Chapter Fifteen;
Will
Will sensed Stevie leave before glancing back to confirm it. As the blue car rounded the corner, Will turned his attention back to the bus bay before him where the tourists were beginning to get on under the watchful eye of a broad-smiling Kowalski. Will frowned at him then slid around to the front entrance where the front office lay empty, the secretary he'd seen earlier having disappeared. Will consulted a small list of upcoming tours on the counter and saw the tour bus assembling out the back was due to leave in ten minutes. He looked to a small biography beside it, information on the company's 'trusting tour leader' Nikolai Kowalski. Will scanned it half-heartedly before turning his attention back to the front of the office where a small group of tourists had turned up. The bus they'd come in was making some strange noises and looked about ready to die on them, but the tourists getting off didn't look too fazed, just grinning up at the doors of the tour bus company. Out of the front of the bus came a rather flustered young man who pushed through the crowd and into the front office.
"Hi, Eric O'Malley." He held out a hand to Will and the confused TDC shook it. Then Will realized he was holding a clipboard and was just beside the front desk. O'Malley was assuming Will worked here. "I know we're a bit early but I need your help, the bus has given up on me and I'll need to take it down to the garage down the road. When does the tour leave?"
"Ten minutes, but I d…"
O'Malley cut him off. "Oh yeah, sorry, you need this." He withdrew a payment slip from his pocket and handed it to Will as he put the clipboard he'd just picked up back down on the counter. "I just need five minutes, can you take care of these guys?" Will nodded slowly. "Fantastic, thanks. I didn't catch your name."
"Will."
"Great, thanks Will. I'll be five minutes max." O'Malley rushed off out of the office and to the tourists. Will watched as O'Malley spoke to them, motioning back to Will. A few of them waved and Will returned the waves slowly, unsure exactly what he'd just got himself in to. Then, with one last point back into the office, O'Malley jumped back into the small bus and chugged off. Will smiled at the group as they came inside, giving them another wave.
"Hi guys, over here." He motioned them inside and they came in. "Everyone here?" He looked at their faces and realised they had no idea what he was saying, but they seemed to listen to him anyway and came inside as one. There were only about 12 of them, but Will felt terribly outnumbered, especially when a voice came from behind him and Will froze, recognizing it.
"Konichiwa." The group grinned, many returning the greeting, and Will realized he was looking at a Japanese tour group – the group the American pair had mentioned earlier. "Mister O'Malley?" Will looked up as Nikolai Kowalski extended his hand. "Great to meet you. Nikolai Kowalski, part-owner and your tour guide for today. I'm so glad you're here early, we'll set off straightaway." He shook Will's hand and took the payment slip right out of his hand. He looked at the others and spoke to them in Japanese. The group gave a cheer and clapped as Kowalski motioned them through to the bus bay. Kowalski stuck with Will. "I'm so glad you chose our tour company Mr. O'Malley. We're the best tour company in East London and we have exclusive access to many of the best spots on this side of the Thames. As is covered in the brochure, we'll be passing through Piccadilly and down to the London Eye, the perfect place for photos." He paused and motioned for the tourists to keep moving. "We discussed the changes to the tour right? Just to be sure?" Will nodded silently, keeping his head low lest he be recognized. "Great. And as I mentioned on the phone, the changes will not cost you any extra and some fantastic photo opportunities will open up to you. Afternoon tea is included at four, then a quick jump across the Tower Bridge to get a better look of Buckingham Palace." Kowalski kept walking. "Like I said, we're the best tour company on this side of London and I'm so glad you decided to tour with us today." They reached the bus bay. "Now, I don't want to make you redundant, but I do know a bit of Japanese myself and would be happy to just let you sit back and enjoy the sights and stories for this tour."
Will nodded. "Great."
"You can get back to your translator job as soon as we get off the bus, but we're all about enjoying ourselves here, it's the company motto pretty much." Kowalski tipped his head. "You don't mind, do you Mr. O'Malley?" Will shook his head. "Fantastic." He ushered Will on board and all Will could do was sit down as the driver started up the bus and Kowalski stood before them.
"Konichiwa, Good Afternoon everyone. I'm Nikolai Kowalski and I want to welcome you all to Kowalski-Hunt Tours, the best tour company this side of the Thames, if we say so ourselves." He chuckled and Will turned towards the window, watching as the bus moved out of the bay and out onto the street, scanning for the blue Vauxhall. He didn't see it. "If I can ask for all mobile phones to be switched off, they interfere with my sense of humour." He grinned and held up his phone, turning it off to show. A few of the tourists followed suit, but Will kept his on just in case. "Fantastic. Okay, now, as they say, let's get this show on the road!"