The Something Special
“Again.” Chief Tao put down his cup of borvin, and ground his teeth. “What’s your name?”
The words hung sharply in the air as all eyes went to Tye, cuffed to the chair he was sitting in. Across the desk, the chief took on the worn look of a statue. Soft creaks came from the ceiling fan above them, whose current dispersed the steam rising from the cup. It was the third time they were questioning him. It’ll be the last. Tye looked up at the fan’s eternal cycling as if lost in thought, and exhaled.
“Fine,” he said. “My name is Halan Yielbo.”
“Age?”
“Thirty-one.”
“Occupation?”
“Shit-shoveler.”
A giggle sounded from the reception desk, but was stifled in a breath. Tye glanced over to give Riri an eyes-only smile. She would have been cute enough if the bael leaves hadn’t ruined her teeth; her appreciation for mischief was palpable. The mystery of how she’d ended up working for the Ailila Watch had given him some blessed distraction from the boredom of his cell until that wretched sycophant Kunihani had spilled the borvin.
No wonder Tao kept putting up with her shenanigans. Even a statue’s gotta have a soft spot. His is for family. Somewhere in there lay a way to extort sweet uncle Tao, Tye was certain.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tao asked.
Kunihani raised his hand. “I think it means he shovels—“
“I know what it means, seargent,” Tao interrupted him. “I’m asking what game he’s playing now.”
‘Seargent’. Tye loved bureaucrats. The day-to-day of chief Tao hardly differed from that of his four lesser officers, and still, he insisted on titles. It smelled of backwoods, like everything in Ailila did. The smaller a force, the more dire the need for formalities. Were it not for that and a minor pay increase, there would be little motivation to work for a promotion, except maybe for Kunihani. Kiss-asses always kissed ass.
“Games’re fun,” Tye said. “Nothin’ fun about the shovelin’ biz. I’d give you my card, but they tend to smell.”
Tao took a sip from his cup. “Where’d you work?”
“Here’n’there. Always work for a fella don’t mind gettin’ dirty, trust.” He threw another glance at Riri. She blushed, and showed a slight brown-specked smile. Kunihani flashed a frown.
“ ‘Trust’.” Tao shook his head. “Now there’s a joke. Keep telling them, and I might consider handing you a shovel and taking you out back myself.”
“Someone shat back there?”
“Nope,” chief Tao said, and sipped again.
Tye couldn’t but feel the other man’s stare piercing his eyes. Commissioner Kanma would like him. “Where I work, you ask? Well, las’ three years I mostly contracted for a guy in Kiele. Funny fella. Went by Mae-Bea, the Master of Beasts. Talk about a variety of feces. Had myself a shovel full of work, day-in, day-out—fact is, he even had an enophant! Y’know that pouch they got to put the trunk in, the one they say can store three barrelfulls of water? Let’s just say that ain’t the largest mammalian capacity, ifye catch m’drift. One time, Mae-Bea was lookin’ for two-bones, his favorite race hound, beautiful animal, fast like the wind. Been lookin’ one-and-a-half days straight before yours truly found ‘im buried under a regular mountain of—“
The bell above the entrance jingled. Strolling through the door came officer Biko, rifle hanging loosely off his shoulder, a limp body covered in dark brown fur spotted with white lying over the other. The officer walked up to his desk and dropped the dead boar on the floor beside it.
“You can’t bring that in here!” Kunihani said. “The blood won’t wash out!”
Biko rolled his eyes. “Relax, it won’t do any bleeding. Poor thing ate some of old man Tengo’s poisoned berries.”
The sergeant looked flustered. “Poison? Since when?”
“Since our friend here emptied three of his bushes.” Biko nodded toward Tye. “Tengo might be fuzzy on the details of what happened, but empty stays empty. He’s doused every sixth bush in ronus juice.”
That made even chief Tao turn his head. “He’s destroying his own crop?”
“ ‘Only a sixth’, he kept telling me. ‘Small price for sound sleep.’ “
“If he eats the wrong berry, his sleep’ll be sound alright.” Tao pinched the skin between his brows, massaging it. “What’s the pig for?”
Officer Biko sat down at his desk and rested his feet on the pig’s bloated belly. “Tengo’s made a good profit in meat these last days. Wanted to thank me for checking by. Says that ronus doesn’t spoil the meat, he’s tried it.”
Tao sighed. “Fine. You can cook it up for… What was it this time? ‘Halan’?”
“Yes, sir,” Tye said.
“What’s the story today?” Biko asked.
Chief Tao sipped from his cup. “A dog got shat on by an enophant.”
Tye raised his index. “That’s not even the crazy part. Two-bones lived. Wasn’t the same dog no more, but he ran even faster. Won Mae-Bea a good amount of races before he dropped dead a season later. If you ask me, it gave the Master of Beasts some bad ideas about motivatin’ his stock.”
