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Chapter Twenty-four: Head Games
Date: May 10th, 2012
Time: Noon
Location: About 10 miles outside of Spa-Francorchamps
Perspective: Kenji
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
My head ached. I'm not going to speak falsehoods here, the training regimen John was putting the three of us through – four, if you count his wife Emily – was bordering on ridiculous. Yogi Berra had stated about baseball that '90% of the game is half mental.' I was wishing for a figure in that range.
The wealth of knowledge that was being imparted to us was astonishing, though. There are far more mental parts when it comes to racing that I had known previously. One of the hardest ones to deal with was when an opponent is driving at the same speed you are, following your line – and no matter how hard you try, you cannot open up a gap on the other driver chasing you.
He pulled it on us with ease – even when driving a car with a definite performance advantage, a BMW M3 should not be being chased down and hunted by a little BMW 120d.
After I had been challenged in that manner, he had gotten the four of us together and began to explain the theory behind that style of driving.
“The idea here is to drop your opponent into a mental state that is very hard to break out of. If you think that the driver behind you is unstoppable and can match your every move, then you begin to imperceptibly shift into an attitude of defeat.
When in this state of defeat, one of two things will begin to happen; you either begin to drive slower than before, gradually decreasing in both speed and endurance, or you start to lose your sense of limit – it's far easier to make mistakes trying to run from someone if you begin to push the car unreasonably.
The reason I'm telling you this is to make sure you understand how endurance racing works – it's not about taking positions early. The only thing you need to make sure you do early is keep driving at a steady pace. You might be a half-second or two slower than the leader, but that guy is already pushing his car because he is the leader. Waiting back and hiding your true strengths while also conserving your car for the later stages is my cornerstone theory for endurance racing, and it's how I won the 2005 LeMans.”
I was beginning to get what he meant about driving being more mental than anything else. Balance is the key – both of the physical state and of the mental state.
I also noticed other subtle things he would tell or show us. The fact that racing isn't the most important thing was the biggest. He kept reminding us to step back and look at the bigger picture after a particularly draining session – that missing the object of a lesson is fine as long as the more important parts had been gleaned, but while also keeping focus on the bigger picture.
Ricky and Mei were growing more frustrated with John each and every time they were out driving, or being lectured. John's style of teaching was unusual, I will admit that – but for some reason I was able to understand most of the basic theories and ideas he was throwing at us. Neither of them were, and I would notice them sitting off alone together, deep in conversation – while throwing sharp looks at the back of Druten when he wasn't looking.
Oddly, what I found most helpful for driving was his suggestions of thinking to the important things in life, listing them in order, then seeing how driving benefits or hinders each. I began to see that driving wasn't the biggest concern in John's life – his family and obligations were.
It made me start to think about the consequences of every action I took in a new light – not 'how does this benefit Kenji' anymore, but 'how does this action benefit my family, friends, and obligations before it benefits myself'.
It was unnerving and eye-opening. The weight of thinking this way was beginning to drag me down quite a bit.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lost in thought, poring over a time chart with an added path chart for each line I took from the 15-lap session, I didn't notice the precise steps heading towards my position.
“Kenji.”
“Hmmm? Oh... Yes, sir?”
“Teacher, not sir.”
“Fine. Yes, Teacher?”
“Take these and grab the Corvette.”
He threw me a set of monogrammed keys with the initals HS on them.
“Ummm...”
“Time for a one-on-one lesson. And you would do well not to ever speak of what transpires here.”
“Ok...”
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
John directed me to a section of road that saw very little traffic – it reminded me of the mountain passes back home.
“Alright. What I'm about to explain to you may sound harsh or too critical, but it is necessary as well as being true.”
“Ok...”
“...I'm not expecting Ricky or Mei to last in racing.”
“Why?”
“They're focusing more on each other than on the task at hand– which is good in a sense. The problem is... they're falling behind you and my wife in the learning curve here. Ricky told me that after this race they want to go home and start a family. Or... the could leave at any moment.”
“...Continue...”
