a woman says goodbye in the park, rather than kill her brother… an ending romance and determinism part 4 of an occasional serial

they are sitting in the cafe in the park to the south of the hospital where they have been receiving physiotherapy. They are both tired. The sun is warm. they both have matching black baseball caps on and dark glasses. There are a few bodyguards in close proximity to them. Ever since they were discharged from the hospital they have been accompanied and protected by them. They have arranged flights back to Tokyo in a few days time. Just at the periphery of their vision, almost imperceptible to them, but not quite they are aware of another set of people guarding, watching following, accompanying. The man who arranged for their protection said — they work for your sister, from K. There are others as well. Across the cafe some twelve metres away, the man is called Kenji and can see his sister sitting, she is talking on the phone, has a pair of sunglasses on, hair tied back in a ponytail, a black jacket on, and black loose linen trousers that disguise her pregnancy. There is a soft brown leather bag in the table. Mineral water, espresso and a so far untouched pain au chocolat… She is nodding as she speaks into the phone. She hangs up. Takes a bite from the pain au chocollllat, or two. Writes something in her black notebook, makes another phone call. Sips espresso. Speaks, listens. Smiles. Sue moves around to look at her as well. My sister, he says, I had no idea she could be like this. Was she really as bad as you told me? Sue asks. Probably worse actually. She is the stuff of nightmares. It could have been me, i am happy it wasn’t, i used to feel sorry for her. They are not speaking english. There is an unbridgeable language difference between them now. What is an order-word for them is not one for her, the ideologies and assemblages they live with everyday are scarcely recognized by her. She is a part of a war machine, compromised but at the same time, not. His sister stands up, the brown leather bag now strung across her body. She flows, Sue says with a smile, still i’m glad after all we are here. The reason of the stronger is always better… Her balance is slightly off so she’s compensating, pregnancy I suppose. Kenji says. He is mistaken she has simply not grown used to this new body yet, and nor does she believe what Sue said about reason. Hello Nomiko, How are you ? He asks in english. That’s my question, she says in her perfect southern english accent, I’m fine, pregnant, slightly sick. When are you leaving? On Thursday afternoon. are you armed ? Kenji asked her. No, I am retired, an ex-assassin, who will not kill for her ex-family or council again. I am working hard to keep my psychopathic/sociopathic nature under control. We and mostly he needs me to and all I can do is try…. (Kenji smiles at his sister and sensibly doesn’t believe a word of what she has just said.) Perhaps I will succeed, who knows? I like being retired. So no guns. He wants to be a member of a non-repressive-state-apparatus this time, he doesn’t believe a NRSA is possible, but still… ever the optimist. Are you well Sue? I am enjoying the sunshine, my body doesn’t hurt an longer and I am enjoying seeing Kenji looking nervous. I don’t see it very often. That’s not fair. He protests. It’s all right brother, his sister teases him (he finds this vaguely terrifying,) somebody has too look after you, and she’s all that’s available. If we/I lived in Tokyo or Shanghai, in, we’d help. If you two ever have to run, you can come here this time, I am older and have learnt to forgive. You think you can get things under control ? Sue said to her… His sister shrugs eloquently, Yes, we are in a hurry to stabilize things, so we are cutting a few corners, more reliant on Sam being a police than we really like at the moment, in a few months time it will be better as the people we will depend on will be ok… We? Kenji queried. You know, us, touching her stomach and a few others you’ll hear about later. I’ll have a second child in a few years. You can watch from your safe vantage point, or even here if you want and you’ll see. Have a good trip back. When things are stable you can come back for a holiday, assuming the council allows. I am investing in some hotels. I have to go and meet Sam at the hospital… He’s taken the afternoon off to come with me.. Most of these people, she gestures at the bodyguards are not quite trustworthy yet, they don’t know they will be trusted and looked after yet you see. When you get back tell everyone that I’m happy… Many other things were said, most don’t matter…Things about their lives in Tokyo, things that she had never imagined knowing, for example sue’s mother visiting them last summer in Tokyo. The thought of her mother meeting her. Perhaps my child will visit you in Tokyo one day. I am an exile, a refugee, my child’s imaginary will contain that… A certain reluctance to say goodbye. (she wanted to say but didn’t — When you meet me in Tokyo, tell her I am sorry that I am here and that it wasn’t my idea. We are in exile and we are laughing.) Did she always speak like that? Sue asked him. no, she has always been quiet, she is different here.

(perhaps i should remove the capital letters… the commas… should I put some back in?)

a man, a park and a woman sitting on a bench talking about romance and determinism