Looking out the window of a Boeing 767 I see the drizzle of rain and darkness of night. Touching the window I feel the cold penetrate my flesh, anxiously I wait for the cabin door to open. I hear the noise and shuffling of the coach class passengers rummaging behind for their belongings like a herd of cattle. Unmoved by this I finish my drink placing it downward on the table beside me. Hearing the whining ring of the engines close down thinking to my self, “This has been a long trip; I hope the chauffer is on time.” The cabin door opens I reach for my briefcase, allowing the other four gentlemen to egress first. With a silent nod to the stewardess I exit the airliner.
Walking through the air terminal I view signs and banners which I can not read but understand by form, the meanings. I exit the customs area with ease I see my name on a poster size board with two men dressed in monkey suits.
“Good evening Mr. Tyler Spence. How was your flight? My name is Randolph Waltz myself and subordinate William shall provide you with transportation and any other services needed for the entire time of your visit in Germany.” said the man who was not holding the sign and was obviously the superior chauffer. Extending his hand to greet me he removed his white glove.
I reached into my suit coat pocket and pulled out the luggage claim ticket placing it into Randolph’s extended hand. Before he could make motion or comment I asked William, “How far is the Limo I would like to relax while Randolph claims my luggage, and have a smoke! Would you please lead the way?”
Upon entering the vehicle I lower the partition glass and mention to William, “Relax you just moved up in positions.” Sensing the uncomfortable arrangement I just placed him in.
William sitting in the drivers seat replied, “It is just, I need this night job to help pay my debts and Mr. Randolph is not going to be very pleased with being the subsequent man to me.”
Inhaling deeply on a cigarette I ask, “William would you care for a smoke?”
“No thank you Mr. Spence.”
I say in a serious tone, “Dispense with the fucking pleasantries. My name is Tyler, and that is what you shall refer to me as not Mr. or Sir. Or any other crap you have been instructed to reply by understand! When Randolph returns you do not move this vehicle until I say so, is that understood?”
“Yes, Tyler I understand.”
I feel and faintly hear the trunk close the passenger door open’s as Randolph leers at William and entering closes the door. Randolph says to William in a sarcastic tone, “Very well, lets get a move on to the Hotel Ibis. ‘William looks in the rear view mirror at me as I blow smoke toward the ceiling in a long cloud, ’I said lets go! What is wrong with you?”
I say in a very calm voice, “Randolph what is the current local time?”
Randolph responds looking at his watch, “The time is eleven forty eight Sir.”
“Thank you, now would you kindly without a scene exit the vehicle, your services are no longer needed. As of this moment William shall be my only personal chauffer this evening, if you must call for a Taxi, but vacate the vehicle now!”
As Randolph steps out onto the curb with a vague uncertainty and closes the door. “Please William to the hotel Ibis I am very tired. I shall be expecting you as my driver very early in the morning, without a delay. So we should not waste anymore time.” Pulling away I raise the privacy glass and looking out, I see a pathetic man in a monkey suit appearing stunned as a bird that just flew into a window.
The night was fast and the early morning came with a chill in the air and more rain to clean the debris from the sidewalks. The day was uneventful as meetings and deals were made. Like a shark the victims of both sides in the corporate world bite and devour with out knowing the true nature of what was consumed. A harsh cold reality is the front runner that makes the industrial world live and collapse. Some times it is better to make brief of the destruction of a powerful man and save him the dignity of begging.
As the sun rose on the third day it showered a brilliant display or color and vibrancy over the roof tops of the gathered homes. A sense of relief was the greatest victory; the knowledge that the business had been done and there were still several days left to enjoy, what this mighty country filled with culture and history had to offer. Before I was returning to my lair back in the US.
Meandering around a strange town alone never mind being in a strange country can overwhelm ones ability to enjoy the moment. I called down to the front and requested my Limo. Upon my exit I notice there is a different driver. Pausing, and with a swift return. I stop by the hotel desk and ask, “Excuse me miss?”
