Part 5,1 - Evil Tidings

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2026 - The present year

"I think it's been proven over the last few years that religion is an outdated concept. The beginning of the universe is an irrelevant point in that debate - I, personally, do believe in a god, but that doesn't mean I agree with the rules humanity has set in his name."

"True, religion is something that has caused wars and conflicts for ages. But don't you think there are some advantages to be gained from it? To believe in an afterlife, for example, or to believe in charity?"

"I can believe in charity without being religious, mind you. As I said, I think there is a god, but his existence alone doesn't obligate me to bow to him." Dante said and turned to the door, only to discover that the theological debate had been observed by an unexpected audience. "Hello there, Miss Adler. Would you consider joining us? Lupin and I are having a discussion about the ever so controversial higher power."

"I'd love to." Irene replied with a slight smile, "I consider myself an atheist however, and I'm afraid I would smash your whole line of argument with a single sentence. Plus, unfortunately," She waved a sheet of paper, "We've got work to do."

Lupin sighed. "Don't be such a spoilsport."

"Careful there, Lupin, I will use this sheet of paper if I have to."

"I shall surrender to your superior weaponry," Lupin said, "What's on the schedule?"

"First of all, our bonus." She placed two brown envelopes on the table, slowly pushing them towards her associates. "The minister of health, I think, was not amused having her letters to the former prime minister exposed. After all... He was the one responsible for the collapse of the European Union. The Independent, on the other hand, was very pleased with our work."

"I hope so." Lupin muttered, "It took quite some time to get past those heat detectors. But well, I've always wanted to see Downing Street from the inside."

"Anyway, what is this mysterious sheet of paper you've been threatening Lupin with?" Dante leant back on his chair like an uninterested student in math class.

"This, my dear colleague, is our new job. The Guardian suspects a major food company of collaborating with the pharmaceutical industry..."

"Boring."

"Don't interrupt me. They seem to fake the quality control seal and have artificial proteins induced in their pork."

"I don't eat pork. When exactly was the last time we had a job that required more than two days of research? After all, we are getting payed by risk proportion. I'm starting to worry about our choice of business area there. Maybe we should sell proteins instead, seems to be more dangerous these days."

"As much as I'd love to, we cannot start an international scandal every day." Irene said, her voice filled with sarcasm. "People would get suspicious."

"All hope abandon, Dante." Lupin patted him on the back, "We all like to cause a riot, but there won't be a second watergate anytime soon. And as long as that - we'll stick to the pork."

A phone ring startled them to their feet.

"That's me." Irene said, quickly.

"You have a phone?"

"You seem surprised."

"Yeah, I just..." Dante cleared his throat, "I didn't know."

Irene answered the call. "Adler?"

A muffled, unintelligible gibberish came from the speaker. It was the voice of a man, however, that was clearly audible. "Yes, that's her. She can't answer it at the moment. Taking a shower. Who was this again?"

The person on the other side of the line spoke, again Lupin and Dante did not understand him.
But from the way she clenched her jaws they could tell it was not exactly a reason to celebrate.

"I understand." She nodded, although knowing her interlocutor couldn't see it. "I'll... She'll be there in half an hour."

She hung up, taking a deep breath.

"Who was it?" Dante tilted his head.

"Pork is cancelled. We have a job to do."










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~ Author's Note~

Hey guys, if you're reading this, thanks a lot. I suppose it takes a lot of perseverance to endure my writing for so long.

Anyway. Somewhere in this chapter there's a reference to Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy". Did you find it? If not, I'll give you a hint.

It's Lupin saying "All hope abandon". The original sentece is All hope abandon, ye who enter here! This sentence is somewhat famous I suppose, although many people - including me - don't have the patience to dig themselves through the whole Divine Comedy. Believe me, I tried, but well... I relapsed into lighter literature. Although it actually contained quite advanced sarcasm for a work from the fifteenhundreds ;)

There are actually quite a lot of references in BLACK INK SOCIETY, starting with the names of the characters. If you like to know more, there's a glossary on my profile containing heaps of background information. Check it out if you like, vote, comment, eat chocolate or do whatever else might make you happy.
Stay awesome! ~ Zero






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