Chapter 4 XV

--We need to see those specs before committing -- Said Erik-- and make sure about the 4 units... Unlike the big yards, we cannot take a lot of work at the same time because of our delivery dates being endangered.--

--Three units with a fourth optional-- Vosteinfeld cut in-- our evaluation shows that it is viable, but we want to agree the deliveries with you--

Harald took some air and said slowly  --Our dry dock needs a lot of maintenance, 4 units have a high risk for us regarding tight deliveries--

Jim Petersen smiled-- As our Alfred says, our evaluation of your capabilities says that it is possible, We are willing to provide you with support. Maintenance and design, eventually specialists. We can talk the details over... that's my job-- his smile widened --  The chief engineer is going to oversee everything, of course, but my task is to make sure the deliveries can be achieved and that the needed resources are available--

Erik shuffled in his seat, a little uncomfortable while thinking that those people seemed very decided, which was not bad and that they seemed to be ready to take over his company, which was very bad.

The discussion focused on the general description of the vessels and an overview of the general requirements. The design basis was a catamaran. Each of the twin hulls could be built separately and joined together while floating, at the dock. One of the configurations would be "cruise" with cabins and the second a transport one with more room for containerized goods. One of the most interesting issues, technically speaking, was the requirement for an access platform for vehicles, either from a sea platform (another vessel) or from a dock. Hybrid propulsion system (reduction of emissions)  and full capacity to be powered under sail also the very strong design to face storms, frozen seas and icebergs.

After  a long discussion, Erik exchanged a glance with Harald and asked

-- With regards to the internal equipment... we ave little experience nor personnel, like interior designers or such. Have you spoken to the Germans?--  A few famous shipyards in Germany were responsible for some of the most famous and luxurious cruise ships of the world. They had hordes of interior designers and people who paid a lot of attention to detail to make an stunning interior. At the end  of the day, that is what the client sees, and this that is quite important.

-- Well, on the one hand is that the client we are aiming for does not want nor need luxurious interiors, on the other there is the prize. Our proposal is to do the internal fitting under our own capacities but do it while moored to your dock. Of course paying for it.--

After some  confusion, it became clear that the referred southern dock was an old coal unloading dock. It was the right drought indeed but today was used as a storage and partly was rented out to some recreational vessels in winter. It brought little money but it did have a crane. It took Erik a few days to think that it was strange that they knew it was their property 

-- When could you show us the drawings?--

-- The first drawings with the volume distribution in two months. Hydrodynamic corrections in 3 and structural reinforcements in 6 --

Erik exchanged glances with Harald again and after registering the other's imperceptible nodding, he took air and said

-- We can make a cost estimation a month after the volume distribution and a final offer a month after those 6 months you need for the structural refinements--

The three members of Green Island smiled at once

<Previous                    Next>

Chapter 4 XIV

Aure, Norway, April 2009

Harald was 36 years old. His oldest memories  went back somewhat 30 years ago, on the same place where he was now standing, the shipyard the grandfather of his grandfather had started, 115 years ago. Initially it was a local business, but during the war the germans had built a dry yard for their submarines. Nowadays it was an asset for shipping that  crossed the Trondheimsleia. While repairs where a common thing, built of new vessels was on the decline. The shipyard was too small and the world situation was not helping. Harald and Erik had been trying to get into the oil business for years, with a limited success. They had gotten contracts, but it was always a one odd and nothing stable.

As Harald was approaching, he saw the Erik's pick up pulling up next to him, among the old dirty snow. Once in the office, Erik started to lay out  the meeting room and Harald got into the locker room, next to the meeting room to get his suit on. That morning there was an important meeting planned. A potential new client coming all the way from Oslo. Or at least the contact came through a lawyer company in Oslo and arranged a meeting. Erik joked that they were drug traffikers and they wanted a submarine. Or perhaps he did not joke. The weather was bad and they knew that no drug lords were hosted on any of the hotels around so they were expecting a delay or to move the meeting. The speaker on the phone had also declined any help on hotel booking or recommendations.

At 1030 Lana came up from the reception. the visitors had arrived. Erik went to met them while asking Lana to give word to Harald, who was on the shop. There was 3 men standing at the reception, still taking jackets out. Erik stayed aside, smiling politely and silent while the North Faces went to the hanger and the boots underneath the bench, on which already three aluminum briefcases were resting. As the visitors turned to face him, Erik stepped forward and introduced himself

--Erik Steintre, commercial director-- None of the visitors looked Norwegian, but indeed Europeans, so he launched himself directly into English. --My brother Harald is the technical director and he is on his way here. I am glad to see you arrived safely--

--Alfred Vonsteinfeld, Director of Offshore Products, Green Island-- This was the first time that  Erik herad the name of the (potential) client and also the name was new and unknown to him.

--James Wooldrow, Engineering Green Island Offshore-- A hard handshake. Erik Noticed that in his white collar there was a logo, a green G within a blue circle. Below it in red letters  ``Engineering''.

--Jim Petersen, project manager-- Mr Petersen sported the same shirt. some noises from the changing room area indicated that Harald was coming. Erik won some time by doing the visiting card exchang.

-- Please, follow Harald. I will be back with you in two minutes, I just want to organize something to eat-- Erik, ignoring Harald's interrogative look, went into the small room where both sharing an office, avoiding Lana, who from her own desk was following everything like a Hawk. One of her tasks was precisely to organize something to eat when there was a meeting.

Erik used his two minutes to dig out as much information about Green Island and the names he had as google would provide. It turned out, that it was more than enough. There was of course the official website but little else. The group was offered consulting focused in hig seas operations. It was a general web and there was not much specific information. There was mention about some big companies but little else. As he returned to the meeting room, everyone was getting comfortable and  Lana was busy distributing coffee and pastries with usual efficiency.

