Martoons

Cast of characters

Dame

Donna

*

Dame at first was tossing and turning with his stomach acting up again.

However, as he stretched luxuriously on the toasty floor, the stiffness in his shoulders and neck melted away.

This is therapeutic. This motel sure is cozy – seductively so. But why am I making this totally futile attempt to fall asleep here? I’m a nighthawk.

Usually at this time of night I’m shifting into overdrive. Shouldn’t have been so damn polite and bowed to Mr Go’s peer pressure. That’s the Korean in me.

Should have just gone back to Chinju.

* What’s wrong with staying there and sleeping though? *

His thoughts drifted to his taxi driver back at the beach parking area and he had an a-ha moment: I know why that cabby didn’t stir when I knocked on his window.

He’s deaf in that ear!

Anyway, he’ll eventually get my call from the front desk on his cell phone. And when he does, I’m outta here…But that could be a couple of minutes or a couple of hours.

He squirmed on the floor.

“Pssst.”

* Who’s trying to rouse Dame’s attention? *

Dame’s head tilted reflexively toward the sound. He thought Go was there but it was actually Donna. He froze, not wanting to let on he was awake.

“Pssst! Damion, listen…”

He laid stiff and motionless and feigned grogginess.

“I know you’re awake,” she whispered.

“Just so you know, I overheard Miss No a minute ago quietly telling Mr E about her plan for Fred…” She inched a little closer.

“She’s going to give him the boot. For good – deported, blacklisted, the whole works. He won’t be able to come back to Korea.”

Dame lay still and took it all in, surprised that Donna was disclosing this and basically betraying her mentor Miss No.

Donna was fiercely loyal to Her Highness, identifying with No’s plight as a young Korean woman from a traditional family trying to crack the misogynistic Chinju business world.

Her Highness needed all the allies she could get and Donna had become one of her staunchest.

But Donna drew the line at turning on Fred.

He certainly didn’t deserve to be kicked out of Korea for trying to help Mr Go get his business back.

No’s paranoia was getting the better of her and if left unchallenged, she’d run roughshod over Fred and he’d be gone.

* Will Miss No find out about Donna’s disloyalty? *

Dame tossed Donna’s disclosure around in his mind for a few seconds then whispered back, “Sis, honestly, I don’t really care about Fred’s future here… or anywhere.”

“I don’t even care about my own.”

“So what if he leaves? I’ll be leaving soon too. So will you, probably. We all should. This God-forsaken peninsula is no place for waygooks.”

“But while we are here,” Donna shot back, “we have to watch each other’s back. Look, I heard you’ve won some battles for foreigners here and if it wasn’t for Fred – really – neither of us would be here.”

“You should do something, before it’s too late.”

She rolled over, perturbed at Dame’s dismissive attitude. Wicked flashbacks to life back home.

Within seconds something stirred within Dame. He propped himself up on one elbow and looked around the room with a smug smile.

Perhaps in the end, if Miss No wants to get rid of Fred, she’ll find a way. But what Donna just said struck a raw nerve.

The least I can do is throw a wrench or two into the machinery and amuse myself in the process.

* What do you think Damion is going to do? *

*

Tomorrow: Dame lulls himself into a comforting dream space.