Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mehmet was happy to hear from me, but I wasn't sure for how long as I explained my
predicament, and asked his advice: “I've met a lot of people and I've told them I'm travel-
ing east through Iran and Pakistan. And the reaction I've received has been pretty bad.”
Mehmet replied with a thoughtful: “Mm, hmm.”
It wasn't the reaction I was hoping for, but I continued, “I mean, evidently something
is happening in the Middle East that suggests that going through those two countries is not
very wise right now. So I just wanted to know what you thought about that. If there was
another solution.”
Silence.
Bad news typically follows silence.
I don't like silence.
Or bad news for that matter.
“Look Leon, I thought about it when you told me in Istanbul,” Mehmet replied, his voice
deep and serious. “Maybe this route is not such a good idea, but every day it's looking
worse. I think your friends there are right. You should not continue.”
Should not continue? I felt my rebellious side surge up, wanting to respond to Mehmet's
warning with, “Not continue? Are you mad? The Ambassador of Kindness is not stopped
by war. The Ambassador of Kindness—”
Who the hell was I kidding? The Ambassador of Kindness didn't like the idea of driving
through or
near
a war either, but I still had a worldwide quest to complete. I tried to ex-
plain, “Not continuing isn't really an option, my friend. Either I find another way around,
or I have to go through.”
“Hmmm,” Mehmet replied. I liked the sound of that. Thinking is better than silence.
Mehmet told me he would call me back. He might have a plan. Plans are good, especially
ones that don't involve war.
After eating dinner with Talat and Menekse, I received the call.
“Leon,” Mehmet began, his voice brimming with joy. “Pack your bags, we have found
you a plane.”
I didn't know what to say. A plane was great, but what about Kindness One?
But then Mehmet corrected himself, “A cargo plane.”
Could this moment even be happening? Here I was in a small Turkish town, threatened
by a Middle Eastern war directly in my path, eating dinner at the home of a kind and con-
cerned couple I had just met on the street, a couple who might have just saved my life, and
Kindness One was being offered a trip to India via cargo plane.