--We brought a short presentation along -- Comenzó Vosteinfeld -- firstly over our group, to introduce ourselves and then specifically over the project that we would like to talk to you about.--

The presentation barely enhanced the information that Erik had found on the internet. However things started to get interesting when they jumped into the project part.

Green Island Engineering division had a key ready project with a tourism company. This company (which name Vosteinfeld did not revealed) was specialized on theme trips to the wilderness. Now they had created a business plan based on trips and cruises on austral and artic waters. Greenland, Canada and Antarctic destinations where on the book. The company was already operating with an old soviet oceanographic ship, but the demand had skyrocketed and they now were talking about four units. Green Island had been contracted to develop the specifications and supervise construction.

--The reason to come over here is as much commercial as technical-- said Wooldrow, mopping up some cloudberry jam from his chin -- On the one had, our project is too small for a big shipyard like Daewoo and our specs are not standard, thus they have little interets. On the other hand you have less projects, but the traditions and know how. It is also a good selling point for our clients. It is not the same some anonymous vessel built in Corea as the proud craft of a viking shipyard. And you have a very nice dry dock out there.--

<Previous   Next>

Chapter 4 XIII

As soon I could corner him in the kitchen I spoke to him:

-- As you know, I am a little fed up of my current job and I have been looking onto something else --

For all response all I got was blink blink, he was holding a toast on one hand, suddenly still... so I carried on

-- The thing is, you see, that I finally found something--

-- You are really up for adventures, uh?--

I had to make an effort to push down the tears and laughter within me and tried to make a a kind smile out of it... I he only knew.

-- Well, you know, if you are not happy with your job... you still have to show up every day a and face it. If you are not happy... well the risk is higher if I just stay --

-- But, what if you do not like it? --
-- If I don't like it... I can always change again--  This time his blinking was framed by a disbelief stare .
-- Well, the point is that I have been offered an interesting position, but it is not in Madrid.--
--Oh, and where ist it then? --
--in Cologne, Germany --
Apparently it was Diego's turn to laugh hysterically and he did not even try to repress laughter... I could see tear on his eyes.


--What a bummer--
--No, No, the point is that I am interested--Again, eyes like saucers --
--What are you talking about man, Germany? come on --
--It won't happen overnight , and I won't move there immediately... I'll still be in Madrid for a few weeks--
-- But then, you'll have to leave the flat.-- He interrupted, panic on his voice was now starting to be clear.
-- ...er... , Yes, sure. I wanted to help you find a new flatmate--

The enormity of it was visible on his terrorized face.
-- But don't you worry, we'll find someone, it won't be difficult.--
-- When are you leaving then--
-- Well, the new job starts on June 22nd... and according to the plan, I'll move to Cologne 15 day later. --
-- I must find a new flatmate--  His voice seemed to come from the underworld, in awe.
-- You don't worry, it is not going to be difficult. --

The details on how Diego and I ended up as flatmates is a story for another day. The basics are that there was this girl I met and I was looking forward knowing better, who knew Diego from the university. She knew he was moving to Madrid and needed a flatmate.

At the end of the day, my story with that girl ended going nowhere and I ended moving with Diego because I was fed up of my flatmates. It had been a proper adventure. As you might have figured out already, Diego had not spent all that much time away from his parents... but he was not a bad guy.

At Any rate, It was clear that he was totally lost and had no clue on what he should do. That very night I introduced him to websites like el dialista and we put together an ad to upload.

<Previous       Next>

Chapter 4XII

We went back into the main building and went up a wide staircase, up to the first floor. My old Asics were squeaking on the waxed floors, while I was following Natalia, who seemed to know where she was going, as she was walking confidently.

When we reached the landing, I could see the options the wide space offered the visitor. There was a generous double door marked as "Private". To the left there was a not less generous corridor that took you to the conferences rooms. Right opposite to the staircase there was another door marked as "Restrooms". This could be useful, so I made a mental note. Also, as everybody knows, if the door is labeled "Restrooms" instead of "Toilets" there is a higher chance of them being clean.

I let Natalia walk ahead of me from the landing onward because, although wide, I did not feel comfortable walking too close to her, as we did not know each other. I din't want it to be too obvious, but it did not help the conversation.

-- Jesús Díaz is about to arrive-- she said talking to her shoulder -- I booked a small meeting room up here to be able to talk calmly --

I wondered whether she would take part in the meeting and whether there would be need of calm.

--Anything I should know beforehand?-- I asked. For one I was a little nervous but also irritated by the whole circus.

Natalia turned around, seemingly amused, while she hold the door open and invited me to go in.
-- I think not...--  I had to squeeze between her and the door and for a sec our eyes locked and I could breathe her perfume. That was not going to help a lot to calm me down.

The room was fairly small and contained little besides a round table and 4 chairs around it. There was a telephone in the middle of the table and a couple of signed pictures on the wall. I had no clue who they might be. We sat diametrically opposed with an empty chair right before the door  which took not much time to be opened and we stood up at the same time, spectating.





The famous Jesús Diaz was a little shorter than me. He had a fairly homogeneous red round head without much hair left, just on the side. He wore round metallic rimmed glasses, which made his eyes look deeper than they actually were in his generous cheeks. His round upper body was clad in a La Martina polo shirt. Pink.

His legs were short and thin, thy poked out, hairy, below some gleaming white pressed shorts.


-- Jesús Díaz-- He said, extending his hand towards me, without too much smiling. Either I had missed  something or he had ignored  Natalia as if she was not there. -- You must be Mr Wooldrow's friend... --

On my side, I smile and let his hand go. Then he exchanged a nod of acknowledge with Natalia whose answer I missed, as I focused on him. I gave him my name and, just in case, my first surname. I avoided telling him anything about his friends.

