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Eyewitness
Mel Waldman
I
Denny, Scott, and Brown descended into the restricted area. “Like goin’ into the abyss,” said Denny, the tallest of the three. Scott nodded, but Brown added: “Yeah. But I like workin’ down there. It feels good.”
“What feels good?” asked Denny, his azure eyes glaring at Brown, who stood almost half a foot shorter.
“The darkness. Yeah. Love it.”
“Can barely see down here,” complained Denny.
“Can see well enough. An’ we got the lights if we need ’em. Right, Scott?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re crazy, Brown,” accused Denny.
“Never said I ain’t,” Brown said proudly. “Still, I love the darkness. An’ the solitude. Hardly no one comes here. No one onya back. Feel free. Free!”
“Whatya got tasay, Scott?” asked Denny.
“Nothin’,” said the taciturn man, about an inch shorter than Denny.
“You guys bug me! Free, eh? I say this place spooks me. Free? Free to rot in Hell!”
Outside, the dog-day afternoon was oppressive. The others called the heat of the sun Hell, and waited for the interminable day to end. But this was only the beginning. Even the soil was a seething cauldron. And the rhythmic sound of footsteps reverberated as they marched on the fiery land. They marched forth under the relentless rays, almost to eternity, almost...
II
Above, in the non-restricted area, Captain William A. Eddy and Graf, AKA the Artist, met privately. The room was small but well lit. Captain Eddy was about 6 feet tall. Graf was about 6'6 and towered over the captain. The two monolithic men filled up the tiny room, leaving little space between them.
Captain Eddy gazed harshly at Graf and announced: “You’re under my jurisdiction now, Graf. Get it?”
“Yeah.”
“The big boys sent you to me,” continued Captain Eddy. “I hear you’re VIP.”
“Could be.”
“Terrific! They asked me to watch over you. You need watchin’ over?”
“No.”
“Well, you’ll be watched very carefully, Graf. Get it?”
“Yeah.”
“Gotta keep you alive. Now, any idea who might want you dead?”
Graf gazed quizzically at the captain.
“Yeah. Didn’t expect you tatell me what’s goin’ on. See, it’s this deep, dark secret. Right, Graf?”
“What did they tell you?”
“Nothin’ Just keep him alive so he gets the job done. My ol’ buddy Ray Pepper back in New York said to treat you with kid gloves but watch you with a thousand eyes. So that’s what I’m gonna do. Understand?”
“Sure. Ya gonna follow me into the john too?”
“You betta pray I do, Graf. Someone wants you dead!”
Outside, the sun was setting. In the distance, the vast sea seemed tranquil as it rolled timelessly into infinity.
III
They went to see the variety show in the non-restricted area. The performer sang night club songs and danced exotic dances. She was the most attractive and sweet smelling entertainer they had ever seen. Certainly, she was the most flamboyant, for she wore big diamonds which glittered and long, taloned nails.
In the middle of her performance, Graf slithered off into the restricted area. Even a thousand eyes and a beautiful entertainer could not restrain him. He vanished into the vortex of darkness. Later, Denny, Scott, and Brown discovered him and reported him to the captain.
Outside, they breathed the salty air. In the distance, the leaves fell to earth.
IV
In the next three weeks, Officers Eden, Coon, and Darlan each went into the restricted area at different times. They were three ordinary men about 5'7 or 5'8 who looked alike. They could have been brothers. Denny, Scott, and Brown knew them. Sometimes, they chatted with the visitors. At this point, the three men worked alone in different sections of the restricted area. Although they were engrossed in their work, they’d call out to one another from time to time, or stop to talk with the others, especially if they hadn’t taken a break in a while.
Denny enjoyed talking the most. But even Brown, who considered the visitors interlopers, didn’t mind the occasional interruptions. “Long as I can return to the solitude,” muttered Brown. “And the darkness.”
V
On the holiday, the three officers visited the restricted area. Eden arrived at 10 AM and gave Scott a bottle of bourbon. He didn’t stay long for Scott was a boozer, not a talker. At 3 PM, Coon arrived with a bottle of bourbon for Brown. They had five shots together. Coon left the bottle behind with Brown. Later, about 5 PM, Darlan arrived with a bottle of bourbon for Denny.
“Ain’t you guys got nothin’ but bourbon for us?”