“Earlier today they both showed a complete lack of care for how I was trying to teach them, and I'm sure you remember how nastily I laid into both of them.”
I actually winced – that was a memory still fresh in my mind.
“After that, they both had confronted me privately and said they were leaving after the race – that I was a horrendous teacher with a nasty attitude who wasn't focusing on the important things.”
“I don't think you're not a good teacher, if that's what you're trying to ask me.”
“That wasn't where I was leading this, but that's good to know at the very minimum. I was going to see what your response was – and if you agreed that I wasn't focusing on the important things.”
“You are... but I don't know if Ricky and Mei can see that.”
“There's another chapter to this, long before I rose in the racing world. I used to know Ricky personally – and it's actually kind of where it all started. Simply put, he doesn't like being told what to do. Never has, never will. He doesn't like the style I'm teaching – his driving has always been headstrong with a tint of recklessness. He ended up in the hospital because of this recklessness, and was out until sometime after I had won LeMans.
In the midst of that, he somehow managed to struggle along – barely making ends meet. I did have a car built for him, but he just was... irresponsible about the entire thing. And I don't know how Mei is going to deal with it when she sees how he truly is-”
He stopped short of continuing his diatribe – and with good reason.
“The brakes... they just locked up! What the...”
“As it should be... the ABS is disabled.”
“What?!”
“I had it disabled as the main reason for taking the car out today and teaching you. Learning to drive without ABS is an entirely different experience that I know you haven't had much time to do. The object lesson today is how to deal with this. It's one of the things that took me a very long time to master myself, so don't expect miracles your first time doing this.
Just get a feel for how the car behaves under braking without the ABS, and see if you notice things. I would have preferred a all-wheel-drive car for this, as I found it easier to learn on that... but this will perform well.”
“Shouldn't I be worried about how my technique will be affected?”
“Oh, it will be affected. The point is that driving without ABS allows a driver to become as one with the car. You need to understand that this is far harder than it might become, but once mastered it allows flawless car control – and control is the most misunderstood aspect of racing. I'll explain more on that later.”
:::::::::::::::::::::::
Three hours later:
“...I don't feel I truly get how to do this.”
We sat outside the car, finally done with the session. And, good thing, because the tires were nearly worn out after I had locked them up so many times, culminating in a near crash into the trees.
John, though, was completely composed and never showed an iota of panic when I was spinning out or headed towards fences or trees. It was astonishing, the complete lack of fear.
“The easiest way would be to have started with a lower-powered car, like the BMW M3 you used earlier. Easy is not going to get you through the 24 Hours race, though. Only the most strenuous and difficult will suffice.”
“...I have to ask this... Are you training me as your protege?”
He was silent for a moment.
“What do you want the answer to be to that question?”
“...I'm not entirely sure – I have conflicting emotions and thoughts going on in my head.”
“The answer is that I am not training you as my protege. What happens now to these thoughts of yours?”
“More uncertainties.”
“Allow me to clear them up, then. I am not training you to 'follow in my footsteps', as some might put it. Rather, my intention is for you to do the opposite.”
“So you're hindering my development as a driver, is that what you're saying?”
“Of course not. Think about what I just said, and then think about my life. Once you figure it out, voice it.”
I thought about it sullenly for a minute, and then I understood.
“By not training me to follow in your footsteps... you're helping me avoid the issues that had arose in your life.”
“And still do to this day. But, in essence, correct. I'm training you to make sure you don't take the paths I've taken, and make the choices I made. All this mental junk I'm throwing out at you – I know it's viewed as junk by many – actually has a legitimate purpose.
When Han told me that the three of you were being sent here because you needed help for LeMans, I felt that the biggest opposition to me would be led by you. When you got here, though... I was surprised at the lack of hatred that I had supposed would be rightfully coming my way.”
“...I've learned not to hold grudges.”
“...All the wiser for you. When I didn't see the hatred and began to see the godlike talent hiding inside... I was impressed. You are a far greater driver than you think... there's a definite hint of the racing genius in the making every time you take the wheel of something, even if it's a shopping cart.”
