"I'm gonna lay low for some time."
Announced kannahamaru
"Wouldn't that be a problem with your loud noise
uh, excuse me, voice?"
Retorted Rocky.
Kannahamaru was not affected by the comment.
Rocky eyed me, asking why he isn't normal.
"Listen, joking time is over, I might be in real trouble this time"
"Where are you going to be K?"
"I cannot tell you the exact spot.
Walls have ears."
Mouthed him.
"But I will be in one of his safe houses."
At this moment the half opened door was fully opened and a stranger stepped into the view. Kannahamaru was pointing right at him. He looked oddly familiar to me.
"You, I swear I've seen you before."
"My name is déjà vu."
Stated the stranger matter-of-factly.
Déjà vu was a some sort of an urban legend. At times stories about him got so unreal that I seriously doubted their authenticity.
It was among those that Déjà vu had safe houses built around the country. ( Since this one turned out to be true, I've began to suspect that there must be some amount of truth to the story in which he wrestled a mountain gorilla or even the rumour that he's currently dating a vampire.) But what amused me and by his reaction, Rocky too was that Kannahamaru was friends with Déjà vu for we took pride in being Kannahamaru's only friends. Standing almost as tall as Kannahamaru himself Déjà vu was a well-built fellow with a calm but often alarmy demeanor. He wore a T-shirt with a big wolf head and written beneath it were the words Winter is coming.
"Let me go to my room and collect my emergency supplies"
Said Kannahamaru
Rocky and I went along and helped him pack his stuff.
Kannahamaru already had everything organised. From underwears to emergency medications. Complete with a first aid box. Among other things I noticed an Klingon-English dictionary as well. Kannahamaru never took chances. And between his gameboy and a deck of cards were a pack of cigarettes. Kannahamaru of course noticed my looking at it and said.
"I'm teaching myself card tricks"
"And cigarettes are just in case if I pick up smoking."
He continued.
Within an hour freshly bathed and shaven kannahamaru was ready to go he looked sharp in the scarlet shirt, radiant and beaming with energy.
"Before I go, let's have one last drink."
"But K, you never drink."
I protested.
"Exceptions can be made for extraordinary times"
Said him.
The glasses were set and Rocky poured equal amounts of colourless liquid into the glasses.
"You young people don't know a thing about drinking vodka"
Said him, his accent perfect Russian.
We toasted the drink ( "To Kannahamaru's journey")
and emptied the glasses and put it back on the table with bangs.
" It tastes like water."
Observed Kannahamaru as a closing statement.
Déjà vu gave him the keys. Kannahamaru shoulderd his bag it had something that starts with In fearful day, written over it. Kannahamaru looked at us for one last time. His cab had arrived. He got on it. Within no time it was taking off.
"I will write you letters"
I looked at Rocky.
"How odd"
Said him.
Rocky, Déjà vu, and I were left there. Déjà vu looked at us.
Sic transit gloria mundi
Said him. And with that he was gone. The connecting link between us and him lost.
***
We had a boring weekend and and a lousier week afterward. Truth to be told we began to miss Kannahamaru.( blessed be his name). Rocky began to make parachutes in despair.
Kannahamaru true to his word sent us a letter. The letter found us on the fifth day of his leaving. We tore open the envelope. Enclosed inside what we found to our surprise was a blank sheet of paper.
"Why would he go to all the troubles to send us this?"
Rocky wondered aloud. I had an idea. Not very novel, so to say but what seemed to be likely. We had a UV lamp. I switched it on and shown to the letter. It read as follows.
Announced kannahamaru
"Wouldn't that be a problem with your loud noise
uh, excuse me, voice?"
Retorted Rocky.
Kannahamaru was not affected by the comment.
Rocky eyed me, asking why he isn't normal.
"Listen, joking time is over, I might be in real trouble this time"
"Where are you going to be K?"
"I cannot tell you the exact spot.
Walls have ears."
Mouthed him.
"But I will be in one of his safe houses."
At this moment the half opened door was fully opened and a stranger stepped into the view. Kannahamaru was pointing right at him. He looked oddly familiar to me.
