Hajab stepping in front of him, trying to block his way.
Idiot face flushed with indignation. Idiot mouth opening: 'Halt! You are blocking the entrance! Trespassing on United Nations property!'
Charging the idiot.
Idiots arms spread to halt him.
'I am warning you, when Mr. Baldwin returns you'll be in big-'
Swinging the Beretta and hitting the idiot square in the face. Hearing bones crunch, the rustle and thud of collapse.
Running, flying, through the courtyard, trampling flowers. Gagging on sickly-sweet roses.
Funeral flowers.
No funeral today-coming, motek!
Through the door, mentally unfolding the Mandate-era blueprints.
West wing: servants' quarters. Staff quarters. Tagged doors.
The slaughterhouse, empty.
He ran, gun in hand.
Someone heard him, peaked a head out.
The old nurse Hauser, dressed in starched white, a white cap. Touching her hand to her lips in fear.
She shouted something. Ma'ila Khoury, the Lebanese secretary, stepped out into the corridor on awkward high heels. Saw his face and ran back into her office, slammed the door and locked it.
He transformed himself into a bullet. Shot round the corner.
Names on doors. Baldwin. DaroushaHajab. Blah blah blah. Carter.
Carter.
Nazi scum.
He turned the doorknob, expecting to find it closed, ready to aim the Beretta and blast the lock.
Open.
Carter in bed, blue pajamas. Under a top sheet.
Ghost-pale, propped on pillows, his mouth a dark hole in the beard, an elongated O.
No, Shoshi! Too late-oh, no, oh, God!
He pointed the gun at Carter. Screamed:
'Where is she!'
Carter's eyes opened wide. Yellow corneas around gray eyes. 'Oh, shit.'
Daniel came closer.
Carter covered his face with his arm.
Daniel took in the room as he ran to the bedside.
A real mess. Pig of a Nazi. Dirty clothes and papers everywhere. The nightstand crowded with pill vials, tubes. A plate of half-eaten food. A stethoscope.
The room reeked of medicine and flatulence and vomit.
Sickness-stench.
He forced Carter's arm down. -Ripped off the Nazi's eyeglasses and flung them across the room.
Shattering glass.
Carter blinking. Shaking. 'Oh, God.'
Nazis prayed too.
He put his knee on Carter's chest, pressed down. Nazi gasped.
Transferring his gun to his bad hand, he used the good one to grab Carter's neck. Big neck, but soft.
He squeezed.
'Where is she, damn you? Where is she! Damn you, tell me!'
Nazi gurgled. Made an unhealthy-sounding squeaking noise from deep inside of him.
He let go. Carter coughed, gulped air.
'Where is she?'
'Wh-Who?'
Slapping the monster hard. Handprints materializing like Polaroid images on the pale Nazi flesh.
Choking the monster again.
