This isn't meant to be...

The dream.

2007-08-03T01:30:00.000-07:00

He sat there and smiled at her. She blushed, and flushed red. He said, “Marié, You are so beautiful”. She replied, “Yes, yes, rub it in”, saying thus she made a face at him. At this, both of them burst in fits of laughter. A few eyebrows were raised in the otherwise silent café. They became quiet soon, but the giggles didn’t cease.

Marié and Adrian had been together for nearly one year now. They were one lively couple, always having fun and hanging out in cafes and parks. The townsfolk only knew them too well. The old folks reminisced their young days, the teenagers anticipated their future love lives watching these two. It was a regular sight to see them hand in hand walking down the street, playfully lost in their own world. But good things only last for a short time. This was no different.

It was almost the end of summer. The bright afternoon was almost at an end. Adrian was still in his room. Suddenly the mail arrived. Apart from the regular bills there was another letter. Somehow it caused him quiet distress when he read it. He simply read and re read it. Finally he threw the letter into the fireplace and went to call Marié. He picked up her phone and dialled the number, just as it began to ring on the other side, something rang in his mind and he slammed the phone down. And he began to pace the room. For almost an hour he kept pacing the room restlessly.

The dusk soon descended upon his surroundings. He had a date that night with Marié. Tired, he was but he managed to get dressed up and reach at the park in time. Mariéwas sitting there, as usual before time. After a few greetings they moved out. Walking side by side on the pavement, they were quiet, reveling in each other’s presence. She moved close to him and rested her head on his shoulder and hung from his arm. He looked at her and smiled, and continued to walk on. Suddenly he said, Marié, I might have to leave soon”.

Marié stopped walking. And then slowly spoke to him, “oh...” and then added, “So you got a new job.”

He replied, “Yeah, kind of.”

“So, when you will leave?”

“Soon enough, I guess”

“Hmm… when will you come back?”

“Erm….I am not sure, actually”

“I see”, she added thoughtfully, “Doesn’t matter, I will wait for you for ever and ever”. Smiling she went up to him and hugged him tight.

In a worried voice, he replied, “Yeah, I know you will…I love you, Marié.”

She looked at him in a puzzled manner, “You don’t seem too happy about it?”

He started, “What? Not happy about what?”

She playfully replied, “Maybe your job, maybe about me”, she winked.

“Why you little...” saying this he tried to grab her, but she was too quick and she ran off along the pavement with him huffing and puffing behind him. Thus the evening moved on again. That night they had a great time. They had more fun they ever had had on any other date. The went to the movie, played around with the popcorn. Then in the restaurant they ordered all sorts of unknown foreign dishes and had fun guessing what stuff were they eating. Finally, exhausted they returned to the park, lying down on the wet grass, they stared into the star studded night. She asked him, “What sort of job, are you going to do?”

Taken aback, he replied slowly, “Nothing very satisfactory”.

“Oh, ok”.

After a few moments again, he asked, "Marié, what would you do, if I got married there with someone else?”

She didn’t bat an eyelid, “I’d still wait for you”, she said to the sky.

He could not reply. He felt hit by a feeling somewhere deep inside, titling her head to him, she said “Adrian, I love you, that’s all I want.”

He moved closer and kissed her deeply. The sky seemed to turn blue in front of her eyes. She closed her eyes and kissed him back. The kiss seemed to last for hours, the night seemed to last forever.

It was almost midnight, when they finally returned. He dropped her at her home, and returned to him rooms, with a heavy feeling like a load of lead in his stomach. Somehow, he did not feel well. He fell into a troubled sleep immediately.

* * *

He woke up to a cloudy morning. Things were weighing upon his head. He went to wash himself; he saw a horrified face in the mirror. He couldn’t believe he looked so tensed. He could not go in front of Marié with such a face. He just could not. Maybe his departure was causing him more problems than he imagined. Suddenly, he smiled at the mirror looking like a fool. After getting dressed, he went to the banks and offices where he had to finish some minor tasks. He closed his bank account, said goodbye to his friends and to his acquaintances. He had to leave soon. Still then, he could not bring himself to say bye to Marié. Somehow, he felt an empty feeling in his chest whenever he thought about it.

In the end, he gave up and called Marié‘s best friend over. Her name was Jane. She was Mairé‘s bosom friend and she knew all about Adrian and Mariétoo. She came over in the evening to Adrian’s room. After the initial greetings, they settled down.

She asked,” Is there a problem, Adrian?”

He looked troubled, he was playing with a piece of paper in his hands, “No, nothing really”

She was suspicious, something was wrong, “I think you are hiding something”

He looked at her with red eyes, “No, it’s just that I can’t say goodbye to Marié

He expression softened, “oh, is that all”, she came closer and sat beside him. She put a friendly hand over his shoulders.

Patting him on his back lightly, she said spoke, “Don’t worry Adrian, she wont mind. She told me all about it. I just hope you finish your job soon and come back soon. She loves you a lot, she will wait for you.”

He looked at her again with bloodshot eyes, a pained expression on his face, spoke almost inaudibly, “I know…she loves me too much”, loudly he said, “I love her too. I love her a lot, that’s why I can’t ...” his voice broke off.

She hugged him closely. She could feel warm tears on her chest. He kept repeating, under his breath, “I love Marié , I love Marié ...I love...”

Suddenly, he overthrew Jane. She too was taken aback by this sudden movement, and fell on her back on the hard floor. He pinned her down with his hands and feet, and with an insane expression on his face began to move closer to Jane’s neck.

Jane cried out “Adrian, what are you doing?” She looked around frantically for some help, she pleaded again, “Adrian, please…no...” But he was overtaken by the devil it seemed, he kissed her on the neck and made to move lower, she gave an earsplitting scream, he slapped her tight and she fell silent. But some passersby had heard the sound of her scram and came rushing up to his room. They stormed his door open.

Finding Adrian in such a state, they tried to beat him up. But he proved too quick for them and ran out of his room, leaving behind a sobbing Jane and a couple of stunned strangers.

Outside, he kept running and running until he reached the park where his legs gave way and his fell head first into the grass and fell unconscious. When he opened his eyes again, it was morning the bright sunlight stung his eyes. His picked himself up and moved on to the nearest public fountain and washed his face. Sitting down on the bench, he recollected last night’s events. A smile tried to creep up the corners of his mouth. He stood up with a new energy, and rummaged in his pockets for some change.

With the change held tightly in is fist he moved to the nearest telephone booth and dialled Marié’s number carefully. The phone rang thrice, before someone picked up.

“Hello, whose there”, said a tired voice. It seemed like the person had been crying for hours.

“Marié, it’s me”

Silence.

“Marié, it’s me Adrian. Are you there?”

“No”

“Marié, are you alright?”

“No”

“Marié, I am sorry. Please listen...”

“No”

“Marié, it’s not what you…”

“No” she cut him off

She slammed the phone down.

He could hear the mechanical beep in the headpiece of the phone, he spoke into it,

“I love you, Marié…I love you”

Hanging up the phone, he walked outside. A wide smile spread across his face, although tears continued to trickle down his cheeks…

He went to the bus stand, and took the first bus out of town. Sitting beside the window, the wind ruffling his hair, he reminisced the beautiful moments he had with Marié. Soon the wind lulled him to sleep.

* * *

Epilogue

Two years later, Marié got married to a wealthy business who was well known to her parents. She had almost forgotten Adrian by now. One day, rummaging in the old cabinets she came across newspapers mentioning, reporting the crime of Adrian two years back. She looked at it with disgust. Then threw it into the dustbin, then she found under the pile another old fading newspaper, dated one month later than the previous one.

It had a heading that proclaimed, “Lucky Marié”

Interested she sat down to read it.

“This comes across as not only a bizarre but also a very touching incident of the modern times. Recently, a seemingly love struck fellow had come to this town. No one knew his name; he had neither friends nor relatives in this town. But he was a beautiful singer. He sang lovely songs on the side streets, all of them very touching and most of them praising some unknown lady called Marié. Seems like this person had been hit hard by his lady love Marié. He lived on the offerings of the onlookers. Sadly, however he passed away yesterday. Sources say, he was suffering from blood cancer and was in the last stage of the disease. However all we have to say is that, whoever Marié was, she was one lucky lady to have such a lover.”

Below the report was a photograph of hers, faded and almost five years old, reportedly it was taken from his wallet.

An unloved short story.

2007-08-02T20:22:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time there was a man. Well, he was a man or a ghost or just a wisp of smoke. No one knew for sure. He lived all by himself in this very big castle. No one lived with him, except that a servant lady came sometimes to check if he was alive or dead. ...

Sometimes, he just slept slept for whole weeks ,doing nothing as if he had no life in him. Some said he had some great treasure whcih he was guarding. Some thought he was just a grouch. Very few though though he was a man with a broken heart .No one was sure.

A young girl from the nearby village came to play near the caste grounds with her pets. She was curious and brave. She had heard talks of he mysterious man of the castle. Either she was brave or dumb but she decided to explore the castle. She walked into the castle, looking at grimy walls broken windows, dusty fireplaces ...

Then she saw flights of staircase. Marble, shining glowing although not in use. She went up the stairs to a fleet of bed rooms. None of the doors were locked .One by one she checked each room. One was a woman's room, neat curtains beautiful carpets and a portrait of her hung on the wall. She was not beautiful in a layman's terms, but yes caught ones imagination .

The young girl was mesmerised by the grandeur. She moved to the next room. It seemed more like a study. Books books books. Books on the floor, books on the oakwood table. Papers strewn all over with writings on them. She did not know how to read But she could make out the beauiful handwriting of the author. She fell in love with the letters. She picked up all the papers lying all over the room and arranged them neatly.

Clutching them tightly to her chest, she went ino the next room here she found the room musty and dirty. Filthy and unclean. She was repulsed by it. As she was about to move out she saw something.

She saw someone rather. On the grand bed. She moved closer. There was a young man sleeping. Sleeping or dead she could not make out. She was curious. Placing the papers on the bedside table, she moved closer she called lightly.

Nothing

She called a little louder.

Still nothing. She saw some papers beside him they had the same hadnwriting as her set of papers. She guessed this young man must be the writer but was he dead. She did not know. She thought of shaking him. But she was afriad if he would be angry for tresspassing on his property

Thus she decided to leave. She picked up the papers and began to move towards to the open door. She looked at the beautiful writings again and at the young writer and back at the papers she considered something.

With swift movement she climbed on to the bed kissed him gently on the lips and then left the castle.

le fin

The city was cold no more, yet i was....

2007-03-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

The air seemed musty. I put out my tongue and tried to taste it. Soot. Sweat. Dust. Blood. I put my tongue back into my mouth. I did not want to lose my sense of taste so soon. The road looked forsaken yet a few souls roamed aimlessly on it. Tramps mostly. A few shoe boys scurried about in the darkness. The trees were dead. No wonder, what life could survive in this unbearable cold?

Heh…yes you can say how did we people survive. But then again, are we alive? Technically we are breathing and eating and all, but we just exist. Me, the shoe boys the tramps. All of us just leading a useless life, just living on and on without any purpose and fulfillment any darn ambition. The trees unlike us were alive, they felt pain, the cold. But for now, they were dead....

I was a mere traveller who had traversed a lot of lands, until I reached this place. This place did not catch my imagination or anything. Just that here I felt at home in this place. No one cared for anyone else. Everyone just "lived". I liked this way of "life" and decided to adopt it. I had come to this city Nebourne around five years ago. Without any money or even a name, I started my "life" in this cold city among the stone hearts. My heart had started to grow cold too. And I was satisfied. Somehow I was content. Yet I was afraid it was, this was not going to last. The days passed on. The summers came and went. Sometimes it was spring outside, at other times autumn. Inside me, however I could feel the winter raging. How many years had passed I don't remember but now I feel the age catching up with me. I could no longer climb up any tree that caught my eyes with the same alacrity and excitement that could put a monkey to shame. Yet, adulthood did have its charms and gains.

Moving out of Mistern Avenue, I turned to my left and entered a lane, which housed my humble lodgings and neighboured the only park in this city. The park was even more silent than the cemetery. To take note the cemeteries of this city were never silent. Always there was someone dying and people burying them in the five odd cemeteries spread all over the place. The dead of this city could never rest in peace with the people moving in and out of the place without break. And the living of this city could hardly be at peace until they died. It seemed funny at times. I wondered sometimes why were the people were dying so often in this town. My guess would be that most folks died of a cold heart or of the cold treatment they received in this city. I was hoping for a similar end too….

It was the starting of autumn. Leaves were falling all around so were the hearts. Sometimes at night when it was too cold and damp for me to sleep, I sit at the window all night long looking at the silent moonlit paths. The ones leading to a park always had a pair of lovebirds. Either on top of the dead trees or walking down the road. Most of my idle nights were spent just observing them from a distance. I felt a certain kind of nostalgia when I happened to see them holding hands or kissing. Usually I dismissed those feelings without much thought or concern. Over the years since I lived in this darn city, the roads seemed to have become deserted.

Now only the maple leaves adorn the road and the virgin snow just waits in vain to be tread upon. But the trees in the park wilt in wait of loving couples to caress their roughened hides and the squirrels have long lost hope of being the symbol of love for the lovebirds that frequented the park. Well not anymore….

Sometimes I wondered was it because of me. Did I bring my curse upon this city as well, has my decision to make this place my home changed the fate of this place. Sometimes I felt a little guilty about it, but a little while later I think again while looking upon the tramps, perhaps this place was cursed since always. Who knows, who cares…

The night darkened, the moon tried to hide behind the trees. It wasn’t really needed, for my eyes were closing already, sleep overtaking me. The last sound I could hear was that of the wall clock, ticking away into oblivion. The room darkened from my view and before I knew I was fast asleep.

