Hernonymous [A Hacker's Diary]

Hernonymous Holmes

The room I'm in is spacious with a ratio of its vertical height to its horizontal length being one to two. Its white walls appear freshly painted indicating it might have been newly built or recently remodelled. There are no windows but it's not hot or stuffy, I imagine there is an aeration system I don't know about. Two wall lamps are placed equidistant to each other on every wall in the room, such that no spot is untouched by light

Looking around the room, my eyes are drawn to the table beside my bed where a fruit basket holding an assortment of fresh-looking fruits sits. The fruit basket is of minimal interest as I hypothesize that whatever it contains is already way past its expiry. However, it's a sealed letter sitting beside it that catches my interest

I rise from the bed, feeling the bones in my leg ache from disuse and move towards it. The letter's envelope reads "my dear ayah" which somehow causes me to feel an unexplainable rage, I am about to tear the letter open when I am reminded for the umpteenth time of my predicament.

It takes a few minutes of my stumps and teeth working together to get the envelope open and a few extra before I figure out how to open the letter itself.

The first thing I realise as I am faced with the content of the letter is the watermark " glory to Dextra". Who is this Dextra? He was also in my dream.

The residence of Ayah
Anikah Clearing
Kolkata
India

Dear Ayah,

I have to begin my writing to you by saying I am truly sorry. I know what it must feel like to you and I can empathise with you in this regard. I wish it could have gone any other way.

However, I did what I must for the greater good and while I know you would not believe it, the truth has to be spoken. A storm is coming my dear Ayah, a great storm of unfathomable proportions, a storm that can put a permanent stopper on life as we know it. It is a storm only Dextra can prevent and with your help, she is playing her part.

All my actions up to this moment has been to play my part to prevent this storm. I do not regret anything and take full responsibility for any grievance I have caused

None of this was done in hostility and to show this, I have made sure your aftercare was managed by the best healthcare professionals. Everything you need to survive and thrive I have provided. You would never have to do anything again.

For feeding, I have had respectable gardeners plant self-sufficient fruit-growing trees all around you. They are specially doctored to be easily accessible to you.

For clothing: Your wardrobe contains enough and more, at least for a long time

For shelter: This house, the residence of Ayah was bought and paid for in your name. The document of ownership is in a safe in this very room. It's password is the date of the day I was lucky enough to meet you

You might have lost your hands, but you have gained the gratitude of the world. Thank you for your service, Ayah. May Dextra's light shine kindly upon you. I would be praying for you

I try my best to remain the passive character I am intent on playing but the rage in my mind remains uncooperative. What guts, What damn guts. The letter sounds so smugly written and reeks of the penmanship of a madman in his last stages, one that obviously harms other people and needs to die.

* * *
Based on the address this letter provides, it is clear I'm in India, relocated most probably so I and my foster parents never meet. It is a wise decision, I don't know what I would do to them if I ever see them again.

For an instant, very violent thoughts invade my mind and even I am shocked by how gory and visceral they are. I must not find mama and papa for their own safety.

* * *

The letter does provide a few interesting ideas I can follow in order to find the man. There are three that stick out, but only one I'm really confident about

1) The housing documents: I don't really know how they work, but I'm sure within the documents, there is a person I can call, a website I can toy with or a physical location I can go to that would allow me to gain access to information about who paid for the house

2) Dextra: Whoever she is, she should have a following of some kind that I can crawl through.

3) Papa: You don't sell people without knowing who you are selling to

4) Brute Force: when all else fails, I have half a mind to crawl every social media for upper-class middle-aged men.

But first, if I am to follow through with any of these paths, I will need a computer and phone. Last time I checked, India doesn't give out computers for free

I need money and quick