Shadows of Death

Chapter 3(Christopher section 9)

-------------------------->

But suddenly he jumped up to his feet. With a smile he came toward Christopher and as he extended his hand he said: "Well, buddy, if we add tax you owe me a hundred and five dollars. I'll give you a discount because this is our first meeting. So fork my hundred dollars over."

Christopher didn't give him the money and he said: "I thought you said you would kill a person over a hundred dollars?!"

Jack gave a sharp smile and said: "The time I've spent talking to you is about as long as you get for doing a murder in the U.S.! It seems you don't know anything about mathematics!"

But Christopher still hadn't asked his main question. He thought it was the best time for his question but he needed to make Jack thirstier for it. One hundred dollars didn't make any sound for Jack. So with this understanding he took his wallet from his coat pocket and this time instead of one hundred-dollar bill he took out a few! A gasp filled the room when he flashed the bills toward Jack, who almost screamed: "Oh my God! Oh my God! This wallet is for you. Tell me I'm dreaming. Oh, for Genghis Khan's Mongol sake! No... No... what are you doing here with this much money? I think I saw at least forty hundred-dollar bills in your wallet."

Christopher had decided he wouldn't show his money to anyone in this boarding house but after seeing the black crescent sign on Jack's wrist, his mind was completely engaged and he forgot all about his decision.. He put his wallet back in his pocket and with calmness said to Jack: "It's better to relax."

But Jack, who was thrilled after seeing that money, excitedly said: "Relax? I've never seen so much money!"

Suddenly he got quiet. He knelt down in front of Christopher and insistently said: "Give me your hand. I just want to smell them. I want to know the perfume of a beautiful hundred-dollar bill."

And before Christopher had given him such permission, he grabbed his hand and started to smell. He whispered under his breath like an obsessed lover: "Mmm...it's delightful. Oh my God...what a smell...it's going to drive me crazy. Mmm...it's fantastic. No! It's very fantastic. It's a unique perfume in the world. Ohhh..."

Christopher began to lose his temper and took his hand away, then very seriously said: "I don't have time for this monkey business."

Jack looked just like someone who was forced from a long sweet dream as he stood up and said: "Why so upset? You've never smelled the perfume of poverty or you'd understand what I'm saying now."

Christopher paid no mind to Jack's speech. He got up from the bed and stood face to face with Jack. He held up a few bills in his face and said: "This money is for you. Just tell me about that sign on your left wrist. Tell me everything you know."

Jack laughed and said as he raised up his left hand and look at his wrist: "No way, buddy. When you don't tell me your name why I should tell you my biggest secret of my life?!"

He stared into Christopher's eyes firmly and decisively. It seemed this time he was not going to answer with wit. Jack's tone made Christopher more enthusiastic about what Jack had to say. So Christopher tried: "My name is worthless to you! Talk and take your money."

Jack's black eyes focused on the money. A few hundred dollars not was the kind of money he could ignore. But he cautiously said: "Give me this money and after that I'll talk. Why are you looking me like that? How I can be sure?!"

He had a point. Christopher still hadn't given him his first hundred-dollar bill and surely he couldn't expect him to open his mouth and speak. So to make him a little more sure, he held a hundred-dollar bill toward him and said: "Take it. I'm a man of my word. You did your job, now take your money."

Jack was a little hesitant. He couldn't trust Christopher completely. There was still a wall of distrust between them. Although they both tried to destroy this wall, Jack reached to pick up the bill with a shaking hand!

After feeling the bill in his hand he gave a pleasurable smile and said: "It's a hard job, but it's worth it for the money!"

He kissed the bill and quickly put it in his jeans pocket. Christopher felt he was ready to talk so he said: "If you want more, just talk."

Jack gave another smile and said: "I don't care why it's important for you, but you have to promise me when I've said everything that I know about it, you'll give me the rest of those beautiful bills."

Christopher quickly said: "I promise."

Jack looked with satisfaction at Christopher's simple promise, so he said: "Well then, now I'll tell you everything I know about this sign, and I swear to honor of Genghis Khan I'll not say a single false word. I'll tell you the truth, no matter if you believe me or not!"

He paused and as he tried to review his memories he took a back and said: "The story of this sign goes back to when we lived in Iran. My mother told me that on the day when my father died in a car accident, this sign appeared on my hand wrist. I was three or four. Of course, I can't remember anything about it. But my mother knew a lot about this sign."

---------------------->

Continue: Chapter 3 (Christopher section 10)

Please Don't forget to share your comments with me.