By Roshita Narasimhan.
On the Sea Lion Press Forums, we run a monthly Vignette Challenge. Contributors are invited to write short stories on a specific theme (changed monthly).
The theme for the 77th contest was Theatre
*****
Marcel Delcroix was born in Alsace in the Holy Roman Empire, in H. 1300. He was the son of an Imperial Knight, one who was a veteran of the Occitan Uprising (when the Empire battled a rogue state in Occitan lead by Henri, the self-proclaimed brother of Jesus Christ, descendant of Muhammad, and reincarnation of Buddha). During the Knight’s Rebellion, when knights from various kingdoms attempted to expel the encroaching imperialism of various East Asian kingdoms (along with Mali, the Kingdom of Albion, and the United States of Inqa) he was sent to live with his uncle, a farmer and landowner in the Inqan colony of the Bahamas.
He would eventually settle there in Bahama City following the humiliating defeat of the HRE, and join both the local police force and the local Catholic priesthood. In 1345, he would be promoted to a Yoriki [meaning detective] and would gain worldwide recognition after solving the infamous “Poisoned Rose” case. Tales of his investigations would become popular in true-crime periodicals as well as shingeki [film] and television through Delcroix’s lifetime, until his retirement in 1368 and death in 1380.
In 1366, he would investigate a most strange case, one that exemplified the political turbulence of the Atomic Age (so-named in the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Cornwall, which ended the “War of the Five Emperors”), inside the prestigious world of Kabuki….
The Wooden Sword
A Father Marcel Delcroix Mystery
[Recreation of the final play for Shinbata Miyashi’s H 1089 play “The Frank of Alexandria”. Within an ancient Egyptian tomb on center stage (surrounded by mountains of gold treasure and a partially sunk obelisk), Saladin (played by IBRAHIM DEMBELE, wearing a pharaoh death mask and a white boubou), a former kele-koun and current businessman in Alexandria, broods next to a large tomb adorned with hieroglyphs. He grabs a chalice and examines it, running his fingers through the rim. Next to him is Odelina (played by KIMIKO JOHNSON, wearing a simple brown frock with excessive white kumadori make-up), who sits on the pharaoh’s treasure, terrified.]
Saladin:
It is a misfortune that I must do this. For you have not committed a sin.
Odelina:
Then why must you continue this vendetta? Your hatred of my brother blinds thee.
Saladin:
[Chuckles] Blinded? No, I see more than I ever have. I cannot let this injustice stand.
[Saladin takes Odelina’s hand. Odelina looks the other way]
Saladin:
As it pains me in my soul, I must kill you. It shall restore my honor.
[Suddenly, from the hanamachi, from a trap door, pops Eric the Frank (played by KATSUMOTO ADACHI, wearing kumadori make-up and a thawb), who walks slowly towards the stage as the music swells. Saladin and Odelina turn.]
Eric:
Villain!
Saladin:
An achievement. You disrespected your kele-koun.
Eric (awkwardly):
You disrespected yourself by descending into the methods of a scoundrel! Kidnapping my sister…
Saladin:
A necessary sacrifice, after you defiled my wife.
Eric:
I did everything for you! I was the best of the kele-bolo, and you still killed your wife and are now killing my family.
[Saladin contemplates Eric’s words]
Saladin:
Perhaps you are correct. So, I will spare the life of your blood.
[Saladin pulls out a sword]
Saladin:
But I will seize the blood of thou!
[Eric pulls out his own sword as Saladin rushes to slam it into him. Eric blocks and pushes Saladin away. He then strikes at Saladin’s side, which Saladin blocked. Saladin goes for the legs, which he taps.]
Eric [Monotone]:
Ow.
[Eric then climbs the treasure as Saladin strikes at Eric, which Eric blocks. Eric then jumps down, whilst Saladin tries to jump and hit Eric in the head from above. Saladin then strikes at Eric’s head. Odelina looks on in horror]
Odelina:
Stop!
