Sixx knew how much he had to pay to own this radio, and it was an unimaginable amount for him. While it might not be a large sum for Malon, the burden remained unchanged.
“Turn it on.”
However, Sixx knew well that Malon disliked being asked the same thing repeatedly or not obeying orders. With no choice, Sixx examined the radio, but as someone who had never owned anything like that before, he couldn’t figure out how to operate it. Malon clicked his tongue irritably and called someone loudly.
“Pat! Come here for a moment.”
Shortly after, a man entered. Perhaps “Pat” was one of Malon’s subordinates. Despite his large stature, he had clear eyes, and upon seeing Sixx sitting on Malon’s knee, he looked surprised but quickly composed himself and respectfully lowered his head.
“You called, sir?”
“Patrick, do you know how to operate a radio? Come here and teach him.”
Patrick, momentarily frozen by the unexpected order, quickly approached Sixx and awkwardly began explaining how to use the radio.
“Press this to turn it on, turn this to adjust the frequency. Oh, you can change the channel with this. You can also adjust the volume with this…”
Sixx nodded eagerly, understanding Patrick’s explanation easily.
“Yes, I think I can do it on my own now. Thank you.”
“If you’re done, leave.”
When Malon snapped his fingers, Patrick once again awkwardly bowed his head and quickly disappeared outside.
Sixx pressed the buttons as Patrick had taught him and turned on the radio.
A woman’s voice warned loudly, resembling a bird chirping, “Take your umbrella! There might be heavy rain this afternoon. The bigger the umbrella, the better.”
Sixx turned the channel, and a middle-aged man chuckled, “How long do people want to keep sending letters saying they want to hear this song? Peter, aren’t you tired?”
Another man replied with a laughter-tinged voice, “Oh, Gavin, well, I don’t think I can say it bluntly. Come on, let’s stop wasting time and play it already.”
Then, the man called Gavin said, “Haha, okay, let’s listen to that song. The long-awaited hit, ‘Yesterday’ by the Beatles. Geez, this is the fifth time today.”
It seemed like all my troubles were so far away yesterday,
Now it looks as though they’re here to stay
(Yesterday, Beatles, 1965)
It wasn’t an exhilarating song or a tearful one filled with emotions. However, Sixx felt a shocking sensation in his heart as he listened to the man’s calm voice narrating the past over the monotonous melody.
Ah, yes. He knew this song. He had heard it in the bustling streets before. But everything was different now. The melody, once blurred by the noise of the city, now flowed into Sixx’s mind like a crystal-clear window, vividly reviving the moment.
It was a profoundly eerie experience, as if a sculptor was engraving memories into Sixx’s brain, making him think he would never forget this moment.
“Hmm, hm, hmm…”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Cibcu klat atf ojlca tew bo atf wfibvs, Vlzz ofia Zjibc’r ygfjat, kjgw ybvs afwqfgjaegf, jcv ujhf. Snfgsatlcu jgbecv tlw ofia rb nlnlv atja la jiwbra rffwfv ilxf j vgfjw.
“Gb sbe ilxf la?”
Zjibc jrxfv. Lbkfnfg, lc gfjilas, atfgf kjr cb cffv ab kjla obg jc jcrkfg. Ktf oiertfv mtffx jcv rqjgxilcu qewqxlc-mbibgfv fsfr lcvlmjafv atja Vlzz kjr offilcu jc lcvfrmglyjyif fwbalbc.
“Hey? Sixx, how’s it?”
Nevertheless, persistently demanding an answer could be attributed to Malon Cage’s inherent cruelty and love for asserting dominance, stemming from his arrogant nature as a man. He wasn’t aware of it himself, but it was a trait that occasionally surfaced when dealing with certain individuals. As Malon leaned in, Sixx recoiled as if struck by lightning, jerking his body backward. His cheek flushed an even deeper shade of crimson.
“Yeah, it’s… good.”
“Hmm, is that all?”
“…Thank you, Malon. I really like it. I’ll never lose it. It’s my treasure.”
Finally satisfied, Malon lightly tapped Sixx’s buttocks.
“Alright, I should get some sleep now.”
With that, Sixx hastily transformed into a wolf, placing the radio on the table. Although Sixx didn’t prefer this transformation, oddly enough, he felt much more comfortable in this form today. He climbed onto the bed, curling up as usual to allow Malon to stroke his head. Despite Malon’s leaning, Sixx’s heart continued to race, and he had to make an effort to calm down for quite some time.
***
“He looked quite cute, that kid,” Patrick Morello said, turning the steering wheel.
