Walking into the room with the many people inside, Azrael smiles and greets one of the people there in a language that sounds somewhat harsh, but still elegant and with it's own flair. The people inside, several men and two women, smile, and answer back in the same language, before switching to English and speaking greetings and polite questions.
Levi left with us form Sofitel this morning, but took a different cab back to the airport and around now he's probably on a flight back to the States. James is with us still, and he greets other people as well.
We're meeting the people who are attempting to figure out one of the larger issues of agriculture in Bahrain, which is how water is required in farming, but Bahrain being desert climate makes it difficult. Not to mention there's sand covering the entirety of Bahrain, which makes it slightly difficult to grow vegetation.
One man in particular, who I hear Azrael calling Isa, leads us to a table where we spend a long time talking together. Many papers are passed between everyone and many bits of information as well. Isa along with another man by the name of Hussain talk with Azrael about topics very seriously, ranging from recent climate statistics to financial balances.
The entire process of talking takes some time, an hour, then another, before it's done, and the meeting is over. Then, saying a thanks and smiling greetings to another, we say good-bye, and head to a restaurant in the same hotel.
The hotel we came to, Wyndham Garden, in downtown Manama, is where we met up with the people of the same meeting. Azrael had the idea of going to a restaurant of the same hotel once we finished the meeting for a late lunch, and then perhaps going to a site that he was interested in. James and I agreed that would be a smart idea, and that's what we're doing now.
A waiter with a thick accent comes by our table, and we order a meal each, and then he goes away while we sit and wait.
"Do you think Levi is alright?" I ask Azrael.
"Oh, let me check," says Azrael as he pulls out his phone, and then smiles, saying, "he says he got on the plane, and is right now in KSA. He'll fly to Germany, before getting to D.C."
"That's good," says James as he drinks some coffee, "I hope everything is alright on his end."
"Me too," says Azrael, "it wouldn't do to have a loved one hurt and in pain. Hopefully they recover."
"But that aside," says James as he rubs his hands together and smiles, "today's meeting was quite long."
"I agree," I say as I lean against my chair, "I didn't know it would take that long."
"My apologies," says Azrael, "I suppose that may have been my fault."
"Why?" asks James, "I don't think it's your fault."
"Well, I asked quite a number of questions," says Azrael as he tilts his head.
"That can't really be helped," I say with a smile, "and if anything, we're done now, so it's alright."
"If you say so," says Azrael with a smile.
A waiter comes by to serve us our food, before we dine and talk through the rest of the meal.
"So, where are we going after this?" I ask Azrael as I start to finish up my food.
"So, toward the northern part of Manama is an old fort that I though we could go by," says Azrael, "but if you're not up to it, we don't have to."
"I'd like to go," I say, "I like looking at things."
"Same here," says James, "I might get inspiration from looking at this fort, and perhaps I can create some new tech."
"Is that how inspiration works?" I ask curiously.
"That's how mine works," admits James, "at least, most of the time."
"So it's settled then," says Azrael with a smile, "then after, we can go back over to the hotel, and then unwind for the night and tomorrow as well."
"On our way to Japan," I say, "are we stopping anywhere?"
"I think we're touching down in India," says Azrael, "my jet is coming right now, and will arrive tomorrow. Then we can fly there."
"It's interesting to go to India," I say, "even if it's only the airport."
"True," says James, "I've never been there, it'll be nice to visit it."
"Another source of inspiration?" I ask with a smile.
"It might be," says James with a laugh, which Azrael and I share as well.
Finishing out meal, Azrael again pays for the four of us, and then we head off to the fort in a taxi. The afternoon is very soft and the temperature is again not at all hard to bear. We're all in suits today, for the earlier meeting, but they don't smother us as we get out of the taxi and walk to the fort.
The fort is quite old, made of earth colored stone and huge. I expected something smaller, but it's very large. Around the fort also, is a large moat that is dry now, but dips down below us.
Walking across a modern wooden bridge to the fort, we start to explore. There's many other people looking around, and sometimes we have to wait for them to leave a room so we can go in as they're rather small.
There's not much things, but the scenery does create some things to look at. I enjoy looking from the higher parts of the fort at the city of Manama with buildings and the bay. Also there's the calm atmosphere of lazy steps and relaxed eyes with observational conversation.
"It really is nice you brought us here," I say to Azrael while James is taking pictures avidly from one spot of the fort, "I think it's an amazing experience that I've never had."
"It was the least I could do," says Azrael, "I don't mean to say anything bad about that trip, and returning to Alaska for Christmas wasn't bad, but it surely was not the most relaxing it could be."
"True," I say as I recall how he was not relaxed, and actually may have been tensed the majority of the time rather.
"But," says Azrael, "it could have been worse, had it no been for something."
"What's that?" I ask.
"You," says Azrael with a smile.
I'm shocked, and before I can say anything, not anything but something in particular, James calls Azrael over to ask him to take a picture of him with Manama in the background. Azrael goes over and I'm just here to brood over what he's said to me.
Why is it that I'm still stuck silent in his words that pull me out, but not my words?