Walking Dollar Bills

Chapter 9: Enter Toure

Two malevolent auras compete for supremacy in Dictator Beneficence's darkened conference room. Dictator Beneficence rubs his hands together and struggles to control the excitement erupting inside of his chest. In front of him stands the deadliest assassin on the planet: Toure.

Yes, Toure stands at the end of the conference table staring directly into the eyes of Dictator Beneficence. Toure wears a sleeveless black windbreaker that drops down just above his knees. He has on dark colored shorts that end below his knees and his tail whips around on the ground like a black streak of lightning. A 60 inch spear with a sharp silver end clings to his back. Toure has a clean shaven head that accentuates his rigid face and dagger eyes.

"Please have a seat" says Dictator Beneficence extending both his arms to the rows of empty seats to the left and right of the conference table.

"I prefer to handle my business and then be on my way" says Toure.

Dictator Beneficence scowls. He believes that the amount of disrespect displayed by Toure is already a punishable offence, but they are alone in the room. So, there is no immediate threat to his authority.

"Suit yourself. But, please tell me. What do you think of Mao country? I've worked very hard to ensure that we are the world leaders in industry" says Dictator Beneficence.

The two stand in silence. Toure does not blink.

"Fine. I guess I shouldn't have assumed a senseless murderer would have an inkling of a personality" says Dictator Beneficence.

"That's ironic. Coming from you" replies Toure.

Dictator Beneficence places his elbows on the top of the conference table and rests his head on the back of his hand.

"There's no need for any of that. You've already accepted the job, so spare me your sanctimonious spiel. You want to know the difference between us? I kill people to achieve a greater goal... paradise for my citizens. You kill people for money. We are nothing alike" says Dictator Beneficence.

"I haven't agreed to anything yet. I want to know what you'll do for me, if I fulfill your wishes?" says Toure.

"What I'll do for you?! I'll pay you!" growls Dictator Beneficence.

"Don't play me for a fool. You withheld as much information from me as possible, when requesting my services" says Toure. He lifts his nose slightly into the air.

"You want me to track down some petty thief, correct? But, why would you need a five-star assassin to handle such a minor task? I can only think of two reasons. One, the thief is a very threatening and menacing foe. Or two, whatever was stolen makes the thief threatening and menacing" finishes Toure.

Sweat droplets form above Dictator Beneficence's eyebrows. His eyes beg to look away from Toure, whose mere presence raises body temperatures as a result of his words that boil the blood. But, Dictator Beneficence strains himself and continues to peer into the man's eyes. He cannot afford to lose this battle of intimidation.

"Well? Are you going to choose? Or maybe, I should save you the trouble. You see, I know a lot about you. I know about how you starve and brainwash your citizens. How you exploit them to ensure you pocket all of the profits for yourself. How the outside of the Benevolent district resembles the slums, whereas the center of the capital looks like the definition of luxury" says Toure.

"As a member of the Viper race, I know a lot about exploitation. You see, us Vipers have been relegated to three professions in this world" says Toure as he lifts three fingers into the air.

"Entertainer, assassin, and laborer. We are not permitted to aspire for any future outside the boundaries of those three. Our fate has been more than sealed, it has been circumscribed" says Toure.