Sometimes you have to be strong, even when you are weak...
It is the only way...
I don't know what I am going to say... But I am definitely going to do something...
I have to, for my sanity if nothing else...
I cannot work with or for a murderer...
DC Peddler needs the slightest excuse to arrest me, and I won't give it to him by collaborating with a homicidal maniac!
Jim slowly made his way back to the The Ritz.
He would have liked to have stopped for a drink, to stiffen the old nerve ends, but he didn't have any money and didn't feel like begging, so once he was through the door he walked right up to the lab.
Ivan was inside.
He was standing inspecting a silver canister.
This was something new. It must have been placed there earlier that day while Jim was away.
The canister stood almost about the height of a man.
Looked about the right size to put a man inside...
Jim was scarred.
What was Ivan planning?
Why was the thing in the lab at all.
He had a feeling Ivan was about to explain everything, so he didn't say anything. He just closed the door and stood in the middle of the room and waited for the other man to talk.
It as all he could do.
Ivan didn't look at Jim:
'This container is full of G-Juice,' he said.
'Well that is a lot of G-Juice,' Jim replied. 'I could do with a drink now you mention it.'
'No drinking for you,' Ivan replied, coldly. 'The contents of this barrel were not prepared for the pleasures of your gullet, Mr Jim. No. I am going to poison the city. And I want you to help me do it.'
It took several good long seconds for Jim to process what the other man had just said.
And even after those long seconds had disappeared he still didn't understand the meaning behind the words, poison and city.
What was the madman getting at? Did he have serious intentions on poisoning the city?
No... It couldn't be? No one would be insane enough to try something so horrible?
Not even ivan was capable of something so dreadful!
'That is exactly my plan,' Ivan responded like he had just read Jim's mind. 'We are going to pour this barrel into the canal - the canal connects to the water infiltration system that is in turn connected to every pipe in the city, it is one of those design flaws the architects of Fenwick overlooked when they were building the place. Flaw that it is it will aid my plans, for on the morrow when the folks of Fenwick turn on their taps every soul in the city will become hopelessly drunk. So we are going to poison the canal... Did I say we? Sorry. I meant you - yes indeed - because you are going to do the deed. In lieu of services.'
'Please. Being a drunk renders one's memory somewhat wobbly,' Jim replied, 'But,' he continued, 'what services am I paying for exactly?'
'I killed your worst enemy,' Ivan returned. 'I removed him from your life indefinitely. The Jon is gone. How nice for you. And now you are going to pay me back.'
'Why can't we do it together?'
'I can't risk getting caught.'
'Nice!' Jim responded. 'So you are fine with me going to prison, hey? How very kind of you! To think the other day I was finally starting to get somewhere with DC Peddler, and now you are intent on spoiling our new happy relationship. Your a piece of work for sure, Ivan.'
'I don't care, ivan responded. 'I just need you to do the deed.'
JIm heard this and shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe the madness of the situation he was stuck in. He calmed, swallowed, took and breath and said, 'Has this been your plan all along? It has, hasn't it? You have been planning this for a long time. I can see it in your eyes. Damn you! Jo and I were guinea pigs weren't we? It makes sense, sort of. You were running and experiment. You wanted to try see what the effects of G-Juice in unwitting fools and Jo and I fit the bill just fine! And once you knew that your drink worked you reeled us in. Once we had become hopelessly addicted we became your playthings. All in preparation for this.'
Ivan didn't deny anything. Actually Ivan admitted that Jim had successfully worked out his entire plan!
'There is another reason why you are going to want to poison the canal,' Ivan continued. 'You are poisoned. Your body is currently in the process of withdrawing. In two days, maybe less than that, you will experience a massive seizure that will most definitely be very uncomfortable, and will very like kill you. But don't worry yourself, Jim. I have a very special bottle hiding somewhere. It's a special reserve, probably the best G-Juice you will likely ever taste. It's yours after you have completed the task I have given you. Once the job is done the bottle will be yours. Until then, you are living on borrowed time. So I suggest less chat and more work. What say you, Jim?'
'Why? are you doing this?'
'Because I have the power to do it,' Ivan replied.
Jim couldn't believe it...
The man had no motive, no goal... He was just being a piece of scum for the mere sake of it!
Unbelievable!
'You are a proven homicidal maniac, and I am scared of you Ivan. If that was your intent, to terrify me, then congratulations you have won this round! But even though I am scared, I am not stupid! I won't do this. If the withdrawal symptoms kill me then so be it. Yes, you heard it here from my own mouth - I would rather die than poison an entire city. So threaten me all you like but I won't have any part in this madness.'
'Listen to you! Speaking like some kind of priest. You are a fool and I curse you! Seriously. Let me ask you this: what do you actually owe this city? How many friends have you made since your arrival? None. But plenty of enemies. DC Peddler wants you locked up for life. And he will get his way given time.'
'then I won't give him time,' Jim responded. 'Look, Ivan, I am not interested. When I came to Fenwick all I wanted to do was escape my job and get drunk. That's always been the plan for me. I just want to get drunk. Ecoterrorism has never been one of my life aspirations. I might come across as a bit crazy, but I do have a conscience, and if I was responsible for poisoning hundreds of innocent people I know I would not be able to live with myself. So you can count me out of your schemes, Ivan. I am done with this. All I have ever wanted was to enjoy myself and this is not enjoyment right now. That is why I am leaving. I am going back home...'
'You will never leave Fenwick whole,' Ivan replied. 'I will find a way of setting you up. I will give DC Peddler the keys to your cell!'
'You have got nothing on me, Ivan! You threats are as worthless as a stunted wombat. Now get out of my way.'
Ivan was not going to let Jim go without a fight:
'When you got drunk last night you broke into a house and attacked the owner,' he pressed. 'You don't remember, you were that wasted. But the camera that recorded you remembers. O yes! It's got the whole scene painted fully in its memory. I will hand the camera over to DC Peddler, and then it will be. over for you! Burglry and assault will fetch you ten years in Fenwick. Fancy spending ten years rotting in a cell. Do you have any idea what life is like in prison? A small man like you won't last nine days. Once the prison boys figure you out they will serve you up on a platter. Do you fancy being served on a platter? I will hand this fate to you freely if you deny me!'
Jim had to admit Ivan had him over a barrel, if the story of the video footages was indeed true, and Ivan could have easily been making it all up but he didn't want to take the risk.
'Fine. I will do it. I will take the silver barrel and start right away.'
'I knew you would see sense,' Ivan returned. 'Turn it on its side and it will roll quite well.'
Jim was shaking his head as he started to roll the damn silver barrel down the steps of the hotel.
As Jim headed out onto the streets Ivan called him:
'The lid at the top will screw off! Then just pour away! Return when the deed is done and I will fetch your reward for you!'
Jim was still shaking his head as he rolled the barrel across the street.
Then he turned around and made his way for the subway...
Before he had finally agreed to do the job Jim already had a plan cooking!
It was rolling around in his head right then as he rolled the casket of doom along the gloom of the proceeding street:
I will dump the damn thing by the station and make a run for it...
Jim thought it was a good plan.
Actually it was the only thing he could do!
Soon this nightmare will be over and I will be home again, safe and sound! I will be stretching on my sofa with a glass of a real drink - whiskey, something like that! How fine that will be!
I just hope Ivan isn't following me...
(Remember! All spelling errors and grammatical mistakes are intentional - the author 😆)
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