[Eric climbs the Obelisk, joined by Saladin, and Eric waves the sword in front of Saladin, who jumps back. Saladin then twirls and tries to hit Eric, who blocks it. After their swords hit a few more times, Saladin finally stabs at Eric’s heart (while clicking a part of the sword with his thumb), causing Eric to fall off the obelisk. On the ground, “blood” begins to pool in his torso. Odelina rushes to his side, while Saladin throws his sword down, walks front and takes off his mask, revealing a lot of black make-up.]
Saladin:
Eric. You were a man of Allah. A true warrior. The finest of the Jowon. Yet, you chose a path most dangerous. Most insidious. You strayed and that lead to this.
[Odelina grabs Eric’s hands, but then Kimiko, the actor, is shaken out of character as the hand flops down, and she begins to poke her finger into his wrists. Her eyes grow wide]
Kimiko (Out of character):
Ibrahim…
Saladin:
Vile! Monstrous! But alas…
Kimiko:
Ibrahim!
Saladin:
But now the deed…
Kimiko:
IBRAHIM!
[Ibrahim, out of characters, glares at Kimiko]
Ibrahim (out of character):
What? We are in the middle of the last play!
Kimiko:
He’s dead.
Ibrahim:
Of course he’s dead! I killed him…
Kimiko:
No, actually dead.
Ibrahim:
What?
[Ibrahim walks to Katsumoto’s corpse, and puts his head to the chest]
Ibrahim:
Oh, no… I don’t hear a heartbeat.
[....]
[The same stage, but now swarming with doshin officers who are examining every part of the stage. RAM CHANDRASEKHAR, the theater director, paces nearby as the body of Katsumoto Adachi is covered. Enter from hanamachi, INSPECTOR YONG, machibugyo of Bahama City, walks towards a doshin who is inspecting the tomb.]
Inspector Yong:
Shinzo-san, what’s the deal?
Officer Shinzo:
Well, the victim…
Inspector Yong:
Is the shingeki actor Katsumoto Adachi. I had to go through all those damn reporters to get inside.
Officer Shinzo:
Right. He was starring in the play “The Frank of Alexandria”.
[Inspector Yong kneels near the body]
Inspector Yong:
Ah! Don’t care for those plays. Too long. Saw some of his films though. I liked those pirate movies.
Officer Shinzo:
Sultan of the Sulu?
Inspector Yong:
That’s it.
[He lifts the covering and examines the body]
Inspector Yong:
The body has a lot of blood on it.
[Inspector Yong puts the cover back on and lifts himself again]
Inspector Yong:
What happens in this play that would warrant this response?
Officer Shinzo:
It’s a play by Miyashi Shinbata.
Inspector Yong:
Hm. I read some of her plays in school.
Officer Shinzo:
It’s a historical play, set during the Mali conquests, after they took over Alexandria. It tells the story of Eric, a Frankish former slave in the Mali army who becomes a wealthy merchant and trader in Alexandria. He works for his former commander Saladin and brings his sister Odelina to Alexandria to help her escape poverty and slavery. Unfortunately, he begins an affair with Saladin’s wife, Nawaal.
Inspector Yong:
Ah, I get the rest.
Officer Shinzo:
It has a sword fight at the end between Saladin and Eric.
Inspector Yong:
And our Saladin must’ve hit him too hard. Stabbed him in the wrong place
Officer Shinzo:
Except…
[Officer Shinzo carefully picks ups the sword with gloved hands]
Inspector Yong:
It’s a … wooden sword. Doesn’t even seem sharp.
[Inspector Yong pokes at the dull corner of the sword]
Inspector Yong:
How could this do this much damage?
[From the hanamachi emerges Yoriki Father MARCEL DELCROIX, wearing his black frock, and marked with his distinctive glasses, white mustache, wooden cane, and straw hat. He walks up to the Inspector and Officer]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Might I hazard a guess for this situation?
