“How so?”
“If we open the crates and find them filled with money, it won’t do the alliance any good.”
“That may be true, but it’s just as likely we’ll be playing into their hands if we don’t open the crates. We’ve tried all your ideas so far, but none of them helped.. and now a chance like this shows up? What else can this be but God’s will? If we let this chance slip by us, all of our efforts will be for naught!”
“Yeah!”
A wave of cheers rose up. It was clear who they felt was the coward, and who being brave. It was rare, after all, to live in a time where wise men were as valued as brave ones.
“And even if it is a trap, we’ll still have to get out of here. The idea right from the start was that we’d pack up and leave if we couldn’t buy the land, so it’s the same either way. So how can we not drop everything to run to the profit!?”
“That’s right!”
The crowd shouted and surged forward. Lawrence, Holo and Cole were pushed up toward the wall. Lawrence just barely noticed the alliance officials behind the blood-thirsty mob, who apparently didn’t intend to stop them.
“Hold up.. come to think of it, you’re not a member of our alliance, are you?”
His blood ran cold, but it wasn’t due to the weather. Anyone who traveled for a living found that kind of line more terrifying that a wolf’s howl. Lawrence looked around him, and saw a gang of men he wasn’t affiliated with.
“You must be trying to stall us to buy yourself time.”
The very moment one was accused of being a spy, it became practically impossible to clear that accusation. The only response the accusers would accept was an admission of guilt.
“Hey.. so are you or are you not?”
Beads of sweat rolled down Lawrence’s cheeks and his eyes wavered. He had a knife buckled to his belt, but he was doomed in such a large group of people. And the moment he pulled out a knife, he’d lose what little chance he had to prove his innocence.
What could he do? He fought to think of a solution. Huskins had left everything up to him, because he considered the human world too complicated and his own hooves too powerless. Because of that, Lawrence was about to be crushed by a group of people the moment the situation reversed.
The men began to close around Lawrence and his companions, and they probably had no avenue to escape. Was this really the end? He shielded Cole and Holo as he desperately hunted for a solution, no matter how paradoxical or absurd.
If he couldn’t stop the alliance from taking this course of action, there was practically no way to save the monastery from walking the path to their own destruction. Huskins would lose the second home he had worked so hard to build, and all Holo would be left with was the realization that her kind no longer had a place in the world.
Naturally, there was no way he’d stand back and watch that happen. But all that was left was for someone to reach out to them, and the mob would rush to their assault. They were cornered. Even Holo showed a look of submission, and raised her hand to her chest.
Was this the only crude way left for those beings, once revered as gods, to use their power? Lawrence could feel how much this pained her, and it made him want to cry out with all his might at his own helplessness.
Huskins was going to have to leave, and take countless sheep with him-
“Wha-?”
Just before an avalanche of men rushed at them, a vision of a large herd of sheep flowing across the land flashed across his eyes.
“Please hold on!”
He shouted out.
“Wait up! I’ve got it, a way to verify what’s in the crates!”
Silence flooded the room a split second before all hell had broken loose. He had made his breakthrough at the very last possible instant.
“What was that?”
This was the decisive moment, if he wanted to pacify this mob that was about to turn violent. And one of the alliance officials seemed to perceive this, immediately taking the initiative to speak.
“Hold on a minute! Let’s hear what he has to say first!”
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that things were one step away from becoming a bloodbath. Lawrence breath in deeply, exhaled, and breathed in deeply once more before speaking.
“Any trap would be completely useless if we’re not the ones to fall into it.”
Another of the officials jumped in.
“What do you mean?”
“If they’ve planned to set up the alliance, then we just have to let someone else spring the trap, and then it’ll be totally ineffective.”
“Hmm.. so you mean you’ll go check the crates in our place?”
Such a thing would be useless, since Lawrence could no more prove to the monastery that he wasn’t in the alliance, than he could to prove to the alliance that he wasn’t a spy. So of course he shook his head in response.
“If not you, then who?”
Lawrence wasn’t very confident in his own idea, but a certain person was helping him rediscover his courage and maintain his composure.. the very person that now held his hand firmly, Holo. He wouldn’t be in this mess if he was only looking out for number one.
“The sheep.”
Everyone again stopped for a moment after that brief utterance.
“..So we do still have another option!”
The situation had once again reversed.
* * *
It goes without saying that sheep are the ideal representatives of the gentle herbivores. Yet, as Norah the shepherdess once mentioned, they do not understand the meaning of restraint.
The same applied to Huskins, the Golden Sheep. Once his mind was made up, nothing could stop him. He had even taken to eating his own kind’s flesh in order to blend into human society.. as if he thought nothing of it.
A flock of sheep would march right off a cliff under a shepherd’s guidance. People frequently suffered injuries when they were swept up into such flocks.
The monastery had laid a trap, and even prepared for a bloody battle with the alliance when they came to spring that trap, in order to blame them. But even a band of mercenaries would be powerless to stem the tide of a massive flock of sheep, much less the monastery.
