The Beginnings of the Space Business

 

It was a late winter evening. Little light filtered in from outside through the frosted, barred window just below the ceiling. The uncomfortable bunk dug in here and there. I couldn't sleep, so I began searching for something that would allow me to find peace. And I found it.

"Beautiful!" I thought, "and it's been here with me for some time."

They were reflections of the prison lamp, darting across the ice-covered window.

"Good thing they gave me the top bunk

." I moved my head back and forth until, I don't know when, I finally fell asleep. It must have happened quite late, because the awakening was exceptionally painful.

I stood in the meadow, looking around, somewhat dazed. And then there was the dog, a large Rottweiler. I didn't run away; my legs felt like jelly. It lunged for my throat, but it didn't reach. He grabbed my arm, and I struggled… He was too strong, he pulled me to the ground.

"This was too much. The bastard couldn't wake me up, so he threw me off the bed. It's only five feet high, damn it

." He looked at me like I was a kicked dog. My whole side was groaning in pain. I stood up, splashed cold water on my face, and jumped out of the cell. Two inmates stood in front of each cell. Lechu Cinkciarz—that's what they called him here—stood next to me. I greeted him with a handshake and a slight smile.

They counted us and ordered us to the showers—cold ones, of course. They also detained those who overslept—50 push-ups, barking.

"Lechu never got involved in this, although he's overslept more than once since I've been camping with him."

"He's got a real talent. The boss knew what he was doing."

I was doing my push-ups, barking, and putting on quite a show for the guards. Truth be told, their plump bodies in their too-small uniforms gave me just as much joy. However, I was paid much more.

"Refreshed," I headed to the cafeteria. Unfortunately, I was one of the last, so I didn't get the best morsels. I glanced around the room, looking for someone to chat with over the already cold milk soup. I found his gray head. He was sitting with his back to me. I walked over and sat down without ceremony. He raised his gray eyes from his plate and nodded in greeting. The silence stretched on, and the question kept recurring in my mind. I thought this was a good time to ask.

"Lech, tell me, please, tell me how it was, and maybe I can help you." I emphasized the last words, but I guess I missed the timing. He stood up, muttered something under his breath, and slowly walked away.

I joined him in the cell. I climbed upstairs. I sat astride the metal box between my legs. I rolled two joints. I threw one to Lech.

"Here's your smoke, and screw it in the cafeteria .

" I pulled out my little transmitter and sent a message about my tenth failure.

The rest of the day passed lazily. Some lunch, a walk, then sausages for dinner and off to the cells.

I decided not to bother Lech any longer. After all, I still had some time left.

The next day I woke up before dawn. To my surprise, my downstairs neighbor was awake. He was scribbling away by candlelight. I listened in, unmoving, to what he was up to. It turned out he was writing something. I waited a moment longer to figure out where he was hiding it. He hid it under the mattress. I fell asleep. This morning was similar to the previous one, except I didn't do push-ups anymore. There was something for breakfast, as usual, not very tasty. I had some money, so I bought a candy bar at the prison shop. I thought I'd leave it for a walk. It would be nice to walk and munch on a candy bar.

Then dinner, then fun, and then free time. I remembered that two days ago, Lech had said he was going to play cards for money today and that I should go with him. I also remembered that I had declined because: "(...) you know you'll win, why waste my money?!"

This was my chance.

I waited for the right moment. He left without closing the door behind him. I waited so he wouldn't suspect anything. When I no longer heard footsteps, I got up and slowly slid off the bed.

I went outside and, seeing him nowhere, returned, closing the door behind me. Then I carefully looked through what was under Lech's mattress. Some cricket magazines, that was the norm.

"How stupid you are. What was he doing last night? Here's your answer," I thought.

And yet, not entirely. Watching, or perhaps reading, is something I understand. But he was writing something down, and I guess he couldn't find a crossword puzzle in such a gloomy magazine.

Somewhat amused and a little irritated, I finally came across a sturdy, leather-covered notebook. Exactly as I'd imagined the night before. I opened the first page. Some dates with notes... Yes, that was it! A diary.

"Well, I won't pester you with questions anymore, Cinkciarz," I thought.

I started reading. What a feeling it was to hold his diary in my hands and leaf through his notes. I felt an extraordinary energy surge through me from head to toe. Suddenly, I realized I was holding some massive artifact in my hands, as powerful as lasers and spaceships. If only I could keep it to myself, the universe would be mine. I snapped out of it after about an hour of reading. It was quite irresponsible. I had to tell the base that I had what they wanted and a little more.

"They definitely suit me."

I quickly began arranging his bed so it looked as I'd found it. I'd outsmarted him! And yet...

The door burst open. Lech entered the cell. He stopped dead in his tracks. And like the idiot I was, I stiffened, broken in half, holding his blanket in my hands. In the foreground on the dresser was a diary.

"What bad luck!" I thought.

He grabbed the diary and clutched it tightly to himself. Nothing else came to mind. I put the blanket aside and slowly straightened up.

"Listen, I'm not a cop. It's not like that!" "

Pass me a towel, I'm going to the shower, you prick," he replied coldly. "You think you have something on me? You're pathetic with your justice system. You'll pay for this sooner."

I had to explain a few things to him; he was deeply mistaken.

"Lech, you're wrong! Sit down for a moment and I'll tell you something. I assume you're open-minded and a quick learner

." He hesitantly moved closer

. "Sit down, don't be silly. We're adults."

He pulled up a chair and sat back. He sensed a deal.

"Okay. What's the deal?"

I bluntly started with the worst.

"I'm an alien. "

He burst out laughing and started to get up.

"Wait, I'll show you something. Watch!" I reached for my transmitter. And I created holograms before us. Not the kind you humans know. It was the height of technology in our world. It was possible to talk to them, so I exchanged a few words with my, as you call them, wife and son. Needless to say, in a language you don't understand.

He stood frozen in place. It worked. He slowly settled back down. I slammed the door shut with telepathy. The light dimmed for a moment.

"Human electrical equipment is highly unsuited to telepathy. You have no chance in galactic markets. You still have a lot of work ahead of you, "

he caught on.

"Indeed," he smiled, still curtsiing.

"Oh, so yes. I'll tell you what we have to offer.

" "My rulers are offering a new life on a new planet. Elvis, Ford, Bill Gates, and many others you don't know are already there. Elvis may surprise you, but he captivated us with his voice. Here, he's a star on the biggest stages.

" "But let's get back to you. A beautiful new life. We'll leave the cyborg here. He'll die when you decide. You can replace him a few times a year, whenever you feel like it."

"Secondly." If you'd like to stay, the judge is our "man." I chuckled.

"You'll definitely be acquitted.

" "Okay, okay! Your offer looks good at first glance," he replied.

"But what can I give you?" "

What do you mean, what?!?" I asked, thoroughly confused. "

Your diary, in which you describe how you made so much money—

"How you started with a chain of currency exchange offices—

"How you bought up dollars—

"And most importantly! How you launched the Safe Savings Bank and ripped off 11,000 people."

I stood before him in my natural form, but I guess I didn't make much of an impression on him.

"Okay! It's a deal! When can I go? I'll show you how to run a business and control minds. Let's go!" "

Hah! I didn't expect that. Let's go!"

Five years later, our judge found our cyborg innocent. And a new madness has broken out in our country - the Space Savings Bank.