Uncoiling the Coil Read online

  “And now he wants to abort. Stupid man! I know, because I make it my business to know when men like Henny, send acting detectives like you, out on suicide missions and think only of themselves. At least I’m greedy and let people know it.”

  “You aren’t giving me anything to get into that car with you, Bennie.”

  “I apologize for trying to kill you. That wasn’t my idea. I’m only here to reap what I can sow.”

  “Who’s trying to kill me?”

  “Get in.” Lee allows herself to get frisked by Bennie’s driver, giving him a warning to not go any lower than he needs to and enters. Good job she left her babies in Sandra’s car. Bennie closes the door for her and then goes around the other side, tapping his driver to proceed back to the restaurant. The driver starts the engine. “What do you know so far?”

  “Nothing.”

  “And did this nothing bring you to my restaurant?”

  “Your restaurant?” Lee is surprised. “Or do you mean Eric’s? The fat slob who was shot in the head. So legally when he died, you inherited the business?”

  “Yes, as the predecessor. It’s mine now.”

  “You had him killed?”

  “No,” Bennie’s head sways all over the place with that answer. “Not me. I don’t catch hardons for killing a man behind his back.”

  “Still sexually starved Bennie?”

  “Sexual connotations work for my personality. Just like running rings around men like Darren who love a woman stronger than them –”

  “This is about me and you. Darren is another matter –”

  “Tell yourself that he doesn’t suffer in your presence –”

  “Fuck you, Bennie! What the hell is going on out here? Once upon a time, I thought we had a common understanding!”

  “We always will. Both outsiders not wanting to drink from another’s stap. That sort of malarkey that brings us closer, if you get what I mean? Things got complicated back home. I needed a little extra as the money from what I was doing was dwindling. You understand?”

  “I understand that out here, there is plenty of suffering and carnage. What the hell is happening?”

  “I can assure you nothing that involves me. I just happen to be flown over here to see the future of what is to come.” Bennie taps the headrest of the driver who was now stopping. As they reach the restaurant that wasn’t so far, Bennie commands, “Go inside and tell me if he’s here yet.” The driver grunts an ok and gets out the sedan. “You’ve come at a lucky time. I’m expecting a special guest in a few days, and today, I have another special somebody who has more than food on his mind.”

  “Whatever you’re into Bennie, I’d say get out while you still can. These people are resilient. They’ll fight for their home.”

  “Alabastor is their home. And they need to get that through their heads.”

  But Lee, even after waiting in that insufferable car with the heat beating down on the roof and no offer of water, was sure that an individual could rise against this mess. A man strolls out the restaurant with the most carroty-orange hair she’d ever seen. He was being manhandled by a couple of men who were escorting him into a van that pulls up behind the black Sedan.

  Bennie grin at Lee’s response to the man through the back of the Sedan. She couldn’t help but peer at him. He was unique, to say the least. “An ugly bird, isn’t he? They call him the Peacock. One of your ‘viva-la-vie’ heroes ,who likes to chop your kind up into small pieces and feed it to the pigeons. He hates me, and all others with white skin. I tried to negotiate on behalf of Alabastor, but the guy won’t budge. And Alabastor, being the arrogant sod he is, would prefer that if he doesn’t, he should learn the hard way.”

  “You’ll never get them on your side.”

  “We’ll see. A large sum of money from the new currency might persuade them. Who knows? And now, time for me to think of what I should do with you. I have quite a few options up my sleeve. But like you said, we have a common understanding. And my argument isn’t with you.”

  “Let me hear it.” Lee thinks its time to see if she could get out of here. Peacock’s head is lowered, and he’s shafted into the back of the van where they shut the door. Lee’s not feeling confident about her safety. It’s all to pie in the face for her. And she won’t be able to see it coming either. The men now wait at both sides of the sedan. She can’t go anywhere with their backs turned away from her when she checks out the window slyly.