“It’s free. So what’s the gripe?”
“Hate it down here. An’ Johnnie Walker Red would suit me better.”
“Lotsa guys love bourbon.”
“Yeah. But not Denny.”
“Want me to take it back?”
“No.”
“It was the only thing I could grab hold of.”
“Yeah. So you comin’ back later?”
“Maybe. There’s gonna be a big celebration.”
“Drop by tonight for a drink and bring me some Johnnie Walker Red.”
“Sure, Denny,” Darlan smiled sardonically.
VI
Later, Graf received a message from the captain to meet him in the restricted area. While Graf was heading for his rendezvous, Dusko, AKA Popeye, was busy getting dressed. He had decided to leave the hospital. And since it was a holiday, no one noticed what he was doing. The medical staff was already celebrating. Soon, the short, sinewy man strolled down the corridor with his cane, invisible to the jovial but intoxicated staff.
VII
As Graf scurried by Denny, the intoxicated fellow cried out: “Whatya doin’ down here, Graf? Captain Eddy told you it’s off limits.”
“Yeah. But I got this note from him. Says to meet him down here. Just beyond Brown’s area.”
“Let me see the note.”
Denny glanced at the note and let Graf continue on. He was ready for the next shot of bourbon.
In a little while, Denny saw Eden coming into the area. “Betta hurry up, Eden. Scott’s getting’ restless.” Eden nodded and hurried off.
Later, Scott saw Coon coming into the area. “Brown’s waitin’ for you. Got some good stuff in your bag?” Coon grinned and continued on.
Then Brown saw Darlan coming into his area. “Got lost, Darlan? Denny’s back a ways.
“Got a message from Captain Eddy for Graf. Didya see him?”
“Yeah. He’s in the next area behind me.”
Darlan nodded and hurried past Brown. Just before Darlan passed into the other area, Brown cried out: “You sound funny, Darlan.”
Without turning around, Darlan replied: “You look funny, Brown.” And then he vanished.
VIII
“What kept you so long? Been waitin’ for you a while, captain.”
“Hello, Graf.”
“What?”
“Just hello.”
“You sound funny...Captain Eddy? Is that you?”
“We asked the Germans for assistance. They sent you on this very special mission. But you didn’t deliver.”
“I’m on my way back to...”
“Back? Oh no, Graf. Oh no!”
“But...I’ve got the information.”
“Don’t bother lying, Graf. We know you’re working for the British and Americans. How very elegant!”
“Let me explain.”
“Explain? You’re a magnificent mole. You deceived the Germans. But not us.”
“Who are you?”
“Death, Graf!” The stranger removed the Mauser from the bag. “My German friends gave me this pretty baby with the silencer. Goodbye, Graf.”
“Please...”
The stranger pulled the trigger. And it was over. Smiling triumphantly, the killer picked up the bloody note and headed back.
IX
Dusko, AKA Popeye, sauntered toward the restricted area. Now, he was about 100 feet from the area. He was aware that something horrible had occurred. Indeed, over the years, he had developed his other senses to compensate for his disabilities.
Suddenly, the killer emerged from the restricted area and rushed toward him. Dusko sensed the stranger but continued on. Instantly, the killer collided with Dusko, bruising the disabled man. Together, they fell to the ground.
Then the killer rose and momentarily pointed the Mauser at Dusko without pulling the trigger. Curiously, the stranger removed Dusko’s dark glasses, realizing that the man was blind.
“Shall I kill you?” whispered the killer. Dusko stared blankly into space. “Goodbye, my dumb fellow. Goodbye.”
The killer rushed off to assume another identity, leaving behind one dead spy, three drunken officers, and one wounded eyewitness.
X
In the morning, Captain Eddy paced back and forth. He had already interrogated each man individually. Now, he had all three of them in his room. Suddenly, he turned to Denny and said: “So the only one you saw aside from Graf was Eden?”
“Yes, sir!”
“And Scott, you saw Coon and no one else?”
“Yes, sir!”
“And Brown, you saw Darlan and no one else?”
“Yes, sir! Except for Graf, of course.”
“Of course.”
In the next few hours, Captain Eddy continued to interrogate the three officers on duty and Eden, Coon, and Darlan. Finally, he announced: “Either one or all of you are lying or the killer is an adept impersonator and a practical joker. Happy Halloween, gentlemen! We’ll meet again tonight.
