The Phugwak planet: A Journey To Another Possibility

by Ayman Ghalit

  Keen Perceiver

  By force, they closed the gates as they desperately reassured the trapped Phugwaks that they will evacuate them when the time is right. Clark ordered his armed men to spread throughout the zone, and take advantage of every beneficial spot to watch the ground and the sky. And near the subway gate, Clark and Thanker argued about the evacuating idea after realizing that the train will not carry much, adding to that the countless Phugwaks who remained in fear and doubt underneath.

  “I knew this will happen.” said Thanker.

  Clark ignored him, looked at the guys, and asked, “Anyone know how to use a gun?”

  In fear, they looked at each other, and said, “No.”

  “A trigger! Does it become too difficult for your forefinger to pull it?”

  Thanker disappointingly sighed, and said “How piteous! using those to fight your war? You are indeed, pathetic.”

  “Spare me your loathsome comments, Thanker. And what’s wrong with that? It is our war.”

  “This war needs restless training. You will only send them to Death as they will be an easy target.”

  When Clark wanted to replay, a voice lanced through all the noises, saying, “Wrong again. War needs faith.”

  They swiftly turned, and with widened bewildered eyes, they both, disbelievingly, said “Heavens Blood!?”

  The man was tall, thin, and with one arm. He was one of the highly wanted Phugwak, Canth the Heavens Blood. He smilingly replied, “By his singular arm.”

  They hugged and greeted him. Thanker, who swore he saw the building collapses on him, said, “I thought you were buried in that building.”

  “You thought wrong again, Thanker.”

  “Oh! I see you a man with one arm now! Pretty sure your activity and options drastically decreased, no?”

  He chuckled a bit, and replied, “Can’t agree more. But sad am not, for am pretty sure you will be there to lend me a hand.”

  “A friend in need is a fiend indeed.” Thanker chuckled.

  They asked him of what, how, when, and why. And while he was answering them, he stared at the guys in a strange way. It was as if he scanning them. Moments after, he ignored their conversation, approach the guys, and asked, “Who are those?”

  “Uh? Phugwaks!” confused Clark answered.

  “Nay! …nay, they are not.”

  Carl, who was sure they had X marked his photo in the newspaper after approaching him, felt worried, and said in thoughts, “This is not good!”

  “What are they then?” sarcastically, Clark asked.

  Canth sniffed the air near them, and said, “No, they are not. There is something wrong with them. There is something undoubtingly odd with those, am pretty sure about it.”

  “Leave the Phugwaks alone!” Thanker urged.

  “Where are you from?” Canth asked Carl.

  Carl puzzled over, and replied, “We are from Zaimur.”

  “Zaimur is a state. Where exactly in Zaimur?”

  “Umm… we are from the South.”

  “What is your hometown name?”

  “It is none of your business.” Gael answered.

  Canth looked straight in Gael’s eyes, and said “You are not from Zaimur… Where are you from.”

  Thanker pulled Canth by his shoulder, and whispered “What’s wrong with ye? Of course, they are not from there. They want to run like everybody else.”

  “I am sure about this, they are not Phug—!”

  A warner’s shouting, “Jets approaching!” saved their day by putting an end to Canth’s agitating questions. Then, they parted away from Clack and his friends, and hastily ran to take shelter as the whizzing jet’s engine roamed the sky. But luckily this time, the rebels prevented them from achieving their goals by pinning down two jets, and forcing the others to retreat.

  Lion-Headed Donkey

  The frightened group became in liberty to discuss their matter. Gael who were panting, said, “Sheesh! That was close. We have to escape this, we have to escape this damned place right now. Damn it, we almost forgot that they might find out we are aliens!”

  “To where should we go?” concerningly, Bob asked.

  “Anywhere far from here. Let us head to the train and join the refugees. We can blind in easily if we just shut our mouths up.”

  “No,” said Carl who strongly rejected the idea. “We should not do such foolish move. The train is an easy target, we should stay far away from the Phugwaks.”

  “What about food?” Bob asked. “Am too hungry and thirsty. My throat is dry and I didn’t take a bite since yesterday.”

  “We all are.” Jack replied. “Food is easy, but how are we going to secure the water?”

  “We will figure a way out,” said Gael, “now, let’s just escape this place as soon as possible.”

  Throughout the destructed golden buildings, they followed the Phugwaks hordes toward the train station. Moment later, a tree creak averted their attention. They saw far on their left, behind a wrecked golden-wall, the lion-headed donkey eating from a short fleshy tree. Gael stopped, and looked at Carl who knew exactly what he was thinking about, saying, “No, no, no. No! that is going to put us in trouble, Gael. They will notice its disappearance.”

