Clear signs of the Spring

淸明 [6] / [9]

 "He wanted to give me information, I don't think what he wanted is my life or to threaten my safety. I will be really cautious."

 "But he didn't even give you a time for the meeting. This is really weird, Alex. Don't get dragged into something dangerous."

 At that moment, a message came through on his phone.

 <5 a.m. tomorrow.>

 That was all.

 "5 a.m.? Jeez, quite the early bird, isn't he?"

 she checked his message, and clicked her tongue.

 "Do you really mean to go there at 5 in the morning?"

 "I have no choice, do I?"

 The location the caller mentioned was more than 3 hours distance from his province by car. Alexander left for the destination after midnight. Cynthia kept insisting to go with him, but he rejected this. He went armed just in case. He tucked away his .357 magnum revolver, a 4.25" Colt Python, in his DeSantis holster. Moreover he didn't want Cynthia to take any risks if things went south. She unwillingly agreed to send him alone.

 It was quite a small village off the coast. He'd never been to or even heard of this city. It was 15 minutes before the appointed time. The wind at dawn in early spring was still chilly. He didn't get out of the car. He turned off the engine, and almost hid in the car, obscuring himself from any peering eyes outside.

 Nobody, not even a rat, was skulking around. A normal port city would be crowded at this time, but this village was too quiet. He could hear the sounds of waves occasionally. It was 5 min past 5 a.m.

 He observed the outside from the window. He grabbed the grip of the revolver tightly. He hoped he wouldn't need to use it.

 After awhile, a small figure of a person appeared. He or she seemed very old by his/her crooked back and feeble movements. The figure stopped at the very place the caller mentioned. Alexander got out and approached the person slowly, still staring at the figure. Their surroundings were still dark, like it was night, and the streetlights were too dim to illuminate anything.

 The person was a very old man, at least 80 or even 90. The man stared at Alexander with a blank expression. He was carrying a cane. Obviously he is not the caller, Alexander thought.

 Maybe this man is just taking an early morning walk. But the old man kept looking at Alexander, and, putting his hand into his pocket, took out a piece of paper. He did all this as if in slow motion. Alexander watched him carefully and was surprised when the man held out the paper to him.