“Suppose we do play along,” said Inselheim. “It could open the gates of hell if these guys get a monopoly over the Neutralaser. The point of the technology is to nullify nuclear weapons. It’s not supposed to be a tool for tyranny.”
“We knew the risks when we started,” said Brunswick. “Plus Kalakia already has the blueprints. The tyrant has what he wants. We can’t stop now.”
“So you think we should do this?”
Inselheim realised that Brunswick had been running her tongue side to side over her bottom lip for some time, the way she did when she was dissecting the situation and analysing every possibility. She remained thinking while staring at the grass, appearing able to see deep underground. The ferocity in her eyes when she turned back to Inselheim caused him to flinch.
“Yes,” said Brunswick. “We’re going to finish what we started.”
“And if Stirner has something sinister in mind?”
“You’re underestimating us again, Michael,” said Brunswick, suddenly rising to her feet and brushing the blades of grass off her behind while looking toward the mansion. “This could be the chance of a lifetime.”
Inselheim had not noticed, but Stirner was now walking toward them.
“And?” said Stirner as he approached.
“You’ve got a deal, Mr. Stirner,” said Brunswick, reaching her hand out.
“Call me Horst,” said Stirner, shaking her hand and grimacing when he noticed how firm her grip was.
Inselheim knew that look. Brunswick’s tiny frame always put powerful men at ease until they shook hands with her. The situation troubled Inselheim, but he also felt a tinge of new life moving around inside him. They were in a terrifying situation with a dangerous new partner, but at least he and Brunswick were back together. It was enough to reassure him, to give him the faintest hope that he could still actualise his father’s life-long dream — and come out of it all alive.
10
“I can’t believe I wasn’t going to come today,” said Chi.
Ida picked up her bag with her martial arts uniform inside.
“You know when you’re lying there on the sofa, all tired and lazy,” continued Chi while folding her pants. “And then a voice in your head tells you don’t bother going to martial arts class, just stay home?”
“Oh, yes,” said Ida. “That voice is the devil.”
“I know. Once you get into a flow it’s like ‘why did I ever think that?’ I feel so pumped right now! I could fight anybody.”
Chi gave Ida a nudge.
“Let’s go. Me and you,” said Chi, getting into fight stance and grinning.
Ida remained cool, pursing her lips and lifting her head. Her and Chi were the last two people in the changing rooms.
“I’m a lover, not a fighter,” she said, exaggerating her Spanish accent, which had faded since she moved abroad.
Chi lowered her arms and tilted her head.
“Really? Every time a lover boy shows up, you fight him off.”
Ida felt a sudden sharp ache in her chest.
“That’s not true,” she said.
“Aha, whatever you say,” said Chi with a shrug.
“It’s not,” said Ida, raising her voice, her cheeks quickly warming up. She pushed Chi in the shoulder.
“Oh, so now she wants to fight!”
Ida pinched her lips tight. What did Chi mean exactly?
“Come on, lover girl,” said Chi, throwing her bag over her shoulder and chuckling to herself as she walked to the exit.
The two of them thanked their sensei and left the dojo, coming out onto the bustle of Karl-Marx-Strasse, where Ida’s bad mood followed. Chi was playfully trying to tell her something. All of the girls had made off-handed comments in the past, but for some reason it stuck this time. Ida had assumed her attitude toward men was a natural reaction to the past few months. She had seen more than enough death for a lifetime, and had begun to wake up feeling cold and empty. During the daytime she had stopped noticing the small details around her. Her sense of smell had faded. Now Chi was suggesting that she had turned away from love. They walked among a swarm of people, with Ida pondering what effect the world’s ugliness was having on her.
“Did you see the news this morning?” said Chi. “Those murders in Poznan?”
“Yes,” replied Ida, coming out of her thoughts. “I couldn’t keep reading. It was terrible.”
“There were children in that building. How could anybody mutilate somebody like that in public? Do you think it has anything to do with what people talk about on the internet? That secret organisation which exists but doesn’t exist?”
“I don’t know,” said Ida while an uneasy feeling seeped in.
“Ida?” came a woman’s voice cutting through the crowd from behind.
Ida and Chi slowed down and turned in unison to find the lady from the flea market, who had halted her walk and had her body half turned. She looked stunning, Ida noticed, wearing a cream-coloured designer coat, a white blouse with no bra, black satin trousers and black stilettos. Her make-up was flawless, her shade of lipstick complimenting her face perfectly. She did not belong in Neukölln, where most people stuck with tattered vintage clothing and black streetwear and sneakers.
“Hi,” stuttered Ida, blinking rapidly. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I remember your name.”
The woman smiled and turned to face her.
“I don’t think I told you my name. I’m Tina,” she said, leaning forward and offering her hand. Her grip was firm.
“Nice to meet you,” said Ida. She then turned to Chi. “This is my friend Chi,” she added.
“Yes, I remember you from the market. Nice to meet you, Chi,” said Tina in a professional manner while shaking Chi’s hand.
“Likewise,” said Chi after a short hesitation.
Tina smiled warmly at Chi then turned back to Ida.
“It’s funny I run into you just before I fly back to Paris. I was thinking about you this morning. Those friends I told about you, I showed one of them your work. He loved it. He’s actually a scout for the major labels, and he thinks you’ve got some potential. If you… I