“Like what?” Biko asked.
“Cruel, disgustin’ things. The kinda things that’ll make a decent man move up north and try his luck elsewhere.”
“By joining the Liberation,” Tao said. There was a tension to his voice.
“Talkin’ about that scarf, I take it.” Tye flashed his most innocent smirk. “A simple mix-up, chief, I swear. Found that scarf hangin’ from a telahiem, middle of the jungle. Didn’t strike me as maroon at all, still doesn’t. I’m tellin’ you, it’s burgundy!”
The chief exhaled, took a last sip, and put down the empty cup. When it connected with the desk, a crack sounded. He raised his hand holding the detached porcelain handle and proceeded to stare at it for a while. Then, he rose from his chair. “Lock him up,” the chief said to Biko. “I’m done with him.”
Biko nodded and reapplied Tye’s cuffs to both of his wrists. He didn’t resist. As the two of them entered the corridor leading to the cells, he noticed a devious smile by Riri, yet it wasn’t for him. Poor Kunihani. He probably doesn’t even know. Tye waited until the cell door was closed behind him, then turned to let Biko free his hands.
The officer spun the cuffs around his finger. “Heard that? Dinner’s gonna be something special.”
Tye lay down on his bunk. “Can’t wait.”
Noon came and went, but the heat in the small room only built up further. The other cells had been empty for days. The cracks of the cinderblock walls, the ceiling tiles, the concrete floor had all been counted, and even the spider occupying the back right corner of the room had ceased to give him distraction. It had died, and curled up, and now just hung in its web without making those hardly visible weaving motions that had not long ago lulled his eyes to sleep.
When he tried to take a nap, he did so only to wake up breathing like death was upon him. It wasn’t a new occurrence. Though most of his nights had become peaceful again, there was a space between his waking mind and the full depth of sleep where the same images would haunt him, making him question the reality of his escape. Had he really gotten out of the mountain? Had he reallysurvived? Or was this perhaps a half-lucid fantasy, and the soothing voices, the hands, the glowing seas the things that surrounded a broken Tye sliding towards death?
However, only one look around put his suspicions to rest. No sane mind would dream away its days with this. The bars were bars, and the walls were walls, and Shitsville was just another prison he had to escape from. Keeping focus was paramount. He had to remember what lay outside the cell. Jungle, true, but that was just an obstacle to overcome. Another part of his revised plan.
1. Escape Ailila
1a. Break out of cell
1b. Break out of station
1c. Acquire transportation
1d. Acquire new clothes
2. Go south until you hit the Foen
2a. Bathe
2b. Find girl
3. Acquire money
3a. Buy drugs
3b. Do most of drugs
3c. Acquire money by selling rest of drugs
4. Buy fake identity
5. Buy ticket to Jaemeni
Being stripped of the rebels’ clothes by Kunihani had put him back somewhat, but while (1) had to be tackled anew, there was hope budding inside him. It was a cautious hope; it posed certain dangers. Still, Tye had a feeling he would find out soon enough whether it was justified.
Something special for dinner. Biko had swagger, yet he wasn’t reckless. The young officer asked questions, gave curt answers, sometimes only that effortless smile of his, leaving Tye to figure out his intentions by himself. And he had. There were gaps to be filled, still, but Biko’s plan had taken shape before his eyes, and he had all but put the signs together to grasp his own place in it.
“We all like a little gamble sometimes, don’t we?”—Biko had money problems.
“Big fish? Try a whale in a small pond.”—Biko had cunning, but he suffered from hubris.
“There’s not so much difference between us, you know.”—Biko wasn’t too strict with the law himself.
It was clear. Officer Biko was planning something, a crime, most likely a stick-up. Until this morning, Tye had still been unsure what the target was, especially in a town as pathetic as Ailila, but he sure knew now. And he couldn’t but approve.
Old man Tengo made a marvelous mark. There were numerous tales of his unsteady mind going around, and the bit about the poisoned bushes was smart. You could knock him out and convince people it was his own doing. Biko had planted the seed well, although in Tye’s opinion, he should have let it marinate for a bit before setting the heist in motion.
Maybe he will. ‘Something special’ could just be a thick boar steak. Which, given the diet of bean stew and golgoya the watch had forced down his throat, wouldn’t be too upsetting. Always better to rob folk on a full stomach.
Especially if you had to make a run for it afterward. Biko had made his attempts at humor and flattery, but Tye wasn’t blind to his looks. You know what he sees. You always know what they see in you. He was a piece in a plan that, were it not for Tao, Biko could have pulled off himself. But with a relentless chief came the need for a culprit. From the moment they had woken him on old man Tengo’s field, Tao had had it out for him. If he fled on the same night that Tengo was robbed, there would not be an investigation, only a chase. A chase that Biko would let succeed. ‘Go to this and that place, they’ll help you.’ It was a decent plan.