Inspector Yong:
Detective, glad you could come.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Reporters were very disruptive. Hard to find real facts. It’s like ancient Germanic saying: “Too much attention means not enough attention”
Inspector Yong:
Right… What is your take on this?
[Delcroix lifts the covering and puts it down to Katsumoto’s waist and sees Office Shinzo with the sword]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Lots of blood upon this body. Yet such a dull weapon.
Officer Shinzo:
You think the actor might’ve pushed too hard?
[Delcroix looks behind him]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
No, wooden sword like that would just push, not penetrate. This looks like set of “Frank of Alexandria”.
Officer Shinzo:
It is! Are you a Shinbata fan, Delcroix-san?
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Very much so. Reminds me of the virtue plays in Germany. Very good lessons. I was in some virtue plays myself.
[Delcroix leans in, and slowly removes the thwab, revealing a plastic bag inside with “blood” coming out.]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Thus, I know this is a stage trick.
Inspector Yong:
Amazing. But how…?
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Officer, you see tiny switch on sword?
[Officer Shinzo looks at sword, before noticing the tiny clip.]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Pull it.
[Shinzo does so, causing a needle to pop out.]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
This needle punctuates the bag, causing the blood to spill out.
Officer Shinzo:
Maybe he leaned in too much?
Inspector Yong:
No, it’s too small, it can’t produce that much blood to kill him.
[From hanamachi, RYOICHI NAKAMURA, famed Shingeki and Kabuki producer, emerges, wearing his blue suit and glasses. He walks up to Ram Chandrasekhar]
Ryoichi Nakamura:
What the hell is going on, Ram? I came in through the back, something’s happened?
Ram Chandrasekhar:
Katsumoto is dead!
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Dead? Damnit! Everything’s going wrong with this production. Props going missing, lines getting messed up, actors being investigated.
[Delcroix approaches Ram]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Pardoning me, monsieur, but I couldn’t help but over-hearing your conversation.
[Ram and Ryoichi look at Delcroix]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Father Marcel Delcroix, I work for the police.
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Ryoichi Nakamura. I run Nakamura Shingeki. This is Ram Chandrasekhar. He does both kabuki and shingeki for us.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Very impressive, Monsieur Ram.
Ram Chandrasekhar:
Remember, the kabuki companies run the Shingeki business.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Noted. Now, what was this business about the actors being investigated?
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Goddamn investigators from the Assembly on the mainland. You’ve read the news, Detective.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
No, I prefer the manga sections. Maybe the short stories.
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Well, they think the Shingeki business is some sort of commie front. Keeps trying to find some dirt on some of our talent.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Like perhaps the talent in this show?
Ram Chandrasekhar:
Especially this show. Ibrahim Dembele is the star.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Oh, I love Monsieur Dembele. He is such a wonderful actor.
Ram Chandrasekhar:
He’s very active politically. He’s been raising money for the cause of Indigenous people in Yingzhou.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Ah, so Monsieur Dembele had enemies.
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Damn straight. The Assembly doesn’t want him working in the picture business. But I feel he is a fine actor and deserves to keep working.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Right. And also props missing?
Ram Chandrasekhar:
We had a sword go missing.
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Almost cost me a fortune.
[Delcroix motions to have the Officer Shinzo come over with the sword]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Is this the sword?
Ram Chandrasekhar:
That’s it. I figured someone may have misplaced it.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Right so. Ancient Germanic saying: “You can keep your stones in order, but never order them to order.” Now Officer Shinzo, can you pull the little switch near the blade?
[Shinzo obliges, revealing a long needle snapping into place]
Ram Chandrasekhar:
That is… That needle is supposed to be shorter. To puncture the bags.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
In fact, in my professional opinion, this is a needle meant to inject some poison into its target. (shows a small hole at the top) It appears that you did not misplace your sword, Monsieur Ram, but it was taken and replaced so Katsumoto Adachi would be murdered.
Ryoichi Nakamura (sarcastically):
This gets better and better. I not only have a dead fucking star, but now that actor was fucking murdered.
