Things might not be going so well with Curtis unfortunately. Ah, well. What can you do?
Actually, funny thing about that: it's something talked about in the best apartheid memoirs. One thing that some people mention is that sometimes the biggest sins in apartheid weren't totally from the white man, but rather from what the conditions around people forced others to do. So since District 9 was a massive apartheid allegory, I figured I'd play off of that.
The results will be seen below. Here we go.
The Grand Dragon
Unfortunately, the issue of the junk piles would not leave me alone when I desperately wanted it to.
And it very sadly had much more to do than the fact that I had promised I would ask Piet Smit about something that he could do about it, as the next day would prove so horrendously.
I had not even seen the signal when I suddenly thought I heard loud squealings coming from within the camp. I blinked and looked to James and Abejide. Before I could expound, I felt their gazes go on my being, and then we all looked to the origin of the sound. I heard it again and looked to James.
The American expatriate was one step ahead of me, however. "I heard it too," he said.
"Come on!" I said, running into the district quickly. "This is not likely to be good!"
James and Abejide followed on my trail without asking any questions. The three of us barrelled through the camp, passing by poleepkwans and tents alike in our rush to get to the origin of the sound.
When I arrived there with James and Abejide hot on my heels, I saw quite a strange scene before me. Other poleepkwans were scattered in a crowd that I had to fight my way through, with James and Abejide close behinds. When I arrived in the center, I saw a slightly cinnamon and vanilla colored child cowering to the side, almost in the crowd. It shivered where it was, holding something in its four arms. Above it, a blueish-gray alien was protecting it with what appeared to be an outstretched crutch with its end having been snapped off. I sensed fear in its light gray eyes, however, as a larger and far more intimidating poleepkwa was edging towards it. Without wasting time, I came forward, holding my gun up and aiming at the imposing poleepkwan.
"Hey!" I cried out. "What the bloody hell are you doing?"
The imposing poleepkwan turned to me, seemingly glaring at me. James and Abejide followed suit, all pointing guns at the alien as the imposing one stared the three of us down.
James suddenly had the gumption to look at the child, noticing what it held in its arms.
"What, all this is over food?" I heard him ask behind me.
Glancing down at the child, I indeed saw the familiar containers that were handed out by the people in charge of the ration lines.
And almost immediately, I wished I had not looked to see the ration containers. For then I knew that this would not end very well for someone in the circle.
Before I could think on it further, however, the imposing one turned to James. "He took the last ration!" it exclaimed in a flurry of angry clicks and chirps. "Those guys skipped over me and gave it to this conniving freak and that child!"
"Well, calm down," I replied almost too quickly. "We can't help you with your rations problem, and--"
"Just tell that kid to give my ration back!" it exclaimed with enough force to make me flinch slightly.
"We were in the line before this one!" retorted the gray-blue poleepkwa, pointing its crutch at me and the imposing one alternately. "He just wants to steal our food!"
I shook my head. I knew that the child should have the rations being so small, and that its guardian as well needed them to be able to take care of the smaller one. That much was set in my mind.
The only reason I delayed, then, was because I was afraid of what would happen if I voiced exactly what I thought. I did not want the imposing one to kill the child, but at the same time I would feel extremely uncomfortable if it involved the death of someone. I could fire my gun, but my insecurities were raging beyond what they should have been.
Before I could say anything, however, James opened his mouth. "No," he said, pointing his rifle at the imposing one. "Children get priority. You know that."
"But that child isn't even its!" clicked the imposing one threateningly as it leaned towards James. "It uses that child, I tell you!"
"The only reason that's in place is because his father is dead!" replied the bluer poleepkwa. "I'm watching its child in its stead!"
"Lies!" cried the poleepkwa as it moved towards the one holding the crutch. "You lie!"
Before the two that were threatened could flee, however, I did something I realize now would be quite foolish in any other circumstance. I leapt in between the two of them, holding my rifle so it was aiming at him. I swallowed, trying not to lose my courage in the face of its glare.
