The Curious Case of the Two Dirk Gentlys

30: Farah and Mona Make a Friend

It had been a quiet few days back at the office and in all honesty it was beginning to freak Farah out. She'd adjused her lifestyle almost too well to fit around Dirk's antics (not that she was particularly normal to begin with). So having it all stop, leaving her with what essentially an ordinary office job as she told the building list of clients to call back later, was almost jarring. It was like whiplash. That's way she found herself feeling slightly guilty when she silently celebrated the arrival of a mysterious man outside of their office.

He was a soilder, Farah was pretty sure of that. She could tell by his neatly pressed black and green camouflage (which ironically made him stick out like a sore thumb). Farah watched through the blinds as he paced up and outside of building. He kept glancing at the horizon, like he was waiting for someone. She took a kitchen knife and placed it on the table next to her. He probably wasn't a threat. He looked lost. He could be a client or a very confused jogger with an odd fashion sense. He'd probably wander off never to be seen again. Still, she learned at a young age not to wait for a disaster before preparing herself. She was always sure to have a 'just in case' plan.

"Is he still there?" Asked Mona. She sat on the stairs hugging her knees. She too was bored out of her brains. However, unlike Farah she was quite grateful for the numbing. She was one of the few people left who attempted to cling to some sense of normality. She didn't mind the madness, in fact she loved it, but she craved the occasional small break.

"Yeah, he's just sort of...walking around." She replied.

"Maybe we should just ask him what he wants." Said Mona.

"Maybe." She grumbled.

"Do you want me to stick him? I hear my German Sheppard is really good."

"Mmm...maybe give them a few more minutes." Said Farah. They already had a 'beware of the dog' sign (though they never specified which breed of dog. Sometimes Mona felt like a Chihuahua, sometimes she felt like a wolf. They had to stay open with these things). It wasn't a subtle sign and after half an hour he should have noticed it. A German Sheppard probably wasn't going to make a difference.

"Maybe we should call somebody." Mona suggested.

"Like who?" Asked Farah without looking back. A second man had joined the mysterious solider. They appeared to be conferring about something but she couldn't tell what. She was normally good at lip reading. Today though their lips were obscured by the distance and the blinds. Still, she didn't need to know what they were saying to feel uncomfortable. Gut feelings weren't her 'thing' but in the back of her mind she knew something bad was about to happen.

"Like Dirk." Said Mona.

"He's on the other side of the world. What is he going to do?" She asked.

"He might know what to do." She insisted.

"I wouldn't count on that. I just...get the feeling he's really busy right now." Farah grumbled. Mona nodded. Deep down she felt it too. The universe kept a low level link between them at all times.  It was unbelievably cloudy and hard to read but every now again they all felt it. Dirk was about to get very busy.

Just as suddenly as the mysterious man had become an issue he still being a priority. At least momentarily. Their attention was snatched by the sound of smashing glass, followed by a hard thud. They waited in silence. Farah grabbed the knife and clutched it in her hand. More silence, more waiting, then footsteps. One by one plodding down the stairs. At last the intruder showed themselves. A red face framed by frizzy, untamed hair leaned over the banister, unphased by her own actions and the knife in Farah's hand.

"Hey, guys." Bart greeted. "Is Dirk here?"