The Second Hand Man
September 11th, 2001

I’m writingthis entry in a motel room about 350 miles south-west of New York City. Idecided to head for home straight after the incident.

All the goodrestaurants were closed, and although the hotel would have provided me with anexcellent selection of food and drink, I had no intention of sleeping in thesame bed that they had earlier and very unashamedly stained with an extensivearray of the various bodily fluids produced by their lustful activity.

The verythought made my skin crawl – not too unlike the reaction one might produce atthe contemplation of a lice infestation.

Vermin areknown to carry such despicable parasites. That is why we are always so swiftand prone to exterminate both.

Of course,these two particular rats had never known that I had been secretly watchingthem from the bedroom doorway!

But, I needto start at the beginning, back when things still had a semblanceof…well-being:

This morning,I had made sure that everyone was up and dressed by six thirty.

I invitedWilly round to our hotel room for a very light breakfast that consisted only ofcoffee and croissants.

I informedthem that, “This is just something to tide us over until the main breakfast ateight thirty.” I checked my watch. “It’s six thirty five now. So you only gotabout an hour and a half to kill. Don’t be late because the Windows on theWorld Restaurant is always busy and they told me they don’t hold a table forlonger than fifteen minutes! There’s a convention or something on the go aswell, so we were damned fortunate to get a reservation at all.”

“Stopfretting, will you,” chided Erika. “I’ll be there on time. Long before time.”Then she suddenly remembered something, “I did a little checking myself. I believethe view is quite amazing.”

“That’sright. That’s why I made sure to get a table by the window.”

“Shit!” saidWilly spluttering crumbs. “These things are all just air.”

I smiled.“Yeah, just like you.” He laughed before asking, “What about me?”

“Yeah?”chirped Erika smiling mischievously. “I guess he can stuff his face all hewants? Willy won’t be joining us today?”

I returnedthe impish grin. “Definitely not today…not this morning anyway! It’s a specialchampagne breakfast just for two.”

Erika kissedmy cheek. “You romantic old devil you!” Then she wiped the lipstick off my faceusing one of the hotel’s cloth napkins.

I spoke againto Willy. “But you still gotta be there. I want you to stick to Erika like aSiamese twin till I arrive. I might be a little late in getting there from myseven thirty, and I don’t want Erika to wait alone. You can enjoy the view andhave a brewski in the meantime – on me. Besides, the main reason is that it’llgive you an opportunity to…scope out your new work place.”

“You cancount on me to look after your lady, man!” He started on his third croissant.“I’ll be her personal bodyguard till you arrive.”

“I’m sure youwill,” I reached for my wallet and removed $1000 in $100 bills. “Here’s alittle symbol of what I think of both of you.” I divided it equally amongstthem. “A little spending money to keep you going till then. Try not to spend itall in one place, and don’t get too carried away with your shopping that youmiss our very important appointment.”

“I wouldn’tmiss it for the world,” said Erika pushing her head against my shoulder andfluttering her eyelashes at me. “Besides, all the good shops only open aroundten.”

“You wouldknow that!” I said sarcastically. She smiled proudly and I added, “Well, I’msure you’ll both replace something to keep yourselves busy till then?” This timethey failed to detect the sarcasm in my tone.

Erika ran a manicured and red-painted nailacross my chest and asked, “Does this very important appointment of oursinvolve a certain item of jewelry?”

“I pulled myhand across my mouth, “My lips are sealed, suffice to say that there might be aring of truth in your query.”

“Of course,it’s called woman’s intuition. Oooh, it might be a little early for me forchampagne, though?”

“Have anothercoffee to prepare your stomach then, because champagne is definitely on themenu today!” I tweaked her nose. “I wouldn’t want you feeling under the weatherafters. Especially not tonight, pumpkin!”

Aftercounting his $500 for the fifth time, Willy suddenly exclaimed, “Fucking A,man!” He smiled and shook my hand violently. “You are the most righteous dudeon the face of this planet, man. I love you, man. You hear me? I love you!”

“Keep yourpecker in your pants. You can blow me once the deal’s finalized.”

“That’s mydepartment, hon,” said Erika smiling. “Leave that sort of thing tothe…professionals.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah,baby! We’ll discuss it tonight, in detail, back here at the hotel room, okay?”

“Is that apromise?”

“Scoutshonor,” she said holding up three fingers.

“You weren’tnever no girl scout?”

“Wanna bet?I’ll show you tonight how to make a fire by rubbing a stick.”

