"160 Plaza of Flowers", Toad Lady replies without hesitation. "I'd recommend just setting up an account. I'm in there every week anyway, so I can pick up what Hop Sing needs."
"Instapet? What the 'ell is that? What bugs?" Bruce is completely
confused what bugs have to do with a dojo,
and why Leo has to get some. Bruce starts looking around at the
floor. Bug problems at the dojo? "What, are
you feedin' the toad?"
"Leo," comments Kitty, "don't worry about it, we can pick them up tomorrow so I'll have them Monday morning." Pointing to the cage for Bruce to see, she asks, "How did you make a bet with a MANTIS anyways?"
Leo smiles at Bruce. "Well, I made a bet on Kitty. Then Hop Sing doubled down, and I had to see him, although I didn't raise. I lost ten bucks, but he now wants it paid in food. Which, incidentally," he turns towards the mantis, "was not in the agreement, but I'll go along with it."
He turns towards Norbert and Mavis. "Do you think, uh, I mean, could I learn, uh... I'd like to learn capoeira. Think you can teach me? And how much would the lessons be?"
The mantis ratchets its legs together, but Norbert, intent on Ghishu and Ben, merely waves an arm to silence it.
Ghishu bows reverently to Norbert acknowledging his defeat. "Maybe we will meet again sometime - after I learn a few things about this place," he says to Norbert prior to leaving the mat.
Norbert vaults to his feet, seeming to notice the numerous bleeding scratches and shredded exercise suit as if for the first time. "Blood, yech! I hate getting blood on my exercise suit," he comments cheerily. "Guess this one's a write-off anyhow. Gotta hit the showers. Mavis, lock up for me, would you?" With that he strolls off into the back room, taking the portable stereo with him.
Mavis turns to the group. "It appears that my honored husband has decided to knock off early," she says with a smile and a twinkle in her eye. "I'm afraid that I need to lock up." Turning to Kaila, "Could you stay and help me for a few minutes? Consider it your first work here."
Turning to Leo, "I believe that introductory capoeira is Wednesday nights at 8:00 pm. Lessons are $15.00 each. Any capoeiristas who are interested also meet on the plaza on Saturday evening for public practice. There's usually a band. Now, I am afraid you will have to excuse me."
The mantis begins ratcheting and waving its big front legs frantically in Leo's direction.
"Sure thing, I'll stay," answers Kaila, looking at Leo and giving a look of I'm-sorry-it's-a-job. "Are you going to be OK looking around for work yourself? I know I promised to go with ya..." Cheerfully looking over at the mantis, she adds "Hop Sing, don't worry, I'll make sure that you get your yummies!"
Leo shrugs. "Ms. Mavis said it would only be a few minutes," he points out. He looks at Hop Sing. "Uh, Hop Sing, I don't speak mantis... I'm going to open the account for you at InstaPet, don't worry. Was there something else? Ratchet one for yes and twice for no."
Kitty smiles and laughs. "I don't speak mantis either, Leo."
Bruce takes off his hat and scratches his head. "Leo, mate, ya mean to tell me ya made a bet with a bug, lost the bet, and the bug talks?" Bruce shakes his head. "What 'ave you been drinkin', and why didn't you invite me along?" After a moment's pause, Bruce says, "I could go fo-a a bee-a now!"
"Wait for me, I second that thought!" Kitty walks over to Mavis and asks what needs to be done.
Leo gives a wry smile to the Aussie. "That's just perfect, Bruce: after a quick stop at the pet store on our way, the next place we're going to is Breakneck Café. You should be able to get a decent drink there -- my shout!" he winks. "Both InstaPet and Breakneck Café are on the plaza."
He leans an elbow on the counter while they wait for Kitty, keeping an eye on Hop Sing and the cricket to make sure he doesn't squish them. With his free hand, he starts juggling again absent-mindedly.
"So, what have I been missing, lately?" he asks. 'Bruce, I haven't seen you without your shadow, François, in over a week! Where did he go? And Ghishu, you haven't told us how you and Ben met."
Bruce looks around him. "I don't know where the blokes run off to. He disappea-ad almost as fast as he had showed up! Hope he's OK.. Also I don't know whe-a that Irish gits run off to. I'm su-a he's havin' a bee-a without me!"
"Ben and I met in Venice, Italy," Ghishu starts to explain to Leo. "Afterabout a week our ways mysteriously parted. None of us knew that the other one was going to come here, so you can imagine our surprise when we bumped into each other at the hotel. It does indeed look like a strange coincidence." Ghishu, after a couple of seconds' pause, mumbles to himself ominously, "Or maybe not."
