Pacardy

Pacardy the American was riding his scooter in Moscow. If you had a look at him from far away, he would look like he was a tourist. And you would want to laugh, because not many tourists where there in Moscow. Particularly now, as the political climate was a disaster. Pacardy would zip in and out of the streets as though he was a local, this was a realisation that you made the second time you had a look at him. And by the third or fourth time you would realise that Pacarady was more Russian than anyone one this planet. He hated the Americans as much as the next person did and hated the country more than anyone else put together could! Wearing a cap he would roam the streets cussing in Russian at any one crossed the street in front of his bike! Even when he was at fault, and he was always at fault!

There, pointed Pashkin at the man on the scooter. He is the one who fixes our machine, he said to Seronn. That one! asked Akira bemused by the way he rode the scooter. He is, said Anatoly as he twitched his eyebrows. Seronn just stared blankly from the windows of the house. He whispered but everyone could hear it "He is the one that brings us light". Yes , strangely so! replied Anatoly as he stepped on and stood beside Seronn. Sometimes I think he is not human. Seronn simply smirked! Pacardy ran his circles as there was a bell that rang at the door.

Another American Private James, an old veteran of the war still called him that. Americans and their weirdness, said Anatoly under his breath! Oh hello, James he greeted him warmly but with underlying contempt. Hello, greeted back James with the same tone. Feeling awfully good about yourself, said Anatoly with the dry and often borderline condescending humour that he was very well known for. James always had a depressed look on his face, but he was not. Far away from it. The three of them looked at the two humans with awe and disappointment. Feelings! They all murmured unanimously. Have a drink, said Anatoly to James. Too early for me, he hinted with a dog at the drinking habits of Russians, like he always did. James was not one to let go of poking fun at the Russians for their habits. He took his glasses of and wiped it clear! He saw the foreigners and merely took a glance at them as though they were not of interest. Pacardy? he asked him. Thereabouts, replied Anatoly in all earnestness as he poured himself a drink and asked the others if they wanted one themselves. Smells good, said Akira. Of course, it's vodka, replied Anatoly. Seronn and Vlorhirir couldn't care less. Would you mind one? He asked her. I wouldn't, she said and took a drink in her hands. She removed her mask and took a sip! James was a little anxious by now. I thought Pacardy would be here! he said as he approached the window! He is, isn't he? replied Anatoly. He looked for Akira and clinked his glass with hers! She was a little bemused, but she did not care. She was taken by surprise the stupor it gave her! The moped slowly rolled in front of the building. I sense Pacardy, said James as he turned away from the glass! You are a weird one James, said Anatoly. Thank you, replied James. That was not a compliment, said Anatoly. Akira was all smiles as Pacardy entered the room! Good day, he said to her the eccentric Pacardy and walked past the rest. What do you want from us? he drove straight to the point as he normally did. Anatoly could not help but notice like he always did! Two polar opposites but they always got on so well! We travel with them, replied Anatoly pointing at the three foreigners. With the pretty lady? asked Pacardy with a glint in his eyes. Yes, we travel with them, said Anatoly who could not hide his negative sentiment in making the travels to far away lands. Particularly the man in the mask gave him a tingling sense in his spine, every time he looked at him! Where too asked James as he adjusted his glasses! To lands yonder i suppose, said Pacardy. Anatoly simply raised his glasses up, not so cheerfully agreeing to what Pacardy had said. Seronn was a little irritated by the nature of the Americans. They were simply not threatened by his presence, worse they did not even acknowledge him!

Is that a good idea? Really? asked James to Pacardy. I don't know, replied Pacardy who gave the idea that he was not fully aware of the circumstances that transpired before him. Was Pacardy ever really there? Rarely so. He was always trying to figure something out. Most often irrational and far ahead. And there was James to try and rope him in. They make a good team, said Anatoly to Vlohrir. The dwarf just grunted and turned towards Akira. She smiled at him, like she would at Leonadir. He grunted again and looked at the two Americans, who miraculously seemed to be the most normal at that point of time! They do all the engineering and I merely connect it all together, he said to Seronn. My bad! he realised his mistake as he had to sit down immediately. His spine was burning him! You are right, we make a good team said James with a smile that would make a grandmother fall out of love with her grandchildren! Now you know why I drink? Said Anatoly looking at particularly nobody!