“Hmm, what doyou say we forget the whole restaurant and bar business, and just get rid ofWilly right now?”

“No fuckingway, man!” interrupted Willy. “You two can get it on later tonight, okay?”

“Relax,Willy,” said Erika winking at him. “He’s just yanking your chain.”

“That ain’tfunny man. This is serious shit we dealing with here.”

“Right,” Isaid and kissed Erika. Then I moved swiftly towards the door and opened it. “Igotta get going before I’m late for that seven o’ clock meeting. See you bothsoon!” I closed the door.

But theynever guessed just how soon!

I waitedexactly three minutes before quietly slipping the key card into the groove. Iflinched slightly as the lock clicked open. I peered around the door. They werenot to be seen, but I could hear them in the bedroom. I moved silently to thebedroom doorway and peeked round. They had wasted no time at all.

Erika wastall. Although she was about a half-inch shorter than me, she was a good sixinches taller than Willy. Her height was mostly due to her long legs. Still,they were not skinny, but well-shaped – broadening perfectly and sensually atthe top of her thighs where they met in a dark forest that concealed her...myparadise. Alas, what I had once believed, in my first life, to be my soleterritory…my private property and watering hole was, as I had now expected toreplace, busy being rudely trespassed upon.

Their clotheswere strewn all around the large bed, and I watched as Willy’s firm, tannedbuttocks rammed violently with each forward thrust between Erika’s paler, longsupple legs. Her greater height added more to the sensuality of the scenerather than making it something comical. And for the briefest of moments Ithought back to the times that Hannah and I had made love. I wondered if peoplewould have found the sight amusing or stimulating – probably shocking anddisturbing, as I was now experiencing.

Erica was farmore boisterous and rowdy in her lovemaking with Willy than she had ever beenwith me (In either life!). She unashamedly and loudly voiced herprofanity-peppered approval with each driving force that Willy produced againsther groin area.

Willy, inturn, had found his rhythm as Erika’s breasts moved, like some fleshymetronome, to-and-fro, beneath Willy’s determined, perspiring face. He seemedto be hypnotized by the sight as he bit his bottom lip and grunted his consentwith each slapping sound.

Most peoplewould have found the sight, erotically stimulating. Yes, they both hadmagnificent bodies, with muscles that flexed and rippled beautifully as theypulsed on the bed, like a giant beating heart. The two seeming like anindividual entity, like a single undulating jellyfish moving smoothly, slowlyand determinedly towards its destination. The thought of that destinationfilled me with both rage and jealousy.

Yes, I am notashamed to say that I was envious of the sight before me – not only because mywoman was cheating on me, but because they were truly marvelous to behold, butmostly because I knew that Erika was truly enjoying the sensation of havingthis mentally challenged beach bum between her knees.

The oneenlightening reality about the whole sordid affair was that it drove home thepoint that good, great or even the best sex under the sun is not enough to holda marriage together.

Yep, theirmarriage had fallen apart miserably after only two years.

But, at thetime of their deceit, many would have gazed upon these lovers in awe andwonder, the sight being truly sensual, erotic, stimulating, mesmerizing, or tobe just plainly blunt about it - a turn-on!

I obviouslyfelt none of those sensations.

Even havingknown full-well what to expect when reaching the bedroom, the sight was stillunsettling. I felt anger and bile rising in my chest and an almostuncontrollable urge to shout and strike out.

I managed torestrain myself with a single dark notion:

‘Who am I todeny a condemned man his last meal,’ I thought to myself as I moved back to thecoffee and last remaining croissant.

I sat down,quietly poured a fresh cup, and nibbled on the pastry. That is, I tried to beas hushed as possible. I cannot say the same for the two lovebirds in theadjoining bedroom!

Lovemoosemight be a better word (Or is that meese) to describe their energetic frolics.At one point I was afraid some other hotel guests might voice theirdisapproval.

Although I amloath to admit it, Willy is…was damn good in bed. Erica had requested him tomake her scream like a fucking police siren, and, almost fifteen minutes later,he had obliged…in aces! I was impressed with both of them.

I had waitedfor them to finish complimenting each other on a job well-done before slammingthe door and shouting, “Honey, are you still here?” I waited a short whilebefore adding, “Erika, pumpkin? Hello!”

After anotherextended silence Erika shouted from the bedroom. “In here! What’s up?” Ientered the bedroom. Erika was sitting in her underwear by the dressing tablefixing her lipstick. “Meeting cancelled?” she asked calmly pouting at herselfin the mirror.

