Chapter One

Thump. Squelch. Thump. Squelch. Each time the heavy cleaver carved into the cow’s hind leg it went in with a ‘Thump’ and came out with a ‘Squelch’. When I was younger it used to make me sick. After ten years it was almost comforting. Whenever I heard that sound I imagined my girlfriend of five years was the cow. Of course I could only ever imagine. A cow is a cow. A human is a human. Even just watching horror movies made me seize up. I can’t even bring myself to break up with her. I still love her despite it all. Despite all the bickering. Despite the constant nag, nag, nag. Despite everything she was my girlfriend and she had my heart, even if I do want it back. God I’m pathetic.

The door chimed its familiar chime and I lifted my head towards the sound to see a shaggy, bearded man walk in. His name is Frank. I feel ashamed to call him my only friend. It’s sad really. He has a thick black beard encircling his chin and always wore the same filthy trench coat covered in five years worth or dirt and grass stains.

”Well, well, well. Who is this sloppy excuse for a man I witness before me today?” He said. He was joking but I could feel an undercurrent of seriousness in his voice. He never liked me. I never liked him. But it’s better to have a false friend than no friend at all. Or so I think.
”It is I! Jim! But what, may I enquire brings you to these parts?”
”I have a proposition for you Mr. Jim.”
Frank was well connected with small time criminals around this area so before he began speaking I knew he wanted someone to help him steal something. He knew I was behind on my bills and that after 10 years carving meat form bone I had strong arms and skill with a wide assortment of blades.
”My friends tell me there is a very rich man residing in a very dark part of town. He’s from some sort of southern crime syndicate; don’t ask me which there are so many now. He’s supposedly delivering a bag full of pure cocaine to a local dealer who would rather the man didn’t leave with the full payment. He says if we can get the money off the man he’ll split it with us 50/50.” He said. With each word his voice rose higher and higher with excitement at both the prospect of pure cocaine and a lot of money.
”You said ‘supposedly’. I don’t like ‘supposedly’, Frank”
”It’ll be fine!” he barked “I wish you’d man up and take a chance for once in your life, Jim!”

 

Next thing I know I’m standing in a dark alley with a thick black hockey mask draped over my head and a large knife in my gloved right hand.
”Alright man, don’t screw this up. You just stand there looking…. daunting. I’ll do the speaking, you understand?”
I signalled ‘OK’ with my hand and he smiled. The man was supposed to be coming out of the dingy ‘Hotel Paradise” down the road very soon. Our informer said he would be carrying a briefcase which contained the money. By the time we reached him the deal would have taken place and the coke would be safely in the hands of our acquaintance who would prefer not to be named. They had promised me the man would not put up a fight. My knife was only for show to get his adrenalin flowing and assure a safe transfer of money into our hands. Every second we waited in the alley felt like an eternity. Each of my senses were being bombarded by unpleasant sensations from every direction. I could smell the sewer close by. I could hear dogs barking and people screaming in the distance. I could see rats scurrying in the darkness looking for food. I would feel my sweat collecting on my concealed forehead and sliding down the back of my neck. Frank was shaking with anticipation. I was shaking with nausea.

Then I heard a new sound. A steady beat. Click. Click. Click. It got louder and louder. The rich man was approaching. I held my breath for what felt like an hour so as not to make a single sound. Click. Click. Click. Then a shadow passed by the opening of the alley way, followed by a man wearing a skinny black suit and dark sunglasses. He had black leather gloves on and shiny black shoes. In his right hand was a black briefcase. Frank inhaled audibly next to me once he saw the briefcase showing his longing for its contents. He pointed at the man and stood up. I followed. Sweat pored from every pore and my clothes clung to me. Every step squelched. But not the squelch I liked. This was higher pitched. The squelch of leather.

”Excuse me mate. Do you have the time?” shouted Frank. I shut my eyes in embarrassment. Yep. Just two men dressed entirely in black wearing balaclavas who wanted the time. Perfectly innocent. ”No” Answered the man
”Yeah, to be honest I don’t care. Just give me the briefcase mister, don’t make my friend cut you.”
The main cocked his head to the side. He looked at me through my eye holes, examining me. He ran his eyes up and down my whole body and then stared at my knife. Then he turned to Frank and stared at him for just as long.

My knife did not assure an easy transaction of money. The man’s pistol made sure of that. He fired shot after shot into Frank’s torso. Blood shot out his front and back in great streaks like a water fountain. In all my years of cutting meat I had never seen this great array of violence. Meat bled slowly. A living man being shot at almost point blank range bleeds quite profusely and all over the pavement. At this point I ran. I ran until I could hear my heart shouting my name telling me to slow down. My heart was pumping raw adrenalin into every muscle in my body telling it to go faster. My legs burned. My arms burned. My chest burned. Eventually I stopped. I collapsed into a heap on the sidewalk and pulled off my mask in time for a great shower of vomit to come spraying out. This happened several times. F**k. It was the only word I could think of. It was the only appropriate word, ‘oh dear’ just didn’t cover the immensity of the situation. What now? My brain felt numb. I could think only simple thoughts. I wanted food. I wanted sleep. I knew where I could get these things. I gave one last spray of puke and stood up. My head was aching and everything seems disproportionate as I waddled back to my house.