Oaxaca ~ Part VI

The next morning Ben brought his luggage into the hotel lobby and saw that Jose was still on duty. 

“Buenos Dias Jose,” said Ben.

“Buenos Dias Señor Gentry.”

“I’m surprised to see you still at work.”

“The morning clerk called in sick.”

“When will you be relieved?”

“Soon.”

“I hope the owner is paying you overtime.”

“I am the owner,” said Jose.

“You own this Hotel?”

“Yes.”

“Why would you work the night shift?”

“Because I enjoy it. We should always do what we enjoy.”

“Can’t argue with that,” said Ben. “But the night shift?”

“At my age, I hardly sleep anyway. And there’s mystery in the night. Things happen at night that don’t happen in the daytime. And at the end of each night is the enchantment of the dawn.” 

Ben smiled and nodded. “May I ask what your age is?” 

“Seventy-four.. or seventy-five,” said Jose. Ben keened his eyes as if to ask a question.

“I was born during the Revolution, during a time of great chaos. In my village, no one survived who remembered my birth.” 

“Goodness,” said Ben. 

“May I ask your age?”

“I just turned forty-two.” For a few moments both men were silent. 

“Would you like to store your luggage here until you leave tonight?”

“Gracias Jose. I’ll want to take it to a locker at the Terminal. More convenient that way.”

“A good plan.”

“Well I’m sorry to be checking out.”

“I wish you a safe journey Señor Gentry and I hope you’ll return one day.”

“As do I,” said Ben. 

Gentry went to the Cafe Mitla for breakfast. He sat at the table for a long time, hoping for one more encounter with Diane. But to no avail. He took a taxi to the bus terminal and checked his luggage. Then he embarked on one last walkabout in Oaxaca. 

The rumbling engine of Gunther’s Mercedes announced his arrival at the Olguin compound. Two Mexican Hairless dogs came trotting up the path to greet him, barking their songs as they approached. Gunther bounced out of the car and tussled with the dogs. Lucy wheeled out on the driveway in her chair. 

“Guten morgen mein liebe,” said Gunther. 

“Buenos dias mi tesoro” replied Lucy. 

Diane emerged from the house with a cup of coffee in hand. Lucy whispered to Gunther, “English, darling.” 

“Good morning Diane,” said Gunther.

“Hello Gunther. How are you today?’

“Good enough.”

“Me too,” said Diane.

“Is there any more of zat?” said Gunther, pointing at Diane’s cup. 

“In the kitchen,” said Lucy. 

The kitchen was awash in the ambience of morning sunlight as the three sat around the breakfast table sipping their cups.

“What are we doing today?” said Lucy.

“Let’s bring Diane up to Monte Alban,” said Gunther. “Have you been?” 

“Actually I haven’t.”

“It’s old, it’s big and… let’s go,” said Gunther. 

“Do you want some breakfast?” said Lucy.

“Coffee’s good,” said Gunther.

Lucy’s all-terrain wheelchair moved easily across the grassy fields of the Great Plaza at Monte Alban. The three strolled about the remnants of the terraces and pyramids of the ancient metropolis. The site extended across a vast natural plateau, overlooking the modern city of Oaxaca. Other visitors peppered the site. 

“For thirteen centuries this vas the capital of the Zapotec culture,” said Gunther. “From 500 BC until 800 AD it vas populated vith up to 20,000 people at any given time.”

“A great culture,” said Diane. “It lasted longer than Rome.”

“Especially ven you consider zey had no vasser up here.”

“Vasser?” said Diane.

“Water,” said Lucy.

Diane looked around at the vast dimensions of the site. “How did they manage that?” 

“Each day the people carried vasser from the springs below, bringing it up in large pots and pouring them into cisterns.”

“Look over there,” said Lucy, “a nice shady spot in that grove of ficus trees.” 

“Yah,” said Gunther, “Ve take a break?”

“Sounds good,” said Diane. 

From the rear basket on Lucy’s chair, Gunther took out a large blanket and spread it on the ground. Diane fetched a small, wicker basket, taking items from it. She placed a number of small tomatoes, a wedge of cheese and a few bread rolls on a towel in the middle of the blanket. 

“To drink?” said Gunther.

“Here,” said Diane, removing bottles of mineral water from the basket. 

“Yah,” said Gunther. 

As the three made themselves comfortable, a young Mexican boy approached showing a small board with pieces of jewelry attached to it. 

“Hola gente,” said the boy, “Tengo cosas hermosas para las damas.”

Diane was annoyed by the boys presence. Lucy and Gunther smiled and shook their heads. “No, gracias,” said Lucy. 

“Por favor,” said the boy, “para que mi familia pueda comer hoy.”

“Aqui,” said Gunther, handing the boy a twenty peso note. “que compra esto?” 

“Ah, si señor… este hermoso colgante,” said the boy.

Taking the pendant from the boy, Gunther said, “Bueno. Ahora… vamos.”

“Gracias,” said the boy. “Tengo otros artículos hermosos.”

“Vamos, chico,” Gunther sternly said. Still smiling, the boy turned and walked off in the direction of another group of visitors. 

Looking over at the women, Gunther smiled and uttered, “Future CEO.”

“May I see it,” said Diane.

Gunther handed the pendant to Diane saying, “Ven I vas in Egypt, the peddlers always said “ancient Egyptian treasure” as they sold the tipico they had made the day before.” 

“Tipico?” said Diane. 

“Indigenous crafts,” said Lucy.

“The shops we went to yesterday and the sculptures you bought, is this what you trade in?” said Diane.

“We market them to retailers in the States,” said Lucy. “From time to time Gunther loads a van and drives up to the States where he delivers these and other items to various retailers.”

“Mostly in the vestern states,” said Gunther. “Santa Fe, Scottsdale, Sedona, Palm Springs, even Las Vegas. Good traffic there.”

“And your sources are here in Oaxaca.” said Diane.

“Actually,” said Gunther, “ve are thinking about making a trip south to Chiapas and even Guatemala. There are many vonderful things to be found made by Mayan artisans.” 

“Maybe we should go to Chiapas soon,” said Lucy. “We could take Diane,” then to Diane, “How about it?” 

“Ven do you return to the States?” said Gunther.

“Not for awhile,” said Diane.

“Well… OK then,” said Lucy. “Let’s went.”

“Yah,” said Gunther, “Ve go. Ve take the Mercedes. On the vay ve stop at the coast in Salina Cruz. Mein bruder Dieter, he lives there. He has fishing boats. Oh Diane, vouldn’t you like to go out fishing again?” 

“I don’t know,” said Diane, “I.. I don’t have the clothing for it.” 

“I can fix you up, ” said Lucy.

“C’mon ladies,” said Gunther, “Ve have big adventure.” 

“Diane?…” said Lucy. 

Diane gave a long look at her two companions. “Well sure,” she said, “why not?” She knew there were challenges in any adventure but at this point in her life she was past comfort and routine. ‘Besides’, she thought, ‘maybe I’ll cross paths with Ben again.’ 

to be continued…