“Nah, I justremembered something very important! Where’s Willy?”

“I don’tknow? Probably in his room? Why?”

“Why are youundressed? I thought you were ready to go already?”

“I decided toput on something else.”

I pointed tothe white dress draped across the bed. “I thought you bought that outfitespecially for the…occasion?”

“I changed mymind. I’m gonna wear the green one instead. It brings out my eyes better, don’tyou think? And you know about a woman’s prerogative?”

“Ah, yes, theweaker, fickle sex. Can never make up their minds about whom or what theywant.”

She seemed toblush before asking, “Why are you looking for Willy?” There was a noise in thecupboard and her healthy pink turned a ghastly pallor.

I pretendednot to hear anything and said, “I clean forgot to tell Willy that they won’tlet him into the restaurant without a jacket. They have a very strict dresscode at Windows. I don’t know if they supply jackets, but we can’t take anychances. I’ll take him one of mine.” I moved towards the cupboard.

“Wait!” shesaid far too loudly and frantically. “I’ll do it! You’re way late for yourmeeting already. Don’t worry! He may have left already!”

“I asked himto stick to you like a…”

“We decidedto meet up there. He didn’t want to waste time waiting for me to get dressedagain. He’s so excited about this offer you’ve made him.” She kissed me andadded, “You really are the nicest man I know. I’m so lucky to have met you – mysoulmate.” She gave me a longer, more passionate kiss.” I felt Mister Winkygetting excited. She did too, and quickly pushed me away and blurted, “Don’tworry yourself! I’ll take your extra jacket along with me! Go now!”

“Hmm,” I saidsmiling mischievously and approvingly at her beautiful half-naked form. “I’mfeeling kinda horny right now! The meeting can wait a few minutes longer. Howabout a quickie to tide me over till tonight.”

“Come on!”She grabbed my hand and pulled me through the bedroom doorway. “Don’t spoilyour appetite by eating your candy now. Come now!”

“Come now?That’s the whole idea, Candy!” I slipped a finger into the top of her hipsterpanty and moved it playfully from left to right. “Where’s that sense ofadventure…that spontaneity you say you love so much.”

“Don’t besilly now!” She slapped my hand and opened the door leading out into the longhallway. “You can eat as much as you like tonight, Tarzan.” She pushed meoutside. “Go now!” I extended my bottom lip. She smiled and said, “Here,”undoing her bra strap and allowing me to view her breasts. “Let this tide youover till tonight.” Then she slammed the door.

“That onlymade it worse,” I shouted at the door.

“GO!”

I leftknowing that that was the last time I would ever see her or those great-lookingknockers.

I checked mywatch. It was 07h10. I had plenty time to get to the meeting.

At eighto’clock exactly I walked through the entrance marked, ‘The Greatest Bar in theWorld.’

“Have youdropped the question to your lucky lady yet?” asked Tallis as I approached.

“Not yet,” Isaid sitting down on the barstool next to him and sliding about a quarter-inchthick pack of hundred dollar bills in an envelope across the counter. “I firstwant to finish all my business before I can get down to any pleasure.”

“What’s thishe asked?” staring at the item in disgust.

“It’s what weagreed upon – only much more!”

He picked itup and peered inside. “You must take me for an idiot?”

“Not at all!”

He flippedthrough the notes. “This ain’t even close to one mil. Any fool would know that.This probably ain’t even ten grand?”

“Actually,it’s exactly ten grand.”

“Are you trying to fuck with me?”

“For a sharpdetective, you aren’t being too bright?”

“Oh, yeah?I’m thinking that maybe you’re the one that ain’t…”

“There was noway I could waltz into this place with one mil in a briefcase without arousinga furor. They got tight security you know? Have you forgotten that somearseholes once tried to blow it up?”

“So now what?You’re gonna have me meet you all over the goddamned city, handing out littlepackets of money like this, in some crazy treasure hunt?”

“No, ofcourse not! Just relax, would you? I figured out a way to make us bothhappy…very happy indeed.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah,” Isaid pushing a small piece of paper across the bar counter.

“What’sthis?” he asked picking it up and reading it. He frowned. “What the hell isthis?”

“Lots ofmoney,” I said smiling wryly. “Lots and lots and lots of money.”

“You aretrying to fu...”

