The Grasshopper Read online

  “Wait, wait… that’s not your telephone. I gave it to Margot… and she placed it in her bag… Yes, I saw her, when she put it in…”

  Raul rose up suddenly in his seat and opened his eyes. “Seneca’s telephone! With the secure line. Raul, remember what Seneca said when you were going into that tube! He’ll call me only in the event of an emergency. Pascal! What has happened?!” Raul panicked.

  “Seneca didn’t betray him! He didn’t! Why would he call me if he did?

  “Pascal, you must be causing problems! You’re awake and you want to into the street. To be killed. Like, you’ll be more useful dead than alive. Tell that to someone else. That won’t fly with your friend Raul. But, you were scared today, my poet, so you think that the Kaellas will calm down if they kill you and that they won’t take revenge on the people. You can’t stand people suffering because of you.

  “It’s not suffering, Pascal. There’s been enough suffering. An entire century. The struggle for freedom is starting. And the people need you, alive. Not just as a symbol. Not as an idea in people’s minds, which will be passed on for generations, and which will topple the Kaellas through nonviolent resistance.

  “You’re wrong, my friend. When people such as yourself disappear, then those around them craving power ride that wave and pervert the idea, transform it into the opposite. They become the same or even worse than those they were fighting against.

  “You tried to trick me this morning that Svetlana left you. The secretaries laughed at me. Seneca will put you on the telephone and you’ll pay for that, Pascal.” Raul looked at his watch.

  “Hurry up, Raul. You’re getting chatty… What did Seneca say? First two vibrations, and then exactly five minutes later – a call. To give me time to find privacy, to get away from the staff. Where can I be alone? The toilet is… I can’t go through the salon, people will get suspicious.

  “I’ll go to the back, to the tail of the airplane… Hurry up, Raul. The man’s going to call.”

  Raul got up and walked towards the toilet in order to take the Mayor’s call and to make it clear to Pascal that he should stop causing problems.

  “If need be I’ll also put Margot and Liam… and Jagdish on the telephone… The entire staff, each and every one of them… so that they can tell him the same.”

  Chapter 69

  “I thought we were going to have another drink at the bar, Gloria,” said Habib, sitting down next to her. “To talk a bit more.”

  “About what? About work? Like at the club? I’ve really had enough talk about work.”

  “No, no… it was noisy there, you can’t talk properly.”

  “Then about what?”

  “About you, Gloria… about us.”

  “Why then didn’t you invite me for a drink?”

  Habib waited for Raul to pass by them and then said

  “How could I when you immediately ran for the elevator? And while you were running… that hair of yours…”

  “You could have gone after me, you know where my room is.”

  “I wanted to… but you are not alone in the room.”

  “And you visit girls only when they are alone in their rooms, Habib? You can only dream about that. I’m not that kind of girl.”

  “No, no… I didn’t want to wake up Dorika. It wouldn’t be right.”

  “If you really wanted to talk to me, you wouldn’t have even considered of. But you obviously didn’t.”

  “I did, Gloria… I didn’t sleep a wink all night…”

  “Why?”

  “I was only thinking of you. Do you ever think of me?”

  “Habib, this isn’t the time for such talks. The elections are coming soon…”

  *****

  When he had finished the conversation with Mayor Seneca in the airplane’s toilet, Raul placed the secure telephone on the sink, looked at himself in the mirror, turned on the tap, wet his palms and briskly passed them across his face.

  “I’ll tell Liam to give me a gun. I’ll tell him it’s just in case, if I get caught… because only I know where Pascal is. So that I don’t give him up, if they torture me… or if they give me a truth serum. Liam will give me a gun, he’ll give me one… I just have to be convincing.”

  Raul wiped his face and hands, took the telephone from the sink and put it in his right jacket pocket. He heard the muted sound of the telephone hitting something.

  “The syringe. The second syringe… Seneca gave me two. In case one dose wasn’t enough… If Pascal didn’t go down immediately. I won’t need your gun, Liam.”

  Raul left the toilet and went towards the front of the airplane.

  *****

  “Raul,” Citra called out to him as he passed by her.

  “Yes, Citra?”

  “Does she know that he eats only spicy food?”

  “Does who know? I don’t understand.”

  “Well that woman. The new cook.”

  “Pascal’s?”

  “Whose else, Raul?”

  “She knows, Citra. I told her that straight away.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure. Don’t worry.”

  “Does she know that she has to add chili to every dish?” Citra burst into tears. “A lot of chilly…”

  “She knows, she knows… Come on, Citra, calm down, please.”

  Raul leaned down and wiped Citra’s single tear with his thumb.

  “Raul,” Liam called out as he passed by him.

  “Yes, Liam?”

  “I have three recommendations.”

  “What recommendations?”

  “What do you mean ‘what’? Three cities that we could land in.”

  “Excellent, Liam… I too have some cities I was thinking of.”

  “Well let’s talk.”

  “OK… in a moment. I’m going to see Aslan.”

  “To who?”

