You decide to take action, and reach for your hunting knife when the driver suddenly makes a U-turn and starts speeding toward a narrow street. There are people around, so you abandon your hopes of a silent revenge.
The driver stops the car abruptly, jerking you forward to be choked by the seatbelt. He reaches to your side and gives you an unwanted Heimlich as he turns the window knob. Then he yells at the passerby outside, "Hey, where is this?"
The passerby responds simply, "La Molina."
"Where in La Molina?" the driver asks again. But the man outside only puts on a grim smile and walks away. You think to yourself that this isn't happening.
The driver then repeats the same routine with everyone he sees. You try to explain to him that you know where your destination is, and that you can show him, only if he would backtrack, and that where you want to go is nowhere near where you currently are--but he does not listen. He continues asking every stranger in sight--man, woman, child, security guards, bricks, and beggars--to no avail. You offer to pay the driver so you can find another cab, but he insists that you stay. You try to get off, but every time you reach for the door he speeds up the vehicle, forcing you to reconsider.
The sun is setting, and you have yet to complete your journey. Your attempts at escape have thus far proved futile and you are about to give up. You tell the driver in your best Spanish, “We’ve been all over this city, every corner of it, except where I’m trying to go.”
He says to you, “We’re almost there. Don’t worry. We’ll be there in five minutes.” He says so with a smile on his face-one of pride, of ego, of blissful ignorance.
You take out a cigarette; you don’t smoke, but you figure that this is a good a time as any to start. You wonder for a second where the cigarette came from, but you dismiss that question, not wishing to further burden your mind.
Alas! You see your friend’s house. You point it out to the driver, and for once he listens to you. He weaves through the traffic and potholes. As he does so, he looks at you and says with undeserved glee, “I told you I would find the place.”
To be continued
