Dreams Ltd

  The silence was pressing on my ears and nerves, whipping up my irritation even more.

  “And you?” I barely stopped myself from poking my finger in Hulk’s chest.

  “What about me?”

  “You weren’t there! You weren’t there to stop it!” I spat the words in his face, “Why was that? Where were you?”

  “I don’t have to justify myself to you.” now there was ice in the depth of his grey eyes.

  “Maybe you sanctioned all this? Do you benefit from it? Or you just enjoy it? Tell me!” I knew I was crossing the line, but the wrath that’s been bubbling inside for the past few hours, was now spilling out, whether I wanted it or not.

  “Why was he attacked by so many guards, while he could just be punished with points? Was it really necessary.... like that?”

  “There are certain rules on this ranch!”

  “Were they set by you? By YOU?” I was now yelling.

  Hulk gnashed with his teeth and pointed at the door.

  “Go away.”

  “Go away? Is it that simple? Is everything in your life that simple?”

  “I said – go away.”

  “You are... a monster!” I exploded, feeling the tears pouring down my cheeks, “You have not done anything to prevent it! You have done nothing to help him!...”

  “Get out!!!” roared Hulk.

  I shuddered, wiped my wet cheeks and walked to the door with my back stiffed.

  “He died, you know? He died...”

  When the office door closed, Hulk clenched his fists. After standing motionless for a few seconds, he forced himself to relax, came to the wall, leaned on it with his hand and closed his eyes. His whole body was aching from the tension and the silence after all the shouting was devastating. He was the only one who knew what was really going on at the ranch and he must keep it in secret by all means, even if it costs him everything. Even her.

  Hulk walked over to the bar and poured a glass of whiskey. After he drank it in one gulp, he filled it up again and only then allowed himself to sink into a chair.

  As he lit up his cigar, his hands were trembling.

  She knew there may never be a better moment for this than now.

  Yesterday, Greg finally brought the key; bastard - he was dragging it out for so long! Jenny would still be upset, if it wasn’t for all the events that suddenly joined together into one picture - the picture she really wanted to see. Oh, no! Now she was no longer getting upset - she was thrilled. For the first time in a long time Jenny was truly happy.

  How cool that yesterday Shereen got right in the middle of the scuffle with the guards! It wasn’t just good timing - it was perfect! Now, when she was so upset and angry with Hulk and his people, everyone will believe that she is guilty, without even trying to get down to the bottom of the truth. Jenny was certain about that. The situation will be interpreted as blazing, hard and fast revenge - Shereen’s revenge for the unjust rules at the ranch and for being punched by Greg.

  Jenny smiled wryly.

  Who cares about these pathetic dregs of society? They all deserve to be here; they all deserve to be punished with hard labour and beatings! Why was there any need at all to stand up for one of them? Jenny seriously doubted that people could act out of so-called noble impulses. Everyone knows - it's a cruel world where everyone tries to do the best they can, and only those who are aggressive enough to snap up the biggest piece of pie could survive.

  Now it was time for Jenny’s great, poisonous and thought through revenge. Oh, yes! The anticipation has lasted for far too long, but it was well worth it. When she is finished with Shereen, Jenny will live in the mansion - it’s all been set up for a while now.

  Sitting on the steps, beside the barracks and squinting from the bright morning sun, Jenny was scrolling through every detail of her cunning plan again and again.

  The arson must happen tonight; she couldn’t wait any longer and had to execute her plot quickly and according to the circumstances. So, come midnight the warehouse with everything that’s been harvested for the past month, will be set on fire. It is a pity that the barrels with berries will get demolished too - her neighbours put so much effort into picking them, but there is nothing can be done to save them since the berry yield is kept under the same roof. So, when the wooden barn goes up in flames, the fire will spread onto the women’s barracks, which are located close by - Jenny was pretty sure that women will have enough time to evacuate the buildings. Jenny has to make sure that she is not the one who smells the smoke first, it must be someone else - here she will have to rely on her luck. But it wasn’t that important.

  What was the most essential thing was to bring an empty gas canister to Shereen’s room and remain unnoticed. And before that Jenny must steal some of the clothes that the bitch wears all the time and damage it in the fire. The burnt clothes will become that strong evidence when it comes to finding the offender.

  It wasn’t too much of a problem to steal a t-shirt - that could be done tomorrow afternoon when Shereen is out to do her business at the quarry and later on Jenny will lure her out of the room under the false pretences that too have been carefully planned. It would even better if the guards discovered some other Shereen’s belongings somewhere by the burnt warehouse and think to themselves - what could that be?

  Jenny frowned, pondering. There wasn’t much time left and there was still so much to think about... Meanwhile the sun was climbing higher and higher up in the sky and it was time to go to work - everyone else was already doing their job at the berry plantation.

  Jenny reluctantly got up from the steps, feeling the sweat rolling down her back and picked up the gloves, which Shereen bought for all the women some time ago so that they don’t scratch their hands on the thorny bushes. Well, well, this puritan thought about every bloody worker at the ranch. But it’s OK. Soon everything will change. Very soon.

