Chapter 17
Emma smiled and replied, "So she really is a Jotun?"
When Roger nodded a 'yes' she grinned and remarked, "So she'll be needing new clothing as she gets much larger won't she?"
"I'm afraid so." replied Roger.
"Give me a call then, I'd be happy to make her clothing for her." said Emma.
The door opened and Freya dressed in the skin tight garment stepped out.
Roger nearly did a double take as he suddenly realized just how beautiful Freya was going to become.
The modified zip front unitard clung to her like a second skin and was in a way, even more attractive than a skimpy swimsuit in that it emphasized her budding figure, while concealing it, all at the same time.
Freya smiled shyly at them and Emma said with a grin, "Sometimes I even outdo myself...Is this what you had in mind?" she said while looking at Roger.
Roger said softly, "This is pretty much it. Won't this white fabric get kind of sheer when it gets wet?"
"This fabric will, I have a more modest fabric if you wish."
"I do wish. Freya's only eleven years old and I don't need pictures of her in a virtually transparent swimsuit popping up on the internet." Remarked Roger.
Emma chuckled and replied, "Yes, that wouldn't be very age appropriate."
She held up a bolt of a brilliant blue fabric and said, "How about this, it matches her eyes?" "That, I like." commented Roger with a grin.
Emma smiled and asked, "One last question, then I'll be throwing you two out. Do you want me to make it a little big so she won't outgrow it in a few months?"
Freya waved her hand and asked shyly, "Can ye put a wee bit ay cloth doon haur?" as she pointed between her long legs.
Emma smiled at her and said cheerfully, "Don't worry, the finished suit won't have 'camel toe issues', I just wanted to see how it would look on you. The modesty panel will be in the final product."
The email with attachments arrived the next day, in it were photos of the Martin Mariner as it sat in storage at a place called Base Aerea de Santos next to the Estuario de Santos to the southeast of Sao Paolo, Brazil.
The bulky airplane rested on a wooden frame work with the cabin windows all covered up by a faded and torn tarp.
In the pictures, Roger could see the frame work had wheels on it. Meaning, it could be used to move the heavy plane if needs be.
He was reaching for the phone when it rang suddenly, the screen showed Henri's phone number.
He quickly answered it "Henri! I was just about to call you, I'm guessing you've seen the pictures too?"
"Yes, I 'ave, ze plane looks better zan I 'ad imagined."
Roger chuckled and remarked, "I thought so too, I had half expected it to be sitting half submerged in the estuary when I learned where it actually was."
"Any word on ze engines?" asked Henri
"I've found a couple of rebuilt engines in Texas, they're about 40 grand each. The tricky part is getting them down to Brazil."
"Not a problem my friend, I know someone who works for Air France and owes me a favor." chuckled Henri.
Roger grinned and replied, "Of course you do...I'll send you the address in an email. We won't be serious about buying them until we've looked the old bird over very critically."
Henri laughed and replied, "If only we looked at ze beautiful women like we looked at ze airplanes, eh?"
Roger grinned and replied, "Everything has its problems my friend, some are easier to fix."
A week later they left for Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The house was being cared for by a reputable house sitter who came highly recommended and vouched for.
The first leg of the flight was to Mexico City where they would transfer to a TAM airlines flight non stop to Sao Paulo.
They were to meet up with Rachel who was handling the money end of the transaction and fly with her to Sao Paulo, where Henri would join them for the final leg to the Estuario de Santos.
Freya attracted the usual level of attention and merely ignored the sidelong glances from her fellow passengers as she tried to make herself comfortable in the slightly too small seat.
One fellow showed a little too much interest in her until Roger shot him a glare that made him stop in fear of his life.
The landing in Mexico City's vast airport left Freya a bit overwhelmed by the sheer crush of humanity as they hustled from one terminal to another, at one point she stopped and wailed,"Whit abit me luggage? Ah left it oan th' other plane!"
