Now, this was the Grand Canyon West Rim Tour, and one morning, something unbelievable happened. It had been pouring rain since the start of our journey. As we turned off the freeway and onto the hilly country road leading to the souvenir shop, it was already turning into a muddy torrent.

The pickup truck ahead of us looked like a bobbing boat. As soon as we arrived at the souvenir shop, I asked the owner what lay ahead. "Nobody knows," was the reply.

I promptly called the travel company we were affiliated with, and the president answered.

"It's turning into a flood, so let's cancel the tour," I suggested.

In a grumpy tone, the president replied, "Discuss it with Tanaka who's coming behind you." The tour would be fully refunded if it were canceled. I gathered the tour guests and explained that there might be a possibility of a flood ahead, so the tour might be canceled. However, I would consult with the experienced guide following us.

The tour guests, with surprised expressions, said that if it were a flood, there was no helping it. Shortly after, Tanaka and the tour guests arrived. I immediately asked, "What do you think?" He surprisingly suggested, "Let's go as far as we can." I then turned to those behind him.

However, Tanaka had already cleared the pass several kilometers ahead. I was worried, thinking, "Does he really understand the situation?" but I followed suit. It felt like riding a tank on a battlefield, and laughter bubbled up from deep within. I realized I'm the type of person who goes from fear to enjoyment.

However, to cut to the chase, we didn't encounter a flood, and the tour guests were able to enjoy the sightseeing. A few days after that tour, in the company's waiting room, an older guide said to me,

"Our company isn't like the others."

"What do you mean?"

"The tour with the heavy rain the other day—other Japanese travel companies caught the warning and everyone came back."

"Well, it turned out fine in the end."

"But what if you had encountered a flash flood?"

"... "

Did the president not catch the warning? Or did he catch it and still send us? At any rate, from that point on, I began to harbor significant distrust towards the president.