Conversation · De Paule

"Oh yeah, that's Ruud." The armoured woman smiles a vicious smile. "Ruud 'The Killer' Hoenkloewen -- he doesn't talk much."

"... all of you fucking cunts inside out..."

"Okay. Let's just keep talking -- no one needs to die today." (Back off.)

"This... talking-shit won't help you." The man shakes his head and staggers forward.

Now! Now is the time! Stop waiting.

Easy. Easy now.

"The Killer?"

"The gunner." He gestures toward himself. "The radist." He nods towards the woman. "The killer." He points to the figure clad entirely in ceramic plate.

"What do you think he does?"

There -- on the rim of Hoenkloewen's helmet -- you count little stick figures: 19, 20, 21...

Count the figures.

About fifty little stick figures -- all of them black. Plus two little white ones in the end.

These men served in Semenine... the native islanders...

The two little white figures in the end are from when they moved to Revachol. They're recent.

"Kills black people?"

"Not today, Ruud. That'll be me today..." He looks at the woman on the plaza floor.

She has fallen silent.

"T, let's fucking do it," the man presses through his teeth -- his hand is on his belt.

"Gene..."

Now! Now is the time! Stop waiting.

Easy. Easy now.

"That's right." He stares at you with watery eyes. "Plenty of kipts here in Revachol too."

"Uh... tends to the stables?"

"What are we waiting for?" She turns to the leader. "Let's blow that big fucking mouth off his face!"

"Hold your fire!" He licks his lips. "Wait for my command."

He has chewed his lips bloody.

This man has been under severe emotional pressure recently.

He is not used to commanding, or leading. He feels uncomfortable. He'd rather shoot to kill...

"He kills?"

"Smart loincloth." He stares at you with his watery eyes. "He fucks natives up. Soldier of the Apocalypse-style."

Now! Now is the time! Stop waiting.

Easy. Easy now.

"You think you're real tough, huh? This killing is meaningless."

"Huh?" He just stares at you with his watery eyes.

That struck some chord -- a dark chord.

"What are we waiting for?! Let's blow that pig-fucking mouth off his face!"

"Lance-corporal..." He turns to the woman. "Just fucking shut up and wait for your order."

"Good -- I kill killers." (Point to your chest.)

"I'm a killer too."

"You're a tit-sucking pig..." He staggers forward: "I'm gonna show you killer."

"What was that, Ruud?"

"... rip you open..."

Perhaps it's for the best. Him not talking too much.

"Ruud? Ruud is the killer --" The armoured woman smiles a vicious smile. "Ruud 'The Killer' Hoenkloewen -- he doesn't talk much."