Strange Rumblings in Mentawai

Bang.Bang.Bang. I crack the hotel door to find a short fellow in a hazmat suit.

“Good morning, time for test sir.” Fills from the hallway. I swing the door open to the scene. The Crew lays estranged on sticky leather furniture. I step to the side as the short fellow in astronaut attire shuffles in, setting his brief case down on the living room table. Flicking open spring-loaded clips with a snappy pop. Revealing a set of vials and swabs snugly fit in memory foam. I plop down on a sticky leather chair, leaning my head back with two thumbs up. Watching the strange little fellow shuffle over. Crispy white shoe bags. Holding a long plastic swab out front.

I say, “Give um.” Which gets a hoot from the Crew. Then the short fellow sticks the swab into my brain. With a bit too much gumption for my taste. I reel and gag as he swirls the swab.

“Ok sir, good job. Two more to go.” The little fellow encourages in an upbeat Indo accent.

“Wait two mor…” I’m interrupted as Hazmat Harry aggressively sticks me in the other nostril. What is the third hole? The Crew groans, seeing their future brain prober in action.

“Ok! Now open wide.”

I follow direction begrudgingly as he peers down my gullet. Wiping my epiglottis with that evil little swab. From behind the mask and plexiglass, I swear I spot a smirk.

“Ok next. Thank you sir.” Says Hazmat Harry, mixing my snot and loogie shrapnel into a vial.

Looking over to the Crew, I sneeze and blink in wild disorient. Saying with a snort, “Good morning! Baha Asher you're next.”

Asher, lanky with curly brown hair and braces, turns to his dad with a bewildered look in his eye. “Dad this is crazy! Riley has a big nose, mine can’t take that kind of beating. I’m gonna die.”

Bryce, thick and cut with gray mixed into spikey hair, cackles, “I don’t know what to say Brah. You wanna get barreled with no one around? This is what you gotta do.”

Asher lets out a big sigh of injustice, then begins inching over to Hazmat Harry. Leading with his right foot, one step at a time across the living room. Like he is marching to the hangman. The rest of the crew cackles and chants, “Asher.Asher.Asher.” Hazmat Harry joins in, lifting the swab above his head with a ritualistic shake.

“Ok ready sir?”

Asher responds with a sullen nod, “Go easy on me, I got a little nose.”

“Yes, yes. Of course.” Giggles Hazmat Harry.

Whammy! Swab to the brain. The Crew roars as Asher’s face scrunches and contorts. Hazmat Harry pulls the swab out, checking for brain gunk, nodding in approval. Then whammy again! Swab to the other nostril. It was brutish, cruel, hilarious. Asher squeals and squirms. The Crew sprawls in stink and sweat on the living room furniture. Hurling words of encouragement to the youngest of the pack.

“Ok…3..2..1. All done sir. Next please.” Hazmat Harry says in melody, ruffling over to his suitcase.

“Pay, your dues grom! Standup tubes! Just a couple tests away,” Cackles Bryce. The rest of the Crew follows suit; Snarling and lifting rock n roll horns as Asher hobbles his way back to the couch.

Bryce, walks over to his morning brain inspection. I head back to my bedroom, landing with a plop on the bed. Flipping my phone over to see a series of messages from Sylvie. My heart bounces and clambers as I read along, savoring every word. Clicking play on a goopcast link. I sit back with a grin growing. listening in and looking out the big glass window for the scene beyond.

Shanties with rangy cats and water barrels on corrugated steel. Holes patched with tarps and trash bags. A block to the left, skyscrapers rise into thick industrial air. Behind the shanties, lays a cemetery. Hundreds of white crosses lined up neatly, with a little church in the center. And to the right, stands the beautiful domed ceiling of a mosque. Covered in ornate geometric mosaics. With a tower, Indigo and white singing call to prayer. We have been watching out the window for days, but never see a soul. An entire city under lock and key.

I look down at the little glowing screen again, rereading Sylvie’s messages. Beginning to write my next response. Updates on my day, thoughts on podcasts, too many exclamation marks, it all rolls out. Thinking about our week together before she moved home. We have been texting back and forth ever since. I lay on top of the comforter giddy with anticipation.

James suddenly pops his head in the doorframe, rustling my daydream.

“Prison workout in five. You in?”

I pull out an ear pod, “Ho yups, I see you then.”

James nods and pops back out of frame.