It had started to rain in London. Or rather, it had started to rain harder. As every visitor to our capital knows, it never stops raining in England, the only variable is what exactly is raining down on the inhabitants. Once, it rained frogs (but then Air France never claimed to have an impecable safety record).
After rescuing Olaf from the terror of his own reflection in a Porn shop, we slipped down an alley and into a crumbling pre-war red brick building, a faded, barely legible sign informed interested parties that this was El Stonios; the proprietor being a one Robbo Stonio, aka, Roberto Crackman, aka, The Chapstick. Robbo was a secret animator, hiding his skills behind the facade of a trendy Drug Store. Not the US version, the European one. Here you could- according to the menu- buy anything from finest Columbian Ratskank to Class A's so potent they could hospitalise you if you just thought about them. The veneer of a semi-respectable drug dealer kept the scum of the streets- producers- away from his door.
Inside, Robbo sat behind his counter smoking a fake reefer. His hands were feverishly busy beneath the counter, either working covertly on his lastest mini animation epic or doing something else that I wasn't in the least bit interested in finding out. He was a shadow of the man he had been 5 years before when we had learnt our chops together running wild through the capitals Effects houses. The world then had seemed like a cold pan of fat, waiting to be warmed up. s. But alas, one day his luck ran out and pissed up on booze had picked a fight with the wrong man at the right time but in the wrong place. Even now, the name of his opponent- Benethy De Blanc- would take him over the edge into uncontrollable rage, something I intended to use at the right time to manipulate him to do my bidding. I mean, should the bond of our friendship fail. And of course, punchbag and knife attack absorber, as before.
Robbo was only too happy to come along, especially as I still had one of his showreels, and a quick phone call would have 4 or 5 whining Producers at his door in seconds.
I smiled and raised 3 fingers. There were three of us now, and things were looking up. With a few good men I would get to the bottom of this mystery: and if Olaf stopped sucking my fingers things would only improve.
Robbo came up with another name, a name that made my blood run cold, who could help. Someone who sent shivers down my spine. But events had taken on their own pace now, and I was barely in control any longer. Shit, and it was only chapter III. This character was a real piece of work. Having grown too big for his native Netherlands (that's geography not a euphemism), he'd brought his underhand animation tactics to Soho ten years ago and been so ruthless that he'd taken over China Town and renamed it Dutch Town. He ALWAYS charged rate card and those that turned him down usually didn't get to hear a second quote. Producers and clients alike often went missing around deadline day. But that was just his way. The Vink's way. What my companions didn't know was that I knew him well already. We had learnt our chops together, running wild through Soho's Effects houses years ago. The world then had seemed like a baby seal, waiting to be clubbed. But then the money had taken hold of him. He could no longer see the Art that we all struggled for. He could only see money, and the more he got the more he wanted. But I knew he would help because....he was greedy.
So I went to The Vink. And he listened. He had had his eye on "Aldis...and More!" for a while. His interests were purely monetary, no animtor-brotherly love lost there. But still, there was something about the look in his eyes that said something...could I trust him? Hmmm....better save a bullet just in case. Figure of speech.
Still, a war was coming. And my machine was on the move. It was scary to watch and I didn't know how or if it would stop.
It was time to make that call.
Next week: "This is a BT announcement. The number you have dialled is
unavailable. Please check your number and try again. You have not been
charged for this call".