“But shopping carts don't have steering wheels, they have a handle.”
“...That's not the point. Do you not understand? I'm known as the fastest driver the world has birthed, but... being at the peak just means the ones who are faster still will ultimately rise to the top. You will be the fastest one day, and the cycle will begin once more.
Kenji. I've lived a long life, drove far too many miles without a conscience. I'm telling you all this because I want you to avoid what I became – sure, I am still the fastest around – but it's a meaningless title to me, because of how much I made others around me suffer. You can avoid it, I know you can. Use what knowledge I've imparted to you, and use it for good things.”
I was overcome by emotion at this point, and hugged the man I had sworn to hate with all my being.
“...Are you serious... about me... being the fastest one day?”
“Yes... and you don't even know it. I won't be teaching you much longer, but we will cross paths someday... and you will win. That's when you will be known as the fastest.”
I was lost in thought for a long while after that.
All he had said to me... was it true? I believed most of it, but... my newfound humility was preventing me from believing that I would truly be the fastest.
And... his words about not losing sight of the bigger picture began to sink in.
::::::::
Later that night:
“I had a talk with the kid, and told him what needed to be said. And... he gets it, at least in principle.”
“So no chance of him self-destructing in the race?”
“Highly doubt it.”
John looked inexpressibly weary, and sighed deeply.
“What is it?”
“I didn't tell him how the Wind Stars are using him, though.”
“...Don't. The deal we cut with them allows free reign after the race – if we win it. He'll understand at some point – but not like I don't think he does already.”
“I'd rather make sure of that than have a giant screwup headed our way...”
Emily walked in and sat down next to John, taking his left hand in hers.
“It would be counterproductive to tell him at this stage, and maybe kick his concentration off of the race and on to other things. Speaking of which, I noted that he tried to call his friends back home today, but they didn't respond.”
“...Well, he did understand the meaning behind my earlier words, then.”
“And he's the only one who understood?”
“Emily understands as well.”
She nodded, then laid her head on John's shoulder, and his expression softened slightly.
“...We've been in contact with the Wind Stars. They're pleasantly surprised at the progress that's being shown... and although I still don't trust them, there seems to be a decently solid agreement going on between their factions and the stuff we're undertaking here.”
“...Alright. I'm exhausted, and I'll see you in the morning, I guess.”
He slowly got up, gently helped Emily rise, and walked to his room still holding her hand.
I moved toward the balcony and wheeled myself outside, lighting a cigarette as I did.
It's what I didn't tell him that hurts the most. We'd come to a mutual agreement ourselves – not a true resumption of our friendship, but we were sharing information freely. I do know that there are some things he knows that he will not readily share with anyone except those who will understand it while keeping it a secret.
I don't fault him for that – his knowledge is dangerous when misused, and while it would be nice to know what it is he has told the drivers... it's not my place to know it. I wouldn't be able to use it, either.
He has legitimate reasons for keeping things to himself; sadly, while I don't... I still hold things close. I still have some dark things I will take with me to the grave, but one of them was carried out recently...
My morals are different from yours, John... and so the actions that I take from now on are on my own conscience. I believe I'm saving countless others from the actions of a few; revenge is not the object here. Making the world safer is. So... do I leave him something about all this when I'm gone, or what?
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed two figures headed for the car park down below. My vision in the night isn't sharp by any means, but I could guess the gender of the figures rather easily – a man and a woman.
I had half a mind to call out to them to find out who they were, but stopped short before I revealed my position. I don't know if they're friend or foe, armed or not. The light from inside gives them a clear view of me, even if it's not apparent what I am or who I am.
The man scanned the area furtively, looking to see if there was anyone watching. He looked directly at my position, but did not see me clearly, or thought I was a table or plant of some sort – the area around here is filled with furniture and shaped shrubbery.