Roger grabbed her hand and said firmly, "It's being transferred by the ground crews, we've got to hurry, they're boarding as we speak!"
He pulled her along and she quickly learned how to slip through a crowd like Roger could, to her it became a matter of reading the crowd movements, predicting when an opening would occur and being there to take advantage of it.
They met up with a slightly frazzled looking Rachel at the boarding gate with only minutes to spare before boarding the plane.
Their seats were all on the same row and they switched places with each other so Freya could stretch out her long legs into the aisle once the plane was aloft.
Rachel grinned at Freya and asked, "So how did you like your first big airport experience?"
Freya shuddered and said weakly, "Ah hated it, sae mony people! Ah ne'er been aroond sae mony people afore, Ah had nae idea sae mony people lived in thes warld!"
Rachel smiled at her and replied, "If it's any comfort to you...I hate it too. Mexico City has one of the world's busiest airports and it's always crazy. Be thankful you don't have to do this as much as I do."
Freya smiled at her and asked, "Wull Ah hae tae dae thes comin' back?"
Rachel smiled sympathetically and replied "I'm afraid so dear, you won't be alone you know, Roger will be right alongside you the whole way."
Freya made a face and muttered, "Then Ah can bear it if he is wi' me."
Roger simply squeezed her hand, which had been clasping his during the whole boarding and taking off phase of the flight.
She smiled shyly at him and squeezed his hand back.
The flight path took them over southern Mexico and a whole slew of small Central American countries.
Roger enjoyed pointing out to Freya some of the features below them including the Panama Canal and its great reservoir lake called Gatun Lake.
Leaving Central America behind, they flew over the ocean for a time then crossed over the coast of South America, the great southern continent.
Far below them lay the largest jungle in the world, wild, free and still largely unexplored.
Rachel had switched seats with Freya so she could look at the view for a little while and after a time, Freya commented, "Tis naethin' but green doon below."
Roger stood and glanced over her shoulder before commenting, "We're flying over the Amazon river basin, it's one of the largest rivers in the world and this whole region feeds it. You'll be seeing a lot more of this for a while until we get further south. You might as well relax."
Freya nodded in agreement and she traded places with Rachel once again so she could stretch out her long legs.
Hours later, the slowing of the jet airliner and the sinking feeling from descending woke the three of them from their naps.
Roger straightened up his seat and automatically buckled in ahead of the cabin warning light advisement to do so.
As she straightened her seat and buckled in Rachel glanced out the window and remarked, "Sao Paulo here we come!"
Roger took Freya's hand in hers and held it all the way down until the huge jet eased to a halt at the terminal and shut off its engines.
Exiting the plane, they retrieved their luggage and went through the gauntlet of the bored customs agents.
Freya attracted their attention because of her height, with one agent squinting at her Canadian passport and muttering about her age not being consistent with her height.
Having passed muster at customs, they ventured into the maw of Aeroporto Internacional de Sao Paulo-Guarhlos.
While it wasn't as crazy as Mexico City, it was not much better and they fell in behind Rachel, who seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to negotiating large airports.
Passing through the door to the outside waiting area, the scent of Gauloise Caporal cigarettes assailed their noses and there sat Henri DuValliere in all his rumpled, Gallic glory, a cloud of noxious vapor hovering over him.
Nearby sat his indescribably beautiful wife Miriam, seemingly impervious to the smoke as it was nowhere near her, in fact, it seemed to avoid her.
Roger grinned at his old friend and remarked, "I'm surprised the fire department isn't here yet!"
Blowing an impressive smoke ring, Henri grinned back and retorted, "You try beingk cooped up in all zat clean air for ten houers, my lungs, zhey cried for ze cigarette!"
The two men greeted each other with manly hugs and enthusiastic backslapping while Rachel and Miriam gently hugged each other and Rachel introduced Freya to Miriam by saying, "This is Freya, she is living with Roger and is a Jotun girl he met up in Canada." Miriam smiled at Freya and as they shook hands she said softly, "He is a good man, you have made a good choice."
