartly dressed, seated already about four rows behind us, in a window seat. He saw us and smiled, nodding in such a way that said as much as “I see you!” He then looked away out the window. All this made me feel that this trip was a bad idea.

The plane ride was long enough, and the weather made it almost unbearable. It had started out with one of the usual Florida thunderstorms that one frequently encounters. Then it seemed like the storm followed us all the way to Colombia. The turbulence and the cramped compartment, along with breathing everyone else’s” air, had made me nauseous. Some people have a very keen sense of smell. I happen to be one of those people. Most people would say that is a good thing but to me, it is a curse. I smell everything. I smell everyone’s bad breath, body odor, and tobacco and caffeine habits. I can tell who had garlic, which had Cajun, who had drinks, etc. I was detecting these smells all the way to Colombia. I had only been to Colombia once before, but that was a long time ago. As the plane set down on the runway, my apprehension resumed, replacing my nausea. In addition to smells, I detect feelings. Let us just say that I am very much in tune with my surroundings. As a Hispanic, Lou spoke the language, making me feel a little bit more comfortable. At least I was not the only poor white gringo on this plane. There were a few others. However, with the clothes I was wearing, it would be easy to detect me as an American. What else could I do? I was an American! At least Lou could pass as a native. I stuck out like a sore thumb.