No Man's Land Chapter 22

No Man's Land
Chapter 22: Gonna Reach out and Grab ya.

1938
TERRITORY OF HAWAII, USA.

Filipinos.
God, I hate Filipinos.
I fought with and against those Bastards as a Young man, and I don't trust them.
But dammit, A job's a Job.
Even if I gotta work for one of those people.

Her name's Imelda Alasaas, and she claims her Husband and Eldest son were murdered.
Can't say I blame the guy for killin'm. Filipinos are terrible people.

"Mr. McDougal, do not think I'm stupid. I know you don't like me,"
"It's not you, specifically. It all you Filipinos in general. You bastards shot me right here." I point to my Left shoulder, "in 1899. For All I care you people can rot in your Jungle with your Black dogs and god knows what else."
"Mr. McDougal, I am not asking you to love me, but I am willing to pay you. And in cash, not in Black Dogs or Banana leaves or whatever you stupid Haoles think we use as money."
"fine. Who would kill your husband and kid?"
"I only can think of one other person. Her name is Gloria Arroyo." Mrs. Alasaas, wrinkles her nose, "Pilau woman."
"fine. I'll do it. Who knows, maybe she'll drop dead, then that's one less Filipino I need to worry about."

Mrs. Alasaas left in a Huff. China, My secretary gave me that stink look.
"Don't tell me you like her, China."
"better you hate them than me." she snapped back. "But would it be too hard to at least act nice?"
"yes it would. Call the Captain and tell him to look for…Arroyo, right? I'm going to see someone."

WONG YIP'S HERBAL REMEDIES

Don't be fooled by the name. I don't believe in that "Eat acai, it will help you live longer! Drink powered Jackalope antlers! Better than Viagra!" Crap.
Wong Yip's Grandfather was one of the Chinese who came here early on (1), when Hawaii was still under Kamehameha. Don't ask me which one, because I have no Idea.
His parents died in an accident, and because of that, he was raised by his Grandmother, who was rumored to be a Powerful Kahuna, Priest.
Old Wong also had an interest in learning from others, supposedly he's learned from the Japanese, Filipinos, Portuguese, and god knows who else.
You want a magic man, you go to Wong.
He owes me a favor, after I got him off a manslaughter charge.
Wasn't him, but to some of the Haole's on the force, all the Pakes, Japs and Koreans look the same to them.

I have no idea how old Wong is. He doesn't look much older than me, but he talks about living under Kamehameha IV(2). When I go in he's measuring some dried roots of something, maybe he's going to make Okole hau (3).

"Detective McDougal, welcome." he speaks flawless English. "I trust you are not here to by Medicine?"
"No, Wong. No Medicine. How's your Filipino?"
"in this case, please come into the back."

I follow Wong into the Back of the store. There are rumors he works with the Iceman, but nothing concrete.
Besides, it's not my business now, so there.

"Why are you asking about the Filipinos, Detective?"
"I got this case, Mr. Wong. A Filipino Woman claims a…Gloria Arrayo killed her Husband and boy."
"Arrayo….yes, I have heard of her. From what I understand she has not one in the Mythical arts, although I have heard she was looking for a way to take vengeance on someone."
"you know who she talked to?"
"I cannot say. I do not have an interest in those who only want vengeance. My advice to you, Detective, is to thread these waters carefully."

I thanked Wong and left the shop.
Lately seems like some of my cases all take a supernatural bend; the Thing with the Ghost of a Japanese soldier, the…thing….in Kipapa, and now this.
I know the Great War made all sorts of crazy things happen, but it always seems like they're targeting me.

Better go check with the Captain.

LATTER

No such luck.
Seems like no ones even heard of Arrayo.
Something's rotten here.
Wong doesn't know much.
I doubt Matsuo would know anything about this.
I really don't want to talk to Mrs. Alaasas unless I have to.

Maybe Iceman knows something?

