by Robert Wood
He pushed the black suitcase lovingly towards me. – Don’t
you have dreams, Dresden? - Not that
kind of dreams, I answered. - That is too dangerous for a man like me. An
unpretentious man should have unpretentious dreams.
Oslo is a pleasant
city, especially if you got work and money. I hadn’t landed a job in ages, but
expenses were low and the social security money that tickled into my account kept
me going. You would not starve to death, but kept alive on the barren side of
the fence where the brownish grass is always wilting – never green.
Nevertheless, I
still had enough money to enjoy a beer or five on Fridays. As was my habit, I
started at Aker Brygge, a vulgar, expensive tourist trap with an excellent
fjord-view and crowds of the filthy rich. I usually finished my weekly pub-crawl
in one of the brown cafes at the East-end! Pubs where the beer was cheap and
the view was faded prints on cracked plaster walls. And, to be honest… places I
could chat up one of the not so young ladies frequenting these waterholes for free
drinks and some easy going company for the night. I’m built like a wrestler and
uncomplicated by nature, but not without natural charm. And do you ask me where
I feel at home .… it’s in the company of
the tired, working class.
It was late August
and one of the hot summer evenings only the City of Beggars can boast of. The
last rays of sun painted the diesel-fumes crimson as Night started to spread his
leather jacket over the metal roofs. The outdoor restaurant at Carl Johan was a
strategically place to capture stag parties tourists and pub-crawlers alike. I
enjoyed the sight of the painted, sleek animals which walked by the restaurant.
They had vacated their office pens for the weekend and were going to paint the
city with their fashion conscious hipsters lovers.
I was already
half-way on my Friday night-run when King Alcohol greeted me with a familiar
hello. I’m not quite sure, but after the sixth pint a man asked if he could sit
down at my table. All the other tables were taken, he said. Of cause I was
disappointed that he wasn’t a she, but when he offered to buy me a an expensive
micro-brew beer my sense of well being picked up. I like people buying me
drinks. More followed quickly on after another, and somehow I don’ remember
what happened. Probably we had a long chat about how difficult it was to get a
job for a man more than willing to work for a reasonable pay. Whatever else we
talked about went down the drain with the rest of the evening.
The grey fog of
memories lost did not clear up until noon next day. Everything was where it should be. The body
did not hurt, and when I checked my wallet my cash and card were still there.
They seemed to smile, and I smiled back with my best hangover grin. A yellow card
with a telephone number was also staring at me, and I guessed that the little
piece of cardboard belonged to the dark side of last night. I presumed that the
phone number had something to do with the big spender – Wasn’t it something about
a job? I asked myself. But since my burnt out shell of a braincase did not
bother to respond, I poured myself another cup of coffee hoping for the fog to evaporate.
Half an hour later
I heard the tiny click of my two brain-halves connecting again. The card was resting
on the kitchen table and without trying to think I grabbed my Galaxy and made
the call. I had nothing to lose. After four
seconds a unmistakable computer voice rasped a message: - Hello Dresden! Nice
evening yesterday! My assistant, Tiny,
will pick you up at three o’clock for your first run. As agreed on last night
the pay is ten grand. Ten grand! I had not seen so much money in years. I rose
a bit shaky and sat down again just as shaky. What in the world had we agreed
on? I couldn’t for the love of my life remember.
Exactly three
o’clock my doorbell rang. It was as if somebody nearly succeeded to force the
button through the concrete. When I opened the door, I stared directly into the
chest of a Norwegian clone of Hulk Hogan. He was not Tiny. He was Grizzly, a
human bear in disguise. I looked up and stared into a friendly face that opened
into a smile – Dresden! Are you ready?
The old Ford moved
law abiding out from the worn-down, concrete jungle where I lived in the
outskirts of Oslo and trundled towards the center of Beggar City. – Today we are going to make a pick up at the
Harbour-building. And, as you probably remember from the briefing you got last
night, we are usually two in the car. – Yes, I lied without blinking. I hadn’t the
faintest idea what the man talked about, but the thought of ten grand spoke for
itself. This was a job for Dresden, and I hoped the job didn’t break too many laws.
Tiny chatted about nothing and everything. How he had been driving for our
boss, Mr. Tony, for several years and that he made decent money from the jobs
he undertook. I asked if our work went with a certain risk, but he waved the
question away with the lazy gesture of a sleepy bear-paw and answered that safety
demanded two well-built fighting men. Besides, I hadn’t been picked because I
was good at lifting pints of beer, but because I seemed to be a motivated man
with muscles and brain. The way he said it implied that he knew about my past
as a security guard and bouncer.
