Martoons

Cast of characters

Mr Go

Mr Kang

Fred

Miss No

*

Ulsan Institute.

As his phone went dead, Mr Kang was distressed but started mentally replaying everything he knew about Miss No, which was mostly what Go had told him over the months.

In one such conversation, Go related that when he’d been courting No she’d cooed, “Lovers should know everything about each other.”

“Mr Go dearest, tell me all your deepest, darkest secrets…”

Kang had learned one thing over the years about his best buddy – he tended to tell women way more than they needed to know.

Kang supposed that Miss No had likely also discovered that weakness as well and cynically exploited it.

Indeed, Go had naively confided in her about his troubled army days – the mind-wash experiments and how he’d come to know Mr Kang.

* How did Go meet Mr Kang? *

No had consequently mined Go for details of how the mind manipulation procedure worked – every detail, right down to the combination of rings, which allowed the caller access into the subject’s unconscious mind.

Kang figured that’s exactly what she was doing right now. Evil lady! But I’ll beat her at her evil game. I wrote the technique – Ayeesh!

* He what?! *

As a Korean army researcher, Kang had studied Chinese brainwashing techniques over Korean War POWs.

He’d then been ordered to verify the research by using real live human guinea pigs; namely, new Korean army recruits.

Private Go had been one of the morsels of fresh meat at his disposal. (Ironically, they’d become best friends after their army service. Funny how life worked.)

Now, Kang picked back up his stone cold landline and re-dialed Go’s office phone.

Walking like a zombie, the stone-faced and perspiring Comrade Go was heading back to the office from the john.

In one hand, the condensation-covered soju bottle felt satisfyingly cold; in the other, his cell phone with Comrade No live on the line. As Go entered his office and approached his desk, the landline rang.

One ring stop. Two rings stop.

Then the third set. Ring – ring – ri … Go practically froze in his tracks.

Comrade No also heard the distinctive series of rings. The mind-wash game was about to add another player – Comrade Kang.

For the next few minutes, he and Comrade No would be tugging on puppet strings – the marionette being Comrade Go’s brain and mind.

* What will ‘Comrade’ Go do?! *

Comrade Go marched military-style to his desk and came to a halt, straining not to pick up the landline.

Instead, he dutifully reported to Comrade No over the cell, “I have the soju now and have another incoming call on my landline.”

“What should I do? Awaiting your orders Comrade No.”

“Stay right where you are momentarily, open the soju bottle and take a drink. It is okay. Please, go ahead. Do it now Comrade Go. Right now.”

“Yes Comrade No.”

He confusedly handed-off his cell phone to Fred in order to free-up both his hands to crack open the soju bottle. He twisted the cap off and took a swig.

As the acrid substance slid down his throat, his facial muscles contracted, twisted and contorted. “K-k-k-k-k.”

He gestured for the cell phone from Fred by snapping his fingers, and the co-operative Canadian gave it back.

Looking bewildered, Comrade Go said into it, “I have carried out your order Comrade No. I have taken a drink. Now … that landline call? I want to answer it.”

It now rang past the pick-up point of two and half rings. A feeling of compulsion overcame Comrade Go like nothing he had ever felt.

His brain was throbbing – on the verge of exploding into pink mist.

* Will Go pick up the phone? *

Comrade No screamed frantically into the cell phone. “Comrade Go! Ignore your landline. You need to sit down at your desk and follow my orders.

“You will be very busy for the next few minutes and I will need your undivided attention. Is that absolutely clear Comrade Go?”

* Is Go going to listen to her? *

*

Tomorrow: Kang tries to guide Fred on how to handle Comrade Go.