Swept Away

The end of an era. (20)

Fact is, we were in deep shit.

We could move sure, but against someone who just immobilized seven hired gunman who made even professionals look like beginners, I didn't see how that would help.

"Should we run?" Frei asked.

"Sounds like a great idea."

"So, you've got a better plan?"

"Kikoemasu..." Said the monster in human skin.

I had forgotten the effect of his voice, making my skin crawl. A strong desire to vomit.

It seemed to be just me, as Frei was still looking for outs, but I knew. I knew we wouldn't reach 10 meters.

I turned around, looked at the middle-aged japanese businessman, dressed in a lemon colored Kenzo suit. Even though it should have been ridiculous, the craftmaship made it magnificent, I would have loved to own such a suit when I was still a man. In his hands he held a small notebook, very ancient looking. It seemed to have been burnt, ripped apart, immerged in oil, and then roughly stitched back in one piece again with different colored strings. It would have been a splendid piece in a contemporary art museum.

All in all, he seemed even more charismatic and powerful than the time I saw him in the Jourdin estate.

Maybe we should have taken our chances there and then.

But what I was looking for in the semblance of a man wasn't there. A weakness, something I could use to destabilize, take control of the situation.

There was only one man who had ever managed that.

And he was buried 50m deep under the Jourdin estate.

But still, I promised I would try my best.

"Kakeshi-san, I can't say I'm happy to see you." I introduced.

"Me neither dear Sias-chan, what terrible circumstances to meet again. I would have hoped we could have done it around coffee or tea. And here we are, facing each other again. I was such good friends with your grand-father, how sad."

He softly caressed the cover of his book.

I heard one of the deathsquad's man grunt in pain. Still no movement from them.

"Before you begin using whatever is in your book, could we talk a bit?"

That made him stop for a moment and he seemed to think about it.

"Really Sias?" Whispered Frei. "This guy gives me the creeps, and he just time froze everything around us..."

"Any better idea?"

"I don't see how we get out of this alive to be honest. You go east, I go west?"

"Nah, no point, he'll catch up." I told her. Then quietly, out of Kakeshi-san's reach I added "Protect our backs, chances are he hits us there."

Not seeing his weaknesses didn't mean I couldn't guess how this guys mind would work.

I had lived with such a man for a long time after all.

Frei nodded, smiling.

"What the hell are you smiling for."

"We are finally fighting together."

Was this really the moment? I didn't know but I guess I smiled back.

Our opponent finally seemed to get out of his thoughts and watched me in the eyes.

"Well, with this smile as payment, how could I say no?"

"I wasn't going to kill him. Your son I mean."