I woke up with a start, the sunlight was slicing open my chaffed skin. I pulled the blinds down. Sunlight, this time of the year. Maybe I was dreaming. I tried to pinch myself. Before I could do that, I saw something that made me forget what I was going to do. I saw someone crying. No, it was not odd in this town. Someone or the other was always crying in this godforsaken place. But this person didn’t seem to belong to this place. I was concerned.

Well I was.

I rushed down the stairs, to the front door of my small lodging. I threw open the door. Yes, it was someone foreign to the ways of this place. Yet, why was she crying on the street? The people here don’t care for others. As for me I did not belong to this place. Maybe that was why I was concerned to a fellow foreigner. I walked up to the poor creature. Her clothes were almost in rags. She had travelled far it seemed.

“Why are you crying madam?”

Two blue eyes looked up from a ghostly white face, searching for the source of the words she heard. She found me. Her eyes were puffy from all the crying she had been doing. Instantly I felt a sense of infinite care towards her. Poor creature. Still she was silent. Maybe she was surprised to speak anything. I asked again.

Is something wrong? Are you not from this place?

Finally she seemed to have heard me, as if waking up from a distant sleep she said.

Ah…Kind sir. I am so sorry to behave in this unwomanly manner sobbing on the street. Forgive me but I have nothing else to do…

Saying so she burst into another fit of sobs. I tried to console her but I stopped myself just before I was about to touch her. It was good that I did.She shot a suspicious look at me and resumed her sobbing again

I was in a fix…

Madam, don’t you have an address in this godforsaken town or at least a name?

She spoke in between sobs

I have no place to go to in this town, I had an uncle’s place but I don’t know where it is. My name is June. And kind sir, what is yours?

My name is Rolan, and I too am not a local of this place. Maybe I could help you.

You can help me, do you think so?

Her face brightened up a little bit. Before she could say anything else

But first you must get some proper clothes and some food. It seems you are famished. She stood up rather obediently. She trusted someone like me. I was surprised. But right now I had other things on my head. I led her up to my dinghy room. It was not very well furnished but was much better than the cold streets outside. I gave her an old cloak to wear, and some biltong and cheese to eat. She ate silently, yet her eyes never left me. She was afraid of me. I could sense it. Yet, somehow she trusted me. I could not understand.

Kind sir…

I interrupted,

Call me Rolan please…

She smiled faintly and said

So Ro-o-lan, do you think you can help my find my uncles place in this city?

Ah...maybe I am not a local of this place but I have been living in this small town for the last couple of years. Maybe if you have an address I could look it up for you.

An address, oh no…

Her face visibly fell. I was quick to react. Somehow I could not bear to see the pained look on her face even for a second. What was happening? Not now, I had other things on my mind now.

No problem if you don’t have an address, if you could at least name him, maybe I could look him up amongst the locals.

His name let me think. Yes yes, his name was Alexander Drumon if I remember correctly. But it’s been so many years, if he might have changed his name, I don’t know.

Changed his name?

I asked in mild surprise.

Well, when he left our country he said he wanted a new life far away from all the confusion at home. So perhaps he might have also changed his name.

I did not reply, yet I was already thinking. At this rate it might be a long time by the time I could even get to find her uncle. That is if he was alive. This city was not known for it’s healthy weather either. It was very much possible he was already dead. In any case, I was not going to let her know any of this. If required I will care for her for as long she doesn’t find her uncle or someone else to care for her.

Well miss June, take some rest, you most probably need it. It seems you have travelled far enough. I shall be out to get some supplies and I will try to look for your uncle. Please rest here peacefully. No one will disturb you.

Saying so, I went out closing the door behind me. I set out into the sunny outsides again. The morning seemed to warm me up. I could feel pins and needles all over me that was really very odd. For many days I hadn’t seen the bright sun and for many years I had not felt that warm either. Was it me or something happening to this place? As I moved away from my tiny lodging I glanced back once to make sure that I was still in the same city. As I looked back at the place I called home for the last couple of years, and found it hard to believe that a lady was sleeping in it peacefully. I looked onwards again and began to move on. Was afraid, that might be a dream and it might break it I stopped for to long to stand and stare.

Eventually I reached the market place, if it could be called that. Nothing about it resembled a market except that people were buying stuff they needed to live and people were selling those to them. Except that nothing, the place was dead, no bargaining, no haggling no comparing. Everyone quietly went about his or her business of buying and selling. Until yesterday all this seemed so normal to me, pleased me even. The quiet and the calm of the marketplace overwhelmed me today. I felt as if I had walked in a city of zombies. What was happening? I was unable to understand.

I went over to the baker’s place

Sir, I’d like two loaves of the coarse bread and…a few scones.

I added after an afterthought. He handed me my bag and I paid him with whatever little money I had. Still had some cash left on my. I decided to splurge it on my guest. I chuckled inside as I thought about the notion of “entertaining” my guest. Heh…

I looked around for something interesting yet cheap. I could find nothing as such, but I did not give my hunt as easily. I moved to the deeper parts of the market in search of my gift. Something glinted in a shop window.

A brooch. No, too costly. I looked around some more. The streets were getting dirtier and the drains looked as if they were in dire need of cleaning. Almost overflowing with filth. I just puckered my nose and walked on. After a few more shops I saw a florist selling his wares. A florist in this town. From where did he get the flowers in this cold? I looked around. I had forgotten it wasn’t cold today. Not anymore. I looked at the flowers again. It had been long since I had seen something as beautiful in this town. Hadn’t seen a living flower for so any days, hadn’t smelled one. I look at them again and thought of the beautiful thing sleeping back in my room. Yes, one of these would be perfect for her. I looked around the pretty bunches, all looked beautiful but somehow did not fit in. Until at last…

Sir, how much for that one, the one over there?

This one sir, the black rose you ask for?

His old wrinkled face doubled up in concentration as he tried to gauge my query with utmost concentration. He considered the lone black rose, then me and then the rose again. Finally, his face returned to his old jolly self and he picked the rose carefully from the bunch. He handed it over to me and said

Kind sir, you be blessed for having chosen my only black rose. I never intended to sell it anyways. They people in the hills, where these wild things grow abound, say that they bring bad luck. I shall not sell this one to you. You may take this as a gift.

Smilingly he handed me the rose and I took it felling a mixture of nostalgia and superstition. Bad luck. As if my luck could be any worse than this. This thing was beautiful and would look good in the hands of the maiden who steeped up at my doorstep this morning.

Carrying the loaves in one hand, the rose in the other and my pockets jingling with the change I saved, I made my way home. The transistor at the corner shop blared out the latest news of wars, famines and the like. I could hardly care about them. All my mind was focussed on was to get the rose to the lady who had brought warmth to this cold city and feelings into unfeeling me. As I crossed the few blocks of Mistern Avenue, I could hear a merry tune being played on the piano by some great musician maybe. The tune was sweet, soothing and was the kind which stuck to your mind and your breath and you could not help humming it under your breath unconsciously. Neither could I help it.

I turned into the lane that overlooked the park I had so many times described as the most desolate spot that one could see in this town. I glanced up once to make sure I was in the right lane.

……………

……….

I stopped dead in my tracks. A hansom almost ran me over and a cyclist ran into me. Swearing and cursing, me both left me expecting me to die the next time I halted. The park was overflowing with flowers and trees, which were alive. Even more than that what made me skip a beat was the fact that there were about six or seven couples walking around hand in hand. Smiling laughing, kissing. I looked around in disbelief. Had I come to some other town? I checked my bearing. The name of the lane was the same, yet this seemingly impossible scene dazed me. Somehow this town was going out of control I could feel it in my veins. Something was terribly wrong with this place. Everything looked happy and cheerful.

Something was definitely wrong. Or was it…

Having not seen the colours of life in so much time it seemed as if I had lost all sense of reason. Had I really become that cold? Had this town changed me so much that I could differentiate between what was right and wrong? Was I regretting this change in me? Wasn’t it what I had always wished for, asked for.

All sorts of questions began swimming in my head. I was drowning in an ocean of confusion. I saw only one raft that could save me. The tune. Yes, the tune. It was the only ting that soothed me at the moment. Humming it even more vigorously than earlier, I briskly made my way back home. Afraid even to look up once more lest any more joyful sights gave me a heart attack.

In a fit of energy I reached my home and entered my lodging and locked the door behind me. I had completely forgotten about my guest. Unaware of her presence I was pacing up and down the tiny room trying to look for answers within me. Never had I failed to get any answers from myself. This was the first such case. Was I losing my reason and ability to think? I looked out of the window.

The air was clean, no mist. I wished it to snow again. I wished the city were cold again.

Seeing me pacing uneasily up and down, my guest had woken up and was now looking pensively at me. I ha not yet noticed her being awake. It was only when she spoke

Kind sir, err…Ro-o-lan are you all right? Is something amiss?

I paused for a second. And then I halted permanently. Her pallid face seemed to have calmed me down. Somehow I no longer needed no more answer. At least for the moment I was at peace.

No, nothing is wrong. Why do you ask, miss?

I replied unconvincingly. To support my reply I added

Look outside, isn’t it a beautiful day outside? Look the sun is out and the birds are alive. It is like this after a long time. Maybe your arrival has been auspicious for this city. Heh…

I added with a tiny smile. It seemed to cheer her up. I was overjoyed to see a hint of smile on her pallid face. Now I remembered the rose I had brought for her and added with a larger smile.

Miss, I have something for you. Will you accept it? A small token from me.

She looked perplexed for a second. And then nodded in agreement. Yet it seemed she was in two minds about me. I hardly cared. I put my hands into my waistcoat pocket and took out the black rose. I presented it to her. Her eyes widened on seeing it. And then her mouth formed a sweet smile and she took it from my hands. She smiled again.

Thanks. Thanks a lot. It is beautiful.

Saying so she offered her left hand to me. I took it and kissed it gently. Maybe she was surprised. She gave a little squeal of pain. I was taken aback. Did I hurt her? I checked her and saw that she had held the rose a little too tightly and one of he thorns had pricked her dainty fingers.

Ironically, I had hurt her. Darn. I cursed my self.

Immediately I seized her other arm as well and sucked on the cut to cease the flow of her precious blood. Her cries had abruptly come to a halt but I was too busy to notice. I was busy tending to her wound. I cleaned it up with some water and bandaged it with the silk handkerchief I had in my pocket.

She looked at her finger in mild surprise and then at me with slight discomfort. Yet I could in her eyes a look of satisfaction or affection. I could not make out yet. I did not care as long she was in no pain and was happy. She only said

It was just a tiny thorn wound.

I blushed. I know I had overdone my host’s part but then again she was much more than just my guest now. I tried to hide my expression from her, I turned away and began to prepare for supper. I unpacked the bread and the scones I had purchased. Though there was not much choice, I still asked just for formality

Miss what would you like to have for supper?

I could almost swear I heard her giggle a little but she answered in her normal tone.

Anything would do. I am still feeling so guilty at being an unwanted guest in your home.

I dismissed her feeling guilty for such silly reasons. And went back to making some tea. Somehow unconsciously I had begun humming the tune again. Maybe I was too happy today. For some odd reason I felt awkward because of it. Suddenly…

Ro-o lan where did you know that tune? It is so so beautiful. It seems so very familiar to me. As if I head it somewhere too.

Well, I heard it while I was coming back. Outside a gentleman’s manor. Someone was playing it on a piano I suppose. It seems familiar to you??

I was somewhat confused by what she meant by that.

Well, I kind of remember the tune from my childhood maybe. I am not sure though. Maybe my dad or my uncle played it on the piano sometimes.

Oh!

Hmm… I was set into thinking now. Maybe the house outside which I heard this tune was her uncle’s house. But it was too early to make any assumptions. I decided on making enquiries the next day. But for now I did not intend to tell her anything. Le her be at peace for the night at least. I smiled at her again.

Supper is ready. If you would like to dine now or later on miss…

She cut me midway and said

Please call me June.

I raised an eyebrow and smiled once more. I was smiling a bit too much. It felt odd yet the feeling was very alluring. I couldn’t help smile once more. And I proceeded to lay out our meager supper for the day. Whatever little I had I served with élan and she ate quietly thanking me all the while for my kindness. I was almost too embarrassed at being thanked so much. When actually I gained a sense of personal satisfaction from tending to her. After that I tucked her in bed and moved outside again lying that I had some unfinished business to take care of. I went outside into the cool evening, back on to the streets. Traversing from one lamppost to another, counting the shadows I cast on the white roads. I was amused to see as the shadows grew in length and then faded out into oblivion as I approached the next lamppost. It was an unending game but I had to end it when I reached Minstrel Avenue. I took a right turn and began looking for the house where I had heard the tune earlier that day. It was kind of difficult to locate it in the darn. I had not played enough attention to the house in the morning. Yet I kept looking for signs here and there.

After about half an hour of looking for it, I gave up and turned back homeward. I had almost left Mistern Avenue when suddenly I could hear a piano tinkling merrily in the night. I looked around for the source of the merry music. Finally I was able to locate it. I looked up the nameplate. It said Ramen Kaiser. Never heard of it before. Yet, I had to make sure if this was or was not of any relevance to my young guest. But that I could do tomorrow. If she had to leave tomorrow then at least for tonight I could spend looking at her beautiful face. I made my way back to my worn out lodgings, where the angel must be sleeping.

As I approached the door I looked up to the window and was surprised to see her sitting at the same spot where I used to sit and observing the night, the moon in her calm mood. I was hypnotised to see her somewhat lost in thoughts. I decided not to break her reverie. I walked across the road and took a seat on the pavement. It was cold but watching her smiling face peering out of the window made me feel warm inside.