-- Mr Wooldrow and I are not exactly friends. He is my future direct boss... -- If it was a competition, I knew how to play too. Wooldrow was the Chief of Engineering on Green Island and certainly my direct boss, as I would not be dependant of the hierarchy of InGnio IGnieros. I focused on smiling and let him sit down first. I could also hear the rustling of Natalia´s chair when she sat down.

Once we were all sat down, Jesús Díaz started to probe me immediately.  Natalia was a spectator on the tennis match... or Padel if you'd rather say. He wanted to know who I was and he had a hard time understanding I was a nobody. I had no special contacts and he throught I was lying. Truthfully, I was indeed lying, but the story he had to swallow was that I had contact with Green Island since university, as I collaborated in a project bach then. I had maintained a professional contact with Mr. Wooldrow and now there was a further collaboration opportunity. Officially, Green Island had selected me, but wanted to have SD attached to m InGnio InGnieros and not directly attached to Green Island but the report was directly to it and not Madrid. Politics and Taxes were the reasons.

The second point Jesús Díaz wanted to talk about was about marking the land, his land. On my side I had no problem. At the end of the day SD was not going to use many resources from InGnio InGnieros but from Green Island directly. The commercial side and administration was also Green Island and I would place my Personnel needs directly to Mr. Wooldrow

Jesús Díaz paused a bit there. He was in the position to offer support on andministration and Personnel management, not that they had much to spare,  but Special Developments did not have the structure from a "real company". Jesús Díaz spent a little time giving me tips about cost management and time management and the value of proper management

My reply went along thanking him and assuring him I would let Wooldrow know. He didn't like that too much, as he said he could tell him that himself but he was telling it to me as "a friend", to help me.

-- I'll see, it is not my responsibility area though. All I can do it communicate it. With respect to the selection in itself. The  budget will be passed by Green Island and not InGnio InGnieros, therefore the approval comes directly from above.-- I smile agreeably -- At the end of the day we are a small department and you have lots to do.--

Jesús Díaz showed a shark smile and lectured me on how much they had to do, the main projects, times, budgets, the lot.

I lt the rght sounds come out, admiration and surprise.

 -- Well -- I said -- The main purpose of the department is no other than channel aid money from the Euripean Union -- To this I go his interest. Shall had I started with this, he would have not believed it. Now he had been trying to find the trick and was thinking that his tactics had yielded the expected results. I explained how Special Developments could benefit from certain subventions and thus help reduce taxes for Green Island and InGnio InGnieros. He could see personal profit.

For the first time, Jesús Díaz smiled sincerely and said I would have support from his "people" and that he was looking forward to work with Green Island on coming projects

-- When are you starting then?--
-- Well, actually in 15 days. For a while here in Madrid, since it is going to take a while in Cologne. There is still a bit to get done-- It was a reference to the fact of Cologne offices not being ready-- But I do not really need much more than a chair and a desk.--

Jesús Díaz answered with some loud laughter. I could see that Natalia wanted to say something but he ignored her. He had something to say.

-- Ha, Ha, Ha! --  He roared -- Yes, a chair and a desk ... yes, that is not going to be a problem. -- 

Now Natalia came in

-- We got a laptop computer  and a cell phone from Green Island  --  I nodded and smiled back to her.
--... a place to work is not going to be a problem-- She said gauging Jeús Díaz -- With regards to the works at Cologne's office, they are going to be coordinated by Green Island ...--

--... And the message is that they are on time -- Jesús Díaz just cut in -- in 20 days it should be completed .--

And she kept on--... as I mentioned, for the relocation to Cologne, I'll get you in cotact with Silke, who is in charge of the administration over there. She is going to help you with the paperwork over there and can help you with accommodation and such things.--

Jesús Díaz still had a couple of sentences to offer, he was boss and regaled us with his thoughts and closed the meeting, thus having the last word. Generously he said -- Drink something and meet the people--

Now that Natalia did not have to babysit me, she got herself discretely out of the picture, while Jesús Díaz went to greet people as  he was the Pope in Rome.

Under the circumstances, I touched at the bar stand to get some more tonic water. Lola was tailing Jesús Díaz, so it was actually pleasant there. I then headed to one of the courts and leaned against the perimeter fence. I sipped tonic water while listening what was going on around me and observe, but mainly to kill half an hour before taking off.

I had one target when I arrived home and was to speak to Diego about the job change and my moving out. Even if I was focused on my thoughts I could not avoid seeing a question mark with an asterisk instead of the usual dot. It was painted  with white chalk on red bricks at the exit of the underground. The white colour told me that it was the closest to home dead letter box the one I had to check. Therefore I changed plan and got on with it. As a good boy I did not go directly, but I took a round that allowed me to check my six.

By the time Diego arrived home, I had already had my dinner. All the event and such had been great fun, but I had been on the move most of the day without nothing to eat. When I had came back, I just had assaulted my reserves, which was very positive for my mood.

<Previous   Next>

Chapter 4 XI

Las Tablas, Madrid, 2009

Padel was the new trend sport in Madrid. As far as I was concerned it was just a simplification of tennis for lazy snobs. For those who are not trendy enough to know what padel is, it is indeed something like tennis, with a smaller racquet and a lot less strength shouting. I had never had any interest in tennis, but this was even less attractive to me.

At any rate, the "Team building event"   was going to be a day playing padel in a club in Las Tablas, north of Madrid.


I knew the are a little, because back in the day I had done a few job interview around there. As the crow flies, it was not far from our apartment,  but to reach it with the tube I had to cross half of the city. From Nuevos Ministerios I took the line 10 northbound, carrying my backpack. In my backpack I had my (now improved) survival kit, but today  the main point was to carry some "sport clothing" in order to not look out of place. That is shorts and a T-shirt. I had no intention to get into one of the cubicles, but anyway...