Freya blushed, looked down and stammered, "We..We're...We're nae loch 'at an' Ahm naught but eleven summers auld or soon tae be,"
Miriam smiled at the embarrassed girl and said in a near whisper, "In time, you will be as one and it will be a joyous union."
Roger seeing Freya's embarrassment, came to her rescue, "What are you two ladies doing to her? She's beet red!"
Miriam smiled at him and replied in her silken voice and indefinable accent,"I was merely saying that she had made a good choice when she chose you to be with."
Henri guffawed while Roger looked down, closed his eyes and grasped the bridge of his nose while muttering, "You and Ayesha're gonna be the death of me."
Miriam chuckled softly and said, "I see she and I are still in agreement with our forecastings of the heart." before gliding away to take a seat by her things.
Henri smiled at Freya and said, "Miriam, she means no harm, do not mind 'er prophesying." He looked her up and down and said half to himself, "You have grown so much since I saw you last."
He glanced at Roger and asked, "'Ow do you find ze clothes to fit 'er?"
Roger rolled his eyes and replied, "Freya is not THAT large, we buy her clothes off the rack much like everyone it a year or so, then we'll be looking at custom made clothing, which we already have covered."
A tall, well tanned man wearing a short sleeved white linen shirt and khaki trousers approached them, "Hello, my name is Hector Contreras, are you from the Museum of Cryptozoology?"
Rachel smiled at him and replied, "Yes we are from the Museum, I am Rachel Thompson and these are my associates, Roger Tate and Henri DuValliere. The ladies are Freya Sigurdsdottir and Miriam DuValliere, Henri's wife."
Hector smiled and replied, "It is a pleasure to meet you all!" as he shook hands with all concerned.
Still smiling he said, "I have a van and driver waiting outside, if you care to follow me, we can get going."
The van was more like a small bus, their luggage was quickly stowed in the back and they climbed aboard and buckled in.
Within minutes of leaving the airport, Roger was convinced the driver was insane as he deftly maneuvered the bus through the highway traffic without either letting off the gas, using the brakes or sparing the horn.
Before long, Sao Paulo was far behind them and the way to Base Aerea de Santos was clear.
Freya sat quietly looking out the window, taking everything in, being from the northlands, she had little idea of what to expect during their journey and said softly, "Ah cannae see onie jungle haur, it's sae crowded alang haur."
Hector smiled at her and replied, "The true Amazonian jungle is further north of here, we will be passing through areas where the jungle still exists, but those are slowly disappearing as the cities expand. Perhaps we can arrange for you to see some real jungle while you are down here?"
Freya smiled at him in genuine pleasure and said , "Yes, Ah woods loch 'at verra much!"
Hector glanced over at Roger and asked, "Would you like for me to arrange a visit to the jungle or a beach trip for her? While you are inspecting the plane?"
Roger smiled at him and replied, "That would be greatly appreciated, thanks!"
Hours later, they pulled up outside a modest hotel building near their destination and Hector announced, "This is where you will be staying during your visit. I realise it is not exactly a five star hotel, but like all museums, we have to stay within our budgets, do we not?"
Rachel merely shrugged and replied with a hint of sarcasm, "Yes, we do have to set an example, while our donors enjoy the five star hotel lifestyle."
Hector smiled and replied, "I am glad to see we think alike."
Exiting the van, they all stretched a little bit while Hector pointed across the wide estuary and said, "The air facility is across the estuary from here, you can see the Martin Mariner from here actually."
Roger shaded his eyes and squinted, a few moments later he remarked, "I think I see it in the shadow of the hangar."
Henri muttered, "I see 'er too...When do we get to see 'er up close and personal?"
He looked over at Hector who replied, "We shall go see it in the morning. Tonight, let us get our rooms and while you get some sleep from your long journey. I shall be making arrangements for Miss Freya and Miriam to see some of Brazil's famous beaches and jungles."
