CHAPTER 17
Eureka's POV
TOMORROW MORNING ARRIVED. Before the sun rises at the east, gising na agad kaming lima. Yes, inagahan talaga namin ang paggising dahil in-expect na namin na matatagalan kami sa gagawin namin ngayong araw.
Time skipped, then I found myself stepping downstairs behind with my club-mates. Nakarating kami sa ground floor ng hotel, saka kami dumiretso palabas ng exit nito.
As we made our way out of that hotel, we immediately searched for a waiting-shed, a bus-stop, rather, where we can temporarily spend our time while waiting for a ride.
"Hay~ it's too early!" Suzy yawned and sat down on a metal bench built in this bus-stop-shed.
Kasalukuyan kaming nakatengga sa silong ng isang waiting-shed sa gilid ng kalsada, naghihintay ng isang bus na pupwedeng masakyan.
'Di kasi katulad sa Pilipinas na kung sa'n-sa'n ka mapadpad ay may makikita kang jeep. Dito kasi ay mailap lang ang mga gano'ng transportation. Bus, train, and taxi cab ang gamit na pang-commute dito at walang jeep... Ibang-iba sa'king kinlakhang bansa. Ibang-iba.
May ilang pedestrians ang napapadaan sa direksyon ng waiting-shed na tinatambayan namin, sa ngayon. Hindi pa gano'n karami ang mga tao dito sa labas ng kalsada. Nakakapanibago dahil mga foreign citizens ang mga 'yon... Hindi sanay na makakita ang mata ko ng mga Kano. Hehe.
"Sa'n ang punta natin?" tanong naman ni Neil habang nakahawak sa strap ng kaniyang bitbit na backpack.
Sa'ming lima, siya lang 'tong nag-abalang magdala ng bag. Tsk.
"Sa dock. Maghahanap ng pwedeng mapag-rerentahang sasakyang dagat na magdadala sa'tin sa gitna ng North Atlantic Ocean," Genesis casually answered.
Napakamot ng ulo si Neil nang marinig ang sagot nito. "Meron kayang magpapa-renta sa'tin ng sasakyan? For what I know, kalat sa lugar na 'to ang issue tungkol sa Bermuda Triangle. Tingin n'yo may magpapahiram sa'tin ng sasakyan 'pag nalaman nilang d'on ang punta natin?"
"Well," Ele mumbled. "There's only one way to find out."
After the little chitchats, sa wakas ay may tumigil na bus sa tapat ng waiting-shed kung saan kami naghihintay. Of course, sumakay kami sa bus na 'yon at bumyahe tungo sa'ming destinasyon.
* * *
A WHILE LONGER, we found ourselves tracing the way towards the wharf. The "wharf" is a place or a flat structure built along the seashore, where some ships or marine vehicles can load and unload passengers or cargoes.
Medyo payapa pa ang mga alon sa dagat nang makarating kami sa wharf. Hindi naman gano'n karami ang mga tao rito. Actually, kaunti lang ang mga taong nakakasalubong namin dito. I don't know if they're passengers or one of those marine crafts owners.
Many watercrafts were parked beside the dock's wooden platform. Lumapit kami roon upang silipin ang iba't ibang klase ng crafts na nakalutang sa gilid ng daungan.
May maliliit at malalaking crafts. May yacht, may jetski, may windjammer, at iba pa! Each and every crafts has different sorts of designs. May ibang magaganda, pero may iba ring maluma-luma na.
"Hm... Which one should we rent?" I asked while roaming my eyes around the wharf.
"Gusto ko 'yun oh!" Sabay turo ni Suzy sa isang puti at makintab na yate. "So fancy! I wanna drive that one! It looks so cool! Hihihi!"
"You can't drive, Suzy. By any chance, the craft's owner shall provide us private pilot as we rented one of these sailboats," Neil reminded.
