by G Sauvé
Memory 29
I awake to someone shaking my shoulder. My eyes flutter open, and I find Kara staring down at me, her perky lips curled into a smile. I smile back as a warm feeling spreads through me. I can’t tell whether it’s a result of my beautiful friend’s closeness or my inability to control my shifting, but I don’t plan on finding out.
I scurry back, panicked.
“I’m sorry,” apologizes Kara. “I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s okay,” I say. But it’s not. What if I never find a way to control my shifting? What if I spend the rest of my life terrified at the thought of someone touching me? What if—
No! Don’t think like that. There must be a way to control it. There must.
“What’s the hold-up?” comes Jonn’s voice from outside the cavern.
“We’re coming,” says Kara.
“Where are we going?” I ask as I stand up and stretch my tired frame. Sleeping on prehistoric furs may sound like fun, but it’s very uncomfortable.
“I’m not sure,” admits Kara. “The priest came to see us first thing after sunrise.”
“Why?”
“I think he wants to show us something.”
“What?”
“I can’t speak korrigan,” reminds Kara.
“Sorry,” I say as we head out of our rudimentary sleeping quarters.
We find Jonn and the korrigan priest waiting for us a short distance from the cavern. Jonn is pacing. The priest stands immobile.
“It’s about time,” growls Kara’s father when he spots us.
I ignore him and focus on the short humanoid.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I have something to show you,” he says. “Follow me.”
He walks off before I can ask a follow-up question.
“Where’s he going?” asks Jonn.
“He wants us to follow him,” I explain.
“Why?”
“No clue.”
The priest leads us to an area of the village I have never seen. There are no burrows, but there’s a high palisade. The only way in is through a wooden gate. Two blowpipe-wielding korrigans stand guard.
“Don’t worry,” says the priest, but it does little to ease my worry.
“What is this place?” asks Kara.
“It’s a hospital,” explains the priest once I have translated my friend’s question.
He lied. It’s no hospital; it’s a morgue. The sordid truth becomes evident the moment we set foot inside the fortified area.
Dozens of korrigans lie on improvised beds. Most are still alive. A few are dead. All are infected. Red veins riddle their ashy bodies while dried blood cakes their clumpy hair. A few have bloody noses and mouths. All have red eyes. There’s no doubt in my mind that every last one of them is going to die.
“What’s wrong with them?” asks Jonn.
I don’t even have to translate.
“They’re infected,” explains the priest. “The fire plague.”
Tears well up in my eyes. I would like to claim it’s because I feel sorry for the poor souls, but the truth is I’m terrified of what will happen to us.
“Should we be here?” I ask. “Won’t we get infected?”
The korrigan shakes his head. “The plague isn’t infectious.”
“Why aren’t they changing colour?” asks Kara.
“They can’t,” reveals the priest once I’ve repeated Kara’s question. “They’re too sick.”
A heavy silence follows the priest’s revelation.
“Why are we here?” I finally ask. “Why did you show us this?”
“I wanted you to see the effects of the plague with your own eyes. I know you have doubts regarding the prophecy, but you’re the only one capable of saving us. Without you, we will all die.”
The sight of the sick korrigans is too much for me to bear. I glance away, struggling to contain my tears of shame. By the time I muster the strength to look up, the priest is gone.
“We should go,” says Jonn. He turns away from the sick humanoids and heads toward the gate. I hesitate for a moment, then follow.
“I’m not going,” says Kara.
Jonn and I stop.
“Why not?” asks the soldier.
“I can’t just leave them like this. I have to help.”
“You heard what the priest said. There’s nothing we can do for them.”
“I can ease their passing.”
“Why bother?”
Kara clenches her fists but says nothing. Jonn shrugs and walks off.
I hesitate for a moment, then follow.
Memory 30
I awake to the sound of Jonn and Kara arguing.
“You’re so stubborn,” groans Kara.
“I’m stubborn?” retorts Jonn. “Look who’s talking. I’m trying to get us out of this mess. What are you doing?”
“I’m taking care of the plague victims.”
“You’re playing nurse.”
“I’m helping them,” insists Kara.
“They’re already dead!” barks Jonn. “Don’t you get that?”
There’s a moment of silence, and I wonder whether I should let them know I’m awake. I’m about to sit when the arguing resumes.
“What do you hope to accomplish by leaving?” asks Kara.
“We need to locate Avalon. It’s the only way we’ll ever get out of this drowned time.”
There’s that word again. Drowned. From what I can gather, it’s an Atlantean curse, but I have yet to determine why such an innocuous word holds such dire meaning to my companions. Then again, perhaps I would view things differently had I grown up in an underwater city. But now isn’t the time to think of such things.
“There’s no proof Avalon sent us here,” says Kara.
“She did,” insists Jonn. “Trust me.”
Kara sighs again.
“Even if that’s true, how do you expect to find her? The jungle is huge. We could wander for months and still not find her.”
“We’ll find her. And when we do she’ll pay for everything she put us through.”
