- Odyssey -

[ A cluttered room. A sleeping figure. A sudden mobile phone shock, not the first of the night, leaves the now-vexatious ringtone incessantly chiming in the ear. It is bright out, yet it ougthn't be so.
The dishevelled figure begrudgingly rises, and surveys the mess of his surroundings. ]

It is bright out, but it shouldn't be so. And why have I been roused at this godawful hour? There is a distinct injustice about this. This better be good.

[ He glowers, in part because his eyes are as yet unadjusted to the sudden onslaught of sunlight, in part because he is unaccustomed to leaving his bed before 6 for less than 10 grand. He takes the call, and he conducts the hour-long conversation in the odd hissing manner of one suddenly jolted out of slumber and forced to think hard. ]

A sense of dread comes over me as I come to remember what lies ahead. Let's get this out of the way then.

[ He heaves and puffes, but makes it down 5 floors, luggage in tow. With a little difficulty, he flags down a taxi. ]

I eye him suspiciously. In these here foreign parts, you can never be too sure.

"Strand, mate. And step on it."

He is hardly impressed, but has no reason to be - his driving is hardly impressive.
I am thrown back as he negotiates corners like a Brahmin avoiding a leprosy-stricken pariah hobo.
The meter skips like a youngling with her first magic possessed rope. My heart skips with it.
I instinctively feel for my wallet.
It's gonna be a long day.