Savages

98

An electronically altered voice says, “Let me speak with Mr. Let’s Cut the Shit.”

“I’m here.”

“Let’s cut the shit, shall we? You will make the first delivery to me, at the price I demand, within the next five hours or you will receive an e-mail that you will not like.”

“No problem.”

“Really? Because it was a problem before.”

“It’s not now.”

“Good. Now let me speak to Mr. Fuck You.”

“I’m on,” Chon says.

“You insulted me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t good enough.”

“Whatever you want,” Chon says.

“I assume you have a pistol. Get it.”

Chon gets his .38. “I have it.”

“Stand in front of the camera where I can see you.”

Chon does.

“Now stick it in that big mouth of yours,” the voice says.

They can hear O scream, “Chon, donnnn’t!!!”

But they also hear a chain saw start up and the voice say, “Her hands first …”

“I’m doing it, I’m doing it!”

Ben’s in shock. Weird, sick, nightmare shock.

Chon opens his mouth and swallows the barrel.

“Now pull the trigger.”

Chon squeezes the trigger.