The circus was scheduled to start at 10, which I guess could be considered a little early. The fact is, the tube had nothing to do with the week traffic. Up to Nuevos Ministerios, I was thinking about all things coming my way... I had to recruit people and organize work groups. Then there was the issue of keeping it secret, the issue of changing company and no less to move to Cologne and learn some German, the future was coming towards me like a train.
In Nuevos Ministerios, María Jesús Álvarez informed me that we where at my destination and I changed into the line 10, where finding a seat was again not a problem, This time I rummaged around in my backpack until I found my book. I was now reading "Strata", from Terry Pratchett. I had to put my anxiety aside. I had done my routine of checking my 6 about 5 times by then and I knew the people around me better than my family.


At destination, a big burly bloke with black sunglasses, shaved head and his moustasche-goatee perfectly trimmed at exactly 2 mm asked me, in a grave and serious tone, about my accreditation. I had nothing more than the verbal invitation from Natalia, so when I was done with my explanation, his tone changed to a few degrees colder, which settled the tone of our coming relationship

--Then you cannot access -- He pointed at some sheets of paper he had in a pad holder which was hiding behind him. He shacked it in front of me and said -- I have been told from the boss that only those in the list can come in by showing the accreditation--

--Can we have a look whether I am on the list --

-- You must have been told at work that you had to bring your accreditation to be able to come in --

-- Yeah, you see, the thing is that I haven't started working there just yet-- I was thinking on all the things I had practiced with Jesús. On such occasions the best is not to draw attention and place a good lie and a lot of confidence. things like " I bring these flips flops back because ... " The point was that I did not want to sneak in, I had been invited! or at least Natalia had invited me

-- So, you are not even working for this company? --
--not yet--
-- Then you cannot enter, this is only for employees -- Then he started to explain me that the business was closed because of a company event.

After a few failed trials, I managed to get the bouncer to look for my name in the list, which he achieved successfully.

-- but you have no pass -- Roma was not made in a day, I guees. The conversation took a very dark road at that moment, until he decided to call someone. That someone probably decided to call some other one until a few minutes a smiling Natalia came down the staircase, out of the shadows.

After smiling left and right and with the bouncer a little more reassured, I was delighted to follow her into the brief darkness before coming out again in the big patio, where several groups of, presumably, Ingenio Ingeniergos employees where milling around, some in appropriate dressing and other with shorts similar to what I had in my pack

On our way we exchanged some pleasantries,  such as "I'm happy you came"', "I'll introduce you to this and that"', after a few laments and apologies. Very much like myself, Natalia was wearing some jeans, with the key difference that she wore hers much better than I did mine. Her tennis shoes were of radioactive white, whereas mine... well mine were comfortable. They were my old Asics that no where no longer up to the task to deal my 80 kilos bouncing while jogging. That was the end of the similarities, because she was wearing an impeccable white shirt with the logo of  InGnio InGnieros. I was wearing a linen shirt, because since moving to Madrid I had discovered linen as a survival strategy. At any rate, there I was, exchanging pleasantries with Natalia in my blue linen shirt listening to "not Fragile" in my head. If her looks were something to go by, I guessed she was not going to play lots of padel.

-- Jesús Díaz -- This Jesús was my future "boss", he was the director of InGnio InGnieros -- is coming a little later, I had arranged a small conference room upstairs -- she turned around, like that girl of the fortune wheel when she has to turn a letter, probably pointing at the building where said room might be--  Meanwhile, perhaps you would like to play a little  -- semi twirl again, this time on the other direction-- I'll introduce you to some of your future colleagues, come along.--

I got on her tail obediently, still smiling about the use and custom in Madrid to call everyone by name and first surname, which for me was a little unusual. When I was a kid I had reached the conclusion that the motive was that there was so many people in Madrid, that otherwise it would lead to confusion. We went along the path in between the courts where the introductions started.

To be honest, my ability to retain names and faces is, at  best, limited, and at the moment my interest was limited, as  I presumed I was not really going to work with this people at all. However, you have to be polite an all... and I was having no objections to follow Natalia around. On the other hand I was curious to know what was she up to. She had spent quite  a while with me already. After a few faces we reached a mobile bar under the shade of some trees. There was some salty snacks and soft drinks. there was two women and a tall bloke Before even get started, one of the women took Natalia by the arm and said.

-- Here you are ... -- and the rest I could not get. Anyway, I had an answer to my question. After introducing me to the tall guy and exchanging kisses with the first woman, Natalia introduced me to the third one, which looked a bit curious. As far as I could understand she was the secretary of Jesús Díaz. She started a barrage of direct questions, basically who I was and where I was coming from.

-- So you studied in Sweden --  The voice was not particular, but the tone was certainly irritating. I looked into something to drink, so I had some excuses to delay my answer and with my hands busy, it would be less likely that I strangled her. Apparently it was all soft drinks, no beer anywhere, so I took a bottle of Schweppes and kept nodding while I fished a piece of lemon and a handful of ice cubes.

-- I see you've read my CV-- I turned around smiling to see Natalia fuss a little and hear her try to articulate an answer that would eventually lead to some kind of apology. I was not in the mood to have any of her crap, so I pressed in

-- Yeah, I studied there the second part of my masters and I also worked there for a while, but the weather is better here --  I said signaling upwards.
Perhaps she got it or perhaps she did not, but anyway Natalia helped to keep the conversation on the weather and Sweden for the next  20 minutes or so.

We were on it, curtains and Ikea until Natalia took a huge nokia out of her poket and she turned around to talk into it.

It did not last long until she turned around and looking at me she let me know we had to get moving. Since she did not tell Lola where or why we were leaving, told me that Lola was already well informed.

