Training Days

by Joan De La Haye

  “I am not sulking,” Mannheim grumbled. “That...man is talking Scheiße. He is jealous because our Runner was able to defeat his without any enhancements or training. Arschloch!”

  “Who was his Runner?” I asked.

  “I think it’s Snezhana,” Sunil said. “She was the one you fought at the last marker before you made it to the arena. I think...”

  “The really ugly one?” I asked.

  Sunil, Mannheim, and Von Zimmer all laughed. Olga snorted.

  “Do not say that to our host,” Von Zimmer said. “He was surprisingly fond of her.”

  “Do you think he paid the fee to get her body back?” Sunil asked.

  “It would not surprise me,” Von Zimmer said with a sigh. “If he has, things may get unpleasant. I received word that Victoria paid the fee for Elena’s body.”

  “Verdammte Scheiße!” Mannheim swore again.

  “Will Victoria be here for the settlement,” Sunil asked, pacing the room.

  “I assume all the higher members of the Organisation will be in attendance,” Von Zimmer said and took an elegant sip of his coffee. His facial expression matched Sunil’s at the taste. “You are right, this coffee is terrible.” Von Zimmer put his cup down on the nearest coffee table.

  “She’s not ready for this,” Sunil said, pointing at me.

  “Yes, you have said so before,” Von Zimmer said, sounding a tad on the irritated side. “But unfortunately we do not have a choice. She had to be here and she must learn to adapt to her new world. Or would you rather we had faced the consequences if we had not brought her?”

  “Of course not. That’s not what I’m saying,” Sunil grumbled.

  “Then what are you saying? Please enlighten me as to what you think I should have done.”

  “I don’t know.” Sunil shrugged in defeat.

  “Should I have left her on the Island? Should I have let Victoria claim her? Or, God forbid, let Kuznetsov claim her? Or left her to rot on the island, unclaimed?”

  “No,” Sunil said.

  “Then what would you have me do?”

  “I don’t know,” Sunil sighed.

  “Neither do I.” Von Zimmer leaned forward and ran his fingers through his short hair.

  “Perhaps that is the whole idea behind this little farce,” Mannheim offered.

  “What do you mean?” Sunil asked.

  I wanted to ask them what the fuck they were all talking about, but since they were talking as though I wasn’t in the room and disclosing things they wouldn’t normally tell me I decided to shut-up and listen. You never know what you might find out if you close your mouth and open your ears.

  “Well...” the Doctor leaned forward and steepled his fingers under his chin. “You claimed her first and without the permission of the whole Organisation.”

  “I had permission from the majority, which is all I needed, and Zelda was completely destroyed. There was a precedent,” Von Zimmer said in his defence. “I also claimed her long before The Race was completed.”

  “Yes, you gambled on her and won. You also followed the regulations, but Victoria and Kuznetsov did not agree especially once she defeated both their prize mares. They would not want her in your hands. They would either want her destroyed or in their stables, so to speak.” The Doctor sipped his own coffee and smacked his lips. “This is not so bad.” He took another sip.

  “But by the time they had voiced their objections it was too late. I had claimed her and they had lost,” Von Zimmer said, sounding pleased with himself.

  “Yes, you gambled and won, but now you are no longer only gambling with a business deal. You are gambling with her life,” the Doctor said.

  “And as I keep saying,” Sunil interjected. “She’s not ready.”

  “Precisely,” Von Zimmer said. “That’s exactly what he’s driving at.” He nodded at Mannheim. "They know it is too soon for us to have her ready. They could not convene a new Race, but they could contrive a dispute. I would be forced to bring her out in the open.”

  “But Victoria is not one of the parties involved in the dispute,” Sunil said.

  “She would never be that obvious, but I can guarantee that she is behind it,” Von Zimmer said with a sigh. “That woman is relentless, and Kuznetsov has always been her creature.”

  “One would think she would be grateful,” Sunil said. “Elena didn’t win her freedom and she doesn’t have to part with all that gold. It’s a win-win for her.”

