Chet meets what he doesn't expect
It's early Monday morning in Christopoli, Chania. Two men are parking their shabby, old car outside a 3 stories block. They stay in the car and open the windows as they are smoking.
People are hurrying along the sidewalks; going to work at this early hour. Two young boys are driving a motorbike by the car; one of the men in the car stops them by waving his hand out the window. The boys stop and listen to what the man is asking for. “Do you live in this area, boys?” They confirm that by nodding.
“Do you know if there is an English man living in this block?” The boys turn to each other and talk a little among themselves; they nod again and point up to the 2nd floor. “How does he look?”, asks the man in the car again. The boys have a chat again and tell him that he is small, has a big belly, he has short legs and his hair is black and he talks “funny” English. He is often drunk and his face is always purple, but he dresses well; a little old fashioned, but... nicely.”
The man gives them 20 Euros each and thanks them.
They sit for a while until the morning rush of people has passed.
They leave the car, pull off the registration plates, and put them in the boot and walk over to the block. The door is open and they enter. They walk up the stairs in silence; they move cautiously to avoid any noise. Entering the second floor there are two doors. On the first one to the left a sign says: Manolis and Maria Papadopolis, on the other door it says Chet Morris. There's no peeping hole in the door and the men smile and nod to each other. They press the door bell button and a “DING DONG!” sounds loudly inside. They wait, but there are no sounds to hear inside. They push the button again, but still no reaction…
Now they start banging the button on and on, at least 10 times and finally there's a sound from inside; a loud sound, a scream and swearing in English...
The two men stick their thumbs up.
Inside they can hear someone shuffling around, in slippers it seems. Then the door opens and Chet's face is shining inside. “What do you want?! It's just 8 in the morning!”
The men do not hesitate anymore; the one closest to Chet quickly grabs him by the throat and whispers in his ear: “Stop moaning little dick. We have some important information for you. Information that can guide you to a better life...”
He pushes Chet inside, still holding the grip around his throat. Chet is gasping now and has gone numb hanging by the man's strong fingers. “Don't be afraid, you will not die, yet. You see it's up to you Chet. If you stay quiet and cooperate and listen to what we have to tell you, this little operation will soon be over, you understand?”
Chet looks at them both and nods. “OK, smart move, Chet!” Then Chet is pushed down onto the sofa and the other man sits down beside him, squeezing him up in the corner. The biggest man who seems to be the manager of all this, pulls a chair up in front of Chet, He sits down on it, close enough for his knees to touch Chet's.
“So, Chet; here comes the information that we have for you: at 11 o'clock there's a British Air Ways flight leaving from Chania to London Heathrow. You are going to be on that plane and we will transport you to the airport, gratis! Isn't that a nice offer? What do you think, Chet?”
Chet is turning more and more purple and for the first time he addresses the men: “Who are you, why do you do this to me?”
Let's say we have some friends in common and, Chet; don't be stupid, don't ask any more questions, because we might get impatient with you.”
Chet looks at them, one at a time and says: “I am not willing to go with you. I do not think this is for the best for me, as you seem to think!” He is angry now.
The two men look at each other and suddenly the one in the sofa hits him on top of his head with his knuckles.
Chet is devastated. “As I just told you, Chet, keep quiet and no harm will be done to you. Now, go and put some clothes on your fat body and pack your suitcase; one is enough.”
Chet was assisted into the bedroom with one man standing just inches away from him all the time.
He dresses and packs his suitcase and in less than 20 minutes he's ready.
His follower says: “You see how quick this can be done; nice effort, Chet.”
When both Chet and his follower came into the living room they could smell a nice aroma of coffee from the kitchen. The other man comes out with three cups. Chet looks at him and says: “I don't drink coffee; I'd like to have a cup of tea instead.” The man places two coffee cups on the table and turns to Chet with the last one in his hand. He just looks at Chet and says: “You cannot keep quiet, can you?”
“I just don't want coffee”, Chet stutters. “OK, I have to do this my way then”, says the man in front of him and suddenly he flings the hot coffee in to Chet's face. Chet falls on his back, gasping. His bed room follower pulls him up by his armpits and pushes him down in the sofa again. No one bothers to dry his face.
“We'll sit down and have our coffee now in peace and quiet. You have had your instant coffee already, so let us have ours now without making any more noise.”
Chet gave up. He sank into the sofa cushions and just stared apathetically out into the room.
“And, Chet. If you make any more trouble we will not hesitate in using these.” The two men pull out rubber batons from their pockets and place them neatly by their coffee cups...
“Why”... Chet tries to say something again and receives a smack on top of his head again, with the baton this time from the man sitting by him in the sofa.
“Chet, from now on, we will have to hit you on your head every time you start fussing by our operation. I am not going to tell you this again.”
The men finish their coffee and one of them brings the cups in the kitchen and cleans them with paper tissue.
He comes out again and says: “time to go!” And the man in the sofa grabs Chet by his elbow and lifts him up in a standing position. The other one already has Chet's suitcase in his hand.
“Ah, Chet, did you remember your passport? Cannot travel without, you know.” Chet looks at him and is amazed by these men's performance, despite their rough treatment of him.
He goes into the bedroom again, followed by the other man now. 2 minutes and they're ready to go. Chet has turned white in his face, very afraid of what is going to happen.
Outside, they pick up the registration plates in the boot and fit them to the car again. Then they climb into the car and start up. It's just about a 20 minutes' drive to the airport.
The big man sits with Chet in the back seat. He pulls out an envelope from his jacket and hands it to Chet. “We have provided you with some money, in case you need it. There's 100 £ inside and your one way ticket. There will be someone picking you up at the airport to take you to a place that will make your future life less complicated.”
Chet has nothing to add to this.
He sits in the back seat looking out on the island he has been living on for almost 2 years; tears in his eyes.
“Oh, isn't that touching! He is turning sentimental; oh that's very sweet!” The man beside him chuckles.
Chet cannot take this and launches out to hit the man, but he is prepared and the baton is out in a second and half a second later it's landed on Chet's head again...
The man shakes his head and says to his companion: “he isn't very smart, is he? But it seems like he is thick headed and can take a smack or two, this man!”
Chet has fallen towards the door and now he sinks down by it with his eyes closed...
He wakes up by someone shaking him 10 minutes later.
“OK, Chet, here we are; at the beautiful airport of Chania, thanks for riding with us and we hope you've had a pleasant journey. Don't come back again, please!”
They bring him out of the car; the big man holding him in a strong grip by the elbow. The other hand is in his pocket holding the baton.
They go with Chet to the check in counters and are ever so helpful, all the way, until Chet can leave for the departure area.
The big man whispers in his ear: “no more beer, Chet, no more beer!”
Chet just looks at him.
Then he leaves...
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