<Previous        Next>

Chapter 4 X

I stopped between two parked cars and turned around, slightly irritated. If he was looking for a spot, it was pretty obvious there was nothing and the space between the both rows of parked cars was wide enough. As I turned I could see the vehicle in question, a black Opel Corsa C,  MIDNIGHT BLACK MET was the official colour designation, but that I would find out later as I looked under the bonnet. The black car crept forward, with the driver's window at mid height and behind it, the smiling face of Jesús. I knew he left it that way in order to mess with video recordings. The Opel crept a little further, freeing be from being locked between the parked cars and the Corsa. I walked bejind the back and walked along the vehicle until the passenger door and jumped in.

Jesús released the clutch and we jumped forward without him waiting for me to get my safety belt on, not in a brusque manner, but firmly, getting to the access to the main street while I was fighting to get the backpack between my legs and pulling at the seat belt, which was determined on getting stuck.

Once ready, I finally allowed myself to look forward. Jesús was busying himself getting us around the entrance ramp into the M-40, heading south. We could see the skyscrapers getting smaller on our back. On the sides of the road, large fields with tall unkept yellowing grass reached long, just pockmarked by buildings here and there, which seemed lost in the yellow seas. Reaching for the radio, Jesús pressed the pause button and, at one, the music from Madness filled the car. For some reason I did not know nor risk to ask, Jesús loved Madness. He had a lot of music, but he seemed to be always listening to madness. I looked at the USB pocking out of the front of the radio and I wondered whether it would ever became the greatest hits of Queen. I sat tight and breathed slowly in


In a few minutes I briefed him on the conversation with Natalia and both agreed that the people from Madrid offices were not all that happy with how this was developing and wanted to know who I was. We agreed I would go to the event and on Saturday we would start working on the contact list, we had to get the recruiting ready. For a few minutes we rolled, still headed south, both silent, through Madrid's long dusk of beginning of summer. My mind was jumping from one thing to other when I recognized the first accords of Land of Confusion. It seemed to me impossible that the city which laid before me and went further than I could see, cooked under the sun, soon would became a inhospitable plain castigated by icy winds. It also seemed unthinkable what I was letting myself into...

... This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth living in.
...

When we reached the city, not far from my flat, but not too close, Jesús did his thing. we had practiced it many tines. In a low trafficked area, right after a 90 degree turn I stepped down and Jesús picked up speed as if he had never stopped. I reached the pedestrian walk fast and I moved away from the point, I crossed through a park, albeit small, and then I reached a maze of streets in which I got lost, narrow one way streets at the bottom of city cliffs built in the 60s to house workers coming from the land.

I had done my homework and  knew the area as the back of my hand. After a few minutes I was heading home at a good pace through the Bucamanga Avenue. 

That night, at home,  while I listened the modulated sound of the underground transmitted by the still hot air I would go back thinking about how all this would turn out. But first, dinner was to be dealt with.

As I entered into our domains, I found Diego into cooking. He had opened a tomato and tuna can and was pouring it out carefully into a plate. The fact that if was most definitely the smallest plate we had, did not help. It was, however, the one that on his good days, Diego would put under his cereal bowl. He was transfixed,as if the can had more dimensions than normal. He was holding the can with the opening at a shallow angle to the plate and rather close to it.  In order to look into it, he was almost kneeling down and looking up into the can.

Since I did not want to disturb that, I went into my room and lightly greeted him. When I came back into the kitchen he was still in the same position but now barely a few drops of oil dripped onto the overfilled plate.


-- You may leave the empty can in the sink for a while mate, it will be easier to clean --
-- That is a good idea! -- as an Origami, Diego unfolded back up and let the can in the sink, as if would explode.
--So, what are you up to? -- I asked.
-- I have to work this weekend -- Diego me hablaba con el plato en la mano, en el medio de la cocina.-- I requeseted my flight to be reinbursed, but my boss refused--

I nodded and let him go through  -- Sort yourself out, I am going to grab something to eat and I'll sit down with you -- with all what was going on with my life, I had not much time to cook. I opened the freezer more with hope than expectation. The only thing there was a small cool bag for my knee and that bloody ice tray Diego insisted on filling up when we move in and never used since.

The fridge did not look much better but I could find some sliced cheese and the sad remains of half a tomate. I took what I could and closed the fridges door and could then hear Diego talking from the living room

-- ... and says that why is he going to pay for the money if he is already paying the extra hours. It is outrageous ...-- If I was not wrong, there would be some sliced bread in my cabinet... it turned out to be one, the last one. I mustered all resignation I could and with my bounty in a plate I was heading to the living room when I realized that I had not seen Diego warming up his dinner,
-- Have you warmed up that? --
-- No --
-- why? --
-- You cannot put a can in the microwave -- answered the tired voice from the living room while I dried my hand with the kitchen towel.
-- But you can indeed put the plate in --  C I took mine and finally headed for the living room. I had had no answer so as I came near to the dining table I could see Diego's gaze going through me into the kitchen.

I was already seated and eating when Diego turned his vitreous eyes towards me. Since I was chewing, I put my hand more or less at the height of my mouth, trying to look a little polite and said
-- Extra hours, flight --

Life returned to his eyes and for the next 20 minutes, Diego took to explain me what he though about modern society and question why had he studied and had commitment at work and sacrifice actually his time for. 

I decided not to go into me leaving the flat and all... it was not the right moment

<Previous                   Next>

Chapter 4 IX

After that meeting I had a separate chat with the team leader for the external people working with me. There was nothing I could do. In a way I felt as if I was betraying them. The boys had put a lot of effort and they were motivated. Their conditions were not particularly good and all of them were hoping to get an internal contract someday. The area where we worked was restricted and you could only unlock the door with your personal access card.  Since the bathroom was outside, you had to go through the motions at the electronic door every time... well for them, the time they were out was taken out. even if you had a pee.