Turning his attention back to Leo, he says "BREAKNECK Café? I wonder why the place is named like that. May I ask why we are going there?"
Leo's countenance darkens with worry for a second, but he forces the expression away with another smile. He looks at Bruce, Ghishu and Ben in turn, then sighs.
"I'm on Al Amarja looking for a friend," he says slowly, lowering his voice, although it is still loud enough for the three to hear him clearly. "She is -- was -- a colleague of mine at the Cirque du Soleil, a dancer and performer, with a very popular act. Eleven days ago, she disappeared without a word, without a warning. She was even supposed to perform that evening! I searched her room, and the one possible clue I could find was a crumpled receipt for a ticket to Al Amarja. Before that, I had never heard of this country, even though I travel a lot.
"I'm afraid Serena -- that's her name -- may be in trouble. Why else would she suddenly abandon a job she loved and was so successful at? I came to check whether she needed my help, but I have to find her first. My C&I case worker suggested I speak to Sigourney Stuidhuist at Breakneck Café, where she hangs out. She is apparently a well-known figure in the local artist community, and might be able to help me locate Serena."
He turns towards Ben. "I gather that you're from Al Amarja, sir," he continues. "Perhaps you know Ms. Stuidhuist?"
"You gather wrong," says Ben shaking his head. "I'm not from Al Amarja. I did spend some time here a while back and, from what I've seen, it ain't changed much. But, I've never been to the Breakneck and I ain't never heard of no Ms. Studhorse. I don't exactly get much opportunity to hobknob with the artsy crowd. What kinda dancin' does this friend of yours do?"
Looking back and forth between Leo and Ben, Kitty waits for Mav to decide what needs to be done. "A fur years back eh, you mast know this place like the buck of yar hand, then, Ben." She then holds out her hand. "Kaila McCombe, (pronounced Mac-Comb) pleasure meeting you."
Ben reaches out to take Kitty's hand, "Not exactly like the back of my hand, but certainly better than any other burger your likely to meet."
With little delay, Mavis shoos Ben, Ghishu, Leo, and Bruce out the door
and closes it. The "Open" sign gets flipped over to "Closed" and
there is the sound of several bolts being shot home - THUNK, THUNK, THUNK!
"Dats bullshit," Sally says as the group exits the building. "You only want to get your hands on his ass to satisfy some kinda displaced aggression you have because of da way your last boyfriend dumped you for dat freaky preop."
The asian woman cackles, "Listen to you talk! Your yin and yang are so far apart that they can't even talk to one another. Your current relationship is just a waste of chi."
Sally snorts, "Dat asian mumbo jumbo is all crap! What de hell do you think this is - de fourth century? You need to get yourself out of denial!"
"Burger!" says the asian woman, nodding back towards the group. Both cab drivers immediately fall silent and stare with blank expressions at the group.
Leo thinks about Ben's previous question for a minute. "Well," he finally says, slowly, "I guess it looks kind of like capoeira, but slower. It's like a mix of ballet and yoga, since she's a contortionist as well, usually done on the tightrope.. And she's beautiful..."
He
pulls out his wallet and digs a picture out of it. "She's got auburn
hair, dark brown eyes, she's about, hmm, five feet five, and very graceful.
She's got a good singing voice too." Leo sighs and replaces the picture
in his wallet, and the wallet in his pocket. "I hope she's all right..."
he murmurs.
"May I take a closer look at that picture, Leo?" Ghishu asks.
Leo pulls wallet and picture back out. "Here you," he says, tremulously handing the picture to Ghishu for a better view.
He leans on the wall, absent-mindedly glancing at the two cabbies a few steps away. "This was taken during training," he comments. "She wore a different costume for the scene, usually a dark blue leotard with electric blue designs. He pulls out more pictures and crumpled notes out of his wallet, smiling at some of them. "Oh, here's one of a team number we both participated in, a spanish web routine. I'm at the top," he points, "and that's Serena Dandelion on the right.
"In this number," he explains, "the ropes are tied to a trolley on overhead tracks, and the artists literally fly above the stage. One by one or in groups, they drop into the empty air, suddenly stopping their fall by looped ropes around their ankles or waists. It's very unusual to perform it in groups like we do, because it requires great precision." A look of mixed pride and sadness changes his features.
