Airports aren't exactly hard to miss. Claire and Zara can see it from their cab about mile before the exit ramp. It's hard not to notice when multiple aircraft keep landing and taking off from the spot just up ahead. The day is ambiguous - dark, thick clouds loom over them, and yet with enough space in between them for the sun to shine through. It is a warm, uncomfortable humid afternoon, made all the more unpleasant by the business casual attire of both women.
When the cab pulls off the highway, Zara reaches into her purse and pulls out a small tin of Altos mints. Quickly popping one in her mouth, she puts in back in her purse. Claire notices, cocking an eyebrow and smirking. "Are you gonna offer me one?" she asks almost playfully.
Zara rolls her eyes with a smile. "You know, Claire, suggesting that your superior needs a breath mint isn't exactly a clever business move."
Claire can't help but giggle, even as she remarks, "Right, because you and I have engaged in all kinds of well-thought out 'business moves.'"
"Claire!" Zara says in a hushed voice. "Don't!"
"Zara, come on. Being cautious is one thing, but there's no one else here right now," she says, before leaning forward and lightly pecking Zara on the cheek.
Zara slaps her hand to the spot, saying, "Oh my god, Claire, no, stop!" Sitting up and suppressing her smile, Zara says, "I'm trying to prepare myself for when I meet Mr. Masrani."
"Alright, sorry to break your focus," Claire says, leaning back to her side of the cab. "You know, I keep trying to tell you, it's not nearly as bad as you're making it out to be. Masrani is a very relaxed boss. Half the time I think he forgets that he's the CEO of one of the biggest conglomerates in the world."
"Nonetheless, it always helps to be prepared," Zara says, applying a light layer of cherry chapstick to her lips. "You of all people should know that."
"Good to know you've actually been listening all that time," Claire says. As they approach the white zone, Claire lets out a quiet cry of, "Jesus Christ," burying her face in her hands as she sees a swarm of protesters congregating around the entrance to the airport. The group isn't huge, only about 30 people or so, but that fact is of little comfort to Claire as she slouches down in her seat. Even as they're still pulling in, the group epitomises all of the cliches and tropes of college-age protesters railing against things with which they are only partially aware. But the lack of a full understanding does nothing to quell their righteous fury as they shout out demands to no one in particular, waving signs with half-baked slogans written on dollar store cardboard with 99-cents store markers. The group is obviously ill organized, as the signs cover a variety of only disparately-related concerns. "Capitalism kills!" "DiNO! - respect all creatures!" "Say no to FRANKEN-SAURS! GE dinos not okay."
"How are we going to get past them?" Zara whispers to Claire.
Glaring at the protesters while contemplatively sucking on her tongue, Claire slowly nods. "Okay….okay…..I think I know."
As the cab comes to a stop by the sidewalk a short distance from the protesters, Claire quickly looks around to make sure no cameras are out. After paying the driver, she and Zara get out (their luggage having arrived on the island the day before). Claire leans over to Zara and says, "follow my lead."
Claire grabs Zara by the hand and pulls her close. "Claire - what are you doing?" Zara asks, looking around.
"Trust me," she says, walking forward with Zara in hand. As they approach the front doors.
For the most part, the protesters seem to ignore the two women. But just as Claire's about to reach the door handle, one of the protesters shouts out, "THERE SHE IS!" Suddenly, the pair is swarmed by angry faces, shouting incomprehensible damnations upon both of them. They wave their signs furiously, almost threateningly, causing Zara to flinch at every turn.
Claire looks utterly horrified and confused, her mouth hanging open with quivering lips. Within a few moments, tears begin streaming down her face as her sobs are drowned out by the din of the crowd, The people closest suddenly go quiet, the other around them following suit after about 5 minutes. Claire continues to weep as the rabble goes quiet. "I don't understand!" she says between sobs, "What did we do wrong?"
The protesters all look at each other with confused - and somewhat guilty - looks. The man who was the first to point them out says to her, "You're-...aren't you Claire Dearing?"
"Wha- I, I….no! My name is Taylor Howard!" Claire stammered, staring to sound angry. "I was just trying to catch a flight with my life partner," she says, gesturing to Zara, "It's sort of our honeymoon, unofficially," she adds with a sniffle.
The signs go down as heads hang low. A few of them shoot angry look at the original shouter. He goes red in the cheeks as he says, "Oh, uh...sorry about that. We thought you were somebody else…"
Claire wipes a tear from her face as she says, "Can we just go now, please?" The crowd parts in front, and Claire and Zara pass unhindered through the front doors.
Only after they've turned at least three corners does Claire let go of Zara's hand and let out a huge sigh of relief. "Jesus that was close."
Zara just stares at her, almost dumbfounded, before saying, "You clever, clever girl, that was why you got a haircut yesterday, and didn't wear makeup this morning!"
Smiling with personal contentment, Claire says, "Of course. I had a feeling people like that might show up, so I made a few cosmetic adjustments. I thought about dying my hair as well, but...well, let's be honest. I wouldn't have needed to go that far."
"Clearly not," Zara say, glancing over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching them. "But...in the interest of sheer academic curiosity, why did you make me your...life partner?"
"Oh please, you know those kinds of people. Well-meaning liberals who traded critical thinking for a bleeding heart long ago. Skepticism is so heteronormative," she says, the final sentence dripping with sarcasm.
"And you're sure that's the….only reason you added that part?" Zara asks, cocking her head to one side.
