16 COMPULSION (2/2)
Lirzod turned back, having not taken a breath in the past half-a-minute, and sat stiffer than before.
PUYYKK~!
Another analogous reverberation — only twice as long and loud — echoed around and vibrated the bench which further brought the table into a resonance.
Lirzod's nostrils flared but he showed no discomfort on his face not until he turned to his left, only to receive a similar fleer and further shoving from Elder Darling, all of which quivered Lirzod's lower lip as one of his hands shut his nose with his index and thumb. The creaks birthed cracks on the bench.
At that moment, the owner of the booth brought four sandwiches, startling Lirzod. ”Here are your bread omelets, I mean, sandwiches.” He placed them on the table, and they did appear like sandwiches with the only difference being the addition of a few tomato slices to a bread omelet. Lirzod's eyes widened at the sight of the sandwiches. Before he gathered his thoughts and moved his arm, the two brothers snatched two each into their hands at blistering speeds like cranes would catch fishes, and they waste no time in eating, for they simultaneously exchanged bites with the food in each of their hands. While eating, both of them who had already occupied most of the bench's area further squeezed Lirzod from either side.
Lirzod struggled for a few seconds before he forced his way out of their oppressing waists. Towering more than eight feet, they dwarfed Lirzod even while sitting. In a matter of seconds, the sandwiches vanished from sight.
”Hey, go and help the owner!” Elder Darling said in a hoarse voice, giving a darting gaze to Lirzod.
Lirzod stood like a rock, exposing to view a pained stare and an elevated body temperature.
”What's wrong? Can't you hear us?” Elder Darling repeated himself. ”Move!”
A second later, Lirzod's feet birthed into motion.
At that moment, Younger Darling sniffed twice and tilted his head downward, his gaze stopping at Lirzod's pants. He grabbed Lirzod's pockets. ”Hiding valuables in there, are we? Why don't you share them with us?”
”No. I need them.” Lirzod tried to move away but instead got pulled in.
”Now, don't be like that. On this ship, it's common for the hungry to feed on others,” Younger Darling pulled out nuts out of Lirzod's pockets and was elated. ”Oh, what do we have here?” he barked out a reckless chuckle, ”As my nose notified, these are cashews.”
As Younger Darling was about to throw dozens of them at a time into his darning mouth, Elder Darling brought his hand in between. Younger Darling glanced at him and said, ”I only swept one of his pockets.”
After realizing the meaning behind the words, Elder Darling chuckled, ”hehe,” He looked ahead. ”Hmm?” His eyes caught the sight of Lirzod having already reached the tent. ”Fine. Let him come back and then I'll get my share as well,” Elder Darling told to himself.
The front end of the tent wasn't in view from where the bench was as it's located on its back. Lirzod looked at the owner who was busy in making sandwiches. ”You said you only sell bread.”
”Yeah, that's what a tenth-decker is eligible to buy,” the owner replied without even looking. ”Didn't you read it in the guidebook?”
”Oh... You mean that pocketbook?”
The owner nodded while he flipped the bread slices.
”Why so many rules even regarding food?” Lirzod scratched his head.
”Isn't it obvious?” the owner, only now glanced at Lirzod and leaked out a hurried smile. ”Rules align people.”
”I know that, but...” As he was saying, the owner lifted his arm and exposed his palm, while arranging sandwiches in the plastic plates.
”Enough talking and take these to them,” He handed the four plates to Lirzod.
Muttering something under his own breath, Lirzod stood still for a moment.
”What? Didn't you hear me?” The owner frowned and finger-tapped the tabletop. ”They'll beat you if you don't hurry up.”
”They have already taken my food without my permission,” Lirzod said, later pressing lips flat.
”They always do,' the owner said, slipping in his own smile, 'just go.”
”... Yeah. I am.” Lirzod turned back and scuttled away, picking up his pace in a swift manner.
”Hmm?” The owner puzzled for a moment. ”Why are you running in the opposite direction?” There was no response to his shout. His eyes then enlarged bit by bit. Straight away, he wanted to come out and chase after Lirzod, but Lirzod had already made enough distance that catching him wouldn't be an easy affair, and even if he did, the owner was afraid of getting punished by the Darling Twins for not supplying food at the desired pace.
”Oy, cashew boy! What's taking you so long?” A booming voice came from behind the tent, making chills crawl across the owner's spine and he sweated profusely. But he strengthened his heart with a deep breath and came running to the brothers.
”Hmm? Why are you here?” Elder Darling looked behind the owner, but no other guy was present. ”You shifted places with him huh... Just send him here once.”
”T-That... I...” Having nerves stretched to the max, the owner couldn't speak out his mind.
”Brother, he didn't bring any sandwiches with him,” Younger Darling's stare glued to the empty hands of the owner. ”Something's not right. Did you mess up with your cooking? Even if you over-roasted them, it's fine. Just bring 'em here.”
”N-No, Sir Digger,” The owner gulped the empty air and spoke, ”T-T-That boy with the scar… He…”
”Yeah, he's making the sandwiches. So what?”
”He, he ran away with your sandwiches!”
”What?” Younger Darling got up from the bench at once, his eyes instantly beaming spleen. ”That little shit dared to take our bites?”
”Include my cashews in them as well,” Elder Darling stood as well, leaving the bench behind in multiple major cracks. From within their jacket pockets, they took out eggs and bounced them in each other's hands. He looked down at the owner. ”You go make sandwiches with the rest of the eggs, while we go and boil that raw egg a bit.”
”Y-Yes sirs,” Staring down at his own hands, the owner had a saggy posture. (Whew… I'm safe. It would have been miserable if I were beaten on this day of all days.)
The brothers strode away, thumping the wooden floor with every stride. They entered the corridors and discerned the trails left by Lirzod either by sniffing or by grilling the passersby. The flies also tenuously helped their cause. Jam and cheese were rare delicacies on the tenth deck. No wonder the flies were desperate in their attempts to trail Lirzod.
Meanwhile, Lirzod just made a short work of one sandwich and drifted in daydreams, reminiscing the times when he stole sandwiches together with Duera when they were kids. All the memories filled his heart with warmth. He looked at the second sandwich in a doze, as he traveled through the maze-like corridors. After finishing the second one as well, he felt content. His focus shifted from food onto something else and his eyes glistered with a fevered stare. ”Those two, they better be sleeping right now. Just wait, your papa is coming to put you two in your place,” Lirzod said in a steady low-pitched voice as he took fast-paced strides. ”Papa's heart is urging for a dance show.”
————————————————————
[1] Kowa: A pill that provides immunity to multiple diseases. It's typically given to every child in the first week of their birth.
[2] Bread Booth: A temporary structure built to sell bread for people who belonged to the lower decks. In the outside world, these are established at different places just for the lower class people.