Ram Chandrasekhar:
And they say Kitsune is the cursed play.
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Don’t mention that fucking play!
[Ryoichi Nakamura storms out]
Ryoichi Nakamura:
I don’t have time for this, I have this fucking call from Al-Arawete to pay this bill. I need some time alone.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Very active fellow.
Ram Chandrasekhar:
His great-great grandfather founded the company, and he’s pretty serious about this. But yeah.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Do you know if anyone might’ve had trouble with Monsieur Adachi?
Ram Chandrasekhar:
You kidding? The guy can’t act! Nakamura wanted to push him to bigger movies, so he wanted to expose him in the kabuki end of the business. But he’s terrible. I’ve never encountered such a terrible actor in my life.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
But would his acting cause trouble with others?
Ram Chandrasekhar:
Well, I hated it, and it was really ruining my show to accommodate him. But Nakamura loves his damn star too much to replace him. I know Dembele was upset about it.
[....]
[Stage rotates to dressing room. Dembele’s dressing room. Dembele sits with handcuffs, wearing a red kimono. His boubou is hung. Father Delcroix slides the door open]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Monsieur Dembele, very big fan.
Ibrahim Dembele:
Uh, hello. Thank you? Surprised the police let you in.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Oh, right. I am with the police. Father Detective Marcel Delcroix.
Ibrahim Dembele:
Oh. Delcroix-san, I swear, I did not mean to kill…
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Let’s discuss the events before I make my conclusion. Now, tell me what exactly happened.
Ibrahim Dembele (shaking):
Um… I had done the battle scene…
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Relax, Monsieur. Just state the facts.
Ibrahim Dembele:
We were doing the sword as Ram-san had instructed us, and I had pulled the little… Oh my god, did that…
Father Marcel Delcroix:
I must establish a fact in order for you to continue. The needle in the sword to puncture the blood bags was replaced with a longer needle. I am thinking that the needle had poison upon its top.
Ibrahim Dembele:
Poison?
Father Marcel Delcroix:
We are still determining the kind, but it appears it was poison.
[Ibrahim turns his back]
Ibrahim Dembele:
I didn’t like the guy, but…
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Why is it that you did not like him?
Ibrahim Dembele:
He was pompous. Self-important. Ego over talent. He just had such disdain for everyone, never had any consideration for anyone but himself and his damn career. I complained, but… Ram said that there was nothing he could do. And then the bastard …
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Again, just establishing facts.
Ibrahim Dembele:
He said that he had some information that could potentially take me off this project.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
What sort of information?
Ibrahim Dembele:
He never said, but he threatened to have me taken off because of it. I’m a union guy, I’ve been involved with unionizing the kabuki and shingeki industries. I’m also involved with Indigenous rights. I’m Mohawk and Mali. I’m not a member of the Communalist Party, but I respect them, and I’ve traveled to the Councilist Union and Red Europe and think they have a fine model to work from.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Pardoning me for speaking out of turn, but would it involve espionage?
Ibrahim Dembele (looks away):
I wouldn’t know anything about that.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
And Monsieur Nakamura didn’t know?
Ibrahim Dembele:
He knew the public situation, but he wouldn’t have known the information Katsumoto had, at least not from the way Katsumoto talked about it.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Is there anyone he might’ve told the information to?
Ibrahim Dembele:
Kimiko, maybe? I saw them talking once, and he looked the way he did when he threatened me.
[...]
[Kimiko’s dressing room. Her frock is on the wall, while she is removing the make-up. To the side are a pair of shoes, a blue kimono, some books atop a briefcase, and glasses. Marcel knocks.]
Kimiko Johnson:
Come in!
[Father Marcel enters the room]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
Kimiko Johnson:
What?
Father Marcel Delcroix:
parles-tu français?