The car smoothly entered the left alley, following a gentle curve. Despite undoubtedly hearing Patrick’s words, his boss continued to smoke without responding. However, the familiar reaction didn’t bother Patrick. Malon Cage was a capable but hard-to-please boss, difficult to evaluate as generous. He was the most skilled among the family’s executives, with excellent business acumen, sharp judgment, and keen insight into people. Therefore, he was respected by the younger generation in the organization and trusted by the older generation, a promising figure.
Moreover, he was also the boss’s first son, which played a significant role among Italians who valued family and kinship. However, he lacked some human touch, which could be considered a flaw. Although one could argue that humanity wasn’t necessary for leading a vast criminal organization like La Cosa Nostra, it was generally expected that someone standing atop many heads should display some human charm. Especially in the Mafia, where strong bonds among members formed the basis, charisma often wielded significant power. Therefore, if one aspired to lead the family one day, such aspects needed to be considered.
Simply put, to most members of the organization, the boss was a trustworthy figure, always a solid support for the family, and it was important to receive similar evaluations. Patrick quite liked and followed the young boss, but he also knew well that the boss was not particularly popular. It wasn’t for nothing that he was referred to as almost equal to the head of the organization. Currently, Malon held the position of Underboss in the organization, but the trends of the Consigliere or other Caporegimes could not be ignored, and constant attention had to be paid to the reputation of the elders’ committee. Malon was disadvantaged in those aspects. He was inherently ruthless, and there was hardly any leniency just because they were from the same family. He always handled things very rationally, and when it came to cutting something off, he did so mercilessly. While this was an advantage, there were plenty who didn’t like it.
(Consigliere : Is an advisor to the leader in the mafia group.)
(Caporegimes: Term used to address the head of the family in Sicilian language or the head of a crime group)
But recently, he’s changed a bit. No, it’s not just a bit. Today, he was really taken aback. Who would’ve thought he’d see a scene where Malon Cage, in all his life, sits a young boy on his lap and gives him a present…
Of course, Patrick had heard that the boss had taken a liking to one of the circus performers lately. And he had a rough idea why. The boss had been suffering from insomnia for a few months now, and despite seeking medical help, he hadn’t recovered easily, causing him a lot of headaches. But on the night he met the performer, the boss, who always looked tired and worn out, emerged from that tent with light, almost buoyant steps (although he seemed very drowsy, regardless of his improved condition).
“I can sleep now,” the boss said.
“What?” Patrick stupidly asked again, and the boss repeated irritably.
“I said, I can sleep. Maybe not because of him, but I slept anyway.”
Patrick, recalling that the boss sometimes slept momentarily after sex until his energy drained, asked, “Does the kid taste that good?”
At that, the boss’s face contorted.
“I have no interest in kids,” he said. Patrick realized his mistake and quickly said, “Oh, I see. I heard that having kids around raises body temperature and makes sleep come easily,” changing the subject. Of course, whether it was true or not was something Patrick couldn’t know.
Since then, the boss often visited the young one to make up for his lack of sleep. While his behavior felt somewhat peculiar, to Patrick, it was almost a blessing seeing the boss’s demeanor improve significantly after consistently getting some sleep. However, the boss seemed to have grown rather fond of that performer over time. Patrick was quite shocked when the boss called him to buy a few items, clearly intended for the performer. And witnessing the boss sitting the performer on his lap and handing over those items was an even bigger shock. Would the boss realize he’s treating this kid more like a lover than any of his previous partners? Probably not, since he wouldn’t… Seeing this somewhat distant demeanor from the boss he knew, Patrick felt a bit uneasy. Well, seeing him today, he’s cute and seems genuinely kind… The boss used to genuinely dislike kids. It was just recently when Patrick found himself in an awkward situation, stuck in the middle, as the boss showed no interest even when one of the members proudly introduced his well-raised child.
“But you know how having a same-sex lover within the organization might be perceived. Continuing such a relationship, wouldn’t it be somewhat risky?” Hugo, sitting at the deputy’s desk, threw cold water abruptly. Patrick cursed inwardly. That spineless jerk! He seemed in a good mood after a nap, and now everything’s ruined because of that idiot! Sure enough, the boss rebuked Hugo with a sharper tone than usual, a clear sign that he was already in a bad mood.
“A same-sex lover? Are you suggesting I’ve taken that kid as my lover?”
“Um, no, of course not, boss.”
“Some of the higher-ups are involved in all sorts of strange things, am I going to be a problem?”
“I apologize, I misspoke. Anyway, it’s just a wandering circus performer. They’ll stay for a few more months at most, it shouldn’t be a big issue. I spoke out of turn, boss.”