“Those techshares are currently available to the public at fifty cents per unit.” I chosemy next words carefully. “In three weeks time they’re gonna jet through theroof to almost $300. Allow me to do the math for you.” I watched as he reachedindifferently for his drink. “That’s a 6 followed by six zeros.”

“Sixmillion?” he exclaimed spraying the bar counter.

I nodded.“Now whatever you do, don’t try to be too clever and run off and sell yourhouse and whatnot. You don’t want to draw attention to…”

“Hey, Ialready told you, ‘I’m not a greedy man.’”

“I reallywish you’d stop using that bloody line. It pisses me off something bad!”

“Sorry.You’re right. I won’t use it again – ever! I promise! Hoo-whee, mamma!”

“No! Not onlywon’t you use it again – ever! You’ll also get the hell out of my life - forgood. After today, I never want to see or hear from you ever again. Are weclear on that?”

“Don’tworry,” he said taking out his wallet. “I’ll be too busy spending myhard-earned moolah to bother you ever again.” He took a key from his wallet andslid it across the counter. “There we go. As promised, always a man of myword.”

“That remindsme,” I said reaching into my pocket for another piece of paper. There was aname and a number on it. “Here’s a little something extra. The cherry on thetop – if you will?”

“CherryCreampie?” he queried reading the name. “What…”

“Best damn$500 you’ll ever spend in New York City.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah!Cherry on the top. Cherry on the bottom. For $500 you can decide just how andwhere you want…Cherry to be – all night long too!”

“Hoo-hah!” Hepulled his jacket wide open, revealing his new gray T-shirt. He laughed andsaid, “Look what I bought myself yesterday?”

I read theslogan, “‘I love NYC!’ I never took you for the type who wears T-shirts withslogans?”

“Boy, do Iever love New York City.” He kissed both pieces of paper before placing them inhis jacket pocket. “We are gonna have fun tonight!” He patted his pocket as ifhe were pledging allegiance to some higher power. I guess in a strange way heactually was – but definitely not to the Good God Almighty!

“Justremember that every dollar you spend from now on could have been $600 in a fewweeks time.”

“Decisions,decisions!”

“Oh, yes! Ialmost forgot. Being your first time to The Big Apple, I also took the libertyof reserving you a window seat at the restaurant next door.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, it’sin your name. I want to make sure your first trip to New York is as memorableas possible. I believe their Porterhouse Special is something to die for.”

“For whattime?”

I checked mywatch. It was 08h10. “Right now.”

“Great! I’mfamished. Are you going to join me?”

“Sorry, I’malready running late for my next appointment. Oh, one more thing before I run.”

“Yeah?”

“Sell!”

“Sell?”

“Yeah, thoseshares will fall again like a pile of bricks.”

At about08h30 I stopped next to a park near the Hudson River. It appeared that I wouldbe able to have a great view from there.

‘The viewisn’t great – it’s perfect,’ I thought to myself whilst setting up the twovideo recording cameras. I set one on close-up and the other on wide. I checkedthe time. It was 08h40. I had made sure to set my watch to New York timeexactly. I started both cameras recording and gave a short introductory speechin front of the one set on wide. Then I walked behind the camera again, took mycellphone, scrolled down to Erika Angelo and pushed Dial.

She answeredwith, “You’re the one who’s late, sweetie. What’s up? I’ve already had threeglasses of champagne. The view is fantastic! I love it, but I love you evenmore you romantic old devil.”

“Thankgoodness! I was so worried we might lose the table.”

“There was noway I was going to let that happen, silly. Where are you?”

“The meetingran a little late.”

“Probablybecause you were late!”

“Actuallyit’s because you were once late!”

“That doesn’tmake any sense?”

“Forget aboutit!”

“How muchlonger before…”

“I should be there in about half an hour.”

“No problem!You know what they say? Better to be late than the late.”

“You said it,Babe! Took the words right out of my mouth.

“That’sbecause we’re soulmates, remember? We can finish each other’s sentences.”

“Unfortunatelybeing late has its own consequences as well.”

“I miss youtoo! But I’ll suffer in silence.”

I started as she suddenly screamed. I checkedthe sky. It was clear. “What’s wrong?” I asked desperately.

“Willy! Hejust dropped an ice cube down my dress.”

“Yeah? Frontor back?”

She ignoredthe question and said, “See if you can get here before it melts.”

“If it’s nearyour heart it never will.”

“What’s thatsupposed to mean?”

“Forget it!”

“Willy looksgreat in your jacket. I don’t think I’ve seen him in one before.”

“I’m guessingthere are a lot of things you haven’t seen him in?”

