I and Mrs. Rose walked down to leave Risty’s room. We walked towards the dining room for lunch.
I imagined in my mind after having lunch we would meet Rado, our third observation object today. Both of us were not eager to open a conversation, after the incident in Risty’s and Angel’s room.
Dragono stood in front of the dining room, a few steps ahead of us, as if he was waiting for us.
“Mrs. Rose, as before, and this is the rule. Lord Jonah doesn’t allow you and this kid meet Rado without escort. You can meet in the investigation room in an hour, while Rado will be prepared.”
“Okay, Dragono. Prepare it as well as possible, thanks.” said Mrs. Rose was flat.
One more hour I and Mrs. Rose could meet with Rado. So we both sat in the dining room, spend the meal while waiting for the time come.
“Moi, do you regret accepting our work?” Mrs. Rose opened the conversation.
“Hmmm… it’s not really. Here I have a truly wow experience, which… uhm… other people may never experience it. All at once… yah, I’m also scared here. There are strange guests, while Lord Jonah, Mr. Iskandar… are the people who frightens me.”
“But, at the same time there is Henry… isn’t it Moi?”
I smiled hearing the joke of Mrs. Rose.
“Yes, Henry. The handsome guy who is expert at telepathy. But remembers Mrs. Rose, I’m as a psychology graduate cannot be involved in unprofessional relationships with my clients.”
“Ha ha ha… just forget your academic vows. Sometimes the opportunity doesn’t come twice. Your heart has been frozen later,like the frozen of Chimera gate. Fill your heart with love, Moi. He can give color and warmth in this frozen place.” said Mrs. Rose was like philosophizing.
“Oh, yeah Moi. Have you been able to make telepathy with him?”
I was about to open my mouth to answer truthfully, but then my gaze fixed on the wall and there was a strong steel trellis in the dining room.
How to ask and find information of Mrs. Rose, made me doubt.
Did I have to be paranoid and suspect… Mrs. Rose?
“Henry hasn’t spoken to me since our visiting in the cell, Mrs. Rose. Then… can Mrs. Rose telepath on him?” I answered while asking.
“No Moi. Henry never makes telepathy with me. I think because you are sweet, Henry will try to telepath with you and tease you.” answered Mrs. Rose looked at my eyeballs.
I closed my eyes. Right now I only believed in Henry. Especially for Mrs. Rose, I couldn’t trust her with all my heart, because I’ve never heard of Mrs. Rose complained about this place.
Instead what I saw, the woman next to me was always laughing, joking, interacting positively with Dragono, Lord Jonah, and Mrs. Rose was highly respected by the soldiers here.
Although it was not beneficial for me to suspect her, but trusting her with all my heart, I shouldn’t do it. I had to be diplomatic with her. Acting as if I trusted her while extracting information and knowledge from her.
“Be careful with this Rado, Moi. He is able to make you a barbecue with the power of his electro kinesis. Keep your distance from him. Among the soldiers called him rattlesnakes. Besides being dangerous, when Rado spoke, great emphasis on the letter’s’, so it’s like a hiss when he says the letter’s’.” explained Mrs. Rose made me wary and amazement.
I was silent, this afternoon felt very tiring for me. Met and watched Risty and Angel Curly and the events that happened this morning, made shocks in my mind.
Moreover info about Rado who was nicknamed rattlesnakes by the soldiers, even before I met Rado, it had made me a little worried.
I leaned myself against the wall, I let my eyes close, flew into dreamland for a moment and just woke up when Mrs. Rose shook my body a few moments later. The time to observe Rado.
***
I and Mrs. Rose walked toward the investigation room, located in the front area, close to the frontier of the middle investigation post, next to the fitness room.
Seen in the fitness room that the door was opened, some shirtless soldiers are exercising there.
When entering the investigation room. It turned out to consist of two rooms. The main investigation room which had a table and chairs for interrogation, with a large pendant lamp above it, from there I understood the function of the large pendant lamp which highlighted the interrogated face. It could be read easily its micro expressions.
One more room was the observation room located next to the investigation room. There was a black glass directly adjacent to the investigation room. The glass was useful for looking the investigation room.
