Conversation · Klaasje (Miss Oranje Disco Dancer)

"What is Oranjese literature about?"

"Fear of failure, fear of death. How it sucks to be Oranjese. All national literatures are -- only the name of the nation changes."

What about Revacholian literature? People sometimes reveal things about themselves when they discuss such matters...

"Revacholian literature too?"

"No!" She seems glad that you asked. "Revacholian lit is about how magnificent and serious Revachol is. It's about how you have to save the world."

"I have no intention of doing that."

"That's just a phase the Revacholian hero goes through..." She breathes in the menthol-flavoured fumes, savouring it...

...then breathes out. "Before they plunge into full-core humanity- and world-saving."

She seems quite relaxed for a victim of assault. But, of course, what seems should not be your priority.

"I do feel the urge to save the world, yes. I guess that's why I'm on this case."

"That's the natural state of the Revacholian hero..." She breathes in the menthol flavoured fumes, savouring it -- then breathes out.

"The world is unimportant -- I want to hear about you."

"Strange, usually the Revacholian hero does not save women..." She breathes in the menthol flavoured fumes, savouring it...

...then breathes out: "It's a frivolous pursuit. He saves all of mankind instead."

If that's true then Revacholian lit would fit you like a glove.

"You're a cop?"

"No-no. More stupid -- Oranjese lit."

"Thank you. That's it -- for the record."

"'The record' -- so official!"

"Klaasje Amandou."

Same name that Titus gave you. Like her accent, it sounds Oranjese.

Her birthmarks also signal Oranje. You don't know why, but Oranjese girls tend to come speckled with them.

Same name that Titus gave you. It sounds Oranjese -- as does her accent.

Look up to the grey sky.

"Let's talk more about this so-called assault."

"I can't seem to find Ruby. Do you have any idea where she might be?"

"I wouldn't know, officer. She had a crash pad somewhere on the coast... but she was very secretive about it, even with me."

"We found that crash pad on the coast, miss, and even spoke to the land lady. She seemed... rather devoted to the suspect..."

"Yes, Ruby has her gruff charm."

"...At any rate, the suspect isn't there anymore."

"I really don't know what to tell you..."

"Yes, I know about the crash pad. Even spoke to the land lady. But Ruby's not there anymore."

"I think I found it, but I couldn't get the land lady to talk."

"Ruby has a gruff charm that inspires loyalty... I do wish you luck in your search, officer."

"Thank you, miss." He turns to you. "We should do a thorough search of the fishing village."

"Best of luck to you, officers."

"I guess I should go ask around the fishing village."

"Good luck, officer."

"They tell us you were raped."

"Let's return to this later, miss." [Leave.]

"Why not? I'll be here until 23.00, drinking coffee most likely..."

"I noticed your room is close to mine. I have a personal question."

"I need to talk to you about your room again."

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing here -- in the Whirling-in-Rags?"

"I'm wintering."

"How long have you been staying here?"

She calculates. "About four months. I came in November."

The bills downstairs concur.

"Why here?"

"Here in the Whirling, here in Martinaise, or here in Revachol?"

"Here in the Whirling."

"Because it's the funkiest building in Martinaise. And because all the other buildings are bombed to hell."

"Here on the Insulindian isola."

"Came to see the New New World," she shrugs. "It's a tourist thing."

This is by far not the only reason she's here -- she isn't overtly hiding it, either.

"Understood."

"Funkytown," she says and takes a sip of her coffee.

What was that? Funkytown?

"What happened to the Old World?"