  “To our pilot. His name is Aslan.”

  “Why?” Liam asked.

  “To check the weather situation with him. You know… that there isn’t a sandstorm somewhere, and that we can’t land.”

  “Ah, smart. It’s good that you thought of that.”

  “Margot,” said Raul while passing by her.

  “Yes, Raul?”

  “Margot…”

  “What is it, Raul? Are you alright? Has something happened?”

  “No, Margot, it hasn’t… it’s Citra… she’s still crying, she can’t calm down. Please go be with her a bit… so that she’s not alone…”

  “I will, of course” said Margot and started walking towards the middle of the airplane.

  “Margot…”

  “Yes, Raul?” Margot turned around.

  “Thank you…”

  Margot smiled and continued on her way.

  “For everything…” whispered Raul, when Margot had gotten far enough.

  *****

  “Gloria, do you know that I can’t wait for Tuesdays, which is when I’m assigned to your Secretariat?” said Habib.

  “I believe you. Five girls…”

  “What five girls? Because of you, Gloria. Only because of you.”

  “Why because of me?”

  “Because of your eyes, your hair… at least look at me, Gloria,” Habib touched her face.

  “Don’t touch me, Habib. OK, I’m looking at you. Are you satisfied?”

  “Why shouldn’t I touch you? Remember how we hugged last night.”

  “Hugged? I wasn’t hugging. I was just dancing.”

  “Well, I was hugging. Do you feel anything for me, Gloria? Anything at all? Please, tell me,” said Habib as he grabbed her hand.

  “Let go of my hand, Habib!”

  “I won’t.”

  “Well then I’m not talking to you anymore,” Gloria said defiantly and looked out the window. But she didn’t move her hand from Habib’s palm. Not a hair.

  *****

  “Aslan, hello.”

  “Oh, it’s you, Raul,” Seneca’s pilot looked over his s
houlder, sitting strapped into his seat.

  “I’d like to ask you something, Aslan.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Can you already now check the weather situation at the airports that we discussed with the Mayor.”

  “Here, right away.” Aslan bent forward and touched the commands on one of the screens. “Perhaps at this moment I can’t for all of them…”

  Standing behind the pilot, Raul removed the syringe with the tranquilizer from his pocket.

  “…but for most of them we will know already now. You’re worried about sandstorms, Raul?” Aslan asked, still leaning over the screen.

  “Yes,” answered Raul, while removing the sheath from the needle.

  “You’re right. They’re frequent in this part of the world…”

  For the second time that day Raul plunged a needle into someone’s body. This time it was into Aslan’s neck.

  “Forgive me… if you can...” he said while locking the bulletproof door to the flight deck.

  Chapter 70

  Mayor Julius Seneca, standing next to the window of his office, appeared on the screens of the people who were watching Megapolis television. He was a man of medium height with wide shoulders, a square face with a strong jaw, hair the color of ripe wheat, neatly trimmed and parted. The gaze of the light brown eyes was once again calm and poised.

  The Mayor always dressed elegantly. His suits, shirts, ties and shoes were always in the seasonal colors, but always the lightest available shade.

  Even though he did not intend on emphasizing the contrast to Erivan’s black, standing there in front of the cameras in the beige suit, with his physical appearance, it was precisely this impression that he made on the viewers, who he addresses with the following words:

  “Dear citizens of Megapolis. I would like to express my deep condolences to the families of all the people who died today.

  “The war, which the new president of Earth just declared, does not apply to us, it doesn’t exist. Because Mr. Erivan, appearing as the president of the Consumers, has announced war on the Non-Consumers. We, the citizens of Megapolis, don’t know what this division means. And we don’t want to know. We will defend our city from anyone who dares to attack it.

  “The Megapolis region, with the armament, numbers and capabilities of its Inspectorate, represents the largest individual defensive force on Earth. This is why I am deeply convinced that no one will dare come even close to us.

  “Dear citizens, I expect you to continue with your daily lives and work. Megapolis, with its water supply, fields of wheat, plantations and farms, with its diverse industry, is completely independent from anyone else. We will survive autonomously for as long as it takes.

  “I also want to send a message out to those living among us, and who think that they might take advantage of the moment and impose their ideologies on us, regardless of what they might be – that I will decisively prevent that. Any violence in Megapolis will be stopped and punished.

  “And another thing… I’m appealing to the youths, to the pupils and students. Don’t allow anyone to lure you onto the path of hatred and conflict. Continue studying, peacefully as you have so far. That is the only way that you can defend your city.”

  Chapter 71

  In the cabin of the spaceship the Grasshopper watched Kaella’s interview, the footage from Short Street, Erivan’s declaration of war and Seneca’s announcement of Megapolis’ neutrality. After that he called Erivan, who immediately picked up.

  “Grasshopper, is everything alright with you?”

  “It is. I just wanted to tell you ‘Bravo! Bravo! Bravo, Mr. President!’”

  “I knew that you would immediately recognize my signature,” Erivan was visibly relieved.

