Rat | 001 | Video | Day 68

[bluesrat]

[It's pretty clear from the video that the device has been turned on by accident, since the first view is partly up someone's nose. It's not a small nose, but a squinting blue eye quickly replaces it as the central focus, before the video pulls out to show the whole, narrow, lined face. The owner of the face mutters, half to himself, but clearly audible over the sounds of the water on the shore nearby.]

Hunh. It didn't do that before.

[There's another startling moment of video while he taps the screen with one calloused finger.]

Calling Dick Tracy? I don't know where Cape Kore is or how I got here, but I'm pretty sure you don't want me. If anyone's listening, I'd be glad for directions to the train station, and I'll just be on my way.

Comments

Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

There's no train station, I'm afraid to say.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

A road out would do. I can walk.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

There aren't exactly any roads out, either.

[A pause. How to say this in the most diplomatic and least alarming fashion...]

You -- well, all of us, actually -- have been kidnapped.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

[There's a pause on the other end, but the reply is calm, thoughtfully distracted.]

Somebody's not very selective.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[A quiet laugh.]

No, they're not. It's seemingly random.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

Sorry! No offense or anything... it's just that I'm nobody. Are there many people here? It seems like a ghost town.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

No offense taken. There aren't a lot of people here, no. It's a small town, in every sense of the word.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

How did everybody else wind up here?

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Nobody's quite sure. They're working on figuring it out. The way I see it, it has to be something weird -- anybody tell you we're all from different places and times yet?

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

...No.

Although that's not much harder to believe than the 2-way radio movie wristwatch.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Yeah, the radio movie wristwatch thing confused me, too.

What year was it, the last time you checked?

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

Forty-nine... is it different for you? And does everybody have one of these watches?

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Yeah, it's twenty-three, for me. And everyone has one, and they're stuck on pretty good, so don't try breaking it.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

I... wasn't about to, but good to know.

That's... heh. I remember Twenty-three.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Yeah? You've got an advantage on me, then. Who knows where I'll be in forty-nine?

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

As long as it's not here, right?

[The wry smile carries in his voice.]

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You got that right.

So, what's your name?

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

Markus Rathbone. Er, just Rat, if you want.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Nice to meet you. Name's Meyer Lansky -- no interesting nicknames, sorry to say.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

You should probably count yourself lucky for that.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Well, yeah, I guess I'm pretty glad nobody calls me Rat.

[A pause.]

No offense, I mean.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

[He just laughs.]

None taken. It started out as an insult, but I adopted it.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I'd've done the same. Gives people one less insult to use on you.

Re: Voice

[bluesrat]

Exactly. Anyway, it's my nickname, now, but you can call me Markus if that's easier.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I'll probably switch back and forth between the two. Where're you from?