SECURITY
"Forgive us Father, for we have sinned, forgive us Father, for we have sinned, forgive us, Father, for we have sinned." They pressed against his table, eager to be confessed. He smiled benevolently. "Calm yourselves, dear ones, I will take you one at a time." They were large and small, soft and hard. "Come," he said, taking the closest at hand and placing it on the table. "Don't be afraid" he whispered, sliding the zipper open. He plunged both blue-gloved hands inside skillfully moving through the layered clothing.
Suddenly, to the left, he saw an expanse of smooth feminine back. His eyes followed the indentation of spine down to the narrow waist. Large blue and green flowers swelled from her hips, cascading over her buttocks and stopping just above her braceleted ankle. She turned to leave the counter. With a quick intake of breath, he saw up into the darkness where the pareau parted at the top of her long stride. The gloved hands were frozen in motion. She was gone. They resumed their task, closed the zipper and lifted the bag to the floor. He reached for the next. "Don't be afraid," he whispered, swinging her onto the table. She was done in a moment and he was on to the third.
He was working faster than he had ever worked before. The noise was deafening. Their prayers were drowned in other voices and machines roaring all around. "It's time," he said, and piled them onto the cart. He smiled at the passengers watching his approach to the ticket counter. One by one, he lifted the bags onto the platform by the agent. "Thank you, folks, Have a nice trip."
Back at the table, he reached for his water bottle and took a long drink. As he set it down, the choir intoned a long amen. He opened his arms wide, palms open, fingers spread, and turned his eyes to heaven. "Pax vobiscum, Pax vobiscum, Pax vobiscum." The only movement on the surface of the pond was the wake of the gliding water moccasin. The lily pods glistened in the sun. The heat was intense. Sweat dropped from his brow. He blinked. His arms dropped. Someone was waiting. He pulled his lips back, baring his teeth in the semblance of a smile. "Good afternoon, ma'am. I am Security. Check-in luggage, please."