  “Trouble? There is no trouble more than the situation we are stuck in. And unfortunately for us right now, it is kill or die. The death of this animal became a necessity for our survival, thus, we have to neutralize it.”

  “Yes, shoot the bitch. We have to stay alive,” Bob urged.

  “Alright,” Carl agreed. “Just make it quick, and silent.”

  While scanning the area left and right to make sure no one is watching, Gael searched for anything that may preserve water. He went to a golden garbage container, searched it, and found three big plastic cans, and a black plastic bag that they had to clean up. Then, he easily approached the peaceful lion-headed donkey, as it was one of domesticated animal which was dragging the carts. Bob checked his surrounding, and said, ‘coast is clear!’ Gael looked at the animal which was big in size, yellowish in color, and with a visible horizontal scar on its forehead. It was careless, and calmly eating from the tree. He pasted his built-in-suppressor pistol on its head, closed his eyes, and squeezed the trigger, saying, “Am sorry.” It took him one shot to completely shut down the animal nervous system. Immediately, it fell on the ground trembling and leaking water. And caring not about it, he rushed, took the cans, and placed its bore on the holes of the animal’s skull. They managed to fill two cans with water mixed with short animal hair. Gael then commanded them to drink from the animal’s head and leave the cans for the upcoming journey. They incontinently started to suckle the water from the animal holes, some had to stand on the animal and squeeze its organs in hope for more leakage. It was indeed, uncivilized scenery, but they cared not about that, for it was the only way to survive. Gael started to pluck leaves from the tree and eat it raw. They all questionably looked him, and with a mouthful of food, he said, “What! we got to survive.”

  They followed his act, forcing themselves to eat raw meat and suckle water from the lion-headed donkey. And after feeling full, they dragged the donkey to a hidden place. Then, they hastily left the crime scene toward the train station.

  Hugs Amidst the Ruins

  Surrounded by flaming ruins, Kais walked with Alma, following the grieving hordes toward the station. Everyone were in a fear and pain, blaming and cursing Draven, the Emperor. Moments after, Alma, looked left and right, as if she were trying to figure out a flattened place. Then, she fearfully gasped while putting her hand over her mouth, saying “I know this Place!”

  “Our time is growing short, we have to go.” Kais urged.

  She parted away from the hordes, and hasted toward a place she had recognized. “Alma, no!” he said as he followed her. Moments later, he found her on her knees, weeping a devastated place. She was before Mawan’s Cup sign, which was lying on the ground. The view broke her heart as she recalled her memories and hopes in h
er innocent workplace that didn’t survive the woe. And what made her tears rabidly flows, was the clear distinct aroma of the Phugwakian coffee. Kaiser slowly approached, knelt behind her, and placed his palms over her shoulders. Calmly, he said “Let us leave. Tears won’t do you good in here, it’s done, Alma. Come on, lets lea—!”

  A wave of loud jets followed by frightening shots of some Anti-Aircraft rounds silenced him. He then tightly closed his eyes in fear, as he was waiting for his end, but moments after, quietness roamed again. He opened his eyes to find her tightly clutching on him while pasting her tearful face over his chest. He gently wiped her hair and kissed it, then comforted her, saying, “Fear not, I am with you. I will never forsake you no matter what. Everything is going to be fine, my love, I promise.”

  He stood, and grabbed her arm to help her standing. Tearful she was when she mournfully thanked him. After that, they left to the station. And through the golden ruins, and far from the deafening noises, Kaiser walked with Alma, who had been silenced by grieve and concern. “How do you feel now?” he asked.

  She sorrowfully sighed, and replied, “Who is feeling happy in here?”

  “Smile, and erase this grim face, dove. It is done, tears won’t change a thing.”

  “Easy for you to say such words. I truly wonder how come you are not sad or in fear?”

  “Because I do believe that the morrow will be joyful.”

  “We have been displaced, how is the morrow will be joyful? I know nothing about my family? are they a live, dead, or buried beneath what they thought will save them? We are going to be refugees and aliens in another Phugwak’s land, how can we be happy?”

  “We will live together, and we shall share grief and joy, isn’t that joyful? We are going to build what have been destroyed, isn’t that joyful? The sun will soar up again, and will cast its light to perish this darkness. Injustice, fear, and despair will fade. Oppression will stop, and we will be free to choose. Together, we are going to sow and harvest, build and fix, sing and dance when freedom is justly squared. Isn’t this joyful?”

  “Yes, bu—”

  “And I will cover you with stones from head to toe,” he interrupted what she wanted to say. That made her faintly chuckle, and said, “I only want you to stay with me.”

  He tightly held her hand, and said “It is a promise that I will keep. I shall cover you with stones from head to toe.”

  “You don’t have to promise me anything.”

