Chapter 61: True Romance

I was glad to be able to duck out of the training course for a while. It was obviously going well but I've never seen myself as a natural teacher. Besides, I'd promised to meet up with Brad.

The lounge of the Emir's castle was every bit as luxurious as I remembered it. I was sat comfortably on one of large leather sofas when the Emir emerged from another room and strode across to greet me, hand outstretched.

"Hey, Larry," he boomed. "Good to see you. Been too long."

I got to my feet and shook his hand. "Yeah, well, we've all been busy and I guess you have too."

"Always busy, Larry, always busy. You know that. Not going to build a trade network over here without plenty of work." He sat down in one of the armchairs. I took my place back on the sofa.

"So, how's it going? The trade network?"

"Yeah, OK. Some of your British companies don't seem to have worked out the benefits of exporting yet but we're getting there. Too many of them think that Kushtia is some kind of third-world economy and they might never get paid."

"Can't you do anything to reassure them?"

"Well it's difficult. There's some government help on credit guarantee but that's not the tack we're taking. We're spending more effort on convincing them that the risks are worthwhile; that the benefits outstrip the potential problems. The castle here has been a great help for that. I've got a couple of directors from a defence contractor enjoying a little Kushtian style hospitality in the castle keep at the moment. The two little Dutch dykes are putting on a show for them and they've got a couple of girls in traditional Kushtian costume who have been told that they had better see that these guys have a really good time. That seems to be helping."

I smiled. "I guess that kind of thing always helps to oil the wheels."

"Yeah, but it's more like baby oil than Brent Crude," Brad grinned. "It's an uphill struggle, though. I'm not sure whether the benefits are enough to let us keep this place open in the long term."

"That would be a shame," I said.

Brad shrugged, "Things will work out one way or another. Don't worry, I don't see our requirements for your products reducing any. Hey and thanks for advice on the National Geographic article — the fuss died down soon enough apart from one thing which I want to talk to you about. That's later though. I wanted to ask you a favour."

"Happy to help if I can," I said.

"Well, here's the thing. Lauren's getting married."

"Terrific," I said. "You must be very proud. I'd like to congratulate her."

"Ah, well. That's a bit of the problem. She doesn't actually know yet. The Kushtian way is more, like, well, arranged than over here. The girl doesn't get to choose like they do over here. And with me now working for the Ministry of Trade, I sort of have to do things the traditional way."

I could imagine that Lauren wouldn't be too impressed with the idea. "Still," I said, "I'm told a lot of arranged marriages work out well. They just have to work at getting to know one another after the wedding."

"Yeah, well, I guess so." Brad seemed embarrassed by the whole thing. "I mean I didn't really get to know her mother until after we were married. Who'd have thought she'd be the whoring, vengeful, shrew she turned out to be." He gave a wry smile. "It's just that Lauren's bridegroom-to-be probably wouldn't have been her first choice. He's one of the leaders of the Hill Tribes, from way up in the north eastern highlands. Even in Kushtia they're considered a bit, well, backward. He's an old friend of my father's and he has just been asked to become part of the Governing Council."

"Good move for you," I said. "and Lauren will probably think the whole hill top chief thing incredibly romantic."

"Oh yes, it's a good thing from my perspective," Brad responded. "Definitely. But I'm not sure Lauren will get the romantic bit. He's quite, he's not, well, really her generation. There's a bit of an age gap."

"How bad?"

"Sixty."

"Hey, I know a lot of sixty year old guys. They're still able to give a girl a good time. She shouldn't worry."

"No, not sixty years old. A sixty year gap. He's 78. And after 78 years in the Kushtian highlands you tend to get a bit grizzled."

"Hmm, I see what you mean. I'm not sure how I can help, though."

"Well, I'm not sure Lauren's going to be real happy with the idea of going back to Kushtia with her new husband. I think Freddie said you guys have some great transport arrangements for less than willing travellers."

I thought back to my first visit to the Prep Centre when Rick had shown me the despatch area and the way they used adapted cargo containers to air-freight product long haul. "Yeah, sure. We have these high class crates."

"Well, I'd like to borrow one. Plus a bit of professional help to get Lauren crated up and safe for transport. Just, sort of, if things don't work out when we tell her about going to Kushtia."

"And when does that happen?"

"Just after we announce the engagement."

From what I'd seen of Lauren I was pretty sure the crate would be needed. "I'm sure we can help," I said.

"Terrific," said Brad. "Let's hope we don't need it. Now, come and meet my future son-in-law."

I hadn't realised that Lauren's husband-to-be was already here but I was happy to follow Brad down to meet him. He was sitting down in the bar beside the castle's pool, dividing his attention between the wide screen TV and the girls swimming and diving in the pool. As he saw Brad and I approaching he got to his feet. He was short, bald, and weather beaten with skin the colour and texture of a walnut. He gave a phlegm laden cough.

"Larry, this is Kushnati Koresh, one of the Kushtian Council elders. Mr Koresh; Larry." Kushnati Koresh nodded.