The Grasshopper by TheGrasshopper

will hover over the hotel and lower the
tube to the roof. Your people have to attach its opening to the
door that leads to the roof, so that nothing can be seen. Do you
understand what I mean?”
    “I do. So that no one can see who
all is entering the tube.”
    “That’s right. In the tube there is
a conveyor belt. There are straps that you use to attach yourself
to it and it raises you into the airplane. You can also attach your
suitcases.”
    “Excellent, Mr. Mayor.”
    “I’ll send a squadron of fighter
planes to protect you,” Seneca said and hung up.
     
    “It’s better that it turned out
this way,” Raul thought. “Much better.”

Chapter 20
    Pascal lay in the bathtub with his
eyes closed. “What was it that you said to me, Raul?” he recalled
their conversation. “To find a woman my own age… just a little
younger. To have children… There is such a woman, my friend. I’d
marry her immediately, trust me… immediately,
immediately…”
    “Immediately!” Pascal shouted out
loud.
     
    Then he sighed and submerged his
head. When he ran out of air he came up and rested his shoulders on
the edge of the tub. He barely visibly shook his head.
    “But no. You would never be
satisfied, Raul. You would think that a wife that already has two
children is not becoming of a democratically elected president. And
do you know what I would tell you, Raul? I’d tell you that I didn’t
care at all what you thought. And what was becoming and what was
not. As long as she’s mine.
    “And I’ll tell you that I’m not
going anywhere from Megapolis anymore. I cannot leave without
knowing… my Raul. And I always knew. We’re going to that city for
three days, then there… for five days… never longer than five days.
I couldn’t stand not seeing her for more than five days. How could
I?
    “And you were cross, Raul. ‘Since
we’re already here, why don’t we just stop by over there,’ you
said. ‘What’s a few more days? Better than going back to Megapolis
and then hitting the road again.’
    “You didn’t get it, why we always
went back to Megapolis. I didn’t either. Actually I did, but I
wouldn’t admit it to myself.”
     
    “And now… I’m not going anywhere
from this city, Manami. I’ll die in it. Here, close to you, my
love. And what if they don’t kill me? Hmm? What do you think? I
make it through today, no one shoots me… The people disperse from
the square. Raul and the team have flown somewhere far away… and
I’m left alone.
    “Do you know what I would do? You
wouldn’t believe it. I’d climb that chestnut tree in front of your
house immediately, tonight, like a teenager. I’d watch the lit
windows. I’d see you go into Peter’s room. Kiss your son on the
head, tell him good night, turn off the light and leave. And your
husband’s not home. He’s at his office, on TV or at the Mayor’s
office… or somewhere… wherever. So you enter the room of your
little Eir. And she’s uncovered herself. You cover her up and
caress her. And then you go to your room.”
     
    Pascal opened his eyes and abruptly
rose up. “That isn’t only your room, Manami! You share it with your
husband!” he shouted.
    He covered his face with his hands
and rested his forehead on his raised knees.
    “Why isn’t there an ‘our room’,
Manami? Why?” he whispered.
    After some time he lowered his
hands into the water, raised his head and looked at the bathroom
wall.
    “My friends are gone. What am I
waiting for?”
     
    He got up out of the tub. “I’m
going out. I’m going to get killed. Immediately. A bullet to the
heart, the head. Aim wherever you want, wherever you please. Just
as soon as possible! As soon, please…”
     
    *****
     
    “I won’t wear something… just
usual… like always… Pants, unbuttoned shirt, sleeves rolled up,”
Pascal thought, standing in front of the open closet. “I’ll dress
elegantly. I’ll wear this dark blue suit… and a tie. This one, with
the wide dark