Future Crimes Part 2

That's a great deal of money."

Wahgi did not know if it was, but decided to take the other man's word for it. After all, he reasoned, if von Maltzan knew about briefcases and telephones and colored papers, he should know something about money.

"That is the reward I want."

Again von Maltzan could be heard arguing with other men.

"All right, Wahgi. You'll get your reward.

Now, here's what I want you to do. Go to the airport.

Not the public terminal. The private one next to it. In the main building you'll find.. .."

"No."

The other man hesitated.

"What's that?"

"No. I do not know what time it is in Zurich village, but it is very late here, and I am very tired. I am going home, to talk with my friends. Can you call me on this telephone later tonight?"

"Yes, but.. .."

"Then that is what I want you to do." He started to put the phone back in the briefcase.

Entirely composed up to now, von Maltzan's voice began to crack.

"No, Wahgi, nein! Don't do that! It's vital that you .. . I" The Huli was pleased to discover that despite its tiny size, lack of a connecting cord, and strange appearance, the telephone still operated very much like the other telephones he had seen in use around the city.

When he found the b.u.t.ton that turned it off, he was delighted. The beeping that had so startled him at first and had precipitated the conversation resumed immediately. It continued until Wahgi found another b.u.t.ton that turned it off for good. Satisfied, he put the device back in the briefcase and tied it up with the length of twine.

Then he resumed his hike back to Koki, das.h.i.+ng across the two lanes of highway.

Gembogi and Kuikui were lying on their torn, bedbug-infested, salvaged mattresses when he arrived.

Kuikui lit the single kerosene lantern and put his machete down as soon as he saw who was standing in the doorway.

"Where have you been, Wahgi? We were worried about you."

"Wake Gembogi. I have something show you both."

As the three men sat in a circle on the floor, Wahgi undid the twine and triumphantly showed them the contents of the case.

"This is called a 'briefcase,"

" he explained with the air of a new schoolteacher.

Not to be outdone, Kuikui added "Brief means 'small' in English."

"That makes sense. And this," he held up the satellite phone, "is a telephone."

A doubtful Gembogi took it and held it closer to the lantern.

"It doesn't look like a phone."

"It is. I used it to talk to a man in a village called Zurich. He promised me a reward for finding the briefcase."

That caught his friends' attention.

"How big a reward?"

Kuikui asked.

"A million kina."

Gembogi burst out laughing.

"Wanem! A million kina? For a briefcase and a bunch of papers?"

Kuikui was less skeptical.

"Wahgi may be telling the truth. You know how peculiar Europeans are about their papers and things. I have seen them in the bank, fussing over them like women over sh.e.l.ls."

"A million kina. We could buy car with that." Gembogi sounded wistful.

"Many cars." Kuikui was more economically learned than both of them.

"Then we agree on the amount?" Wahgi's gaze traveled from one man to another. They had shared privation and insults, hunger and spiteful taunts from the more sophisticated townsfolk. Now they would share in his reward.

Gembogi was shaking his head. He was the youngest of the three who had come down from the Highlands to seek work in the city.

"I can't believe this. I just can't believe it. It's too good to be true. Of course we agree on the amount," he added as an afterthought.

Kuikui urged his friend.

"Call this man back. Tell him we have discussed your proposal and we are all agreed."

"Yes, call him back," Gembogi said excitedly.

"I can't." Wahgi picked up the phone.

"I don't know how to use this. But I think he will be calling me." So saying, he pressed the b.u.t.ton that had successfully shut off the beeping. It recommenced instantly, as if it had never stopped.

"Now watch." Exaggerating his movements for maximum effect, the Huli pressed the b.u.t.ton he had used to activate the device previously.

"This is Eric Werner von Maltzan calling for Wahgi.

Eric Werner von Maltzan of Zurich calling for Wahgi of Port Moresby,

PNG.".

"See?" Proud of his newly acquired technical skill, Wahgi responded.

"I am here, pren Eric. With two of my friends. How will you get my reward to me?"

"Just leave everything to me, Wahgi. I will take care of.. .."

"Just a moment." It was Kuikui. He was staring at the open doorway and frowning.

"I thought I heard something."

"We should be careful." Gembogi kept his voice down as the older man blew out the lantern.