It was a rather mundane day, all things considered. Back then one could be forgiven for thinking the war was over. It however was very much not, and the right people knew it all too well.
I remember taking a taxi for some sightseeing, and you know I clearly recall the taxi driver being quite alive when I got out and he drove off.
It was my first time in a big a place as Paris, some of the buildings seemed to have been bombed, I found it just as surprising as others you know.
As I headed down the sidewalk and turned a corner , some old woman bumped me, and she must have been utterly mad because she broke a finger trying to pickpocket me.
Obviously, I did not want to be associated with such uncouth a person as this woman who yelled absurd profanities and gesticulated to her nether regions. So, I vamoosed out of there, with a gentlemanly stride.
A few turns and roadway crossings later I found myself unfashionably ignorant, you see I was reaching for a fag and found myself removing a purse from my coat pocket instead.
Having come to Paris with a meagre allowance myself I was humbly thankful to the large sum of money the purse contained. I kept my wits about me though, and after a while I spied a Church where I then dropped the purse into the lost and found. I still am as considerate of sentimental attachment as back then of course.
The rest of that afternoon I spent buying knickknacks; I didn't even once get bitten either.
That evening I found a hotel with a splendid view of the Eiffel Tower at a very reasonable price. Truly I tell you I was well blessed that day.
The next morning, there was a buffet of sausages, eggs, toast, mushrooms and the like as I am sure you well know. I had eaten my fill before leaving the hotel in perfect order. I must complain though about the surrounding area though, the dust and debris; I assume from nearby ruined buildings makes for a ghastly walk when the wind kicks up.
However, as I was a foreigner I would not know who to complain to. Maybe the community have lodged their own complaints by now.
My trip was not just about sightseeing and buying knicknacks either. I did have some business in Paris beyond my own little pleasures; It goes without saying that back then no one really knew just how far a rat being chased could travel in a day.
The Sergeant sighs, and attempts to put more authority into his young voice: "Sir, you speak as though you are referring to ages ago. I asked you about yesterday and what you have been doing in our fine city!"
"Oh, yes you see I was talking about yesterday myself. Do you know where all the rats went?" The man asks the Sergeant seemingly unfazed by the man's show of impatience.
"No Sir, I do not." The Sergeant responds curtly and nods to the three other officers standing behind the man. The officers quickly step forward and two of them place their hands on the man.
The Sergeant straightens up and smiles at the quirky man's face "I do however know where this rat is going." Officers, please take this man into custody! Officer James, with me, " and with that an operative of the ratpack was apprehended.
"Judge, I tell you that I found it just as strange that they would incarcerate me; and I could not tell you even under duress why the others in my cell were incapacitated." The quirky little man rambled on, making his case, as he saw it beyond all doubt.
It turns out that no one was seriously hurt when the top floor of a hotel near the Eiffel tower was blown up; the man clearly recalled three foreigners checking out while he was having buffet. A taxi driver with rather unsavoury tattoos seemed to have eaten too many savoury treats given the heart attack he suffered, or this is what the little man postulated.
As for some old woman with a broken finger, well dementia is a tough thing and one should always remember where your own pockets are.
The Judge seemed to not be paying attention to the man rambling on about what a keen ear might hear as a confession of sorts, but those with even keener hearing rushed to windows; as the Eiffel tower fell.
