An agreement

By Sori Siregar

A retired police officer walked under the scorching sun in a town. At the same time a retired robber also walked under the very hot sun. In front of a shop they ran into one another. They exchanged nods to greet each other. Then they both continued walking in opposite directions.

The retired police officer said to himself: "He looks very fit, though he walks with a slight limp. The face shows his stubbornness in dealing with the challenges of life. I admire him. He has an extraordinary big spirit. When he was caught, he never admitted that he had just committed a robbery, whereas the evidence was piled up before him.

"He answered every question with "no" and sometimes he kept his mouth shut. I clearly recall his powerful silence and the absence of any groan in pain when I put a pencil between his middle and index fingers and pressed both fingers forcefully. I did it repeatedly and he still kept his mouth shut, even though I realized that he was in terrible pain.

"I was mad then. I placed one of his big toes under the leg of a desk. Three of my colleagues and myself stood on top of the desk and simultaneously shouted "confess your sins". But with his stubbornness he said nothing and gazed into our eyes with hatred. He would not moan in pain despite our cruel action. Incredible.

"His body had been our permanent beating target, either with our clenched fists, by kicking or from a rubber stick. A friend of mine who lost his temper forced him to sit for five hours up to his neck in water in an open tank. When he came out of the tank he shivered from cold, but he still wouldn't give up, nor was he ready to confess.

"Finally, I couldn't control myself. I ordered him to get undressed then I touched his penis with a burning cigarette. The only word that came out of his mouth was "ouch". The word meant a lot to me. The word had made me aware that I had gone too far and been too ruthless. Cruel, because I had tortured my opponent while both his feet and hands were tied. We looked at one another. No, those eyes were not expecting mercy.

"I felt that those eyes were demanding; demanding something from me. But what? That's none of my business. Then I released him. I don't know why. In the verbal official report not a single confession of his could be attached to the report. We submitted his interrogation file to the attorney with some evidence we had obtained. Then he was convicted and given a three-year prison sentence. I had no idea how the attorney could force him to confess in court. With the adequate proof we had obtained the judge might have made his decision with a consideration that no further confession was needed. Maybe.

"He was the most notorious scoundrel in town. He was arrested after committing dozens of robbery. The robberies were carried out in a similar way. Based on that typical robbing style, the police laid a trap and succeeded in arresting him.

"Ah, the face I just encountered, is much the same as before. What an incredible person he is."

In the meantime, the retired robber reminisced about his former days. "I am sure he must have retired by now," the former robber said to himself. What he meant was the retired police officer. "What an incredible person he is. How clever he was in prying out a confession. He used lots of ways and he carried them out creatively.

"Actually, if he had used two or three more ways of torture, I would have admitted my guilt. When he touched my penis with his burning cigarette I was about to confess. I was about to do it. Fortunately I only said "ouch". I thought he was cruel, just like a beast. But he wasn't. The word "ouch" had broken his heart and he untied me right away. I had succeeded in melting his frozen humanity. I, therefore, held him in high esteem. I had great respect for him for his serious effort to dig out my confession. That was the reason why I conceded that I was guilty before the judge to show my respect to the dedicated police officer."

Feeling tired after a long walk under the scorching sun, the retired police officer stopped at a small restaurant. At the same time the retired robber was looking for a chair in the same restaurant. The retired police officer and the retired robber accidentally met again. They sat face-to-face. The separating distance was only the table in front of them.

"I have retired," said the retired police officer starting the conversation. He was a bit frightened that the retired robber would show his hatred.

"I have also retired," the robber answered.

"Thank God. I am convinced the last sentence you received, eh -- I mean the first sentence you received -- made you repent your sins and forswear the criminal life."

"No. That's not the reason. I had broken my right leg when I carried out the last robbery after being released only a week form the prison. I fell down and I broke my leg. Fortunately, I still could flee with the stolen goods. With a broken leg I couldn't do my job properly. That's why I retired."

"Whatever the reason, I am really happy that you are now retired, eh -- repented your sins and given up your bad ways. Now your children and wife can live peacefully."

"Mmmm." the repentant robber mumbled.

The retired police officer said: "I have asked my son to follow in my footsteps. The police force is a noble profession. I also repeatedly advised him not to repeat what I had done to criminals I arrested. He should be wise and not ruthless as I was. Ehm, on this occasion I would like to apologize for what I did to you. Believe me, my son is a good police officer. He is my opposite."

"You didn't bequeath what you should have to your son," said the retired robber. "I did the contrary. I would feel sorry if my expertise and my toughness was not inherited by my son. That's why I asked him to do precisely what I had done in the past."

"You mean?"

"My career is followed by my son," said the retired robber.

"My goodness," the retired police officer muttered.

After snacks and coffee were ordered and served and the servant had left the conversation stopped. They were both busy eating the snacks and sipping their coffee. Several times they looked at one another. The retired police officer was very disappointed because the retired robber bequeathed his life of crime to his son. Why should crime be bequeathed? he said to himself. But it was too late. Advice would be of no use for the former notorious scoundrel.

On the other hand, the retired robber was happy because the retired police officer continued his dedication through his son.

"In case your son is caught by my son, believe me, your son will not be tortured as you experienced. Your son will be treated well by my son, though he will continuously attempt to pry out your son's confession," said the retired police officer after chewing his last snacks.

"Thank God, I should say," said the retired robber. "Trust me, if your son is beforehand detained by my son, he will not be killed brutally as I always did in my former days. The worst that will happen will be that your son will be slightly injured and temporarily overpowered so that the operations of my son will not be hindered," the retired robber continued.

Both looked at each other and smiled.

"I inflicted a lot of torture on criminals," said the retired police officer.

"I frequently calmly slit my victims' throat and without any fear," the retired robber answered.

"But my son will not do the same," the retired police officer said.

"My son too will never do the things I did in cold blood," the retired robber answered.

They gazed at one another. An agreement seemed to have been reached. At the same time, they both looked at their wristwatches. The sun had reached its height. They exchanged a greeting by nodding to each other, then left the restaurant after settling the bill. They again walked under the hot sun in the opposite direction. On his way home, the retired police officer regretted his lie to the retired robber.

The retired robber also felt sorry about his nonsense to the retired police officer. The sons they had talked about existed only in their dreams, not in reality. They were both impotent.