“Mmph,” Lila muttered

“That was profound.” Ian’s voice trickled through her consciousness.

“What happened?” She groaned. “I’m so stiff. I feel like I slept… in a chair.” She snorted. “I guess I did.”

“Yeah, you were out like a light after you sat down.” Lila thought Ian sounded remarkably chipper for someone who had been awake for over twenty-four hours.

“Did you sleep?” Lila yawned so wide that her jaw cracked. “Ow.” She subsided into the chair and stretched each limb painfully.

“I did for about four and half hours. Long enough to keep me going.”

Lila looked around blearily. “Where are the flight attendants?”

“They got off before the plane took off. A little strange if you ask me, but since you didn’t,” Ian shrugged. “At least there are snacks in the fridge.”

“Snacks?” Lila perked up immediately. “What’s there?”

“Have a look.” Ian waved his hand toward the small built-in refrigerator.

Lila undid her seat belt and rubbed her sore stomach where the strap had dug into her skin. Moving carefully over to the fridge, she bent down and tugged the door open to peer inside.

“Yum, cashews.” She tossed the narrow bag onto the table and pulled out a series of packets. “Candy, candy, ooh, chocolate, and… What’s this?” She eyed the small semi-transparent package. “A giant dill pickle.” She waggled her eyebrows at Ian. “In case I get bored.” She shoved the last named item back into the fridge and walked unsteadily to the small table holding the assortment.

Tearing open the package of cashews, she began to eat with relish. “Where we at?” she asked through a mouthful of food.

“Ugh,” Ian shielded his eyes. “Could you try not to talk while eating? One of your – few – bad habits.”

“Okay,” Lila covered her mouth with her hand. “Any idea where we are?”

“The captain announced that we’re about an hour away from Moscow.”

Lila’s eyes became like circles. “Wow, I slept a really long time.”

Ian checked his watch. “Almost twelve hours. The plane sat around for a while waiting to take off. Guess there was a line.”

“I’m going back to sleep,” Lila announced.

“But what about your food.” Ian gestured to the large pile that had accumulated on the table.

“This all goes in my bag.” Lila suited actions to her words and stuffed the small packets in various pockets of her carry on. “I hate to be hungry.” She gave a sideways look at the fridge and then got up to grab the dill pickle. “It says it doesn’t need to be refrigerated,” she said triumphantly.

“Well, in that case.” Ian laughed.

“Let no food go to waste.” Lila grinned and set the dill pickle on the table between them. “Don’t try to get fresh with me,” she said to him with a half-smile.

Ian attempted not to laugh. “I won’t.”

“Okay, sleeping now.” Lila pulled the attached hood on her sweatshirt over her face. “Wake me when we get there.”

“We’re here.” Ian’s voice penetrated Lila’s slumbering brain.

“Wha..?” She pulled the hood from her face setting her static filled hair on end.

Ian hooted with laughter. “You look like a tribble.”

“You mean an adorable, cuddly little thing?” She batted her eyelashes at him.

“Very funny.” Ian snickered.

After they landed, they moved through a quick customs check where no one actually looked at either their documents or luggage.

“Nice, this.” Lila said under her breath.

“Don’t say anything.” Ian breathed.

They both smiled innocently at the official who wished them a good visit, and then walked briskly through the terminal to the departure gate listed on the display.

Stopping at their gate area, Lila looked at tickets. “Flight lasts about 8 hours.” She looked around the waiting area disappointedly. “No food.”

“Good thing you’ve got all that stuff in your bag.” Ian motioned to her heavy looking bag.

“Yeah, but I kind of wanted something hot to drink. Hold this.” Lila shoved her bag at Ian. “Bathroom.” She pointed in the general direction of the terminal concourse and strolled away. Fifteen minutes later Lila strolled back victoriously holding a large cup of what Ian guessed was coffee by the way she was blissfully sniffing the steam rising. “Got one for you too.” She shoved a second much smaller cup at him. “Caffeine makes you jittery,” she explained.

“Gee, thanks,” Ian said sarcastically.

The flight to Magadan began descending, and Lila’s face pushed against the airline window, which was unfortunate for the person actually sitting next to the window who craned his head backward. “Look!” Lila said enthusiastically. “There it is!” The Russian man sitting beside her attempted to see also and bumped his head against hers with a thud.

Lila rubbed her sore temple and waxed poetic. “Magadan, home of Magadan beach—”

Ian interrupted her, “In mid-October? Bit cold.”

Lila continued, “Mammoth tusks, and even a mummified mammoth.”

“I highly doubt we’ll have time to pick up a mammoth tusk. Plus, where would we put it?” Ian added sensibly.

They exited the plane after landing and Lila shivered at the sight of snow on the ground. “Brr. So not excited to be in a cold place.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” said Ian cheerily. “Gives it a holiday feel.”

They quickly made their way to the gate for their flight to Keperveyem. The light began blinking over the display next to the gate and Lila read:

 Due to a snowstorm in Keperveyem, this flight has a delayed departure.

 “Awesome,” Lila said with satisfaction. “I can get my mammoth tusks.”