Page 39Jump

This was a very complicated attempt. I was concentrating but it was odd hearing a voice from the phone that I was trying to hear in the city. To help myself, I didn't hold the phone directly to my ears. Her words echoed in my head as I tried to pinpoint them in the city. What I did next was completely on reflex and, in hindsight, very very stupid.

Purely on instincts, feeling feral, excited and wild, I jumped off the roof towards where I thought the voice came from. It was a very dangerous and long jump that cleared the parking lot below easily. There was a building, about three quarters as high as the one I jumped from, within the reach of my jump. That was still an enormous distance. If I think about it now, a playful and naughty smile played on my lips. But there, I was more concerned with hearing what direction the voice came from.

Anyone else, jumping from that height, would have broken their legs in the fall easily. But by becoming lighter before hitting the ground and going with the momentum as best I could, my legs and feet absorbed the shock so nicely, I barely made a sound. The only noticeable thing for me was that I had to use both hands for balance and therefore didn't have the phone at my ear the whole time.

I had to respond before she became suspicious. She couldn't have seen me jump, it would have gone too fast.

"Yes, it's done."

For a moment I stood completely still again, waiting for her words. Tense like a bow ready to fire. It felt amazingly good. Possibly even better than the job I just did. And just as focused as an arrow, ready to be shot at the bulls-eye.

"We have the reward ready for you, six thousand floryns. Would you like it in cash, cheque or an anonymous account?"

A long sentence. Perfect.

Through the buzz of the city, filtered out by my concentration, it was much easier to pinpoint her. She wasn't very close though. It was one short jump to the next building, the air rushing by my face with a smile on my lips. If only I had a picture of myself flying through the air like this. It was the closest I've been to flying ever since I had risen again.

The second jump was easier, a building closer. One more sentence, it wasn't far anymore. I should be able to see her already if I knew where she was and, a fairly major and, she had plain glass. Come to think of it, it was kind of odd that I could hear her so well. I expected someone like that to be in a luxurious place with double glass at least. Perhaps she had a window open. The landing was easier than before, no sound.

Again standing still for a moment. "An account please."

"Please wait."

Only two words, but it was enough. I knew where to expect to listen. It was a little more to the left than I had anticipated, but I saw the building it was coming from. Two blocks away. I jumped from building to building, faster than I'd ever done with no planning or looking ahead. It was purely instinct. And it was fast. This must be how animals felt on the hunt or fleeing.

A lightness.

Steps only where needed. Every moment precise and guided by those infinitely complex processes in your body. Adjusting for details you didn't even notice were there. A twitch of the foot to avoid a shard of glass, a twist of the hip to steer your jump. It was almost like dreaming. But better.

It only took a second or three to see her. It wasn't much, she wasn't standing in full view of the window as she was probably working on a computer of some kind. It took a few more moments before I was actually close enough to jump through the window if I wanted to. But that didn't feel right. For a moment I stood there on the roof, moving just out of her view, pondering what to do, when her voice came again.

"How would you like to receive the account?"

Her words confirmed me that I was in the right place. I waited with an answer as I fell down to street level. The building I was on was only four stories high, so it wasn't much of a deal. (considering what I'd done only moments before). The problem I did have is that the front door of her building probably wasn't open. And picking it would take a moment.

I chose the easy route. "Give me a moment."

She didn't answer but just waited in silence as I retrieved the basic set from my backpack as quickly as I could. I put the phone in my shirt while I unlocked the door. It was an old building and the lock was no challenge at all. It took me less than twenty seconds to pick it, open it silently and push it closed behind me. I wondered if there were even any other tenants inside.

I remembered the floor and room where she was, walked up there and spoke through the phone at the same time as knocking on her door. I felt like a cliche doing so, but I hoped the combination would shock her into agreeing with my request.

"Just give it to me?"

She's playing a very dangerous game.