I got a good look at his face when it hit the light coming from my vantage point, though. Ricky Robledo. What are you doing out at this ungodly hour, you little sneak...? Obviously the woman with him was Mei Ling... and they were headed toward the black Ferrari 458 that was parked about halfway down the line of cars sitting in the lot.
I also noted the suitcases in their hands... meaning, just as John had told me earlier, that they were leaving to go home.
I hit the button on the side of my wheelchair, sending a silent alarm out to the men I had brought with me, and also triggering the alarm in John's room as well as Kenji's.
In a flash, a group of five trained bodyguards converged on my location, with John and his family right behind. In his arms was his daughter Micaiah, and in Emily's arms (and thankfully asleep) was his other daughter Yune.
The two figures down below panicked at the sight of all the people standing around, watching; and so they rapidly threw the luggage in the car and got in. I heard the engine start with a enraged roar, and dimly noted that it was raining heavily out now.
Kenji also came running, slightly behind everyone else – but in time to see Ricky and Mei get in the 458 and head off with a squeal of tires and in a cloud of wet smoke.
“...You were right, then.”
“...Sadly. It wasn't an inability to learn that brought this on, it was a lack of wanting to learn that caused this.”
“What should we do, Mr. Tzu, sir?”
I looked to John for a solution on how to deal with this, because frankly I couldn't come up with one myself.
“...Nothing.”
“What?!”
As everyone but Emily and Kenji began voicing their objections, I motioned for silence... to let John continue with what he was going to say.
“...There is nothing we can do in this situation. Nothing we can say or do will convince them to come back. They took the fastest car there besides the Corvette which is on slicks; it's raining, and changing the tires would take too long when there's not any equipment set up for it right now. And don't expect me to take one of the other cars and push it in these conditions... last time that happened...”
For once, I saw my former friend at a loss for words. I couldn't tell how he was feeling, and I almost confessed to what I had carried out – but something stopped me.
He sighed again, a deep one with a fair amount of pain hidden in it, but regained his composure that had been cracked not a second ago.
“They go off to their supposed heaven, but with no thought as to the painful consequences it brings to those left behind.”
Fin Chapter Twenty-four
Date: May 10th, 2012
Time: Noon
Location: About 10 miles outside of Spa-Francorchamps
Perspective: Kenji
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
My head ached. I'm not going to speak falsehoods here, the training regimen John was putting the three of us through – four, if you count his wife Emily – was bordering on ridiculous. Yogi Berra had stated about baseball that '90% of the game is half mental.' I was wishing for a figure in that range.
The wealth of knowledge that was being imparted to us was astonishing, though. There are far more mental parts when it comes to racing that I had known previously. One of the hardest ones to deal with was when an opponent is driving at the same speed you are, following your line – and no matter how hard you try, you cannot open up a gap on the other driver chasing you.
He pulled it on us with ease – even when driving a car with a definite performance advantage, a BMW M3 should not be being chased down and hunted by a little BMW 120d.
After I had been challenged in that manner, he had gotten the four of us together and began to explain the theory behind that style of driving.
“The idea here is to drop your opponent into a mental state that is very hard to break out of. If you think that the driver behind you is unstoppable and can match your every move, then you begin to imperceptibly shift into an attitude of defeat.
When in this state of defeat, one of two things will begin to happen; you either begin to drive slower than before, gradually decreasing in both speed and endurance, or you start to lose your sense of limit – it's far easier to make mistakes trying to run from someone if you begin to push the car unreasonably.
The reason I'm telling you this is to make sure you understand how endurance racing works – it's not about taking positions early. The only thing you need to make sure you do early is keep driving at a steady pace. You might be a half-second or two slower than the leader, but that guy is already pushing his car because he is the leader. Waiting back and hiding your true strengths while also conserving your car for the later stages is my cornerstone theory for endurance racing, and it's how I won the 2005 LeMans.”
I was beginning to get what he meant about driving being more mental than anything else. Balance is the key – both of the physical state and of the mental state.
I also noticed other subtle things he would tell or show us. The fact that racing isn't the most important thing was the biggest. He kept reminding us to step back and look at the bigger picture after a particularly draining session – that missing the object of a lesson is fine as long as the more important parts had been gleaned, but while also keeping focus on the bigger picture.