"You know the regulations," I said. "All children and their guardians are top priority for rations. I don't want any trouble. Now please, just walk away and everything will be--"
The poleepkwa grabbed me roughly by my left arm and tossed me to the side angrily. It clicked and chirped something I was unable to hear as I was sent flying, and I felt myself hit soft exoskeleton before I fell to the ground. I didn't feel any bad injuries, thankfully, as a few people in the poleepkwan crowd had stopped my fall, whether intentional or not.
As soon as I hit the ground, I suddenly heard several rounds of gunshots, no doubt from Abejide or James. The scene was briefly obscured, but the poleepkwans scattered quickly enough that I was able to see the blood spraying about as the imposing poleepkwa was shot at. I saw that Abejide was the one who fired the gun, and the imposing one was shot at least four more times by the Nigerian before it went down, still as a rock. The two that had been harassed by the larger poleepkwa had disappeared with the rest of the crowd, and for this I was thankful.
I looked to James, who had approached me. He extended a hand out to help me back up, and I gave him my left hand. Thankfully, I didn't feel any pain when I did, and so James helped me up as Abejide ran towards the larger poleepkwa and shot it a few more times just to make sure it was dead.
"Are you okay?" asked the American.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," I said, looking to where Abejide was walking away from the dead alien. "Abejide... Did you...?"
The Nigerian nodded as he pointed behind him with a thumb. "Sixteen times," he said.
At this, I snapped out of my stupor and looked at my companion. "Sixteen times?" I asked, utterly shocked by this. "Did you really have to shoot it that many times?"
"It was like the lion," replied Abejide. "Used that many shots as... how do you British people say it...?"
"A precaution?" I asked incredulously. "But sixteen bullets is considered overkill! Why?"
"Better to be safe than sorry," replied Abejide offhandedly. "Now let's go back to our posts. James, you can fill out the report."
With this, the Nigerian walked out of the camp, leaving James and myself in the middle of the district. The American blinked before turning to me.
"You're not so distressed because of that, were you?" he asked.
I nodded. "I wanted to save more lives..." I replied. "Also, because this could have been prevented by many things..."
James nodded. "You've seen something in this district you weren't supposed to, haven't you?" he asked.
"You could say that..." I said, looking down sadly. "Those poor things either have to hope they get rations or raid the garbage piles for food. And if they don't get any luck with either, they starve... It's so sad. I never figured that a conflict over food would end with a fatality... and yet..."
The American patted my shoulder and nodded grimly. "That's what we've gotta deal with," he told me. "Just remember Murphy's Law: if something can get worse, it will get worse. The only thing left to do then is to hope that there are things we can do to at the very least alleviate circumstances."
I looked to him and nodded. "I'll try," I told him. "I already promised someone else I would. But I'm not entirely sure if I can succeed..."
"Give it time," replied James. "I'm sure you will."
I looked down at the ground for a few seconds as I thought of what James had told me. I then realized that in a way everything he said was right. I nodded then, trying to smile lightly.
"I wonder if I'll ever see those two around here again..." I mused.
James chuckled as he approached the dead poleepkwa to read the MNU number on its head. "I'm sure you will, knowing how you are," he replied good naturedly.
I myself chuckled in response, figuring that with my luck I would indeed run into them again.
My night shift with Marius had gone rather uneventfully. The Afrikaaner had served ration duty earlier, and was able to confirm that the imposing one was in fact behind the bluish-gray poleepkwa that it had intimidated, and so I was put to rest a little easily that at least the one guarding the child was being honest. It still did not make me feel any better about the fact that someone had die, but I decided not to mention that to Marius.
And so, when I went to the tent where Caroline was later that night, I sighed, not sure I would be able to face them. In fact, the only reason I went in was because I knew that if the searchlights went on I would be done for. And so, I entered the tent, half expecting to get a lecture from Jamecyn at this point.
Surprisingly, however, Jamecyn seemed to be less angry than I normally knew her to be after one of my typical fiascoes in the district. Surprised at this, I went into the tent, looking at her and intending to speak.
"There's no need," she said before I could say anything. "I was in that crowd that gathered around those three. Your friend did the right thing. For once."
At this, I blinked uncertainly. "You're not angry?" I asked.
"With that one, there was no other way it could've ended..." replied Jamecyn. "That one was known to be the most violent pit fighter in District 9. It's about time someone put his... his 'money where his mouth is', as you humans say it."