The night deepened. The roads became quiet, the traffic slowed down to a trickle. A few stray dogs came up sniffing and left me to my state dismissing me perhaps as just another tramp. I sat there staring at the pretty pallid face of my guest. For sometime she just stared at the moon, with disbelieving eyes. After that she stared at the road, looking somewhat troubled. And then she saw me, but most probably she did not recognize me. Soon, her gaze shifted somewhere else. Somewhere else, far away. May she was dreaming about something. But it seemed it was me who was lost, not her.

Soon she fell asleep at the window just as I used to. And I just sat there staring at the innocence that she was. Soon it was morning. Rather too soon for me. As the first rays of the sun touched her face, she stirred uneasily. I smiled and started to make my way back to my room.

The room was unlocked and I entered silently. She was still at the window, fast asleep. I was in two minds whether to wake her up or not. Finally I decided to wake her up. I walked up to her and gently touched her shoulder

Miss June, are you awake?

I shook her slightly and asked again.

Miss are you…

Her head feel limply into my hands. Her eyes closed. I missed a beat. What had happened to her? I was horrified. I felt her pulse. I could find it anywhere. My hands were trembling. I lifted her slight frame onto the bed.

What was I to do? Oh God, someone help me.

I touched her pretty pale face. It was cold. I touched her lips and they seemed to numb my fingers. I drew back my fingers in horror. I felt the coldness of her skin. I felt coldness after so many years. Something told me, it was not right. Was I warm or was she cold?

I looked outside and suddenly, the morning mist that has clouded my mind seemed to clear. I felt my face, I was sweating, and then I felt my heart it was beating. I felt her face it was cold. I felt her chest it was silent.

I closed my eyes.

I felt pain arise in a hot lump in me. My throat began to choke. The world began to swim all around me. The world blurred and I could not remember anything more. When I regained my senses again, it was dark outside. It was cold inside my room, colder inside me.

She still lay listless in my arms. Though she was the one lifeless, I felt lifeless. I realized what had happened to her, and this revelation shocked me more than her sudden departure. This city was cursed with eternal frost and she tried to fight it off with her warmth. And she paid for it, with her life. I hated this city more than anything else now. She gave it her warmth and it sucked out her warmth and her life.

And I thought, these things happened in stories and tales…

I thought…

That afternoon, I pawned my watch, the only thing worth more than me on me. I got a few crowns for it. I decided to give her truly noble self the last respects. And the least I could do was not to bury her anywhere within this cursed city’s limits. The sun washed the city with a sad crimson colour as it went down. I started out in the hired cart, with her in the back. I rode for about a couple of hours until I was well outside the city’s limits. I found a suitable spot, one surrounded by a couple of trees, those looked dead since time unknown. They snow began to fall again. Maybe the cold had returned. It did not trouble me. I got to work. I began to dig a shallow grave. A couple of hours later, I was done.

I went back to the carriage and saw her lying there peacefully. Cold as ever. I saw something peeking out of her pocket. It was something dark, black. It was the black rose I had given her. I looked at it and at her again. Suddenly I realized, I was in love. Love was troublesome. It was true, it saw no boundaries, and I was in love with a dead girl. I lifted her gently off the carriage and placed her slowly in the makeshift coffin I had prepared for her. The rose still on her. As I looked one last time I could not help stealing one kiss.

The mist returned, as I helped her to her final bed. I felt something beating inside me. For once I was not surprised to find my heat beating. It was the last time it will ever beat. I made my way back to the city in silence. Though my thoughts were deafening from inside.

It was very late when I finally reached the outskirts of the cursed city. It felt warm in the city streets. The warmth of my love. It was her warmth the city had sucked out. I hated this city more than anything else. I could no longer breathe in this place. I decided to move on again. In search of some other place, to tend to my wounds. But there was one thing that was still left to be done.

The morning sun burned my face as I woke up with a start wishing it all to be an ugly nightmare. But it wasn’t. I saw the bloom outside and was convinced it was no dream. I prepared to leave this city for good. But before that, I made my way to Minstrel Avenue again. Standing before the mansion’s huge gates I wondered what would I say if I were allowed inside. That miss June was no more. What if they never knew a June? What if it wasn’t her uncle’s place? After all, it was just another wild theory of mine with nothing to prove it. Yet, before my feet gave up on me, I rang for someone. The butler came running out. He was somewhat perplexed to see someone like me at their gates. I asked…

Is Mr. Kaiser in?

The butler gave me a look of pure disgust and spoke

And what business may you have with our master?

It concerns your master, kindly ask him if he has known any Alexander Drumon at any point of time or any miss June who may be his niece??

The butler raised his eyebrows, somewhat perplexed at this strange request but nonetheless he made his way back inside. I was left standing there for some time. After about half an hour, he came back out again. I was fuming with impatience. The butler gave me smile and said

Yes, my master welcomes you inside. Pray tell what is your name sir?

I was surprised, but answered

My name is Rolan.

As I went inside the enormous halls seized my attention, the grandeur was astounding. I had however no wish for any such luxuries. I looked around coldly, suddenly something caught my eye. A portrait on the wall. Of miss June…

I walked slowly towards it, the same hands, the same paleness glowed on her face. I was dumbstruck. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulders. I whipped around to find an old man, in his sixties on a walking stick smiling at me.

Good sir, what brings you here? It seems you know more about me than most of the town. Alexander, have not heard the name in so many years. I had already forgotten it. Thanks for reminding me. Please do come, let me offer you some drink.

He led me to the bar in the corner of the room. We both sat there. My eyes flew back to the painting on the wall. It looked recent. I mouthed my surprise to him

Sir, may I ask you whose painting is it on the wall?

He squinted through his gold-rimmed spectacles on the wall and smiled slightly. He replied

Oh that is a painting of my niece, June. My butler mentioned you mentioned her name. I must say I am also mildly surprised to know how could you know of her. She remains indoors all the time.

I was too shocked to speak, only air came out of my mouth. Finally I found my voice.

Miss June, does she live with you? I mean has she always been with you?

The old gentleman looked at me with surprised eyes and said

Yes, of course. When I came to this country she came along with me. We have lived here together ever since.

I closed my eyes, is this another dream. I must be hallucinating. I opened my eyes and asked

Is she at home at the moment?

Why certainly, but she is fast asleep I am afraid. Would you like to meet her sometime, be my guest. I shall inform her of your insistence to meet her, Mr. Err

Rolan.

I stood up to leave.

I must leave now, please excuse me sir. But I will come back certainly.

Saying thus I made my way out of the hall glancing one last time at the painting on the wall. I made my quickly out of the garden and out of the gates at a brisk pace afraid to look back. But I couldn’t help one last look at the place. I saw something in one of the windows move, maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was someone watching me.

I hardly cared. I just walked straight on ahead. I reached my lodging, paused at the doors. I considered my options. And I turned back form the doors, and started walking in the direction of my love’s grave. I matched straight on for three hours until I seemingly reached the spot where I had last seen her pretty face. I looked around for the trees, the dead ones. I found one tree. The other tree was not there. It seemed quite impossible someone would have cut the huge tree down in a day without leaving any trace of it. No I must have lost my way somewhere I looked around for some time more. I found no such trees anywhere else. Dejected I sat down at the base of the lone one I had found. It looked really similar to the one I had seen yesterday, I could almost swear on it. But then where was the grave where was the other tree.

I decided to return to the city before it was late. I had not eaten anything since a long time. I was feeling weak. I trudged back to the city on heavy legs. I reached my lodgings. I dropped onto the sack bed like a dead man. I no longer had the strength to think. I just wanted to sleep. I just wanted to die. I wanted to be with my love again.

It was very cold that night. The frost bit into my very bones. Yet I felt happy. I felt sad too. I felt both at the same time. I was hallucinating. Maybe not. Maybe it was happening in reality. Perhaps I was dead. Perhaps I was too tired to live, to breathe. I could no longer hear my heartbeat.

It was light outside. Snow was falling. It was not a good time for travelling but I had no other choice. I had to leave this cursed place. I packed whatever little belongings I had into a tiny sack. And locked the room. I moved into the streets. It was deserted. The snow was deep and was still snowing heavily. It was a sea of whiteness. I decided to visit the cursed Kaiser residence one last time. Maybe I wanted to make sure I was not dreaming. Or maybe to convince myself it was just another nightmare. Whatever the reason, I made my way back to Minstrel Avenue. As Kaiser mansion came into sight, I saw the gates open. It was odd.

I was confused, I walked towards it the mansion looked grand as ever. The huge doors inside suddenly opened slightly. First a crack, then a little more. Wider and wider until I could almost feel the warmth of the fire crackling merrily inside. A figure came to the door. I could not make out who it was. Maybe it was a lady. Was it a ghost? I was not sure. The snow was not helpful either.

The snow was falling fast and thick. White, it was white everywhere outside. It has been snowing outside for the last couple of days. Inside me was just as cold, though not white and it had been snowing since years more than I could remember. It had been long since I felt this way. Betrayed, misunderstood. Lost. It had been long since I had felt pain. It felt good. Did it? I am not sure if it feels good or bad. I am just awed at the feeling again to think of anything else at this moment.

She stood there at the door. She smiled. Or was she smirking at me. I was not sure. I hardly cared anymore. I smiled back. Something about her changed. Her face now bore a look of pain. Maybe she knew. Maybe she did not. I was not sure again. But presently she was stepping out of her home in this cold without any clothes so to speak of. I waned her to go back to the warmth of her house. But all the while she was coming closer. I was gripped by a sudden fear. She reached me, close enough. I could feel her breath on my hollowed cheeks.

Come here boy.

She whispered.

I lowered my ear to her, she put a peck on my hollows, hid her face in her milky white hands and raced back homeward. The snow began to fall faster now. I could hardly see her now. I could hear a small voice, the winds carried back to me.

I will be waiting for you.

I looked up heavenwards. It seemed as if the snowfall had ceased for a few seconds. I smiled again and the heavens smiled again. I felt a few flakes of snow fall on my face and melt under my breath. No everything was fine. I had loved. I had lived.

I turned away from her house. The virgin snow waited for some wary traveller to tread upon it. I looked back and smiled one last time. It was over. I started out again on my journey that I had paused for so many years. In search of some cold desolate country again. Never to return here again. This city was no longer cold.

The snow was not virgin anymore. It bore the immortal marks of a man defeated by love.

Forever it shall.

A tear fell somewhere, it formed a diamond on the snow. Heh…it seemed as if I was crying?

No, it can’t be.

Maybe later…

Much later…

All the things she said kept running through my head, it was driving me mad.

Yet it was not enough…

Ya Soshia S’uma

2006-11-11T17:53:00.000-08:00

Angel eyes

PROLOGUE

The year is 2030. After four raging world wars, the nations all over had again had converged on a peace treaty. Third nuclear war and the following fourth non-nuclear war had left several nations bereaved of their prestige as well as their political and economic prowess. However an international chain of law keepers had been associated to maintain peace all over the world…not very different from the 20th century United Nations in functionality but consisting of fewer members now. It was allied to all the security and intelligence agencies of the world. Even the secret societies came together when a call of international danger was heralded.

Section 9,the Japanese secret society which was under the leadership of Kushanagi aka Major also joined the latest meeting which was called for in Berlin.

After the fourth world war the city of Berlin had been reinstated as the German national capital.

Angel Eyes

As the owner of the meat shop prepared to close down his shop for the day, he couldn’t help notice a dog barking away madly at his windows. However, he did not pay the dog any attention and went about his business. Well, he couldn’t see what the dog had seen so his unwary behaviour was only expected.

Here I am, Batou, senior operative of the all so famous Section 9, being barked at by a stray dog. Hooh, it is cold, very cold. These blasted European winters are damned cold. Even with my thermal sensors turned down to a minimum I am feeling the chill inside. Even though I have my optical camouflage operational I can’t seem to loose the dog. The falling snow doesn’t help either…

Even as I was cursing my luck for bringing me here a message the Major flashed on my retinal screen. “Batou is everything fine there?” I explained to the dog and the snow and the stupid stakeout were melting my brain. Apart from that everything else was just fine (sic). “Am going to bail from here now.” I ended the link.

I moved to the City Central Park and was soon atop an angel’s statue. I surveyed the streets below from my stance forty feet above the ground. A Christmas shoppers, a few night time revellers, a couple of laughing and playing children, a young girl in a wheelchair and finally my gaze fell upon the madly barking dog. No, not the dog again. Damn it. I activated my optical camouflage immediately, like that seemed to help. The girl in the wheelchair approached the dog and began caressing the dog. The dog calmed down and left the park for some alley. As I heaved a sigh of relief and looked down again I felt all my senses jarred for a moment. The girl was staring up. And she wasn’t just looking anywhere else but straight at me, at my face into my eyes. She didn’t even blink, not once.

As I came to my senses I checked my arms. Could she see me? And as for the useless optical camouflage it was still operational. After about a minute she left, wheeled by an old lady.

Barking dogs and staring people. What else do we need in a stakeout? I hate stakeouts. I really do. The only comforting thought that came to my mind at the moment was that we had only two more days of lookout left. After that we head home. Only why were we here again, oh yes. How could I forget? It was only a couple of weeks back.

