THE BLACK-BEARDED SADHU: 2

2

            Daniel Brown was a young executive and successful seller of diamonds, born in San Diego, California, to a German father and Israeli mother, raised since childhood in Tel Aviv.

           No way someone could say he was an ordinary human being, first because at 33 years old was a multimillionaire, but more importantly it was not the obvious things, but only those that were happening in his mind and no one could see, or understand.

          He had travelled to San Juan, Puerto Rico, as a last hope to find Dr. Elba Ross. However, as often happened in his life, business chased him to the Island.

          Stayed in the presidential suite of the Hampton Inn & Suites in Isla Verde, Daniel checked the transfer to his bank account of U.S. $ 769.400, a small amount compared to past business, delivered 18 GIA certificates, including clarity for each of the diamonds that had just sold. With gentle but firm voice asked:

                 - Is everything in order?

          Without saying a word the young German couple received the elegant briefcase containing the product of negotiation. They parted with very distinguished gestures and left the room.

         Daniel Brown, alone in the suite, again verified his account, and then closed the small laptop, thoughtfully walked a couple of minutes and decided to leave the room. With firm step and without troubles the Business man walked down the aisle luxurious.

        That feeling of anxiety that always accompanied him on his chest suddenly appeared, approached the elevator and pressed the button, waited a few seconds for this to open; he joined the cabinet and marked "L". Automatically stainless steel sheets and the unit shut down. He had no time to even look in the mirror and the doors opened again. He came out of the elevator and across the lobby staring.

        A splendid morning sun hurt his eyes and  he reached for his Ray Ban. The graceful and elegant young man went through the rest area full of tourists enjoying the sun and the pool. With a lost look, Daniel even noticed a group of beautiful women in tiny swimsuits watching him.

His suit was striking cream, almost white, dark shirt with clean lines that marked his athletic build, the buttons left open between seeing a ray, very well worked, long hours in the gym.

        The businessman came to the back door of the hotel, the sea breeze was awakened, stared into the bright sunshine and it would be easily calculated 10 am. He bent like an automaton and took off his Italian brand shoes, socks pulled, rolled up his pants, one, two laps and started to walk the warm sands of the beach.

     The things that went through his mind were not new, He had suffered them since he was very young, felt like in his inside there were two, three or more people, including images that he could remember and places that surely had never been or seen.

    He was surprised also to feel some nostalgia for the beaches of Israel. He had temporarily left his comfortable apartment in Ramat Gan in Tel Aviv attractive district, to go to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Its primary mission was to solve or at least come to understand this phenomenon had become a torment. For everything else Daniel had no problem, especially in business. Good fortune had haunted him during his long 33 years.

     With a pair of shoes in his left hand and his trousers rolled, walked feeling the pleasure that the coarse grains of sand caused in his bare feet.

     "It`s 10 o'clock, the appointment with Dr. Elba Ross is at 6 pm," he thought as the breeze was becoming warmer. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a strange craft structure crossing at high speed near the seashore, almost bouncing on the calm waters of San Juan. For the second time was surprised that something might draw his attention: a blue line, which contrasted with the intense white, crossed 30 feet length of the ship.

     A protruding platform at the stern and a hydraulic mast attached to the midpoint of the inner edge of the same platform caused him to notice the strange device. More impressed was because, pulled by a long rope, a girl was approximately 50 feet high attached to a harness and a parachute.

     Although the white tourist showed up tanned skin, along with multicolour parachute, creating an impressive image in the blue sky and the crystal clear sea that opened to the rapid pace of speedboat.

     "That's crazy," he thought, "but I think I could dare to try a little of my own adrenaline, “finished telling himself.

     The young stranger returned on his steps and went to the back door of the hotel. Before joining washed their feet in the water of the showers that were installed on the side of the door. With the shoes still in his left hand, with his elegant way, firm and slow, pierced the side of the pool, but this time looked at the group of young women who enjoyed the water and smiled.

            - Hi!  said, while his right hand raised in greeting.

     The five girls raised their hands and answered in chorus:

             - Hiiiii!

         The sensual tone of voice tore a deep smile on the young man, who raised his right hand to stroke the notorious black beard that marked his face, which turned red by the flush of the moment and went on his way.

     He arrived at the lobby desk and keeping the smile turned to the beautiful young woman who attended.

             - Hi - again said, and asked: 'Do you know how I can have a ride in a parachute?

           - 'Yes,'  - replied the young girl  - In this brochure can find prices and according to the time you decide we extend a ticket that will be charged to your hotel bill - she explained.

        Daniel Brown received the brochure, flipped through and said:

           -20 Minutes would be fine for a first time.        

         - 'Very well, Mr. Brown, here`s your ticket, when you're ready let me know and I'll call the young man to accompany you to the boat

       He was not surprised that she knows his name, had traveled many countries and spent endless nights in so many places he was familiar with the deal that provided a good hotel.

         In his expression was grateful and via elevator returned to his room to get ready with the right clothes for the occasion.

     

       It was notorious by speaking accent, that the man who accompanied Daniel to the boat was a native Puerto Rican. A tattoo on each shoulder. Looked at the left a "coquíe" (small toad in the region) with an inscription on the bottom that said "I love you PR"  and on the right a shield carefully worked. A lamb in the center was lying on a red lily and holding a flag also crossed by a red cross.

          - What does that lamb? Asked Daniel

        -Represents the Lamb of God, It means Jesus Christ -  quickly replied the young dark-skinned, tanned by working long summer days on the beaches of Isla Verde. The kings of Spain chose this symbol to remind San Juan Bautista, it was he who said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world"

         The words shot out of the mouth of the young man like machine gun bullets.

