Hradil said he’ll probly … that it’s probly for good.
No, I said, and I could tell that even though the others knew it was true, it was still too much for them to digest.
Maybe Hradil made a mistake!
He doesn’t make mistakes, you know that.
We were all tired, but we couldn’t scatter through the building and leave David there by himself … it didn’t occur to us to call up one of our pseudodrooginas … maybe it’ll ease up when Helena gets back. Those two spent a lot of time together.
There’s one more thing, Bohler said, clearing his throat. It’s about Hunter. I was waiting for Potok.
I froze stiff.
It’s about that attack today … those two Laotians that got killed … an that’s not all … I guess you noticed the lawn out back is trampled, totally ruined …
Yeah, I nodded, the others too.
There’s this thing Lady Laos told me … when the hitlers came bustin in, slashin an bashin, I was out in the street, as you know, Bohler ran a hand over his bandaged head with a bit of a smile, a proud one I think, the thing is, when it started, what tenants we had left came tearin outta the buildings, but then they saw the hitlers were only goin after the Laotians … an yours truly … so they turned around an went out back an stood there clappin an eggin em on, they stomped down all the grass back there an showed em how to get into the shop, not only did our tenants not call the cops or the firemen … they applauded … the Laotian women took their kids an hid in the cellars, an when they smelled the smoke an saw the flames they figured the stalingos had set the place on fire … so they start passin the kids out the bars to the neighbors, those brutes had all the exits blocked so they couldn’t escape … the neighbors didn’t give a damn though, an Kučera from number three, he was crocked as usual … an he goes up to the window … an just stands there lookin while the women’re stretchin their arms through the bars to pass the kids out to him … an he whips out his dick an pisses through the bars all over those kids in the cellar … an Lady Laos told me the Laotians’ opinion is that won’t do, an Hunter’s here waiting.
I don’t know which of us screamed, but it was a mighty scream.
Well, maybe Kučera’s not so dumb he didn’t split, someone said.
Unfortunately the idiot’s still here, said Bohler. Vasil’s guarding him in case the Laotians … in case of anything rash. But they said it’s up to us.
We didn’t have to nod our heads and jingle our silver for long.
It’s obvious, said Micka.
Sharky just gave the sign.
Aright, I said, what else can we do.
I’ll take responsibility too, said Bohler.
But Hunter wants you to go with him, Potok.
I remembered the photo of Hunter looking like a computer samurai or a perfect agent, which can be confused … and the way he used to walk around the buildings in that rag of his, with his tattooed face and that shark-tooth necklace … I didn’t relish the idea … and it showed.
Lady Laos told me Hunter was extremely depressed an embarrassed that he stabbed you, an it’s a great honor that he wants to take you along, she said any one of his people would be thrilled to be chosen … when honor’s at stake.
Yeah, aright, I’m honored.
Hunter smiled when he saw me walk into the courtyard, bonjour, he said. I looked around, we were alone.
You needn’t bother, I know you know my language.
Excusez-moi?
Aright then: Je sais que vous parlez tchèque.
Non, excusez-moi, je parle français, pas beaucoup.
Have it your way, I’m tellin you though, the ess-tee-bee’s after you, I mean the cops … no wait, not cops … underground cops … komunisten banditen, vous connaissez?
Non.
Fine, fine. On y va.
And we went.
Vasil stood outside the door. Bot iz dere hiz voomin, he said. I come heer, I bek him, I say him, run fest! He no unnerstant notink, durak!
His business. Get outta here, Vasil … but don’t go to the cellar, go to the priest, harasho?
Da.
I’d barely knocked when the door swung open. There was his voomin, they made a cute couple. Both were big drinkers and he had a slightly criminal past, none of that bothered us. My memory of Kučera, a shard: typical Czech guy, in his fifties, the type you see hangin around the trash cans on your street from time to time. Carrying out the garbage in his undershirt. Sweating. Likes soccer, TV, meat, porno, his money, his memories, his car, doesn’t love anything. Coexists with his wife. Beats her every now and then, or she beats him, their business. They had a son. He took off. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’d taken up with the scamps. Wouldn’t’ve hesitated if I were him.
When we first took over the buildings, it was an extreme shock for some of our tenants. Instead of their people from the old national committees, suddenly they were required to consult our amulets and hardware. Kučera had a problem with it, but Bohler persuaded him. And they all discovered there were certain benefits to having us as bosses. We didn’t always bother to collect rent, for instance. We’d just forget, plus I think Bohler, whose job it was … felt sorry for many of our lodgers.
Please, ma’am, I think it would be better if …
I’m not goin anywhere, mister.
Listen, there’s been an incident …
The place smelled like somethin was burning … an cabbage … her face was red, eyes puffy from booze, or maybe tears, or both … tousled hair … she held on to the door.
I stuck my foot in. Hunter stood quietly behind me. She saw him.
I’m not goin anywhere, if he dies, I … it’d be the music of paradise for me … go ahead, mister, squash the louse, you donno the life I’ve had … you donno shit! she flung open the door … Hunter slipped inside.
Don’t be silly, ma’am … go on, leave …
Don’t you try to run me out … mister … she followed Hunter in, I couldn’t stop her. Kučera stood at the window, on the table a bottle of beer and a newspaper, staring at us in disbelief. Hunter stepped in front of him and turned to me.
Il connais rien. Vous parlez pourquoi …
Oui. Yes, I’ll tell him.
Hey, get cher ass outta my flat an take that gook wit cha. Mařena, call the cops …
You brought it on yourself, Pepa.
Mr. Kučera, not only did you not help, but …
I looked at Hunter, he didn’t have anything on him, but then I looked at his hands and it was obvious he didn’t need anything else.
Goddammit, you can’t do this, we got laws ya know, get cher ass outta here!
Unfortunately, Mr. Kučera, you’ve just violated every law there is. And I told him how.
Mařena, no, you can’t … you wouldn’t.
But she did. I turned to Hunter: Il connais, maintenant, je pense, and I followed her out.
Before making my way back to the pack, I wandered the halls a while, just to unwind. It was obvious the other tenants had left. But not all of them, somewhere downstairs I heard a radio, a fork clinking against a plate. But the sounds were lacking their usual dimension. No fights, no weeping, no new humans’ laughter, no opening and closing of doors, or clatter of high heels, no old granny shuffling up the stairs … to gossip, no fella in a blue jumpsuit stepping out from around the corner. No one luggin a baby carriage, alone, till someone comes along to help. Just the building’s old, heavy smells. Sad. And downstairs the Zone.
I quickened my gait.
11
SHARKY: “I HAD A DREAM.”
All right, Number Five is here, Bohler welcomed me.