That Monday I left as early as I could from work and took the tube, northbound. When I exited the station I found myself in a relatively wide street, with building on both sides shoulder to shoulder but none very tall. Most of them were red brick, and not new. They had a certain crumbliness to them. They were many companies there, sometimes many a building. There was not a lot of parking though. The sidewalk was narrow and between the curb and the road, there were many cars parked nose in. Behind them there was another line up to the side of the road, this time parked front to back.


The offices of InGnio InGnieros ere about 1 km away from the underground station, I had to leave a school behind,  on my right. It looked similar to the one I had studied in, many years ago. The bars of the fence were several tones and more layers of green, so many that the metal was no longer shaping the bars, but the thick coating. Dust from the street, the brickwork and the parterres, filled with red soil and devoid of plants, flew everywhere, powered by passing cars that drove over the 50 km/h speed limit. It coated everything.

I could soon see my target. At some point, the four story building had had a doorman. The door unlocked when I pressed the buzzer, and I pushed the door in, coming to the doorman's lodge, which was closed shut with yellowing cardboard. However, the lift was a new rig. A Thyssen thingy with a blue light that made you feel in Star Trek. The door slid close smoothly without a whimp. A nice soft voice informed me that we were heading up.


The reception area was rather small and was totally deserted. My contact from the personnel dept came around to pick me up. A short brunette on his 30s, wearing a cream suit and matching low shoes. Topic? perhaps, but her voice on the phone was sweet and funny, so perhaps I expected something else. I followed her to a small meeting room with a low table and padded chairs. I noticed that on one of the walls there was a  big poster of InGnio InGnieros. Following good manners, she offered me something to drink, which I accepted. I was not specially nervous though, at the end of the day all was going very smoothly, but those dusty street was still clinging to my throat.
Natalia came with the water and sat opposite me. She sat in a stool that was next to the poster and thus she was higher than me, even if she could not be taller than 1.5 m. 
Calmly she went through the documentation and my responsabilities. I would be in charge of an engineering team, directly dependant from Green Island as a matrix and it would be called Special Developments and it would be based in Cologne, Germany. I would get two weeks in Madrid to get to know InGnio InGnieros. In the coming days, there would be a meeting with the CEO of InGnio InGnieros and the Chief Engineer from Green Island.


The conversation slowly drifted into a chat until she invited me to drop by a team bulding event they were hosting on the weekend. For a second I had the impulse to ask her whether she would be there but I did not want to look like an imbecile so I rather went for  safe and asked what was it about and where. Since my free time was organized by Jesús and his training I did not think I would have time.

Finally we came to the interesting part, which was the job offer itself. The salary was 50000 EUR before taxes, yearly, which was crazy taking into account that at the moment I was earning 32000. Of course the deal was that I was going to get responsibility within the company.

Up to a point, it did not matter. Since civilization as we knew it was about to be kicked out of orbit, it did not matter what happened to my bank account.... However if there was something not working on Boone's theory, I would sit on a nice cushion to cry. It was not about doubts, I thought that I would not hurt me having a "Plan B",just in case. I had indeed talked to Boone about it, who nodded and smiled --You know, because of the profile of people we are looking for, this is a normal question... an expected question, really.-- Because of that, the project looked to be as legal as possible... in the event that the civilization did not end in the gutter, perhaps I had done a career movement.

Moving on, when to start. I had expected to start as soon as possible. However everything takes its time and the company wanted to take things slowly. At the end of the day, the offices in Cologne were not ready and I was a little uncomfortable to fit in. That was what the coming meeting was all about. Natalia knew little about, or so she said. She had not been part of my recruiting. Nevertheless, for what she said, the aim of that meeting seemed to be to find out about me and what where the plans. The official story though, was that I came by direct appointment of Green Island and the direction of SD was under direct control of GI. I guess the CEO of InGnio InGnieros was not all that happy about it.



We still talked about a couple of things, like holidays and we agreed a couple of further points. This would be included in the contract and I would get to sign the last version after  the meeting. She pressed again the thing of the team building event. 

We were ready to said our goodbyes and Natalia, she made a dead fish handshake but she smiled nicely. She also handed me over a cloth bag "the starter pack" she said. When I took the bag I let it hit the side of the table, which made a very glassware distinctive noise. She smiled widely and said --there is a mug in there, be careful!--

With the cloth bag in my backpack, I went back to the lift and I rewinded in my head what had just happened and played it at speed again.  I opened the aluminum door and stepped on the street, where the dust cloud had not gone away. Because of the narrow sidewalk and the cars parked nosed in, there was not all that space. Now I was walking more or less in autopilot, while I played the interview in my head. To avoid stumbling upon a car while absently minded walking, I decided to walk absently minded between the two rows or parked cars, the one against the curb and the one next to the road. There was space for a car there and no traffic.

After a few minutes, a vehicle neared in from behind and I step between two cars to let it go. However I could notice how the vehicle was slowing down at my height, trapping me between it and the parked cars.

<Previous                    Next>

Chapter 4 VIII

The following day at the office was not much better. Halfway through the morning I got a call from the Central office from InGnio InGnieros. A nice lady voice, from the personal dept. Natalia, called me to tell me that my contract was on the mail and should reach me today. She also wanted to talk about me joining the company and the Cologne arrangement. The current status was that I would spend some weeks in Madrid before Jumping to Germany. Dates were not totally fixed and... well, I would need some support too.

I left early in the afternoon from work and spent 3 hours with Jesús, assembling the two bunk beds and the two little closets and the desks on the other room, together with some shelves. We kept on working with the candidate's list and finally we cooked something fast in the kitchen. Jesús was not a member of Diego's club, but he definitely relied heavily on microwaves. With the only pan available in the flat and after a quick pit stop in the supermarket, I assembled some minced meat and veggies with some side pasta.


