The Right to Interpretation

Jack cannot predict the future, but when Jack mentions Kasim Bashar the other day, Jack seems to have summoned Kasim Bashar to pay a visit in New York City.

Kasim Bashar is a special detective with New York State Bureau of Crime Investigation. People in New York just say "BCI" for short. Kasim Bashar specializes in organized crimes and terrorist-related security threats.

A few days ago, a Chinese speaking man said he heard two foreigners talking about blowing up a big, big chunk of land in the middle of America. Jie Ai then translated this and reported this tip to the Flushing police station. Then, the Flushing police contacted BCI, because BCI has a unit dedicated to security threat.

Even though, the threat is placed on the very remote, middle region of the United States, the tip came from New York City. So, it is only natural that New York BCI steps in first.

Jack has only met Bashar maybe once or twice. Jack has arrested people involved in organized crimes, and Jack has handed some bad guys over to Bashar.

Kasim Bashar is now in the airport, waiting to fly in to New York City from upstate. He could drive, but he didn't want to waste time on driving. Plus, Kasim Bashar does not enjoy driving in New York City.

He is now standing behind a girl taking the boarding pass out of her purse. She walks to queue up in the line to board the plane. She seems to notice a gaze behind her but she doesn't turn around to look.

She proceeds to her seat, which is a window seat, but she goes ahead and sits on the aisle seat. She takes her phone out to check her e-mail. Kasim happens to be sitting across the aisle.

"Hey, lady." Kasim Bashar says from across the aisle.

She immediately looks over at him.

She quickly leans forward, seemingly to check who else is sitting next to him. But there is no one sitting next to Kasim right now.

"Do you think someone you know would be sitting next to me?"

The girl looks a little surprised by his comment.

"If I were you, I will not be speaking on the phone in the public in the future. You were careful enough, but I still heard you talking a little bit. And from what I heard earlier, I think it sounded like you knew a person I know. You didn't say his name, but I know who you are talking about."

"Who do you think I'm talking about?" She asks.

"Jack Wolf. An impulsive New York City detective who is now being put on a desk job."

"How do you know him?" She asks.

"The question is, how do you know him?" Kasim asks.

She doesn't answer.

"No worries. I'm sure I can just ask Jack."

"You are going to see him?"

"I don't have to, but I can." Kasim smiles.

This girl seems to try to decide something. She tries to take mental note so she could tell someone about this guy later.

"I think it's fun that you know Jack."

"Are you following me right now?"

"No Miss, I happen to have to go to New York City. This is just coincidence."

"Who are you?" The girl asks. She seems not want to ask that but she still did.

"Kasim Bashar."

The girl looks very, very surprised.

"You are following me then." She says.

"No, I'm not. Don't be paranoid, Nitte Hallow Horn." Kasim says.

This girl is indeed Nitte. She is flying back to New York City after she has traveled out of state for other jobs she needs to do. She thinks Kasim is following her because she knows Kasim works on organized crimes and she is kind of in the middle of one.

"I am really not the person you need to look at. You should concentrate on Keith." Nitte speaks with a smile.

"Don't worry, he is on my watch list, too."

"I don't agree with most of the things Keith does. In fact, I'd like you to be on my side if you're ever interested." Nitte then turns off her phone and she waves her phone at Kasim, seemingly to hint that he should do the same.

Kasim smiles, "And thanks for your offer. I don't work with anyone. Do you see I have a partner at all?"

*** ****

{ Today-- An Accounting Office, Flushing, New York City } -

Detective Kasim Bashar walks into a building lobby with a swagger. He takes off his sunglasses and looks for Jie Ai. The front desk girl tells him, Jie Ai is in the back in the office. Jie is actually still a college student. He is just here working part-time in a small accounting firm.

"Hello, Jee, glad to see you again," Bashar greets, botching Jie Ai's name.

"It's pronounced J-I-E," Jie pronounces slowly for Bashar, "Like Jay, kind of. Why don't you just call me Jay. It might be easier for you."

"My apologies. I can't believe I got it wrong again. I'll call you Jay now," Detective Bashar laughs at himself.

"That's OK." Jie nods politely. He re-adjusts his glasses.

"And you have something to tell me? I don't think I could really believe what I heard when they called on the phone. I thought it was best to talk to you face to face, I hope you don't mind. Plus, I may have some sensitive information to tell you."

"It's fine. I'm not too busy right now. As you know, I'm just a freelance language interpreter for the New York City police at Flushing."

Jie then leads Bashar to the couch area in the lobby. They both sit down.

"Right. All the precincts over there. I don't work with them too much."

Detective Kasim Bashar works for the entire New York State. He is in charge of helping New York City area, but he doesn't necessarily work with each police station. Although, this is the second time he's met with Jie Ai, since he is a good language interpreter. Jie Ai has helped Bashar with other language translations.

Jie smiles, "Yeah. Flushing is usually kind of OK, comparing to other neighborhoods, I'd say. Well, I can't say that. I haven't really lived elsewhere. Anyway, I normally don't have a lot to translate for the police there, that's why it's just a case by case thing. Because there's not a lot of crimes involving Chinese speakers where they need me to come in and help them translate. But the other day, an old man went to the police, and then told them he heard about bombs, blowing up places, and stuff. That's why they wanted to contact you."

"Yes, but can I ask you, did the old man say who he heard from about the bombs and stuff? Or anything else?"

"No. I odn't think the old man knows them. Well, actually, we didn't ask. You have to know, I'm not a detective. I'm only translating the questions to the old man. And then I translate the answers back to the police. The police didn't ask."

"Why didn't they ask?" Bashar looks surprised. "Like, did the old man hear where the bomb would be?"

"To be honest, I don't think the police there took the old man overly seriously."

"Can you tell me what else the man said?"

"Well, yeas, the old man heard it from someone speaking in English. And the old man isn't all the fluent with English. The old man speaks a Chinese dialect."

"And, Jay, do you speak that Chinese dialect?"

"I kind of do."

"Are you a native Chinese speaker?"

"I grew up listening to my grandparents speaking Chinese."

Kasim now hesitates and then he says, "Can we get a second opinion on the translation? Just in case?"

Jay is now a little offended, "Are you saying you don't believe my translation?"

"I'm not trying to say that. I just really wanted to know what the old man says." Kasim now looks around, trying to think what else he should ask.

Jie Ai is unhappy with what Kasim is implying, but he also can't really blame Kasim.

How do people know if his translation is correct? None of his colleagues speak the language. Jie Ai could potentially make up information and claim that's what he is told.

If they can't find another translator, then whatever Jie Ai says is the final version. No one can verify it. No one can prove or disprove what Jie Ai says.

Language translator has a lot of power. He can interpret it the way he wants. Normally, no one questions him. And no one seems to notice this until now.

***

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I'm super sad! I wrote like 500 words and suddenly the writing platform here automatically signed me out and I lost all of it!! :(

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