01 October 2007

Zip Gun

This won't take long...

Slightly past 8:23 in the evening. I'm driving through Caguas, a large, sprawling city between San Juan and Ponce. I'm looking for an apartment and have taken a turn just off the main street to explore a small enclave of a neighborhood, one combining houses with small apartment buildings and a few public buildings...

I drive down the side street, a short one leading into a T intersection. At the end of the street stand three young men, two in conversation, the other clearly acting as a lookout. Movement from My right is a scooter, one of thousands now zipping around, with two young men on it. Neither is wearing a helmet. They roll in, circle around to the two young men in conversation and as they turn to look down the left-hand street--where the lookout pointed--I notice the driver of the scooter is carrying a gun in his left hand. A long-barreled gun.

Right or left? Right I head into a maze of short streets; left I head towards the highway. Both may be blocked or changed by construction...

I see the gun a couple of seconds before they see Me, the scooter circling left to almost face Me. Only then do I notice how empty the street is, how dark it is outside the spot where they congregate, how thoroughly shuttered the houses look with their 5-foot walls, razor wire and double-locked iron grillwork.

The scooter drifts a little, driver, backseat rider and three other guys staring at Me. My foot flits over to the accelerator...

The driver--the gunman--suddenly leans right and zips the scooter up to speed, tracking down the left-hand leg of the T. He's heading after someone: His passenger is urging him to hurry.

I glance at the three other young men, noting their relaxed posture. They seem to be powering down to wait.

I let the car roll a few feet, then speed up. To follow the scooter.

It's where I was going anyway.


The Jenius Has Spoken.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I live in Caguas (Lajeño ausente). Just to keep track, do you remember the street this happened and by any chance, was the scooter yellow?
And if you are looking for an apartment to buy, let me know, I can hook you up with an honest, decent Realtor.

GCSchmidt said...

Gabriel, the scooter was either blood-red or black (the lighting was poor.) And I'll remember to check in with you if I get to the buying point! Thanks!

GCSchmidt said...

Gabriel, I didn't answer your other question. I was driving on Gautier, from downtown out, passed the high school and turned right at the Chinese restaurant. The incident happened at the end of that street. Happy driving!