Nag-pout naman si Suz at sinamaan ng tingin ang cyber-geek. "Of course I can! That is... if we won't let the owner knows that I'll be piloting his or her own boat. Right?"
"Naughty girl," Neil hissed and ruffles Suzy's hair.
"Hey! Hey! Ano ba?! Magugulo 'yung buhok ko!" angil naman ni Suzy, sabay hampas sa kamay ni Neil.
Natawa na lang kami ni Genesis sa inasal nilang dalawa. Si Ele naman ay umiling na lang at muling tumingin-tingin sa mga crafts.
Naglakad-lakad ulit kami habang pinagmamasdan ang samu't saring mga sasakyang pandagat na narito sa daungan.
Habang naglalakad, isang amerikanong ginoo ang lumapit sa'min at nagpakilala.
"Excuse me," he said. "I just noticed you recently. Are you looking for a sailboat to be borrowed?"
"Ah... Yes." Ele faced that man with his formal posture. "Are you one of the owners? Can you lend us a hand to find a good craft?"
Napaka-fluent ng pagi-english niya. Nakakamangha.
"Oh, yes! Yes! I'm one of the owners. The name's Fred Halton. But you can call me Fred."
Nakipag-kamay 'yung nagpakilalang Fred sa club leader namin. Nang maghiwalay ang kanilang mga palad, saka muling nagsalita si Ele.
"So, uh, Fred... What craft could you suggest for us?"
"Well, it depends..." Fred answered. "But before anything else, I would like to show you, first, my own property boats."
Nagliwanag ang mga mukha namin nang sabihin 'yun ni Fred. Suddenly, we felt excited and honored, as well, to behold a new owned craft.
"We would be delighted!" Suzy gladly replied.
Dahil doon, mas lumaki ang ngiti sa mukha ni Fred. "That's good. Now, follow me. This way."
The craft owner, Fred, led the way as the five of us tail him from behind. Naglakad kami sa mahabang wooden platform ng dock.
Marami kaming nadaanang mga marine crafts. Marami rin kaming nakasalubong na mga foreign people. Mahaba-haba ang nilakad namin, sa totoo lang.
Hanggang sa mayamaya pa't huminto na kami sa bandang dulo na nitong wharf, kung sa'n nakaparada sa gilid ng daungan ang dalawang makikinang na yacht, saka isang chopper... Yes, a chopper... na naka-park sa ibabaw mismo at nasa pinakadulo ng dock's platform.
"Viola!" Fred proudly presented. "These two watercrafts are for rent. Even that helicopter is also for rent."
Turo niya sa dalawang makikinang na yate, maging sa chopper na nasa dulo ng platform.
"How much's the cost if we rent this for a whole day?" Genesis asked, scanning his eyes at the couple white yachts in front of us.
"Those yachts? 2000 US dollars for a whole day," Fred simply responds.
2000? Eksakto na 'yong price na 'yun kung tutuusin. Pero hindi ko lang alam kung pasok ba ang gano'n kalaking pera sa budget namin?
"2000, huh? Do you have anything lower than that?" Ele frowned.
Napakamot ng sentido naman si Fred, saka nito tinuro ang chopper na naka-park sa kaniyang likuran. "That helicopter is worth 1500 US dollars for one day rent."
Dahil doon, lahat ng mga mata namin ay nabaling mula sa yate 'tungo sa lumang chopper na tinutukoy ni Fred.
"Why is it cheaper than these two?" Neil questioned, comparing the yachts and the chopper.
"Hmm, honestly, this helicopter is a bit older than those watercrafts," Fred stated. "That's why it costs a little downer."
Napatango na lamang kami bilang pag-intindi sa tipid na paliwanag nito.
"I think it's better if we take the helicopter," I suggested, saka ako bumaling sa apat kong co-members. "It's worth manageable than the yachts and it seems working just fine."
"No worries. My helicopter is problem free. It still functions very well," Fred assured.