“You’resaying the strangest things lately?”

“Maybe oursoulmate compatibility is misaligned.”

“Well don’tworry yourself; I know just the thing to knock our gears into place again.”

“Me too!Trust me!”

“See, we’realready on the way.”

“I guess theyare? Not much longer now!”

“Just as youasked, Willy’s been the perfect gentleman, keeping me company till you arrive.”

“You knowwhat they say? ‘A perfect gentleman is just someone who uses the back door inorder to preserve the honor, dignity and reputation of the front.’”

“There you goagain! By the way, he’s just crazy about the bar.”

“Of course heis. Listen, is there a guy sitting by himself at the table next to yours?”

There was ashort silence before she answered with a reply that was more a query than aconfirmation. “Uh…yeah?”

“Is hewearing a gray T-shirt under his brown jacket? A gray T-shirt with I love NYCprinted all over the front?” Anothershort silence then, “I think so! Yeah! How…oh, you’re here already. Where areyou hiding? You sly old devil, you. Come out where I can see you!”

“No! No, I’mnot. I promise you! I’m still on my way.”

“Then how…”

“I’ll explainwhen I get there. But I need you to do me a favor. A little…prank.”

“You want meto pull something on I Love NYC?”

“Yeah, you’lllove it.”

“Yeah? How well do you know this guy?”

“Since I wasa kid.”

“Seems a bitold, even for you, to be a childhood friend.”

“He’ssomebody I knew when I was growing up, back in the old neighborhood. He used tobe a cop at the time. Now he’s a dick; a private investigator.”

“Yeah, looksthe type.”

“You’ll lovehim! You and he are a lot alike. Especially when it comes to my money. Youshould get on like a house on fire.”

“That’s not avery nice thing to say. You know very well that I love you for who you are andnot what you got. And you also know that I only love you and only you – alwaysand forever for the rest of my life!”

“Justkidding!”

“I didn’tthink it was very funny.”

“I’ll make itup to you…real soon!”

“I know youwill, loverboy. I’m looking forward to it too. Oh, how much longer are yougoing to make me wait and suffer like this?”

“Not muchlonger, babe. I’m gonna put you out of your misery very shortly.”

“So…what’sthis prank you want me to pull?”

“You’re justgoing to love it! I promise! I want you to go over and tell him that you’reCherry and that Cornelius Crane sends his regards.”

“Who’sCherry?”

“I’ll explainlater! He may mention something about the money I gave you earlier, but tellhim that in about…” I checked my watch. “In about three minutes he’s about toopen a whole new can of bees.”

“Bees? Don’tyou mean worms?”

“Nah, he’llunderstand exactly what you mean. You’ll see by his reaction.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah!”

“Whatdevilish scheming is going on in that beautiful brain of yours?”

“All will beexplained. Just do it for me, okay?”

“Okay,loverboy.”

“In themeantime let me talk to Willy.”

“Okay! He’sjust crazy about the view from up here. Hang on a mo.”

“Hey, man!”came Willy’s voice all excited. “Don’t you worry none. I’m keeping your ladyand a few brewskis company till you arrive.”

“She ain’t myold lady, Willy.”

“Not yet sheain’t, but I been hearing stories, man.”

“Yeah, whatsort of stories?”

“Let’s justsay that when you get here, I’m heading straight back to the bar. You don’tneed to worry about Willy Newood cramping your style, man. Know what I mean.I’m gonna leave you two lovebirds all to your lonesomes to sort out that shit.”

“Shit?”

He did aterrible rendition of the wedding march, “Daah dah tee dah, daah dah tee dah,and all that shit man?”

“You soundlike a real dork, Willy! Duh duuh duh duh!”

Embarrassed, hequickly changed the subject. “The view up here is fucking fantastic man.Fucking fantastic! To think that I might be coming up here every day to work isjust out-of-this-world-rad, man. Mucho- supero-rad!” There was a loud noise inthe background and Willy spoke off phone to someone else. “Whoa, chill, dude!What was his fucking problem?”

“What’swrong?” I asked smiling.

“Erika wastalking to this guy, and he just suddenly freaked out man. Erika thinks it’sfunny, but the dude looked really terrified to me, man.”

“Maybe it wasthe view? Maybe he’s afraid of heights?”

“Could be,man? I don’t know? Dude went outta here like a fucking rocket.”

“What anarsehole! Surely he must realize that it’s much too late already? If it was me,I would have finished my steak and enjoyed the view.”

