by Brian Dae
Changing subjects the owner started speaking about the movie and its director. Expressing an enthusiast’s passion behind his words as he connected the scenes with the context they transpired in. A long talk going on about the director, the country the movie took place in, the time period, and little cultural notes about the country’s history which might have influenced the decisions of the characters. All this took some time and Cassidy looked at his watch to make sure he did not delay his prior arrangement though it was difficult to make this appear casual when the darkness obscured the numbers. The owner took notice and led his visitor to the front lobby where the light was just bright enough to see each other’s faces. With a thin wispy face, time did not treat the owner well. He encouraged Cassidy to visit again and explained that there was no charge to watch movies here, but that the theatre lacked a consistent schedule being that the owner played movies whenever he wanted. Unsure of when he might be able to exercise this permission, Cassidy thanked the owner and never received an answer for why he bothered to keep the operation going, leaving the building to find his bus stop.
It was early in the afternoon and there were still some people coming and going to pick-up orders from a takeout shop across the street. After waiting a while, he was joined by Viktor who appeared from the shop as well with a brown bag in his arms. He was dressed in much less formal clothes than he remembered, looking almost too casual in a striped shirt and slacks. Although Viktor clearly remembered Cassidy, he took his time to walk over, as if sniffing all the flowers along the way. Once he got close enough to carry on a conversation, Viktor suggested they wait for the bus. Cassidy obliged and they both paid their fares and got on, sitting near the back. A few stops later they exited on a nearly empty residential street. Viktor stopped in front of a trash can.
“I hate to waste food but I have no intention of eating it. Have you eaten yet?” Viktor asked.
Cassidy took the bag and they kept on walking.
“When you called, I didn’t know whether or not I should be seeing you. You must understand that our position is rather precarious these days.”
“I understand. I didn’t call you for anything really important, so you’re just indulging me at this point.”
Viktor found a little café around the corner and suggested they take a seat, ordering for the both of them cappuccinos and madeleines. They sat at the back of the building where a pillar cut them off from the other tables, barely lit by a single light hanging overhead. At a little past three the shop was almost empty anyway. They sat by a little shelf where two people could lean while perching their feet on a steel bar running below the stools. The small round seats felt uncomfortable but for Cassidy it was better than standing out on the street. They waited for the waiter to serve them the drinks and let them cool on the saucers.
“I returned from Vieten a while ago.”
Viktor tried to appear unmoved by the statement but the muscles in his hand betrayed his reaction.
“What did it look like?”
“Just like the pictures in the media. But we saw them. All six members of the Central Commission sitting in their seats. I believe those pictures will be released eventually.”
Viktor muttered a prayer underneath his breath. “You have to understand, Cassidy. These men were not just leaders to us as members of the government. I thank you for sharing this with me. What can I help you with in return?”
Cassidy smiled anxiously. For so long he wanted to find the answer himself but even staring it in the face made him doubt if it were true.
“Why did they do what they did?”
Viktor liked to look around the room when asked tough questions but they were both sitting in front of a wall without anything to divert their eyes to. He thought about the question and started to say something but cut himself off twice, thinking that his answer was not sufficient or failed to address some point or another. Cassidy could tell that this was a sincere gesture of wanting to answer the question.
“I think it’s impolite to ask a question in response to another person’s question but I think it necessary in explaining my answer. Tell me, how many Ruvens did you see when you first walked out your home to us sitting down in this café?”
“I don’t know, couldn’t say.”
“Well then, how many did you see in the past week? There are a lot of people in this City after all.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to tell.”
“Isn’t that just another way of saying that you haven’t seen a single one?”
Cassidy watched the final wisps of steam rise from his cup as it cooled.
“Did they really think that would happen? When the world had changed so much?”
“Maybe not. But the trust was not there, on both sides. The great irony is that the oppressor is always more fearful than the oppressed because their view of others is formed by their own actions. The decision on our side was a reaction. What was the purpose for yours?”
Cassidy sighed.
“In history it’s always better to be the one apologizing than the one being apologized to. But I will tell you from my experience it’s not that much better if you regret it,” Cassidy said.
They ate their madeleines and finished the drinks. Most people who sat in cafes took their time to chat and fixate themselves on a few ounces of liquid but they were acting as if they were pressed for time, though neither of them had something to do after. Cassidy went to the counter to order another drink and returned to the little shelf with another two cups, this time in paper cups.”
“They wanted us to find Radio-Isotope B512. Just what were we looking for?”
“Even if I wanted to answer your question, I couldn’t, because I’m not a physicist and I’m not important enough to know the details. If it’s any help, it’s not a radioisotope and B512 is a random name without any significance, whether it’s the number of tests or variants they made beforehand. It was research into what appeared to be a new source of energy, enough to power the continent and eventually the world with ease. Although it was the pretense for war, it was not designed for that purpose and really could not be used in that way with the limited success we experienced. Our scientists succeeded in making the material, if only for a fleeting second and to a small degree, but it was not enough to power much beyond a city, just enough to start a war. However the head scientist, whose remains you might have acquainted yourself with, was quite impressed with the material. A wondrous thing whose potential was near unlimited. I recall he uttered a phrase when the test yielded its first success—that it was Genesis Again, that mankind could reshape the universe however they wanted to. An exaggeration most likely but we’ll never know. He was transferred to making bombs when Vandia invaded.”
Viktor took a sip and waited for a response. He continued speaking.
“By the nature of its production, it was a product of chance and not a defined process. Whatever alignments were necessary in the universe on that day could not be replicated and if so, it would escape our lifetimes in the span of two samples. To this day, I suspect Vandia is searching for that material and I am certain you were unable to find it during your own excursion. It wouldn’t have made a difference if you found it or if you didn’t. I only wonder if their desire has finally ended now and if Karkovians can live in peace within our borders once more, however limited that land is now. In the end, it’s still our land.”
“If the exiles know so much about it, why don’t you all just tell the public about it? It would have saved us all a lot of trouble.”
“It’s just one reason Cassidy, I’m sure they would have found another. I’m sorry you had to be caught up in it.”
They finished their drinks and retraced their steps to the bus stop. Cassidy would return home to the suburbs while Viktor would go off to do whatever it was that spies did. It was less time than either of them had budgeted for, so Cassidy thought about going off to do something else while he waited. He did not want to tell Elena about what
he was doing today because it was better if the issue died with him. There was no reason to reopen an investigation for his sake. Viktor was kind enough to wait by him until the bus came.
“Whatever happened to Paul and Edward?”
“We took care of them. They’re both safe.”
“Just where is safe in the world, really?”
Viktor laughed.
“Certainly not Karkov, or whatever remains of it after this war.”
Once the bus arrived, Cassidy stepped on and looked back at Viktor. He knew this would be the last time he would see the man. His own time was limited. Not a single doctor could cure the sickness he possessed now. After learning the truth he wondered whether it meant anything at all. Maybe he should tell Elena after all.
