Chapter 9

George and Harold were taking the morning flight from San Francisco to Houston. The ride from Black Hawk to San Francisco to pick up Harold had been uneventful. The 5 am traffic was light. Harold was ready on time and they parked in the garage. The drug damaged religious followers were just arriving to sing, dance, and beg for money when they stepped up to the counter. George traveled light. He had a single carry on bag and a briefcase. Harold dressed for failure and as always dragged a large valise filled with printouts of their proposal. Under one arm was a luggable computer and under the other a worn briefcase. Harold had a way of travel that not only screamed American when he was in a foreign country but also would have invited robbery in foreign lands except for the sympathy evoked by his pathetic appearance.

A very efficient airline representative checked them on the flight and they walked toward the gate. At the metal detectors George walked straight through. Harold dumped the contents of his pockets into a small basket and was finally let through on the fourth attempt when he finally tossed a ball point pen in the basket. At the detector in the background a 6'8" man wearing blue jeans, a blue jean jacket with 1" chains around the arms, studs in the jacket, metal epaulets, a motor cycle chain belt, cowboy boots with spurs, and a metal dog collar, all of it chromium plated clanked as he walked directly through the metal detector unnoticed. Behind him a Palestinian with heavy duffles nervously waited his turn and then quickly walked through.

On the plane Harold was given the middle seat between George on the aisle and an unaccompanied 4 year old with a runny nose and a penchant for melted candy. The flight was not a total failure as the inflight meal was one of Harold's favorites, microwaved meat surprise. The four year old whose name was Jason was learning to share. Harold was less than enthusiastic with the offerings of previously tasted chocolate but feigned approval. All the while George went over notes of the planned meetings while Harold defended himself from the four year old's offerings and the disapproving looks of a woman across the isle.

Houston was a big improvement: 40oC, 100% humidity. The kind of weather that makes synthetic fiber garments a form of sadistic torture. It felt as if one had been placed in a vegetable steamer. They rented a car from an agency near the baggage carousel. George had not checked anything but waited for Harold's oversized 40 kilo valise to be returned. It looked as if the American Tourister Gorilla had helped it onto the conveyor. They walked out of the airport and picked the shuttle to the rental car lot. By the time they reached the car Harold's right arm felt about 10 cm longer than the left and his clothes were soaked in perspiration. George maintained his equanimical demeanor. George drove the late model Ford towards the Johnson Space Center.

Chapter 10

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