Dave sat at in his office, his stuffed Curious George staring down on his desk cluttered with receipts and a reimbursement form. The blanks for airline tickets and meals were completed, but the ground transportation blank was empty. Dave contemplated this simple question. It merely required he add up the cost for his ground transportation, taxis to and from the airport ($24.50 each way), to and from restaurants ($8.50, $13.25 and $16.75). However he knew this simple sum of $87.50 not reflect complex truth.
He thought back to the taxis ride to the hotel. He realized it was not a coincidence that the couple had joined him in the taxis. He had been on the top deck of the ferry watching the distant Washington shoreline move by as the ship motored north to the San Juan Islands. It was a rare clear day in Seattle and he could see Mt. Rainier towering over the city. About the time Mt. Rainier faded under the horizon, its power as the dominating peak transferred to Mt. Baker rising in the North, that he noticed the people standing next to him. The man to his left was playing a flute, wearing a hat, Patagonia jacket and puffy nylon pants. His music drifting across the water. The tall woman to his right was wearing low ankle boots, a black ankle length dress, a red top and a black wind breaker. Dave remembered smiling at her and noting her penetrating green eyes, broad smile and brown hair that shone red in the sun. The details of their brief conversation were sketchy, commenting on the beautiful scenery, the weather and learning her name was Megan. The man to his left, Ethan, was her boy friend. Megan said she was almost engaged save some formality. He often was called Pan because of his flute. They were on the island for some meeting and at the time he thought it was a nature group or something. It was her eyes and smile that he remembered and also the sun glinting off her fine gold nose ring.
The couple had shared his the taxis to the hotel and when they arrived and they did not have enough cash for the driver. Dave told them he was here on the business and it wouldn't be a problem to pay for the cab. They smiled and said they would reimburse me for the expense and trouble and disappear into the hotel as Dave paid for the taxis.
That was it. He thought nothing more of it during his conference at the hotel and by the end of the week he had forgotten about the ride to the hotel. The last night of his stay was Halloween and that morning the front desk told him there was a package waiting for him. A small bundle wrapped in plain brown paper with a brief note. Walking back to his room he read the note written in a florid hand. “We have not forgotten your kindness. Please meet us, Halloween, 10 PM hotel lobby.” In his room he opened the package and discovered it contained a black tuxedo, starched white shirt, gold studs, black tie, cummerbund and folding top hat. Everything he needed for a costume to a Halloween party. Dave was excited. He had always loved Halloween and was disappointed to be away from home.
The red digital numbers on the clock read 10:00 when Dave finally put the hat on and looked at himself in the mirror. He smiled thinking his 6 foot 5 inch frame didn't look half bad in black tie. The phrase, “He cleans up good,” ran through his head.
Sauntering down to the lobby he noticed the staff of the hotel, or more precisely notice the absence of staff. The lobby was deserted save for one person Dave had not seen before. The hotel clerk, dressed in black, walked up to Dave.
“Sir, don't forget your cape and cane.”
Before Dave could protest the clerk placed the great black cape over his shoulders, handed him the gold capped can and opened the door for him. A black hackney coach drawn by a two black horses stood in front of the hotel. The hackney driver stood holding the door of the carriage. He was tall and thin, dressed completely in black - boots, shirt, waist coat, hat and his long black hair pulled back in a pony tail. Dave stepped up into the coach and the driver closed the door and lithely jumped into the drivers seat. Quickly he was winding his way up a back road toward the high cliffs that were on the west side of the island; the silhouette of the resort hotel that had dominated his week on the island disappeared into the darkness. The cool pine air blew in through the open window and he saw an airplane low in the sky. Then he realized it was not an airplane, but the planet Venus, its apparent motion created by the clouds streaking past it. The gray countryside was illuminated by the full moon and he could faintly smell the smoke of a fire. The coach left the road and followed a small private drive and he could see the old mansion towering at the edge of the cliff, silhouetted by glow of a large bonfire. It circled to the entrance and came to a stop. The coachman easily stepped down, unfolded the small step and opened the door. As Dave stepped out of the coach, he saw Megan descending the mansion's stairs. She now wore a flowing white dress that revealed an apple bosom that he could only have guessed at before. Her hair danced around her shoulders and on her head was a hallo of flowers.
She smiled at him and said, “It is a pleasure to see you, I am so glad you chose to come tonight.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Dave replied staring into her green eyes. Even in the dim light of the moon her eyes held him.
“Come inside and have a drink,” turning she floated up the stairs, the front doors parted and they entered the foyer. Here a servant, a man he thought he recognized as an employee of the hotel, held out a silver tray with glasses of Madeira. He accepted one and walked into the sitting room. Here there were people drinking and chatting the smell of a pipe tobacco and its blue smoke filled the air. These people were in costume as well, but not as formal as Dave. Most seemed to be dressed for a folk dance. The women in colorful dresses covered with intricate embroidery and the men wore colorful pants and embroidered shirts. When Dave and Megan entered the room the men stood and one came over to Dave and shook his hand.
“You were so lucky to be chosen,” he blurted out.
