A PALE HORSE

Sam and Abe were just finishing loading the plane with the last of Peter’s gear. Peter was trying to make Tammy as comfortable as possible in the small area Peter sat in on the way to Russia. Sam’s phone jingled a snappy tune alerting him to a new call.

“Yo” said Sam into the receiver. He listened for a moment before saying, “We can be up in thirty. The flight plan is already set and submitted- St Petersburg to Sevastopol, then Helsinki, then Reykjavik, then PEI, then Boston, etc, etc, etc.” He listened a moment more before exclaiming, “What!? Snake- what? What do you mean snake people?” Abe turned at Sam’s exclamation and Sam, seeing his interest, waved him over and put the call on speaker. Max Avatov’s voice came through the speaker loud and clear.

“We ran into a little trouble with my father It is a lengthy story. Right now, we need passage for three out of Russia as soon as possible. Where are you bound?” Max asked.

“I’m taking this lot back to New Orleans. Peter has finished his business here and is returning home. Abe will help me fly the bird back to the states. I’m sure we can find room for you and the others. It might be tight, though. This ain’t Delta!” Sam told him. “I’m still interested in these snake people you say you ran in to. It sounds like a great time.” Sam told him. “Later.” A higher, recognizable voice came over the line.

“Ask him about the crazy angel thing that rescued the girl that showed up at the Igromir! I know they were there!”

“Did you hear that, Sam? Maggie wants to know about- “

“Yeah, I heard, Max.” Sam turned to stone, his fingers gripped his cellphone so hard Abe reached over and rescued it before Sam broke it.

“Sam,” Max said, “are you still there?”

“He was called away, Max. This is Abe. How soon do you need the plane ready?” Abe covered for Sam.

“We should be there in an hour. Please have Sam standing by with the engines running. I cannot be sure we will not be followed. This could be a potentially dangerous situation. I have a person that was declared dead fourteen years ago and a father that is responsible.”

Abe whistled, “Whoo… I thought my life was messed up. I think I might know someone who can help you, Max. Just get here and we will talk about it more on the ride to the states.”

“Thanks, Abe. Tell Sam we will arrive soon.” Max hung up and Abe turned to Sam. He snapped his fingers in front of Sam’s face.

“Hey, man! Snap out if it! We have things to do.” Sam shook his head as if coming out of a hypnotic state.

“Sorry, Abe. I keep seeing things.” The last part was mumbled and Abe almost missed what he said.

“Seeing what?” Abe asked.

“It’s not important,” Sam said, blowing off the incident. “So, when are we leaving?” he asked Abe.

“We leave in an hour.”

“Okay, let’s get this bird ready. You take the front and I’ll take the back. You know what to do.” Sam grabbed his phone from Abe turned and walked away, leaving Abe standing alone. Abe shrugged and figured that Sam needed a little time to work through whatever was going on with him. He made his way to the front of the plane to start his pre-flight check. Sam walked under the plane to inspect the landing gear. As he walked, he thought about what happened at the convention center. He skirted the back of the wing, running his hands over the trim flaps, but his mind was elsewhere. He stopped, turned out towards the Russian afternoon that waited just beyond the hangar, ran his calloused hands through his dark hair and tried to remember. The problem was there wasn’t a whole lot he could remember about it. He remembered looking for Tammy. He remembered beeps and whirs and shouts and even the sound of the loud air conditioner that serviced the expo center. He remembered spotting the purple-haired girl, and seeing her perched precariously on the balcony. She was sobbing and mumbling something about never finding Mr. Right and how she was too small, too outgoing and too ugly to ever find someone special. That was odd, because he shouldn’t have been able to hear her speaking over the din and everything else going on, but he heard every word as clearly as if she had whispered it right into his ear. The crowd around Tammy was split, half the people were yelling at her to jump and the other half was telling her not to do it. Sam was very confused until he saw the vila in the lobby. The vila! He remembered her as well. He remembered her trying to bore into his head like she had many of the other men there. He remembered being angry at her. She smiled up at Sam and in the next instant the crowd pushed forward, Tammy was jostled and screamed as Sam saw her fall. Everything after that was blank, he was not sure what happened or how he ended up outside staring at his plane. He remembered answering the phone and talking briefly with Abe who was at the local hospital with Peter and Tammy. The doctors had released Tammy, with a prescription for a mild sedative, to Peter’s care to return to the states. Sam continued to walk and search his brain for any information regarding the missing time from his life. This was not the first time that it had happened; he had a similar episode in New Orleans right before they came to Russia. He had been running through the bayou with Sarah. He noticed that she had the sweetest smile, it lit up her whole face. When he had helped her down from the truck she had looked at him and smiled sweetly and thanked him. She reminded him vaguely of someone… another child, maybe? The memory, as all the others, were lost to him. He stopped and pulled out his wallet. He went searching through the various slots in his wallet searching for the card that Peter had handed to him that night in New Orleans. He had told him that he had a friend named Jo and that she could help him recover some of his memories if he would let her. He found the card that he was looking for, it was a basic white card with gold embellishments. In the middle of the card were two lines, Dr. Jo, and a phone number. Sam had a few minutes to himself, so he took out his phone and dialed the number on the card.