XI
Later, Captain Eddy saw part of the show. Then he visited Dusko in the hospital. Before speaking to Dusko, the captain asked the doctor: “What is he doing here?”
“We’ve been giving him a battery of tests. By the way, his I.Q. is over 180.”
“I see. Now, how did he get down there?”
“He just wandered off. Apparently, the man is touched. He’s governed by other senses.”
“Don’t give me that hocus-pocus. Just tell me how I’m gonna communicate with him.”
“There’s a translator inside. He knows how to sign with Dusko.”
Soon, Captain Eddy spoke to the blind, deaf mute through the translator. “Dusko, I am Captain Eddy. I gotta ask you some questions about the murder.”
“Didn’t see the murder, captain. And please call me Popeye.”
“Sure, Popeye.”
“Well, captain. I believe I saw the killer. Cut me up a bit.”
“Did he stab you with a knife?”
“Don’t think it was a knife. Something sharp but not a knife.”
“Can you describe the killer?”
“Hands like claws and a foul but familiar smell.”
“A foul smell?”
“Yes. Used on...furniture. No, not sure. And there was another scent. A faint one. Can’t think of the name.”
“What else?”
“The killer is probably about 5'7 or 5'8 . I’m 5'5 and I sense the killer was only slightly taller and much lighter. And...”
“Yes?”
“A gentle, merciful soul who kills out of necessity or...revenge!”
“You’re contradicting yourself all over the place.”
“I know. But that’s what I see.”
“Anything else?”
“Yes. I dreamed of the murder a few days ago. That was my first dream.”
“And the second?”
“The planes came and dropped the bombs! I died!”
“Well, it was just a dream, Popeye. Just a dream.”
XII
Captain Eddy figured out Darlan was the killer. He was 5'8 and wore a huge ring which could rip a guy’s insides out. Then Captain Eddy spoke to Brown and Popeye again. Brown mentioned Darlan’s voice had been too sweet. And Popeye recalled the faint scent of lilacs. Now, Captain Eddy really figured out the identity of the killer.
He visited the killer who was expecting him. “Come in, captain.”
“You were magnificent today.”
“Oh, but you missed most of my performance.”
“I caught the main act.”
Suddenly, Captain Eddy started coughing violently. “Excuse me, captain. My nail polish remover is quite potent. Forgive me.”
“Of course. And by the way, your sweet smelling perfume is delightful.”
“Yes. It’s called Lilac.”
The captain gazed at the killer and said: “Why?”
“Graf was a traitor!”
“How do you know?”
“We have sources.” She smiled at Captain Eddy. “And how is the blind, deaf mute?”
“Popeye will be fine.”
“That’s good.”
“How did you impersonate Eden, Coon, and Darlan?”
“Makeup and masks. The masks are in the dresser. All four of them. And they’re all about my height. I also impersonated you when I killed Graf.”
“Incredible! But didn’t Denny, Scott, and Brown suspect anything?”
“It’s dark down there. And they were drunk. Only Brown noticed something. Yet I slipped past him.”
“How did you fool Graf? I’m considerably taller than you.”
“He wasn’t entirely fooled. But I changed into elevated shoes before meeting with him. So when he saw me, he was confused and puzzled.”
“Why did you impersonate my men?”
“To create confusion and chaos.”
“And you executed this elaborate scheme in that dark, dank tomb we call the restricted area?”
“Yes, I was trained to do many things. How fitting for Halloween night!”
“Indeed.”
Suddenly, like an adept magician, she waved her left hand and revealed a tiny pill hidden in her hand. She swallowed it.
“And now I must inform you that I will be going on a long trip.”
“But...”
“I just took a cyanide pill.”
“What is your name?”
“Yoko Sato.”
“Goodbye, Yoko Sato.”
“Perhaps, we’ll meet in the next life.” Yoko Sato smiled sardonically and died honorably.
XIII
Graf’s murder on October 31 had been solved. Popeye’s nightmares ceased when Captain Eddy solved the murder. And the passenger ship New York continued on to Hawaii.
On December 5, it arrived in Honolulu.
On December 7, 1941, at daybreak, 360 Japanese aircraft appeared over Pearl Harbor. In a short time, many lives were lost. Captain Eddy and a visionary named Popeye were among the casualties.
