Glittering Gallows

Chapter 45

279 C Chapter 45 egis and Aluwani sat on a concrete bench in Burgers Park. A swarm of cuckooing pigeons doted around the bench expectant of grains or crumps of bread from them. The two men were regardless of the birds. They sat quietly, sharing a bottle of Smirnoff Vodka and staring across a section of the park and Andries St at the façade of the bank: BINOMIAL BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA ࡟S‫׷‬® ) Bank with wisdom, progress and precision. Est. 2010 The words and the mathematical equation engraved themselves on Regis’ mind. Vehicular and human traffic criss-crossed before him, but he was blind and deaf to it. All he saw was the bank. He felt like a legitimate major shareholder of the bank about to walk in and claim his shares over the counter. Over the years, the summation symbol of the bank and its equation had mystified him. Now, he thought, at least the daily value of the symbolic equation would be known to them within the coming days. What was the average amount the bank held at the start of each business day? Was it thousands of dollars and euro and millions of rand? Aluwani broke the silence. “Scallywag and scalawag, do they mean the same damn thing?” Regis sneered. “How can I know? I’ve never been mad.” “They’re English words, swine. I thought you were educated.” “Do I look like a dictionary?” R 280 “Take it easy, scallywag. I’ll study medicine after the robbery. Women love doctors.” He paused. “What’s suppuration of the urethra?” Regis erupted. “Stop harassing me, Aluwani!” They sat in silence for several minutes. “If a person has AIDS, syphilis and gonorrhoea,” Aluwani began, “won’t the germs destroy each other?” “Look at the bank and concentrate!” “Okay! Okay!” Aluwani focussed on the bank in mock seriousness. “Our money is sitting in that damn bank. When do we pounce on it?” “The twenty-eighth of January. Only three days to go.” “What’s special about the twenty-eighth?” “City Council employees get paid on that day. It’s a Monday.” “What’ve damn Council employees got to do with our project?” “The employees will start the day at their respective banks. I’ve been observing them. On the twenty-eighth the gardeners and janitors of this park report for work from about ten o’clock onwards.” Aluwani frowned. “It’s like listening to a talking cross-word puzzle. When you made me dig the tunnel I thought you were normal. What’re you talking about, punk?” “On Sunday the twenty-seventh of January, we’ll erect the hovel at night and then we work from within. The following day, which is the twenty-eighth, at half-past eight, we’ll walk into the bank as they open the doors.” “But we haven’t tested the damn Luger. We must test the damn pistol. For two and a half years it lay under your rotting father. Maybe it doesn’t work.” Regis gave him a reprimanding glance. “Don’t talk about my father, you swine! You make him turn in his grave.” “He turned when we robbed him. He won’t turn again unless he has become a damn Ferris wheel.” They shared the bottle in silence for a couple of minutes. “We must test the damn weapon. We’ve to be sure of our firepower.” “We won’t test it, Alu, forget it.” 281 “What’s wrong with you? Sometimes you’re so reasonable that you would’ve my damn vote if you ran for mayor. Other times you’re a good example of a dunderhead. It’s difficult for me to be proud of you. I’m a pauper, but you’re a damn pauper and an idiot at the same time. God knows I don’t mean to offend you.” “Scold me a thousand and one times and see if we’re going to test-fire the Luger.” “Why are you refusing? Don’t give me a thousand reasons. Just give me one damn reason, or I’m out. I can’t risk it with a pistol we aren’t sure of.” He opened his palms and showed them to Regis. “My life is in my hands. I’m a hard-worker, not a bank robber.” “Spare that for the judge in case we’re caught. I’m tired of listening to your nonsense...