Ben glances briefly at the picture. "Quite a looker eh? And a contortionist to boot." He gives a rare smile, looking somewhat out of place on his normally sour face. "I can see as to how you might be hot to find her."
Leo nods, almost shily. "I worry..." He looks at Ben searchingly. "You have more experience here than I, even if it's a few years old... I get the impression that people come to Al Amarja for a reason. I mean," he shakes his head, "no one just wanders onto the island. It's like you don't even hear of it until you must come. No one seems to just come here because Club Med had a good package, or something. Am I right?"
Bruce shrugs. "The-a's always tau-ists! That's 'ow I 'eard of the place." Catching a look at the picture of Serena as it is passed around he whistles through his teeth. "Women and bee-a -- all in the same shout! Leo mate, I need to drink with ya more often! So let's go rescue this Sheila!"
Ben shrugs. "Hadn't thought much about it. Everybody's got their own reasons for comin' to the island. It just usually boils down to one of two things, either yer runnin' from somethin' or yer lookin' for somethin'. I wouldn't get too worked up over yer friend until you find out why she's here."
Leo starts nodding in agreement with those sensible words, then steps. He freezes in place for a moment, as if listening for some faint sound, frowning.
Ghishu, who until now was staring at the picture Leo handed him, looks at Ben and then at Leo. "Leo, I have a bad feeling about this." Ghishu doesn't have his usual calm air about him anymore - he is a little pale and the hand that's handing the picture back to Leo is shaking slightly. "I don't know why Serena came here, but I agree with you about Al Amarja. People come here for a reason. And I think we'd better find out why Serena came here".
"What's the matter kid?" asks Ben. "Ya look like yer gonna faint."
Leo turns to stare at Ghishu, very fixedly. Slowly, he takes the picture back, his eyes never leaving the other man's. He puts the picture away silently, and finally takes a deep breath.
"What did you just do?" he finally asks, his voice pitched very low. "What did you find out?"
"When I took the picture I just had this feeling... I can't quite explain it... I just feel that something is wrong", Ghishu explains to Leo in a very low voice, making sure that nobody outside the group hears what he is saying. "I sometimes get these feelings about things. This is why I asked for the picture in the first place. I was hoping for something more, but I can't really control it".
Ghishu is now almost back to his usual self. "I promise you that
I'll do my best to help you find Serena. And we will find her - after
all, we are also here for a reason".
He thinks for a second, then continues: "Kitty and I were also going to Myron's Gym, on the Plaza, when she was looking for a job. I guess she doesn't need to go anymore, but perhaps you might be interested, Ghishu?"
He turns to walk towards the driver of the Dodge Dart. Over his shoulder, he comments: "It might be a good idea for one or two of you guys to come with me, otherwise you won't all fit in the other car."
He approaches the Asian woman, opening his hands in a gesture of apology. "I'm sorry, ma'am, we changed our mind again. I need to go to Breakneck Café, now." He turns towards the other driver and smiles. "Hello, ma'am. The others will be along shortly, they're waiting for our friend Kitty."
"I'll come along, Leo," Ghishu says as he follows Leo towards the cab. "And maybe you can show me where Myron's Gym is. As much as I'd like to just hang around, I need to find a job."
As he walks he mutters to himself almost inaudibly, "I don't think I'll last another ride in that other cab. The lady talks too much..."
The woman looks at Leo, then glances back at Ghishu., starts to turn back to Leo, then takes a second look at Ghishu.
"Whatdahellahyousuppostabe?" she says, all in one word - then pauses infinitesimally to slow her speech down, "some kinda buddhist monk? Or do you just have the world's worst case of male pattern baldness? You ought to put on a saffron robe and carry a gong!" She squints, "Powerful chi, though, I wager - some POW-er-ful chi! Bet you're just like a prayer wheel in bed - always in motion, eh?" She cackles and blows smoke from her cigar, making a circular motion with her bony hips..
"Typical repressed sexual fantasy," mutters Sally. "Get over it, would you?"
"Shut up Sal," rejoins the other woman, pausing to spit with great accuracy just in front of Sally's feet. Sally doesn't even flinch. The asian woman returns her attention to Ghishu. "Bet you got a cute butt, Burger. Men with powerful chi always have cute butts. " She makes a stirring motion with her finger. "Turn around and let me see your cute butt, Burger."
"And now this unhealthy anal fixation. When are you going to grow up psychologically? Free yourself of the chains that your id has wrapped around your superego?" Sally comments.
"Shut UP, Sal," the Asian woman comments, giving Ghishu a mighty leer.