The Harbor-building
is a monument over Oslo’s rich, proud past. The building reeks of money and
Tiny told the security guard that he would like to see Mr. Parsons. The guard
put on his most arrogant smile and answered that all kind of people wanted to
see Mr. Parsons, especially after he had become the CEO of a successful oil
company. He personally believed that it would be very difficult for us to meet
him, if we knew what he meant. Tiny leant over the man, stared down at him and
growled: - Call him up, tell him that the movers from Bankers and Stocks are
here. Or should we help you move this desk? The massive oak wood whimpered as Tiny’s
huge fist applied a human jackhammer pressure. I have never before seen a
frightened man dial a number that fast. Besides, we experienced a certain
pleasure when Mr. Parsons himself showed up in less two minutes. The oil-man
came smiling with extended hand and guided us up to his office. He was long
past his prime but he still looked like he knew what he wanted to wring out of
this world. An expensive leather case with a steel code lock rested on his mahogany
desk. – Please give me the agreed upon code so that I can verify that you are
who you say you are, he asked softly without moving his calculating eyes. Tiny
scribbled a number on a yellow card of the same kind I had left on my kitchen
table, and pushed the card towards Mr. Parsons. The man nodded and indicated
that Tiny should pick up the small, but apparently very heavy case. – I rather
not hear that the delivery ended up in the wrong hands, he said with a hard
smile - Take good care of my golden babies.
The security guard
at the entrance got busy looking the other way when we walked out of the
Harbour-building. The recipient in a luxury suite at Plaza hotel gave Tiny a
new code and when Tiny handed over the leather case the smaller man tipped
forward under the weight. Even I could guess that the case contained heavy
metal of the non-musical kind.
In the secluded
car park under Plaza Tiny handed me a white envelope: - You don’t have to take
the Underground home now. You can afford a taxi! he said with a grin. - I call
you in the beginning of next week. Mr. Tony wants us to move something for a ship-owner
at Bygdøy. I believe the billionaire lives in the same area where the King has
his resident. I nodded, got out of the car, watched Tiny drive away and put the
money in my wallet. They warmed my heart all the way home.
We drove people
and did not ask who they were. We moved discreet and small, but very heavy, attaché
cases and did not ask what were in them. The goods we transported were too
evaluable to be moved in a taxi. They cases were what one called…. sensitive….
if you know what I mean? Tiny insisted that we did not move drugs, but
valuables the rich did not wish to pay tax on and moved to and from safe houses
in Austria and Switzerland.
I had become a
well paid security tool. I was always sitting in the passenger seat when we
were on the job. Once and awhile I looked inquisitive at Tiny. I don’t think he
noticed in the stickysweet noise of C & W he loved pumping out of the
speakers. This was the only downside and a small miracle that we didn’t get
deaf. Anyhow, driving through the streets of Oslo listening to Hank Williams
and Dolly Parton worshipping the simple life in the country was surreal. And looking
at the giant behind the wheel, I was happy that I was with him and not against
him.
One day we
transported a beautiful blond and a slender brunette from a well known street
address in Oslo west to the best hotel in town. Then we transported several
small cases of heavy metal from one storehouse to another. Pleasant, simple
jobs.
One week I come to
realize how lucky I was with Tiny as partner. We moved another beautifully crafted
leather attaché-case from Mr. Parsons. Tiny drove at a leisurely speed towards
Hotel Plaza, when a red car suddenly streaked out from an ally and blocked the
street. Behind us, a car with tinted glass blocked any attempt to back up. Tiny
did not hesitate. He pushed the gas pedal almost through the floor.
To my surprise the
old Ford pasted the red car effortlessly against the nearest wall. The doors
were crushed and could not be opened from inside by probably well paid henchmen.
Then he backed the Ford into the car behind us. Then another forward lightning
fast maneuverer past the broken red car. The tinted glass did not attempt to
follow. It is difficult to chase anything with your front wheels thirty degrees
out of alignment.
Tiny’s only
comment was – There are more horsepower under the hood than you can imagine,
Dresden, but we have to repair the scratches and give the Ford a makeover.
Apparently, somebody has figured out that this car is moving valuables, but
they don’t know what. Then he turned up the volume another notch. A sure sign
that he was satisfied with himself.