Roger shrugged and remarked, "Lead on, Mac Duff!" as he picked up his suitcase handle. They entered the hotel and found that a small bloc of rooms had been reserved and prepared for their party.
Roger and Freya shared a room with two beds while Rachel had a single room, as did Hector Contreras while Henri and Miriam had a room of their own.
Having settled in, Roger and Freya took showers then went down stairs to the restaurant and had a light dinner as neither one them was very hungry, just tired.
Returning to their room, Freya modeled the swimsuit Emma had made for her, as was promised, it accentuated her budding figure and remained modest while protecting her fair skin.
The buzzing alarm clock woke them both out of a sound sleep.
Roger sat up in his bed and blearily peered at the alarm clock, yep, it was the right time alright.
He looked over at his roommate's bed.
Freya was sprawled on her stomach and still sound asleep, he recalled that she was not easy to wake up in the morning and got out of bed to pull the covers off of Freya's long limbed form.
Then he went to take a shower before she woke up.
She grumbled in her sleep but began stirring herself before getting up for the day.
Finally she rolled over and sat up, then she too, peered at the still buzzing alarm clock.
Freya shut it off, mumbled to herself, then got up to go clean up.
The bathroom door opened and a towel clad Roger stepped out with a grin on his face. "There's still plenty of hot water!" he said a little too cheerfully as Freya stepped past him with a mumbled "Guid morrow." on her lips.
Half an hour later, they met up with the rest of the group only to see a new face had been added.
She was the daughter of Hector Contreras, a tall, slender, raven haired beauty named Alicia. Alicia was a college student and had agreed to take Freya and Miriam under her wing and show them around the beaches and jungles in the area.
Today, she was going to take them to the beach and Freya was wearing her new swimsuit under her street clothes while Miriam wore a version of a burkini and sandals.
Alicia was curious about Freya's swimsuit and asked about it, to which Freya replied, "It was made fur me tae protect me from th' sun an' still let me swim."
Alicia smiled and replied, "I have noticed that some people are becoming more concerned about sun exposure, but the young? They love the sun and showing off their bodies!"
After Alicia had driven off with Freya and Miriam in her car.
Hector smiled at them and said, "Shall we go take a look?"
They piled into the bus/van and drove around the estuary 'til they came to the narrow bridge crossing over at a narrow point in the estuary.
A short time later they stood gazing up at the massive bulk of the Martin Mariner PBM-5.
Roger whistled softly and said, "It's bigger than I thought it would be. I've seen PBY's and Grumman Albatrosses, but this bird is way bigger!"
"How is it bigger?" asked Rachel "I'm not familiar with this sort of plane."
"It's in the fuselage mostly, the wings are about as long as a PBY's, but the fuselage is bigger and deeper, once we can look inside, you'll see the bunks they had for the crew and a small galley to heat food in, all pretty deluxe actually." replied Roger.
Henri commented, "It appears zat zhey took ze engines off with ze intention of putting zhem back again. All ze brackets and mounts are still here."
He grinned and asked, "Is it possible zat ze engines might still be nearby? Maybe in a storage building?"
Hector shrugged and remarked, "We can look around here, if you like. It's quite possible that the engines are sitting in a shed nearby. Some of this stuff was already here when we got the facility donated to us, including this airplane."
Hector pulled out of his pocket an impressive array of keys and a small keyfob, with only a couple of keys on it, they were the keys to the Martin Mariner.
He handed them to Roger and said cheerfully, "Take a look inside!"
Roger wasted little time in fitting the key to the lock and with a silent prayer, twisted the door lever.
The door hesitated a few moments, as the weatherstripping inside stubbornly clung to the door.
It reluctantly yielded to Roger's firm insistence and with a dry creak and a tearing sound, the door swung open, leaving tiny bits of dried weatherstripping still clinging to the now open door frame, they were in!