Before 24 Billion and Counting

Chapter18 Part 1 Back to Hawaii - But why?

"Doris, it's Charles. He wants help. Let me talk to him and keep quiet. Sorry Charles. What's the problem."

"Glad you're back with Doris. I assume that means you're alcohol free."

"Yep. Doesn't mean we don't need sleep, so what's the fucking problem?"

"I've got to get to the Mauna Kea observatory without triggering security people. My landline is tapped and my mobile too probably. So I want you to buy me a plane trip to Kona airport Hawaii, from Auckland, and somehow drive me to the airport. I need to take a taxi to the studio to pick up a holo camera and get back here, and I need to pack my own kit. The only problem I see is you're debarred from driving."

"Not a problem old son, Joan or Doris can do that bit. So thinking about it you'll be back to your home and packed in say two hours time, and it's an hour from there to the airport so the earliest you can fly is four hours from now. Right?"

"Yes."

"Ok I can organise that. But I haven't the cash to buy tickets, the last few months have been costly and your package hasn't arrived from your company. I'm not complaining, it just hasn't got into my bank account."

I gave him my private credit card details and the serial number of my passport, and hoped he could pull it off. He was competent, knew me and the vagaries of international travel. If he failed it wouldn't be for lack of trying.

"Ok ," he said,"barring accidents I'll be there at around nine."

"If I'm not there Mabel will be in to give you coffee and biscuits, I'll leave her a note."

"Right, see you."

"Thanks Ward. I owe you."

The taxi drive to the studio was uneventful, and I asked it to wait. I let myself in with my passkey, and was checked by the face recognition camera. At the stores I could hear Sam's familiar whistle as he pottered around the shelves.

I called out, "Sam".

"Yeah," he appeared around the end of a steel shelf unit,"Oh hello Mr Berisford, you're early."

"I might say the same for you. How was the holiday?"

"Grand thanks. There's a car commercial being done today so I'm just checking the stuff they need is to hand. They always seem to need everything but the kitchen sink these petrol heads. What can I do for you?"

"I need a holo cam for I guess a week or so."

"Ok how long is the production?"

"About an hour I guess."

"You'll need at least ten hour's recording time then. I'll give you a box of discs. We've got the new series three cam in if you want it. You can edit in camera without a computer with that."

"No I'll stick to the older model - I'm familiar with the series two, they've got the bugs out of it and it's robust."

"You're right there. If you're going far from here with it, you're safer with the two, but it's a heavy lump. Where are you going Mr Berisford?"

"Confidential Sam. I'm sorry."

"Ok, Mr Berisford. Sign the release, please."

I lugged the heavy case off the counter, and regained the taxi. 

Back at home I tucked a pair of pyjamas, a toothbrush, razor, change of underwear and phone charger in the interstices around the camera, to give just the one case to carry, as cabin baggage.