A couple of weeks backs the secret societies around the world had converged for an urgent meeting right here in Berlin. There were all sorts of secret agents from every country. The Major and I were the representatives of Section 9. There was a situation with a man called Angelica. He was allegedly believed to have been involved in bombing incidents all over Europe wherever there was a peace treaty meet in the past five years. Until recently Intel on this character was limited to only a little over his name. However recently in a routine prosthetic body exchange program surgeons accidentally stumbled on the memory modules in the brain of one of their patients. These memory modules contained detailed information about the of the bombing targets and the modus operandi employed. Further they discovered detailed reports of the prosthetic bodies used by the person in question over the recent years. Security IR cameras have confirmed that at least one of the bodies had been spotted at each of the bombing sites either before or after the incidents. Another Intel report has suggested that each of the bodies have been spotted in the Berlin railway station without fail prior to the bombings. The security cameras at the station have confirmed these reports. The bombing were carried out on February 20,2029; November 21, 2029and march 29,2030 and he was spotted here on February 18,2029; November 19,2029 and March 29,2030. Another peace meet is about to be held in 2 days time in Glasgow. So it was of immediate need to capture this man before any more lives are lost. Though security has been tightened in Glasgow it was thought needful to arrange a stakeout in Berlin too.

I was awoken out of my reverie by a message that flashed on my retina. Chief Aramaki was conducting a report reading at that time. “D1 report”, he called. Shinohara responded from the railway station. “Nothing. I have got nothing.” He replied. “Report D2”. At this Ishikawa replied from across the city atop a billboard “Negative chief, I am just freezing here”. “D3 report”. The Major reported from outside the cathedral in the East of the city “Still nothing. Nothing to report as of yet.”
“Report D4”…”Report D4”…”Are you there D4. Respond D4.” I started for a moment but I responded before all hell broke loose. “Nothing here Chief…only barking dogs here and…nothing else.” Something irked me about the girl in the wheelchair but I dismissed it as a figment of my imagination.

Next morning, I decided to take a break and went down the park below. I purchased a local daily. I read through the newspaper and was amused to find an article about a transparent ghost scaring people at the railway station. At least Shinohara could pass his time in a more funny way. Suddenly a feeling that you get when someone unwanted observes you, engulfed me. I looked around and instantly the alarm bells started ringing in my head. The girl from yesterday evening was back and was looking at as intently as yesterday. Had she recognised me? Not that it mattered but this was supposed to be a low profile mission and an wanted foreigner could lead to serious rumours and ultimate failure of this mission. Immediately I dug back into my newspaper. Though she uneventfully left the park she could never leave my head. What was the matter with her? I had to find out.

As soon I got my chance I activated my stealth mode and began to tail her. My footprints showed up soiling the virgin snow in the park but I did not care. As soon I was out of the park I followed her from a height. From roof to roof I never left her out of my sight. Finally she reached a small church and entered it. I followed suit. However I remained atop a pillar. She was saying something…a prayer probably. Normally I don’t eavesdrop into others praying but this time my curiosity got better of me. So I tried to get close enough to her words. But as soon as I was close enough she stopped and turned around suddenly catching me totally unawares. I was saved only by my camouflage. I held my breath and focussed on her eyes, which were trying to focus on the source of the commotion in vain. Unable to find me she spoke “Who is there? Is anyone out there? Anyone? A pigeon flew past me above her head. Looking dejected she resumed her prayers. I resumed my breathing. Oh my goodness. She must be having a great intuition. Now what was she saying. “Dad where are you? I received your letter two weeks ago. I have been coming to the church everyday since. Where are you daddy? I will come back again later.” She left the church after my church and I resumed my sleuthing.

This time it led me to a home for helpless children. I waited on a nearby rooftop. A few minutes later she emerged from into a first floor room. She activated her computer by means of a voice command for he didn’t touch it. Suddenly there was call from downstairs. “Teresa dear could you come downstairs for a moment”. This was my chance. I sneaked in through the open window. I chanced a look at the computer. The mail inbox was still open. I replayed the latest message. “ I will meet you in a couple of weeks. Take care”. It went on something like this. That didn’t help me much though. I rummaged in the drawers. In the third drawer I recovered a diary. This seemed a bit more promising. Sorry girl, I have to just go through this personal stuff, I apologized to her profusely in my heart and began riffling through the pages.

The handwriting was barely legible. I had to strain my eyes to the fullest to understand a couple of worlds only. I reached an entry and paused to read it through.

Feb 1,2029
Today I met daddy in the church. Daddy gave me a present, a cashmere sweater. I am so happy.

A few entries later …
Nov 20th, 2029
Daddy again in the church and gave me an early Christmas present. A pair of mittens.
They go well with the sweater daddy gave me earlier.

March 27th, 2030
Daddy came a new body today. But I recognised him when as he answered my secret question.

Secret question, what secret question? I searched the entire diary for some answers until I reached the last page where something was hurriedly scribbled. Daddy may sometimes come in a new body so I will not identify him. Then I will ask him the secret question; what will angel do today? And he would reply; Angel would let the feathers fall.

Got him, I lifted my gaze in humdrum manner up to the window. So Angel was in my pocket. The stakeout would be over soon. Girl, look what you have gotten into. Your father is a bad man. A very bad man. Angelica, I am coming for you. I spotted the angel’s statue in the park from the window. So she must have spotted me from here sometime. The puzzle pieces were eventually falling into place. Angelica was after all a father who came to meet his child before every bombing attempt not knowing if he could meet her later. And he would come this time too, I was sure of that.

That night I decided to keep watch over the church. When reporting time came Aramaki asked, “D4, what is your position now? Why did you move?” I replied “I am at the rooftop of a church right now. There were to many dogs at they previous spot and they spotted me through the camouflage. In between this the Major said, “D4 keep me posted on any further shifting of position. Is that understood?” “Roger ma’am” I replied.

A tranquillity descended upon the streets as the snow piled up. I moved into the church and remained perched atop a pillar. As my chronometer registered the time as seven twenty three a man discreetly entered the church holding a gift-wrapped package. As his face came out of the shadows I recognized him at once. Angelica. As he reached the front rows and knelt down in front of the altar I activated my optical camouflage and silently descended upon the floor. As I approached from the behind he started and cried out “what, who is there?” But I already had him on the floor face down and hands behind his back.

I angrily spat out at him “you caused all those bombing killing all those innocent children and people and you still have the guts to come and visit your own daughter in the house of God. Playing the good daddy were you?” At this he calmed down and spoke to me “ you, you know my daughter. Please don’t tell hr about me. And please give her these gifts. She really wanted these for a long time.” he indicated the gifts strewn on the floor. As I considered those for a second, he overthrew me and dashed for the exit.

As I drew my handgun, he was hit hard by something in the air and fell down heavily on the floor. I punctured his limbs with my weapon. Having made sure he did not have any chance of escaping I went into the shadows to inspect what was it that he collided with. The Major emerged from within the shadows after deactivating her camouflage. As I fumbled for words “But how did you know? How come you are here?” She attached a memory-extracting device to Angelica’s neural implants and began extracting his persona from the damaged prosthetic body. Presently she was saying to me “I tapped into your optical receptors when you changed your positions. Showing him some mercy were you?” As I began to answer her, the church door opened again. Both of us had our guns out in a second. It was the girl in the wheelchair. Slowly we holstered our weapons. Slowly, she approached us. Sensing something amiss she cried out “Daddy, Daddy is that you?”

She stopped her wheelchair and tried to get up flailing her arms in the air helplessly. “Is that you, Daddy?” she cried out again. Receiving no answer from the cold night she ventured on towards us. Tears were rolling down her eyes but she was not looking at us, although we were in plain sight. Suddenly a realization hit me as she repeated yet again “where are you Daddy?” Oh my God, she was blind. She had been blind the whole time. As I downed this shocking truth, she managed a few trembling steps towards me holding the armrests of the church seats. She stumbled on Angelica’s now useless legs and fell into my hands. “Daddy, Daddy is that you, daddy? Tell me Daddy, what will Angel do today?” She asked again “Tell me Daddy, what will Angel do today?”

I looked away from those pitiful eyes and could only say “Angel… Angel is not going anywhere anymore”….

2006-06-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

Prologue

The underground railway transport system or more popularly known as the Subway is a sign of technological advancement made by man as is usually the symbol of a nation’s engineering prowess. Since it’s introduction it has always been a city’s major transportation lifeline, helping daily commuters reach their destinations. Underground subways present a totally different atmosphere to the common man who tries to escape the world under the sun into a new world made and run entirely by man.

Rarely however we do find situations in which the subways play the rather villainous role and get in the way of people’s lives, literally or otherwise. On the other hand the unmoving, periodical and mechanical behaviour of the subways possess great powers of healing even the deepest of wounds over time.

The Subway

Hello, my name is Yuki. I am a tenth grader in Rallifort High. I live in the suburban residential areas in the outskirts of Newark city. I live with my parents and a devilish elder brother. Ours is an average family. My dad works in some office and brother is in college.

Usually I am a shy guy and like to stay alone. I am rarely troubled by it as others are. Mom says I am an oddball, who knows maybe I am. I garner rather boring hobbies of reading and listening to music. As I prefer the indoors rarely do I go outside. Actually I refrain from doing so until it is absolutely necessary. One such occasion is when I have to go to school.

“Good morning mom. What’s for breakfast? Make it quick or I will be late for school”. Mom brought sandwiches and eggs for me. Meanwhile I took a glance at the day’s newspaper. Something snapped in my brain and I thought I was going to have a concussion. Only that I did not. There was a piece on a young girl being run over by the subway train. Witnesses did not realize what happened until much later. Some suggested it to be a case of suicide. However her parents and friends vehemently protested that she was completely happy and content and had no reason to commit suicide. The police are still looking for any clues. In another news item, a law had been passes that all college going students must refrain from using cell phones within college campus.
Oh when would I get to go to college. This year never seemed to end. I would have so much fun in college. At least this year’s my last at this school. School SCHOOL .Oh God I am going to be late for school. Hurriedly I snatched a toast from the plate and dashed out of the door. “Hey Yuki did you take your medicine?” mom asked but I was in a hurry so had to lie “yes mom.”

Soon I was running along the path to the subway station shielding my eyes from the morning summer sun. I board the subway from here, the Southern parks and travel to Commune Centre staion, which is about five stops ahead. From there school is a couple of minutes walk. I had rather a very promising feeling today. Though I could not really pinpoint what was its cause it caused me great euphoria. For reasons unknown I was feeling extremely happy today.

Huffing and puffing, I reached the Southern parks. The subway was like a home away from home to me. It was a refuge from the outside world. I checked in with my monthly pass and descended down the escalator. I flopped down on one of the triplet chairs and threw my backpack to one beside me. The train was due in a couple of minutes. I looked around for something interesting to happen. Usually nothing does happen and I waste my time looking for something nonexistent. The place was almost deserted except for a few sweepers, school going students and a couple of office goers. I like it this way only for I really despise crowds.

The train was on time and as I stopped I boarded it in a leisurely fashion. We were off. I found a seat facing the door, this was my favourite spot. I loved to sit here and watch people board and alight from the train. I love to look and remember faces of strangers. As of now I know a lot people by their faces only, the faces which I will remember for a long time without even knowing their names, let alone their destination, jobs or family. However I do chance upon a couple of interesting characters once in a while. Like the lady in the brown cardigan. She uses to board the train every Thursdays and Saturdays on a walking stick. Though she was always in a lot of pain she refused any help from her fellow travellers. She stood during the entire journey clutching her bag tightly to herself. What was in the bag was another mystery for me. For all I can guess it might even be a bomb. But I never intent to find out lest it might dampen all the excitement of travelling on Thursdays and Saturdays. Some other times I find a gentleman wearing an oversized cloak and a hat which to cover up his entire face. He never talks or for that matter even look up from his seat which was invariably at the farthest end of the coach. Apart from these unusual characters there were groups of giggling girls and noisy boys, some tramps and balding old gentlemen who if not snoozing were discussing politics, business and other adult stuff. For me this seemingly confusing scene was no less than a wholesome television like entertainment. And before long I arrive at the Commune Central station.

But today fate had other plans for me. As I took my seat and he train began its journey a sharp unsettling pain hit my cranium. I almost fainted at the spot. But soon enough it evaporated like there was no pain at all. The pain was magically gone however I still a giddy feeling the seemed to linger on. I guess I should have taken my medication. I decided to head back home. As the next stop came into view I picked up my backpack and prepared to alight and stood near the doors.

It was the Frank land Avenue station. The train had begun to slow down. A sea of faces were flowing along side the train. Finally the train came to a halt. Along with it also my heart, though only for a second. For I found myself face to face with the most beautiful young woman through the door glass. The doors slid open and then slid closed. The train began to move again too but I was still rooted to the spot, unable to move.

As the train caught up speed, I started to feel my arms and legs again. My legs felt like ice though. With some awkward movements akin to an arthritic rhino I managed to find a seat. I closed my eyes and began the slow breathing technique taught by our physical instructor in order to calm my jangled nerves. Wow, what a close shave, I thought. I never knew beautiful thing as such had such disarming abilities. I never wanted to look at such a beautiful face again or did I? A moment later it was there again. It had popped out of nowhere as if it was imprinted in my mind forever. To get away from it I frantically opened my eyes and felt my skip a beat again. (If this happened a few more times I was going to get a heart attack for sure, I thought). She was sitting there right opposite to me. She looked at me as if I were a ghost. Slowly her expression changed and she smiled at me for a second and then looked outside the window.

Though I felt a strong affinity towards her I dared not do anything more than stupidly stare at her unearthly face. As a couple of stops later she got up from her seat and got down from the train. Soon the train was in motion again and thankfully I broke out of my reverie. Soon the train entered the Commune Central station. I alighted. However I was still in a surreal world. I did not know where I was going. I was swept along with the flow of humanity into the outside world. There the sun knocked some sense into me and made me realize that I would have to qualify for the Olympics, if nothing else to reach school before the first class began.

