Man of Mystery
Experience the motley horrors of World War II, as featured author JJ Lee reunites us with his man of mystery and monsters in ‘Bekker: The Man in the Long Black Coat’ in Issue 24, Autumn 2019.
Over the years, JJ has contributed three stories and two covers to Pulp Literature. The Man in the Long Black Coat made his first ever appearance in Pulp Literature Issue 8, Autumn 2015, and we are delighted to welcome back this mysterious figure.
In our feature interview with JJ, he tells us a bit about the inspiration for the story: I love the zombie war movie or the sci-fi Western … TMITLBC is really a pastiche of everything I love, from Captain America to Indiana Jones to Michael Moorcock’s Elric. I wanted to unashamedly bring it all together. This second story is a bridge story so I can tap into the energy and culture of 1950s America — but that’s for later.
An instructor for SFU’s Writer’s Studio, JJ also offered his advice to new writers: Finish the first draft. If the draft is too big a project, write a short story that might stretch into a novella, that might stretch into a full novel. Trick yourself into making the big by building the small. Why wait?
We are delighted to share with you this excerpt of ‘The Man in the Long Black Coat’ from Issue 24, Autumn 2019.
Bekker: The Man in the Long Black Coat
by JJ Lee
May 2, 1945 — Baby Face was trying to give a piece of chocolate to a Polish PW when somebody called out, “You Heck, John Heck?”
Baby Face turned to a lieutenant colonel with an M1 carbine slung over his shoulder.
“Yes, sir.”
The officer looked Baby Face up and down.
“I heard you were big, but they were obviously being euphemistic. Heus, latine loqueris?”
Baby Face hesitated. He passed the whole candy bar to the liberated man. For a second he glanced at his squad mates. Buck, Pops, Gunner, Scout, and Lil Red were crouched on the ground, going through their bags, figuring out what else they were willing to share with the former prisoners. He caught Buck’s eye. Baby Face then replied to the officer, “Vero, domine. Yes, sir.”
Word had spread pretty fast in the 386th that Baby Face could speak Russian, Polish, Yiddish, and a bunch of other languages. The unit had stumbled across a network of work camps and hidden factories near the border of Czechoslovakia. The camps used prisoner labour from all over Europe, and while lots of guys could speak German — you only had to look at names like Brinkmann, Meltzer, and Frankel to figure that out — nobody knew as many languages as Baby Face.
“Come with me,” the officer ordered.
Baby Face hesitated. The squad got on their feet. Buck scrambled to catch up and pleaded, “Sir, we’re down to six here.”
They had started with a full twelve in France, but Sarge and Boom Boom bought it in the Ruhr. Three others were out of action in field aid stations, and Four Eyes had been called up to Division because he could touch-type.
The officer assessed the depleted squad. They were dirty, tired, and carrying as much German firepower as American. Hardly standard issue.
“Then come along. I need you boys as well. My name is Doctor Parr. Don’t mind this brass.” To make the point, Parr unpinned the silver oak leaves from his collar. “Now, let’s go.”
To find out what happens next, pick up your copy of Issue 24, Autumn 2019!
JJ Lee is the author of the memoir The Measure of a Man: The Story of a Father, a Son, and a Suit. It was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize, and the Charles Taylor Prize. His speculative fiction has appeared in Pulp Literature and Tenth to The Fraser. Every Christmas he writes an original ghost story that airs on CBC Radio in British Columbia. JJ lives in New Westminster with his wife and twin boys. Visit him on Twitter or at his website.
Discover more from PULP Literature
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a Reply