Martoons

Cast of characters

Mr Go

Miss No

The Police Chief

*

As Go left the drunk tank earlier that day around noon, the Police Chief had just hung up the phone.

Yes, he’d told Miss No, there hadn’t been any problems with Go. He’d slept well and was just about to be on his merry way.

The staff merely had to issue him his personal effects – house keys, wallet, pager, etc. – and he’d be signed out.

“Can you pass a message on to him?” No requested. “Since it’s Christmas I would like to meet him for lunchy. Please tell him…”

She mentioned the famous raw fish restaurant.

She and Go had gone there often during happier times.

It was the one with the bedding store nearby where they’d stopped with Fred on his first night in Chinju – the one where Fred had first seen Go act bizarrely.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” the Police Chief said robustly. “Of course I know the restaurant and I’ll tell Mr Go to meet you there. Okay okay okay. Anyong.”

No looked at her watch again. It was time to get going.

She did a final review of the ‘legal’ document she’d cooked up in response to Go’s official one, tucked it in her briefcase, and made her way down to street level to hail a cab.

* What is this fabricated document of hers? What does it say? *

*

Go had a funny feeling as he left the cop shop and walked in the direction of the restaurant. Something wasn’t quite right.

Admittedly, Koreans typically are very sentimental and often have frequently-visited favorite places where they meet and obsess about the past.

So, yeah, because it was Christmas, he didn’t mind meeting his ex-flame for lunch.

His stomach was growling like an ancient, North Korean tiger.

Yet as he lit up a smoke and picked up his pace, this lunch date just didn’t make sense: Miss No had a new flame now –

Mr E; and she didn’t like nostalgic, sentimental get-togethers anyway. So why would she want to meet him?

Furthermore, why would he want to meet her? Their love had long ago withered and their mutual business interest had been usurped by her.

It wasn’t fair what she’d done but she’d done it. And now he was getting on with things.

So – again – why this lunch date? The only possible thing he could think of was the court case. Did she want to make a deal?

Go’s machinations were distracted by the sound of Christmas carolers standing near a department store.

He’d never really made much of Christmas but at the same time he wasn’t made of stone.

The ebullience emanating from the choral group filled him with joy. Christianity and Christmas – as far as Go knew it – was all about miracles.

Was it possible – just possible that in the spirit of forgiveness, maybe Miss No had reconsidered and wanted him back in the business? Or back with her? Or both?

He inhaled his cigarette deeply and sank into deep, delusional reflection. A moment later he exhaled. “Ayeesh!”

He was mad at himself for allowing his mind to wander to fanciful notions. Getting back with Miss No? Not likely.

Nearing the raw fish house, Go felt his heart palpitating.

He stopped dead in his tracks, took a final puff on his cigarette, then let it drop to the sidewalk and mashed it out. It fizzled on the cold, icy concrete.

He admitted to himself he was nervous about this meeting. He didn’t trust No anymore and … was he tough enough mentally to face her yet?

Maybe I should just go home and rest.

The sun burst out from between two grey, fluffy clouds and beat down.

Go glanced upward and squinted, and watched those same clouds close like curtains on the sun.

The sky instantly darkened and he felt a chill.

* Will Go continue on and meet with Miss No? *

*

Tomorrow: No sets up her special artifacts at the restaurant and awaits Go’s arrival…