Chapter 2 – Ho Chi Myong

Year Fall 2000, Itaperuna Penitentiary, Itaperuna, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The newest prisoner, Eddy Gordo boarded the bus heading to his destination, the Itaperuna Penitentiary located in Northern Rio de Janeiro State. Some of the worst criminals within the state made this their home while serving their time. When he arrived, the officers forced Eddy to put on his jail suit and letting go of his personal belongings, including the ring his father bout him for his latest birthday. Eddy was sent to a private room and got chained from the hands up. The main enforcer of the prison enters the room and prepared his whip to give Eddy a newcomers' welcome.

Warden: "So you're the latest fresh meat I see!"

Eddy: "Who are you?"

Warden: "The name is Vila Nova, but you better start respecting me right away like all the other prisoners, otherwise you'll be getting worse whippings like I'm going to give you now! (Cracks his whip)

Eddy: "What kind of prison is this?"

Warden: "Your worst nightmare kid. I'll go easy on you, just 15 lashes. Consider this your baptism. If you start some shit with anyone else here, expect to get worse from me! HA!"

Eddy (Whip hits Eddy on his back): "Aaaaaggghhhh!"

Even with 15 lashes, Eddy's back and torso was very bruised and battered from the whip. The Warden only smirked and unhooked Eddy from his chains. Eddy was in too much pain to do anything else. The officers came inside, handcuffing Eddy again, and sent him to his cell. No treatment for his wounds, just tossed inside his dungeon like a wounded animal. Eight years in this craphole was going to be miserable.

Naturally for a newcomer, it was hard to not be noticed by the veteran prisoners of the jail. Some of them pushed Eddy around during social hour, but Eddy did not retaliate, he just took it, not to cause a fuss. Even in the mess hall, Eddy was often bribed to give extra food as an exchange for not getting punked. With little food, Eddy often went overnight starving. Only a week had passed since he arrived, sooner or later this Ho Chi Myong character was going to have to show his face somehow. However, one day, a veteran prisoner would finally answer his question.

As usual, Eddy was awoken by the guard to come eat breakfast. After standing in line, a small frail looking prisoner from behind, interrupted Eddy's train of thought as he got his grits and gravy. Eddy turns around to see who this guy was.

Man: "You're new around here aren't cha?"

Eddy: "Yea, what about it?"

Man: "Something is on your mind isn't it? Why don't we sit together?"

Eddy: "Whatever."

Eddy went about to sitting down with this prisoner. Oddly enough, no one messed with him despite his small stature. He had to have stood only 4'11". Unlike the others, he was unusually friendly. He gave the rundown of how the prison operates.

Man: "The name is Cesare. Listen, you don't have to walk around everyday looking like a scared puppy. These guys see that and they either wanna kick your ass or bang you in the ass, ya know? Look, just start developing a mean mug and the guys won't fuck with you, get it?"

Eddy (glared at him pissed.): "You're fuckin' annoying."

Cesare: "See that's it! Talk like that and you'll be like everybody else. Mind telling me what you're in here for?"

Eddy: "You first."

Cesare: "Sure, I'm doing 50 years for smuggling heroin from Colombia. I'm not getting out anytime soon. You?"

Eddy: "I killed my father."

Cesare: "Damn how many years?"

Eddy: "8."

Cesare: "Really? How is that possible? Most guys are lucky to get 20?"

Eddy: "I'm lying. I only came here to prison so I can find a man named Ho Chi Myong."

Cesare: "Ho Chi Myong? Yea? He's a special prisoner, man. I mean every now and then he comes out into the yard. But because he's one of the best fighters in Brazil, nobody messes with him."

Eddy: "Father said he would protect me if I told him his name."

Cesare: "Hmmm…Ho Chi Myong isn't a babysitter. You're outta luck kid if you plan on asking him to watch over you like some spoiled brat, since you are one."

Eddy: "I have a name! Eddy, you got that!"

Cesare: "Eddy? Are you an Afro American or something?"

Eddy: "No, my friends call me that and I like it better anyway."

Cesare: "Alright, suit yourself, Eddy. Myong usually comes into the yard every Friday and Tuesday. He's has bushy hair, slanty eyes, and a long beard that's graying. When you meet Myong, ya better come correct, otherwise he might just kick your ass for no reason at all."

The latest revelation Cesare gave Eddy didn't comfort him at all. Today was just Thursday, so he would have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to find this man. How was he going to convince Myong to watch over him was beyond his knowledge.

