Martoons

Cast of characters

Fred

Mr Go

*

As the sound of the car faded, Fred felt the alley’s damp chilliness.

The sun’s angle was quickly causing the buildings’ shadows to disappear yet the alley was still largely frosted-over from the cold night before.

He stepped toward the institute’s back rolling door, sincerely hoping that Mr Go had already arrived and unlocked it.

Otherwise, it’d be a long walk back to Good Lucky Apartments.

* Do you think Mr Go has already arrived? *

He reached out and slid his gloved fingers between the slats on the roller door.

Up it went easily.

This cast a whole new light on things. Just before entering the building however, Fred’s stomach grumbled.

He was hungry and realized he’d better get something before the meeting started.

Problem was, in Korea very few food establishments are open in the morning besides the odd corner store with its synthetic snacks and manufactured food.

He did know a good rice place a few blocks away but it would be a waste of time and rapidly-decreasing body energy if it was closed, so he opted for a nearby mom and pop grocery.

He grabbed a couple of chocolate bars, gobbling one and stuffing the other in his pocket for later.

Korean-style meetings could often drag on and Fred wanted to be on full alert right to the bitter end of this one.

It was his last chance to stay in Korea. He could sense it.

* Is this true? *

Entering the institute cautiously, he tip-toed up the stairs and snuck along the hallway toward the office door. He could hear a feint snoring. Mr Go was here!

Fred reached the office and peaked in. Sure enough, Go was reclined in his office chair, his forearms limp on the chair’s arms and his head drooped lazily over to one side.

The furniture in front of the desk – the couches and glass table – had been moved around indicating that Go had caught a few hours’ sleep there.

Fred started to straighten out the furniture but the couch screeched along the floor and roused Go from his snooze.

He saw Fred through slits-for-eyes, smiled and stretched luxuriously.

“Ah, Fred, you’ve arrived!”

He stood up and they shook hands.

“So, Mrs Kim gave you ride? That was my plan!”

Fred flicked a thumbs-up.

He was impressed that Go was clean-shaven and had changed his clothes, but his face was pale with tiny beads of sweat freshly appearing on his forehead.

* Is Mr Go okay? *

“Brilliant secret plan this morning Mr Go. For a while I wasn’t sure and got nervous, but then it all fell into place. You are a planning mastermind.”

You also look like death warmed-over, Sir. “By the way, are you feeling okay this morning Mr Go?”

“Yeah yeah. Maybe I am a little hungry, that’s all. I did not eat rice since last night in Big Soju Tent.”

“How about after this meeting, we head out and have breakfast together?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Go nodded tentatively, seemingly preoccupied.

He had a pile of official-looking papers and notes on his desk along with a calculator, so Fred efficiently pulled a chair up and the meeting seemed to start on its own.

“Fred – let me explain this meeting. It is already almost noon. Maybe Miss No will arrive here soon so we don’t have much time.”

“If we did not have this early meeting, she has already planned to ‘blacklist’ you.”

Fred noticed that Go was trembling. His eyes had fogged-up and he swayed in his big swivel desk chair.

“Mr Go? Are you sure everything’s all right? Look, why don’t we get something to eat right now. I’m hungry too.”

“In fact, let’s get out of this place and have our meeting at the restaurant while we eat.”

A thread of skepticism was creeping back into Fred’s mind.

Go didn’t answer, clutching the arms of his chair for stability. He had a bad case of the shakes.

Finally he said, “I don’t want to go out right now. We must finish our meeting before Miss No gets back from the beach.”

“That could be any minute. Once we sign the documents we will be okay. Then you can stay in Korea and work somewhere else.”

Fred’s skepticism was beaten back. “Okay, Mr Go, where do I sign? Let’s get this done.” 

* Will they get the paperwork done before Miss No arrives? *

*

Tomorrow: Go thinks back on the order he carried out for Comrade No…