       -Christopher Columbus named it to Island, San Juan Bautista; the other figures are representations of Don Fernando and Doña Juana, the kings of Spain when the island was discovered. This is the Crest of Castilla -he pointed to three small towers could be seen very clearly in the tattoo.

     And this is the Leon blazon said pointing the figure of a little lion up on two legs and claws extended. And these are the coats of arms of Aragon and Sicily, this black eagle crowned with gold, with red beak and claws.

     -This is the blazon of Jerusalem, which represents a field and a golden cross whose arms end in the form of T, accompanied in each of the corners of a small cross she added with an air of confidence about what I was talking about. On both sides of the letters F and shield the Y represent the emblems of Ferdinand and Isabella. Do you see carrying a crown over each letter? - asked as making sure that tourists do not lose the small class on the shield of his country.

     - What are these figures? Daniel Brown asked implying that was attentive to the lesson and noting both sides of the shield on the bottom of it.

     -This is the Yugo and these arrows as a sign of the marriage between the two kingdoms. At the top crown and bottom says "Johannes nomene jus est" ie "John is his name," said the young-tanned skin.

     - Hey, you, do not bother to tourists! - They heard an old but strong voice coming from the bow of the boat.  - Help him up and go see the other passengers who are waiting in the hotel lobby  -  Old voice ordered again.     The young Puerto Rican quickly pulled a rope out, this caused the boat approached the edge of the dock. He jumped on the platform of the ship and reached out to signal for help; Daniel accepted the aid and also jumped, wordlessly pointed to the seats and got off the boat.

     Hurried and fearful for the old order of the captain, the young man ran all along the pier, but, getting to the beach stopped short as standing by an invisible wall, looked back, made a sign of annoyance shaking right hand and then patiently continued to walk along the beach.

     After a few minutes there appeared a young woman dressed in a yellow  and blue  vest and a very short skirt with the same colors  open waistcoat buttons let see the yellow swimwear in her, the little skirt was of more, because could be noticed the beautiful and striking legs as well as the bottom of swimwear.

-     Hurry up Tony – told the woman to the young man that came after her with a tour group, five persons at all, to whom the Puerto Rican was saying the same class about his tattoos.

     They all climbed aboard the boat. Before leaving the old captain glanced to his right and after drying the sweat of his brow, made a sign "come quickly" to a middle-aged man dressed in white robes like a sailor with three gold braid on each shoulder of the  spotless shirt.

      The man in white shirt approached, jumped to the platform, greeted everyone and said:

           - My name is Luigi Galvani.

          In perfect English he began to give explanations of what was going to happen next. He spoke in detail about what each of the passengers had to do when boarding the impeccable platform, told them how to use the harness and how to steer the parachute when everyone is in the air. He elaborated on the precautions they should take, what to do and what not to do, in five minutes they had learned the theory of how to get on the parachute.

          - Is everything clear?   -  He asked with any doubt that the explanation was more than enough. With a "yes" very fearful accepted the six tourists. The girl in the miniskirt with a folder in her hands made a ​​list of people in the boat.

          The old man shouted:

          - Drop ropes!

          The man in the white uniform untied the ropes and the old captain lit the engine, waited a couple of minutes and started slowly turning the power steering to the left.

           Another couple of minutes and they were already at the high seas. He slowed down and almost stopped the boat, then Luigi asked who would be the first brave.

     

           Daniel raised his hand and said:

             -I'm ready.

          He was invited to go up to the platform, holding onto the railing of bright steel, placed the harness while the uniformed man lay a colorful parachute in the back of the platform. 

           Daniel carefully approached to the edge of the platform, looking forward stood in front of the mast while the expert sailor began to put the clamps of the parachute to the back and sides of the harness. He ended up putting a hook in front of the harness, which was attached to a red and orange  rope that would  a rewinding motor that was tightly secured with heavy bolts to the floor of the nave.

        - Ready! Cried Luigi, the hydraulic mast was raised slowly carrying the rope. The old captain slowly accelerated  the ship while the sailor was standing in front of Daniel, holding tightly belts crossing the chest of the black bearded young.

     Passengers heard the inboard engine was beginning to take speed while the parachute began to inflate like a balloon, Daniel felt the strong pull of both sides, the parachute as the strong arms of the young sailor.

     Daniel's heart was beating apace. Meanwhile, the captain began to quicken the boat speed caused the parachute to inflate and pulled up the heavy body of 1.88 meters tall. Luigi loose belts and Daniel rose while the rewinding engine fought the rope slowly.

     - 50 feet! - Daniel heard the voice of Luigi up there, while he felt the rope stopped his journey to the heights.

     The emotion was very strong, however, when he felt safer looked down, he could see hundreds of people lay on the shores of the beach, some walking and others entering and leaving the water in an almost ridiculous game  of movements. He saw buildings, could recognize the Hampton Inn & Suites, Hotel San Juan, the Sans Hotel, was reviewing the coast of Isla Verde until he could see the Condado Plaza Hotel, arriving at the old DuPont Plaza and recalled that there was a fire in that hotel by the end of 1986.

     Suddenly his thoughts disappeared when Daniel began to feel that falling rapidly, the boat had slowed, and as if it were a kite, the heavy body began to descend and the passenger's feet touched the water. The captain sped the ship again raising the parachute until it reached 50 feet. The laughs were loud and he could hear them clearly.

    - It's not funny !! - cry from above, but their complaints did not change the laughter of all the occupants of the boat.

            The ride continued all along the coast, and then heard the re-winder motor  launched and felt returning to the platform. It had been 20 minutes. The experience, despite the little scare, was extremely nice.

     - Are you OK? -  Luigi asked.

          - Yes I! -  Daniel replied still unfinished overcome the strong experience.

     Soon the sailor picked the parachute, as the ship slowly reduced his speed. Luigi loose fasteners harness hooks while another person with another harness was waiting his turn to be elevated to the heights.