I was really tired when I arrived home. I was happy Jesús took on doing the dishes but by the time I came home, Diego was already asleep. I took a fast shower and let myself fall into the bed.


The rest of the week was about the same. I finally got my work contract, I signed it and mailed it back. I spoke some with Diego, aiming at softening him up, so I did not tell him about a new job nor Cologne. Jesús took me running a couple of times, doing way more than I expected and without dying too. We would talk on the weekend about the firsts recruits.

The following Monday was busy and hectic at work. Besides the coming cuts, the client was starting to make uncomfortable inquiries. The upper management at least was getting uncomfortable. They were promising tighter control and deliveries...  After the weekly meeting, where we had discussed some changes on our proposed solution. Coolers are more sensitive than you may think. When the space between the fins is filled, dust and dirt can cake up and air cannot circulate. After a while the cooler is totally clogged and out of order and eventually the engine will overheat. 

Unfortunately, this can be rather fast. Once the engine is overheating, the whole powertrain is due to collapse and enters a runaway process, where the efficiency goes down. More air is needed and more pressure loss is caused. The clogging speed  just increases. Finally there is the need to do something. In some areas the operators have to take the radiator down, clean it up and install it again. Which is a pain in the ass. However if you are operating in a high dust environment, opening the circuit just helps to kill it. Dust will go in. Sand is made if silica, which is very hard and will destroy valves and pumps. We wanted to make the process easier and safer by having a quick safe removal system... But it would not come cheap. We would go over budget so we had to simplify the system elsewhere to make for it. Also, the chief engineer saw an increase of complexity as a risk for reliability. Cards were not looking up.

<Previous       Next>

Chapter 4 IV

When I met myself at the other side of the door, emotions came rushing to my head, so powerful I thought for a sec I my knees were going to fail me. It does not sound much masculine I guess, but nevertheless, so it was.


Once I had a deep breath, I did not waste any more time. I went downstairs and left the hotel behind, with my mind full of questions and sudden doubts. I was rather nervous and I found myself wandering aimlessly through the streets of London.I stopped at the corner of the street I was on to read its name. In an immaculate sign, somehow high from the street level I could read Chesham Street SW1. It was not very helpful in as much that I did not know the street, but I reached on my back pocket and fished out the London map. I had already prefolded it on the section of the city I was going to be moving, so I could get my bearings fairly soon. I traced a route back and looked at my watch: 16:02, I had been roaming for a while and soon nightfall will arrive.




A couple of streets after I found a "Pret a Manger" that helped me to provide for dinner. for the time I crossed the doors of my hotel and the receptionist greeted me with a mixture of politness and respect, the street lamps were on and the city was on that twilight of dark streets by the shadows of the buildings, while the sky is still dimly illuminated and patches of yellow light start to pop everywhere. I greeted the receptionist back and headed to the staircase at once. All of a sudden I was cold, tired and hungry. I also had underestimated the distance between the take away and the hotel, so I was thinking my meal would be cold.



I kicked my shoes off behind the door, hung my coat and took a seat on the chair of my room, before the minuscule desk. Even with the heating at full power, or so it seemed by its noise, the windows had condensation on them and the carpet was not all that worm. I opened my soup and got to it happily, allowing my mind to wander again to the events of the afternoon.

I knew my life was going to change drastically, but now I was experiencing it. it gave me some vertigo sometimes. On the immediate list, I had to leave the hotel the next morning and take the plane back, so after an exceedingly long shower and took to bed


I'd lie if I said I had slept like a brick. I spent a good amount of time listening to buses, taxis and the heating. When the morning arrived, I had another shower and after a quick breakfast and some head duty I finished packing and then I went towards the Underground, which took me to a train, which took me to a plane, which took me to another Underground... and eventually home.

Chapter 4 VII

It was late when I finally arrived home. I was hungry too, so after saying hi to Diego, who was spreadeagled on the sofa watching one of those Discovery channel docs where they show how something is built and the commentator tells it as if it was a huge drama... well: " The chef will now prepare the yogurt. If he makes a mistake, the 200 guests could get poisoned and die. Even worse, if he chose the wrong recipient this could break and eventually explode through the thermal gradient, sending thousands of small glass splints everywhere". Since I was hungry, I just opened the door of my room and in one fluid movement, I launched my backpack in a beautiful parabola onto my bed. I was already walking towards the kitchen when I heard a rewarding "boing" confirming landing.

- Let me grab something to eat and I will join you -  I shouted as a response to the muffled grumblings I heard from the living room and entered the kitchen.

Under the buzzing white light I opened the cabinet where my supplies awaited, some cans , coffee and such. I took a handful of almonds and transformed them into a mouthful while I rummaged around.  I took a tupper of soup out of the freezer and threw it into the microwave. I used to do soup through the cold season in the weekends, on the biggest pot we had, which was rather big and rather old too. I would then divide it up in tuppers and freeze it. Our freezer was small and I took most of it but Diego was not a fan of freezers. I still remember his first frozen pizza.

He would go on and do it in the oven, because he did not like microwaves either. Still he came to me for some consulting:

- This knob here controls the temperature and that other one which resistors are active. Once the light is out, the selected temperature has been reached.- Diego was doing some tennis gazing between me and the oven. As he seemed to be totally paralyzed I moved the dials and he was livid with surprise when the selector clicked loudly. He spent the 20 mins that the instructions advised looking through the window, which to be honest I also do. Anyway, that was the day Diego became a real man. He was very proud of himself and he even called his mother to tell her his spoils.

- Ma, I have made a pizza in the oven all by myself. - He told her over the still warm plate and with a beatific smile on his face.