Sally turns to Leo, ignoring the Asian woman for the moment. She jerks a hand at her waiting cab. "I'm not just gonna sit on my ass in traffic Burger," she says. "If someone wants a fare, hop in and start the meter running. Otherwise I'm off after paying customers."
She looks at Ben, "Sorry Ben, but business is business, you know." She smiles apologetically, teeth still clenched around the butt end of her cigar.
Leo's somber mood reverts back to his naturally cheerful disposition as he witnesses the cabbie's advances to Ghishu. With great effort, he represses a chuckle. "It's very nice of you to accompany me, Ghishu." He waves his companion on and winks at the driver.
As a response to the Asian driver, Ghishu's face wears the expression of a shy 13 years old. He then looks at Sally for a second, turns back to the Asian driver, and then tries hard to determine where "C. None of the above" is.
With a sigh, he turns to Leo with a stare that's saying "Help! Get me out of here!"
Bruce, starting for one of the cabs, stops upon hearing the cabbie woman's request of Ghishu. He cracks a smile and says "Oh, mate, looks like you found yerself a woman as well! You should buy 'er a shout at the pub! Mite be a match made in 'eaven!" He stops and looks at Ghishu's butt for a second, and shrugs. "I don't see whot the bloody deal is..." He climbs into the other cab. "Take me to the 'Breakneck Cafe' with these other blokes!"
Ben stuffs his hands in his jacket and follows Bruce towards the cabs, watching Ghishu's plight. "This place is gonna eat him alive," he says shaking his head. Walking around the side of the thunderbird, he climbs in alongside Bruce.
"How about I teach you some tantric yoga, Burger?" the asian woman laughs, heading back to the driver's side of the cab. "I'll even give you a 'free ride' and that's not an offer you're gonna get very often from a Giovanni's cabbie, you know." She hops into the front of the cab and sticks her head out the window. "See ya', Sal!" she hollers cheerily. Turning back to Leo and Ghishu, particularly Ghishu, "Get your pretty little butt into the cab burger! Lets get goin' here!" She expectorates onto the sidewalk with a noise like tearing canvas.
Sally, meanwhile, has uncoiled with the speed of a striking snake, and has banged the meter into the "on" position the instant Bruce's butt hit the seat. She turns and waves back to the asian woman, "See ya, Li" she replies.
Still eyeing Ghishu's embarrassment with a bit of amusement, Leo opens the cab door and folds his considerable length into the Dodge Dart. It is possible that if he were not a professional contorsionist, the feat would leave him crippled for life. "Get in, heartbreaker," he advises Ghishu with a grin.
Ghishu follows Leo into the cab, sitting in the BACK seat. He then looks at the dojo door and turns to Leo "Shouldn't we wait for Kitty?"
Leo makes a face. "Kitty should only be a few minutes," he points out, "Ben and Bruce will wait for her. They know where we're going." He looks apologetic. "That warning of yours gave me the willies, and now I could kick myself for allowing the Terminal guide strike and the Turbanites to delay me like that."
Ghishu and Leo hop into the Dodge Dart, which roars off down the street
as soon as the doors are closed.
"I think you will find," she says with a smile, "that working for Norbert will be a bit like working for an eight-year-old who is skilled in martial arts." Something about her own comment makes her frown for a moment, then she shakes her head.
"There are things that you ought to be familiar with before you start. Since you seem a bit more competent than most, and since you have your own secrets to hide, I trust that you will respect ours in much the same way that we will respect yours?" She raises one eyebrow and looks Kitty dead straight in the eye as she speaks.
Kitty looks Mav back into the eye and says, "Yes, yes of course, all job security is always confidential and on a need-to-know basis. Some people just don't need to know."
"That," replies Mavis, "is not what I was referring to. There is more to it than that, whatever my beloved but somewhat oblivious honored husband might think. You obviously have your secrets. They may stay your private property so long as they do not affect your job performance or endanger the household here. Perhaps in time you may choose to share them, but it is not necessary for you to do so. I am a simple veterinarian, and have no secrets to speak of - at least not on the same scale as yours. Norbert, on the other hand, does. They are secrets that it are reasonably easy to hide from the outside world, but rather more difficult to hide from those who work with him every day. I have no doubt that if you continue to work here you will eventually become privy to some of those secrets, and I would rather that they didn't get circulated, as they might endanger not only my husband's work but also his life."
Kitty nods her head in understanding... her eyebrow furrowing slightly... wondering, Is this something I want to get myself back into? She calmly asks, "Is Animal reflexology and research illegal here on the island?"
