Aparthied 100

Truck Stop of The Holy Land

"The Nazis Made Me Afraid of Being Jewish. The Israelis Make Me Ashamed of Being Jewish."-

Dr Israel Shahak

It was Soran's 12th birthday when 15 year old Faris Odeh died. Faris Odeh was made famous for facing the Israeli tanks. He was Palestine's David to Israel's Goliath. This had changed Soran's life forever.

Kosugi: Today, we toast to Tendo and his friends!

Settler A (in Hebrew): [You think Netanyahu will be proud of our rounding up the Hamas POWs?]

Settler B: [Definitely! That girl is totally my type!]

Settler C: Hey newbie! Where's my refill? (Akira slips and falls) What's your deal? Quit fooling around!

Things had gotten worse. Kosugi got nasty toward a woman serving him beer.

Kosugi: I don't want a hag serving me beer! I only accept beer from young women. (To Shizuka) You will serve me a drink.

Shizuka came and served him beer. That was when Kosugi stared at her breasts and licked his tongue.

Kosugi: Ditch the water. Have some beer. Won't you accept your boss's offer?

Soran (from behind Kosugi): Try free will.

Kosugi (gasps): Why are you following me? Are you some ghost?

Soran (quoting the Quran): "O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants (khamr), gambling, [sacrificing on] stone altars [to other than God], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful." You do not own her. She is a human being. Now let her go.

Kosugi: Heh. You've got guts. I'll give you that. Hey, Tendo! I'm out of beer!

But when Akira came up with the crate, Kosugi smashed the bottle.

Kosugi: It's empty! Why are you giving me an empty bottle?! Who fixed your truck, patched your friend, and let you sleep for the night? All you need is to shut up and follow my orders!

This made Shizuka think of her childhood where her father wouldn't let her adopt a puppy or make friends. In fact, Kosugi reminded her of the way her father had forced into an act of obedience and needs.

Things had gotten worse for Akira. He couldn't carry the boxes any further.

Kosugi: Looks like you'll be working tomorrow and on the weekend to finish this.

Soran (aiming his Desert Eagle at Kosugi's head): You promised us two days.

Kosugi: Is this the thanks I get for fixing your truck and patching your friend up?

Soran: I saw what you did to Akira and my people. You created your own Bataan March.

In the RV, Shizuka found Akira's notebook. This actually made her smile.

Shizuka: You are weird, yet charming.

This was when she started adding her own ideas since there were only 36.

The trucks arrived with beer.

Settler A (in Hebrew): [Thats a great haul! Say, have you noticed Kosugi never helps with the acquisition runs?]

Settler B: [Just be glad we aren't being tortured into labor like those Palis.]

Day 2 arrived, and the RV was fixed.

Shizuka: As promised, it's been 2 days. As agreed, we'll be leaving now.

Kencho: Sorry for getting you into this, Akira. This ends today.

Akira: Actually…I think I'll stay and work for Kosugi.

Kencho: What's happened to you?

Soran: That bastard's happened.

Akira: It's just that…it's dangerous out there.

Soran: Akira, people die everyday. Look at Faris Odeh. He wasn't afraid to go up against the Merkava! He was our David to the Zionists' Goliath.

Kosugi: I'm afraid Tendo really likes his job.

Soran: If he's staying, I'm staying. I will not let you persecute him and my people any longer.

Akira: I need to repay Kosugi for what he's done…

Shizuka: "Needs, needs, needs, needs…" Shut up! Akira, seeing how we won't meet again, let me tell you one last thing. That man that's trying to force you into a life of servitude, do you know that he's trying to do? He wants to dominate you and make you do what he wants. Your free will is yours alone. Your freedom to choose, the self-respect you need to live…your soul! Your pride! He wants you to abandon them, so he can take it away. He has no self-esteem, and he's never satisfied. All he did was put others down to make himself look bigger. That sociopath would do anything assertive and get brief sense of fulfillment by demeaning you all. Until now, I was just like what you are now. But you and Soran helped me open my eyes. I'm not handing myself over to anyone ever again! Is anyone staying or leaving? Are there any "needs"? I want to get away from this bastard!

Kosugi: Heh, women.

Shizuka: You're not a robot, Akira. (Shows Akira his notebook) You're a human being. So tell me something. What is you really want to do?

Kosugi: How long are you going to spout this crap? (Pries the notebook) Give me that! Who gives a shit what you want?

Just when Kosugi was about to stomp the notebook to the ground, Akira finally snapped out of his fearful trance and got in the way.

Kosugi: What are you doing?

Akira: Kosugi, thanks for taking care of me and my friends. But this is where we go our separate ways. I refuse to do anything for you any longer. I never want to see you again!

Kosugi (gasps): But you owe me!

Akira: Can't be done. Hope you accept my apologies!

Kosugi: I hope the IDF gets you.

Akira: I would rather die than be your slave! Besides, better than being treated like a robot. (Crosses out "Tell Off My Jerk Of A Boss")

There were more delivery trucks. But when they arrived, the Yamam came out of the truck.

Kosugi: Remain calm. The police are here to protect us.

Soran: They're not here to protect us. They're here to take us prisoners. Just like you did to the Hamas.

Soran went to so set the Hamas POWs free.

Hamas POW: Why'd you free us?

Soran: A warrior has his code of honor. Fatah or Hamas, we are still Palestinians. It's time we set aside our differences and help the settlers.

So the Palestinian refugees helped build a barricade with the trucks. Kencho helped the settlers up onto the barricade.

Kencho: We can't save them all.

At that moment, Soran saw Kosugi running from the police.

Kosugi: Please! I'll do anything! I'm a law abiding citizen!

Akira (spotting the food truck): Delivery team, I got an idea! Please help us.

Just in time, the food truck stopped the police from capturing Kosugi.

Akira (coming out of the cab): Kosugi, now's our chance. Get on the roof. Hurry!

Kencho (watching Akira come to Kosugi's aid): Why's he helping that guy?

Soran (quoting the Quran): "Whoever seeks honor [should know that] honor entirely belongs to Allah. To Him ascends the good word, and He elevates righteous conduct; as for those who devise evil schemes, there is a severe punishment for them, and their plotting shall come to naught."

Akira (to the Israeli settlers): Ready guys!

The settlers encircled the police with the trucks. The Yamam were trapped like rats. Akira and Kosugi took a leap off the truck and were free. Kencho ran up to Akira with joy. Shizuka smiled after ages of wondering what she wanted.

Kosugi: As expected, a fine example from my subordinate.

Settler A: Sorry, Kosugi. I'm done working for you. The Pali was right. You really did create another Auschwitz.

Settler B: That newbie has better leadership than you ever did.

Palestinian refugees: We've more than paid our dues. It's time we leave. It's time we leave.

Kosugi: Hey wait!

No one stayed. They all left.

Shizuka: You don't remember?

Akira: My mind went blank when Kosugi was in front of me. I'm just glad you and Soran saved me from myself. That said, I may never find a real job.

Shizuka: Is that bad? There's no rush.