With a look of puzzled expressions the receptionist computed what I said and responded in broken English, “Yes, and Mr. Spence how may I be of service?”
“The other night when I first arrived there was a driver, chauffeur named William who brought me here, can you call the company and request his service for me? And only him!”
“Right away, Mr. Spence.” I waited patiently as she uttered words over the phone.
Hanging up the phone she responded, “It would seem he was let go the other night but I was provided with his home number. Shall I ring it for you? Is there a problem?”
“No, no problem may I have the number please?” Reaching my hand out taking the slip of paper from the receptionist’s pleasant offering.
Back in the room I hear the phone ringing this number as a sudden jerk it answers, “Hello”
“Hello, My name is Tyler I am looking for a man named William. Who recently drove airport service?”
“That would be my husband can you hold for a moment?”
“Yes.” I replied.
“Hello?”
“Hello, William I have something I think you will be interested in and it just so happens, I could use a little help from you are you interested? I will make it well worth your while.”
William, “Sure! What do you have in mind?”
Tyler, “A bit of a business proposition that you have nothing to loose meet me in the hotel dining room tomorrow morning, I will make it worth your effort to miss out on work for one day.”
William, “Ok, bye!”
Tyler, “bye.” Hanging up the phone, I prepare to stay at the hotel for the remainder of the day and go to sleep.
The morning came in a business like manner the meeting went well as it could only have. To summarize I offered to finance William in a business of his own and with a meager percentage to pay the initial expense. In return I just bought his loyalty and a companion to help display the finer things this country provided, but I was unaware. In my mind with the frequency needed to ensure bigger commitments with Nyncor Wyxdorf were going as planned, I would be in need of a native in the future as well as now for my own entertainment.
As if out of a movie we sought after some fashionable clothes, retrieved a notable vehicle, and made pleasurable conversations as the day grew old.
Breaking the obvious question on my mind I spoke, “I know you are married and all but tell me about, you know, like the whore house thing?” Sitting on the passenger side of a Cadillac I turned to face William.
William, “Brothels, yea they are around, there is one over on Bienenkorb, Haller Str. 8.”
Tyler, “Let’s go past?”
William, “Ok, but you won’t be interested. They charge like from 100 DM and up for poor service.” Stopping in mid conversation with me, to answer his cell phone. William points out the location as he passes by slowly. It was a dreary desolate dump and the weather was beginning to sprinkle again.
Nodding my head in agreement, he was correct that was not suited for my taste.
Holding the phone against his chest William says, “Hey, I have my wife and a friend on the phone who are in a bit of a bind they need a lift. I know they would not have called me if they were not in a situation. Would you mind if we give them a lift it is like only a town or so away? I can call them a taxi if you do not wish me to go.”
Tyler, “No that is fine, gives a good reason to see a little bit of Germany. And what else am I going to do? Besides maybe your gals will know a better brothel!”
William laughs, “Yea! I will ask them, when they get in the car they can answer. “Talking back into the phone in German for a few moments then with laughter hangs up. “They are most gracious seems as if the vehicle has broken down and no one is responding being Friday evening many have things to do! They were headed out to a night club, but would be happy just to get a ride home.”
I say, “We could do that, Really I don’t mind, anything is better then a large empty hotel room or being lost with people whom you can not talk with!”
William, “Well, my wife speaks fairly good English, her friend knows very little. However if you are like most guys you won’t be speaking. You will be too lost looking at her body to mumble out anything intelligent.”
It may have taken fifteen minutes to arrive at the location. The little yellow VW Beetle looked sad with the rust spots bleeding through the yellow paint. William tooted the horn for the women to know it was him. The rain was coming down at a good pace as the fogged up window rolled down just a hint and a pair of eyes looked out.
Like the fifty yard dash, two females both dressed in mini-mini skirts high heels and loose blouses ran for the rear doors. “Thump, thump, thump was the pounding on the glass. William fumbled with every button possible before figuring out how to unlock the doors.