Kimiko Johnson:
Oh, I’m actually Albionese. But I speak Nipponese mainly.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Then I shall speak in the Nippon tongue, Mademoiselle. Father Marcel Delcroix, with the police. I’ll admit, with these famous people, I was surprised to see a newcomer. A fellow gaijin, too.
Kimiko Johnson:
I’m new to the kabuki scene. Nakamura-san wanted me in some of his company’s plays to build my skills before going into Shingeki. This was going to be my last play before Nakamura flew me out to Limaq to film some pictures.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
I hope to see you in a film someday.
Kimiko Johnson:
Thanks. I’m excited. I need some money. My family was interned during the war.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
So I heard. Terribly sorry to hear that.
Kimiko Johnson:
I was sent to live here to keep me safe, but my father in Kangag lost his fishing business. It’s been hard for us. Nakamura has already been helping get my family back on their feet.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Seems very generous.
Kimiko Johnson:
He is.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Being new, was it hard to interact with the players? In particular, Monsieur Adachi?
Kimiko Johnson:
Absolutely. He was a bore and a pig. Not saying his death was warranted, but honestly, not at all sad about it.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
He was unpleasant towards you?
Kimiko Johnson:
Absolutely. He would try to force himself on me or try to get me to come to his trailer. I don’t know how Ibrahim could stand him.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Did you have any issues with Monsieur Dembele?
Kimiko Johnson:
No, he was the opposite. Absolute gentleman. The kindest man, very gentle and the greatest actor of his generation. And he’s gorgeous.
[Kimiko shakes her head]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Agreed. So, why did Monsieur Dembele see you and Monsieur Adachi talking?
[Kimiko stops for a second]
Kimiko Johnson:
Well, I saw him and this other fellow talking.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
What other fellow?
Kimiko Johnson:
He looked like a bureaucrat of some kind. Anyway, after they were done talking, he took me aside and said that he had some information that could ruin my career, so I shouldn’t complain about him. Said that guy had everything he could need.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
What sort of information?
Kimiko Johnson:
Not sure. But he said it could potentially shut down the entire production if it got out. He seemed in a rush, too. [Points to assortment of items] He left some of his stuff here. Said he’d pick it up later but never did.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
What about the fellow he was speaking to? The bureaucrat?
Kimiko Johnson:
Not sure who he was, but he was wearing a bureaucrat uniform. Probably a fed of some kind.
[...]
[Stage rotates to a Bahama City street corner. Agent Akira Komoto of the Federal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, wearing a red panling lashan with a poutou cap, stands near a streetlamp, eating some noodles as Father Delcroix approaches]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Monsieur Komoto?
[The two bow to each other]
Akira Komoto:
Inspector Yong speaks very highly of you.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
He recognized you from the description provided by Kimiko-san.
Akira Komoto:
Well, happy to help. Just so you know, I’m not a red baiter. Not one of those guys from ACSA [Assembly Committee for Subversive Activities]. I’m just a FIIB agent here in the Bahamas. I used to hunt Albionese and Yuan spies during the war.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Absolutely. Tell me about the conversation you had with our murder victim.
Akira Komoto:
Not much to tell. Katsumoto Adachi said that he had some information about a key member of the production of “The Frank of Alexandria” that he was starring in. He said he had a briefcase full of information.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Do you have it?
Akira Komoto:
He said he would show me more later. But he did give me this.
[Akira shows Delcroix a paper]
Akira Komoto:
He got close with a few bureau agents because of his role as one in “The Yellow Tiger”, and he had gotten this from an agent. It’s a communique about a spy named Ouni.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Ouni…
Akira Komoto:
They were a spy who gave information to the Albionese during the war. They were responsible for the destruction of the USS al-Tupi.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
And whoever Adachi had information on was this spy?
Akira Komoto:
Would’ve had to have seen the briefcase, but yeah. Also handed us a receipt about some weapons they had supplied to Yuan and Thai agents during the war.
[Komoto hands Delcroix the receipt]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Most intriguing, monsieur. When were you going to meet him?