The next day, Eddy was let out of his prison cell to enter the yard. It is his first time going outside since he came in the prison. He would only be out there for an hour, so he would have to find this man quickly. There were several men with long beards, but some obviously didn't completely fit the profile. Slanty eyes Eddy remembered. No one in this prison had that. Just then, there was some commotion along the basketball court. An older man casually walks into the court, when another prisoner, muscular and bald follows him asking to fight him 1 on 1. This also interrupts a game of full court basketball but everyone got excited. Eddy goes over to see what the deal was. For some reason this man kept taunting the older gentleman with verbal jabs and bravado. Eddy got a closer look at the rugged man, and noticed his eyes were slanted. It had to be him, Ho Chi Myong. The muscle man grew pissed at the stoic behavior of Myong and attacked him. Myong quickly evaded by rolling over the man's back. Strangely enough, his movement went from side to side, in repetition. Eddy couldn't believe what he saw next. As the man charged at Myong again, Myong does a split and punches the man in the genitals. Then Myong does a handstand and grabs the guy by the neck with his legs and slams his head on the pavement. The prisoner was knocked out on the spot. The crowd of prisoners cheered in admiration. Myong got back up and walked away, not caring. Eddy needed to use this opportunity to talk with Myong. Myong rested along a bench near the side of the prison wall. He did not expect anyone else to bother him until Eddy shows up.

Eddy: "Excuse me! Are you Ho Chi Myong?"

Myong: "I am, are you another challenger?"

Eddy: "No! After seeing what you did to that man just now, no way! Look my name is Eddy! Eddy Gordo! My father said to talk with you about my safety!"

Myong: "Hmph. No one is safe in this prison boy. If you have nothing else to say, then I suggest you do that before I call the guards."

Eddy: "Raymundo Gordo! He's a famous lawyer of Rio de Janeiro! I'm his son! Some thugs killed him, and I framed myself in order to hide and find you! So you have to know something!"

Myong (Eyes widen): "Raymundo! You are the son of Raymundo Gordo?"

Eddy nods

Myong: "Move."

Myong stands up and waives his hand at the guard who was at the watchtower pointing the sniper rifle at Eddy for approaching Myong. He signals, that's it is alright, Eddy was no threat. Eddy got scared for he was almost a goner. Strange that someone would shoot him and not the other prisoner for threatening Myong.

Eddy: "How did you do that?"

Myong: "I'll tell you in my quarters. I'm going to tell Vila Nova that you will spend some time in my cell with me, don't say a word got it?"

Eddy: "Yes sir."

By the time the recess was over, Myong and Eddy approached the warden Vila Nova who awaited everyone to enter back into the prison complex only to see Myong smile at him as if he were a salesman selling off a car. Vila Nova returns a nasty glare at him and Eddy as if to say, 'bitch what are you up to'.

Vila Nova: "I should put you in a straight jacket for injuring yet another prisoner, you chink!"

Myong: "You know that wasn't my fault Vila Nova. Anyway, do you know who just young man is?"

Vila Nova: "Of course I do! That's Ray Gordo's killer right? What about him?"

Myong: "I've decided to name him my apprentice from this day forward."

Vila Nova: "What the fuck?! First we give you the biggest cell in the prison, pussy, and now you want a trainee? When will it end Myong?"

Myong: "Only when I saw it does. Won't you send someone to escort us back to my cell please?"

Vila Nova (red hot): "Dammit! If you weren't a master, I'd kill you right now! Take him away got dammit! Shit!"

Eddy could not believe the amount of influence Myong had among the prison's personnel, even the warden. The two eventually went inside their cell, where Eddy was surprised to see Myong's spacious cell. He even had a hammock instead of a regular prison bed."

Eddy: "I'm not believing this. How are you able live comfortably like this?"

Myong: "It pays to be a master of Capoeira. Over the years I've earned the reputation of being feared and hated by the prisoners and guards alike. Through my life experience I've earned a way through special permissions over time fighting and bribing the guards. Yet, I still have to ride out my sentence."

Eddy: "How long?"

Myong: "I'm serving a 25 year sentence for manslaughter. I killed the love of my life. I refuse to leave until my time is done. That's 10 more years."

Eddy: "Ok. So how is it that you know my father?"

Myong: "He and I were very good friends. Why don't you sit down, and I will tell you more about myself."


Notes: And this is how master and pupil meet up. Tell me what do you think of the master, should he be more carefree or a stuck up old man. Give me your thoughts.