Ricky and Mei were growing more frustrated with John each and every time they were out driving, or being lectured. John's style of teaching was unusual, I will admit that – but for some reason I was able to understand most of the basic theories and ideas he was throwing at us. Neither of them were, and I would notice them sitting off alone together, deep in conversation – while throwing sharp looks at the back of Druten when he wasn't looking.
Oddly, what I found most helpful for driving was his suggestions of thinking to the important things in life, listing them in order, then seeing how driving benefits or hinders each. I began to see that driving wasn't the biggest concern in John's life – his family and obligations were.
It made me start to think about the consequences of every action I took in a new light – not 'how does this benefit Kenji' anymore, but 'how does this action benefit my family, friends, and obligations before it benefits myself'.
It was unnerving and eye-opening. The weight of thinking this way was beginning to drag me down quite a bit.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lost in thought, poring over a time chart with an added path chart for each line I took from the 15-lap session, I didn't notice the precise steps heading towards my position.
“Kenji.”
“Hmmm? Oh... Yes, sir?”
“Teacher, not sir.”
“Fine. Yes, Teacher?”
“Take these and grab the Corvette.”
He threw me a set of monogrammed keys with the initals HS on them.
“Ummm...”
“Time for a one-on-one lesson. And you would do well not to ever speak of what transpires here.”
“Ok...”
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
John directed me to a section of road that saw very little traffic – it reminded me of the mountain passes back home.
“Alright. What I'm about to explain to you may sound harsh or too critical, but it is necessary as well as being true.”
“Ok...”
“...I'm not expecting Ricky or Mei to last in racing.”
“Why?”
“They're focusing more on each other than on the task at hand– which is good in a sense. The problem is... they're falling behind you and my wife in the learning curve here. Ricky told me that after this race they want to go home and start a family. Or... the could leave at any moment.”
“...Continue...”
“Earlier today they both showed a complete lack of care for how I was trying to teach them, and I'm sure you remember how nastily I laid into both of them.”
I actually winced – that was a memory still fresh in my mind.
“After that, they both had confronted me privately and said they were leaving after the race – that I was a horrendous teacher with a nasty attitude who wasn't focusing on the important things.”
“I don't think you're not a good teacher, if that's what you're trying to ask me.”
“That wasn't where I was leading this, but that's good to know at the very minimum. I was going to see what your response was – and if you agreed that I wasn't focusing on the important things.”
“You are... but I don't know if Ricky and Mei can see that.”
“There's another chapter to this, long before I rose in the racing world. I used to know Ricky personally – and it's actually kind of where it all started. Simply put, he doesn't like being told what to do. Never has, never will. He doesn't like the style I'm teaching – his driving has always been headstrong with a tint of recklessness. He ended up in the hospital because of this recklessness, and was out until sometime after I had won LeMans.
In the midst of that, he somehow managed to struggle along – barely making ends meet. I did have a car built for him, but he just was... irresponsible about the entire thing. And I don't know how Mei is going to deal with it when she sees how he truly is-”
He stopped short of continuing his diatribe – and with good reason.
“The brakes... they just locked up! What the...”
“As it should be... the ABS is disabled.”
“What?!”
“I had it disabled as the main reason for taking the car out today and teaching you. Learning to drive without ABS is an entirely different experience that I know you haven't had much time to do. The object lesson today is how to deal with this. It's one of the things that took me a very long time to master myself, so don't expect miracles your first time doing this.
Just get a feel for how the car behaves under braking without the ABS, and see if you notice things. I would have preferred a all-wheel-drive car for this, as I found it easier to learn on that... but this will perform well.”
“Shouldn't I be worried about how my technique will be affected?”
“Oh, it will be affected. The point is that driving without ABS allows a driver to become as one with the car. You need to understand that this is far harder than it might become, but once mastered it allows flawless car control – and control is the most misunderstood aspect of racing. I'll explain more on that later.”