Anyway, I sat down with Diego while the microwave was doing its thing and I got myself some ham and cheese to munch on. Soon enough I had to tell Diego that I was leaving the flat and changing job, perhaps not in that order... On the other hand I had to find something on Cologne for me. However that night, at that moment I just wanted to see what was going to happen with the fucking tunnel and listen to Diego commenting it.

<Previous              Next>

Chapter 4 V

Madrid, 11th May 2009

Monday, at work it burning smell was in the air. Part of the planning of the project I was working on had not been properly updated and the client had not been informed. Result: The client was informed way too late that there was 2 months delay... the day after they had plaid the delivery.

I knew what was coming. The concerned faces and the "it is time to push now " attitude, For the first time in a long while I was not all that worried about  this. I ha my mind elsewhere. At lunchtime I was doing some mental calulations. In a few weeks I will ask for an unpaid leave of a year and I will leave the company. I had about fifteen days after asking for the leave before leaving and then prepare everything to a new deployment  in Cologne, where the headquarters of SD were. The building was almost new and mostly empty. The headquarters of InGnio InGnieros were actually before in The Netherlands, in Amsterdam but it was agreed to move to Cologne, where a small administrative office had been located. There would be no more of InGnio InGnieros there, aside of commercial issues. The rest was all for me.

After lunch, the responsible of my section came over to talk to me. The word being passed from the wise people above was that we had to reduce costs, and send home some external employees  in order to immobilize some money for the client.

-- All those external employees are actually producing CAD and implementing the design, which, at this stage of the project, what the client is paying for--

-- Yes, yes, but it is all about money you see. There has been an agreement, where part of the last payment we cannot touch, so we have less budget than planned. How many external do you have working for you?-- Letting aside that he did not know that, I replied

-- I have,at 100% a piping draughtman, and a draughtsman for integration. I have occasional support for simulation and we are supporting the hydraulic troop -- I spared him the fact that the hydraulics troop could not put their act together and in order to avoid delaying us, we were making their job too

-- Well, that simulation lad we can share, but the rest will have to go--

-- and who is going to the job then? -- I was starting to get a little pissed.

A long silence followed, supported by a deep stare -- This is the time of taking more responsibility, and to face the challenge. It is also important that you get more close to the CAD -- Dance with the music he meant

-- That is all very good, but I am putting almost 14 h a day and  I am not... --

-- Well, that is a different story I am afraid. You have to go and speak to the personnel department about that...--

The conversation was going nowhere and the only goal I was achieving was that of getting mad. At the end of the day I did not know when these changes were going to be put in place and how much would actually be implemented. My take was that the responsible was just gauging me to see how the situation was at my level. Mi team had fulfilled all the milestones in thetime given and we had given good solutions, even helped other teams we had interfaces too. Sure, costs were high, but that was really not my problem. I was tasked to fulfill requirements, the budget was the issue of my colleague in front of me, and he could not track a limping turtle if he had to. Anyway, there was not much I could do about it.

<Previous                 Next>

Chapter 4 VI

Despite not being in the best mood, it tooke me until 18:00 to leave for home and I headed directly home. I was still chewing on the issues from work when I went through one of those parks in Madrid, where nature seems to be red soil, like old blood and a couple of trees that seemed to be in the ER, not only because their appearance but also because of how they were tendered, with pipework for water, protection net and those funny guides to hold them. Anyway, I was strolling through the park, deep in my own thoughts when Jesús came out of the blue, which is not really surprising because that is how he always appears. I am quite positive he was not behind one  of those skinny trees. The issue here is that he appeared, and the fall in pace along mine.

We had not seen each other since before my trip to London. That is I had not seen him

-- We have work to get done-- There was no hint of recrimination or urgency in his voice, He was stating the facts.

-- I know... it was just  along day.-- I was not looking for a justification or even some empathy. I was just frustrated. Jesús nodded deeply, understanding, but his expression did not change. He was a pragmatic man. If he could not change the situation or, if something did not affect him directly, he would just put it away.

-- Come along, I've got news for you -- On reaching the end of the park, he went right and l followed. The weather was better than in London, in me meaning of dryer, but the day was also longer and, in fact, it was starting to get dark. In some streets, depending on their orientation, the street lamps started to flicker into life.

While walking, Jesús started to tell me about the things I have done well and bad in my trip. For sure my wandering had not gone unnoticed. After a few minutes, we were walking along the Gran Via de Hortaleza, filled with cars in an endless traffic jam. Jesús went into the meeting itself then.

-- The feedback is good. We have to carry on and start building the teams, and fast--

-- What is with the list I gave you?--

-- It's good, well talk about it now -- with these words he stop in front of a building and I stopped  too, initially a little surprised, but I saw him welding a key, which he introduced in the keyhole with further comment and climbed the stairs until the second floor, where without delay opened one of the doors with another key. He step in and, holding the door for me, invited me to enter.

After closing the door behind me and turning the lights on he spoke

-- This is our safe apartment. We will meet here and if not, we will resort to the dead letter boxes. The alternative meeting points you know are still valid. It is important to ensure that the curtains in the kitchen are closed. -- he motioned me to the kitchen-- There is two bedrooms, one will be a bedroom and the other will be a work room. The living room is al little too exposed, so it will be used for show --  He pointed towards the bulding on front through the windows. With a little effort you could high five the neighbor-- So it will look like a living room -- On looking into the bedrooms I realized that, unlike the kitchen and living room, they were not furnished. Instead, there was a heap of IKEA boxes. with a friendly kick to one of them, Jesús said -- we have to assemble all this, but today is way too late. You have to leave earlier from work tomorrow, ok?-- He then handed me a key ring, which I presumed they where the keys of the apartment.

<Previous   Next>