by Donald Ha
*Crack!*
The work ended after a long time. After the sound stopped, Marie-Louise Lane finally sighed and said,
“Seeing my body shaking like the way it is, no matter how much the pain is stopped by acupuncture techniques, the absolute degree of the pain that whole body feels never changes.”
Her forehead was soaked with cold sweat. Wiping the sweat off with the sleeve of the maid’s clothes, Marie-Louise started to wrap her broken legs with a bandage and splint that were placed next to the bed.
After she did it meticulously, Marie-Louise Lane sighed again and spoke out,
“It might take three months to be fully be recovered at the earliest unless I could get miracle cure.”
Three months. It might be a short time for someone, but it can be eternity for those living in crisis and border.
“If they find me within 3 months, it might be hard to avoid death.”
Marie-Louise Lane recalled the reflections of the countless swords that attacked her. Now, if those attacks might be applied to her, she will never be able to stop them.
"I can't die in a place like this."
Another face came across Marie-Louise’s mind.
It was the face of the Asian, far different from the swords of Wutang.
“He said his name is Jackal?”
The man who entered into the bunker was capable of shooting.
He was a serious rival. Keen sense and skills of shooting sharp enough to kill a life. The guy was a strong man who was more than just a lowly hyena.
“If that guy has an ulterior motive, my life would be in danger.”
A dark look clouded her eyes.
“I will attack him first.”
Chapter 3
On the streets surrounded by darkness, two vague, shining shadows were lingering.
Jackal caught them from afar and softly beeped his bicycle horns twice. And then, he lightly stepped on the pedals, towards them.
The appearance of the two men began to emerge. Although there was a difference in degree, both of them had watchful eyes.
At the moment Jackal’s bike passed by them, one man started to whisper.
“Hatred is our prayer…”
As soon as Jackal heard the words, he stopped and held onto the brakes.
Their eyes met and they observed each other.
After a brief scan was done, Jackal opened his mouth with a smile.
“…and revenge is our cry.”
Once the men heard his reply, they let down there guards and started towards the guy riding the bike.
“You’re the Devil of Cherbourg? Heard a lot about you, but didn’t know you were Asian.”
“I hear that all the time. I’m not Japanese, so please don’t ask me where I am from. And….”
Jackal unpacked the parcel from his bike and held it out to the two men.
“Since someone might be watching, please check this now.”
Jackal looked around the surroundings with his keen eyes. The men slowly received the parcel. It was a small sealed box with a paper attached.
When the seal was torn, the contents inside the box came visible under the moonlight.
It was stacks of file folders.
One man pulled out a folder and shone the contents with his lantern. It contained photos, appearance, race, address, career and embarrassing facts with the seal of Gestapo at the end of it.
After that guy closely looked at the seal, he nodded his head toward the other man.
“This is the original.”
Then the other opened his mouth while looking at Jackal.
“I’ve checked the items.”
And he took out of something in his chest and held it out to Jackal.
It was U.S dollars.
“I hope you have a good trip.”
Jackal received money and left the place, while leisurely riding his bike, as though nothing had happened.
After he was gone, the two guys chattered in a low voice, repacking the parcel.
“Can’t believe that was the Devil of Cherbourg. He looks younger than I imagined.”
“Right. That’s the guy. I have seen him in Aachen. I didn’t see him actually fight, but I remember that the U.S Army gnashed their teeth in anger and offered a price on his head.”
“But, I don’t understand why that guy is helping so-called criminals like us. He could die.”
“He just wants to come aboard. There are a quite a lot Allied Forces who died in his hands. A rumor is going around that Patton directly issued orders that those who capture Jackal would receive a promotion of two ranks.”
“That’s funny. By the way, who will take a smelly Asian on their boat?”
The men disappeared into the darkness with a laugh.
Soon after they were gone, Jackal re-exposed himself from the dark.
“I understand what you’re thinking.”
With a forlorn smile, he flattened the crumpled scrap of money in his hands and then put them in his wallet.
Quite a lot of bills filled his wallet.
Jackal looked down at his money and started to talk in a low tone.
“Your nation was defeated just like my ancestors. The only thing that citizens of a defeated nation can do is to believe in themselves."
*Whoosh-*
The bicycle pedal began to spin.
Cutting through the night’s cool air, the bicycle raced towards the city in ruins.
Soon, dawn started from the East. The pale sun soared above the city in ruins.
Prussia archipelago- Berlin.
The city of Brandenburg triumphal arch.
The city that was occupied by Russia, 400 years ago.
The city that was currently divided into four victorious countries.
And the city of war criminals.
Jackal flew into Berlin about three months ago when the war had just ended.
He was staying at a shabby mansion built in a district occupied by the Soviet army. Even though the place was not very wide, had a busted pipe and stank, it was the only refuge that was allowed Jackal in the city of a pandemonium.
His neighbors said that the person who originally lived there was a crippled man in his mid-40s. He was dragged off as a grenadier at the end of war and put in the offensive and defensive battles, and did not return.