THE BLUE NOTE

The Place is empty.
Odd.
I've heard Rumors Iceman's in a Gang war with a Smartass Haole named…..Silvermane, I think.
It's really not my business, but the Chinese, Especially Iceman don't take shit from anybody.
I really hoped I wouldn't get involved with that, but…….
Iceman's like Pilau Maile (4), he's everywhere.

Fortunately, Stuffs Leong is at the bar.

"Stuffs."
"oh, Hello Mr. McDougal. I'm sorry, Tam is not in, and we're not quite open yet."
"It's ok Stuffs, I'm not here to talk to waste my time. I need some answers."
"I'll do what I can, Mr. McDougal."
"Have you heard of a Gloria Arroyo?"
"yes. She owes Iceman a Very pretty penny, why?"
"has she come here at all?"
"Mr. McDougal, does this look like a Place any woman would come to?" Stuffs cracks a smile.
"I guess no…."

There's a Earsplitting shriek, and…something swoops in at me and Stuffs.
I go for my .45, and Leong dives under the bar for a Shotgun. We both fire at…whatever it was, and keep at it until it calls off it's attack.
There's a horrible smell in the Room, smells like Pig Guts and Blood. We look, around….and nothing.

Drip.
Drip.
Drip.

Something Red's dripping on the Bar Counter between us.
Blood?
We look up and…..
Holy, Hell!

Half a woman is Up there. The top half, all her guts hanging out, arms outstretched, hair wild, and a sharp toothed smile on her face.

"HOLY HELL!" Stuffs Aims up and fires another Slug, missing the Woman as she flies around. I fire off the last round in my .45 and yank out my Backup Snub nose.
Not Much, but it's something.
After the encounter with…..it (5), I got the gun and a box of ammunition for it blessed by the Kahuna.
Holy Snubnose and Blessed .38 Ammo.
Sounds like a Comic book.

This time, I wait.
I remember, when we were in the Philippines, battling Tinio's Men.
Those bastards were smart, between the Ropes that stopped our Bullets, and them waiting for us to reload, they made mincemeat out of us.
So we got smart.
.45's that tear through rope like butter.
Their own tactics against them.
This is like that all over again.

Stuff's Run out of Ammunition, and that thing, whatever it is, is descending and…

BAM.

Several Fingers drop on the ground, and whatever it is flees.
Stuffs seems fine, but I go over to him.

"You alright Victor?"
"not really Mr. McDougal."
"why?"
"because that Was Gloria Arroyo."

….shit.

LATTER

I picked up something special for this. Went to Wong, and another Kahuna.
When I got back to the Office, China was outside the Door, and fuming at me.

"I don't know what the hell you did Mac, but you take care of it!"
"What?"
"GET IN THERE!"
"Alright, alright…."

I open the Door, and Surprise.
The Iceman of Honolulu's at my desk, in a very nice Zoot suit, and two goons at his side.

"Herro Mac. Iceman's grad you courd make it. You vely busy, so we vely rucky to see you."
"Cut the Crap. Tam."

One of the muscle makes move towards me, but the Iceman motions his to stop.

"No, it's alright." Iceman smiles, showing off his Gold teeth.
"The truth is, I'm grateful for helping Victor back at the bar. Most people would have run off. Also, I would like to hire you."
"I'm not a Hitman, Tam. You know that."
"You offend me, Mr. McDougal. I want to Hire your services as a Bodyguard." he fakes a chuckle, "as you can see, I am being menaced by a Miss Gloria Arroyo, the same Miss Arroyo that is bothering your Other Client. I believe it is in our best interest that you help both of us our here, Mr. McDougal."
"what did you do that pissed her off so much?"
"me? What sort of question is that Mr. McDougal. I am at Business man."
"Tam…."
"her Husband, or brother, or something like that had a gambling problem. He couldn't pay his Debts so….my friends encouraged him to get help."

The Muscles beam at me, bad rotting teeth on both of them.