  “It is not about the gold,” Von Zimmer said. “She lost face in that arena. Her prize fighter was defeated by a novice. There is no greater humiliation.”

  “And that woman’s pride knows no boundaries,” Sunil said.

  “Precisely,” Mannheim said. “Things are going to get very interesting for you Fräulein.”

  They all turned to look at me with varying degrees of concern stamped on their faces.

  I was so beyond fucked it wasn’t even funny.

  12

  The party was in full swing by the time we’d been allowed out of our suite, which they’d locked us in after they’d shuffled us out of the sitting room and into the new set of lavishly decorated rooms.

  Olga had dressed me in another one of those gladiator stripper outfits, similar to the one I’d worn for my battle in the arena with Elena. At least this one wasn’t covered in blood... yet. Both she and Von Zimmer assured me that the outfit was strictly for appearances sake. It was a nod at tradition or something. These fuckers and their weird traditions were really starting to piss me off.

  They all promised that I wasn’t going to have to fight. No weapons were allowed into the welcoming function anyway. The dispute settlement would take place the next morning and I was only required to stand watch along with the other Runners. I would be allowed to have a sword for that, but it was only for decorative purposes. A Runner’s life was only up for grabs during a race or during a dispute settlement, and only if she represented the house that was involved in the dispute. Those were the rules. No Runner or her Patron would violate those rules. They were sacrosanct. So, theoretically, I should be safe.

  To be honest, nothing they said made me feel any better. The looks they exchanged when they thought I wasn’t looking told a whole other story. A massive rock sat at the bottom of my stomach and kept hurtling up to my throat. I knew Von Zimmer was nervous. He had to be. No one can be that cool. But I have to say, he looked completely calm. Maybe it’s because they weren’t after his life, they only wanted to kill his property, namely me. I was basically running the risk of being stabbed just because his rivals wanted to stop him getting the upper-hand. I mean, how un-fucking-fair is that?

  A quartet played classical music as we entered the main ballroom where all the members in the Organisation were assembled with their Runners. I realised it was the first time I was in a room with all of them, seeing the whole scope and depth of it. I was pretty shocked when I recognised so many of the faces. There were far more in the ballroom than I remembered seeing in the amphitheatre on the island. These were the people who ran the world. Presidents, dictators, business tycoons, billionaires, celebrities, they all turned to look at us, to look at me.

  “Es ist alles gut, Liebchen,” Olga said, patting my shoulder.

  I swallowed my throat.

  “Huh?”

  “She said it’s all good,” Sunil whispered in my ear. “And she’s right; it’s going to be fine. Stay by my side, and I’ll get you through this. They won’t make a move against Von Zimmer or you tonight. You don’t need to worry.” He gave my hand a quick squeeze. “It’s a party. And I think we could use a drink.”

  I could only manage a nod.

  Von Zimmer sauntered off as though nobody was watching, and schmoozed with a couple billionaires who had made their money in renewable energies. Their Runners draped themselves over their Patron’s shoulders and looked bored. I’d seen the billionaire’s faces splashed across the covers of a few business magazines and all over Facebook. I vaguely
remembered they were pissing off the oil tycoons, which made me want to hug them. I didn’t though.

  “Shouldn’t we stay close to Von Zimmer?” I asked, looking around the room and noticed that most Runners were hanging around their Patrons—either draped over them like sexy snakes or standing guard at a discreet distance.

  “Unlike most of them, he actually doesn’t like it when we follow him around. It makes him uncomfortable,” Sunil said as we made our way to the bar area.

  “Why does it make him uncomfortable?” I asked, looking around to see what had happened to Doctor Mannheim and Olga who had gone off on their own and were huddled in a dark corner.

  “Unlike the rest of these bastards,” Sunil nodded his head in the general direction of the other Patrons. “He doesn’t see us as his slaves. We’re a team.”

  “You like him,” I said, sounding as shocked as I felt.

  “I’ve worked for a few of the other Patrons during my years with the Organisation and he’s the only one I respect. He’s a good man trying to make a difference in a world filled with power hungry tyrants.”