I bit my lower lip, releasing it almost as quickly as I had bitten on it as I looked to the normally much less tempered poleepkwa. I had heard about the pitfighters from Edward one evening before I had told Caroline, so I knew what they were capable of. But it still did not assuage anything.
"That still doesn't make me feel any better..." I said, glancing down at the ground tepidly. "I mean... someone had to die..."
"He had it coming," said Jamecyn bluntly. "That's all I'll say."
I nodded, looking to the others. Jonathan was already asleep, as were David and Mark, but Harold, Caroline, Matthew, and Edward were all awake as well as Jamecyn. I looked to the others, massaging one of my hands.
"Then can you at least tell me who those other two were?" I asked. "I've been worried about everything with them being a lie..."
"You won't have to worry about that..." said Harold. "It makes me a little angrier at MNU over what they did to poor Saskia..."
I blinked. "That's the child's name?" I asked, uncertainly.
"Yes," replied Harold. "The kid's MNU issued name is Saskia Anderson. His father was Samuel Anderson..."
I nodded, thinking about the two names. "What happened to his father?"
"Disappeared," replied Caroline. "He was arrested by MNU just before the first attempt at relocation. Nobody has ever heard from him since, not even Saskia."
Grimly, I looked down. "That's awful," I said, rubbing my chin nervously. "What was he arrested for?"
"Being out after curfew," replied Edward. "At least, that's what they say. We all know it was because he hung out around the wrong people..."
"The wrong people?" I asked. "MNU arrested people for that?"
"Unfortunately..." replied Caroline.
I grimaced, legitimately shocked at this. "That's horrible!" I said. "It's bad enough that he became arrested for a stupid reason, but to top it all off he was separated from his only child?" I shivered slightly at this revelation. "Damn it, why couldn't my employer be more decent to you?"
"That's a damn good question," replied Jamecyn, crossing her arms in front of her. "At least you try to treat us like we're your equals."
I shook my head, lips turned in a frown as I looked at everybody in the tent. "It definitely does not help that they are the only ones I can contact to get close to you..." I added.
The others in the tent nodded in agreement, and then I realized I had forgotten one last detail. "So who is the child's guardian?"
"An old friend of Samuel's," replied Harold, tracing out a name in the ground. "His MNU issued name is Kyler Asher."
I nodded. "Kyler Asher, eh?" I asked. "I wonder... Who were they around?"
"We're not telling you," said Jamecyn. "If you want to know, you'll have to ask him..."
I knew then that I would get nothing more out of my friends. "All right," I said. "I'll ask. Provided I ever run into him or Saskia again... They must be very important if you're writing their names on the ground."
The others nodded, and then I turned to Matthew. He was laying in the cot with his father close beside him, looking very tired. I slowly crawled to him and looked down at the child. Seeing Matthew look at me with the innocent eyes put me at ease slightly, and so I smiled at him.
"Hey, Matt," I said affectionately.
"Story man!" he exclaimed. "Do you have something you want to tell me?"
"Of course I do," I said. "Let's continue from where we left off, shall we?"
Matthew's head bobbed up and down eagerly as he made his excitement clear.
I smiled and shifted slightly so that I was sitting down. It was then that I realized that I had talked enough about the Gods. And so, I began to tell him the tale of Heracles, beginning with one of Zeus' affairs and how Hera in her jealousy attempted to kill Heracles. I also recounted how each attempt failed, and the discovery of Heracles' near-inhuman strength. He was avidly interested in hearing about Heracles that when I had gotten to the killing of his family in a rage induced by Hera, he was eagerly begging for more. It was one of the few times he was asking for more, and so I began to talk about the twelve labors of Heracles, but I ended up stopping after the Lernean Hydra when he drifted off to sleep.
As soon as he was asleep, I turned to Caroline.
"Sounds a lot like Balgernon," she said.
I shrugged. "Some mythologies have common ground," I replied. "Two quests for redemption, although to be honest the second one has much stronger vibes of your typical Greek hero story..."
"And what does that involve?" asked Harold.
"Plenty of things," I replied. "Namely, god-hero antagonism and glory."
The others that were still awake nodded. "I believe I have a story to tell as well?"
