Doug signalled to Elizabeth and a few minutes later they were heading out of the airport into the vast desert expanse before them. Elizabeth gradually became aware of the faint buzzing sound of the air-conditioning and the cool air visibly revived her. Soon she started to take an interest in her surroundings but now, all there was to see was the narrow sliver of black snaking its way through the drab, coppery landscape, punctuated by the occasional village in the distance. Her fingers again went to the buttons of her jacket.

“You’re not cold, are you?” The inquiry went without reply.

“You know, you don’t have to wear that jacket. You’re not in head office now.” This remark, at least achieved a wry smile in reply.

After some twenty minutes, Elizabeth noticed the bleak desert expanse beginning to merge into the more familiar steppe of the photos she had seen back at the office. A line of trees appeared on the horizon and soon they were turning onto the dirt track leading into town.

“Fasten your seat-belt,” said Doug with a grin. She soon understood why as the uneven track pushed the limits of the car’s suspension.

“I bet you didn’t have any air turbulence as bad as this,” as the car swerved to avoid a somewhat larger hole. “Hope you don’t get travel-sick too easily.”

But Elizabeth was staring out of the window taking in the multitude of new impressions as the empty void of the desert gave way to the bustle of the town.

Discovery Part One

Discovery is the fourth story in The Red Book and the creation of writer Paul Servini. We share part three with you tomorrow. All comments of two lines or more go into the draw at the end of the week for a limited edition (electronic) Red Book Reversed.