Chapter Four:

Agent Sheldon Jeffery Sands

 

 

            The first thought as he woke up was: Wow, I’m starting to get used to this. He no longer woke up thinking he was at home, and the throbbing pain in his head was starting to become expected. He didn’t like it, he didn’t want to get used to it. The second thought as he woke up was: Now where the hell am I? As he opened his eyes to take a look at his surroundings he found that everything was pitch black. He couldn’t even see his hand in front of his face if he were to put it there. He soon came to realize, however, that it was a bit too dark. “Aw shit!” Yelled Johnny as he fell of a table and catching himself before he hit the floor. “Aw shit, I have no eyes!”

            “Very astute of you, Agent Sands.” He heard a feminine voice say. Johnny stopped and stood still, listening hard. He heard soft breathing, very controlled, but very excited. Behind that he heard a labored wheeze.

            “Ajedrez?” He asked in an innocent and nervous voice. “Is that you?”

            “It sure is, sugar.” She said. “Not so tough now, are you?”

            “Is that Barillo behind you?” Asked Johnny, his hand on the table behind him, almost afraid to be separated from it.

            “That’s a neat little trick.” Said Barillo in a labored voice. “Of course without your eyes all other senses become more alert. You knew me by the sounds of my breathing, no doubt.”

            “No actually, I recognized you by your smell.” Lied Johnny. “One doesn’t have to be blind to recognize it from a mile away.” Johnny listened hard. He heard his slow wheeze change to rapid and controlled breaths being let out from behind clenched teeth. He was angry. Johnny smiled.

            “Time to go, Ajedrez.” Said Barillo, still trying to control himself.

            “Goodbye, Jeffery.” Said Ajedrez as she followed Barillo. “See you later.” But Johnny wasn’t listening to what she was saying. He was listening to her voice and to her footsteps. Find the door. Find the door and get out of here. He soon heard a door latch behind the retreating footsteps. Bingo! Johnny left the table and ran to where he had heard the door, hands outstretched in front of him so as not to run into a wall or the door. Soon he felt warm, dry wood beneath his hands. He moved his hands over the surface and found cracks in the wall.

            “There’s definitely an opening here.” He whispered to himself. He ran his hands down the door until he happened upon the doorknob. He smiled to himself. One…two…three…ready or not…He turned the door knob, pushed open the door and stepped down onto the hard stone steps. …here I am. He felt the burning sun on his face and the hot stone under his hand as he leaned it on the building to guide himself down the stairs. He heard people in the streets, and he felt a warm liquid beginning to run down his face. “Shit! Oh God, blood.” He turned his head from side to side, listening in all the directions he could. Where is that kid who sells gum? He walked out into the middle of the street, waiting and listening. Finally he heard a bicycle bell in the distance. Oh thank God, here comes the little Mexican munchkin now. He walked farther into the street to where he thought the little boy would pass, and just as he was riding by, Johnny reached out his arms and he caught him.

            “Parada!” Said Johnny urgently. “Stop! Por favor, kid. Take me to the center of the city.” The kid had led him onto the sidewalk and Johnny was walking with him. “Uh, if you’ll be my eyes I’ll give you…” Johnny wasn’t paying attention to where he was going anymore and he ran directly into a large protruding windowsill, hitting his head right into it. I should have known better. “Ouch! Uh, I’ll give you all this money here. Mucho dinero, bien?” He said, taking out all the money he had in his pocket.

            “Bien, señor.” Said the kid. “Venga conmigo.” The kid tugged on Johnny’s sleeve, motioning for him to follow. Johnny nodded and took the kid’s hand.

            “Bueno, kid. Bueno.” He said thankfully. Thank God I remember a little bit of the Spanish I learned doing this movie. Don Juan Demarco, too, don’t forget that. Oh yeah, God bless Don Juan. And America. Haha! God bless America, land that I love. I get it! I’ve lost so much blood that I’m starting to crack myself up. Focus on the task at hand. Are you crazy? I don’t even know where I’m going. Wait, the black guy with the gun! Aw crap! “Hey, kid? Is there someone following us?”

            “Sí, señor.” He said. “Un hombre negro grande con una pistola.”

            “Con una pistola?” Asked Johnny. “A big black guy with a gun? Oh no! Uh, okay, bien, bien.” Johnny grabbed the boy, turned around, threw both the boy and himself on the ground and aimed the small gun he had in his pocket. Huh, funny that I remember that. Crap, left or right? “Left or right, kid?”