Tapping his chin by his fingers, Ele lightly nods his head. "Right. I think I'll go with Eureka's suggestion."
"Me either," Suzy also agreed with me. "We're running out of time. H'wag na tayong magpaka-choosy pa 'no? At saka, mukha namang maayos pa 'yang helicopter na 'yan eh."
Napatango na lang rin Neil. "Fine by me."
And Genesis, likewise. "Game rin ako d'yan."
Matapos namin mapagkasunduan ang aming ire-rent na sasakyan, saka kami muling bumaling sa owner.
"We'll go with that helicopter," Ele remarked, pointing out the chopper right next to Mister Fred Halton.
Tumango naman si Fred, bago 'to sumulyap sa kaniyang chopper at binalik ang paningin sa'ming lima.
"Okay, sure," he casually said. "Also, you don't have waste time searching for the aviator, 'cause I'm gonna be your pilot."
Pagkasabi ni Fred n'on, saka niya inilabas ang isang susi mula sa kaniyang bulsa, bago nito pinaikot-ikot ang lace ng susing iyon sa kaniyang daliring hintuturo.
That key, perhaps, is the chopper's key!
"Just tell me what time do you wanna rent my helicopter and how far will our flight distance gonna be, hm 'key?" Fred said.
"Sure," our club leader replied. "Do you mind if I'll tell you that we need to rent your property, now? As in, now. Now."
"Now?" Fred innocently asked, raising his eyebrows upwards.
Mabilis naman kaming tumango bilang pagtugon ng oo. Yes, we need it right now!
"Don't worry. We'll pay first, of course," Genesis assured.
Fred, leaving no other choice, just shrugged his shoulders. "Well then, if that's what my customers want. I'll do it."
Nice.
"By the way, where shall we be heading to?" the owner, Fred, questioned us. "I mean, I'll be your pilot. So that means I must know where shall I take my passengers, right?"
"Oh! That's easy," Suzy said. "You just have to fly the helicopter from here towards the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. Say, the coordinates are 25° North and 71° West."
"To be specific..." Neil butts in as he clicked something on his iPad. "...the coordinates lie here."
At saka niya iniharap ang kaniyang iPad kay Fred. Kung saan naka-flash sa screen nito ang picture ng mismong location ng nasabing coordinates.
As Fred saw what Neil just presented, surprised was drawn within the owner's face.
"No way..." Pailing-iling na sabi ni Fred habang nakatitig sa iPad ng co-member namin. Isinilid pa niya pabalik sa bulsa ang susi na kanina'y pinaiikot niya sa kaniyang daliri. Then, he gulped.
At that moment, I unintentionally saw a hint of fear in Fred's eyes.
"No, no, no. I'm sorry, but if you want to charter that sea area, please, not in my properties."
Umiling ulit si Fred at bahagyang umatras. Dahil sa inakto niya, siyempre, dinapuan kami ng kaunting pagtatakha. Although we already have a clue why he reacts that way.
"That's the deadliest part of the Atlantic Ocean," Fred straightforwardly said, pinpointing Neil's iPad screen. "The Devil's Triangle. If you want to go there, then better find a new owner or a new craft. Not mine."
"But... could you just give us a chance--"
"My apology. But to be honest, I wanna live a longer, life" Fred cut me off by his emphasized words. "Please. If you really have to sail onto that so-called coordinates, I can't let you borrow my helicopter. Neither both of my yachts. It is too dangerous. I'm warning you."
Mukhang seryoso si Fred sa mga sinasabi niya. Aware na naman kami na delikado ang Bermuda Triangle. Pero 'di namin in-expect na gan'to kalaki ang takot ng mga tao sa area ng karagatang 'yon.
Weird.
Neil faced back his gadget, turned it off, and returned it inside of his backpack. Genesis, on the other hand, released a deep breath. Suzy seems disappointed. Ele's face never change a single bit- blank and cold.
