Intersections
David Down
Vlad and the Bear
It was mid-day, and Vlad was working. The cross-street was crowded with people on their way to work in the factories, paying remarkably little attention to their pocketbooks. It was a good day, Vlad decided as he swiped the wallet from a passing businessman. Though he started the day with nothing but a few kopecks, things were looking up.
When he had learned to steal from an old beggar, the first lesson was to dress as your targets dress. He followed this advice, wearing a greatcoat over his rags, an ushanka pulled down tight over his filthy hair. The watch he wore he had stolen yesterday. He looked like every other man in the crowd, and it served him well.
Vlad took a break then, working his way through the crowd to a side street. He sifted through each wallet, pocketing all of the cash he found. He left the wallets in a pile at his feet, and, taking a deep breath, pushed back into the crowd.
He reached into the first coat he came into contact with. No wallet. As he withdrew and started to step away, a hand clamped down on his wrist. As he panicked and tried to pull away he was lifted into the air, brought face to face with a giant of a man with scars crossing his face. The man stared for a moment, then grinned.
“You and I, we will talk,” without waiting for a response the man carried Vlad effortlessly into the side alley he had just walked out of.
“I'm sorry sir, I am a bit clumsy. I tripped and reached-” Vlad said, desperately trying to come up with an excuse.
The man waved at him dismissively. “I know what you were trying to do. No use lying,” he said as he removed his coat. Underneath he wore only a sleeveless undershirt, stretched to the point of tearing across his bulky frame. The man clasped his hands above his head, flexing his muscles.
“What are you going to do with me?” Vlad asked, backing against the wall.
“I am Bear. I was born in a small village not far from here. Now I work here, in the steel refinery. You are...?” the man continued to stretch.
“Vlad,” he answered, an edge of despair in his voice.
“You are Vlad. You are a thief and a liar. I am going to hurt you. Then I am going to turn you over to the authorities,” as he said this the man turned on Vlad, throwing a swift jab into the wall next to Vlad's head. Then he grinned.
Vlad saw what he had to do. He always did in these situations. He dropped to a crouch and rolled between the tall man's legs. He bounded to his feet and punched Bear in the small of the back. Bear roared in anger and fell forward against the wall. Vlad struck at the back of Bear's knee next.
Bear's leg collapsed and he had to put his hands on the wall to support himself. He spun around, faster than he should have been able to, and grabbed Vlad's ankle. He pulled Vlad from his feet, putting him flat on his back.
Vlad attempted to roll away, but Bear's fist came down, square on the middle of his chest. He tried to gasp, but the wind was gone from him. He couldn't understand why his visions had failed him and he didn't have much time to ponder it as he lost consciousness.
Vlad was roused from painful dreams by the quiet click of a door knob. He was in an unfamiliar building, in a bed that wasn't his. He sat up, noticing that his chest was tightly wrapped. “Where?” he said groggily.
“Don't worry, I didn't move you far.” Bear said, walking into the room, “Looks like we broke a couple of ribs there, didn't we, friend?”
“Friend? You attacked me...” Vlad said, slowly waking up.
“You fought well, friend,” Bear said, ignoring him, “Haven't taken a hit like that in..." Bear looked up, thinking back, "years. Good placement, good timing. Where'd you learn to beat on a man?”
“Nowhere specific. What happened to turning me in?”
“You're a warrior, and I respect that. Cigarette?” Bear said, pulling a pack from his breast-pocket. Vlad nodded.
“I like warriors. I like to hire them, specifically. I run an... establishment on the east side of town. Are you terribly attached to pick-pocketing? Or might an honest, paying job suit you better?” Bear grinned as the weight of his words hit Vlad.
“But... but you beat me. You broke my ribs,” Vlad said.
“My friend, do not worry. I beat everyone,” Bear said, walking out of the room. He ducked under the door frame as he passed.
~
At the sight of Bear's 'establishment,' Vlad allowed himself his first smile in days.
"What? A man cannot work a shift in the steel mill during the day, and run a mercenary army at night?" Bear said.
They stood at the top of a creaking metal staircase and looked down into the warehouse where Bear ran his business. It was divided by a dizzying array of makeshift walls and low barriers, making an impossibly complicated obstacle course. At least a hundred men scrambled and scurried like mice through a maze, performing tactical maneuvers of stirring efficiency.
"Their amazing," Vlad said.
"Their breathtaking, I know. I often wonder where their trainer learned the things they teach," Bear said.
"Trainer?" Vlad said.
"Oh yes. I didn't train these men to work as a team. That bit of knife work on the tower was my doing, but not all that running and hiding that got them there. I brought in a specialist to teach them that," Bear said with a satisfied grin.
"Let me meet this man," Vlad said.
"Man?" Bear grinned even wider.
"You just died!" she yelled in disgust at his prone form. She noticed Bear and Vlad approaching then.
Before Bear could say anything she spoke, "I'm sorry Bear. I know you've asked me not to beat on your men while I'm here. But that specific lazy bastard deserved it."
"I understand that you are working hard, 521, but maybe you work the men too hard? That man was not lazy, he was tired. Look at him- he hasn't bothered to stand up yet," Bear said, putting a hand on her shoulder. She quickly shrugged it off.
No comments:
Post a Comment