Hugo scrambled to justify himself. Patrick sighed internally. Regardless of whether homosexuality goes against Mafia rules, bringing up such matters in front of the boss, regardless of their veracity, showed a lack of tact. Fortunately, Malon didn’t seem to get more upset about it. Hugo breathed a sigh of relief. He had dodged a bullet this time. If it were in the old days, he would probably have been ordered to get his affairs in order immediately. He would have probably been beaten to a pulp until then…
“It bothers me.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
When Patrick asked with a start, the boss couldn’t hide his unease and tapped his armrest with his fingers. Could it be that he’s still bothered by that? Patrick cautiously inquired.
“Is it because of that ringleader?”
Seeing no response, it seemed likely. Patrick sighed inwardly. The problem was that the ringleader of the circus troupe the boy belonged to was a piece of work. Patrick had experienced all sorts of human scum and vermin in this line of work, but it seemed like the ringleader wouldn’t meet his end anytime soon. Well, that was generally how circuses operated. At the heart of the thrill and excitement felt by circus show audiences lay the blood and tears of the circus troupe members who composed the show. Despite being human beings themselves, they descended into spectacles for other humans, treated like beasts in a zoo, living in harsh conditions. What made this circus troupe particularly vicious was the presence of Part 2. Part 2 of this circus was a show put on by the lowest rungs of society in this world’s pyramid. Patrick hadn’t seen the show himself, but it seemed that the boy cherished by the boss was also part of Part 2, being exploited by the ringleader for next to no pay.
The boss probably hadn’t expected the boy to receive such treatment. The boss had visited the ringleader before leaving, ostensibly to hand over some compensation for his trouble, but today he had just found out that the greedy man had taken all the money and only thrown a few dollars to the boy. Naturally, Malon was furious. It wasn’t just the mistreatment of the boy that angered him, but also the fact that the ringleader had dared to do such things behind his back.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the boy’s performances weren’t just staged to look dangerous but actually posed harm to the boy himself. The boss explained that the boy’s arms and legs were covered in bruises and cuts the last time he saw him. There was probably no significant difference in the parts hidden by his clothes. While it seemed paradoxical for the boss to be angry over a few injuries to the boy when he would casually order hits on enemies and then instruct to grind their bodies in a wood chipper, Patrick wisely chose not to say anything. The boss had said he would straighten out the ringleader’s behavior today and had come out of the tent straight to meet him, but just as he was ‘lightly’ warming up, he received a message from one of his subordinates that he urgently needed to see him. Indeed, that ringleader was fortunate. While Malon had warned that he would ventilate his entire body if he so much as touched the boy, it was uncertain whether he would heed the boss’s warning. That guy seemed to have a certain temperament… Patrick knew what kind of look the “kings” had. Whether big or small, those who held absolute power and dominated subordinates had a characteristic arrogant gaze. Landon Pierce was undoubtedly the king of this circus troupe.
“It’ll be fine. You’ll probably go back to New York anyway.”
“Because it’s the boss’s orders, I’ll go, but honestly, I’m not inclined to. Is there no law that says Apalachin won’t be repeated? Besides, the situation in the East is always a mess, making it difficult to get involved. Didn’t Joseph Bonanno suddenly reappear a few months ago?”
“Surely not. Kennedy sent him away, so there shouldn’t be any embarrassment with the government for a while. Besides, New York’s power structure is so tightly intertwined. It might be different from the West.”
“I see. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to establish ties with Gambino or Lucchese. I heard their ‘doctor’ Lombardozzi is quite savvy with securities and stocks.”
“Ah, you mean the Caporegimes of the Gambino family.”
Even as he spoke, Malon’s voice still carried a sense of ambiguity. Goodness, Malon Cage was worried about someone! It was a sentence that felt so disconcerting, but Patrick had already concluded that there was no need to worry prematurely. If even stray animals could form attachments, then it wasn’t impossible for humans not to. Moreover, affection only went so far. There were people who would feed an affectionate animal, but none would give up their entire home and wealth for it. Tossing food to a stray dog and petting its belly was an easy task. But what if you had to give up your share for it, or even sacrifice something? Most people would withdraw their hand from patting its head and immediately chase the dog out of their yard. Perhaps that man would do the same, and that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.
So, Patrick Morello’s opinion was that there was no need to worry too much about past affections.
***
Sixx had come across a treasure for the first time. Well, in fact, many things had been called treasures. There was a time when anything shiny seemed like treasure, even if it was just a broken piece of glass. But this time, what he held in his hand was a real treasure. A genuine, true treasure. Every night, Sixx slipped away from the camp to secretly listen to the radio. He couldn’t turn it up too loud for fear of being caught, but if he pressed his ear against the speaker, he could faintly hear the music. He was accustomed to the cacophony of the boisterous band playing until the tent was taken down, but this music was of a completely different genre that he had never heard before. The melody itself was good, but the lyrics of some songs gave him a particularly piercing feeling in his heart. This song was like that. Sixx quietly hummed the lyrics in his mouth. It was titled “House of the Rising Sun.”
