Breathing In

Chapter 6

Chapter 6- Jersey City, New Jersey. "Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude."- Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - It's been a month and a half since Casper heard from the arms dealers. They were Southern, worked for a guy that had been supplying the Pro Libertatem rebels with guns for a few years, and Casper caught one of their attentions while he and Darwin were picking up a shipment one day.

A man, Casper thinks his name was Jamie, put his arm out to stop him as he started to walk away. "Hold on a sec, son," he said. "Where'd you get that pocket watch?"

Casper looked down in surprise at the old thing, a tarnished silver watch cover that hung around his neck. "'S my father's," he told the man, looking him up and down in suspicion. "Why?"

Darwin interrupted before Jamie could explain, but the arms dealer kept on with his questions to Darwin. He asked about Casper's family, where Darwin found him, how old he was, and finally, where the other half of the watch was. The conversation was pretty cagey, as far as conversations go, with both sides trying to gage why the other side was even part of it. Eventually Jamie revealed the surprising reason he was so interested in the watch: Oscar Dixie.

Casper had heard his name before, but never imagined it in connection with himself. What did some big wig Southern gun trader have to do with a rebel fighter from Brooklyn? Apparently, Jamie said, Oscar had the other half.

"What's it mean?" Casper asked his father after Darwin hastily ended the conversation with Jamie.

"'S like I told that guy," Darwin grunted. "Watch was stolen and the cover's all we got left of it."

They kept walking. "But that's a lie," Casper pressed. "You always told me when I was a kid that you gave the other half to 'someone important'... is that it? Is it Oscar Dixie?"

"Cap..." Darwin pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Why on God's green earth would I ever come across Oscar Dixie? I told you that nonsense to keep you entertained, man... you were just a kid. But it's a lie alright? It was stolen, and you'd best get this Oscar Dixie stuff outta your head before someone thinks it means somethin'. Don't listen to that guy; southerners are a superstitious bunch."

Unfortunately, Casper's never been an A-grade listener. He asked around, even after the gun boys left, for anyone that had ever even glimpsed Oscar Dixie. Everyone that knew him said he'd had the pocket watch, the one that said 'Redford' (they were all sure) since he was a kid. He wore it all the time, like it meant something to him. The scraps of information only fed Casper's curiosity.

And that's why he's here. Someone thinks it means something.

"Told you a million times not to ask around about this Dixie kid," Darwin scolds, but his voice sounds a little shaky, like he's afraid.

Casper watches out the window of the car as the trees go rushing by... he's never been in a car before. Never seen this many trees either.

The people driving are 'friends' of a rich, and evidently powerful man in Jersey City named Aleksandr, who seems to be just as curious about 'this Dixie kid' as Casper is. Casper's constant questions have created a bit of a stir. The men came to the house the other day, informing them that Aleksandr wanted to talk, and although they were all very polite, there was a general feeling that Casper didn't really have a choice in the matter.

"Told you not to lie to me," he grunts back at Darwin.

"Forgive me for tryin' to protect you," he scoffs.

"Protect me?"

"Yes protect you, Casper," Darwin snaps. "Oscar Dixie is a captain. You have any idea how many people out there wanna get their hands on a captain's little brother?"