Airu woke up with the passengers lining up on the corridor. Her eyes were heavy, and she only didn't go back to sleep because she'd give everything to leave that plane and set her feet on good old solid ground. She poked Túlio, who was drooling with his mouth open.

“Wake up, cari! We're on the ground.”

She looked for the Professor and couldn't see him among the passengers on the corridor. “He must have gone to the restroom,” she thought.

Túlio dried the drool with his T-shirt, turning his back to Airu. It was impressive how he managed to get into awkward situations!

“Where's the Professor?”

“I don't know. I woke up and didn't see him. He may have gone to the restroom.”

“Are we waiting for him here?”

“I think we should. Hold my backpack, please. I'll get yours here on the luggage rack.”

As Airu stood up and stretched to reach the rack, Túlio watched her sweater raise a little, displaying a small earring on her bellybutton. A new fashion that he would never imagine seeing on an indian… although two days ago he'd never imagine seeing an indian.

She realized Túlio had an idiotic expression on his face and was glaring at her stomach. Not holding back, she asked, “Never seen an earring?”

Túlio quickly lowered his eyes, staring at his own shoes. Again. He felt embarrassment and, at the same time, hatred. Why did he always look like an idiot near Airu? He couldn't articulate an answer and, afraid he'd stutter, ended up saying it was better that they waited for the Professor at the lobby.

Airu kept his backpack and delved into the line. Túlio followed her with his eyes and that was when he saw corporal Mendes already almost reaching the stairs. He tried to hurry, but the tight corridor left no space for him to walk around the other passengers. He had to follow the slow rhythm.

Walking by the restroom, he watched the closed door. He wondered what would have made the Professor lock himself in there right as they were landing.

He met with Airu at the lobby but saw no sign of Corporal Mendes. “It's hot here, no?!” Túlio asked, trying to start a conversation.

“It's pleasant. The Capital is too cold… there's too many rocks… maybe that's why they say you from the Province of the Geraes are eighty percent iron in your souls.”

“Who said that?”

Airu sighed and decided to change the path of the conversation: “All passengers have already gotten down. There comes the crew. Let's ask them about the Professor.”

The smiling attendant came walking arm in arm with the pilot and right behind them were the copilot and three more crew members. Airu approached them, asking if there was still anyone in the plane.

“No, nobody. The aircraft is empty and only the ground support crew is in there. Your friend must have gotten down without you realizing.”

Túlio got a strange feeling as the crew walked away. Airu wouldn't unglue her eyes from the plane, sure that the Professor would come out of there, having forgotten that they had already landed, saying, “You see, you see… I forgot to get down… anyway, I'm here…” but time passed slowly and soon the passenger stairs were removed.

About to panic, Túlio had the idea to look for the airport management and share that there was a lost passenger. He called Airu, and they were just looking for some indicative sign when they heard someone yell for them. They turned around and, relieved, saw the Professor. He came carrying his suitcase and a luggage cart.

“Forgive me! That liquor wasn't good for me, but as we were already landing, the attendant didn't let me use the restroom. I was the first to get off, almost rolled down the stairs. Anyway, I'm here now.”

Airu and Túlio couldn't help but cackle.

“We were worried about you,” he said. “I was thinking the worst…”

“I'm sorry, Túlio. But it's alright now! And we still have a long way ahead of us.”

“I've never been so far from home…”

“You haven't seen anything yet, boy.”