The observation room had only a little light because the lights were dim, but there was a lot of audio, the microphone which seemed to be connected to the investigation room.
When we got there, we were taken to the observation room where Lord Jonah and Dragono been waiting for us.
“You have to use a microphone, kid. We don’t want to risk your death here. So just follow it.” said Dragono firmly.
I was obedient when the microphone was installed in my body exactly at the hair on the back of my head.
“Remember kid. Don’t try to shake hands with Rado. He can electrocute you with his electro kinetic abilities. You can be disabled and even die if you touch him, and keep your distance. Do you understand?” Dragono said to me.
I was stunned, was Rado sadistic as it?
Hadn’t I just met?
But for my safety there was no other sentence except obeying Dragono’s orders.
“Yes, Mr. Dragono. I promise to be careful with Rado.”
“Remember, there must be no physical contact!” Dragono decisively while smoothing the microphone that has been embedded in my hair.
From this observation room I could clearly see Rado through the dividing glass who was sitting and being flanked by two soldiers in the investigation room.
When I and Mrs. Rose walked toward the investigation room, I was aware the glass from inside the observation room. The glass cannot be seen from the investigation room, but instead who was in the observation room can see clearly into the investigation room.
Behind the thick glass, Lord Jonah and Dragono stood watching our meeting.
I stepped closer to Rado sitting. I and Mrs. Rose sat in line while Rado sat in front of us and there was a large wooden table in front of me, which gave distance.
“Good Afternoon Rado. I introduce to you, this is Moira. She is a fresh graduate of psychology.” said Mrs. Rose opened the conversation.
“Hi Rado, I’m Moira.” I smile at him.
“I want to be your friend Rado. Hopefully Rado benefits by wanting to be friends with me.”
Rado looked at me cynically. His hands seemed to be tied behind his seat. His singlet was rumpled, so his shoulder bones were looked standing out, while the two soldiers stood on guard, the tonfa was in the hands of the soldier.
“In this world there is no such thing as a friend, especially best friends. You never know the feeling of dudgeon, when betrayal appears.” Rado answered my conversation.
It was true that Rado’s voice spoke like a hissing snake, the emphasis of word was strong, especially when he said the letter ‘s’, while his eyes looked at me sharply.
I leaned toward Rado,
“Why? Do you not have friends? Try to be friends with me. I’m trying to be your good friend, without reciprocal importance between us. I’m sincere Rado.”
Suddenly Rado laughing out loud,
“Ha ha ha… in my life, word and the experience of making friend make my life more difficult and hard. Ha ha ha… Uhm… what was your name?”
“Moi, Moira.” I answered.
“And you came here trying to offer friendship with me? Huh… you don’t know what happened to me in this place. You don’t know what painful event I’ve been through, but suddenly you come to offer me friendship. Sorry, I don’t need that.” Rado said while his head turned away.
“Rado, if your past is unpleasant and dark, what you have to do is make peace with yourself and make forgiveness.” I said, trying to reach Rado’s heart.
I saw Rado’s unique physical form, hair on his head was bald, while the hair had a little dreadlocks growing on the side. Rado’s eyes was shaped oval lengthen without eyebrows and eyelashes. I observed his lips quickly closed when talking, but behind his lips, I had be able to observe that his teeth were small, having gap and blackish. Perhaps by way of hissing, making his teeth not often seen.
On his right arm was a rose tattoo.
Rado’s face was very clear to me, because of the huge light above him. I realized he had trouble seeing my face because the light above me was turned off. I realized psychologically that this way of communicating showed intimidating him.
Then I stood and looked at the dividing glass in the observation room.
“Mr. Dragono, please turns the spotlight above of Rado off, and please turns on the lighting of this room.”
Soon the lighting I wanted happened. I saw the look on Rado’s face change, from looking tense to calm, the position of his body leaning backward. Rado blinked his eyes a moment later he looked at me with enlarged eyes.
“Hmmm… it looks like you also have authority here Moi. And turns out you’re pretty enough.” said Rado, smiling on his lips.