"I really wouldn't know. I rather doubt it," replies Mavis. "Even if it is, that isn't a guarantee of anything."
"Ain't that the truth!" Kitty says dryly and looks towards the door. "Is there something that you wanted me to do right at this moment? I assure you that my working in this household will only be know to those that have seen me here."
Mavis quirks an eyebrow, "Really? None of your friends will mention this to anyone? You are certain of this? You have much to learn about this place. But even if it were true, you will have students. You cannot assure their silence and in any event it isn't necessary. All you need to assure me of is your silence, and to a certain extent, your loyalty. Not that I expect you to swear some oath of undying loyalty to Norbert or anything like that, but I do expect you not to do anything that will hurt him."
Kitty nods her head again in acknowledgement. "I merely meant to say that you don't have to worry. I won't go blabbing my mouth -- obviously, since all I know of Norbert is that both of you are extremely educated martial artists and that you are a vetenarian. Is there something else I should know?"
Mavis shakes her head and unlocks the door. Kitty walks back out
to the street, and spots the Thunderbird still parked and waiting.
Ben and Bruce are sitting in the back seat, apparently engaged in some
sort of discussion.
"'Ang on! We may be missin' one," Bruce says to Sally, looking over towards the dojo. "Ain't the miss comin'?" he says to Ben.
"NOW ya wanna wait?" asks Ben. "AFTER ya managed to get the meter runnin'? What the hell is wrong with you? Unless yer payin' the fare, I ain't waitin'."
Bruce turns and looks at Ben. "I see ya get lots of dates wit the women, mate!" Bruce looks towards the dojo again. "I thought the miss was goin' with 'em, but they shot outta he-a like a like a croc after a 'roo..." Bruce turns back and reaches into his jacket for his wallet. "I'LL bloody well pick up the tab. 'Ow long does it take to close up a bloody sto-a?!" Bruce's voice is edged in a bit of fustration, as the call of beer is quite strong..
Sally makes no effort to move the vehicle just yet, but does glance in the rear-view mirror. "Well?" she asks around her cigar butt, "who's payin' for the ride? Am I goin' or stayin'?"
"Seems we-a waitin' for just a few minutes!" Bruce looks over to the dojo again, as if this will hurry Kitty up somehow.
Bruce and Ben finally spot Kitty coming out of an alley next to the dojo. Bruce opens the door of the cab, hailing her over. "Kitty! Miss! Oi! The othe-a cab's left, and we-a ready ta go to the pub! Hop in!" Bruce settles back down into the seat and closes the door after he has made sure Kitty has seen and heard him. He looks at Ben with a 'I told you so' smug look. "No worries, mate!"
"Our missin' person's arrivin'!" he says to Sally.
"Yes, thank you, I could use an ale or two!" Kitty looks at Sally and smiles. "May I sit up front with you, I really could use some air." She turns back to the Australian. "Bruce, how're ya feeling since the airport lobby?" She smiles politely at Ben.
"To the 'Breakneck Cafe'!" Bruce announces to Sally.
Turning towards Kitty, he says, "Doin' fine, once I 'ave a bee-a! They wouldn't serve me in 'ospital! Aft-a the bee-a, well, seems I gotta find a job somewee-a on this bloody i-lond! 'Ow's yer nose doin'? I find two cold bee-as really keep the swellin' down!" He smiles at Kitty and then smiles at the inanimate Ben.
"Good to hear, Bruce. Yah, I figure if ya want to last long in this place you better have cash, because money, etc., talks and everything else walks." Kaila turns around in her seat and looks at Ben. "What's the matter, Cat go your tongue?" and give a big cheshire cat grin.
"Yeah sure, hop in, Burger!" Sally says cheerfully, opening the front door. Numerous pieces of miscellaneous detritus fall out into the gutter, but she doesn't seem to mind - in fact she pushes more out to make room for Kaila.
Once Kitty is in the car, Sally shoots away from the curb, weaving expertly through traffic. The trip to Flowers is uneventful. A few minutes suffice to bring the party into the Plaza of Flowers.
Despite the traffic, there are actually parking spaces available and
the Thunderbird careens into a parking space. A couple of spaces
down the trio can see Ghishu in ernest conversation with the cab driver,
Li. It appears that persistence pays off. Directly in
front of the cab is what seems to be an occult bookstore - "The Golden
Bough". Breakneck Cafe and Insta-Pet are just down the street.
To Be Continued...