“Let’s take a look at my goods!”
After returning to his dwellings, the first thing that Jackal usually did was to check the safe hided in the room. A ridiculously heavy iron safe, picked up from a shattered bank by shelling, was cleverly disguised.
He put the safe in the corner, stacked bricks on it and then painted plaster over it to disguise it into a pillar. So the door of the safe was completely hidden with the shelves and bookcases.
After pushing the heavy bookcase away, Jackal opened the safe sealed with a triple lock and then checked his goods.
Inside the vault, large amounts of dollars, alcohol, medicine, canned food, and various weapons etc. were mixed in a big mess. Jackal put the wad of money that he received in the vault and then took out of a handbook and entered it in the ledger.
“Still have a long way to go.”
He had collected about 5,000 dollars. With this money, Jackal could live well, but the desired amount was $10,000.
“Phew…When am I gonna be able to save up the rest. Really.”
At that moment, Jackal recalled a man who stood with his hands behind his back, on a blackened submarine that surfaced over the dark sea.
The man wore a German Navy waterproof tar bucket coat, had a pipe in his mouth and was blowing hazy cigarette smoke on the rocking sea at night. He mockingly said,
“Keep in mind. Japanese! 10,000 dollars. 10,000 dollars! If you bring that money to me, I’ll help you start a new life in Argentina. So, then the Devil of Cherbourg will die, and an honest and hardworking Japanese-Argentine will be born!”
Jackal felt pressure on his chest after his short flashback. But merely thinking about it wouldn't ea
rn him that amount.
“Shit!”
Jackal took out a bottle of alcohol from the safe and popped it into his mouth. The burn from the strong cognac stung his stomach.
Jackal just stood there silently, allowing the silence embrace him.
How much time has passed by? From the next house over the wall, the sound of something breaking and a loud voice from a man reached his ears.
“Is he drunk again? That man…. He isn't even well enough.” “
Jackal started recalling a face that he had forgotten while he was mumbling about the old fool. The face of the girl with the blonde hair that he encountered at the bunker.
He smiled.
“Her bluff was absolutely ridiculous!”
He thought that it’d be a great opportunity to earn a lot of money if she was, indeed, a figure sought out by the American soldiers. American soldiers are generous, have lots of money and are not fastidious like Englishmen. They are the best trading partners.
However, as the bald U.S captain checked, such opportunities weren’t present.
“Well, to be honest, it’s me who they really want. Not the girl.”
If they knew his identity,
Death would soon follow
Jackal sipped his glass of again and closed the door of the vault.
“Ah, wait.”
For some reason, Jackal reopened the safe and took out some medication, such as analgesics, antipyretics, and penicillin.
“Let’s go get the whole story, eh?”
*
It was very dangerous during the nights in Berlin.
Before going out, Jackal checked his weapons.
Ppsh-41 submachine gun, whose butt plate was cut off, not to be seen.
The pistol with an ivory handle that he got at the bunker.
Four bat hand grenades.
A knife, a lantern.
He was like a soldier prepping for war.
Standing in front of the mirror, Jackal checked out his arms and disguise.
“Hope for safe today.”
When he stepped out of the mansion, a man revealed himself in the shades. He was tall and broad shouldered, had a short haircut and his features resembled a German’s face.
“Hey, Jackal.”
It was Hans Graham. He was the fellow soldier who fought with Jackal in the offensive and defensive battle of Berlin, and one of the few that Jackal talks to.
“Hi, Erika!”
A little girl behind the thick legs, which were like Greek pillars, carefully looked at Jackal’s face and retrieving behind the legs as if she was playing ‘hide-and-seek.’
As Jackal called her name, the girl with the brown pig tails stared blankly at him and slowly waved her hands.
“Hi Jackal.”
Unlike her cute looks, she had a brusque way of speaking. Erika Graham was Hans's younger sister, even though they did not look anything alike.
After the short greeting, Hans came over and spoke with his unique and cheerful voice.
“Where you going at this time of the night? Are you going on a ‘Hyena’ again?”
“Nope. I just want to take a walk.”
“It’s a dangerous time. Want me to come with you?”
While he was speaking, Hans took out his glittering fountain pen that was pinned to his top pocket.
Looking at it, Jackal's face turned stiff.
“I just want to walk alone today. Next time, when I go on a ‘Hyena’, I’ll contact you first.”
“All right then,.. next time. I’ll be waiting. Let’s go, Erika.”
Hans disappeared into the darkness with a smile. Erika followed her brother, suddenly stopped and looked at Jackal and muttered,
“Jackal, good-bye.”
“OK. Erika, good-bye.”
Jackal stared into the darkness where the Graham siblings disappeared into and stepped forward.
The full moon was rising, but due to the densely hung clouds, the night streets were filled with darkness. Judging from the disgusting smell that filled the air, it was likely that it was going to rain soon.