"You, I swear I've seen you before."
"My name is déjà vu."
Stated the stranger matter-of-factly.
Déjà vu was a some sort of an urban legend. At times stories about him got so unreal that I seriously doubted their authenticity.
It was among those that Déjà vu had safe houses built around the country. ( Since this one turned out to be true, I've began to suspect that there must be some amount of truth to the story in which he wrestled a mountain gorilla or even the rumour that he's currently dating a vampire.) But what amused me and by his reaction, Rocky too was that Kannahamaru was friends with Déjà vu for we took pride in being Kannahamaru's only friends. Standing almost as tall as Kannahamaru himself Déjà vu was a well-built fellow with a calm but often alarmy demeanor. He wore a T-shirt with a big wolf head and written beneath it were the words Winter is coming.
"Let me go to my room and collect my emergency supplies"
Said Kannahamaru
Rocky and I went along and helped him pack his stuff.
Kannahamaru already had everything organised. From underwears to emergency medications. Complete with a first aid box. Among other things I noticed an Klingon-English dictionary as well. Kannahamaru never took chances. And between his gameboy and a deck of cards were a pack of cigarettes. Kannahamaru of course noticed my looking at it and said.
"I'm teaching myself card tricks"
"And cigarettes are just in case if I pick up smoking."
He continued.
Within an hour freshly bathed and shaven kannahamaru was ready to go he looked sharp in the scarlet shirt, radiant and beaming with energy.
"Before I go, let's have one last drink."
"But K, you never drink."
I protested.
"Exceptions can be made for extraordinary times"
Said him.
The glasses were set and Rocky poured equal amounts of colourless liquid into the glasses.
"You young people don't know a thing about drinking vodka"
Said him, his accent perfect Russian.
We toasted the drink ( "To Kannahamaru's journey")
and emptied the glasses and put it back on the table with bangs.
" It tastes like water."
Observed Kannahamaru as a closing statement.
Déjà vu gave him the keys. Kannahamaru shoulderd his bag it had something that starts with In fearful day, written over it. Kannahamaru looked at us for one last time. His cab had arrived. He got on it. Within no time it was taking off.
"I will write you letters"
I looked at Rocky.
"How odd"
Said him.
Rocky, Déjà vu, and I were left there. Déjà vu looked at us.
Sic transit gloria mundi
Said him. And with that he was gone. The connecting link between us and him lost.
***
We had a boring weekend and and a lousier week afterward. Truth to be told we began to miss Kannahamaru.( blessed be his name). Rocky began to make parachutes in despair.
Kannahamaru true to his word sent us a letter. The letter found us on the fifth day of his leaving. We tore open the envelope. Enclosed inside what we found to our surprise was a blank sheet of paper.
"Why would he go to all the troubles to send us this?"
Rocky wondered aloud. I had an idea. Not very novel, so to say but what seemed to be likely. We had a UV lamp. I switched it on and shown to the letter. It read as follows.
Dearest, Rocky and TJ
The fact that you are able to read this evidently points to that one of you actually tried the UV lamp. Congratulations.
Now to the point. First off I'm sorry that I had to leave you two in the dark. But it is called a secret mission for a reason you see. I'm safe at one of déjà vu's safe houses. (Don't ask him which- with this key, I could get access to any) I suspect my nemesis- I call him the manipulator is in a hunt for me. Don't say real people don't have nemesii. I've been suspecting his actions for a long time now. He's Moriarty for my Sherlock Holmes, Lex luthor to my Superman, electoral college for my Hilary Clinton. But I've failed in linking his actions directly to him with hard evidence thus failing in bringing him to the public.He's called the subtle genius for no other reason pals. Not only I failed in bringing him public but I revealed myself in trying so. I suspect our rooms have been bugged, for somehow he's been able to foresee my moves. We've been looking into the future with such vigour that we missed what's happening in the present. My condition might be dangerous, mortal even. I've taught you all I know. I'm sure that you could fend yourselves from any attacks the 'manipulator's minions would be throwing at you. Even if I die in this endeavour, I will bring down him with me.
