Martoons

Cast of characters

Fred

Mr Go

Mr Kang

*

“I … sorry. I must go now,” was all Go said and without shaking hands or bowing, slowly but decisively left the office.

His movement was almost robotic and remote-controlled.

Fred stood somewhat stunned and as he glared hypnotically at the blank TV monitors, wondered what was going on with Mr Go.

The man had seemed to recover his old self for a few minutes yet then slipped back to his troubled state.

* What caused Mr Go to slip again? *

Fred left. It was a beautiful winter day and Christmas was coming. He took the long scenic route home through some small mountains.

Despite the brilliant weather however, a dark cloud formed over his head as he came down the last hill and walked toward Good Lucky Apartments.

He was feeling a lingering discomfort with how things were going.

His mind flashed into the future and for the first time he couldn’t picture Chinju in it. He saw a dead-end; a blankness.

He entered the apartment’s parking lot the back way, through a gap in the cinder block wall.

Gazing across the lot, he spotted the aqua blue phone booth snug against the small corner store.

An idea had been brewing in his mind recently and now – suddenly – the time was right to act on it.

* What is this idea of his? *

*

Propaganda Pamphlets         

Fred’s hand shook as he lifted the pay phone off the hook. Suddenly, he was intoxicated with his own free will and completely in charge of his own destiny.

* What is Fred going to do? Who is he going to call? *

Was this one phone call all it would take to move things forward? He’d been meaning to make this call to Mr Kang for a while but had held back.

The timing hadn’t been right; it had seemed too easy. But now it was time to move on. Circumstances were forcing his hand.

Even though he wanted to remain loyal to Mr Go, the situation had changed beyond repair.

Go was gone and Fred had to look out for number one.

He envisioned the Industrial Monument at the entrance to Ulsan. It symbolized his future.

Carefully dialing the number, almost instantly someone picked up as if they’d been waiting for the call.

Fred recognized the woman’s voice from his last visit to Ulsan a month ago but couldn’t remember her name.

It didn’t matter anyway. He had no time for small talk. He asked for Director Kang and she put his call through.

“Hello,” said a polite yet cautious male voice. “Who is this?”

“Mr. Kang? It’s Fred, the waygook from Chinju.”

Dead air.

“Hello?” Mr Kang said again.

* Does Mr Kang not remember who Fred is? *

Fred repeated himself and tried to recreate their first meeting. “The long weekend … do you remember? Me go there … visit Thomas.”

“Hello?” Kang seemed distracted and was not cluing in.

“I am Thomas’ friend.”

After another not so long pause, Kang finally became oriented. “Ah yeah. You – from Canada, right?”

A more comfortable feeling came over the phone line. “Where are you now?”

“Chinju of course.”

“OK. How may I help you? You look for Thomas?”

Kang sounded busy and Fred sensed this call was poorly timed. He wanted to ask Kang for a job but now felt he had to lead up to it.

“Mr Kang, just wondering … how’s business?”

“My business? Bad. These days … very bad.”

* What’s making business so bad for him? *

Now it was Fred supplying the dead air. Completely caught off-guard by Kang’s comment, he scrambled for a response.

The truth stumbled out. “Will you be hiring any foreigners there soon?”

Even over the phone, Fred could feel Kang waving him off. “Maybe … next time.”

For Fred, it felt like all his impressions of Ulsan –

the monument; flirting with the secretary and joking around with Kang the last time; and Thomas’ raving about the city – seemed to be wiped right out instantly.

Yet something about this just didn’t seem right.

* What could be going on in Ulsan? *

*

Tomorrow: Comrade Go is put on assignment.