Mother was a tailor, yeah, yeah
Sewed my Levi jeans
My father was a gamblin’ man, yeah, yeah
Down, way down in New Orleans
The man’s voice had a deep appeal, and Sixx was deeply absorbed in the tragedy he sang about.
Well, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it’s been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God, I know I’m one
The song ended like that, but the fantasy that had taken root in Sixx’s mind continued to grow. Parents. Sixx had stopped speculating about his parents a long time ago. It felt meaningless. However, giving up did not mean the disappearance of curiosity. Perhaps Sixx’s mother was also a tailor, and his father was a gambler. And they abandoned Sixx. The most plausible explanation was that Sixx was born a monster. The ringleader had told him that when Sixx was very young, he was covered in fur all over, much more monstrous than he was now. Just thinking about it was dreadful. It was fortunate that he now looked no different from a human on the surface… Sixx cautiously raised his arms and inspected his various features. As long as he didn’t turn into a wolf, Sixx could live in human form like others. And so far, that fact has been a ray of hope for him. But since meeting Malon, everything had become confusing. Because what he needed was none other than the form of a wolf. Perhaps the word “irony” fits this situation.
Sixx sighed and changed the channel. He wanted to hear “Yesterday.” Ever since sitting on Malon’s knees and listening to that song, “Yesterday” had become Sixx’s favorite song in the world. Just listening to the song brought back all the senses as if he were reliving that moment. The dim light of the lamp, the unique scent of Malon, mingled with cigarette smoke and cologne, the underlying scent of nature, and the pounding of his heart like the beat of a drum… Sixx swallowed his saliva. He didn’t know how happy it was to be able to recall that moment just by listening to a song. In that sense, this radio was more precious to Sixx than anything else. He hadn’t revealed the existence of this treasure to Andy and Corbin yet. Of course, he would tell them soon, and they would be able to listen to the radio anytime, but deep down, Sixx wanted to monopolize the joy that the treasure brought him just a little longer. It was enough until Malon found Sixx again next time.
As he was about to find the channel playing “Yesterday,” he heard the sound of someone stepping on dry leaves. Sixx jerked his head in surprise and quickly hid behind a tree. It would be troublesome to be questioned about the source of the radio for no reason. He held his breath and waited for a few minutes. Then, he heard the muffled voices of two people.
“That’s not even a proper plan, and besides, it’s premature.”
“Hey, are you going to get your act together only after everything falls apart? Damn it, there won’t be anything left at this rate.”
Sixx took a short breath. It was Leticia and Corbin. Again, those two? The combination felt suspicious, and the content of their conversation was meaningful. There was simply no way to think of it as ordinary conversation. Who comes out to a quiet field in the middle of the night to exchange updates? Moreover, Leticia and Corbin were never particularly close. There was quite an age gap between them, and Patrick had never seen them show any fondness toward each other. Yet, here they were, engaging in a clandestine meeting?
Last time, he had brushed it off as a coincidence, but today’s encounter was impossible to dismiss as mere chance. Moreover, their meeting didn’t even hint at the kind of romantic undertones that would usually be expected from such meetings between a man and a woman. Corbin, what exactly are you up to…? Sixx wished he didn’t know at all. Besides, no matter how precious a friend might be, eavesdropping on their conversation couldn’t be justified. However, moving now would almost certainly give away his presence, so Sixx could only nervously chew on his lips.
“If things go awry, we’re done for. You may be playing fast and loose, but—”
“Hey, I value my life too.”
“So do I. I have to take care of my sister, you know.”
“Yeah, and while you’re at it, you’re just going to watch her die quietly?”
“Don’t speak recklessly! …The test results haven’t come out yet.”
Corbin’s voice, saying this, was filled with both deep sadness and anger. In an instant, it felt like a needle had pricked Sixx’s chest. Andy, poor Andy… The doctor who examined Andy had said that outwardly there seemed to be no major issues, but as there could be a serious illness, they recommended further tests. Andy had argued that it wasn’t necessary, but Corbin had insisted stubbornly. As a result, they were currently waiting for the test results. It seemed like it would take some time because they had sent Andy’s sample to a lab in another area for testing. Andy had brightly smiled, saying that everything would be fine, but Corbin was becoming increasingly anxious. Although it wasn’t voiced aloud, he had been on edge lately. He felt like he might explode if he touched him the wrong way, so he tried his best not to provoke him.