I know you switched my drink with a placebo one. Nice try turning the fact that I haven't had a drink before to your advantage but I know what a 40% drink ought to taste like ( subtle hand movements Rocky, I've gotta hand it to you.)
Thank you for watching out for me. But with my level of imagination skills it was easy tricking the subconscious to think that I'd have a real drink and attaining a real high was no problem.
At this Rocky smiled. And I continued
Even if I die, I'm saying this because I need you to know that a I lead, I won't say long but nevertheless a content life. And like Albus I believe that "for a fully prepared mind death is but the next big adventure."
And I am ready to embrace this, And I need you to move forward all for the same reason and that is, " somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. "
See you soon (hopefully) Jackasses
It was signed below.
Written below was
P.S. : Burn the letter after reading
And beneath that was
P.P.S. : I'm serious.
I stopped reading. Rocky was smiling through his tears. I wasn't really sure what to think. Kannahamaru might be dying but he managed to quote Carl Sagan and Harry potter in a single letter.
Later we burned the letter honoring Kannahamaru's wish though rocky was in favour for using chromatography to find the possible origin of the letter.
***
We put our intellectual resources into work. It was a hard work, considering the number of safe houses déjà vu owned. All of whichs locations weren't known. We tried to pick them by nearness and a number of other criteria. It was all unnecessary. For the third day after the letter arrived, It was shown across national media that déjà vu's safe house in Calicut blew up. And with it, Kannahamaru.
The fact that you are able to read this evidently points to that one of you actually tried the UV lamp. Congratulations.
Now to the point. First off I'm sorry that I had to leave you two in the dark. But it is called a secret mission for a reason you see. I'm safe at one of déjà vu's safe houses. (Don't ask him which- with this key, I could get access to any) I suspect my nemesis- I call him the manipulator is in a hunt for me. Don't say real people don't have nemesii. I've been suspecting his actions for a long time now. He's Moriarty for my Sherlock Holmes, Lex luthor to my Superman, electoral college for my Hilary Clinton. But I've failed in linking his actions directly to him with hard evidence thus failing in bringing him to the public.He's called the subtle genius for no other reason pals. Not only I failed in bringing him public but I revealed myself in trying so. I suspect our rooms have been bugged, for somehow he's been able to foresee my moves. We've been looking into the future with such vigour that we missed what's happening in the present. My condition might be dangerous, mortal even. I've taught you all I know. I'm sure that you could fend yourselves from any attacks the 'manipulator's minions would be throwing at you. Even if I die in this endeavour, I will bring down him with me.
I know you switched my drink with a placebo one. Nice try turning the fact that I haven't had a drink before to your advantage but I know what a 40% drink ought to taste like ( subtle hand movements Rocky, I've gotta hand it to you.)
Thank you for watching out for me. But with my level of imagination skills it was easy tricking the subconscious to think that I'd have a real drink and attaining a real high was no problem.
At this Rocky smiled. And I continued
Even if I die, I'm saying this because I need you to know that a I lead, I won't say long but nevertheless a content life. And like Albus I believe that "for a fully prepared mind death is but the next big adventure."
And I am ready to embrace this, And I need you to move forward all for the same reason and that is, " somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. "
See you soon (hopefully) Jackasses
It was signed below.
Written below was
P.S. : Burn the letter after reading
And beneath that was
P.P.S. : I'm serious.
I stopped reading. Rocky was smiling through his tears. I wasn't really sure what to think. Kannahamaru might be dying but he managed to quote Carl Sagan and Harry potter in a single letter.
Later we burned the letter honoring Kannahamaru's wish though rocky was in favour for using chromatography to find the possible origin of the letter.
***
We put our intellectual resources into work. It was a hard work, considering the number of safe houses déjà vu owned. All of whichs locations weren't known. We tried to pick them by nearness and a number of other criteria. It was all unnecessary. For the third day after the letter arrived, It was shown across national media that déjà vu's safe house in Calicut blew up. And with it, Kannahamaru.
