Martoons

Cast of characters

Fred

Mr E

*

Several days later, with Christmas approaching.

Mr E was just closing his bank for the day – locking the glass doors, pulling down the rolling door and securing it with a heavy-duty lock.

Fred had decided to take up E’s invitation to visit and showed up just as that big lock was clicked shut.

“Ah, Meesta Fred, perfect timing. Long time no see.”

They walked to the underground mall beneath the Rotary for last-minute Christmas shopping.

After a stroll down the entire length of the long plaza – several street blocks in length – they took a seat in the central roundabout’s meeting place.

Fred got a vivid flashback: This is where he’d written his confession letter. He’d survived that meeting with Damion; now Miss No was on the attack.

Thomas’s ominous warning came to mind: This place comes at you from all sides.

Presently, Fred told E about the van incident and wondered what he should do.

“I haven’t been to work for a couple of days and haven’t heard anything from my boss. Do you think she’ll send the cops after me and deport me?”

* Will she? *

E waved him off. “Take a wait and see attitude.”

“The situation may sort itself out. Sometimes it’s best if we do nothing and let things run their course.”

* Do you think this situation will get sorted out on its own? *

Fred found E’s words of wisdom relaxing.

Meanwhile, he was struck by a very familiar clicking of high heels ricocheting down the polished concrete floor, rising above the din of the mall crowd.

It gave him goose bumps. Where did he know that clicking pattern from? He racked his brain as it came closer.

Click-click.Click-click.Click-click.Click-click.Click-click.

 He looked up to see Miss No.

She didn’t see him and walked right past in a business-like fashion. She was carrying a leather zip-up bible like Mrs Won’s.

Fred inadvertently glanced at Mr E – he was gawking at Miss No as she vanished down the corridor.

“Mr E,” Fred said nudging him and being a bit sarcastic, “you likey lady?”

He looked at Fred. “Yes.” Then he looked away. “Until I saw the bible.”

“Not a religious man I take it?”

He sighed. “I’ve been to church a few times. Korean churches are great places to meet people, but they pressure you to attend every single week without exception.”

“If you miss once, you face heavy ridicule next time.

“And they have these organizers that squeeze you for offerings – every last won. They actually have a formula for it.”

“Sometimes they’ll even come to your workplace and try to meet you.”

He shrugged. “They are very persistent. Yet I guess it’s their job. Churches are big business in Korea.”

Fred was going to mention that he knew the bible-toting woman but E had already got up and was walking toward a little ginseng shop.

“Fred, follow me.”

*

Tomorrow: Fred and Mr E talk ginseng.