            “Izquierdo.” 

            “Mine or yours?”

            “Mina.”

            “Gracias, kid.”

            “De nada.” Johnny aimed the gun left and pulled the trigger. The shot boomed in his ears and echoed in the hot Mexican sky. He waited and listened, but the gunshot was deafening. He turned to the kid.

            “Muerto?” Asked Johnny. The kid was under Johnny and he felt the kid nod against his chest.

            “Sí.”

            “Bueno. Okay, kid, let’s go.” Said Johnny. He helped the kid up and they started walking down the sidewalk again. Three days ago I would have broken to pieces if I killed someone. I’m finally figuring out that these people aren’t real, but it doesn’t mean they can’t kill me. Johnny felt a tug on his sleeve. Johnny turned his head down in the direction of the kid. “What? Qué?” Asked Johnny. The kid pulled him down so he could whisper in his ear. Johnny smiled. “No, kid. No gum. Thanks anyway, though.” They walked down the sidewalk a little further and then the kid stopped and let go of Johnny’s hand.

            “Permanezca.” He said. Johnny heard footsteps running away. Johnny shook his head in confusion.

            “Wait, what? Permanezca?” What the hell does that mean? “Permanezca, permanezca. Oh wait! You want me to wait! Bien, kiddo, sure. Permaneceré.” A few moments later Johnny heard footsteps coming back and the kid took his hand and led him into a waiting car.

            “Taxi.” Said the kid. Johnny smiled and nodded.

            “Oh great! That’s great kid, perfect. Taxi. Gracias!” Said Johnny happily. “Uh, center of the city, por favor.” Said Johnny to the driver as he got into the car.

“Sure thing, buddy.” Said the driver as he pulled away. Now just why am I going to the center of the city? It’s in the script; you go to the center of the city. Yeah, where two guys come out of a building and try to kill me. Listen, where else are you going to go? Do you have a better idea? No, not really. Good, now shut up and go with the flow. Right, go with the flow.

“This is as far as I go, buddy.” Said the driver as he slowed to a stop. Johnny could clearly hear gunshots and yelling outside. He nodded slowly and turned to the kid.

“Dinero, kid.” Said Johnny. The kid paid the driver and both Johnny and the kid got out of the car. Johnny mournfully turned his head to follow the sound of the taxi driving away. “Well, there she goes. No more taxi.” Johnny sighed and turned back towards the kid. “Ayúdeme, kid. Help me on with these guns and things.” The kid handed Johnny a belt and a shoulder gun holster, which he put on without delay. I’m going to need these. At last the kid handed him his black gloves. I never thought I’d miss having my own theme song, but this is definitely a moment when it would be cool to have.

The kid took Johnny’s hand and led him down a street away from the shooting. Within a few minutes they stopped. Everything was quiet, and from the sound of the wind they had stopped in a rather large open space. Okay, bring on the bad guys, I’m ready for a little target practice. “Alright, this is as far as you go. Corra, kid.” Johnny waited and listened, but he didn’t hear any footsteps. “Go on, kid, run away.” Johnny nodded to himself as he heard the rapid receding footsteps. Good boy. Now, where are you? Johnny listened intently. He almost thought that he could make out some breathing in the distance, and then a slight chuckle. Go ahead a laugh scumbag, I may not be able to see you, but I know where you are. Johnny drew the gun from his shoulder holster and aimed it in front of him. God forgive me for this, but its him or me, and he’s not real.

Johnny pulled the trigger and the shot rang out and echoed against the surrounding buildings. Johnny quickly aimed slightly to his right and pulled the trigger again. Gunshot echoes overlapped each other and Johnny froze, waiting for the air to quiet. He listened, and he heard no breathing. But he was suddenly aware of a warm liquid running down his legs and a sharp stinging pain in his knees. Houston, we have a problem.

He placed his free hand on one of his knees. He brought it away wet. He put his hand to his nose. He smelled blood. Good Lord, they got me. He dropped to his knees, fighting the urge to pass out. “I am living la vida loca.” Said Johnny, and then he fell to the hot, dry ground. Once again, all went black, and he had a horrible feeling that he was going to wake up with another throbbing headache.

 

I just want to apologize for all the horribly incorrect Spanish. I used an awful lot of Spanish for someone who doesn’t know any.

 

Read Chapter Five