Casey slept the entire flight. Due to her totem, she was more a night owl than a morning person - no wonder her Vada VooDoo Tattoo Salon opened in the early afternoon. The other two were oddly quiet. Renato figured that they seemed hard to come truce, especially for Ags. The once-carefree hippie got pretty piled up with anger and bitterness: girlfriend of four-years-relationship left him, substance absuce, and appearently he was mad at Phillie out of sheer jelousy simple because he got along with his sister. Both jelous and ignored. Phillie seemed to care this situation more light-hearted, still, he wasn't completely sure how to approach Ags completely with the matter. Renato sighed: "Since when did things become so complicated?"
They arrived in the around noon. The heat was unbearable, and slowly the jetlag started to kick in. Cez had to experience it first handedly, as they were getting off the place in their human forms:
-It's still morning? - she yawned, rubbing her eyes - too much light over here.
-And too much humidity - affirmed Phillie, as he tied his huge mane with a rubber band - It's like an open-air sauna here... Ags grabbed up his backpack:
-I say, we should get moving. Our contact must be in their airport waiting room. They all packed up, and went to the exit. They marched their way through the terminal, like a bunch of clumsy tourists, and finally head out.
A few cars and taxis parked in front of the terminal - buses were on continuous movement as they dropped out the people and picked up the next group. At one of the taxis there was a Mediterranean/Arabian looking guy, bronze skin, dark brown hair, and in baggy light clothes. He smiled timidly, then approached the party. The other four stunned.
-In he the guy? - asked Phillie.
-I dunno, man - said Ags finally- my sister might have organized this mission by every gear and gadget, but she kinda failed to provide a proper description. Philli chuckled:
-Classic Deen. She still keeps losing herself in the small details, and focusing on the bigger picture. The stranger finally arrived to them, and asked:
-Are you the ones sent by the one called Edina Agosto? Renato nodded:
-Yes, we are. The stranger's smile widend with relief and excitement:
-My brethren from the other side of the ocean!- he hugged them as they were - I'm Khaled. But you call me Spike. Our matriarch sends her blessings to you. The other four was a bit shocked by the extreme heartful greating, but slowly they try to loosen up. One by one, they introduced themselves:
-Renato Atu
-Casey vada
-Jean-Phillippe Prezioso
-Darko Agosto. Spike waved towards the cars:
-Come, my brethren! I'll take you to my place to have a rest after your flight. They squeezed themselved in their guide's taxi. The wasn't much space, and the extreme sweating because of the heatwave didn't help on this situation, at all.
-Watch it, handsome!- said Ags, as he got stuck under Phillie's armit. The mechanic's grin widened:
-Why should I? Enjoy my musk, dear soon-to-be-brotehr-in-law. Casey just burst out in a huge laughter:
-I can't leave you two - she shed a tear of joy - I never though I would hear any of you teasing eachotehr in the goddamn community! Renato smiled... he didn't hear Casey laughing so cheerful for a long time, either...
Spike took them to his outskirt house. It was a one-floor cozy place. He made them take off their shoes before entering, and asked them to take a seat in the living room. Renato looked around: it there were barely any decorations, one modest sofa, a big rug in the middle and sitting cushions on the floor:
-I see you keep it traditional, like the most of us. Spike looked back from another room - probably the kitchen:
-More or less. You see, I'm actually from Morocco. Renato raised an eyebrow:
-How's that so? Their host disappeared behind the wall - proceeding preparing a meal, but that didn't keep him away from responding:
-There are barely 4 million inhabitants in Mauritania. It might be a big country, but most parts are inhabitable. Among these barely 4 million inhabitants there are very few zoolooks. Our matriarch asked me to move my ass down here from Morocco to assist you with your mission. She provided my this house for rent, a taxi to blend in, bills, accounts, and much more. Oh by the way, your jeep awaits in the garage, as well. Reno's jaw dropped. He just learnt what huge of an organization it took from their badass female leaders just for the four of them to fulfull this quest smoothly. Spike replied once again:
-I'm preparing lunch for you. Wash you hands in the meantime, would you? Please use the kettle. After his words all four of them started to scan the room. There was a plastic kettle and a washbowl in the corner. The kettle was fileld with water.
-He is a traditionalist - Casey affirmed - let's not be rude, guys.
After handwash and about half an hour, their host has arrived with a few baguettes and a big bowl - filled with pieces of saucy chicken, boiled potatoes, peppers and onions. All smelled delicious. Also, he changed to his beastial form: his head was covered in sandbrown spikey, so as a part of his neck from behind. It all ended up in a massive scorpion tail. At least, that explained his weird nickname. Something kicked in for Phillie, as he saw the baguettes:
-Now it rings a bell...- his jaw dropped, and looked at Spike- This place was under French authority. It got independent in 1960. Spike smiled:
-You're well informed, my brethren. How do you have this knowledge. Phillie dugs in the food, scouping the sauce and the pieces:
-Mom's French. Dad, on the other hand, is Italian. Spike laughed timidly:
-Probably our kind was the first in all history who never made a deal about nationality or any other tribal original. It seems this hasn't changed a bit. Renato looked at Casey. Beside nationality, some zoolooks didn't care about other things, either. In their case, they both had a human parent. In Cez's case, it was her father. She learnt her mom was a zoolook after marrige, but he didn't care. When she passed away tradicly, he was mouring for months. Still, he kept being a good father for Casey and her twin sister Kita. In Renato's case the scenario was a bit different:his mom was human, and his dad was a zoolook. However, his dad was really upset, when Renato started to show his abilities given by his totem. His father - with this marrige - hoped for a human child instead of a zoolook. A few years after that, he put Reno out with his personal stuff and left with his mom. No womder Renato had to be indipendent since the ago of 16. He sighed. "Why did this have to come just right now?"
They were almost donw with the meal, when Spike continued:
-I suggest you to depart in the late afternoon. Currently, there's a killing heat out there, and it is even worse in the open Sahara. the water supply and the fire tools are already packed in the back of the jeep. Most probably you'll spend the night in the desert. And, believe me, during the night it's freezing cold. Phillie nodded with a friendly smile:
-Thanks for your advice. Ags stretched:
-In the meantime, let's get some shut-eye, shall we? We have a lot ahead. Spike started to serve the mint tea, Cez replied, while accepting a glass of the drink:
-I took all the nap required. You guys just go ahead. Renato accepted another glass, and stared curiously on the party:
-By the way, who's driving? All of them fell dead silent, they could almost touch the awkward tension in the room. Phillie then turned to Ags, and slapped him in the back:
-You go, pal. Ags looked at him surprisedly:
-Why me? - he was glad, but he couldn't deal with the mechanic's decision. Phillie replied:
-I deal with the navigation system. If that fails, I still have the compass and the map - then he pointed to Cez and Renato - the other two can deal with the hypnotic and spiritual bullshit, if we might get stuck. Renato nodded:
-Right. That's seems a sound idea.
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