Lawrence and his companions had themselves witnessed just how massive the flocks were here at this branch of the monastery, not to mention the skill of their shepherds. That’s why not even a single mouth opened in opposition to Lawrence’s proposal.
“..And that’s basically it.”
Lawrence had just finished explaining the plan to Huskins, who sat next to the furnace like some immobile rock that had gathered moss, when he finally slowly moved once.
“You are asking me to use sheep.. to attack humans?”
“More or less.”
Holo stood next to the door with a listless expression. Cole had stayed behind at the alliance’s inn, essentially as a hostage.
“Will you lend us your strength, Mr. Huskins?”
No one was better-suited for a plan involving sheep. The only obstacle to overcome might be his pride as the Golden Sheep, an existence hailed as a god in days gone by. But in this era, the power of the ancients no longer held the sway it once did - he couldn’t act on his own volition, and had to use his power in accordance with the rules of men.
Huskins had been reduced to the role of a pawn, and he couldn’t even be considered a powerful supporter from the shadows. The pain of knowing this was completely different from the pain of being confronted by it. Even Lawrence felt stung the first time someone had dismissed his name, only to reverse their attitude when they heard the name of his guild. Those were the moments that made one realize just how little they were worth - just a speck in a vast ocean.
Huskins tossed a piece of wood into the stove, and the flames danced high.
“Haha.. so it’s come to this at last.”
His words both made it seem like he was enjoying his fallen state, and that he was even more straightforward and accepting t
han expected. Even after taking the form of a human and crossing the point of no return, he could laugh such things off. Watching his last lines of defense crumble away like this was both painful and beautiful to behold.
And yet, after hearing his words, Holo interjected as she leaned against the door.
“Have you forgotten who it was who asked for my companion’s assistance?”
He turned his broad neck toward her and stared at her with piercing eyes as the corners of his lips rose.
“Holo.”
As Lawrence called out, Huskins shifted his gaze to Lawrence and spoke in high spirits.
“It’s fine. After all, only a man understands the beauty of decadence, right?”
He was once responsible for leading the wild sheep that roamed the grassy meadows, but now he had to protect their temporary place of refuge. His sense of responsibility and strong will had enveloped him like a suit of armor, even covering his emotions. There was no room for pain, sadness or revulsion. He had to bear these things and stubbornly push forward.
He was the sheep’s representative, so hearing that one dignified line from him made it clear that this monk-like shepherd was capable of appreciating beauty, and was indeed a being of flesh and blood. Holo seemed to feel slighted, and wanted to open her mouth to retort, but that line was apparently enough to keep her quiet.
Lawrence quickly reached out his arm to support Huskins when he noticed his desire to get up.
“Then you’re willing to lend us your support?”
He was slightly shorter than Lawrence when he stood up, but his strong and sturdy frame gave off an air of authority. His curly silver hair and beard shook as if each strand was electrified. In that instant Lawrence beheld the splendor of Huskins’ true form.
“Of course. Who else but me could perform this task?”
He lightly took his shepherd’s staff, causing the bell affixed to it to chime pleasantly.
“I thank you dearly. With this, I’ll finally have a role in this new world.”
Lawrence could only smile wistfully at that response. Huskins then turned back to look at Holo while he spoke.
“We can no longer act as freely as we once did, but..”
He then looked back at his hand, before his eyes finally settled on the wood in the stove that had finally begun to burn.
“But we still have places to call home, and can still find a purpose just like this. You haven’t even seen your hometown yet, so don’t go looking like you’ll burst into tears at any moment. Don’t go troubling this young man like that.”
Her eyes widened, and it was clear even through her hood that her ears had sprung up stiffly in irritation. Lawrence figured her tail was probably swollen to a great size as well. Despite that anger all she could manage as Huskins left the room was a soft murmur.
“To think a mere sheep would be so bold as to discipline me.”
Apparently there were things that only she and Huskins could understand. Their eyes may have only met for a moment, but it seemed they had read each other’s minds. Lawrence led Huskins to the alliance inn, with Holo trailing them a few moments later. When they arrived, everyone took one look at Huskins and seemed to agree that he was up to the task.
The plan proceeded smoothly from there, and a flock of sheep seemed to have been conjured up in the blink of an eye. The monks who remained at the branch seemed puzzled over why sheep were being led out at such an hour.
The sound of the flock’s marching hooves rang loudly to the heavens as they left, like the thunderous clamor of an earthquake. Huskins, with staff in hand, stood alone before that herd. Lawrence and Holo held hands as they watched his back march away from them.
Epilogue
A team of horses kicked up snow as they sped off to disappear over the horizon. Their purpose was to make it to the monastery’s main branch and bear witness to the final battle about to unfold there.
The rider at the forefront held a powerful weapon at his bosom which took the entire night to forge. It was a weapon sharper than any other, thanks to the vital truth that Huskins carried with him. It wasn’t likely to take much time or effort to settle this conflict.
One couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for the monastery’s leadership as they pictured them falling into despair as they trudged along a path of trodden snow. The decision that leadership had made was quite worthy of respect, being the best option of the few that were left to them.
Had Lawrence not been the one to mention the possibility that the monastery was trapping them, another member of the alliance would have been forced to do so. At that point the alliance would have been divided to the point where they couldn’t properly operate.
Then, even if a group headed out after they extensively debated whether or not to confirm the contents of the crates, it would not have been a very large group. That was probably what the monastery had been aiming for.
Pisky had been in the first team to vanish over the horizon and was probably already in the extravagant halls of the main monastery, reciting the alliance’s proposal to them.
It turned out that the crates were full of stones. That meant the monastery very likely had a stash of money hidden away that was originally meant for taxes or something like the wolf’s bones, which couldn’t be made public. Regardless of why they were carrying stones, it would be praiseworthy to inform the king of their intentions.
But the monastery wasn’t stupid, and they knew when it was time to back down. Since they were out of options, all they could do now was find a way to surrender with dignity and keep on stubbornly surviving as they always had.
Lawrence drew in a long, thin breath of air, then slowly exhaled it. The snowy plains looked like a sea that had been frozen in time. Walking under the clear blue sky all alone on that snow felt rather pleasant.
No one accompanied Lawrence. As he expected, Holo had picked up her coat and mounted a horse to join the first team to the monastery before anyone could refuse her. Since the monastery had no choice but to reveal their treasures once they were cornered, her tail was probably swishing excitedly the entire time.
That snowy path, trampled by countless sheep, was as easy to walk as one paved in stone. Lawrence reached the hill named Sirelli in no time.
One could circle the crown of the hill and glimpse the entirety of the path that wound around the hill from the north to the east. It might be easier to simply say that there was no better vantage point to witness the utter failure of the monastery’s plans.
“Longswords and bows won’t have even the slightest effect.”
Several red stains could be seen on the path, left behind by those who had panicked as they readied themselves for battle. But their efforts against such a vast number of sheep were as futile as any efforts Holo and Huskins might take to confront humanity.
Everyone had fallen unconscious around the sled, having been surrounded and then overrun by the immense herd. Indeed, they must have been planning to turn around and attack the alliance when they came to survey the crates, and then pin the blame on them. They were simply over-armed, even if they were transporting crates of money.
If it had come down to combat between men, there would surely have been many casualties. Lawrence surveyed the scene before him when Huskins, who was just then gathering the sheep along the path, noticed and approached him.
“What ho!”
What a leisurely greeting.
“I’m quite happy to see you unharmed and in high spirits.”
“Haha.. of course I am. I truly didn’t expect to be able to resolve this with my own hands.”
“You did deal the decisive blow.”
“Is that so.. we stand above humans, and humans stand above sheep. But times change. Someday that order shall be reversed.”
The monastery clearly never imagined in their wildest dreams that the alliance would send a flock of sheep. Indeed, if Lawrence didn’t know about Huskins he wouldn’t have been able to picture something like this.
/> “Oh yes, where did that young wolf go off to?”
“You mean Holo? She should be in the monastery’s treasure vault right about now.”
“Haha! Is that so..”
After laughing a while, Huskins’ gaze dropped to his feet. Seeing that made Lawrence respond.
“Is something wrong?”
“Hmm? Oh.. it’s nothing.. just that I’ve been treating that wolf like a kid, when it seems that I’m the child here.”
He narrowed his eyes and stared off into the distance. Lawrence could see a pleased smile under his beard.
“Hardship makes people cherish one another. I can’t help but wonder if I’ve started belonging to another group.”
“..Do you mean..”
“That’s alright.. it’s good if you take my meaning, but don’t say it aloud. Wolf and sheep will remain wolf and sheep, that’s just the natural order of things.”
Huskins exhaled deeply, almost as if sighing. He then inhaled, gave his bell a shake, and ran off to gather the sheep that were already beginning to stray in every direction. After Lawrence watched him do this for a while, Huskins finally turned to him and spoke again.
“Just how long do you plan to ignore the natural order?”
Lawrence shot him a sidelong glance, only to discover Huskins’ narrowed eyes watching his sheepdog. He scratched his head before slowly replying.
“I’m a merchant, so probably until there’s no more profit to be had.”
Completely practical answers would always seem like jokes. Huskins burst into laughter after a moment of silence.
“That was a foolish question. The same is true for me.. though I’m a sheep, I’m oddly attached to that sheepdog.”
“Why did you ask me such a thing?”
Huskins intentionally split open his mouth to reveal his teeth and widen his grin. From his profile, he looked like a veteran soldier who had survived hundreds of battles.
“I’m trying to decide which side to tell.”
“..About what?”
“This place is where my companions gather, so information naturally flows here.”
Huskins was a sheep. He had told Lawrence that his companions were still scattered everywhere, which would mean that information from a huge area would surely gather here. He looked Lawrence square in the eyes, reflecting a profoundness that only someone of countless years could show.
Spice & Wolf X (DWT) Page 23