:::::::::::::::::::::::
Three hours later:
“...I don't feel I truly get how to do this.”
We sat outside the car, finally done with the session. And, good thing, because the tires were nearly worn out after I had locked them up so many times, culminating in a near crash into the trees.
John, though, was completely composed and never showed an iota of panic when I was spinning out or headed towards fences or trees. It was astonishing, the complete lack of fear.
“The easiest way would be to have started with a lower-powered car, like the BMW M3 you used earlier. Easy is not going to get you through the 24 Hours race, though. Only the most strenuous and difficult will suffice.”
“...I have to ask this... Are you training me as your protege?”
He was silent for a moment.
“What do you want the answer to be to that question?”
“...I'm not entirely sure – I have conflicting emotions and thoughts going on in my head.”
“The answer is that I am not training you as my protege. What happens now to these thoughts of yours?”
“More uncertainties.”
“Allow me to clear them up, then. I am not training you to 'follow in my footsteps', as some might put it. Rather, my intention is for you to do the opposite.”
“So you're hindering my development as a driver, is that what you're saying?”
“Of course not. Think about what I just said, and then think about my life. Once you figure it out, voice it.”
I thought about it sullenly for a minute, and then I understood.
“By not training me to follow in your footsteps... you're helping me avoid the issues that had arose in your life.”
“And still do to this day. But, in essence, correct. I'm training you to make sure you don't take the paths I've taken, and make the choices I made. All this mental junk I'm throwing out at you – I know it's viewed as junk by many – actually has a legitimate purpose.
When Han told me that the three of you were being sent here because you needed help for LeMans, I felt that the biggest opposition to me would be led by you. When you got here, though... I was surprised at the lack of hatred that I had supposed would be rightfully coming my way.”
“...I've learned not to hold grudges.”
“...All the wiser for you. When I didn't see the hatred and began to see the godlike talent hiding inside... I was impressed. You are a far greater driver than you think... there's a definite hint of the racing genius in the making every time you take the wheel of something, even if it's a shopping cart.”
“But shopping carts don't have steering wheels, they have a handle.”
“...That's not the point. Do you not understand? I'm known as the fastest driver the world has birthed, but... being at the peak just means the ones who are faster still will ultimately rise to the top. You will be the fastest one day, and the cycle will begin once more.
Kenji. I've lived a long life, drove far too many miles without a conscience. I'm telling you all this because I want you to avoid what I became – sure, I am still the fastest around – but it's a meaningless title to me, because of how much I made others around me suffer. You can avoid it, I know you can. Use what knowledge I've imparted to you, and use it for good things.”
I was overcome by emotion at this point, and hugged the man I had sworn to hate with all my being.
“...Are you serious... about me... being the fastest one day?”
“Yes... and you don't even know it. I won't be teaching you much longer, but we will cross paths someday... and you will win. That's when you will be known as the fastest.”
I was lost in thought for a long while after that.
All he had said to me... was it true? I believed most of it, but... my newfound humility was preventing me from believing that I would truly be the fastest.
And... his words about not losing sight of the bigger picture began to sink in.
::::::::
Later that night:
“I had a talk with the kid, and told him what needed to be said. And... he gets it, at least in principle.”
“So no chance of him self-destructing in the race?”
“Highly doubt it.”
John looked inexpressibly weary, and sighed deeply.
“What is it?”
“I didn't tell him how the Wind Stars are using him, though.”
“...Don't. The deal we cut with them allows free reign after the race – if we win it. He'll understand at some point – but not like I don't think he does already.”
“I'd rather make sure of that than have a giant screwup headed our way...”
Emily walked in and sat down next to John, taking his left hand in hers.
“It would be counterproductive to tell him at this stage, and maybe kick his concentration off of the race and on to other things. Speaking of which, I noted that he tried to call his friends back home today, but they didn't respond.”
“...Well, he did understand the meaning behind my earlier words, then.”
“And he's the only one who understood?”
“Emily understands as well.”