  The time till noon was passing slowly, it was hot and stuffy, but Jenny was not complaining - she was picking the loathsome berries, not listening to what the others were chatting about. Her thoughts were constantly shifting from one subject to another, but the general idea was the same - today’s arson. The canister with petrol, which she had stolen from the garage the other night, was securely resting in between the thick corn stalks. That part of the field won’t be harvested any time soon as the cobs were still unripe and there was no risk that it would be discovered. Jenny pinched a lighter from Greg a long time ago which was now lying in her pocket, just in case. She couldn’t leave it in the barracks - there was a chance that the women would notice and remember it which could potentially serve as evidence against Jenny.

  She must also be very careful with the petrol so that her clothes don’t soak up the its smell, but even then, it’s highly unlikely that nobody would pick up on it when it all kicks off. Jenny is only going to slip outside for a minute to have a pee and when she comes back the warehouse will be on fire. All her neighbours usually sleep soundly and nobody wakes up when someone goes out to the toilet - she made sure of it enough times. Even though there was still some risk (you could never avoid the risk completely in this sort of game) Jenny didn’t worry too much.

  A pesky fly buzzed past her ear, Jenny angrily frowned and waved her hand – she was so fed up of hanging around in this sun, this heat, from this boredom, earning these miserable points, which might bring her the desired freedom no sooner than a couple of hundred years. She was really missing those days when she was working at the “Polo” earning a lot more, having fun here and there, relaxing with the owner, and returning back in a small, but still her own apartment in the evenings. And Robert was such a nice chap... Yes, almost boy like sometimes, but still lovely. Jenny missed feeding him.

  Then Shereen came and ruined everything. Because of HER everything got turned upside down and Jenny ended up at this rotten ranch, living with these women, doing this hellish work with no light at the end of the tunnel! Why was Shereen allocated a separate room, whereas Jenny
was placed in the barracks? Why is it that Shereen sees the handsome Hulk every day whereas it was always Jenny’s dream to hook up with one of the rich owners and have a luxury life in Tally? Why wasn’t Shereen slaving over these miserable bushes, and instead pretending to be a heroine-saviour of all the poor and disadvantaged? Why wasn’t she sleeping in the creaky drafty barracks, squeezed like a sheep into a herd and not able to find a moment for a rest?

  Jenny clenched her fists, almost shaking with anger. But today Shereen will pay for everything and pay dearly - her room and her possessions will be taken away. It will even be better if Hulk gives her at the mercy of Greg - he wants to have fun with her so much!

  But the most important thing is that when the barracks will start burning - all the inmates will have to be moved somewhere else. And Jenny guessed that the new location would be Hulk’s house. Of course, where else? There weren’t any other unoccupied buildings around. They will have to wait until the new barracks is built or the old one is repaired, but that would take at least a week or two – and when once she is settled in at the mansion, she will find a way to stay there – she’s already made a few friends with some maids and dish washers. If one of them would just mention a word to Hulk about Jenny - she could join the ranks of the working staff and eventually she’d find the way to improve her relationship with the owner.

  She licked her lips thinking about it. He is a nice looking guy - this Hulk - healthy, strong and proud. No, not proud, but dignified; Jenny really liked that quality. If she showed up with a partner like that, the others would die of envy.

  But first thing’s first - Shereen must be moved out of the way. She wrecks everything. She’s always done that.

  Keeping her eye on the sun, Jenny’s mind delved again into the details of what would once and forever change the status quo.

  The noon has come.

  Jenny’s nerves already thinned and were strained to the limit - it was time to act and every minute was precious. She made an appearance in the dining room, spent some time there in order not to arouse any suspicion by her unexplained absence, and as soon as she’d finished with a piece of bread and a couple of spoons of some obscure soup, she slipped out into the hallway and then out in the street.

  Jenny crept down the alley to the house and hid behind a bush near the wall. The kitchen was easily visible from here - Shereen was standing on the footpath, waiting for Tabitha to put both barrels on the cart. This couldn’t be a better time! Jenny thought that Lady Luck was very being friendly to her today.

  As soon as the barrels were placed on the cart, Shereen began pulling it towards the road leading up to the hill and to the quarry then Tabitha disappeared in the kitchen. Jenny took a deep breath, emerged from behind the bush, sneaked into one of the side entrances of the house and slipped into the cool shadow of the corridor.

  Now she had to pray that nobody saw her inside the mansion. Clenching the precious key with her sweaty fingers, Jenny quickly and quietly cruised through the twists and turns of the first floor. And there it was! Her final destination!

  She stood in front of Shereen’s door, listening - no voices, no footsteps, nothing. Yes, her hands were shaking and sweat was pouring down her back, yet her heart was pumping loudly and excitedly. Finally! She’s been waiting for this moment for so very long!

