Conversation · Titus Hardie

"The coppernado is back..." He smirks. "What do you want?"

"A few more things about the tape before I go listen to it..."

"Yeah? What about it?"

"So what's on this tape?"

"What's on it? We call it the Doorgunner Megamix. You'll know why, once you listen to it."

Now that is intriguing. You had me at Doorgunner.

A door-gun is a gun mounted to the door of a transport airship. They have a habit of mowing down civilians. Farmers mostly.

"Where can I listen to this?"

"I'm sure we can find a tape player," the lieutenant whispers.

"'Where can I listen to this?'" he mocks you. "Why don't you try shoving it up your ass, genius?!"

"Yeah, play it with your ass, COCKSUCKER!" His voice echoes like thunder in the small room.

"I'm sure we can find a tape player. It's not a problem," he repeats calmly in a hushed voice.

Your room had one, or maybe it's too broken...

"Okay, okay... easy, fellows. Give the guy a break. He's obviously one of god's special people."

"Why should I care about the tape? You lied to me."

"You don't care about evidence?" His eye twitches. "The fuck are you a cop for then?"

"Pigs, T -- they don't care about getting the truth, they care about getting convictions. They're fucking keeping score on their bulletin boards."

"I won't be on your bulletin board. If you don't listen to the tape we got nothing to talk about."

There's a lot of questions. If you ask them now they'll just keep bringing up the tape. Listen to it and they'll have nothing to hide behind.

"I'll go listen to the tape."

"You do that, lawman."

"Where did you get this tape?"

"You think we go into this shit deaf and dumb? You RCM aren't the only ones who know how to bug people -- there's no university degree for that."

Actually there are a few -- cryptoanalyst, radio officer...

"So you've bugged them? How?"

"We have machines." He nods. "We're in logistics -- how do you think a harbour works? It's advanced stuff."

"Understood -- you've listened in on their communications." He takes a little note. "How long?"

"Since way before their chief started taking swing lessons."

"Things got nice and quiet after that."

"I think I get the picture."

"Yeah -- try not to whack off to it."

"Which one of you is doing this advanced radio work then?"

"It's not advanced," the heavy man wheezes. "You're just holed up in a coop all day, writing down what they say. It gets hot as hell in there."

"Don't put yourself down, Angus. It's important work." The chief picks his beer back up -- to offer a silent toast.

"Yeah, man, you're like a radio genius or something. Those notes are some in depth stuff. Indexes and shit."

"How long have you been listening to their communications?"

"Actually, there are numerous degrees you can get in signals intelligence."

"Yeah, like you have one? Smartass..." He looks to his left. There's a beer there that he forgot.

Beer.

"That's enough for now. I'll get back to the investigation." (Conclude.)

"Don't forget your tape, lawman." He pushes the little tape toward you with his giant hand. "Compliments of Titus Hardie."

(Leave the tape.) "No thanks, Titus. I can get this wrapped up better without it."

He stares at you, as if you'd just called him your choicest expletive. "Excuse me? What the fuck was that?"

"Sorry, I misspoke. I'll take the tape." (Take it.)

"Good. Glad to hear that," he says, adjusting his belt buckle. "You can keep it, too -- maybe you'll need a reminder of human ugliness some day."

"I can finish this without listening to the tape." (Do not take it.)

"Let him go, Titus." The woman raises a hand, as if to draw the giant's attention away from you. "I'm sure he doesn't need it."

His anger flares -- here it comes...! The blistering apathy of fucking done.

The rage in his eyes - you see the moment it burns out into a state of finished. "Sure. Sure, lawman. You do you." He cracks a can, fills up his mug, downs it, and says: "I'll do Titus and get fucking wasted."

(Take the tape.) "Fine. I'll listen to it."

"You do that," he says, adjusting his belt buckle. "Oh, and keep it -- maybe you'll need a reminder of human ugliness some day."

"So I've listened to the tape and I'm going to confront Klaasje with it."

"Smart boy. You go do that."

"Guess what: I've come upon something incriminating."

"Incriminating... now that's a big boy word." He puts his beer can down.

Establish authority.

"So I talked to Klaasje about the tape."

"I want to talk about the hanging again."

"Again? Just get the dead guy's autograph -- since you're his biggest fan."

A burst of laughter in the room; the little guy is the loudest. "Good one, Titus!" he fawns.