The day at school was rather uneventful except for a couple of teachers who rebuked me for daydreaming in their classes. As the school clock musically chimed out three ‘o’clock a mad marathon began and all students made a dash for their homes. I was running along with them though my journey was only to the subway station. I climbed down the stairs to the welcoming platform. It always felt so very soothing inside the subways and relieved me of all the physical and mental tensions I had borne that day. I was waiting for the three twenty five to arrive.

The train as always was on time. As it came to a halt at the station I jumped into the third compartment and occupied my favourite seat opposite to the door. The journey was uneventful and boring, that is until we reached the next station. I expectantly looked up to the sliding doors half hopeful for the knockout beauty to materialize right there outside the door. Soon my pulse was racing away in a Ferrari for she was there again. But this time I was prepared and tried not to look at her lest I might do something horribly stupid. However that was not to be. Her beauty was just perfect, metaphorically speaking of course. What I meant was she was perfect for me. It was like another sun glowing with radiant beauty and I was basking in its heat. This time I diverted my gaze to her person. She was neither a waif nor voluptuous; neither fair nor dark even her hair was like somewhere in between black and brown and was in a ponytail. She was wearing some sort of a uniform, maybe a school uniform. I hazarded a guess. But I could not figure out which school. The train had come to halt in the Frankland Avenue and she left, leaving me behind with my mouth hung open.

“What is the time, young sir?” a gentleman sitting beside me asked. This broke my trance and I obliged the man with my watch. The train was slowing down again and the familiar Southern Parks station came into view. First it ran, then jogged and then it stopped at last. I walked out of the subway in slow motion, somewhat like in the movies. As I surfaced again, the setting sun hurt my eyes. Shielding my eyes from the sun, I made my way home in a jog.

The alarm clock rang out loud near my eardrums. I tried to bury myself in my pillow. As usual it was in vain. Reluctantly with much grumbling and tantrums I had to get off my sweet bed and turn the darn thing down. By now I was quite awake so I decided to get ready for another day at school. Soon I was downstairs all dressed up for my breakfast. After munching on my food for a couple of minutes I headed out for school. The memory of that angelic beauty I encountered yesterday was refreshed in my mind as soon I entered the subway station taking refuge from the relentless morning sun. Soon enough I was praying hard that she make an appearance today again and hoping for the best. For the record though I wasn’t really sure what was best for me though. That she make an appearance and the wind out of me or she doesn’t make an appearance and break my heart to pieces.

The train arrived and I boarded it eagerly. The next station came into sight soon enough. I crossed my fingers and waited hoping against hope that she come again today and out of the hundreds of doors choose the door in front of me to board the damn train. I could not take the pressure and decided to close my eyes and wait. I could hear a door opening opposite to me. I waited with baited breath. No, actually I could not wait. I cracked out my left eye a fraction of an inch. The old lady with a walking stick and bag clutched to her self walked into the compartment. As I began to curse my luck I was suddenly overtaken by all so familiar blinding pain in my cortex. However I was thankful as it receded as suddenly as it had come. As I came to my senses again my sight rested on the angelic beauty from yesterday. She was still as pristine as the last time my eyes had feasted on her glowing face and braided ponytail. It seemed as if she was helping the old lady to a seat. For one thing the scene was somewhat hard to digest. Never before had I seen the lady allowed anyone else to talk to her let alone help her. After leading to a seat both sat down together and began some sort of small talk. But these things minutely distracted me. The only thing that troubled me a little bit was that ‘my’ angel was talking to the old lady. I speculated that maybe they were related. Maybe the old woman was her grandmother. Maybe not. As my mind raced on I noticed a certain detail that had until now eluded my eyes. An insignia embroidered on her sleeve was what diverted my attention. I recognised it without too much difficulty though. It belonged to the Scottish Girls’ High. Yes I remember that symbol from somewhere in which I was recently involved but could not place it accurately. Perhaps it was on some cousin of mine or possibly it was from the newspaper that I had come to about it. A couple of stops later, the old lady alighted helped by ‘her’. As they left I could not help wondering why I felt that I should try to know more and more about her family. Commune Central arrived and I made my way out of the train and the station in the sunny outsides again.

In the afternoon I prepared to return home from school “Hey Yuki, would you do me a really big favour?” I turned around and found a flustered but friendly Ralph looking pleadingly at me. “What are you talking about Ralph, what favour do you want?” I asked somewhat puzzled. He continued, “You live in the southern parks right? Well you see I was wondering if you would help me find me my uncle’s house there. Before I had considered it I had spoken “ Sure thing Ralph”.

However over the next couple of hours I found myself wondering if I had perhaps spoken too soon a dozen times. As we entered the station together I was suddenly gripped by a fear of loss. What if my angel made a show now that I was with Ralph, she would definitely grab his attention with her glorious beauty. No, I could not let that happen if I could help it. It might really seem that I was acting a bit hysterical here. As if she was some hidden treasure and I was the adventurer who had found her by some turn of luck and now did not want to share her with no one else. Somehow I could not control this particular feeling of mine and it seemed to grow with every passing moment.

As we waited for the train to arrive I was almost sweating with tension. Finally the train arrived a good ten minutes later and we boarded it. This time I took care to take a seat as far away from the doors as possible. After that I tried to engage Ralph in useless small talk. Half of my mind, perhaps more was targeted on the door at all times. As the next station slid into view, I held my breath and waited in anticipation of her making a totally unwelcome appearance. I saw a stick prodding the floor followed by the old lady from this morning. Damn, I thought and redoubled my efforts to wean Ralph’s attention from the noisy doors. But soon enough I realized that my prayers had bore fruits as the old lady was alone and thankfully without her granddaughter or whatever. She was her old self again, the grumpy old hag who never sat down and never talked to anyone let one take any of the offered help. All in all my angel was not in sight and I heaved a sigh of relief.

I helped Ralph to his uncle’s home in southern parks and bade him good-bye. After that I returned home completely exhausted mentally and somewhat physically too.

Next morning again as I raced the sun to the subway station, I was feeling somewhat elated but could not place the feeling as usual. But as soon I entered the cool interiors of the station I knew what it was. It meant that today I was going to meet my angel again. I do not know how but it was almost like seeing into the future. Maybe it was some sort of telepathic connection between her and me. It was as if she was someone whom I had been seeing in my dreams and waiting for all my life. I entered the train and took my favourite seat again opposite to the doors. As the train set into motion I fixed my eyes at the door intently. The Frankland Avenue station arrived and the doors mechanically slid open. But instead of my angel the man with the cloak and hat stepped in. I felt as if let down and banged my head with my knuckles in a fit of frustration. It was as if I hit a sore spot on my head. The blow immediately jumpstarted a searing pain in my temple. I could barely keep my eyes open and gently massaged the temple in a bid to ease the pain. It was in vain but the pain began to recede away as suddenly it had started. Some disturbance caused me to gaze down the row of seats and to my utter surprise that it was her and all her glorified beauty that was attracting my attention away from everything else. Today however there something else that was different from the daily routine. That is, she was deep in conversation with the man in the cloak and the hat. Their conversation was not like some stranger talk but rather kind of intimate like they were closely related or something. As usual I remained dumbstruck throughout the remaining journey. She was a beauty beyond comparison crafted by the hands of God himself. There was such finesse and perfection that I doubted there could be anyone else at par with her. I know, I know it does sound a bit exaggerated but true or not it was really how I felt right then. I did not realize when the commune central station had arrived. I managed to regain my rational state of mind and made my way to the surface real world again and somehow found my way to school too.

At school we were told that the following day our school would remain closed for some overdue repair work school wiring system. After school, I was on a high over this good luck that I had found in the form of an unexpected holiday. I loved holidays just like any other kid. After all it allowed me to relax unfairly on working days. As I descended down the stairs, I began to formulate a plan on how to spend my holiday in a not so productive manner. Some video gaming and chatting on the net would not be bad. But I should not loiter in my room for long otherwise mom would ask me to clean up my room. Maybe I could visit Ralph at his uncle’s place. I could perhaps catch up on some lost translations in History and some wayward locations in Geography to kill the time. Apart from all this I must devote a generous amount of time to sweet slumber.

I was deeply engrossed in some really major planning when the train arrived. I boarded the train and waited in front of the doors for a final long look of my angel for the weekend. This time I had no misgivings that there was something in between us then bonded us together. It was as if were connected by some ethereal means and were one being in two bodies. Well I am sorry for I do not possess much knowledge on these topics but I ask you how would you explain that whenever I am on board the train she is drawn towards me and I find her right there in my vicinity every single time. So much about that already, presently she was came right in trough the opposite door. This time again she was not alone. But this time her company was somewhat unacceptable to me. There close beside her sat a blue eyed boy of similar age as mine. That apart, he was engrossed deeply in some imaginative conversation with her. Hey who was this nightmare ruining my time with my angel. Maybe this guy was her brother, I wondered? After all members of her family usually accompanied her more often than not. So instead of directly confronting the couple I decide to plan my advances and take care of this problem in the bud itself. Who knows if he wasn’t her brother? What if he liked her? No that I cannot let that happen.
It was then that I realized that she was there for the taking for the past couple of days and all I did all this time was foolishly gawp at her. Something had to be done and done fast. I put the situation into my head began to think of a good strategy. That’s it. Tomorrow was the day. Tomorrow was a holiday and I must make this holiday pay. She must have school tomorrow. I will meet her early in the morning and sort this little dilemma of mine. In the subway station.

I made up my mind to meet her tomorrow and express my feelings towards her. With this happy thought I left the station and trundled down the path to home humming a gay tune under my breath.

Next morning the alarm clock was ringing its head off and announcing the arrival of ‘the’ day. I got up from my sweet bed and turned it off. Rubbing my eyes groggily I peered at the time. What the heck? Only seven in the morning. Today is a holiday. Cursing, I turned to the bed again and fell flat on it. As soon as I had closed my eyes I realized. My God, today is the big day when I shall at last speak to my angel. In an excited state of mind I bathed and put on my best attire for the all so special occasion. I left home in a hurry without even caring for a bite. The thoughts of her angelic beauty seemed to fill my mind and stomach as well. I braved the morning cold in the warm sun and reached the station. I bought a regular ticket for the not so regular destination. Frankland Avenue. I restless watched the overhead digital clock. Then I looked at my wristwatch and then at the clock again. This continued for about ten minutes until the eight five arrived. I boarded it and soon my journey began. Everything around me seemed new to me though I had travelled in the same train a million times before. As the Frankland Avenue came into view a disaster befell me. My old head splitting headache was back. Not now darn it. Moreover this time it didn’t fade away as swiftly it did as always rather it occupied dangerous proportions. Not this time, I decided to brave it this last time. For my angel.

The train halted and the doors swung open. I alighted on to an alien surrounding nursing my temple. I sat down on the waiting chairs. Meanwhile the pain had reduced considerably but still there was still some soreness in my cortex. I decided to look for her and began to walk along the lonely platform. Not a soul was in sight. A perfect setting, I thought. After about some fifteen minutes I gave up on my search and sat down again. However I felt something beckoning me from behind. I looked behind me and found a woman standing with her back towards me. On closely observing her I realized that it was she. Though I had never seen her from behind I had full faith in the telepathic connection between us. I could almost see her angelic halo from behind. Moreover I recognised her Scottish High’s uniform and ponytail, which madly swung in the cold gale. It was time.

I walked up to her slowly on weak unsteady steps. I was really near her now and was frantically trying to form the words to speak in my mind. I could almost smell her faint perfume, almost touch her soft hair, could almost feel her being. I raised a hand to call her upon her shoulders and took another step towards her. I paused for a moment. Something beckoned me to stop. Something that was coming towards us. Coming closer and closer. Coming nearer every second. My ever active conscience told me whatever was approaching was not good. Rather far from good. It was sinister and still more. It was resiliently evil. It warned me of an oncoming disaster.
She was still peering into the tunnel. The train lights were visible now. Clouding the darkness within the tunnel the subway train was making its way to us. The time was at hand now. Now or never my conscience said to me. It urged me on. Go, it said. Go on. I took the final unsteady step to her. It kept pushing me on. It pushed me on so much that it that become rather intolerable. It was as if I was in a delirium. I did not want to go on any more. I wanted to stop. But I could not. Still it went on inside me. Push on. Push. Then unable to bear the pressure, I pushed.

I collapsed from the pressure right there and from there on my memory draws a total blank. The only thing I could remember was a wild scream. And of course the subway train. When I had woken up I found myself in the platform medical ward. I was told that I had fainted from exhaustion and fever.

Where had she gone? Had I missed my chance? Then it all came back to me. The train was almost there. When I fainted she must have had boarded the train and left. Stupid headache. I cursed my poor health and poorer luck and headed home. When I landed back in the Southern parks I was smarting all over for the lost holiday and lost girl. As I surfaced from the subway station I immediately began feeling a little better. That day for the first time in a long while I roamed the remaining day outside. I came home late in the evening and was famished. I ate like a dog and slept like a log. The day was over for me and a new tomorrow was coming.

Epilogue

The next morning was brand new as ever. Everything was back to normal. I ran downstairs to get some breakfast. As I waited for the food to be prepared I decided to catch up on some of the day’s latest news. Elections were round the corner and campaigns were in full force. A new dam was being proposed for the nearby river. In an incident involving the subways, a young girl from the Scottish High was run over by the train again. This was the second case of a ‘subway’ death this month and the sixth this year already. A lack of witnesses led to a vaguely drawn conclusion of suicide which friends and family opposed vehemently. When I looked at the girl’s photograph I the newspaper something seemed familiar to me. I seemed to know this girl but I could place her anywhere in my memory despite my best efforts. Was she a distant cousin or a friend of my cousin sister, I was not sure. Whatever the case I was unable to forget the pony tailed girl’s pretty face.
As I rushed down the pebbled path to the Southern Parks subway station I felt a kind of remorse for the ponytailed girl’s poor fate. Soon I reached the station and upon entering I immediately felt calmer and happier. While I waited at the platform, watching the sweepers, beggars and the like my eyes chanced upon a pretty young girl waiting for a train. At once my heart began to race and my feet went numb at the sight of the angelic beauty.