"Can you think about it twice, Mister Fred Halton?" I gave him my pleading look. "Because we really need your crafts for a serious mission!"
I tried to sound formal, hoping that I might convince him. But it turns out... His answer remains the same.
Again, umiling si Fred bilang pag-ayaw. "I am really sorry. But I have to stay back-out from our deal. No thanks. I can't let you borrow my properties."
Umakmang magwo-walk out si Fred mula sa'ming lima. Ngunit bago pa man siya lumagpas sa'min, bigla na lang humarang si Gen sa dinaraanan nito.
"Wait, sir!" Genesis uttered as he faced Mister Fred.
"I told you. I can't let you borrow any of my properties. So, please..." Fred, the owner, calmly yet firmly stated.
"Hm, really?" Genesis said with a simper on his face, standing in front of the craft owner. "Maybe if I entertain you, you might change your decision."
What the heck is he planning to do?!
"What?" Fred asked, frowning cluelessly.
Maging kaming apat ay nagtataka sa kinikilos ng aming co-member.
But Gen didn't reply. Surprisingly, instead, he grabbed out a single card between his index and his middle finger. Genesis faced the card to Mister Fred, revealing that our co-member holds a three-of-spade card.
Kung sa'n nakuha ni Genesis ang card na iyon? Well, it's not shocking at all, 'cause we're all aware that Gen loves to bring his cards' deck in his pocket wherever he goes.
"Lo and behold!" Genesis chanted, as if hypnotizing Mister Fred by the card between his fingers. "With just one snap, this card shall change fate."
Nanatili namang nakatutok si Fred sa barahang hawak ni Gen. Kaming apat ay nanatiling walang kibo habang nakatitig sa ginagawa nila.
No one dares to make any noise. Until... Snap!
Genesis snapped his unoccupied fingers from his other hand, thus, with just a blink of an eye... The three-of-spade card that's clipped between Gen's fingers instantly became five-of-hearts card.
Magic trick, huh?
Gusto kong pumalakpak dahil sa card-magic-trick na ginawa ni Genesis! Napakagaling niya talaga pagdating sa mga gan'yang bagay! Kahit alam kong may hidden tricks iyon, nakakamangha pa rin talaga.
"Oh, see? Amazing, right?" Gen confidently said, still encouraging Mister Fred by his cardicisian skill.
But the owner just stares at Genesis with such dismay. "Sorry. But my answer is still a big no. No!"
Pasiring na binawi ni Fred ang kaniyang titig mula kay Genesis at umastang magwo-walk out. Aksidenteng nagbanggaan pa ang mga balikat nina Mister Fred at Gen, pero walang nag-sorry sa kanila. Tuloy-tuloy lang kaming nilagpasan ni Mister Fred Halton bago ito tuluyan nakalakad palayo. Pinanood lang namin siya hanggang sa siya'y tuluyan nang lumisan sa wharf.
Fred just vanished from our sights.
Gayunpaman, naiwan kaming lima sa dulo ng dock's platform. Kaming lima lang mismo, kasama ang mga yate't chopper na narito sa daungan.
May ibang mga tao naman sa paligid, ngunit wala silang pakialam sa'min. Kumbaga, may sari-sarili silang mundo at business na inaasikaso, kaya parang hangin lang ang presensiya namin sa paningin nila.
There was silence.
"The owner refused us..." Suzy said, out of the sudden, resting her hand on her slim waist. "Now what?"
Yeah, so, now what? What're we gonna do? Stand here and wait for a miracle?
"Shall we find another owner? Perhaps some of them will let us use one of their crafts?" Neil suggested, without assurance.
"Hm, maybe?" I cited. "But the way it seems, mukhang hindi natin madaling makukumbinsi ang mga tao rito na dalhin tayo sa gitnang part ng North Atlantic Ocean. They're all aware about the danger of Bermuda Triangle."
"You're right." Ngumiwi si Suzy at umirap. "I didn't expect this to be this hard."
