Martoons

Today: No, Go, and Donna get to Cheju Island.

Cast of characters

Mr Go

Donna

Miss No

Scene: Tourist hotel, Cheju Island

*

Cheju Island, several hours later.

No took charge when the three of them disembarked their airport shuttle at the Mountain-of-a-Thousand-Jagged-Peaks Inn, named after the most famous mountain range in North Korea, the one that’s between both Koreas and on all the postcards.

It has mythological status to both countries.

No booked two rooms – one for Go and the second for the girls.

“You are very lucky,” the hotel receptionist said to No.

“We only have two rooms left – one ordinary and the other special.”

“Let me guess,” No said, “the special room is more expensive.”

“Yeah but…”

She waved him off.

“We already booked two ordinary rooms only. I need to speak to the manager.”

The receptionist bowed his head in humility.

“The manager is … me.”

No stepped back. “

Ah, yeah.”

She collected her thoughts.

“The special room – what is so special about it?”

“It is our theme room. It has a huge painting of Mountain-of-a-Thousand-Jagged-Peaks and other unique, distinct North Korean artifacts. Tourists are very curious about North Korea. This room is very popular – always sold out.”

“Yet it’s conveniently not sold out today; in fact, available for us – at special premium rates – when there’s only one ordinary room left?”

Another couple was just entering the lobby so the manager avoided an argument by caving in and giving No the special theme room at normal rates.

No made it very clear that she and Donna would take that room and Go the ordinary one.

“Ordinary room is number…” the manager said but was cut off by Go struggling into the hotel from the shuttle with all the suitcases.

He was dripping with sweat and a cigarette was hanging from his mouth, the prolonged ash about an inch long and arcing upward.

It had defied physics by not dropping off.

No couldn’t take her eyes off it.

There was nothing in the world she wanted to do more at that moment than tap that hideous ash off.

“What took you so long Mr Go?” she asked.

“We’ve been waiting for you.”

Go had purposely taken his time outside.

With No and Donna in the lobby he’d quickly fished through his bag and pulled out an emergency soju bottle and taken a gulp. Alas!

His lingering headache of previous days magically lifted.

This Donna lady is alright he assured himself.

I like her and think she’s going to be a good fit.

This trip was off to a good start and to keep out of No’s bad books, Go had to keep the soju concealed.

Tucking the bottle away, he crouched down, grabbed all the bags and staggered inside.

* What would No do if she saw the soju? *

“Oh … so heavy…” he gasped between shortened breaths as he hit the lobby.

“Maybe I won’t need to go to gym today.”

Donna chuckled but No snapped back:

“Why don’t you let the bellhop do that? That’s what he’s paid to do.”

“It’s okay, okay. My physical condition is not good these days. I need this exercise.”

“Here, let me take my own luggage,” Donna said, but Go put one bag down in order to free up his hand so he could wave her off.

“No problem. I will carry it for you. You relax and enjoy. You are … very special guest.”

Donna persisted and gently plied her suitcase from Go’s hand. No made no such overtures with her huge bag, unconcernedly letting the gasping Go lug it up to the second floor.

“Pali!” she ordered while taking the two room keys from the manager.

Slave-driving taskmaster, Donna thought.

Up in their third floor room, Donna and No freshened up, while Go went to his to wash up and change his sweat-soaked shirt while finishing off that secret soju bottle.

Glug glug glug.

Now his brain glowed and he was overcome with an artificial optimism.

Emerging to the main room of his suite, he went over to its small window to check out the view.

Evening was just setting in.

But instead of a warm, frothy ocean view, he was assaulted by a barrage of neon advertising:

Driving Range – this way. 

Flash flash flash.

Real Estate office. 

Flicker flash flicker flash.

Orange Plantation: Tours available. 

Blink blink blink blink blink.

Prank Sinatra Singing Room. 

Blink flicker flash. Blink flicker flash.

He reflexively shielded his eyes and turned away from the visual overload.

A sharp bolt of electricity shot through his brain.

Now the flash of the signs throbbed on all the walls of his room.

I have to get the hell out of here.

* What is Mr Go going to do this time?! *

*

Tomorrow: Mr Go panics.