Sniper's Poker

2006-06-19T05:43:00.000-07:00

Prologue

The year is 2029. The world is raging with unimaginable technologies. Cybronic implants and cybernetic organisms were abound. Androids were not behind either. A new breed of military androids called the Tachikoma were the latest ones in use. In addition to heavy firepower capabilities, armour and optical camouflage each came equipped with a unique personality akin to human beings. Except for their bodies, which were the size and shape of a pick up truck, they were quite similar to cyborgs. They were recently inducted into the elite Japanese vigilante group called Section 9, which was headed by chief Aramaki and led by the able ‘Major’ Kushanagi. Other members of the team were Tagusha, Bato, Ishikawa, Paz and the one eyed sniper Saburo.
Except Saburo all the others were Japanese nationals and for the last one read on to find out how he ended up in Section 9.

Sniper’s Poker

It was an evening in winter. A few friends were huddled around a table in the corner of a repair garage. On the table cards and tokens were scattered all around. Evidently a game of poker was in progress. A couple of Tachikoma who had come for their regular check up were chatting away merrily nearby. “Shut up you two. Can’t you see that a game is on here?” sergeant Weathers of the local police department said to the Tachikoma. They in turn replied “Poker is a game of probability and memory isn’t it sir? Players look at other’s cards and try to guess their hands. After that they bluff or bet their money. So at some times they win and so at some times they win and most of the times they don’t”. The other Tachikoma added “but here Saburo Sir always wins. Why is that, sir?” Weathers said, “ He wins more than others because he bluffs.” Then turning to the man in question he spoke “but not today Saburo. Today your bluffs are not going to take you anywhere. This game is mine” he ended glancing back at his cards.

Tagusha, another member of the elite Section 9 opined “don’t be so sure weathers. Saburo always has a trick or two up his sleeve.” The fourth gentleman in the group was a new recruit to the in the police fraternity. He was quiet and was called Walters.At long last the most talked about man in the group intoned in low than usual voice2 I do not bluff. I can merely read all of your thoughts just by looking at your faces. So as a piece of advice I ask all of you not to poker face me. Get it.” A few moments of pregnant silence passed. Finally Saburo had to speak again to break the ice “OK you guys I will tell all of you a story. It is the story of my life and the experience I had in it chilled me to the very bones of my spines. Apart from that it also taught me to read poker faces like all of yours.” The Tachikoma broke upon into an appeal for the story. Saburo said “all right I will tell you all the story if all raise their bets.” Noncommittally everyone raised. However Weathers said, “ I am not raising because I want to listen to your dumb story. Just so you know that, all right.”

Saburo began “while I tell the story please do not interrupt me and one more thing comments are not welcome. Fine then.” “It was the summer of 2020. Back then I was still just a mercenary. I was in the Spanish national army. At that time the US and Japanese economies were in great turmoil. They could think up of only one solution their downtrodden condition by crippling the Mexican drug and arms industries, which boosted the Mexican and its ally’s Spanish economies. They had persuaded the UN to allow them to assault the Mexican government under the name of disrupting their illegal drug trade and production or something. I did not know the reasons very well back then nor did I care. I did what I was paid for. I fought. I was perhaps the last man standing left of my team that was wiped out by a surprise attack by the US and Japanese allied army. I was in wait for a chance to surrender given my mercenary status. While I was still on lookout I got an Intel update from my headquarters that a small group of the allied army was in the town to nuke it and flush out the remaining guerrillas in the nearby areas. This plan of theirs irritated me to no end and I went against my surrender plan and instead decided to have a final go at them before I leave this world for the netherworlds. I wanted to give them such a nightmarish time that they forget for their entire lives and maybe eve after that. Trying to nuke me out are you?”

The sun was beginning to dip behind the distant western Sierra Madres. Painting the wee little town red and orange. I scanned the region with my binoculars and after a couple of minutes of searching I acquired my targets. It was smallish group by allied standards, I thought. However my shots were also limited so I decided to go one after another.

On the ground, lieutenant Marcus led the group of three Japanese and four Americans including himself. They were sergeant Mothers, private Paul, private Ivan, the ‘Major’, Ishikawa and Bato. Marcus was growing impatient, he said to the others “I say we detonate the darn thing right here and return to base. This hunting for survivors is taking a lot of time. Moreover we have strayed too far away from the company already.” No one replied. The made their way in silence through millions of boulders and debris that cluttered their path.

Meanwhile I checked my signal-jamming device. Last time I had checked it was able to jam their radio and satellite uplink including their GPS as well as their remote communicator devices. With the hep of this device not only were they stranded away from their company reinforcements they would be totally helpless in locating me without the help of satellite imaging of the area. Now all they had to rely on was their unreliable humanoid instincts. However that was only what I had speculated. I checked my Rolex, which was a gift from someone special. This is not the right time to bring up that issue though. It was fifteen seconds to five. After checking the time I checked my rifle and finally I checked out my first target. I closed my right eye and took careful aim with the left. Funny thing though. Back then I still had my real left eye not this Cybronic implant I sport now. I must say I had a rather good eye then for rarely did I miss a target. My eye and crosshair was one instrument when I followed the American soldier carrying the nuclear device. He was my first choice for obvious reasons. Five seconds until I announce my presence to the group below. I began counting under my breath. Five. Four.Three.Two.One.Zero. The clock tower at the opposite side of town gonged out aloud. As I had anticipated everyone on ground zero paused momentarily caught unawares. I shot that man in that brief moment of surprise turning it into shock. As he crumpled to the ground even from my hiding spot I could make out the sudden ruckus below as everyone dived for cover.

On the grounds not only the view changes but also the entire scenery. Since you change from the attacker to the attacked. So I took the liberty of describing the emotions and actions undergoing at the ground level. “Sniper, sniper in the ruins. Take cover everyone.” The ‘Major’ cried out. She neither was a major by rank nor by name. But the lady who was in fact a cybernetic organism since her childhood was as much experienced or maybe more than any living army major in the tactics and techniques of guerrilla and modern warfare that her colleagues aptly called her Major.Anyway everyone dived for cover as soon they heard the Major’s command. Well almost everyone, except sergeant Mothers that is who still writhed in mortal pain on the open ground. Private Paul said, “ We have to rescue him” indicating Mothers. Lieutenant Marcus said “All right everyone listen. Bato and Ishikawa cover fire the western building and Major and I will cover from the eastern side. Meanwhile Paul gets Mothers. Any doubts anyone.” On the count of three all emerged.

The firing disturbed the deathly silence of the city. Paul was at the side of Mothers in a flash and was saying to him “try not to move too much, Sir. Everything is going to be fine” However he could speak only as much as a moment none too late a slug punctured his temple and crumpled beside the wounded Mothers, stone dead. Everyone dived for cover once again, this time leaving the two Americans to die in the open.

In a fleeting instant in which everyone must be trying to catch their breaths on the ground I proceeded with the next phase of my plan. I used my remote control to fire a 20mm shell from the previously set up mortar-firing unit in the eastern building. The shell landed on a stagnant car lifting it off the ground. As I had expected the firing briefly stopped and then riveted to the opposite direction. Everything was proceeding according to plan.
“Stop, stop everyone stop firing. Cease fire, cease fire”, yelled the Major. The firing stopped in a few moments. “Do you know where the sniper is? Try to think straight for a while. I feel the eastern one is just a decoy to divert our attention for a few seconds.” Marcus argued, “How can you be so sure. Maybe there are more than one snipers. Maybe we are all surrounded.” To this the Major calmly replied, “ if we were surrounded by snipers we’d have been dead by now.” Then to Ishikawa she said, “ Ishikawa can you track down the jamming device’s originating signal. Can you get a lock on its position from here”. Ishikawa replied after checking his devices “the signal is originating from three different locations. If we take down any two of the transponders then we can uplink with the satellite and call for backup”, he continued “the locations are the church and the hospital in the west and the apartment in the east”. The Major said, “very well then I will check out the apartment to prove my theory. However I strongly believe that the enemy is only one sniper and a very clever one at that. My instincts tell me that he is hiding in the western side. Snipers hate to face the sun anyway.”

“Cover me guys” the Major shouted and made a dash for the apartment in the east as the firing erupted from the ground again. Once inside the apartment turning corners cautiously the Major made her way to the potential location of the jamming device. As she had speculated earlier there was only a single transponder and a premeditatedly propped up 20mm heavy round launcher aimed at the ground below complete with a remote trigger.” About twenty minutes later she returned to her companions at the camp below holding a telltale 20mm clip. “There was only one round in it and it was fired with a remote controlled trigger. So now we are sure that our friend is in the western side either in the church or in the hospital,” she concluded.

As she wondered about the further plan of action Marcus began to load a heavy round in the shoulder mountable rocket launcher saying “at least there is one way to find out”. In the hospital Saburo had not let his guard down even for a single moment and rather followed the proceedings below. I could not help praise the presence of mind of the team members to check out the apartment first before jumping to conclusions. However I must say I was a little taken aback to find a female in their midst when I focussed on the huddle below. I guessed she must be a cyborg. Real woman are such soft creatures to survive in a battlefield let alone discuss strategy. In a second none too late my eye caught one of them aiming a rocket launcher at the hospital, at me. Not losing any more time I slugged him in his forehead.

The Major cried hoarse “the hospital, he is in the hospital. Bato, Ishikawa cover me. Ivan follow me.” They began to advance to towards the hospital cautiously. At some distance the covering fire began to pummel the weak old hospital walls and I hid behind the windows. I could not for long though for otherwise they would storm the place taking me down along with it. I decided to retaliate. I aimed from the tiniest corner I could find and followed the man running behind the lady. Just before he entered the smokescreen below I nailed him. As he kissed the ground I saw helplessly as the woman in their team make her way harmlessly into the hospital grounds. I bailed from my hiding place and took refuge near the pillar which a good fifty feet from the only entrance to this floor.

Did you guys know something? In a battle no one knows who kills whom except for one person. The sniper, the sniper always knows. He is the one guy you can take your revenge on. That is why snipers never become prisoner of wars. Thinking along such lines I prepared myself for the final battle of the day.

Meanwhile the Major successfully crossed the threshold of the hospital and proceeded along the stairs to the third floor swiftly where she believed the enemy to be hiding. In a few minutes she reached the third floor entrance. There she picked up a piece of broken glass lying on the floor and with its help surveyed the entire scene while still in the shadows. She saw a transponder device lying on the floor beside the pillar. Calculating her risks she removed her semi automatic heavy machine gun from her shoulder and plugged its data cable into her neurosystem port at the back of her neck. Balancing the gun at her waist level for maximum stability she stepped out of the shadows.

I was surveying the entrance with my mirror glass for the past ten minutes. I sensed some disturbance in the ninth minute but nothing happened until sixty seconds later. The woman stepped out of the shadows a heavy machine gun swinging at her waist and fired a deafening three shot burst that took out my transponder. It did a couple of back flips and finally came to rest against a boulder. I had only a single rifle bullet and loaded semi automatic hand gun which quite useless at this distance. I gauged her distance and my skill several times and tried to picture the scene in my mind. Though the rifle she held was ordinarily used as an assault weapon it could effectively double up as a long distance shooter in the hands of an expert user such as a cyborg as her. Supposing the software for the long and medium range shooting were installed and ready for use in her cyber brain, if I fired a shot she could easily shoot down my only bullet and given her rifles much faster firing rate take me down with the next shot before I could duck back. No matter how many times I played the scene in my mind the outcome seemed the same to me each time. I realized I was pitted against a complete cyborg and it was a test of all sniping experience. It was truly a moment of truth and I am really not ashamed to say that it chilled me to the very bones of my spine. She stood there unmoving, not even blinking her eyes for a nanosecond. I saw her expressionless face and observed a drop of sweat crawl down her forehead into her eye and back on her cheek. As it left her chin I concluded any mistake on my part would be my last.

The Tachikoma interrupted Saburo for the first time during his entire storytelling “but you could not wait forever, could you sir?” Saburo observed them for a second and continued, “Well yes I could not”.

At that very moment my gaze fell on something that jumpstarted my brain again. I saw my transponder lying quite dead on the ground. It was shot evidently shot down with a three shot from her, but why three shot when one would have been enough. It dawned upon me that the software for long range shooting had not yet been installed and now that the satellite uplink was back on track she was downloading it as I was thinking. There was not another moment to loose. I swung into action immediately. Taking aim only for a fraction of a second I fired. Just as I had calculated she tried to shoot down my bullet but managed only to deflect it a millimetre. My bullet scraped her cheek and cut out a lock of her hair. Her next bullet was already on its way. I backed away quickly but I was not quick enough to completely evade her bullet. It scraped my sniping left eye and crippled me. With one hand I covered my remaining eye and with the other I took out my handgun. But before I could fire it she was already standing over me. In a flash she disarmed me and pinned my free hand to the wall. Her poker face had not left her yet. She said, “You are a very good shot. Work for me. Your call”.

I had no choice to refuse but had to work for her. Not only had she defeated me truly in battle but also had successfully deceived me to the end with her poker face. In this way I ended up in Section 9. However to this day I wonder if I could have spotted her poker face a couple of seconds earlier maybe I would still have had my real left eye. From that day on I never had an experience as frightening as that and I never have any trouble with poker faces like you either.