“Hello?” A velvety voice said from the other end of the line.

“Dr. Jo, my name’s Sam.”

“Is there a last name, Sam?” Dr. Jo asked him.

“You first,” he said.

“Phillips. And you?”

“Ramos”, he said, then paused and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck to ease the tension that had accumulated there, “My friend Peter gave me your card and said that you might be able to help me remember some things.”

“Peter?” she questioned, “Peter who?”

“Peter Devereaux” Sam supplied. “Oh, that Peter! I see lots of people so it is often hard to differentiate names. Why do you say you are having problems remembering, Sam?” she asked him.

“Well, there have been periods of time where I will blackout, and… and I wake up. I wake up somewhere else with no knowledge of how I came to be there,” he sounded frustrated, even to himself.

“Yes, I can see how that would be pretty scary. Do you think something bad happened during those events?” she sounded interested.

“No, I don’t think I did anything bad, but I have a feeling that I am missing something important...like there is part of me missing.” He told her.

“Well, I would certainly like to try and help you. Where are you now? Can you come to my office this afternoon?” she asked him.

He laughed, “Today would be tough. I’m currently in St Petersburg.”

“Florida?”

“No”, he laughed. “Someplace a bit chillier and a lot further away. Russia- sitting on the tarmac waiting to take my plane, cargo, and passengers back to the states. We won’t be back until late tomorrow.” Her laugh over the phone was light and carefree.

“I can see how that would be a problem... and why you called me at four o’clock in the morning.”

“Oh, man! I forgot about the time change! I just really need to have some answers and Peter says you’re the gal to give them to me. Sorry about the early hour, though,” he finished lamely.

“It’s no problem Sam. I am used to getting calls at all hours. Please, think nothing of it,” she told him graciously. “Can you come to my office the day after tomorrow, then?”

“Yeah, that’s fine. Do you think you will be able to help me?” he asked hopefully.

“I can almost guarantee it.” She sounded so sure it helped calm the last of Sam’s nerves. “I’ll see you at ten in the morning on Thursday, okay?”

“It’s a date. Thanks.” Sam ended the call and let out a breath. He turned and finished his portion of the preflight check just in time to see two vehicles pull up to the plane. Sam walked up to the first car as a small man appeared and ran around to the back, opening first one door, then making his way around to the other side and doing the same. Max popped out of one side followed by a small redhead. He walked rapidly around the car to help a rather frail looking woman out of the other side. The small man had moved to the second vehicle and was pulling luggage out of the back along with the second driver. Max, helping the older woman along, approached Sam. Sam was astounded as a smile lit the face of the stoic, younger Avatov.

“Thank you for doing this, my friend. I want you to meet my mother, Margueritte.” Max told him and he laughed at Sam as he tried to find the right question to ask his friend.

“What? How?” Sam finally said.

“It is a long story. By the way, we need to leave. Now.” Max emphasized the now and Sam nodded in acceptance.

“Well, it isn’t like this ride is going to be short. There will be plenty of time for discussion. Welcome aboard!” he said with a mock bow and a flourish of his imaginary cap. He followed the others into the belly of the transport plane. They had finished bringing in the last of the luggage and Abe was making sure it was stowed properly. Sam brought the others forward into the plane itself. “Sorry, but just like Peter and Tammy, you guys will have to strap into the jump seats until we are airborne, then you can unfold the cots. Peter can show you how. He’s a pro!” Sam grinned at Peter, who had stopped moving when he saw Max and the two women appear in the doorway.

“Hey,” Peter said, “Maggie, the girl with the Jimmy Choo’s!” He smiled as he saw her remember him. “How did you make out with the shoes?” he asked her.

“Hi, Mr. Devereaux! Well, you were right...they did kill my feet,” she told him, “but I still wouldn’t have worn anything else.” she told him in a mock whisper. Max scowled in response to their banter and his mother slapped his arm affectionately. “Here, let me show you how these seats work and you all can get strapped in.” Peter showed the others how to fold down the jump seats and strap in, then he resumed his seat next to Tammy and smiled at her as she watched him.

“So, I noticed that there was no stuttering when you were speaking with her.” Tammy whispered as she leaned toward Peter.

Peter smiled and bumped shoulders with her, “I think I’m cured.” He told her with a wink.

“So are you gonna ask her out?” Tammy whispered again.

“What? No, not if I value my neck,” he told her.

“See the big guy with her is her boyfriend, and I’m pretty sure he would beat me to a pulp.”

She laughed at the face he made and leaned into his shoulder with a big yawn, “That’s too bad, she’s really pretty.” Peter smiled and gave her a peck on the head as he heard the engines whine and felt the plane start to roll. When he looked down at Tammy, he noticed that she was already asleep. He would make sure that she had a place to lay down after they were in the air. Abe came through the cargo hold door and secured the latch. He smiled and gave Peter the thumbs up on his way through to the cockpit. Once he sat in the co-pilot seat and strapped in, the pair made their final calls and the plane taxied onto the runway. In no time, it was airborne. Peter was glad to be going home. Once he was sure Tammy was settled, he’d talk to Maggie. He wanted to find out how she had ended up in Russia and on this plane… seems they had all had an eventful trip!