Chereads / Plato - Part 2 / Chapter 19 - Plato , a traveler

Chapter 19 - Plato , a traveler

Plato was all excited that he was going to be a traveler. An honour only few men receive and far fewer held onto. Plato knew that. He knew that his job was not a luxury and that it was a responsibility. Plato opened the door to his new apartment which was given to him by the plant, as one always receives as they become a traveler. Sergey stayed in a house nearby, Plato knew that. He also knew that Sergey has been on a mission for about two years and there has been no message from him for over a year. But no one was worried as time in space goes differently than the time on earth. There was calm and composure when you enquired Romanov or even the director about Sergey. They all were confident that he would return sooner or later. Plato sat down on his couch after what had been a long day. He wondered where would Dimitri be. They hardly met these days as Dimitri was busy with his family. And Plato thought it was best that he let him tend to his affairs and Plato tended to his. And for Andrei, he had jumped ship and started to work for Andrea. Plato let out a laughter, where else would he be? Where else would such a man be ? A man who ran after money. Plato looked around his new apartment. I haven't done too baldy myself, he thought to himself. As Plato was immersed in his own thoughts, the doorbell rang. Plato reached for the door and opened it, a young man who was half the age of Plato opened the door. The enthusiasm on the face of the kid was evident. The first question from the mouth of Plato was, "what are you happy about?" The kid was stunned . "Is there a reason to be happy? I just am." 
Plato did not say anything. And the kid said, "I'm just excited to meet a traveler. And I aspire to be one, someday."
"That is a long road ahead of you kid," said Plato. 
"What brings you here?" asked Plato. 
"It is Romanov," the kid said "He asks for you," 
"And who are you to him?" asked Plato. The kid reached out his hand to Plato. "My name is Constantine, and I'm the assistant of Mr. Romanov," replied the kid. "Constantine?" asked Plato, curiously. 
"Yes sir," Constantine replied the kid in a confident manner. Plato let his armor slide. 
"Let us go," he said to the kid. Constantine walked ahead and Plato locked the door behind him and he too walked ahead. 
"Why did you leave Greece?" asked Plato. The kids face turned a little pale and he was unable to answer. Plato then tapped the kids shoulders and said to him, "it is ok kid, it will be alright soon." The smile returned on the face of the kid and they proceeded to walk. As they made their way to the plant. "One day, you will be a traveler, Constantine," said Plato. "Far better than I ever could be."
"Like Mr. Romanov?" Asked the kid in an innocent manner.
Plato laughed, "yes," he said to Constantine. "Just like Mr . Romanov." 
Constantine walked up the stairs to the floor where Romanov was seated. Plato followed him, although the pace of Constantine bothered him. 
"Hello sir," said Constantine standing in front of the desk of Romanov. Romanov who was busy with some documents looked up and saw Constantine and Plato who just entered.
"Plato," he said. Please sit down, he told him. 
Constantine who tried to linger knew that his time was up and proceeded to leave. 
"Good kid," remarked Romanov. Plato did not say anything. "You should have been that age, when you first came here, am I correct?" asked Romanov. 
"Yes Sir," replied Plato. 
"Your progress is something that had caught me by surprise," 
"Me too Sir," said Plato. "I did not think that the Director will take to me so well." 
Romanov laughed and this gesture of the seasoned traveler made Plato a bit curious. Romanov leaned forward. "Plato, son," he said. "It is not the director that made you a traveler," 
Plato leaned back in his chair and asked Romanov, "then who was it sir?" 
Romanov replied, "Sergey," 
"Sergey?" emphasized Plato. 
"Yes Sergey," said Romanov. "He made the Director promise him that one day before he moved on from here that you would be made a traveler. And we all thought that would be a good decade from now at the least."
"But fate has decided to take its own course."
"But Sir," interrupted Plato, "Sergey is still alive,is he not." 
"Of course he is," said Romanov. "You do know how space time works?" asked Romanov. Before Plato could say anything Romanov continued, "you could be a hundred years before he returns. We just cannot wait for it, can we?"
"No sir," replied Plato. "You could still have waited another 10 years," joked Plato. "Yes indeed, but we were running short of a traveler, so," said Romanov, pointing at the direction of Plato.