The Travel Auction by Mark Green

Author:Mark Green
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, holiday, chick lit, backpacking, blind date, laugh, escapism, internet dating, travel adventure, travel comedy
Published: 2013-04-05T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty Two

KT2

The rickety old train juddered, rousing me from my thoughts. Since the ‘ambush’ at Machu Picchu, I was less concerned about hearing Jonny’s descriptions of our surroundings, but I was aware enough to know we were in an open plan carriage and were sitting two abreast. I knew Simon was opposite me. I could smell his rank B.O. wafting across the hot, claustrophobic atmosphere.

A couple of hours had passed since we’d left Machu Picchu and we were now bound for Cusco. Last night we’d retired to our hotel room early for a project meeting. It was supposed to be time for us to consider the newspaper and documentary deal. But we were actually working out how we’d make our escape. The brilliant plan was conceived over several drinks at the Inca Trail meal.

Bob had seen to it that the TV crew was banned from the restaurant on the grounds of his religious beliefs. He convinced them his ancestral spirit would be very unhappy if he was captured on film. I have to take my hat off to him, he kept a stern poker face during the confrontation and the film crew scurried away to a nearby restaurant. Bob’s grin was apparently as wide as ever as he welcomed us back to the group. Everyone was intrigued to hear our side of the eBay story.

* *

So we told them the story of how we really met and some of our adventures so far. Jonny described the embarrassing scene with the customs officers at the start of our trip, which now seemed years ago. Was it really only five weeks since we’d boarded that plane? It wasn’t long before someone asked the hundred thousand pound question.

“Are you going to take the money?”

The background laughter and the boisterous conversations trailed off.

I shook my head, but I couldn’t see Jonny’s reaction.

“We may have to do a runner,” he said quietly.

“You’re mad not to do it, especially if it’s all expenses paid,” another said.

“I don’t think we’d have as much fun with a camera crew in our faces all the time,” I pitched in, hoping that Jonny really was of the same opinion.

“Where you gonna go?” someone else asked.

“It’s probably best no one else knows, just in case we decide to fly to Las Vegas and get married!” I said, grinning, remembering how my previous reference to New Year in Rio had freaked Jonny out. A gentle tapping of metal on glass caught everyone’s attention.

“Friends, congratulations. You have all experienced the magic of Machu Picchu, you have walked many miles with positive steps and now you have memories that will last a lifetime,” said Bob.

I felt for my beer and lifted it up, relying on the others to chink their drinks against mine. Bob really did have an eloquent way with words. Listening to him was inspiring. He was the sort of person who had a passion for life and the kind of positive outlook that stayed with you long after other memories have faded.

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