I perk up, hoping to learn something new, but neither of my companions reveals anything of use.
“I’m not letting you do this,” says Kara. “It’s too dangerous.”
Jonn scoffs.
“You can’t stop me. I’m leaving. Are you coming or staying?”
“I’m staying. I won’t abandon the korrigans.”
“Fine,” grunts Jonn. I hear the shuffling of boots, followed by the distinct echo of receding footsteps. Moments later, silence fills the air. I’m debating whether or not to make my wakefulness known when Kara leaves.
I sit and glance around.
I’m alone. Jonn is gone, and Kara is so focused on trying to help the korrigans she doesn’t have time for anything else. But what about me? What’s my role in all of this? The korrigans claim I’m a hero, but the truth is I’m just a teenager who got sucked into an adventure he never wanted. I’m not strong like Jonn. I’m not selfless like Kara. I’m just the son of a woman I never even met.
Jonn returns just as the sun is beginning to set. Sweat and blood cover every centimetre of his body, but he seems unharmed.
“What happened?” asks Kara.
“I fought a dinosaur,” answers Jonn. “I won.”
I gulp. It seems unlikely a man could survive an encounter with a prehistoric reptile, yet the grey-haired soldier’s appearance leaves no doubt in my mind that’s precisely what happened.
Jonn removes his knife and boots and places them next to his sleeping furs.
“What are you doing?” asks Kara.
“I stink. I’m going for a swim.”
“You can’t,” I blurt out.
“Is that so?” asks Jonn. “Who’s gonna stop me? You?”
I gulp again. I seem to be doing that a lot lately.
“Will’s right,” says Kara. “The river is sacred. You can’t bathe in it.”
J
onn grunts. Under normal circumstances, he would argue, but he seems exhausted.
“Whatever. Just don’t complain when I start smelling.”
I consider pointing out his body odour is already quite pungent, but that would only make things worse, so I say nothing and join Jonn and Kara for dinner. By the time we’re done, the sun has set and our third day in the korrigan village comes to a close.
Memory 31
I awake feeling rested and refreshed.
“That’s odd,” I mutter as I sit up and stretch. There’s no reason for me to be happy, yet I feel great. Amazing, even.
I glance around, but there’s no sign of my companions. If the past week is any indicator, Jonn is off somewhere looking for Avalon. As for Kara, she’s probably tending to the sick korrigans, doing her best to ease their passing.
A blur of movement catches my eye, and I turn to find Korri standing before me.
“Hi,” I say.
Korri gives me a big smile but, as usual, doesn’t speak. I’ve known him for a total of seven days, yet never have I heard him utter a single word. But that’s okay because he’s the only korrigan I’ve met who doesn’t treat me like the hero they believe me to be. He follows me everywhere I go, but he doesn’t seem to want anything from me. He just hangs around and smiles at me whenever I acknowledge him. At first, I found him kind of annoying, but now I’m grateful for the company.
“Hungry?” I ask.
Korri nods. He may not speak, but he understands everything I say.
I glance around, but our food supplies have run out. That means I’ll have to leave the cavern. Under normal circumstances, such a thought would terrify me, but for some reason, I’m looking forward to feeling the sun’s hot rays on my skin.
I put on the shoes the korrigans designed for me. They’re made of leather and string and take forever to put on, but they protect my feet better than any modern-day shoe ever could. Not to mention the fact that they’re incredibly comfortable.
“Ready?” I ask once I’m done.
Korri nods.
The change in ambient light is drastic, and it takes my eyes a moment to adjust. When the world finally comes into focus, I find a dozen korrigans gathered before me.
Some are male. Others are female. Some are elders. Others are mere children. All seem hopeful. Their rosy pigment tells me they adore me. Under normal circumstances, I would feel bad for giving them a false sense of safety, but the truth is Kara was right. Without me, they would be completely devoid of hope. For the first time in my life, I feel as though I’m making a difference. Perhaps being trapped in the past isn’t such a bad thing. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before the korrigans figure out I’m an imposter, but until that day comes, I’ll do my best to keep them from giving up.
“Good morning,” I say.
I receive a few smiles and waves in response, but no one speaks. They just stand there and stare at me. It’s about to become awkward when Korri tugs on my hand.
It’s the first time he’s touched me since that first day when I accidentally replicated his appearance. I half expect the now familiar heat to overwhelm me, but it doesn’t.
“What is it?” I ask.
Korri releases my hand and gestures for me to follow him.
“Do you want to show me something?”
Korri nods and runs off. I throw one final glance at the group of korrigans before following him.
The orange-haired korrigan leads me along the perimeter of the village, dodging the other korrigans with surprising ease. He may be small, but he moves quickly, and I have to jog just to keep up. We eventually reach a small wooden enclosure, but Korri runs right past it. I linger long enough to notice a dozen creatures standing within. They are a few heads taller than me and appear to be a cross between a bird and a dinosaur. I would like nothing more than to take a moment to study them, but Korri is pulling ahead.