"You don't have to worry for anything," Ele suddenly interjects.
Dahil sa sinabi niya, kaming tatlo nila Suzy at Neil ay nagtataka siyang nilingon. Then we gave him a "what-are-you-talking-about?!" look.
Pero imbes na sumagot, nagpamulsa lang si Ele at bahagyang sumulyap sa katabi niyang si Genesis.
"The owner may refused us," our club leader said, forming a smirk on his face. "...but not his key."
As Ele recited those words, Genesis pulled out his left hand, holding and waving a familiar object.
A key!
"Oh my gosh!" As expected, Suzy reacted surprise. "It's the key! The key that Mister Fred had lately! Am I right?!"
Yes, she's totally right. Ang kaninang susi na hawak lang ni Fred bago ito umalis, ay ngayo'y nasa kamay na ni Genesis.
Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sobrang pagtatakha kung pa'no napunta sa kaniya ang susi na 'yon.
"How did you..." Agad na naputol ang aking dapat na itatanong nang biglang mag-flashback sa utak ko ang mga pangyayari kanina.
The moment when Genesis made his card trick and how they bumped, shoulder-to-shoulder. So, that wasn't an accident after all. That was all part of the trick. Precisely yet plainly planned trick!
Dang!
Narinig ko ang pag-slow clap ni Neil habang pailing-iling pa 'tong nakatitig kay Gen. "Hands down, bro! You're the best! Seriously! The best!"
"Wala talagang 'sing bilis iyang kamay mo, Gen! Nice job!" Even Suz gave him a winning thumbs up.
Napangisi naman si Genesis sa sinabi ng mga ito. "Aan'hin ko pa ang pagiging aspiring magician ko kung 'di ko rin naman gagamitin, 'di ba? Hahaha!"
"Quite knave but still..." Ele stated, crossing his arms against his chest and facing Gen with his impressed expression. "...you never fail to amazed me."
Nakita ko ang pagkislap sa mga mata ni Genesis nang marinig niya ang papuri ng aming club leader. He seems very honoured to hear those words coming from Ele's own mouth.
"So, what're we waiting for?" I asked and gave them a meaningful look.
Ngumiti naman si Genesis, saka niya ibinato kay Suzy ang key, na siya namang sinalo ng dalaga.
"All yours, Suz," said Gen. "Drive all you want."
Maangas namang tumango si Suzy at bahagyang sumaludo. "Aye, sir. Suzy Airline, coming your way."
At saka kami sabay-sabay na naglakad 'tungo sa chopper ni Mister Fred. And because we have the key, madali lang naming nabuksan ang chopper at kami'y sumampa roon.
Kaming tatlo nila Genesis at Ele ang pumwesto sa likuran, habang si Neil sa harap, katabi si Suzy na nasa pilot's seat. Thus, we put on these aviator's glasses that were already compounded here inside of the helicopter.
After wearing the safety and basic gears that we found inside of this aircraft, Suzy begun to inject the key to the keyhole. And as she turned the engine on, the chopper growls and let the propeller spins continuously.
Chugsh! Chugsh! Chugsh!
The spinning propeller has moved faster and faster in every second that counts. As we wait for the machine to lifts up the chopper's body, Suzy pressed several colorful buttons from the pilot's deck.
Wow. Suzy looks like a professional pilot. I can't help but to admire her while doing those actions.
"Fasten your seatbelts, guys. We're about to take off," Suzy reminded.
And as she pushed the main lever upwards, the chopper immediately do the same, it also moves upward until it started to depart from the dock towards the air above.
Napasulyap ako sa bintana ng sinasakyan naming helicopter, saka ako namangha nang makitang nasa himpapawid na kami at wala na sa daungan.
I can't believe this... Our chopper is flying higher and higher.
"Ready yourselves, JDs." Nangibabaw bigla ang boses ni Ele sa loob ng chopper. "We're about to navigate Atlantis."