The remark made me
wonder what other custom-made surprises were built into the chassis. Two days
later I got the answer. Once again we transported the two young, beautiful
ladies when a naked man with a shotgun came running out of the house they hurriedly
had left but moments ago. A naked man with a shotgun in his hands is no less
dangerous than a well-dressed man. The buckshots hammered into the car door and
windows when Tiny without apparent haste passed the shooter so close that I
could see the blue anger in his eyes. Not one of the shots had penetrated. – Bulletproof car, Tiny? I asked while I
still hang on to my safety belt. – Ummm, he murmured and smiled to the girls in
the mirror. – You are in safe hands, girls. I was also glad that I was in his
huge, safe hands.
So far, I had had
no future contact with the man Tiny called Mr. Tony. I had a clouded memory of
the man who had treated me innumerable glasses of foaming beer. The money
envelopes showed that he was satisfied with my modest role, and when we one day
once more sat face to face, he confirmed my thoughts. – I am satisfied with
you, he said with a voice like a purring cat, rubbing his fingers slowly
together. – You have shown the necessary cool and discretion we appreciate in
this profession. I mumbled something about Tiny doing most of the work, even as
I could not hide that I was flattered. – It is not often I meet my hard working
transporters personally, said Mr. Tony and studied his nails as if they were made
of diamonds. – But the next transport coming up is very important. Tiny and I
looked at each other; Wasn’t all the jobs we did important? – One of our
customers has certain problems with one of his former business associates. Tiny
has reported that you have run into them at an earlier occasion. The goods you
shall transport is the most valuable you have moved so far. I do not have to
remind you that you are both responsible for a safe delivered to the right
recipient.
The building where
we picked up the suitcase was not as luxurious as the Harbour building, but the
art-designed interior spoke softly of exclusive money. We went through the
usual meaningless exchange of niceties and the exchange of codes went smoothly.
Shortly afterwards we sat in our repaired Ford. Tiny drove only a couple of
minutes before he suddenly turned into an alley. He had a strange smile on his
face. A mix of something dreamy and greedy. – I have to have a look this time!
Aren’t you curious too? Without waiting for an answer he manipulated the code
locks and opened the case slowly. Even before I saw what was inside the golden
rays bathed Tiny’s face.
He turned the
suitcase towards me: - Haven’t you sometimes dreams, Dresden? – Not this kind
of dreams, I answered. – That is too dangerous for a man like me. An
unpretentious man should have unpretentious dreams. – But I don’t, barked Tiny,
lifting out one of the gold bars. – For five years I have been driving “goods”
for the ultra- rich. I am tired of being
their errand boy. I am tired of knocking on kitchen doors. – Close the lid, I
said quietly. – Drive on! Tiny closed reluctantly the suitcase and turned the
ignition key. A little further up the street I saw how his face suddenly
hardened. – I want this gold. And you can have a share of the dream if you wish.
I have two seats for Bueno Aires. If you do not accept you leave this car
headfirst! Tiny had planned for this.
I was surprised at
my own reaction. In a split second my hands twisted the wheel to the right.
Tiny did not use a safety belt, and his head kissed the windshield, but I did
not waste time wondering how hard Tiny’s head really was. My legs took control as I grabbed the suitcase,
hit the street stumbling and got almost killed by a passing car. Took three halting
steps with the way too heavy case before a bloody ham-fist closed around my
neck. Then Tiny spun me around and what felt like twenty kilo of grizzly bear
knuckles connected with my face.
When I regained
consciousness I had a headache that was the twin brother to the one I had after
the night on the town with Mr. Tony. My head felt like a cage filled with
ferrets sharpening their claws on my cortex. However, that wasn’t the worst. A
hand was swabbing my forehead with a cold cloth. Not the dainty hand of a
nurse, but a hairy grizzly bear paw.
I opened my eyes
and stared straight at the bandaged head of Tiny. I tried to get up, but to no
avail. – I’m sorry, he said in a friendly voice. – But I hit the windshield a
little bit too hard and lost my temper. I didn’t mean to! You are the first
that have managed that. – By all means, I said meekly. A new figure glided into
my field of vision. Mr. Tony smiled broadly. – We are very satisfied with what
you did, Dresden. - By all means, I answered a second time. All other answers
had been scraped out of my cortex the last minute. – You passed the test with
flying flags. You were not tempted! You even tried, with great courage and no
regards for your own safety, to save our clients’ investment, smiled Mr. Tony.
Apparently, he found what had happened amusing. – Didn’t I play my role well,
Dresden? rumbled Tiny. – No shit, I said and fainted again.
When I regained
consciousness once more, only Tiny filled the room. – Mr. Tony told me to give you this.
The envelope was considerably thicker than the ones I used to get after each
delivery. –Mr. Tony said that this was probably the best bandage you could get.