  Bennie spots it though. “Precautions needed. I know you can be the dreaded black knight when you want.”

  “Am I next to get into that van?”

  “Maybe. And that’s a long word with a thin tail. I need something from you. And then we can discuss how you can avoid that outcome.”

  “What do you need, Bennie? Not that I owe you a thing –”

  “If it wasn’t for me, there’d be no promotion or a high-profile name like Shaka for you. Don’t sleep over here when it comes to Henny. He’s not the Santa Claus on Christmas that hands out gifts without a reason. And I know you’re too smart to think that your promotion came without its benefits. Out here, there are no rules for you to follow. But listen, getting out can be tricky, and you need to work out what I’m saying without saying it.”

  “Still very vague.”

  “The journalist was vague. And very foolish to go beyond what she was sent to do. Don’t make the same mistakes.”

  “Help me find her?”

  “And can you tell me where Mark is? I’m sure he’s going under another name?”

  “I don’t know any Mark –”

  “Then I can’t help you find Camila. Because only he knows where she is, and was also the last to have seen her before being taken away.”

  Chapter 3

  “Is it wise what we did? Isn’t that only going to raise their attention on your name?” Mark was high tailing it in the stolen truck that was hijacked by the use of Darren’s gun and Mark’s swiss army knife - that he twisted into the officer’s neck before he could turn around and stuff the gun into the back of their heads.

  Mark understood some of their language. In short, they were to be taken to Alabastor and another name that he didn’t catch. He acted quickly, and Darren followed blindly. It worked when the officers dropped the guns into the backseat and stopped on instructions by Mark – before getting out of the truck and being knocked-out-cold across their back-skulls, and dragged by their worn boots to the area were dozens of drying sedges laid.

  Then they ran back to the truck with Mark driving and not having a clue where to go next. He knew there wouldn’t be plenty of time. So, they needed to find a hideout.

  Darren was hardly able to get a word in with Mark’s driving. It was full speed ahead and the odd curve and swerve, before they’d be back on a straight path again. They reached the more rural part of west Shanti, more decayed and even closer to a slum that was trying to breathe again. Many were on the roads, begging and rugged in appearance from the state of their clothes to the obvious opiate users.

  It causes Darren to lose his focus. But what also distracts him, is that Mark has an idea of where he’s going but doesn’t want to say. “What’s being done about these people?”

  “Nothing. But open your eyes a little wider and see that it’s getting a major rehaul in the buildings department.”

  And Mark was right. Construction works were happening with loaders, excavators, bulldozers, motor graders, and backhoes; all busy and making more noise. And Darren also sees eviction notices being stuck on certain homes that can’t even merit that title. More like Jenga scrap-heaps to keep a person dry from the heavy rainfalls of their seasons.

  “They’re relocating many of these people and putting them all over Shanti. They call it welfare homes. And many are just tents, where these people can have bedding and some hot food each day. But they must look for work. And work is usually hard labor in the mines. And as a human race, these people don’t need to be going back there, even if it helps their ne
w income and benefit.”

  “Where are these mines?”

  “Closer to where the main hangar is. But two more are coming up. And you can tell because the homeless gather there for a chance to obtain work. But many are turned away because they’re either on drugs or past any use for hard work.”

  “Could I possibly check one out? It would be good to get some knowledge finally on what Alabastor is planning.”

  “Too dangerous. And I won’t be responsible again –”

  “What do you mean, again?” Darren responds quick, and Mark is suddenly aware that he said more than he should’ve.

  “Never –”

  “Listen Mar... I mean Paul. You were Camila’s cameraman. You traveled around with her. Knew where she ate. Slept. Visited. And who she spoke with. Lee and I –”

  “Lee?”

  “Yes, Lee Coil. We’ve been sent out here to find her and Shaka.”

  “The two coincide –”

  “I know. But we haven’t caught a glimpse of either. I’m going to need you to assist me with Camila’s last known whereabouts. Anything at all that can bring us one step closer.”

