Conversation · Garte, the Cafeteria Manager

"Yes, your police skills have delivered. I'm sure you'll get a commendation. Maybe even a promotion."

"You must really care about this place, since you've worked here for so long."

"Well -- too bad it's all doomed then." (Conclude.)

"Whatever." He attempts a scowl, but he's too absorbed in his thoughts to finish it. "Was there anything else? Because I need to think -- about how I'm gonna get those pinballs in here..."

"Who owns this place?"

"Some real estate management company. They never come around here, just collect money from afar. Honestly, I think some money laundering might be involved."

There is an acrimonious note. It's clear he's doing the real work around here.

"Well -- good luck to you with this place then." (Conclude.)

"Luck has got nothing to do with it." He looks to where the hidden room is. "I need to think about where I'm gonna place those pinballs -- I have a feeling they're gonna help."

Against the Doom, it's implied.

"So if you didn't have anything else to tell me -- about my establishment -- can we, you know, wrap it up?"

"And who named it Whirling-in-Rags?"

"Well, it sure as hell wasn't the real estate company."

"It was you?"

"You look surprised? What? It's a great name, I know. Cafeteria managers come up with great names too. It's from a song."

"A song?"

"Hail Holy Queen by The Etenniers. 'Hail holy queen of the sea,'" he quotes. "'You're whirling in rags -- you're vast and you're sad."

"Good pick," the lieutenant nods.

Good pick.

"You did?"

"What about those other cafeterias you manage?"

"What about them?" He shrugs. "One is a basement dive frequented by chain-smoking communists. I can't tell you how sick I am of Kras Mazov and Ignus Nilsen and all those old ghosts..."

He's hesitating, not sure if he should share this information with you. Encourage him.

He doesn't have to tell you anything he doesn't want to.

"Anyway, I thought we were talking about the Whirling."

"And the others?"

"The other is a kebab cart. It's very successful in its way, but... it's nothing like the Whirling."

You're guessing there aren't that many others.

"The Whirling was once the East Delta Pinball Arcade, which failed. Though perhaps the Whirling will escape the curse..."

"Hold on -- not once? Isn't that already a sign of decline?"

"It's a sign of the Whirling-in-Rags not being part of the Doomed Commercial Area. If anything -- we're revitalizing this neighbourhood."

"Relax, Mr. Garte. I'm sure there is no Doom. He simply wants to share his discoveries with you."

"The Whirling is adjacent to them. And there's also the pinball workshop. The Whirling hasn't always been a hostel..."

"Obviously it hasn't." He makes a sweeping gesture with his arm. "Look at the pre-revolutionary tile work. This is an old, proud building. So what if there was a little pinball hall here before?"

"There's a mysterious blue steel door in the back of the kitchen."

"Oh, yes, that door, sure. There's nothing mysterious about it. It's just a door." He shrugs.

"Okay then, never mind."

"Yes. What else?"

"Do you know what's behind it? Do you have..."

"No, I don't have a key -- I don't know how to get there. And I don't care either. It's not like I've been wondering about it for ten years. It's just the Frittte warehouse probably."

Wondering about it is, of course, exactly what he's been doing. For ten years.

"Or some boring storage space with a bunch of old junk... and dust. Junk and dust." He runs his finger across the counter to check for dirt.

He's attempting to maintain an air of indifference. It's absolutely not convincing.

"I think you'd like to know what's back there."

"Fine, okay. A little." He shrugs. "But my job doesn't leave me time for wondering about one locked door in one of the cafeterias I manage..."

"So I haven't opened it. I have cleaned the whole place a hundred times over, though -- after the animals. And I haven't found a key. So good luck with that."

Let him get to pretend he's indifferent.

He looks at the dust on his finger and wipes it off.

"So, just to be clear -- you don't know how to open it?"

"Nope. No idea -- don't want to either."

"There's a peephole in the wall."

He startles. "What wall?"

"Upstairs in the secret back room -- right next to Klaasje's bedroom. I think it's used for looking in on guests."

"I'll have it fixed at once. Thank you for letting me know. I assure you -- the Whirling does not abide spying on its guests."

The colour has drained from his face.

What a shame. To fix such a good peephole.

"Couldn't you keep the hole there? What if there are some hotties staying in that room..." (Wink.)

"Absolutely not. That would be idiotic. I have no idea why you're even saying this right now..."

"In your defence -- neither do I."

"Are you sure you haven't been spying on your guests?"