“Wait up!” I call out, but the korrigan doesn’t hear me. I hurry in pursuit, but it’s not until he finally comes to a stop that I manage to catch up.
“You’re… fast… for a… small guy,” I pant.
Korri doesn’t respond. He merely points at something behind me, a proud smile curling his lips.
It’s a tree. The narrow trunk is so pale it’s almost white, and the leaves so dark they’re nearly black. But the tree is far from colourless. Thousands upon thousands of red fruit weigh down the branches, causing them to droop. A thick carpet of fallen fruit covers the ground beneath it.
“What are they?” I ask.
Korri’s response is to approach the nearest branch and pick a couple of fruit. He hands one to me and devours the other. I hesitate for a moment, then plop the fruit into my mouth and bite down.
A delighted moan escapes me as an explosion of juice splatters my tongue with flavour. It’s both sweet and sour, and I immediately recognize it as the juice my friends and I have been drinking for the past week.
Korri and I spend the next few minutes stuffing our faces. It’s not until someone calls my name that I realize how full I am. I groan as I turn to find the korrigan priest striding toward me.
“Good morning,” he says.
“Good—” I begin, but the second half of the sentence is cut off by a powerful belch. It’s not until Korri starts laughing that I realize he’s the one who burped. I have no idea how such a small being can produce such a powerful sound, but I’m grateful for the joy it brings me.
“I see you two are having a good time,” says the priest.
“Yeah,” I admit. “Korri’s a cool guy.”
“Cool?”
“It means ‘nice,’” I explain. I hesitate for a moment then add, “Why are you here?”
“I was hoping we could take a walk. There’s something I would like to discuss with you.”
I glance at Korri, who shrugs.
“Okay,” I agree.
Moments later, we’re walking through the village. Korri follows a short distance behind. I feel sorry for him, but there’s nothing I can do to change the way the other korrigans treat him. He’s a freak—at least by korrigan standards—and that makes him an outcast.
“I saw a bunch of feathered dinosaurs in a holding pen,” I say when the priest fails to speak. “What are they?”
“They’re called kaars. We use them to transport the food we can’t grow within the village limits. We also use them when travelling great distances. It’s much easier than walking.”
I can’t help smiling. Not only is the name reminiscent of modern-day vehicles, but their use is surprisingly similar.
We spend another minute or so walking in silence. I’m just about to ask another question when the priest finally speaks.
“When are you planning on leaving?” he asks.
My heart skips a beat.
“Leaving? Why would I leave?”
“You’re our saviour,” reminds the priest. “Your destiny is to travel to the Mountain of Fire and speak to Korrigana. The longer you delay, the more of us will die.”
I don’t know what to say. Should I admit I’m not the one they have been waiting for, or should I continue stringing them along? Lying doesn’t feel like the answer, but telling the truth would be even more devastating. I’m debating what to do when the priest collapses.
I watch in stunned disbelief as red veins appear across his entire frame. His small limbs shake uncontrollably. Red froth spills from his mouth as his now bloodshot eyes roll back in their sockets. Korrigans converge from all directions to help. I just stand there, too stunned to react. Now more than ever, I regret accepting my role as saviour of the korrigans.
Memory 32
G et up!” The voice yanks me from my slumber, and I bolt upright. I glance around, my heart pounding. Kara and Korri are still sound asleep, but Jonn is already up and about. In fact, he’s the one who woke me.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
He shushes me and nods to Kara and Korri. He then gestures for me to follow
him and walks out of the cavern. I hesitate for a moment, then get dressed and follow him.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“I’m going to look for Avalon,” he says, “and you’re coming with me.”
The thought of spending a full day alone with Jonn is far from appealing, but I can’t deny the fact that a day of exploration would be a nice change of pace. I haven’t left the cavern once since the korrigan priest collapsed. That was almost a full week ago. Now seems like as good a time as any for me to reintegrate the real world.
“All right,” I finally agree. “Where are we going?”
Jonn doesn’t answer. He pulls out his knife and, weapon in hand, vanishes into the nearby jungle. I hesitate for a moment before following him.
Jonn leads me deep into the jungle. For the first half hour or so I keep staring over my shoulder, terrified that a hungry beast will sneak up on us and maul us to death. When it finally becomes clear not even dinosaurs dare attack Jonn, I decide to get some answers. Since getting the grey-haired soldier to open up will be hard enough in and of itself, I choose to begin with something simple.
“What’s with the pendant?” I ask.
Jonn keeps walking. I’m about to repeat the question when he finally answers.
“What pendant?”
“The one the korrigans stole from you two weeks ago,” I say. “Why do you care about it so much?
There’s another long silence during which all I can hear is the squawking of birds, the chirping of insects, and the distant roar of dinosaurs.
“It’s none of your business,” finally says Jonn as he comes to a stop. I half expect him to spin around and attack me for prying into his business, but he pulls out his knife and uses it to cut a thick vine. The two severed pieces swing apart, and Jonn marches on.
Since the grey-haired soldier won’t answer my question, I decide to share a story of my own.