“What you onabout, man?”

“You’ll replaceout soon enough, Willy. Any minute now. Keep watching the sky!”

“The Thingfrom another World!”

“What?”

“‘Keepwatching the skies.’ Those are the last words spoken in The Thing from another World!”

“Incredible!”

“Hey, ifyou’re good – you’re good.”

“And the gooddie young, Willy! I wonder what your last words will be?”

“The Good DieYoung; 1954 crime thriller with Sir Stanley Baker and Joan Collins. Although hewasn’t a Sir, yet!”

“Have I toldyou that sometimes you scare the bejesus out of me? But I gotta tell yousomething else really important now.”

“What?”

“Keepwatching the skies!”

“I just toldyou…”

“Nah, I meanfor real! You just keep watching the skies, okay.”

“I’m watchingthem, man. I’m watching them. Great fucking view. If this deal goes down, I’lllove you forever! Did I tell you that I love you, man?”

“Only aboutfifty fucking times already!” I mouthed an apology to an elderly lady who waspassing by. She just gave me a sour look and kept walking. She had frowned inpuzzlement at my video equipment too.

“That’s‘cause I mean it, man! You are the man, man!”

“That’s verykind of you, Willy. Unfortunately, the feeling is not mutual.”

“That’s okay,man! I don’t want your love, honey! I just want your money!” Then he gave areally stupid laugh, which ended with a couple of nasal snorts. “I’m justkidding you, man. Just kidding.”

“You’re sucha big fucking prick, Willy Newood.

“Hey, chill,dude! I said I was only kidding!”

“‘Many a trueword is spoken in jest.’”

“What’s thatmean?”

“Forget it!I’m just real glad you like the view.”

“It’s fuckingawesome, man. You’re gonna love it!”

“Oh, I’malready loving it!” I said spying number eleven approaching from way in thenorth. It had to be the Boston flight. She was right on schedule…and target.The people that chanced to gaze in her direction saw an airplane like manyothers, but I saw a deadly approaching missile. My heart began to poundfuriously in anticipation, “Keep watching now, Willy!”

“What a greatday, Man! Not a cloud to be seen.”

My voicebecame lower and calmer as I repeated. “Keep watching.” I felt like a submarinecaptain who had just ordered a torpedo to be launched at an enemy ship, and whohad unshakable faith and confidence that the projectile was running straightand true.

“I’m watchingthem skies, baby! I’m watching them! I’m sitting here relaxing with my brewskiand scoping out them skies, man! Hey, I know this crazy BASE jumping dude inLong Beach who would give his left…”

“Do me afavor?”

“Anything,dude! Anything! Just don’t ask me to suck it, man.” He laughed again. “Hey justkidding, again. I know you ain’t no fudge-packer. Not with you and Erica aboutto…”

“Would youshut the fuck up? There’s hardly any time left.”

“Sorry, man.I’m just so excited about this whole manager deal thing and…”

“Tell Erikathat her romantic old devil says, ‘The rest of her life just shrunk to aboutten seconds and that he’ll see you both in fucking hell…MAN!”

“Hey? Now,that ain’t romantic, dude. You should rather be telling her stuff like…shit,should that guy be flying so low. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he washeading straight for…for…! Oh…my…fuuuu…”

Theconnection was suddenly, suitably, satisfyingly and most thankfully, lost!

I peered intothe viewreplaceer of the camera that was set to close-up and watched as dust anddebris exploded into the air around 1 WTC.

How could Inot say it? “‘Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together?’” Then Iadded, “Check and mate! Bingo!”

The peoplearound me were shouting and pointing.

“Did you seethat?” shouted one man. “What the hell happened? Do you think it was anotherterrorist bomb?”

“No, it wasan airplane,” reported another. “I saw the whole thing happen?”

“Yeah? Whatsort of plane?”

“One of thosebig passenger types!”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah!

“Shit, whatdo you suppose happened? You think the autopilot screwed up or what?”

“How the hellshould I know? I dunno! Could be?”

It was onlynow that I remembered that a lot of people hadn’t even considered it to be aterrorist attack until the second plane.

“Did you seeit,” asked the first man looking at me. “I can’t believe that it was a plane.No way!”

“Let’s take alook,” I said calmly folding out the small built-in viewscreen on the wideangle camera. I pushed Stop, Rewind and then Play.

He staredwide-eyed as American Airlines Flight 11 disintegrated on impact. “Holy, shit!It was a plane!” Then he stared me in the eye. “Do you have any idea how muchfootage like that is worth?”