Tiny drove me home
in the good, old Ford, which thanks to me, needed another paint job. – Let’s hope
there is nothing serious. Custom made cars are really expensive to repair.
Luckily we got nothing but a few scratches ourselves. He pointed at our
bandages. – I call you in two weeks’ time. Mr. Tony has treated us with a
vacation. All expenses covered. He dropped me off outside where I lived.
My reward for my
loyalty was a kind of freedom. I was give my own custom made car in the
disguise of an over the hill Volkswagen. I had become a trusted employee with a
very decent pay. It felt nice to sit behind a steering wheel of my own without
Tiny and his ever-present Country music. It turned out that Tiny had not had
real dreams. Nevertheless, what he and Mr. Tony did not know was that MY dreams
were growing for each new attaché-case I safely delivered, and for every lithe woman
in the back seat. Temptation was reaching critical mass much faster than I had foreseen.
It had happened
ten minutes ago. On the seat beside me, a beautiful burgundy red calf-skin
attaché-case lay opened. A case Mr. Parsons had taken out of a vault in his
office and given to me with a knowing smile. – I have been informed about your
promotion by Tony. He told me how you fought valiantly. However, I have to
point out that the transport you are about to undertake is of greatest
importance. Nothing must go wrong. A few years ago one of our top politicians
was caught by mistake, by an overzealous custom officer, with diamonds he “forgot”
to declare. Ever since that unfortunate happening, I have had the profitable
pleasure of helping powerful friends to avoid similar unfortunate accidents. I
scratch their back, they scratch mine with favorable oil concessions. As one of
Tony’s now trusted employees you are my safety line between this office and the
recipient of this attaché case. If you, against all odds, should be stopped,
you pretend you know nothing. You are just a delivery boy! Nothing, but a well payed
delivery boy.
I was sure that
Mr. Parsons had been drinking, for otherwise he would not have hinted at the
nature of the valuable content in the attaché-case. Some of the superrich feel
the need to show off their superiority to poor people by bragging. I still felt
his damp handshake when I drove towards Gardermoen Airport. I knew that the
tracking computer at Mr. Tony’s headquarter would show that I was slightly off course,
but I hoped it would have not been noticed yet. Things happen, and 99.99 times
company alarms were triggered due to traffic jams and other naturally occurring
irregularities. However, this small anomaly would also as a matter of routine
trigger a reaction. Just in case something unforeseen had happened one of the
transporters, or as in my case had been tempted to disappear with the goods. My
pulse jumped still another notch when I parked the car at the airport. I could
almost imagine Tiny’s huge fists around my throat. Feel how his fingers bored into
and crushed my windpipe.
The last minute
check-in to Buenos Aires went smoothly. The attaché-case was now filled with a
few magazines and a book. The diamonds, which I by now should have handed over
to one of Norway’s better known Labor Party politicians, were casually resting
in my pockets in the company of sticky Fisherman’s Friends. I had also brought a
decent amount of cash and had gambled successfully on getting through airport security
without being caught. Diamonds are easy to hide and now I could only hope to
get away and erase my tracks completely so that Mr. Tony’s men would never find
me.
I found my seat in
the middle of the plane and stared at the still rising sun. The Airbus took off
and I felt satisfied with the boldness of my actions. The seat beside me was
not taken and I rested the attaché-case there. I had made it! The glorious
diamonds were mine and mine alone.
Then a polite
voice interrupts my train of thoughts. – I guess this is my seat. The voice is
so familiar that if instant ulcer had been possible I would have gotten two.
Tiny handed me the attaché-case and sat heavily down in the cramped economy seat.
– When the alarm at headquarters gave a first indication that you were
diverting from your preassigned route, I guessed what you were up to, Dresden,
he said rubbing his fingers.
I stared at him and started to sweat. Would I have
an unfortunate heart attack there and then or would I meet my death, Tiny’s
death, in Bueno Aires? – I did not believe you when you once told me you had
unpretentious dreams. I know that your dreams are much like my own dreams. I
deactivated Mr. Tony’s alarms, reported your delivery as successful and got
into my car. By the way… What do you estimate the value of the diamonds Mr.
Parsons entrusted you? He leaned against me. – Mr. Parsons babbled something about
fifty millions, I hoarsely answered, and felt the diamonds cut into my thighs.
– Good, answered Tiny and stretched so the seat threatened to rip the bolts out
of the floor. – That should be enough for my unpretentious dreams as well.
What else could I
answer that I hoped the same?
- - The
end