"Well Mr. McDougal, what do you have to say? I will hire you for your normal Price, and throw in a very nice bonus if you do well."
"save the Bonus Tam. I don't need a Happy Ending."
"not that sort of reward." Tam rubs his fingers together, "it's the Green you need. And when I look into the future it's the Green that I see."
"I'm not Dirty."
"it is a Reward for saving a life. And From a grateful client. It won't be too much, Mr. McDougal. I like you too much to double cross you."
"…alright, but I'm working for Binky Tam, not Iceman."
"Whatevel you have to say Mac."

Tam and his muscle leave.
…how do I get into these messes?

THE NEXT DAY

THE BLUE NOTE

Tam and his muscle is there. I told him to send Stuffs home, I don't want him getting involved.
Tam's Muscles are all armed with the usual, Baseball bats, Cane Knives (6), a few with twelve gauges.
All I have is my .45, my snubnose, and…a little surprise.

"Tam, I better not be Wasting my time."
"Don't wolly Mac. I Sul…."

As if on cue, something comes crashing through the Windows. Tam and Me hit the Ground as the Muscle opens fire. After a few moments, they scream and get torn apart.
Holy hell, I've never seen anything like that.

I get back up, .45 out and open Fire.
Six rounds gone just like.
I toss the .45 away and Pull out the Snubnose, Opening fire.

Screams she makes implies I got her at least twice.
And I'm out.

I toss the gun away, and get ready.

And there's the Better half of Mrs. Arroyo. She's still missing her fingers from the last time, and now two new holes in her chest and arm.

"Listen, Mrs. Arroyo…."
"That woman is dead. I will take care of all that is left." She points her remaining left Fingers at Tam.
"You."

"I can't let you do that, Mrs. Arroyo."
"then you can die."

She lunges, flies? At Tam. I get between the two, and Pull out my little surprise.

1899.
Manila.

We found out Bayonets are good, but Machetes are better.

That's what I got.
Sharpened to a fine point.
Blessed.
Covered in Garlic and Holy Water.

One Slash is all it needed.
One Slash cleaved her from…Gut to neck.

EPILOGUE

The Official Story is that Mrs. Gloria Arrayo was killed by an Unknown assailant. Iceman made sure to cover everything up.
I suppose Mrs. Alasaas got some satisfaction out of this. The Bitch is Dead, and she still has her daughter.

Iceman did pay me well. $25, plus a $100 bonus. Stuffs also lets me Drink at the Blue Note For free.

Now, you're expecting me to say something like "after this experience, I learned to respect the Filipinos", right?

Wrong.
I still hate those bastards.
It's not Uncommon.
The French still hate the Brits. The Brits Still hate the Krauts. The Lithuanians hate the Russians. South Africa still hates the Zulus. The Chicoms and other Pakes still hate each other, and everyone hates the Japanese.
I'm a hateful old man, a Relic of the Past.
Let me be.

One last thing.
I talked to Wong latter.
He claimed that what I described was a Filipino Vampire, something called a Manananggal.
He said the only way to become one is by eating it's spittle or flesh.

Which brings up the question….
How did Mrs. Arrayo become one?
Who's flesh did she eat?

I knew Iceman's was lying to me back then, and I still know he is.

What exactly happened that caused all these events?

NOTES
1: the First Chinese Laborers arrived in 1778 with Cook. A more permanent population arrived in 1789, and married Hawaiian women, because there were no Chinese women.
2: Kamehameha IV ruled from 1855-1863. This seems to imply Mr. Wong was born before 1855.
3: Rotgut Liquor. Made from the Roots of the Ti plant/Cabbage Palm/[I]Cordyline fruticosa[/I].
4: A weed that Greatly Resembles the Alyxia oliviformis Plant. Noted for it's terrible stench when damaged.
5: Mr. McDougal is more likely than not Referring to the Kipapa Incident, recounted here as "The Reason I hate Dogs"
6: Much like a Machete, but the Reverse side of the Blade has a Hook, allowing the user to pull objects closer to them.

HAWAIIAN PIDGEN TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Okole Hau: Lit. "Fall on your ass". so called because of it's potency.

Pilau: Stink, Dirty.