Chapter 4 Unsafe

itely someone needs to assist you now on this quest by sea ma'am" he said jokingly and frankly speaking, it made her laugh out loud.

The minute Mara noticed the young man was really something, she laughed over again, asking to get his name,

"Am Miguel and you my lady are?"

"Mara, you can call me Mara".

"Oh, Mara, you look so beautiful compared to that name, how old are you?

"Oh how disappointing that can be, I think I may have to change the name then?"

"Oh no, not at all. At least your gown can be compared! So please keep the name as well"

"That's amazing for a taxi driver. Where on earth can I find someone as fun to be with as you Miguel!" She exclaimed enthusiastically trying to stop herself from chuckling.

"Oh my dear you asked for it and you'll get what you desire."

"By the way, am twenty five" she said slouching backwards on her seat.

"Wow, you are really young as well, I can see you are engaged."

"Oh yeah, didn't notice that on time you know"

"Really?"

"No, I mean I know am engaged" she laughed

"Then why all of a sudden you don't seem to notice that?"

"Never mind, it happened today you know!"

"Oh wow, congrats miss"

"Thank you." She replied, smiling happily.

"By the way, you asked where to find someone as fun to be with right?" Miguel asked, trying to reverse the wheels as he approached Tax. An Khê on a hilly slope.

"Yes if you may" she responded excitingly

"Then I guess you'll be glad to meet the guy I told you I've got at Sông Câu who will fulfill your needs if reaching Manila and also clearing your head of whatever trash you've placed in there."

"Ha ha ha, how on earth did I get to meet you?"

"On a Taxi ride ma'am"

"You funny little one!"

"Oh little one hah, am sorry to ring it, am forty six"

"Ho ho ho, really?"

"Yeah. I may be smallish, but indeed"

"Oh then I guess I need a vibrant man much younger"

"Anything for you my lady, we are here now."

As the cab pulled over at the park, Miguel handed her a piece of paper as he waved her goodbye saying,

"Call the number written on it, I don't know why he isn't picking up, am sure he will; just keep trying, he's the only guardian angel I recommend in the entire vietnam."

"Oh please wait, I didn't get his name!" Mara exclaimed as Miguel drove off leaving her to figure out the answer to the question.

She soon realize she was alone and far away from the city she knew so well. And standing-by, few meters away from her, were four old looking men drinking and making chattering sounds in a manner that appeared joyous to her perception which made her get hold of herself to put on courage and quench the frightening look which almost got hold of her.

She soon ignored the piece of paper on her hand and walked up to a lady sitting at the back side of a filling station instead, and asked her if she knew anyone going to Sông Câu from Tx. An Khê at the time.

"You can ask those men over there, they are the masters of the coast I guess." She replied like one being interrupted and disturbed by a stranger and a stranger indeed.

"Oh thank you" Mara replied quietly, keeping her distance as if she was going to meet the men standing meters apart, but instead, she turned rightward to a phone booth situated nearby. She slowly unfolded the paper and dialed the number written on it, then placed it on her left ear waiting for someone to pick up. She dialed three to four times with no one to answer and when she was about giving up the fifth time, a female replied saying,

"Hello, speak up now before the humming bird falls back to sleep!"

"Hey, hello, thank goodness alas..."

"Alright you are really pissing me now you know!"

"Oh okay, wait wait please am stuck in the middle of nowhere, I need your help!" Mara replied speedily without a break in speech at all.

"And what have that got to do with me?" The girl asked.

"Am guessing I dialed the wrong number then? Am so sorry" Mara tried to apologize as she carefully cross-checked the number she dialed when alas she heard another voice coming through and a male's voice at that,

"Give me that, don't be a jerk! Hello"

"Oh Hello, am sorry to call you at this time, am..."

"Don't worry anytime is okay with me. And to what do I owe this call?"

"Am stucked somewhere in Tx. An Khê and hoping to get help to Sông Câu and I know it's late, I got your number from a..."

"No time is too late to call for help, and besides you got the right man for the job, save your explanations for later, and Please do hold on..."

"You mean you are coming? Are you coming?"

"Only an inquisitive answer will delay me a bit, and yes am on my way. Stay close to the phone okay."

"Okay sir" Mara replied feeling a deep peace just flooded her soul for the first time in a long time. As she dropped the call, someone behind her asked saying,

"Are you happy now?"

Then she turned to see who it was and instantly, a cold feeling went all over her when she saw a huge man at his late fifties on a shepherds hat all dressed old fashioned...

"Oh my goodness you scared me!" She said

"Oh yeah, can this be more scary? He replied, opening his teeth wide enough to show his ugly looking premolars.

Immediately, Mara shifted to the left frightenly, clearing the pathway for him. He walked right in, coughing and sneezing with his full fleshed dog following behind. Then turning to Mara as he grabbed the telephone, he spoke in a husky manner

"This place is bad luck for a prostitute seeking room for profit"