  Sunil got the attention of the barman and ordered a beer for me without asking what I wanted, while I watched the Toad’s maids carry silver trays filled with bite sized treats, cigars, drugs, and champagne glasses filled to the brim. I kept waiting to see naked girls covered in Sushi. It was the sort of party gangsters in Johannesburg dreamed about.

  “Is it always like this?” I asked.

  “No. For one thing these sorts of disputes hardly ever happen. As for tonight’s little bash... Well... Let’s just say this is Kuznetsov’s idea of an elegant shindig. The Patrons will live it up tonight. Some of them will do something really stupid and Kuznetsov will conveniently film it all and later, when the time is right, he’ll use it to his advantage,” Sunil said with distaste. “But most of the other Patrons wouldn’t willingly be here or attend a party like this. They prefer boardrooms and business meetings at their exclusive country clubs, or to play a round of golf.”

  “Then why do they live it up if they know that’s what’s going to happen?” As soon as I’d asked I realised how naive I sounded.

  “What’s that expression? A stiff cock has no conscience? Or something like that,” Sunil said, picking up my beer and handing it over before he grabbed his own glass of whiskey. “Plus some of these idiots can snort enough shit to put an elephant down. They’re asking to be blackmailed. They run the world in back offices and boardrooms, moving people around like chess pieces, but on the whole, when it comes to their own lives, they make really stupid decisions.”

  “So they’re basically just like us,” I said. “They need to shit and screw around like the rest of us poor slobs.”

  “Pretty much,” Sunil said and took another sip of his drink. “Just with a lot more money and power, and bigger toys.”

  We stood at the bar in an uncomfortable silence I kept wanting to fill, but didn’t know what I should ask or say or do. I’d never felt that out of my element before. I took a sip of my beer. It was something to do.

  “How do you like it?” Sunil asked, nodding at the beer bottle.

  “It’s not bad,” I said and licked my lips.

  “It’s from Von Zimmer’s brewery,” Sunil said with a smile. “He’s very proud of it. He’ll be happy you liked it.”

  I wasn’t sure how to respond so took another swig of beer instead.

  I’m socially awkward, okay.

  I looked around the room, took in all the billionaires and their Runners, while I searched for something to talk about.

  “So...” I eventually said. “What’s the story between Olga and the good Doctor?”

  “They’re trying to be discreet, but we all know there’s something’s going on. It’s quite sweet, isn’t it?” Sunil said with a soft smile.

  I nodded. I was surprised that Sunil was such a romantic.

  “Olga’s husband was my predecessor,” Sunil said and took a sip of his whiskey. His mood seemed to change drastically at the memory.

  “What happened to him?” I asked. Curiosity overcame any of my social issues as well as any sensitivity concerns.

  Sunil took another sip of his drink before answering.

  “He was killed in a car bomb meant for Von Zimmer. They were in Berlin for a negotiation. Robert went ahead and started the car, while the boss took a phone call. Ordinarily he would have taken the call in the car and in front of Robert, but it was his new mistress and he wanted to have some privacy. It’s weird how things work out.” Sunil paused to have another sip. “Von Zimmer is alive because he wanted to talk dirty to his new girlfriend, and Robert’s kids have to grow up without their father because he started a car and a bomb, that wasn’t meant for him, exploded.”

  “Fuck!” I said a little louder than I should have. A couple of Patrons turned to stare at me. “That’s so not fair,” I whispered and tried to ignore the reproachful looks. “Do you know who planted the bomb?”

  “We have our suspicions, but there’s nothing we can prove.” Sunil took another sip. “Von Zimmer is a great man and because he wants to make a difference in the world he tends to piss certain members of the Organisation off.”

  “Like Kuznetsov?” I asked.

  “Like Kuznetsov,” he said with a nod.

  “So, this beer?” I asked while examining the label on the bottle. “Is this how he makes his money?”