“A shithousefull!”

“You said it!You’re one lucky son of a bitch!”

“You said it!But I don’t intend to sell it. I have a much better use for it.”

“What?”

“If I’mlucky, I might just be able to use it to buy back an old lost friendship.” Hefrowned and I said, “Forget it! It’s very uh…complicated.”

“What do yousuppose happened? Autopilot fault?

“You ever seethat movie The Thing from another World?”

“The originalor the remake?”

“Uh, theoriginal, I think?”

“Yeah?”

“What werethe final words in the movie?”

“‘Keepwatching the skies?’ Why, what…”

“Shit! I onceknew a guy you probably would’ve liked.”

“Yeah? Whathappened to him?”

“He died in aplane crash.”

“Sorry ‘boutthat.”

“I’m not. Ifound out he was screwing my wife.”

“Then whywould I have liked him?

“He also hada very good knowledge of movies.”

“Oh! Okay!Sorry for asking then, but when did you replace out he was banging your old lady -before or after the crash?”

“Before…longbefore.”

“How did youfeel when you heard about the crash?”

“There were alot of innocent people killed. But as for those two, I…”

“Your wifedied in the same plane crash?”

“Well, shewasn’t my wife when she died.”

“Divorced,hey?”

“I guess youmight say, ‘We broke up.’”

“Nobody wouldblame you if you felt a little pleased at the news. Hell, or even a lot? Youmust’ve thought that justice was finally done?”

It feltsurreal having this conversation while we both kept glancing between looking ateach other and the thick smoke pouring out of the side of the damaged building.It felt, to me at least, as though I were chatting to someone in front of theTV while watching reruns of an old and all too familiar disaster.

Although Iwas most satisfied in what I had managed to accomplish, the air seemed to lackthat certain tension…that electricity I had experienced on my initiallylearning of the attack.

The firsttime had been on my way to work when all the radio stations had suddenlystarted broadcasting the news of the first attack.

At work I hadrushed into the canteen area where the nearest TV was situated. A large crowdhad already gathered beneath the wall-mounted screen.

Theyreluctantly gave way as their big boss made his way to the front. Somebody hadturned the sound up – it had seemed too loud, but I left it as it was.

I stoodwatching as events unfolded, hearing the anxious remarks and cries ofconsternation behind me. I heard the phrases, ‘pilot error,’ ‘autopilotmalfunction’ and ‘terrorist attack,’ repeated frequently until 09h03 New Yorktime when it became all-too obvious which of the three phrases, had indeed,been correct! Although, by the common phrase that was then uttered by almostevery employee present, one might have believed that it was an Act of God!

By that timethe canteen had also filled with just about every last Global employee fromthat particular section. And it was long after the dust had started to clearaway that the crowd in the canteen had also begun to slowly disperse as well.

I had laterdeemed it appropriate to issue a circular that all personnel, who so wished,could have the rest of the day off without any loss in salary. I doubted, inany case, that anyone would have been able to function well in their normalduties under such abnormal circumstances.

Most hadtaken advantage of the notice. I had gotten on the phone to my broker. I didnot need a time machine to know that the market was gonna be adversely affectedby this international upheaval!

I startedpacking away my video equipment. The man said, “Well?”

“Well what?”

“I asked ifyou thought that justice had been done?”

“More like,Judgment Day had come upon three souls who could not have been more deserving.”

“Three?”

“Did I saythree?” He nodded. “Well, maybe they weren’t the only people guiltyof…intolerable behavior.”

“Why are youpacking up? Don’t you think you should be filming this?”

“If anythingelse should happen, there’s probably plenty other cameras shooting by now.” Ipicked up the last of the equipment.

“Anythingelse? You think something else might happen?”

“Keepwatching the skies!”

“What’s thatsupposed to mean?”

“Trust me,keep watching the skies, pal! Just keep watching the skies!” Then I waltzed offsinging, “I knew a dick and Bingo was his name o! B…i…n…g…o! B…i…n…g…o!B…i…n…g…o. Bingo was his name o! Now the poor bastard’s dead and never morewill sing o. S…i…n…g…o! S…i…n…g…o! S…i…n…g…o! He kissed it at Ground Zero!’”

And so, it has happened again exactly as it had happened before!

Well, maybe not exactly! There have unfortunately been a few more victimsthis time round.

I did a little survey the other day. I asked a number of people if theycould tell me the date on which Pearl Harbor had been attacked - December 7th,1941.

