Early the next morning 586, Hotch, and 617 set out in the wagon for Farm #2.
As 586 expertly guided the horse down the dusty road, 617 chattered excitedly in an accent that Hotch could only identify as being vaguely British in origin. As he listened to the eager young man, Hotch thought wistfully about Blake and wondered what she would make of the localized dialect.
"So, you don't think you are going to miss the people you grew up with?" Hotch asked when 617 paused to catch his breath.
"I know I will, but I won't be there for terribly long," was the thoughtful reply. "And when I'm done studying, I'll be returning home to Farm #4. I really want to study with The Professor. He's so terribly, terribly smart!"
"That he is," 586 agreed. "I studied with him myself and while I studied we figured out how to build the irrigation system their farm uses on several of their fields. I'm going to be checking on it and, if it is still working properly, I'll be building one at our farm."
"Maybe I could use it, too," 617 enthused. "We have several fields that could use some more water."
"What's in the crates?" Hotch changed the subject. "And the boxes?" He glanced back towards the bed of the wagon.
"Mangos, papayas, and some vegetables," 586 replied. "Along with some of the tops we make. The women on Farm #2 are always glad to get them. And, when we go back we'll be taking some fresh fruit as well as some of their jams and jellies with us for our people."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
When they arrived at Farm #2 and Hotch was introduced to The Professor, he immediately recognized the man and it was all he could do not to blurt out his given name. However, he managed to wait patiently and, when they were alone in the washroom of the men's dorm getting ready for lunch, he finally spoke up.
"I recognize you," he said. "You're Professor Chastain. I interviewed you about ten years ago when you were teaching at Mainland University. My team was investigating a serial killer who was targeting female students enrolled in the Engineering program there. When you disappeared, the locals thought that you were also a victim, but I never thought so. You didn't fit his victimology."
"I remember you, Agent Hotchner," The Professor replied thoughtfully. "And I also remember a Doctor Reid who was with you at the interview. A highly intelligent young man. I would have enjoyed speaking with him further and discussing some engineering issues I was dealing with."
"You've been here ever since?" Hotch asked.
"Oh, yes," The Professor smiled. "I've made myself quite at home here on the island."
"You haven't tried to escape?" Hotch questioned.
"How?" was the reply. "We are on an island with no other land in sight and believe me I have looked. I'm not that good of a swimmer and I don't have a death wish. As for boats, I haven't seen any around here that could make a long trip like that. Besides, I have come to realize that I may very well be better off here. After all, most of my research can be done with a pencil and paper, and I have plenty of those. And, I get to solve real life problems here, not just theoretical ones."
"Besides, I was getting a little too familiar with Jack – If you know what I mean."
"I think so," Hotch said thoughtfully. "The pressures of the job. In the academic world, the pressure is always on to publish or perish. And, as for me, the pressure was always on to catch more and more bad guys while spending less and less money. Here on the island we are away from all that and also away from the temptation that comes in a bottle."
"Add to that, I don't have to worry about getting tenure," the man laughed. "I can truthfully say that I have a job for life."
"What about the students you deal with?" Hotch asked. "Aren't they a step below what you were used to at the university?"
"I have quite a mixed bag out here," The Professor said thoughtfully. "And most of them are eager to learn. Plus, believe it or not, I do have a few who are actually quite brilliant. One young lady in particular – " He smiled knowingly at Hotch. "And I think you know her."
The men had finished washing up and were walking out of the men's dorm building.
"There you are," 586's voice interrupted their conversation. "I was starting to wonder where you two had gone." She walked over and took a place between the two men.
"Now, I don't know about you two," she told them. "But I am hungry. And, if I remember right, the dining hall is right this way." She linked an arm through each of theirs and began leading the way towards a large building.
Unexpectedly, Hotch realized he was feeling – Jealous? Of The Professor? Then, he suddenly realized why.