“Wow” the Tachikoma cried out in unison. Weathers however said, “that was a really good story but you still can’t bluff to win here. I kind of remember seeing that movie sometime ago though” Saburo didn’t bat an eyelid. Instead he said, “ Let me have my last card. Yes I was bluffing. I made it all up”. The final cards were dealt “I bid all my money” Saburo said. Weathers was hysterical “ You can’t bluff here. You can’t win. To win you need a straight royal flush of spades and you can’t have it since I have the ace right here.” Saying so weathers showed his cards.
Saburo got up to leave and spoke to Walters “Settle my bill, will you?” The Tachikoma asked him “were you really bluffing, sir? About the story.” Saburo left the room poker faced without speaking a single word. Walking down the street he lit a cigarette. The Tachikoma moved up to the table “are Saburo sir’s cards really that bad? It picked them up and said, “wow guys look, it’s a straight royal flush of spades. It makes me wonder if the story was real.”“Maybe” the other Tachikoma said as Saburo disappeared into the city leaving behind a trail of cigarette smoke.

El diablo

2006-06-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

So friends here it is as I had promised.

Prologue

To go on living and move forward in life every must have a belief to guide him or her onward. All of us humans believe in both God and the Devil. We ‘usually’ pray to the former and despise the latter. But sometimes even the almighty God might not be able to knock some much needed sense into the subjects gone astray from the ‘good’ path of His, then He might seek out the help of His not so benevolent counterpart, the Devil.

In some cases where both God and the Devil fail separately then desperate measures are called for. When the good and the evil join forces can any mere mortal stand any chance against such earthshaking alliance. However in such a case an unwanted situation may also arise where the beloved subject of the lord is lured by the devilish temptations into the sinful underworlds. Or otherwise as the old adage says” iron cuts iron “will the devil be able to get rid of the many evils plaguing the innocent subjects of the almighty.

El Diablo

The summer was almost gone and autumn was knocking at the doors. Winters were the worst part of the year, at least for me they were. For as long as I can remember winter has always been bad news for me. Every year some thing or the other happens to me. Last year my dear horse Camille went missing. I have not found her since then. The year before that, I lost all of my savings in a darn bet at the pub. Even before that my beloved Marlene, the love of my life died of pneumonia. It all began twenty years ago. I could still remember that cold winter morning as if it was only yesterday. My father had gone out for church duties as every morning. Suddenly a gang of outlaws stormed the streets with the police after them. A good amount of shooting ensued from both the sides. My poor father was caught in the crossfire. Poor man, he died on the spot .He never had a chance. Ever since that fate less day I have come to hate two things from the deepest depths of my black heart. Winters and churches. Even though I had a strong feeling of something bad about to happen I had not the slightest idea of what was in store for me this winter.

My name is ‘Baldis’, though a few knew of it. Most of them are dead now including my parents. Now I went about with the name ‘Didas’. I belong to this ghost of a town called ‘Polton’. I work here and have spent most of my life here and intend to live here till my dying days. What do I do? Funny you should ask. I do a fairly important job of keeping the residents of this place in line. To tell the truth I do a fairly good job at it too. No, you fools I am not mayor nor am I the sheriff though I get to meet them once in a while when I go about my job. For all you dimwit city dwellers who are still not able to guess my job let me put in simple words for you. I am the town’s numero uno outlaw. That is right I am a crook, a criminal a so called “bad person” .I eke out my mere existence by charging a nominal ‘protection charge’ from the traders and the innkeepers of the town. It is not like I am a greedy stink or anything .I only charge them according to their capacity to pay. And the good people of the town are usually more than happy to shell out rather than face my six-chambered friend holstered at my side.

It was just like any other morning today. Business was brisk and I swiftly went about my collection beat. Sensing my arrivals the streets usually remain sparsely occupied. Occasionally do I chance upon a fellow outlaw or a bar mate and bid them a good morning otherwise the beats are a boring exercise. A couple of ladies were returning home from the daily market. Having caught sight of me they scurried away at top speed but not before I treated them to a couple of ‘humble’ bows. The sun beat down mercilessly upon me. I could literally feel the heat. My throat was going rather dry too. A drink was called for. To the Red Lion pub, I decided. While I was there I could collect my tax from Rudolf too. Maybe I could say hi to Miyuki too. She was the barman Rudolf’s daughter and I nursed a soft spot for her in my heart and decided to marry her one day in the near future.

I made my way to the pub in silence. A light breeze was whipping across my face. A child was curiously staring at me from the window across the street .I waved back to the child. No sooner had I waved the window was rudely closed by the child’s mother. I sighed and resumed my journey. Something caught my eye as I turned at the spot. Some one was approaching the town from the eastern gates. I shielded my eyes from the sun tried to make out who he was. It was a stranger. Rarely did tourists come to this measly little town, and then who was this mysterious figure approaching on foot. As I dwelled into my thoughts the wind caught strength and a fierce gale began to blow lifting the dust with it .A sandstorm was imminent. As I dived into the pub for cover I could not help feeling somewhat sorry for the poor traveller who was caught in the storm out side.

I approached the bar and called out to the bartender, Rudolf. He returned the greeting by saying, “how are you today sir? Bad storm sir isn’t it? Only dusty winds and no rains, business is bad too.” I ordered a beer and settled down in the bar. Some of the tables were occupied A couple of guys were drinking while a couple others were playing cards and making dirty jokes, I finished my beer and ordered another. In the mean time I asked Rudolf “what happened to the tax you were about to pay me? You are already running three weeks late. Hearing about the tax Rudolf began to plead and said, “Please sir, business is not very good. Not many travellers are coming to the inn nowadays.” “Rudolf, I will let you in a on a big secret. Income tax is the hardest thing to understand. Did you know? If not then you know it now so pay me the tax right now .I wont have any more if that from you. Rather let make you an irresistible offer. The money or your daughter’s hand in marriage. What do you say to that ,old timer?”“ No, sir please for God’s sake leave my daughter out of this. She is all I have left in my miserable life. As for the money I shall pay you in a couple of days, sir .I swear.” All this nonsense was getting to my head. But before I could say something else, a sudden quiet enveloped the bar. The wind had died outside but this lull was even more frightening than the raging storm. Suddenly a shadow passed the window and began to move towards the door. Who could be roaming outside in such weather? As the door opened a cold wave swept the entire room. Maybe it was the cold wind from outside or maybe it was the sinister aura of the person outside. I was a wee bit surprised when I saw the person entering the bar was none other than the unfortunate traveller I had seen at the city gates a while ago. Surprisingly he looked quite clean and sombre to me. There wasn’t even a single speck of dust on his person. It was as if the winds were afraid to mess with his hair .I took him to be a jovial wanderer for a moment but my opinion about him changed as soon I noticed his garb. From what he was hearing there was no mistaking that he a priest or some other God man from the church or somewhere. The thing is since the day my father died that fate less day twenty years ago I had lost all my faith in almighty god. My father never hurt a soul. Let alone physically he would not even speak a rude word to someone else. He religiously went to the church everyday too. Yet he died such an untimely death and God could not do anything to protect him. From that day on I pledged not rely on some invisible possibility called God but on my own strength and skill. So in this way for me God became nonexistent and such God men, the worst perpetrators on earth.

Suddenly my feet were going all cold and numb. What the heck was happening to me? Has the winter arrived already? The traveller was making his way in between the tables to me. Just as he was about reach me he stopped and lifted his gaze to Rudolf and ordered a cigarette. After that he just moved away from the bar and quietly settled down at the table in the farthest corner of the room .I took a moment to study the priest person. He was tall and had blonde hair. One could go as far as to say that he was handsome too. He wore a monk’s plain robes and a jewelled bracelet on his left arm. He had no luggage on him. Must be poor beggar, I thought. Pathetic. All the same he had a certain aura surrounding him that seemed to have frozen and gagged all of us. Only did he when raise an arm and beckon Rudolf did we all come to our senses. Somehow I did not feel like staying in the room at all. Money and Miyuki all forgotten I turned tail and ran out. At the door I issued a halfhearted warning to Rudolf “I will be back for the money”. Though it was more out of a habit than out of my heart once outside I instantly began feeling better. However the arrival of a foreign priest in the town had dampened my mood for the day. So I decided to call it a day and returned to my modest wood cabin at the farthest end of town.

When I woke up next morning the ominous feeling from yesterday seemed to linger on. I stepped outside into a misty morning. I was feeling hungry like an animal. I decide to pay a visit to Ronny’s eating joint. His sandwiches were the best in town. Humming little tune under my breath I made my way to Ronny’s. From a distance I could say the place was unusually overflowing with people. The entrance was jam-packed with people. Still more were arriving. With much difficulty I made my way into the crowd. At the front I could see the people were all surrounding one table. The table was occupied by none other than the priest guy from yesterday. Hot anger boiled inside me. The folks were pampering him. They were offering food and drinks to him. However everyone was carefully standing at a certain distance from him. At that precise moment I felt a chill in my chest. Then I saw what was happening. The priest guy was looking right at me. It was as if he could hear what I was thinking. His face was expressionless, but I could see hatred in his cold blue eyes as he observed me for a moment before looking away again. His eyes seemed to burn a hole in my conscience. I said to myself, get a hold of yourself buddy. I needed to get away from this guy. So I made my way through the crowd. Once I noticed how the people were falling one over another to get a glimpse of the priest. Even more people were coming now as it were some sort of a festival or as some Hollywood star was distributing free autographs. Didn’t they have anything else to do? What had happened to the town? Someone had to bring them to their to senses. If no one was going to then I was. I took out my gun and fired. Bang bang………bang. I fired three shots into the air. Slowly the crowd took notice and began to disperse. This was more like it. With some satisfaction I started to move away from the scene of confusion.

As I walked on by the streets I knew that one thing was for sure this priest was getting on my nerves. Sooner or later I would have to face him one on one. This town was too small for the likes of both of us. One of us must leave. If he comes to his senses and moves out on his own it was all fine and dandy. If not, I was afraid I was going to have to make him. A reassuring feeling came to me as I felt my dear gun inside my coat pocket. I had reached my favourite spot, the tree and decided to take a nap under it to cool off my head. As I lay under the tree I observed a lot of activity amongst the townsmen. Rarely did the streets remain so full during this time of afternoon. Were they under some crackpot spell of the priest? What the heck if they were? At least they were working now and not wasting any time after him. Go on people make more money and pay me more tax. I did not remember when had I dozed off but when I woke up it was late in the evening and still the town seemed alive with action. I was too tired to deal with it right now. After all whatever could I do? I could not tell them off for working late. So I decide to retire for the day.

There was a chill in the air when I woke up the next morning. The sky was overcast and the air misty. But it was the middle of autumn. No mistaking these were the signs of an early winter. A chilling realization dawned upon me as I recollected all the unpleasant experienced of the previous winters. For me winters were like curses or something. It was this time of the year when my luck literally runs out. I’ll have to be careful from now on, I decided. As I dwelled in my own thoughts some loud noises broke my reverie. What? Such a ruckus and that too so early in the morning. I dressed and went out to check it out. I saw people standing outside surrounding the priest guy from yesterday’s fiasco and were singing something that seemed a lot like hymns or something. What was wrong with the folks, I wondered. I was fast losing my status as a celebrity in this town, all thanks to this freak. As I was thinking how to set this guy right he began to distribute clothes and other stuff amongst the folks. What the hell? This guy has got to go one way or another, I decided.

That afternoon I checked my gun and holstered it in my inside pocket. After I headed outside. Two days had passed I had not collected my tax from anyone. Well how could I with the freaky priest running around giving take away gifts to the poor townsfolk. Who would like to work too if one gets everything for free. I decided to pick off from where I had left last time, the Red Lion. Before long I was there. As I was about to enter the place I had rather ominous feeling about something. Something in the back of my head was telling me to go back. A man in my profession however cannot be overwhelmed by such minor distraction and nor was I.

The tavern presented a familiar and pleasing scene. Men were smoking and drinking. Some were playing cards. Others were just having a bite. Everything was going on fine, I thought. As my sight fell on the punter priest I felt as if I had spoken too soon. He stuck out in their midst as if a sore thumb. He was sitting at the very spot he was sitting on the unlucky day he stepped into this town. I decided to ignore him and headed straight for the bar and called out to Rudolf. Rudolf was polishing a mug. When he looked up to see me at the bar all colour left his face.
“Hey Rudolf, how’s business? How about a beer?” Slowly he handed me one. Soon the beer was finished. “Now let’s talk business pal. Where is the money you owe me?” “But I don’t have any right now, sir. I promise to settle the dues in a couple of days” Rudolf lamented. “I won’t have any of that any more. Money or your daughter. Your choice, old man. And make it quick. I have other places to visit today”. This only made him redouble his efforts in pleading and begging for time. However I could not become soft. A softie could not survive in this profession of mine. This scene continued for sometime until someone interrupted.