Not one could give me the exact date. Sure some knew the year, but notthe day or month.

Today, which will come to be referred to as 9/11 will strangely hold abigger place in the hearts and minds of America, and the world in general.

Yes, I probably had the power to prevent it. But once again I amconfronted with the ethics of a broader picture. I have already made mention ofthis fact numerous times in my diary. I know that my presence has alreadycaused innumerable changes to this new timeline, but the major events, thankGod, have mostly gone unaffected.

9/11 will be the catalyst leading to many other important events:

On January 29th, 2002, President George W. Bush, in his State of theUnion address will label Iran, Iraq and North Korea as the ‘Axis of Evil.’

On February 5th, 2003, Secretary of State Colin Powell will report to theU.N. that Saddam Hussein is hoarding biological weapons (Later known by theacronym WMD for ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction.’) and will use it to lobby infavor of military action.

In Mid march of 2003, the war on Iraq will begin in earnest.

No WMD will ever be found!

So, without a 9/11, the many events following it would not come to pass,or would have been delayed to a much later time – especially the wars inAfganistan and Iraq, and the final defeat and capture of Saddam Hussein.

Just like the JFK assassination, many conspiracy theorists will claimthat 9/11 was an elaborate ploy. In this case, to get America into the war.Their main reason to quote – oil!

It will also take over a decade before the real, or perhaps, apparentmasterminds behind the attacks are finally brought to justice.

The relatively unknown, that is to the general population of both Americaand the world, Osama Bin Laden will soon take his place amongst the likes ofGengis Khan, Attila the Hun, Napoleon, Ivan the Terrible, Adolf Hitler and PolPot to become one of history’s most notorious figures.

And like those mentioned, he will be both hated and loved, but themajority will condemn his actions.

I have chosen the following statement after much care and considerationtowards the many lives lost today, as well as towards those who remain togrieve their loss:

Although I have used this abominable act to my advantage, I still cannotcondone, or ever will, the terrible tragedy that has befallen the AmericanNation as a whole. After all, there are far more innocent bodies amongst therubble than those who I had deemed deserving of the fate that befell them.

My heart and my thoughts go out to them – they will be sorely missed, butnever forgotten.

Bin Laden will eventually meet his demise in a safe house (The irony isblatantly obvious) in Pakistan on May 1st, 2011(Almost a decade after theattacks on the World Trade Center) during the office of America’s first blackpresident, Barack Hussein Obama II.

Strange how similar their names are – Osama and Obama. Not to mentionHussein!

One would think this would be cause enough for him to lose the vote ofthe general public. Just goes to show that the American people as a whole arenot as narrow-minded as one might speculate.

I had renteda car because I knew the airports would be closed for awhile, and I need to getback to Global in time for that important business meeting on the 13th – theone that I somehow, yet fortunately, forgot to cancel. Unfortunately it won’tbe quite as fun or as stimulating as the business recently finalized, but atleast there is money to be gained.

Somewherebeneath all the smoldering rubble lies the charred remains of what was once my$10 000; a small price to pay for keeping such a large secret.

Tallis hadbeen greedy and gullible enough to accept the offer. Thank goodness he fell forit. I have absolutely no knowledge of any significant share increases till2005. I don’t think he would have been patient enough to wait till then.Anyhow, it’s all water under the bridge; blood and money under the rubble!

The less saidabout Erika, the better. Suffice to say that I know that if things had goneaccording to what she had been expecting, we would have spent the night makingunbridled love. But, sometimes for the greater good of all, sacrifices need tobe made. At least I have spared her the pain of having to go throughchildbirth, two divorces and the terrible loss of her son!

As for Willy– I guess some of his pals might hold a wake for him at the Balmoral. And whoknows, I might even attend.

Hell, I thinkI might even pay for all the booze!

Although theplanes have been grounded, it was still necessary to make a most important stopat J.F.K. International.

Thank Godthat Tallis is…was a man of his word.

They were allthere – every last one. My diaries and my secret are once again safe. It feelsas though the weight of two collapsed buildings has been lifted from myshoulders.

It’s going tobe a long, lonely trip all the way back home.

I intend torelax and enjoy it in the company of my own thoughts.

Yep, it’ll bejust me, the radio, the wind in my hair and the long open road. Solo cruising!

Mother alwayswarned me about the danger of picking up hitchhikers, and I always listened tomother!

Even when Iwas fifty five!!!