  “The end of the Kaellas has finally come! This world has finally gained a real ruler! And what a genial strategy with Short Street, Mr. President!” shouted the Grasshopper with excitement.

  “Yes. I had to shed a little blood to boost the fighting morale of our Consumers. You know, you can’t expect a Consumer to kill a Non-Consumer just like that. Just because they are wearing last season’s shirt. The Consumer would hesitate, right?”

  “Of course, Mr. President. And this with the schoolchildren! That was magnificent!”

  “You said it – magnificent! People are somehow especially sensitive to children. There were parents with children and the occasional baby, but not enough. And they were spread out. It could have gone unnoticed. But these pupils, all of them on that fence, they really drew attention. Now they’re all anyone is talking about. Television interviews with the grieving parents are being prepared. It will be a real success. The Consumers will go crazy. They’ll kill Non-Consumers with their bare teeth. You’ll see, Grasshopper.”

  “They will, they will. All thanks to you, Mr. President!”

  “I must say that I’m relieved now.”

  “Why, Mr. President? What was troubling you?”

  “I wasn’t sure how you would react to these events. You know what all depends on you.”

  “How I would react? How could you doubt my loyalty, Mr. President?”

  “Well… I know how loyal you are to me. You’ve proven that countless times… But still, you’re a Doctor of Philosophy, and I’m always suspicious of them,” Erivan laughed.

  “You once told me that you had read my PhD thesis, Mr. President.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Well what does it say, Mr. President? Forgive me for asking you like this, but I’m deeply troubled by your lack of confidence in my loyalty.”

  “Alright, I’m sorry. Calm down. It says that the purpose of man’s existence is to serve the leader. But to this moment I couldn’t be completely certain which leader you meant. Who do you consider your leader, me or Kaella?”

  “Kaella?! That miserable patsy!? You are the only leader! And not only mine. And not only as president. You, Mr. President, are the greatest leader in the history of mankind. I still cannot believe that I have the honor to serve you. This all seems like a magnificent dream. You are the greatest, most grandiose, most magnificent person that this world has ever seen.”

  “I too am pleased that there is a man capable of understanding my magnitude, Grasshopper.”

  “I understand your magnitude more than you do, Mr. President. Because your perception of it is skewed by your excessive modesty.”

  “You’re right, Grasshopper. I am too modest.”

  “And your declaration of war. It left me breathless. And you… and the darkness around you, all in black. Fantastic!”

  “Yes. The film director was excellent. I won’t replace him. And I ignited them well, right? When I said that we would seize the stocks from the Non-Consumers and hand them out to the Consumers. They’re going to rat them out like crazy.”

  “Yes, Mr. President. I’m sure they will. Genial, really.”

  “Well, Grasshopper, Now I’m at ease. Thank you for calling me immediately.”

  “Did you think that I could hold out any longer to express my admiration?”

  “I didn’t, I didn’t.” Erivan laughed. “I have to hang up now. My staff is coming.”

  Chapter 72

  Pascal heard the quiet distant turning of a lock. Someone was unlocking the door. But not in his apartment, not his door. Some other door, beyond it. He stood against the wall. He heard someone’s fast steps come towards his door. The steps of only one person. No conversation. Someone was approaching the door alone. This person unlocked the door, opened it, and stepped towards the bedroom, as Pascal had anticipated. The person entered from a lit room so Pascal could clearly see who it was.

  “Seneca!” he shouted in surprise.

  “Alexander!” Seneca jolted and turned towards Pascal. “You scared me! I didn’t expect you… I though you were still…”

  “And where is your…” Pascal fell silent. “Shut up, Pascal!” he shouted to himself in his thoughts. “She’s safe, if Seneca is here.”

  “
Raul? You mean Raul… He is… They are… well. Come here, Alexander. These aren’t your quarters…”

  “What quarters?” Pascal asked, entering the large lit room.

  “A living room… some kind of armchairs… a couch… my clothes from the hotel…” Pascal’s eyes quickly glanced around the room. “It is all together… and a dining room… table… six chairs… a kitchen,” Pascal was stunned.

  Through the door on the wall left of Pascal, entered the Mayor’s son Peter and immediately behind him Manami with little Eir in her arm.

  “Manami, Peter, come here,” Seneca said quickly. “These are your quarters,” Seneca pointed towards the door behind which Pascal had been locked.

  “Good day, Mr. Alexander,” Peter greeted him cordially, passing by him and entering their quarters.

  Manami looked at him, just nodded as a sign of greeting, walked in after Peter and closed the door.

  “Alexander, I have to immediately return to my office. Your quarters are over here. Here, take a look,” said Seneca, opening a third door and standing in front of it. You have a large room and bathroom… everything that you need. You can take your clothes from the couch. We brought all of your things from the hotel room…”

  Pascal didn’t move.

  “You don’t want to take a look… alright. You can do so later… in peace. You see… there is a kitchen too. My wife will cook for you too… She is an excellent cook, you’ll see… I’m really in a hurry… You just settle in… and rest…”