As he walked down the streets for about 10 minutes, he saw people light up drum cans and warming themselves.
Exhausted and hopeless faces. Occasionally gleaming hostile eyes. They were a group of demimonde.
Jack quickened his pace and passed them. Fortunately, no one picked a fight with him. It was not clear whether the US military coat that Jackal wore alerted them or they just weren’t interested.
Jackal could safely reach the bunker.
“Phew. It was a thrilling night walk.”
Jackal opened the hatch and entered into the bunker. The hallway was still immersed in silence and darkness. Jackal quietly walked down the hallway, carrying a lantern and his pistol.
Soon, the door revealed itself in the darkness. Behind the closed wooden door, there was a dead boy and a girl. And through the doors, rays of bright light were creeping out into the darkness.
Before opening, Jackal knocked a couple of times.
“Hey. You still alive?”
“.....”
There wasn’t any answers coming from inside.
When his questions echoed and faintly disappeared, the deathly silence quickly filled the empty gap, enough to be scared.
Jackal took a step back and shone the lantern down the hallway and touched the dirt with his index finger and thumb.
“It doesn’t seem like there were any unwelcomed guests. Why isn’t she answering?’
Suddenly, the image of the dead man popped up in his mind, along with an ominous imagination.
‘Perhaps?!”
Did the blonde girl kill herself?
It was possible.
From the first sight, the girl was far from human. Although he did not ask what had happened to her, something evil seemed to have bestowed upon her.
In Berlin, unexpected things happen.
“.....”
His was feeling uneasy.
During the war, opening doors were a very dangerous act.
The soldier who opens the door was also a good prey for the enemy who was waiting for an ambush.
Jackal had a keen sense.
Otherwise, he would’ve never survived in the hellish battlefield.
He wrapped a piece of cloth around the end of the pistol’s butt plate that’d been cut off, held it at gunpoint, and then turned the handle of the door.
*click*.
It wasn’t opening slowly, but the handle of the door began to turn.
*click*
It was time to open the door.
Jackal witnessed an incredible sight.
Something just went through the gap opened by the butt head.
*Creak!*
*Ping*
An unidentified object passed through the door and was lodged in the wall somewhere.
Jackal, unconsciously, took cover behind the wall.
‘A shooting?’
Jackal's eyes were gleaming sharply.
It if was a shooting, there should’ve been a sound of a gunshot.
Even if a silencer was equipped, the sound of the silencer can still be fully heard from a short distance.
“Who’s there?”
Jackal shouted sharply.
“.....”
There wasn’t an answer.
‘An enemy?
An uneasy feeling never was wrong.
He was able to feel the presence of enemies inside.
Enemies who were skilled enough not to leave any traces after them.
‘Should I give up here?’
This bunker was too attractive of a place to give up, and besides, there was a girl who led him here.
Sinister imaginations flashed across Jackal’s head.
‘Perhaps other groups of Hyena found the place and captured the girl.’
The girl was beautiful. She would have been raped, and if unfortunate, she could’ve been killed as well.
“.....”
Jackal’s eyes went cold.
Eyes that were emotionless.
The Devil of Cherbourg who drove the U.S and British Army into fear in the war awakened in his eyes once again in a dismal basement in Berlin.
*Vzzzzt*
Jackal took out of the bat-type grenade from his jacket. The manufactured date was peeled off from the handle.
The date was erased, so it was difficult to read, but it was made in 1945.
Jackal placed the grenade to his ear and listened, shaking it.
Before the defeat, war materials that were manufactured at German factories were notorious for their bad quality.
It was common for lack of charges or poor detonators. So, he shook it to check for the sound of explosives and the detonator.
‘Good.’
Determined by his ear, the quality of the grenade was normal.
There weren’t to be any risks with the bombing.
Jackal pulled the safety pin and counted numbers in his mind.
‘Ein..zwei.. Dre…!”
Just before the detonator ignited the charges, Jackal threw his arms wide and tossed the grenade into the room.
*Fizz-*
The moment the grenade entered into the room, something hit it and it exploded at the same time.
*Bang!*
As the door flew away in pieces, a huge blow attacked Jackal.
“Urgh…!”
A pile of debris struck the side of his face.
A drop of blood ran along his cheek towards his chin.
Fortunately, the explosion seemed to have occurred inside the room.
Jackal touched his body and checked his wounds.
‘Just a scratch. I’m sure that the explosion occurred inside the room.’
*Buzzz-*
Due to the explosion at close proximity, he was not able to hear well. Jackal quickly figured out the state of his ears by picking it with his fingers.
No sound reached his ears, but there was no blood coming out of it either.
‘Temporary hearing loss. Eardrums not ruptured.’
A huge amount of dust caused by the explosion hid the scene.
Jackal covered his mouth with a piece of cloth that was used for wrapping the buff plate of the pistol and placed the lantern on the ground and stepped back.
With his submachine gun at hand, he found an appropriate place to stay until his hearing returned.