But Tye was no chump. He had his own plans, and they only began with robbing the old farmer. He’d play gullible right up until the moment Biko trusted him enough to turn his back. And then he’d be away.
Hopefully, he could grab some of the money they made; confused fools like Tengo always kept a stash somewhere, either out of mistrust or because they had forgotten about it themselves. One way or another, he’d regain his freedom. Let ‘em chase you. There’s five of them. Five of them can’t hold a candle to a cautioned you.
When the sky outside the narrow window grew dark, Tye began to pay close attention to the noises coming through the door to the corridor. The first jingling of the bell in the front room heralded the arrival of the night shift, officers Ronye and Paak. The next came about twelve frags later—chief Tao, always first to end the day’s shift. Shortly after, Kunihani would cease pretending to work, and leave also. It took a bit longer than usual, but soon, Tye heard a third jingling.
Now came the interesting part. Biko always stayed behind to prepare Tye’s dinner and empty his bucket, since both Kunihani and the chief considered it unfitting their station to tend to his needs. He suspected there were some other evening activities that delayed the officer’s departure, involving Riri and a crammed back room that was supposed to be ‘near soundproof’. It didn’t usually take this long.
Tye wondered how the night officers would be discarded of. Two days ago, there had been a fire on one of the nearby farms that had turned the station into a ghost house. Perhaps, Biko would call in one of those from a phone booth. Were there phone booths in Ailila? He hadn’t spotted any on his way in. A fourth jingling sounded. Riri had left. Now, everything was in place.
It remained there. The sky turned ocean-blue, then black-blue, then black. Still, nothing happened. Tye slowly started pacing. Step-step-turn became his rhythm, a rhythm he kept for a long time before finally, the bell jingled a fifth time. He’s gotten them out. This is it. Tye laid down on his bunk and pretended to be dozing. And waited. Waited.
Steps came down the corridor.
When the door swung open, Tye knew something was wrong. Biko’s movements were smooth, deliberate. The door cracked before opening, like the forward pressure preceded the lowering of the handle. It was a thoughtless sound. Tye opened his eyes.
In the door stood Paak, the squat, melon-headed officer in charge of the night shift. Tye sat up and rubbed his eyes as the officer stepped up to the cell door and pushed a tray through the opening, letting it slam onto the floor. Drops of a gooey substance spilled onto Tye’s feet. He picked up the bowl and smelled its contents.
Bean stew.
“Thanks,” Tye said. He picked up the spoon and started to sup up the stew thinking dark thoughts. He rued ever having trusted a face that charming. Charme becomes a liar. Biko’s toying with you like he’s toying with Riri. Tye would have to resort to his own cunning and the weak points of the Ailila Watch to escape. Kunihani’s a start.
Presently though, his mind was thinking up ways to get back at the smiling officer via Riri. Getting her into his cell wouldn’t be an easy feat. It would take his A-game. Yet that would make revenge all the sweeter.
A creak made Tye look up from the stew. He found Paak standing outside his cell with an an impatient look. Why was he still here? Did he want back the tray already? Tye vowed to take his time, took a slow slurping sip from the cup of citresse water, and only then realized what he was seeing.
The cell door was open.
“What’s that about?” he asked.
“We don’t got all night,” Paak said in that mumbling way of his. “Well, we kinda do, but… Better hurry up.”
Tye stood up hesitantly. When the officer didn’t move, he set one foot in front of the other. Step-step-step-turn. He was standing outside the cell.
Paak closed the door and went into the corridor without a word. Tye followed. The front room was dark, illuminated only by a bugburn candle on the reception desk and the ghostly moonlight falling through the front windows. He stopped in his tracks when he spotted the silhouette of officer Ronye leaning back in the chair behind his desk. His breath was soft and even.
“He’s sleeping,” Tye said.
Biko turned around in the doorway. “Biko said you’s a smart one.”
“What if he wakes up?”
“He won’t. Move, kid.”
Tye followed him outside onto Ailila Main Street. The streetlights were spaced far apart leaving the station in a gloom. It calmed him, since no light meant no witnesses. The air was hardly chilly, but much cooler than the stuffy lockup. Tye took a few deep chestfuls and stretched. He then rushed after Paak, who did not wait for him, and swiftly turned a corner.
For a breath, Tye considered making a run for it. The dark would cover him. He did not like Paak being involved in Biko’s plan, not only for the fact that he had not anticipated it. He’s a brute, and he doesn’t like you.
Brutes could be easy to deal with, however. Paak seemed disgruntled by Tye’s involvement, but disgruntled wasn’t too bad. He was walking in front of him showing him the back of his head. That didn’t scream distrust. Could be. Could also be he doesn’t consider you a threat.
Even better, Tye reckoned.
