| Snow-capped mountains fringed the plain as | | | | and forth, but she was lost in the assembling |
| Jack engaged himself with the panorama via | | | | crowd as folk flooded to disembark the train. |
| the carriage window. Tibet had constantly | | | | |
| held enchantment with Jack ever since | | | | He hastily buttoned his jacket and joined the |
| childhood, growing up in England. Images on | | | | departure line. Despite the summer season, a |
| television seized his imagination at a | | | | cold chill wafted through the air, though |
| youthful age, driving his passion for the | | | | locals seemed to take it for granted. Jack |
| land during adolescence. As he observed the | | | | waited anxiously as passengers filed |
| landscape from his seat on the train, it | | | | leisurely off the train. Once on the open |
| became evident his childhood fantasies were | | | | platform maybe he might catch sight of her, |
| justified. As the terrain revealed before | | | | but no one seemed in any hurry to disembark |
| him, youthful memories were realised as he | | | | and Jack was getting impatient. He leaned |
| scrutinised every detail of the vista. | | | | faintly on the individual ahead in his |
| Suddenly his concentration broke. | | | | endeavour to hasten the exit, but knew this |
| | | | was not going to yield any success. |
| "Do you have the time please?" said a gentle | | | | |
| female voice in soft broken English. Jack was | | | | Once outside the station he scanned up and |
| taken aback as the pretty young lady waited | | | | down an active street for sign of the |
| patiently, anticipating his reply. She wore a | | | | mysterious young woman. Alongside a |
| sweet scented perfume, complementing her | | | | moderately inclined road lay a plethora of |
| seductive traditional dress. Her platted hair | | | | shops, bars and restaurants. A gentle stroll |
| was adorned with elaborate beads and her lack | | | | turned into a gradual jog as he speculated |
| of makeup served emphasis to her natural | | | | and proceeded uphill. As the path became ever |
| beauty. | | | | occupied he switched to the road, making |
| | | | swifter progress. Travelling promptly past a |
| "I think it's about ten thirty," replied | | | | cluster of shops, doubts arose in his head. |
| Jack, realising he had forgotten to strap on | | | | Had he chosen the wrong direction? Was she |
| his watch. He observed her walk towards the | | | | still in the station? He had to persist. |
| departure door as she smiled in | | | | |
| acknowledgement, her fragrance remaining long | | | | Preoccupied in his pursuit, he collided with |
| after she had gone. Jack's terminal | | | | an elderly gentleman who tumbled to the |
| approached and he began gathering his | | | | ground. Jack apologised profusely whilst |
| effects. | | | | assisting him back to his feet. Fortunately |
| | | | no injury was evident but Jack sensed enough |
| Jack was on his way to a job interview. He | | | | was enough and perhaps the moment to |
| needed casual employment to subsidize the | | | | acknowledge defeat. Maybe destiny was against |
| residual summer weeks of his visit to Tibet. | | | | him and it was time to organize for his |
| He had journeyed with friends, sharing rent | | | | interview. |
| on a town address until early autumn when | | | | |
| they would depart home to England. | | | | As he set the old man precariously on his |
| Regrettably for Jack, copious expenditure had | | | | way, the silhouette of a young woman fixed |
| exhausted his resources and work was his only | | | | his attention. She was seated alone at the |
| option. | | | | window of a petite coffee shop and seemed to |
| | | | be reading. Jack approached inquisitively, |
| The train slowed as it approached the railway | | | | anxiety swelled within. It was her. Maybe |
| station. Jack returned his gaze to the | | | | fate was on his side. What would he say? |
| landscape once more but the girl began to | | | | Tensely he drew a deep breath but struggled |
| occupy his mind. Who was she? What was her | | | | to relax. It was now or never and he hadn't |
| name? Where was she going? As the train | | | | come this far to let pass his opportunity. |
| settled to a standstill, curiosity got the | | | | Apprehensively, he entered the shop. |
| better of him. He snatched his bag and | | | | |
| surveyed the carriage for her presence. What | | | | To be continued. |
| would he say? He did not care. He hunted back | | | | |