As it drew closer , my palms grew sweatier , slipping off the traffic light controls . I could see the gleam of her hair , and now the floral pattern of her gown , and now her presence filled up the capsule I sat in , and washed over the police officers crowded behind me . The street was silent . She was serene .
I let go of the controls and flung open a window .
“ Hey , you !”
She stopped in the middle of the crosswalk and turned to me , her eyes questioning .
“ What the hell are you doing ?” Arjan yelled .
“ Grab him !” I heard .
I leaned almost out of the window and locked eyes with her .
“ Run !”
She blinked , saw the policemen emerging from the shop doorways , and took off in the direction of the river . That was the last thing I saw before someone yanked me back into the room and knocked me out .
-
I woke up in the police station , but they didn ’ t keep me there for long . No one said a word to me for hours , then at 2 p . m ., someone growled , “ You can keep your job .”
I stumbled onto the street , bleary-eyed . It was well past my bedtime . - “ She got away , but they ’ re not going to go after her .”
I turned to see Arjan in the doorway .
“ What are you doing here so early ? My shift doesn ’ t end for an hour .”
“ I thought you might need someone to talk to . I don ’ t know why you … did that , but she ’ s off the hook .” It was 6 a . m ., five metres above an empty street , but he lowered his voice to a whisper . “ There are talks that the government is behind the stockpile . The heroin was due to be smuggled to Osaka . No one wanted a fuss . That ’ s why they let you out just like that , too .”
He sat down next to me , not demanding a response , but added after a second , “ She probably won ’ t be showing her face back here .”
Morning dawned like it always did , on me in my worn out folding chair , listening to the radio .
“ September 16th , 1951 .”