  Sunil almost spat his whiskey all over the bar counter laughing. The same Patrons turned to stare at us. I stared back at them. Fucking judgemental bastards who had fuck-all to be judgy about with their Runners sitting on their laps. I could swear one was getting a hand job from his Runner right there in front of everyone.

  “No,” Sunil said once he’d recovered and had wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “His family have made their money manufacturing weapons throughout the ages. I’m not sure how far back, but his father and grandfather before him both made billions in the two world wars.”

  “And is that how he makes his money?” I asked, unsure how I felt working for a war-profiteer and weapons manufacturer.

  “No,” Sunil said, shaking his head. “He’s trying to change the world, not blow it up. He’s investing in clean energy and sustainable development in Africa and India.”

  “Oh great. That’s just what Africa needs. Yet another interfering, rich white dude with a saviour complex.” The sarcasm dripped.

  “He’s not like that, and I’ll prove it,” Sunil said, slamming his almost empty glass down on the counter. “Come with me.”

  He grabbed my hand and pulled me along behind him as we manoeuvred through the crowd of Patrons and Runners. His hand was surprisingly sweaty. I still held my beer bottle by its neck. He was leading me towards Von Zimmer who was still talking to the clean energy guys. They looked as though they were in the middle of a very deep conversation and I wasn’t sure interrupting them would be such a good idea.

  I bumped into Sunil’s back. I hadn’t notice him come to a sudden halt midstride.

  “Shit,” he whispered.

  “What?” I whispered back, not sure why we were whispering.

  “We need to get you out of here.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, as he turned to look at me. “I should have warned you properly, but I didn’t think they’d be back this soon. I thought we had more time.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” I asked.

  And then I saw them. I was so fucked.

  13

  Two of the women I thought I’d killed on the island stood a few meters away from us, living and breathing. They glared at me through the crowd. If I were the overly dramatic type I’d say they were staring daggers, but that would have been too cliché, appropriate, but cliché.

  Elena and Snezhana weaved through the throng of Patrons and Runners towards Sunil and me. We both looked around for an exit, but a wall of Runners seemed to spring up out of nowhere and encircle us.
They tried to look innocent, to pretend that they were just standing there looking in another direction, but Sunil and I were clearly in a trap.

  “Get behind me,” Sunil whispered.

  The room grew quiet. It seemed as though everybody was holding their breath. So was I. The two women took their time sauntering towards us with these self-satisfied grins. I didn’t even want to think about the look on my face.

  I heard Von Zimmer shout in the distance. His voice sounded as though it came from another universe and not from across the ballroom. There was a scuffle as other Patrons held him back. He made threats, but they wouldn’t release him. Sunil and I were on our own. I was once again going to have to fight for my life. Only this time I didn’t have a sword and there was nowhere for me to run. I didn’t think a beer bottle would suffice as a weapon.

  Patrons milled around the edge of the circle of Runners. Some stared in open curiosity, while others pretended not to notice what was going on. I heard one grumble about it not being right and another told him to stay out of it. Another one said something about the consequences of breaking the rules and was quietly told to shut up.

  The Runners parted at one end of the circle to allow Elena and Snezhana to enter the ring. Sunil pushed me behind him and planted his feet firmly, getting ready to fight.

  “This is not your fight, my friend,” Elena said to Sunil with unexpected warmth.

  “You’re attacking my Runner. Of course it’s my fight,” Sunil said.

  “Please step aside,” Elena said softly. She was almost begging him. It made me wonder about their past relationship.

  “Elena, what you’re doing right now breaks every rule the Organisation has. There will be consequences,” Sunil said.

  “This is taking too long,” Snezhana said and took a step closer towards Sunil. “Move or I make you.”

  I tried to get out from behind him, but he pushed me back and shook his head.

  “Fine,” Snezhana growled.

  She was still one of the ugliest women I’ve ever seen. She moved like a bull as she ran at Sunil. She knocked him right off his feet and we both went sliding across the polished ballroom floor. My beer bottle went dancing across the floor, between the feet of the inquisitive, ever growing crowd. Hands grabbed me, forcing me to my feet and back towards the centre of the ring.