"Wow!" Exclaimed Kalamal after taking the last bite of his third hot dog in less than two minutes. "That was delicious! The best hot dog I have ever tasted!" He was standing in the backyard of a friends home in the exclusive neighborhood of Crocker Hills. Two years ago, the small 1st generation Japanese boy had moved to America to live with his aunt, the brother of his mother - the head housekeeper for a very wealthy and successful American family. It was a huge mansion, and his aunt and uncle lived in a two-bedroom cottage that was located two miles from the main house. They were a very loving couple who spoiled Kalamal rotten whenever they could.
As he was saying his goodbyes to his friends and their families, he noticed that they were scattered around the garden. Everyone was laughing while conversing with each other. His view of the garden was obstructed by a young woman wearing tall khakis and a red and white plaid shirt. She had her back turned and was laughing with the gardener, handing him gardening tools and discussing something with him.
"Hey Ang!" called Kalamal with a smile. "It's Kalamal, come over and say hello!" The small girl turned around and smiled, a bit nervously.
"Hey Kalamal!" she said, "What's up?"
"I thought I told you not to call me that" he said jokingly. "Anyway, have you met my cute cousin?" he said pointing to the gardener.
"I think everyone here has met her" said Ang with a smile. "There has been a stampede of mens around here since you introduced her to lawn bowling."
"I think I introduced her to them" said Kalamal scratching his head. "Anyway, what are you doing over here? I thought you would have been with everyone else in the dining room.
"I'm having a drink with the gardener, he's telling me about some of the amazing things that he has created in this garden." She was looking admiringly at the small shrubs that were scattered all around the property.
"Oh" replied Kalamal, a bit surprised. "I didn't know he was such a great conversationalist."
"Neither did I" said Ang with a smile. "But, I'm learning so much. He used to work in his own garden before he came here two years ago, you know, all by himself. I wonder what his wife is like." She paused for a moment and stared out into the garden.
"Well, he's a very nice guy" said Kalamal. "We have had some great conversations while we have been out here playing lawn bowling. I really don't know what we would do without him."
"Good" said Ang, "but, where is your other half?"
"What?" Yelled Kalamal into his mobile phone. He was walking through a small park adjacent to the large house. "I'm right here! I can hear you! I have no idea where he could have gone off to. Anyway, where are you? It's a bit late for you to be out here alone.
There was a loud noise and a loud scream from Ang. Kalamal quickly broke out of the park and ran in her direction. Her voice was barely audible over the ringing phone, but Kalamal could hear the terror in her voice.
"Kam!" she cried out. "It's that man from the river!"
"What man from the river?" said Kalamal sounding angry. He was sprinting down the main road that led to the mansion.
"I think it's him" panted Ang in a terrified voice. "He asked me for my identity bracelet and I wasn't wearing one. He was acting very strange, and his voice..."
"What happened to his voice" asked Kalamal, running around the corner that led to the front gate of the mansion.
"He sounded like a man!" gasped Ang. "I don't know what to do! He knocked me out and took my hand and was running too fast, and ….." Her voice fell to a whisper, drowned out by the phone these words became like a chant in Kalamal's ears. He was halfway sprintering down the road and had finally reached the gate. The sound of a clanking of keys in the lock was heard and a large steel gate dropped into its opening.
"I'm coming door!" Kalamal yelled into the phone as he scrambled up the steps to the front door. "Don't do anything and just wait for me!" He ran into the vestibule and, without even knocking, pushed his way through the double doors. A very tall man wearing a white suit and dark blue shirt with a red tie was standing impatiently waiting by the door. Kalamal was extremely surprised. He didn't wait. He grabbed the man by the arm and, with a tremendous pull, broke his arm in several places. He then proceeded to strike him repeatedly in the face with his open palm, leaving him crumpled on the ground. Ignoring the man, he ran through the home and down a narrow hall, then up a small flight of stairs. He ran into the master bedroom at the end of the hallway and found the room empty. The man had a large collection of small files on an antique desk. Kalamal scrolled through each file quickly, hoping to find a name. He didn't. And, he didn't.
He was so frustrated he almost forgot what the man looked like. He knew he was tall, probably over six feet, but he didn't have any distinguishing features other than the fact he wore a suit.
"I don't know" he whispered to himself as he headed for the hallway again. "I wish I had a name. I wish I had a name."
The door below had its lock broken and was propped open just a crack. Kalamal entered the room. A man sitting, fully clothed, in a chair was on the floor just inside the door. He was out cold, probably from a bump to the head. A sheet was draped over him, but Kalamal could see some of the man's feet and legs. Kalamal was further relieved when he noticed that his clothes were clean, pressed and expensive. His shoes alone had to have cost more than the reparations for the small house.
"She's in there" said Kalamal pointing to a room next door. "He's right here!" he yelled as he shoved at the tall door. It gave away easily and fell off its hinges with a quiet thud. There was a second break in the door to a wooden closet, which was empty except for a few garments hanging by the door. There was a red and white outfit only glimpsed by Ang just moments ago, in the park. Kalamal could see Ang's long dark hair lying on the floor close by.
Kalamal heard a growl from behind him. He turned around and saw a wolf looking at him with a fierce expression. For a moment, he was puzzled, wondering how a room so large could be cloaked in so much wood and yet still be dark inside. He then remembered the small closet. His imagination turned into panic and he raced toward Ang.
"Ang! How are you doing?" He was completely panicked. He picked her small form up and tried to place her on the bed. She was already conscious, but she appeared to be dazed and confused.
"UmmKam?" Her voice was weak but clear. She heard a noise and turned around to see a shocked Kalamal looking back at her.