"You do," I said, fishing out my audio recorder and hitting record twice. "You may begin."
The great one and its companion travelled along the roads less frequently travelled, the landscape shifting gradually from the harsh desert to the edge of the volcanic mountains to the west of the grand desert. Balgernon did not stop there, and so Ganrel followed along.
As they moved about the volcanic mountains, Balgernon could not help but feel as if they were being watched by something. He slowed down slightly, realizing that it did not have anything to defend itself with.
Thankfully, Ganrel came up to it then and put something in the great one's hand. Blinking, Balgernon looked down and found a great steel knife in its claws. Looking to the kind one with a baffled expression, Ganrel simply pointed at the object. Its blade glowed of golden metal, a hilt made of finest jewels.
"A dagger," it said. "Passed down my family for generations. Take it. We will need it soon..."
Surprised that the one he had known for being good to others had brought a weapon, it simply shrugged and moved along the mountains, its companion following behind.
Soon enough, however, a grand roar sounded throughout the land, and suddenly Balgernon and Ganrel looked up. There, they saw a magnificent dragon, dirt-colored scales failing to shine in the odd light given off by the volcanoes. Leery golden eyes glared down at the duo, and then it rushed at them.
Balgernon and Ganrel both scattered, dodgig the dragon's swipe as the great one thought of a way to defeat a dragon with only a dagger. Looking around, it did not find much to work with. However, it spotted many small caves around the area that it could use. Ganrel was already taking refuge in one as the dragon hovered around in the air. The cunning one then looked around for any smaller caves that were higher up that he could grab on to.
As the dragon swooped down on Balgernon once again, the great one leapt up in the air, briefly grabbing a hold of the entrance of one of the little caves. Ignoring how hot it was, the great one held on to the ledge in wait, its feet touching the surface. The dragon turned quickly and swooped towards Balgernon again.
However, the cunning one was quick, and so it leapt off from its feet as the dragon approached. Through luck, Balgernon managed to leap onto the dragon's neck. Screaming, the grand creature began to move about, Balgernon hanging on as best it could. The mountains seemed to go by quickly as Balgernon wrestled with the dragon for control of the skies. In its fury, the dragon was easier to control, however, and the great one used this to its advantage, forcing it to crash into the sides of the mountains of the land the dragon inhabited.
And after a few minutes of struggling with the creature, Balgernon finally brought it to the ground, Ganrel coming out of its hiding place tepidly. Immediately, Balgernon put the knife to the dragon's critical vein, looking down on it.
"Wait," said the dragon suddenly. "Spare me, and I can aid you however you see fit..."
Balgernon hesitated the slightest bit, and then getting off of the dragon the great one nodded.
"All right," it said. "I shall spare your life. We are but travellers wondering the land, and we were wondering what lays beyond these mountains..."
"Beyond the mountains are two nations at war," repied the dragon. "Beware, as once you choose a side there will be no going back for you or your companion."
"And if we should ever need help?" asked Balgernon warily.
The dragon regurgitated something then. Looking at the thing that was regurgitated, Balgernon realized it was a charm made a hard material. Picking it up, the great one noticed holes in it.
"That is a flute carvedout of the exoskeleton of a greater millock monster," said the dragon. "If you play it, I will come to your aid, regardless of where you are."
Balgernon nodded as the dragon slowly stood up.
"Thank you," said the grateful one with a bow of its head.
And with this, the dragon flew away, disappearing into the skies overhead. Ganrel looked at Balgernon, and the two of them continued on in the strange new land, the great one holding the charm in its hand as the steadfast one followed close behind.
"And that's a good place to stop."
Nodding, I pressed stop and put the device back in my armor. "I wonder..." I said. "How exactly do you know everybody around here?"
"I used to go all over the place," replied Edward. "I knew a lot of people before we came to this District. Harold did too, I'll be honest..."
I nodded, wondering how small a world District 9 must have been. "I see..." I said.
"Some I know less than others," said Harold as he looked down on me. "But I still know a lot of people... And it helps a lot."
"That would be good if you're trying to get along in this district," I said. "So that's a plus. I shall see you guys tomorrow, then. Good night."
"Good night," said Caroline.
And with this, I exited the tent, minding the searchlights as I moved back to my post.