They arrived at the garages just in time to see a pair of headlines turn on, and a rover drive out to stop in front of them. Biko sat behind the wheel flashing an acknowledging smile, nodding. A long hay stalk hung loosely off his lips.
“Evening, boys,” Biko said, and to Tye, “Told you I’d cook up something special.”
Tye let out a soft whistle. “Wouldn’t’ve minded some boar, but hey, I’m not complainin’.”
Biko reached his hand out of the window and tapped on the rear door. Tye got in. Paak got in as well, into the other rear seat. The one next to Biko stayed empty. That’s not a good sign. It’s fine, Tye told himself, and let the air ruffle his hair as they drove off.
The rover stayed in the low gears as they turned onto main street. Only when they left the small cluster of houses did Biko let the engine rev up. Tye noticed that it was not the way he had come into the town days before. No old man Tengo, then. “How’s it feel?” Biko asked. “Breakin’ out of jail?”
“Like fresh air and hydelias,” Tye said. “Ronye though—“
“Ronye won’t wake up until the chief smacks him in the face.” Biko reached into the glove compartment and raised a dented plastic bottle, whose label had been worn off. “Tengo gave me another gift. Ronus juice. A swig’ll kill a man, but a few drops just put him to sleep.”
He poisoned his colleague. “Smart thinkin’.”
“That’s why they call me Biko the Brain.” A chuckle. “I figure y’might be wondering what it is we brought you out here for,” the officer said, shifting the stalk from the left corner of his mouth to the right.
Tye rolled the window up half-way and leaned back. “Enlighten me.”
“There’s a problem in Ailila.” Biko looked at him through the rear view mirror. “Ever heard of the Imbian lotus? Its powder in particular?”
Have you now. “ ‘at’s a drug, ain’t it?”
“Strong one. Beginning of the sunyear, the first kid overdosed on it. Another followed only eleven days later. Didn’t take us long to find who’s dealing, but we can’t prove a thing. Clever fella, it seems.” He flicked his fingers. “That’s where you come in.”
Tye nodded. “You wanna plant some? Sure, I—”
“No, no. We know he’s got the powder hidden somewhere. Only neither me nor good old Paak here has that particular criminal sense. Now, I don’t mean to judge, but I’d assume a guy who can snatch a rebel’s scarf would have no problem finding a dealer’s stash. It’s clear you’re not a rebel yourself.”
Tye nodded, and waited, but instead of talking, Biko slowed down the car. They came to a halt at the side of the dirt road surrounded by jungle. Cicadas were screaming. The car’s motor turned off, and so did the lights.
“We’ll take care of the suspect. You find his stash, we’ll give you half of it. You get a fresh start, we a clean conscience. After all—you didn’t mean to steal from old man Tengo, did you?”
“Of course not!” Tye said.
“Told you,” Biko said to Paak. Even in the dark, Tye could feel the brute’s eyes glaring at him. “So what d’you say, Aeri?”
Tye weighed his words, and found that there was no true choice. “Sure, if it’s for a good cause.”
“That it is,” said Biko, and started up the car again.
Tye felt his senses flaring up. This ain’t good. This is a crime, high’n’mighty’s got no place in it. But perhaps these were fools. Then why not just plant some drugs?
“What about the dealer?” he blurted out.
A silence ensued before Biko responded. There was no smile in his face. “Depends, but if he sees us…”
“He killed two kids,” Paak said. “Good riddance.”
Tye swallowed. “… But won’t chief Tao—“
“Chief Tao’ll write it off as an overdose if it looks like one. Barely an investigation. A formality, that’s all.” Biko’s smile returned for a breath. “Tao mislikes you, but don’t worry about him. You can stay low at Paak’s house until the smoke’s cleared.”
“Oh no, I don’t wanna inconvenience either of ya,” Tye said. “Jus’ send me on my way with my share, they won’t ever find out. I never get caught twice for the same crime.”
Paak shook his head slowly, once, twice. “Not up for discussion. We gotta make sure.”
Up front, Biko nodded. Tye felt sweat spread across his skin. They think you’re that much of a fool. But whether they were mistaken or not, he had no choice. Paak’s eyes wouldn’t leave him again, he could see that. They were a hunter’s eyes. A predator’s eyes. Tao was a pain in the ass, but that made him good at his job. He was too diligent. A dealer overdosing—it happened, but he wouldn’t buy it. No, he would still need a culprit. And these two know it. They plan on one being found. Somehow. Somewhere. Off in a ditch by the road, or in the jungle.
They were going to kill him.
Tye folded his hands behind his head and whistled a long, annoying melody. Then, he shot Paak a look. “Hope you don’t mind me smokin’.”
“… I’ll buy you a pack myself,” said Paak, and for the first time since Tye had met him, he smiled. Biko, too, smiled widely, before falling into a warm, infectious laugh that wiggled the stalk in his mouth until it nearly fell out.
Martin Surga 