Akira Komoto:
Today, actually. He said that he needed some time to “confirm” it. Though really, I think he just wanted to give whoever it was a chance to surrender to whatever he wanted. I got the impression he wasn’t doing this out of patriotism.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Why did you get that sort of impression?
Akira Komoto:
You didn’t get this from me, but there have been a lot of rumors he had been on the wrong side during the war. And that’s how he originally knew about this figure.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Interesting. I suppose this briefcase is the key to all this.
Akira Komoto:
Even without it, I have my suspicion as to who it might be.
[Hanamachi: A masked black ninja with the pharaoh death mask from before slowly approaches as the two continue to talk. Once he’s close to Komoto, he pulls out a gun and shoots Komoto, fleeing. Marcel takes out his own gun and shoots to no avail.]
[...]
[The street corner is now a crime scene once again swarming with Doshin officers. Inspector Yong talks with Detective Delcroix]
Inspector Yong:
You didn’t see who it was?
Father Marcel Delcroix:
The fellow was wearing the mask of the pharaoh, so I did see, but also didn’t see.
Inspector Yong:
I suppose our spy did this. But we still don’t have anything, other than they might’ve worked for the Nalas [National Legalists, the ruling party of Yuan] during the war.
[The two think, before Marcel looks at the receipt again, and his eyes widened.]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Inspector, I am close to having the lead.
Inspector Yong:
You are?
Father Marcel Delcroix:
First, I require some investigation.
[...]
[Stage rotates to reveal the office of Ryoichi Nakamura. Posters for his Shingeki films (some starring Dembele and Adachi) adorn part of it, while a small Buddhist shrine is to the side, with a gun [1357 Chang-Muhammad] next to it, out of view. Nakamura, Dembele, Chandrasekhar, and Johnson are also sitting on the floor, as Delcroix, Shinzo, and Yong enter.]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Good evening actors and others. I have managed to capture our spy.
[The four on the ground look to Dembele]
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Now, what evidence do you have? You said yourself, he’s a fine actor, and he certainly would’ve never worked for the Nalas!
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Correct beyond words, Monsieur Nakamura. Which is why I shall arrest you.
Ryoichi Nakamura:
WHAT?! You got a lot of nerve, you goddamn pale skinned…
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Monsieur Ram, you mentioned earlier the play Kitsune?
Ram Chandrasekhar (surprised):
Yeah, the Hokkaido play.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
And who is the big bad monster in the play.
Ram Chandrasekhar:
Ouni. The woman with the demon face.
[Marcel takes out the paper from earlier]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Much like our spy. Based on my investigations into your records, you directed a version of it, Monsieur Ram.
Ram Chandrasekhar:
Now listen, if you’re suggesting…
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Who was Ouni in your version?
[Ram stops and realizes what the implication is. He points to Ryoichi]
Ram Chandrasekhar:
He begged his father to put him into a play, so he had me do it.
[Ryoichi gets up]
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Now, now, I did star as Ouni, but just because we shared a name doesn’t mean anything…
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Monsieur, you cannot charm your way, I saw you be very angry. Like in ancient Germanic saying: “You can only leave mask on, so long.”
Inspector Yong (whispers to Officer Shinzo):
We ought to check these saying, I don’t know where he gets them from.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Your great-grandfather founded the company, no?
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Yes, and if you think…
Father Marcel Delcroix:
He was from Yuan, correct?
[Ryoichi Nakamura stops cold]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
His name was Negrui. He emigrate to Inqa, changed his name to Nakamura, and founded Nakamura Pictures for kabuki.
Ryoichi Nakamura:
What does this…
Father Marcel Delcroix:
It’s all in company brochure. You sell in front of studio. You are proud Yuan. So was your father. Your father spied for Yuan during War of Three Emperors. He killed himself when Inqan government found out. You then decided to become spy for Yuan under Nalas. And that’s how Katsumoto Adachi came to know. He was also Yuan sympathizer. Thought Modern Fajia [Legalism], as practiced by the Anti-Councilist Alliance, would help bring Inqa into order. Protested getting involved in the war. But after war ended, he wanted to preserve his career, and he had enough information from your time together and his time doing war propaganda to assemble a massive file. He wanted to blackmail you with the information.