  Jenny turned the key inside the lock, worrying about how well it would fit, and breathed out with relief as she heard a click followed by the creak of the opening door. It worked! She immediately walked in, locked the door behind her and frantically looked around - a table, bed and a single wardrobe. Well... not a very luxurious interior and not really what’d she expected to see, but still it was better than in the barracks.

  Now it was time to act fast again.

  Spotting the details just with a corner of her eye, Jenny began rummaging through the wardrobe, trying to find something that Shereen wore most often. This exact thing must become the evidence, tainted by fire, and Jenny would get the most amount of pleasure from spoiling it.

  She smiled contentedly, inhaled the air and then frowned as she got a whiff of Shereen’s perfume.

  Jenny hated her as much as she hated all these clever books piled on the table, where she couldn’t understand a single word, those pencils and even a table lamp. There was nothing under the bed or in the corners - how primitive and poor - but the porch was quite nice. Jenny was already picturing herself sitting there in the evenings after this room becomes hers. Her fingers were disdainfully feeling the clothes lying on the shelf. There were a few pairs of knickers, spare socks and a couple of shirts, but not the ones Jenny saw Shereen wear on a daily basis. Jenny was getting annoyed - where was the clothing she wanted?

  Some bath products, soap, shampoo, towel, toothbrush were on the upper shelf. How cute! But that wasn’t what she had to find. Jenny looked down to see what was on the bottom shelf (it was dark in the room, but turning the light on was far too risky), and rejoiced. Finally! There it is! The dirty blue T-shirt that Shereen wore almost every day! Nothing would do better than this. Ask anyone to describe Shereen and they would certainly mention this very shirt as an essential attribute of her appearance. Great!

  Jenny folded the T-shirt as tightly as she could and tucked it behind her skirt’s belt. That was it. Now she can get out of here, although she would’ve liked to explore the room more meticulously, it was too dangerous to stay here any longer.

  Ready to go, Jenny glanced at the table and just about managed to fight off the strong desire to wreck the ancient books, which were so highly valued by Hulk, but nobody would believe that Shereen damaged them - everyone knew that she cherished these fossils more than the owner which meant Jenny must leave them alone. But what about her translations? Shereen would never spoil her own work either - it would look ludicrous. Jenny sighed in frustration - it seemed like she had to stop here. The main damage will be caused later on today, so she reluctantly swallowed the poisonous bile, which was eating her up inside.

  That’s it. Time to leave.

  As Jenny turned to the door, her eyes stumbled upon the pillow - acting by instinct rather than expecting to find something specific, she went to the bed and lifted the edge of the pillow. Something was hidden underneath - Jenny lifted the pillow higher and saw a bag with a neck tied by a piece of rope. She threw the pillow off the bed.

  What was it that Shereen kept under her pillow? Was it something valuable? It must be something valuable if it was kept there. And Jenny will take it, even if there was a pile of manure - just out of principle - because no one would keep any rubbish under their pillow, but rather something important to the heart. And who cares what it is?

  Jenny eagerly grabbed the bag - it was pretty heavy, and jingling in a strange way. She untied the rope, stuck her fingers inside and took out something round. What is this? Thrusting her hand deeper inside, Jenny pulled out lots of similarly shaped but differently coloured roundels and placed them on her palm. They were sparkling faintly in the dimly lit room. Not believing her own eyes, Jenny approached the window to have a closer look.

  Unbelievable! Gems! Roundels were precious stones - a whole bunch of gems!

  Jenny almost choked with surprise, anger and joy. How and where did this bitch get these precious things? What if they cost a fortune? How many of them were there in total?... Dozens, hundreds? White, green, red and blue .... Any colour you want!

  Her plump lips stretched into a mad grin - it was just incredible to find these gems in Shereen’s room! This was huge luck to find them not just in this room, but at this mansion and this ranch! There couldn’t be that many places in the whole of Tally where you would find stones like these. Jenny happily laughed and then immediately covered her mouth with her hand. She sheepishly looked around and listened out for any voices. She must calm down! Jenny reluctantly put the gems back in the bag, wrapped them into the blue t-shirt and tucked everything back behind her skirt’s belt.

  That was really it for now. She is gonna
come back here later after she’s sorted out other things. A lot of stuff still needed to be taken care of, but, yes, Jenny was smiling - everything was going smoothly, according to her plans, and since the discovery of the pouch in Shereen’s room – it all became utterly perfect! If she could sell these stones at a good price, then maybe this was her chance to get out of Tally right away? And if not - there is a possibility to improve her life considerably. She is such a genius for plotting all this and subsequently finding this gift!

  Jenny mentally praised herself for checking underneath the pillow and slipped out of the room. Everything was going great! Now it was time to find Conchita.

  Conchita was the girl who was in charge of cleaning the first two floors of the mansion and the cellar. They became friends during their daily lunches and dinners in the dining room. A shallow, pale and dull Conchita didn’t have many friends amongst the staff, for the most part because she was never particularly clever or bright, however she was doing her work well and Hulk decided to keep her where she would be most suited - with the detergents, cleaning products, rags, brushes and powders.