“Thank you Rado. You can trust me, because I am bound by my academic vows. Don’t hesitate to ask me for help, just tell your feelings to me. I must be trying to help you.” I said, smiling at him.
Rado laughed,
“Your words are so sweet, Moi. Uh, never you know and feel pain when making friendship is replied by betrayal?”
“Indeed painfully, but all are life processes, rado. Sometimes a pain makes us study. Sometimes being hurt is good for us, to be more mature. Don’t let the pain linger in your mind.” Not felt I dared to express my opinion to Rado.
Mrs. Rose, who sat next to me, gave her thumbs to my thigh. A sign of Mrs. Rose liked to my sentence. Automatically that sign was unknown by Rado because it was under the table.
“Moi, Moi. Know it that you are just being used here, like me and all residents in this damned prisoner.”
“So easy you talk, but I enjoy my pain here. It makes me have the motivation to live, until I can avenge my dudgeon.” Hissed Rado didn’t want to lose the argument with me.
Suddenly Rado’s eyes glanced to the right and left. Behind him were two soldiers on guard, Rupert and Cody, but both of soldiers looked usual because Rado was bound.
“Enough, you don’t have to try advising me, my life has been difficult. What do you want from me? So that I get beaten up by soldiers? I don’t need your sympathy.” Rado’s voice suddenly rose.
I remembered. The first day I was on the island, it was heard the sound of screams in pain. It was Rado’s voice which was being disciplined by Dragono and his soldiers. It was very clear that Rado had a grudge for the treatment.
“Rado, know it that Moi is here assigned to record you, and all your data will be evaluated by the team in the capital, so be nice to her. Who knows, it will be a consideration for commutation.” explained Mrs. Rose trying to intercede.
“Mrs. Rose, which is commutation? My legal status here is unclear.” argued Rado while his eyes looked Mrs. Rose sharply.
“Okay, at least the soldiers won’t discipline you anymore.” answered Mrs. Rose calmly.
“Mrs. Rose, know it that all soldiers here should be disciplined, not Me.” said Rado.
“Okay Rado. Moira begs you to fill out this questionnaire, in order to expedite Moi’s work. Mr. Rupert, please let Rado’s ties be untied first.” I said trying to end the unpleasant debate, while I submit the test file toward Rado.
Rado glanced sideways when soldier Rupert moved quickly to untie Rado with a plastic handle cutter. It was seen the soldiers keep their distance from Rado, were they afraid there was electricity in Rado’s body?
Soldier Cody put a tonfa to Rado’s head while saying,
“If your head is hard enough to accept the thump of this stick, please act Rado.”
Rado’s glance changed, his eyes began to look at the file in front of him, and his hand slowly reached out and began to do the test.
“I’m sorry Rado, do this test spontaneously. There is no right or wrong. Be relaxed, ok.” I said to try breaking the tension.
“Hahaha… You haven’t felt your bone pain when the tonfa hit your body Moi. All the night you won’t be able to sleep.” Rado answered as if whispering.
I nodded. My tongue felt numb. I felt helpless. The dominance of the physical strength of the male soldiers was indeed very strong on this island, especially Lord Jonah as an authoritarian and cruel leader here.
“Rupert and Cody please don’t use violence, when Rado is cooperative. You can get a warning from the boss of Lord Jonah. The test file is filled by Rado will be sent within the next two days.” Mrs. Rose spoke up, made the two soldiers looked at each other, then took a step backward, but stayed in standby.
Rado started to seriously work on the test I gave, in about two hours he handed me the file.
“Thank you Rado, for your willingness and cooperation this afternoon.” I said.
“Hahaha… I want to laugh. Earlier you said in softly seductive tones, that we were friends. That between our friendships, you do not expect reciprocal. Ha ha ha… suddenly I’m asked to fill in this form. So your friendship isn’t sincere, is it Moira?”
“You are sweet to me, because you hope your work goes well, and your checklist is full, right? You get your reward, you told me to bother working on the test. Hahaha… I hope you don’t bother me Moi often, unless you want to give me a present.” Rado’s response at length.