  “Do you read the news?”

  “The what?”

  “The news. Have you been keeping up with global affairs?”

  “No. I don’t read that trash. Always negative.”

  “Negative or not. Camila’s disappearance is in the paper. And that’s thanks to me. But it was all very brief. She was last seen here, in West Shanti. And I do know the last person she spoke to, even if he’s since gone missing. but he is back now. And if my bearings are correct, we shouldn’t be that far from running into him.”

  “Who is he?”

  “The one who runs things out here by the night. And by day, you’d think he was nothing but a common peasant who learned to fly planes in his sleep.”

  Darren can only wonder. “Could that man be Ringo?”

  “That’s the name he uses on the downlow. Real name is Diego Shifter. And he gave me a silent bell when he returned.”

  “Was that why...”

  “Yes. I was awaiting his call. It never came because I drew too much attention to myself. And then there was spotting you out of the blue.”

  “He brought Angelina and Hona here, is that true?”

  “Yes. Hona is a good man. And Angelina, from where she is from, has helped her father crackdown on a few criminals back home. But they needed to flee, and Diego needs help.”

  “Do you know anything about a man named, Henny?”

  Darren straightens up when Mark tries his best to recall a name that isn’t all that foreign to him. “You got me on a lost path with that. No. Unless ... No. I don’t think so.”

  Darren decides to ask again later. “What did Diego need Hona and Angelina for?”

  “The same reason why he wanted Camila and me to join the cause. And Camila being fiery, knew that she had to hear him out. We both did.”

  “Can you tell me anything?”

  Mark doesn’t respond and instead remains quiet. Darren notices the reason for his silence ahead. A bulldozer is slowly making its way across the yellowing sandy road. And behind him are a few officers dressed like the ones at the protest. But these men are dressed in black-and-white from head to foot in a one-piece uniform; overtaking the bulldozer. Darren is suddenly aware that they were advancing towards him.

  Then it takes a change for the worse when Mark reverses without warning, after noticing a few grenades casually being rolled towards both corners of the bulldozer before the driver could do anything about it. The officers, on the opposite side, with their faces covered in a green claylike substance dash to alert the driver. And after a few seconds both grenades explode;

  kaaaabooooooooooooom!

  They’re too late, hurled back but not injured too badly. The dismantled blades, front idler, rail chains, ropes, lift cylinder, sprocket, and more of that beast disperse into all sorts of directions that has Darren and Mark ducking for their safety. It raises many heads from the startled construction workers. Darren switches between his own safety and the obvious targets being the machinery.

  More one-piece wearing officers come charging from all areas like Zulu warriors, making quite the racket - throwing grenades and avoiding civilian casualties if they can help it.

  They aim at the excavators, trenchers, loaders, and the building equipment that was being used. There is plenty being blown up all around, and Darren keeps ducking and shielding himself into the smallest ball he can create. Mark restarts the car, having a hard time navigating backward, and then stops. One of those officers is standing behind and forcing him to press down on those brakes to an abrupt stop!

  A few more come to both Darren and Mark’s side of the car doors and hurl them out. Suddenly, another kaboooooooom sound is heard in the distance. With many of Alabastors men running for their lives as the officers fire shots, not to kill but to warn them off the premises.

  A few of the opposition offices round up the homeless. And Mark and Darren were amongst them, without much brutality, but tense. Real tense whilst being shifted into a line across plenty of dried hay-like grass and a few trees that were wide in the bark’s midriff.

  More than four officers walk on either side of the collected homeless, with their sub-machine guns resembling the Heckler and Koch. But badly put together, as if a part of their training was poor weapon mantling. Still, they seem to be able to get the job done as Darren and a few others fall to the ground when a new retaliation starts and they fire at the enemy, with a few getting hit in various places as they hurl out in pain; change their magazine; and get-up but just-as-quickly crouch as they fight to be the victors.