Suddenly an imposing voice was heard speaking quietly and clearly. “Hey bartender, quit fooling around and get me a cup of coffee. And my pack of cigarettes is also almost finished so hurry up and get another one, will you?” the priest spoke in a cold voice. Rudolf said nothing but accusingly looked at me. For the first time, since I had seen him the punk spoke to me” “Listen mister, why don’t you stop troubling others and something useful once in a while like shutting up ad getting out of here.” He said all that with a straight face without even blinking an eyelid, his voice as calm and cold as ever. Even more than his words what irritated me to the point of no return was his indifferent attitude. A dam of restraint gave away somewhere in my head and let loose a flood of fury into my throbbing temples. In a flash my gun as out and I moved towards him pointing it at his head. Sensing me approach he glanced towards me for a moment before closing his eyes and lighting a cigarette. This had done it. In a mad rage I kicked everything off his table. A few tension filled moments later he spoke again “Listen buddy boy neither do I have the time nor the interest to play with you. So if you will be quick about your business here it would be much better”. “Listen Priesty, your crackpot spells and hymns won’t save you here. You are crossing paths with me, Didas of Polton town. So either you leave or”, I raised my gun to his forehead “I make you leave”. By now any other person would have wetted his pants but not our priest friend here. Instead all he did was smiled, no no it was more like an evil smirk. “Well now as I have already said I don’t have time to play, but since you are on to it so much I will be kind enough to grant you some time for playing.” he said. Then he drew a tiny Smith and Wesson .38 six shot from inside his robes and continued, “for the record I am no priest but a mere wandering monk and the game I would like you to play with me is the Russian roulette. It’s an interesting game I picked up from a now dead friend of mine a couple of towns back. Surely coming from these parts you should know all about it. One round and all will know who is the though guy and who’s the wuss.”

This guy was mad, no this guy was supremely insane. Of course I knew all about the damned game. It was the most dangerous game of chance that messes up your lives as well as your grey stuff if you are low on luck that is. “Well my friend what do you say, you game for a round?” the monk interrupted my thoughts. “Of course” I said as a cold sweat broke at my neck. “Fine fine” he said with the air of a rather satisfied man and then continued “why don’t we make things a little more what do you say interesting. Instead of aiming at ourselves why don’t we aim at each other. Also let us bet something at each shot. On winning a round the loser must do the winner’s bidding,” he added with a smirk “that is if he is still alive”. I was still speechless and could only nod my head in agreement.

I pulled up a chair and sat down opposite to him. Suddenly the air seemed to chill around me and the inmates of the tavern gathered round to see the fun. In the mean time I was trying to calculate my chances and options. If I withdrew now, I would loose my status in the town and would never be able to live with myself again. On the other hand if I played along with this madman it could mean game over for me. Then status or not I was dead. But I had to get rid of the sucker one way or the other and this was the best way to do it without hurting the folks’ feelings and losing their trust. I trusted my stars and said, “We will play with my gun.” “All right” the monk agreed “but I will take the first shot” he finished.

Slowly I forced a hot lump down my throat and checked my gun. It was fully loaded. I know not why but instead of removing the bullets I fired them one after the other into the nearest window shattering it into a million pieces. Maybe I wanted to generate at least some fear of death that I was already experiencing, in the ever calm monk. However after the shooting I could easily make out that the exercise was in vain. Or maybe I wanted to fill the excitement of firing my gun for the final time. Whatever it was the monk was all but impressed and all he did was sigh heavily as if he was being made to wait unnecessarily. What frightened me the most was his yet carefree attitude. It was as if he already knew who was going to win and also that it was not me. I placed my gun on the table and resigned myself to my fate.

“Hey bartender where are my cigarettes. I am all out”, he shouted out to Rudolf who seemed to have forgotten all about it in all the excitement. Then to me he asked, “Well dear sir I must know my opponent’s name at least”. “Didas” was the answer “what’s yours monk?” At this he forced a rare smile on his face “well” he began “my name you ask. Monk is as good as any for even I do not know my real name”. By now Rudolf had brought him his pack of cigarettes. He nodded and accepted the packet. He lighted one and said to himself “much better now” and then without warning he picked up my gun from the table in a swift motion and examined it. He twirled the bullet compartment a couple of times and before I knew it I was looking into the barrel of my own gun.

As I stared into the depths of the barrel I had a realization. I had never experienced such fear earlier. I never expected to be at the receiving end of my own gun. Usually it was someone else at my place. I could now fully understand their fears and situation. Though I still had a chance if the bullet chamber was empty for me but the poor fellows who faced my gun otherwise usually had no chance at all facing death right at their faces. “Enjoying yourself” the monk interrupted softly and then, continued “well, cross your fingers and call upon your lord”. I could feel a drop of sweat travel down from my forehead making it’s way through my brow sliding through my stubble and pausing for a moment at my chin before deserting me for the floor. I closed my eyes and surprisingly apart from the drop of sweat all I could feel was remorse for all the people I had killed or wounded in my life.

“Crick”
After several tense moments, which seemed like infinite eternities to me, I opened my eyes to new world. The light was blinding me. As my eyes got adjusted to the glare the monk came into view. He was still drawing out the last dregs out of his cigarette stump. Disgustedly he spat it out though I was not sure if he was angry at the cigarette or my getting out of the round alive. Turning his cold expressionless face to me he said, “Awake already. Well then it’s your turn now. If want to demand for something from me, do it now.” I was briefly caught up in my thoughts. As my thoughts cleared I spat out without any more delay “get out, get out of this town now.” The monk forced down a ghost of a smile, which tried to emerge at the corner of his mouth. He refused flatly as I had feared earlier “Not yet tiger. I will however go away if you win your next round. Right now the game has only begun and the stakes are not that high yet. Ask for something less valuable than that.” For the second time I was stumped. What else could I ask for? Money was my first option. No, my life was worth much more than a poor monk’s money. What else… “Give me your arm bracelet”. For a second there I thought the monk was going to refuse in the name of religion or something. But I was proved wrong soon enough. “What you want this thing? Fine.” Saying thus he threw it towards me. It slid across the table and came to a halt after hitting my gun, which lay innocently on the table.

I raised my hand to pick up my life’s worth of jewels. Midway through the air I changed my decision and picked up my gun instead. The jewels could wait I reckoned. I cradled the gun in my hands for a few tense seconds and then said to the monk with a fraction of my erstwhile confidence “get ready monk” as I raised the gun and aimed at his forehead “to meet your maker”. The monk only gave me a fleeting glance and went on pull out another cigarette from the pack on the table. Sensing my impatience at his indifference he said, “Spare me the genial attitude will you, and make it quick”.

Having had his say he closed his eyes and tilted to a more comfortable position on his chair. Lifting his head heavenwards he took a long drag at his cigarette and began to blow smoke rings. Watching all this in silence I was confused if he was ridiculing me or if he was immortal or something. He was acting as if I was not going to shoot him rather that I was going to pay for his hotel tab. As if reading my mind he spoke “You’d better get me the first time cause if you don’t you are going to have to pay for my lodging here inclusive of my restaurant bill.” It was unnerving as when I had face the gun earlier. I tried not to give his comment much thought rather willed all my might for the bullet to be there now. I took careful aim so as not to miss him and fired.

“Crick” was all my gun said.

The monk swung into action at once. Spitting out his burning smoke he titled forward and looked me in the eyes “Hey big boy guess what? I did not run out of luck after all. Maybe your God isn’t so pleased with you, is He? ” “After all He let me live to make your life a living hell,” he added in an undertone. Then again he continued in a loud voice “oh yes I almost forgot. Rudolf be sure to collect my entire due from this so very kind gentleman here” he said indicating me. “And yes add ten more cigarette packets to the bill will you?”

His eyes were filled with an obvious malicious intent and a rare ghostly smile dangled at his lips as he whispered to me “you’d better settle all your debts right now. After all you wouldn’t want to carry the burden of debt to your grave. Would you?” After that I was completely sure that this godforsaken monk was toying with me on purpose. I said to Rudolf that his taxes had been waived for the time being. His face brightened up a bit. As soon as I had settled my bill or rather his bill the monk jumped on the game again “ shall we get on with our game then? How lucky are you feeling today?”

The next moment I was staring back at barrel of my gun again. Even though I did not go to high school I could still say that the chances of my finding the bullet at the third round were up double than the previous time I faced this ordeal. Seeing obvious tension on my face the monk parted with a rather tortuous comment of his “enjoy the last few moments of your life my friend for as soon I finish this cigarette you are done for.” I searched for the cigarette in question and found it dangling rudely at the corner of his mouth. Judging its length I guessed I had about a couple of minutes maybe less before my potential death. I shifted my focus back to the unending depths of the unrelenting gun barrel. I was reliving my entire life in a flashback. Visions of my dying father, my ill mother, and faces of all the people I had killed and hurt in my miserable little life were swimming in my mind. Somehow I could not remain calm as the monk was during his turn and I envied him for that. Why was it that the monk was under God’s grace because of which he could control his fears and face them like a soldier, had my headstrongness made me a coward over the years. The monk drew the last dreg out of his cigarette and spat it out. In that last moment I did something I had not done in two decades and had never thought I would ever do it in my life again.

I prayed. I prayed to God.

I prayed hard like I had never prayed before and I must say I felt better afterwards. I felt such happiness and bliss that I had certainly not felt before. The feeling of elation was so overwhelming that for a moment I even forgot there was a satanic monk sitting opposite to me hell bent upon ending my life. In the outside world of open eyes I did not know what was going on but when I opened my eyes a minute later I found a visibly upset and grumbling monk cursing loudly. My gun lay faithfully on the table. Now I had a few questions to be immediately answered. The first and foremost of them being HAD I WON? Had I won the second time? Come on some one tell me, anyone. I looked up to Rudolf for some answers and his smile did not disappoint. Rudolf said quietly “congratulations sir on your well deserved victory.” His words were no less than an angel’s voice to me.

On a high after my second win I stretched my hand towards the gun to conclude the one unfinished job at hand. To get rid of the monk. For the second time that day midair I was torn apart by indecision. I realized that I already had a way of sending the monk away. Just by asking him that is. But the more sinister part was telling me to have another go at the monk. It was telling me would not it be more fun to send the monk who turned my entire well settled life upside down in a couple of days to hell. As I began to consider this possibility an unheard of angelic voice spoke in my mind. It said, “Baldis, pause before go further and think about your actions and the consequences they may have. God has been kind enough to grant a life to you but He may not be as compassionate if He finds out about your still evil heart. Spare the monk and may the Lord forgive yours sins for forgiveness is the supreme act of good. Consider the situation and act sensibly for it is your final chance.” Now that the ball was in my court I began to weigh my chances. I needed to get rid of the monk at any cost. The real question was should I try again to get him with the gun or should I meekly ask him to leave as my demand on winning this round. If I win it would be all fine and dandy but if he won no doubt he would surely have another go at me. Will the luck Gods still bestow upon me their blessings? Certainly not. Given my past records and the sinister reasons for which I want the luck it would be rather safe to say that I had already got more luck today than I even deserved. Although all this drama took no more than a few moments to occur in my head the monk omniscient as ever read it off my face in a matter of seconds. The monk said to me with a wicked smile spread wide on his handsome visage “care to try me again?” It was as if he was jeering at me. White hot anger boiled inside me. Just as I was about to pick up the gun the angelic voice in my head issued a final warning “don’t fall for the Devil’s trap, Baldis”.

Anyway I picked up the gun and raised it to my chest for inspection. The wicked smile spread wider on the monk’s face. I said to the monk “you have soiled my gun monk”. After that I wiped my gun and stowed in my holster. The smile on his face was soon replaced by a disappointed frown. I continued, “One more thing, could you kindly get out of my life and this town as of right now”. The monk lost all emotions and expressions from his face returned to his unmoving and cold old self again. He said to Rudolf “Get my stuff, will you?” Rudolf brought a dozen packs of cigarettes, which the monk stuffed into his robes. As he rose to leave he threw me a disgusted look and his Smith and Wesson “keep it as a consolation prize, buddy boy.” At the pub doors he turned once more and said, “Now, behave all of you or I will be back before long to carry on with my game where I left off.” then to me he bid a final goodbye “see you later, alligator”. Out of courtesy or relief, I don’t know maybe both I wished him back “in a while, crocodile”. Without speaking another word or even looking back again he disappeared into the dying sun resuming his journey to the west.

I was reborn twice today. In this way I washed away all my past sins and was not only a new man but had a new life too. God had been kind enough to give me a fresh start in life so I must not ruin it, I said to myself. I took out my gun again. The evening sun shone on it. The gun had been my companion for more than half of my life now. I felt like it was trying to tell me something. But what I could not figure it out. Anyway I opened it to reload bullets. To my astonishment I found the only bullet lodged in it lodged in the last fired chamber. I tried to recollect what had happened during my second round. But my mind was complete blank. I could only remember myself praying to the lord at that moment. The monk was nowhere in sight and I further doubted if I would ever see him again. However I decided to return God’s favour for saving my life.

As I returned to my table again, I overheard a couple of guys speaking to Rudolf “do you think he was really a God’s man?” I did not know about God but one thing I knew for sure. The monk was the Devil himself in flesh and blood. He was El Diablo.

Epilogue

The summer was almost gone and autumn was knocking at the doors. Winters were the worst part of the year, at least for me they were. For as long as I can remember winter has always been bad news for me. It all began when my poor father died caught in police shootout twenty years ago. Ever since that day I had lost all faith God until I met a monk recently who helped me cleanse my sins though not in the most conventional of means. What do I do? Funny you should ask. I do a fairly important job of keeping the residents of this place in line. To tell the truth I do a fairly good job at it too. No, you fools I am not mayor nor am I the sheriff though I get to meet them once in awhile when I go about my job. For all you dimwit city dwellers who are still not able to guess my job let me put in simple words for you. I sweep the church grounds on Sundays.

Well now friends. That is that. so if will all please favour me with a couple of your comments. i would be the happiest guy. and it would be so good if someone added a autoedit feature in this place for my horrible typing.good bye.

COMING UP SOMETIME LATER THOUGH
>SNIPER'S POKER(NOT SO ORIGINAL)
>THE SUBWAY (SOMEWHAT DERIVED INSPIRATION)