I was stunned. Apparently Rado was also impulsive, from the answer implied. One or two sentences were spoken, the psychological condition changed rapidly.
At first he opened with laughter, but at the end of the conversation, his long breath was thrown out, signaling that he was annoyed.
I was trying to stay calm,
“What present do you expect Rado? I’m new here, all I can offer is sincere friendship, Rado can say what in your heart to me.”
“Nonsense! Shit! This world is always full of requisite. In all things there will always be reciprocal. As you are here, I’m sure because you get a lot of salary was paid by the Chimera. If you are not paid, no given money by Lord Jonah, How would you be my friend? Phew!” Rado spit on the floor.
I lowered my voice,
“Rado, I’m not the person of Lord Jonah. He doesn’t pay me. I was paid from the government. Now this is my training. And later we do not know the continuation of the existence of the residents of this island, when the change of government. Anything can be happen on this island, because there is no legal certainty here. I was assigned to record all the residents of the island, especially the gifted ones. Even my work is also evaluated.”
“We need your cooperation. We believe with the good data, good cooperation will change your destiny, your status. Commutation can and will be fought for, but… we hope you will cooperate with me.”
“After all, seriously what present does Rado want?”
“Right now I want to have the orange scarf you wear. It certainly feels warm when on my neck, there is that scarf. Do you mind, Moi?” Rado said with a faint smile, his eyes looked at the scarf on my neck.
Ouch, I thought my other scarf had been given to Angel. If I gave this one too… I didn’t have a scarf anymore.
“This scarf my mother knitted for me. This is the only scarf I have left.”
“Your mom can knit again for you another time. And anyway you get a lot of salary, so you can buy another scarf outside. You are free, different from me. ”
Shrrtt, I pulled the scarf from my neck, suddenly the soldier Rupert came to me saying,
“Miss Moira wants to give this scarf to him? Here, let me give it.” I gave the scarf to soldier Rupert, and then through the tip of the tonfa, the scarf was handed to Rado.
Rado welcomed the scarf, and then draped it around his neck. I saw Rado laughing happily as he wagged the end of the scarf to his nose.
“Fragrant… hahaha… the smell of a girl… typical girl… hahaha… fragrant, fragrant.”
I smiled looking at him,
“I hope we are good friends forever Rado”
“My friendship is sincere, Moira. One day I will reply to what I have asked of you. Thank you for the scarf, haha… Ah yah, between I and you really there isn’t anything personal, but know it Moira, you were in the wrong place and at the wrong time. ”
“What does that mean, Rado?” I asked immediately.
“The time will talk, my friend Moira. Time will always talk, Moira.”
“Okay, that’s enough. Cody and Rupert, tie him up again and bring the rattlesnake out.”Suddenly the voice of Dragono resounded in the investigation room.
Oh, apparently Dragono used a microphone in the observation room.
Rado raised his right hand, flicked his right thumb.
Click…
Suddenly the investigation room lights went out.
Rado’s voice hissed,
“One day I will deal with the two people behind the glass.”
Two people behind the glass? Those are Lord Jonah and Dragono. The two army officers standing, it was seen from behind the glass of the observation room. Because now the lights in the observation room were brighter than the investigation room that was off.
Click!
It was heard the flick of the thumb Rado…
The investigation room lights suddenly lit again.
“Hmmm, you show off your greatness, huh.” Lord Jonah’s voice through the microphone.
“Dragono, you help escorting him to return to his cell.”
Dragono entered the investigation room, his sharp eyes staring Rado who sat smiling.
Mrs. Rose and I exchanged glances. I was amazed. Rado’s electro kinesis ability was really great.
soldier Rupert ordered Rado’s hands behind his back and tied him with a plastic cable that was pulled, while soldier Cody raised his tonfa on his shoulder, guard sign and said,
“Hi rattlesnake, let’s go back to your room.”
“Enjoy this temporary world…” Rado whistled and sang.
His face as if mocked when his mouth whistled toward the observation glass where Lord Jonah was.
Just me and Mrs. Rose in the investigation room.
