I slow as I reach him, coming to a stop just as he walks away down towards the water’s edge. He collapses to his knees, holding his head in his hands. Awfully dramatic, considering Michael will probably be back soon.
My eyes fall to the piece of paper James has dropped beside the bags. A fifty-pound note has been folded and pinned to the top. I lift it up and walk down to sit on a boulder a few metres from where he is having a mental breakdown.
I read out loud. “Well done on finding a recovery driver so quickly. Most impressive! Now here’s for the real fun. I was going to drop you off in the fishing village and brief you, but I feel this has worked out for the better.” I realise this was written by Michael, so begin using my best imitation of his voice. “Recently, James, you told me a story about backpackers who get the cheapest flight to Europe with only fifty euros cash in hand and must find their way home. It sounded most riveting.”
James moans into his hands at this part and I can’t help giving him a look.Oh, Gloatman, you and your stupid stories and ideas.
I continue reading. “I thought you could try that in Scotland. It should take you less time than in the whole of Europe. Think of it as team building…” My voice wavers. James pulls his hair out of shape as he looks across the water. I want to tell him to calm down but now my hands are rattling as I read the last part.
“Find your way back to the hotel by Saturday morning so you don’t miss your flights! It is imperative that you take the most scenic route you can, to ensure you are maximising your team-building opportunities. I want to hear all about your journey. I’ve packed you two bags so you have all the essentials you should need. In order to proceed to the next step in your career you must overcome the need to compete and find a way to cooperate. I would like to hear how you worked together as a team. See if this week will shine a light on your management skillset. Don’t let me down! And good luck!”
Chapter Five
James spends a few more minutes trying to pull his hair out before getting up and walking away from me further down the edge of the lake, kicking stones into the water with his black work shoes. His hair has already started to lose its shape as the fierce winds drag clouds in, bringing with them a thin sea mist that mars the scenery into a grey nothingness. Every now and again, he looks back towards where I’m sat on the boulder with a pained expression.
I’ve tucked my dress underneath me as if I’m out for a leisurely picnic. What you can’t see, though, are the blisters on my feet from this morning’s walk. I take my phone out and see I’ve got just over sixty per cent battery left. I’m not sure why I’m calm right now but I’ve heard that the human mind is conditioned to act in accordance with those around us. So, as we both can’t freak out right now, I think I’m compensating for James with a rational mindset.
Maybe my turn will be later.
I switch my phone off, tucking it back into my dress pocket.
As James finally makes his way towards me, I look away, not enjoying the expression he’s got plastered across his face. He’s really hating the thought of spending time with me. I also hate the thought of spending time with him. But he’s horrified by the prospect. Am I really that bad?
“I’ve got hardly any battery left. We could call 999 on your phone,” he suggests. “It should connect with a satellite or something like that.”
“Calm down. It’s hardly an emergency. And besides I’ve turned my phone off to preserve battery.”
James blinks. “But we’re abandoned,Fel-ici-ty. Don’t you see?” He spins in a circle, hands out to demonstrate our tragic situation. As if to prove his point the cloud thins, and light raindrops spatter down onto my nose. “We need rescuing.”
“We don’t need rescuing. Michael left us a very clear note with instructions. And besides, this is a test, isn’t it? Don’t you want to pass, since you’re supposedly in the running for promotion too?”
James sputters. “Oh god, you’re actually insane. You think I’m going to hike across Scotland dressed like this? Not a chance.”
“Why not? It’ll be an adventure…” I’m really grasping at straws here. I don’t really want to do this either, but Michael has set us a challenge and he’s going to be very disappointed in me if I don’t at least give it a go. “Aren’t you trying to impress him too? He said we should cooperate. Find ways to put our competitive natures aside.”
James watches me curiously for a moment, his eyes searching for something. The note maybe? It’s tucked into my dress pocket for safekeeping.
“I’m going to sue the bastard,” James says, nodding to himself. I watch as the smart quiff at the front of his head flops down onto his forehead from the weight of the, now fatter, raindrops drenching us. “Oh bloody hell!” he sobs.
“Don’t be such a baby. It’s just a bit of rain.”
“Ok. Ok. I’ll go this way. You go that way. The first one to reach someone can call for rescue. If you stick to the main road, then I’ll find you.”
I laugh. “Oh, I get it. You’re scared.”
“I am not. He’s abandoned you, Felicity! He’s abandoned you with a man you despise in a place with zero phone signal and no help whatsoever. We have nothing. What if one of us has a heart attack? What then?”
“Then we have my phone. I’ll save the battery for real emergencies. Come on, don’t be so dramatic. Let’s find shelter; I’m getting drenched through.”
The rain isn’t even that hard but it’s somehow soaking into my clothing with efficiency. My cotton cardi is plastered to my shoulders, my hair is sticking to my forehead and my tights feel as if they’ve been glued onto my legs. I climb up from the boulder, peering around at our surroundings. Well, there are certainly no buildings in sight. A few trees poke out between the layers of low-lying cloud, huddled together at the top of a hill some way in the distance.
“Look over there,” I say positively, pointing in their direction. James gives me a frown to show he’s listening. “Let’s get the bags and walk up there. It’s higher up, so we can use it as a viewpoint. And the trees will make a shelter. We can plan our next steps from there.”
James continues to glare me down, so, I take off on my own, expecting him to follow but deciding I’ll have to go alone if he insists on being a mopey git. Michael wants a character assessment of me, well, he’ll get one. No challenge is too big. I’ll take on the Scottish Highlands like a falcon.
Ok, so I’m maybe more of a pigeon. But I’ll fly, nonetheless.
I grab the smaller hiking bag, assuming the bigger one is for James, and hoist it onto my shoulder, tucking the note into a side pocket along with the money.
