Martoons

Cast of characters

Mr Go

Max

*

Max was an expert at reading people and as he sat there looking at Go, he simply could not picture this man coughing up considerable quantities of cash any time soon.

There were good clients, so-so clients, and pains-in-the-arse, and Max was classifying this one as the latter.

Collecting from Go (and No) was going to be next to impossible, primarily because of No’s obstructionist role.

Yet Max actually respected her – the No family rivaled Max’s in holdings around Chinju – and he also found her intriguing as a woman.

Yet he now thought that he never should have visited her office that time and pressed for the rent.

He knew what her kind was like – sure she’d doled out some money when he was there in her face; but he suspected that from now on she’d delay tenfold.

Forcing someone to do something is never the best way.

It can increase their resistance in the future.

Always best to let them do things of their own free will.

Also, that had been their first face-to-face meeting and now No could put a face to Max’s name.

That wasn’t always a good thing – it could make things personal.

Max’s sense was that little Miss No was out to prove herself, and she might very well crawl up his back to do it.

Maxy shook his head and looked at Go but he was lost in thought and looking into space with glazed eyes.

A coffee lady came and quickly dropped off coffee for them.

Max was eagerly craving a caffeine fix but Go sat stunned, desultory, oblivious – completely bogged down in his own pessimism and hopelessness.

“Mr Go my friend, it’s time to make a deal,” Max said.

* What sort of deal? *

“A … deal?” Go looked up reluctantly and cautiously.

Max had beaten Go down but now it was time to build him back up.

“Before it’s too late.”  

Go shuffled uncomfortably.

Max offered him a coffee but he was pre-occupied and didn’t register the gesture.

Max prepared it anyway and slid it gracefully across the table’s glass surface.

There was still a stone-cold silence in the air.

Max said dreamily:

“I can envision Englishy schools all over the city with our name flashing on the marquis.”

The mere mention of any type of flashing signs or lights made Go hesitate and his brow furrowed.

“Our… what? What do you mean?”

“Look…”

Max threw his open hands out in front of him.

“I don’t have any experience in your business. That is your turf! You’ve got what I don’t have, and vice versa. We can compliment each other.

“Let me in as a shareholder. I have hordes of liquid cash and my nightlife entertainment businesses are recession-proof so I can prop us up during difficult times. And you won’t even know I’m there – I’ll be a silent partner.”

* Would he actually be silent though? *

There was a pause;

Go shuffled again and grimaced.

“I wouldn’t have to take orders from you?”

Max nodded but something wasn’t rubbing Go the right way.

Max, smiling and still with a starry-eyed look:

“My dream is to make foreigner friends, learn Englishy, and one day move with my mother to Canada. Dreams have to start somewhere and I’m ready to move on this.”

He clasped his hands together as if rooting for a home team.

“Mr Go, Sir, you can help me. You can! You make me a shareholder and let’s start over.” 

* How will Mr Go feel about this? *

The idea of a gangster being his partner (even back in the shadows) was repugnant to Go but in Korea you never say no directly.

“Maybe it is … possible Mr Max,” he said with a wary look but trying his best to conceal his abhorrence.

Yet the force of resistance was too great and he broke eye contact altogether.

“I will contact you when there is an opportunity.”

Maybe next lifetime!

“I better get going.”

Max knew he’d been rejected; he neither liked it nor was accustomed to it.

Usually by the time he made an offer to someone, it was because they had no way out.

It was an act of good will on his part, and he hated when people took advantage of his good will.

His whole tone and attitude changed instantly.

“Beggars can’t be choosers, my friend.”

He removed from his pocket a piece of folded-up paper, unfolded it, and plopped it down on the table.

Go was aghast.

* What is written on the piece of paper? *

*

Tomorrow: Go does some reflecting.