“Hmm… people with more ability with deep psychological problems. His words contain threats. To make sure, I evaluate first the result of test, Mrs. Rose. I’ll go back to the room first, Want to recap the results of these tests.”
“Yes, Moi. We meet at dinner time, I’ll pick up. Tomorrow we observe again.”
“Yes, Mrs. Rose. See you later. Thanks.” I left the room before Mrs. Rose.
I took off and returned the microphone to Lord Jonah who was still sitting in the observation room.
“Thank you Lord Jonah for escorting Moira.” I said while trying to smile.
Lord Jonah received the microphone. His face remained flat as I spoke.
Hmm…He was very cold.
I went out and walked to my room, I felt my energy was completely exhausted today. When walking, I imagined taking a shower with warm water, then sleeping until dinner time would be very nice.
***
In contrast to my first plan, after taking a shower with warm water, I still couldn’t sleep. My eyes looked at the ceiling of the room. My mind was spinning.
Finally I got up and reached for my files. Besides Vicko who was fought several times by Lord Jonah as a fighter. It turned out that Rado was seen hating Lord Jonah, possibly the harsh treatment of the soldiers made Rado hate him.
“Hmm… the result of MMPI-2 test conducted in the past, are almost the same as the current conditions, except be stated by this one person. This one is the beginning of the test, psychiatric condition is normal. The second test when it is active, the test is rather deviate before dealing with the law. The final test is declared positive deviant.” I muttered to myself when I discovered an important fact about someone dangerous in Chimera.
“Moira… are you busy now?” Henry greeted me by his telepath.
“Yups, you can understand what I’m doing through my mind right now, Hen.” I replied.
“When will you visit me again?”
“I do not know yet. Tomorrow my schedule is to observe Mrs. Rose, Leman and Vicko.”
I stretched my two tired hand because my elbows had been resting on the table, concentrating on looking at the test files.
“Moi…”
“Yes, Hen?”
“Thank you for trusting me. Having you here made me stronger to endure.”
“You’re welcome. After having dinner, I’m going to Angel’s room. I promise to sleep there tonight.”
“Angel? Ooh the Curly, that’s right, she is poor girl.”
“Angel is not a child at all. She is almost the same age as us.”
“How can it be same? Hey, I’m almost 30 years old. You must be far below me.”
“Yes, Hen. I’m only 17 years old.”
Henry’s laughter exploded.
“17 years passed, huh… many passes…”
“Angel experiences psychic empathy when she explored someone’s past. What happened to that person, it will be felt like she experienced it too. The terrible thing happened yesterday when Lord Jonah forced Angel into the past of a person who was experiencing death. Angel’s body slammed to the ground.”
“Gee, it’s really a pity or the Angel Moi.”
“Enough, Hen. My energy is exhausted, making telepath with you makes my body tremble, and I’ll eat first. See you tomorrow.”
“Ok, sweet heart, see you. Mwaaah.” Henry’s voice sounded adorable in my mind.
I tidied up my work file and exited the room to Mrs. Rose’s room to invite her to dinner.
That night I went to Angel’s room, I knocked on her door. I opened the door which was always unlocked, as usual Angel was sitting on the floor, and her face looked pensive.
“Hi Angel, how are you? Moi wants to accompany you to rest tonight.”
I guided Angel up to bed, a thin smile appeared on her face, and it seemed that Angel was happy with my arrival.
That night I had been exhausted, looking at the bed as if to want merging with it quickly. Close to Angel, my mind thought to ask a special question for Angel, about my father’s whereabouts in the past. But seeing the risk that Angel would face, I undo.
Let Angel and me be sincere friends first. Let alone seeing her smile, I didn’t want to hurt the friendship I just built.
That night we fell asleep together.
GLOSSARY
The MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) test is a psychometric test used to measure the psychiatric conditions of adults in the world. The purpose of this test is to give an accurate picture of the dimensions of personality and important psychopathology in a psychiatric clinic accurately.
MMPI is the result of a collaboration developed in 1930 from a psychologist and psychiatrist named Starke R Hathaway PhD and Dr. JC McKinley at the University of Minnesota. For the first time MMPI was revised in 1989 to be MMPI-2.