  Some of the officers order everybody to crawl upon their stomachs in their language, and Mark gives Darren a nudge to do the same.

  The rest defend and fire. A few times, a homeless man or woman deviates from the moving worm and ends up being shot, because either they stood up when they shouldn’t have or can’t get back because too much gunfire prevents them from safely re-joining the clan. It’s a deadly crawl, and Darren is paranoid as he hears more screaming but sounds more like the means to threaten than that of fear.

  And it’s heading in their direction and closing in. They are blackened silhouettes, leaping over Darren and Mark with knives in their hands as the pair hear, arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh –

  More times than they can count from all over! Premature stabbings and delayed shots fill the air and spark a row that they can hear on the ground but do not want to witness. The men then run back, leap and are off to do more damage with their bloody knives that drip on the shirt backs of a few, including Darren, who sees bloodspots on the shoulders of his shirt.

  But they’re all instructed to move again, and it’s not an easy trail. The man in front gets up to check if all is clear, more than once. When he thinks it is, then fumbles for his gun before getting help in the nick of time. Then he gets down on his belly to crawl-crawl-crawl.

  After what seems like eons for Darren, a united roar exhales from everywhere. And soon it quietens down. With the leading man stopping and getting up to recheck, everybody slowly does the same after he nods of safety. Darren and Mark look at the united roar, and the destruction which will cost Alabastor millions.

  Whatever money he’s using, it will take plenty to clear the mess that’s now rubble. And parts that’ll need more than super glue and handy mechanics to put them back together. All is a smoky haze, and plenty are coughing and spitting out the murkily grey atmosphere that took a nasty pounding from weapons.

  Blown up pieces of earth is now deep ditches that should’ve been dug by hand. The smoke rises from some machinery that managed to save its metallic hide by a miracle. But none are left standing upright on the soil and brick anymore.

  The officers collect and scoop large parts in their arms and carry them off. Whatever they can manage. No time to rest and recuperate, and they’ll be at it for months. But more officers come, and soon D
arren and Mark must move again and say nothing until they get there. Mark sees a few construction workers heading back the way they came. Fearful and mindful that many of the officers that were meant to help are lying dead and bleeding to death ... they’ll get that message to Alabastor. And he won’t be pleased.

  Chapter 4

  Hona waits for Angelina to climb down the wall. He holds her waist until she’s comfortably footed onto the ground. It was the only way in, after entering through the secret way that was shown to them two years ago.

  It leads to an abandoned garrison with plenty of cracked limestone that looks older than a medieval castle. Henny and Angelina have to watch their steps as they leap from unattached stone to higher levels where they must use their hands and help each other up. It took them an entire day to reach here, and now, after many hours later, they found it.

  At the top is a post with no flag attached. But there are white strips of paint marked down the post, a marking used by rebels to map their territory. The color white, is a color they do not fear, as orange is the one that would highlight Peacock’s whereabouts. But they are far from his territory, and grateful for that. Hona helps Angelina up, and they catch their breath from finishing that strenuous ascension.

  “Do you think he’ll actually be here, Dad?”

  “After all this time, with nowhere else to go, he must be. Plus, I’m sure today marks the protest?”

  “Yes. The youth took to the streets and will march to Felis’s. I’m sure it will give him hope.”

  “Plenty of hope.” That didn’t come from either Hona or Angelina. And it’s Hona, who spots a figure sitting on a lump of stone shaped like a crystal. A few wooden barracks behind him, that’s settled comfortably on the flattened grey-and-white limestone, has a few officers outside peeling and cutting avocados with their hunting knives.

  A few fires are going. Mostly pots of coffee are brewing with others eating strips of meat that smells similar to lamb. Some of the men make renovations. One barrack that is newly being built is getting the most attention. Hona spots a few homeless people and children who are being given water, food, and then taken away after feeling rested enough to move on.