She nodded, then laid her head on John's shoulder, and his expression softened slightly.
“...We've been in contact with the Wind Stars. They're pleasantly surprised at the progress that's being shown... and although I still don't trust them, there seems to be a decently solid agreement going on between their factions and the stuff we're undertaking here.”
“...Alright. I'm exhausted, and I'll see you in the morning, I guess.”
He slowly got up, gently helped Emily rise, and walked to his room still holding her hand.
I moved toward the balcony and wheeled myself outside, lighting a cigarette as I did.
It's what I didn't tell him that hurts the most. We'd come to a mutual agreement ourselves – not a true resumption of our friendship, but we were sharing information freely. I do know that there are some things he knows that he will not readily share with anyone except those who will understand it while keeping it a secret.
I don't fault him for that – his knowledge is dangerous when misused, and while it would be nice to know what it is he has told the drivers... it's not my place to know it. I wouldn't be able to use it, either.
He has legitimate reasons for keeping things to himself; sadly, while I don't... I still hold things close. I still have some dark things I will take with me to the grave, but one of them was carried out recently...
My morals are different from yours, John... and so the actions that I take from now on are on my own conscience. I believe I'm saving countless others from the actions of a few; revenge is not the object here. Making the world safer is. So... do I leave him something about all this when I'm gone, or what?
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed two figures headed for the car park down below. My vision in the night isn't sharp by any means, but I could guess the gender of the figures rather easily – a man and a woman.
I had half a mind to call out to them to find out who they were, but stopped short before I revealed my position. I don't know if they're friend or foe, armed or not. The light from inside gives them a clear view of me, even if it's not apparent what I am or who I am.
The man scanned the area furtively, looking to see if there was anyone watching. He looked directly at my position, but did not see me clearly, or thought I was a table or plant of some sort – the area around here is filled with furniture and shaped shrubbery.
I got a good look at his face when it hit the light coming from my vantage point, though. Ricky Robledo. What are you doing out at this ungodly hour, you little sneak...? Obviously the woman with him was Mei Ling... and they were headed toward the black Ferrari 458 that was parked about halfway down the line of cars sitting in the lot.
I also noted the suitcases in their hands... meaning, just as John had told me earlier, that they were leaving to go home.
I hit the button on the side of my wheelchair, sending a silent alarm out to the men I had brought with me, and also triggering the alarm in John's room as well as Kenji's.
In a flash, a group of five trained bodyguards converged on my location, with John and his family right behind. In his arms was his daughter Micaiah, and in Emily's arms (and thankfully asleep) was his other daughter Yune.
The two figures down below panicked at the sight of all the people standing around, watching; and so they rapidly threw the luggage in the car and got in. I heard the engine start with a enraged roar, and dimly noted that it was raining heavily out now.
Kenji also came running, slightly behind everyone else – but in time to see Ricky and Mei get in the 458 and head off with a squeal of tires and in a cloud of wet smoke.
“...You were right, then.”
“...Sadly. It wasn't an inability to learn that brought this on, it was a lack of wanting to learn that caused this.”
“What should we do, Mr. Tzu, sir?”
I looked to John for a solution on how to deal with this, because frankly I couldn't come up with one myself.
“...Nothing.”
“What?!”
As everyone but Emily and Kenji began voicing their objections, I motioned for silence... to let John continue with what he was going to say.
“...There is nothing we can do in this situation. Nothing we can say or do will convince them to come back. They took the fastest car there besides the Corvette which is on slicks; it's raining, and changing the tires would take too long when there's not any equipment set up for it right now. And don't expect me to take one of the other cars and push it in these conditions... last time that happened...”
For once, I saw my former friend at a loss for words. I couldn't tell how he was feeling, and I almost confessed to what I had carried out – but something stopped me.
He sighed again, a deep one with a fair amount of pain hidden in it, but regained his composure that had been cracked not a second ago.
“They go off to their supposed heaven, but with no thought as to the painful consequences it brings to those left behind.”
Fin Chapter Twenty-four