Looking up at her, Claire simply says, "Whoa. Easy girl," before they continue on their way.
It wasn't long after check in that Claire and Zara finally caught sight of Masrani and Lilah. They were standing by the boarding platforms, engaged in a conversation of their own. Masran is the first to see them, and he waves them in with a smile. "Claire! There you are!"
She shakes his hand before turning to Lilah to do the same. "Mr. Masrani, Ms. Martin. This is my assistant, Zara."
"Hello Zara," Masrani says, shaking her hand as he had Claire's not a moment earlier.
Zara nearly freezes up when she sees the extended gesture. But working up her nerve, she receives it and says. "G-Good afternoon, Mr. Masrani. I'd just like to say what an honor it is to m-to finally meet you." She smiles almost fearfully.
Masrani smiles at her warmly. "I look forward to getting to know you. But that's what the ride is for. Come, let us delay no further! To the chopper!" he proclaims, holding up an excited finger. He leads them, his strides so long he almost seems to be skipping like an ecstatic schoolboy on his first day of school, getting ready to ride the bus for the first time. "So how did you get past the protesters?" Masrani asks, as if he had simply asked them if they'd had lunch.
"I pretended to be somebody else," Claire said. "I got a haircut last night, and didn't wear makeup this morning, and they were unable to recognize me from my TV appearances."
Lilah laughs. "Really? They didn't recognize you?"
"Well, they're not exactly the brightest folks in the world, now are they? How about you?" Claire says.
"Security escort," Masrani says. "It was a bit much, but we got in."
It isn't long before all four are sitting comfortably in a small helicopter. Even as the blades begin whirling at incredible speed, the passenger section remains quiet. Lilah sit across from Claire, who sits next to Zara. As they feel the rumble of the engines all around them, a slight jolt signals take off. The world around them begins to sink beneath the windows, everything outside growing small and blurry as they climb higher and higher into the sky.
"So how's your mother, Claire?" Masrani asks, initiating chat.
"Oh, she's fine, last time I checked. Admittedly that was about a week ago, but I haven't heard anything from anyone, so i assume her condition is stable."
"What happened to your mother?" Lilah asks.
"A few weeks ago, she suffered a brain aneurysm. She's been in the hospital ever since."
"Oh..I'm sorry to hear that," Lilah says, almost obligatorily. She glances down at her watch.
"Yeah, well-" Claire begins with a shrug before pausing. "It is what it is. At least her condition is stable, and hopefully on the road to recovery."
"I'm sure she'll be fine," Masrani says, waving his hand. "This is your week, Claire. Your moment of triumph is at hand!"
Smiling nervously, Claire says, "Careful, Mr. Masrani, there's no wood to knock on in here."
Turning to Zara, Masrani says, "So, Zara, how do you like working for Claire?"
Zara nods to him and says, "It is a very rewarding experience. I'm learning so much every day."
"Yeah? She's not a real slave driver?"
Lilah can't help but notice the expressions that flash very briefly over Zara and Claire's faces. Their tongues seem very tightly held by their teeth. But it passes very quickly and Zara answers him. "Not at all. It's a privilege to work at her side."
"Fantastic," Masrani says. "Not surprising of course. Claire's personability was one of many reasons why we chose her to run this park."
"Let's hope it was a wise choice," Claire says, looking wistfully out the window. The coast is now well behind them, the chopper flying low and fast over the Pacific.
"You really should have more confidence in yourself Claire," Lilah says, putting her hands over her crossed legs.
"I know, it's just….I've been having bad dreams. Very bad dreams."
"Oh?" Masrani says, leaning in. "What kind of dreams?"
"Dreams involving T. Rex Kingdom," Claire says. "Usually, in the dream, a kid runs into the control room and activates the emergency paddock release function, releasing the T. rex….as well as the giant anteaters…" the last comment elicits a strange look from Masrani. "Well, it's still a dream after all…"
"Ah, right," Masrani says. "You know, some people think dreams are prophetic. But they're wrong."
"I certainly hope they are," Claire says, chuckling.
"Life is like a great river," Masrani says , holding up his hands. "And we're all caught up in its current. There's no going back, and if you're not careful, you might smash into a standing rock or two. The only way to truly live this life is to accept that you're not in control of the river. The only thing you can control are your actions, and once you realize that, then you can start making the choices that influence where the river takes you."
Zara leans forward in her seat, captivated by each word. LIlah on the other hand conceals a tired yawn.
The ocean stretches below them like a great, blue desert flat; devoid of any discernable features. Hours of frivolous chatter eat up the time covered over the sea. The only thing to break the monotony was the occasional sea bird passing by. Apart from that, there was nothing but the sleeping ocean, with the soundtrack of constant, beating blades.
There wasn't a single cloud overhead when the island came into view. The line between pure blue sky and pure blue sea was broken ever so slightly by a sliver of black in between them. The closer they got, the bigger the split grew, until it was no longer black, but a deep, radiant green. Jagged rocks jutting out from the sea passed by under them as the helicopter sailed through a valley between two peaks. They pass by a waterfall streaming down 1000 feet into a small pool at the roots of the mountains in the East. A few miles inland, the jungle canopy gives way to pristine, untouched villa of shops and restaurants, lined along a street leading up to a large museum. It was behind this museum that the small helipad stood, fixed into the side of a ridge. Almost tentatively, the helicopter approaches the pad, touching down with a jolting thud that shakes them all in their seats.
"Well," Masrani says, a big goofy smile on his face. "Here we are!"