Ryoichi Nakamura (laughing, but a little stressed):
Quite a tale you conceived, Delcroix-san. I’ll per-permit you to continue, maybe it’ll become a movie.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Along with that, you don’t like Ibrahim Dembele very much. He’s a Councilist, and a Yingzhouan! Further, he was having an affair with Mademoiselle Johnson.
Ibrahim Dembele:
What? I never…
Kimiko Johnson:
It’s okay. Yes, I was planning on leaving Ryoichi for Ibrahim.
[Ryoichi Nakamura looks more stressed, but still defiant]
Ryoichi Nakamura:
Ha, now you’re accusing me of hating a different guy. I’ll have your badge!
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Before you are having my badge, I will continue. Katsumoto wanted more money and for you to pay for house in Maegre (Australia), which you can’t because of the budget of your other films. You also wanted him out of the play because his terrible acting would’ve caused it to flop. So, you figured you could take out, in ancient Germanic saying, two birds with only one stone. You could kill off the man who was blackmailing you, and the politically liable.
Ryoichi Nakamura:
You have any evidence, Euroman?
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Well, I didn’t see the assailant who murdered Agent Komoto, but I did see his gun. A 1357 Chang-Muhammad.
[Delcroix walks next to the gun, light shines on it. Shinzo grabs it with gloves]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Much like the one here.
Ryoichi Nakamura:
You can’t…
[Marcel produces the receipt]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
It all came together with this receipt. For the weapons you sold to the Yuan. Among them is 200 poisoned darts from a factory in Al-Arawete. Now, you mentioned you had a bill from Al-Arawete earlier, so I looked into the factory in Al-Arawete mentioned in receipt, and sure enough, you had an invoice for the poison of the dart frog from last week. And the poison that killed Monsieur Adachi came from a dart frog.
[Ryoichi collapses, grabbing his hair. Shinzo brings in the briefcase from Kimiko’s room]
Inspector Yong:
I suppose you don’t need me to tell you that they found the briefcase in Kimiko’s room. Adachi apparently just forgot it there.
Kimiko Johnson (shakes her head):
Dumb son of a bitch.
Inspector Yong:
We found all the documents proving you were Ouni. So [goes behind Nakamura to put him in handcuffs] you are not only facing murder charges, but espionage charges.
Ryoichi Nakamura (yelling):
He would’ve ruined me! Ruined my family business! I had… no choice. And was I really that wrong? Look at how much of the world the Reds have taken! They even have the bomb now, and they can use it against us!
Inspector Yong:
You can tell me all about it at the station, Nakamura-san.
[Inspector Yong and Shinzo take Nakamura away. Ram approaches Delcroix and shakes his hand]
Ram Chandrasekhar:
Very impressive job, Delcroix-san.
Father Marcel Delcroix (flattered):
Only doing my job.
Ram Chandrasekhar:
You know, I love Shinbata, but watching you do this case, I have a great idea for a new play. Would you be interested?
Father Marcel Delcroix:
I do consider myself an actor.
Ram Chandrasekhar:
I’ll keep in touch!
[Ram walks off, Ibrahim walks up]
Ibrahim Dembele:
Maybe I’ll play myself. Or you, Delcroix-san.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
I would be honored.
[Ibrahim leaves, with Delcroix and Johnson remaining]
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Monsieur Nakamura, he was… bigoted, no?
Kimiko Johnson:
Pretty much. I thought maybe I was the exception. But I guess show business can make a fellow strange.
Father Marcel Delcroix:
Ancient Germanic saying: No business like show business.
[Lights off. Fin.]
Roshita Narasimhan is an author published in the Sea Lion Press anthology Pride and Points of Divergence.
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