  “You shall see, dove. I promise, as I also promise that I shall stay with you till they carry me in a nailed coffin.”

  “Truly, you are one odd Phugwak!” she replied. Then, she paused wondering in silence for a bit, trying to find prober words. And when she failed to do so, she said, “Am not sure, and I can’t find what is it, but there is something strange about you, Kaiser. I clearly can sense a peculiar aura looming from you!”

  “Wow, I wonder what is it?”

  “I don’t know... you somehow look different. You also have this nicely strange scent. There is a strange flow of energy I can sense coursing inside of you. And most importantly, how come that you don’t care about what is happening?”

  “I only care about the one I love, and that is you, Alma. I don’t care about most of the people around me.”

  “People!?” she wondered.

  After realizing his tongue has slipped, he paused and thought about telling her the truth, but he concluded that this is not the right time nor the right place for that. So, he rearranged his thoughts, cleared his throat, and said, “Yea! People. It is a fancy word that means Phugwaks.”

  “Hmm? Am pretty sure there is no such word.”

  “Trust me, there is. It is a philosophical one, and I just used it to impress you, dove.”

  “Oh! If that is the case, then you don’t have to. But the thing that I find strange about you is… umm? what is it? There is something strange, but I can’t describe it. It is like you are not from here. You seem to be substantially different than everyone. I don’t know...”

  He smilingly replied, “I might be the long-awaited alien who comes from space and marry you!”

  She faintly laughed, and said: “Oh, let’s cut this out. Sorry if I brought you bad thoughts. But truly, thank God that you are with me, I truly felt so relieved when I saw you at the gate.”

  Kais gently squeezed her soft mushy right cheek, and said, “Your wish is my command, dove. And umm, by the way, you look way too cute in the pajamas.”

  She swiftly blushed and, said “Oh! Bullocks! I totally forgot I am still wearing it, please, walk in front of me, I don’t want you to see me like this.”

  “I will certainly not. And fear not, one day, I will show you mine. It’s not purple, thought. We will wear pajamas and watch movies together, all day long.”

  “Well, that’s sounds fun. I will be waiting for that.”

  Sheltered by love, Kaiser felt no fear, nor fright. He felt proud of himself. He felt himself as a mighty man who can protect and provide. He was so happy, though he was surrounded by pain and misery. He was totally carefree, though they are still lost and far, far away from home. He said in thoughts, “Finally, after all these miserable wandering years, I found her at last.” And as the station became visually clear, they passed by a big tree, akin in look to Earth’s Appletree. His friends were sitting underneath its shade. Bob, who noticed him, waved and loudly called him. He gestured them telling he will catch up later. And when they reached the crowded station, a grown man voice called out loud, “Alma!” She turned to see it was her dad. She tearfully rushed and warmly hugged him. Her mother and her little sister gathered around her shortly after. The reunion was emotional, filled with joyful tears and hugs. Then, she introduced Kaiser to her family. Her father Robert Ronson, her mother Ellen, and her little sister Odette. They sincerely thanked him for taking care of their daughter, saying that they almost lost hope. Minutes after, they carried their bags and left to the train.

  With both hands, Alma grabbed Kais’s hand, and said “This place is no longer safe, leave with us.”

  He brought her hands closer to his mouth, and kissed it, saying “Hadn’t I tell you things will be joyful?... But alas, my dear, I can’t accompany you now. I have to deal with some issues. I promise that I will meet you in Zaimur.”

  “Alright then, but please, Kais, stay safe. And don’t take too long, because I will be waiting for you.”

  “I will, dove. Just take care of yourself”

  “You too.”

  They parted their ways, as he painfully bid her farewell. She then joined her family whom were waiting for her in the last train trailer. After that, he left to his waiting friends while saying:

  “Fate forced my beloved to leave.

  Amidst the dead, in the land of Darg.

  Pain I feel, and in agony I heave.

  Flowing my eyes, it needs a clog.”

  Wilting Gladness

  Kaiser reunited with his friends whom were still shading under that tree that grows hearts. They were so eager to know his story with her, and curiosity urged them to ask about the girl first, except for Jack, who handed him a bottle of water to wash down his dry throat.

  “You are one sneaky man. She was the coffee girl!”

  “All fair in love and war, Bob.”

  “Does she know about your true self?” asked Jack.

  “No, but I will tell her sooner or later.”

  “Later!” said Gael with a surprised face, “There will be no later for us in here.”

  “Did Mort call?” he calmly replied.

  “No.” Bob answered.

  “Then, there will be a later.”

  “Pardon my rude tongue, but who was she?” Gael asked.

  “Someone whom I fell deeply in love with.”

  “How nonsensical!” Gael responded.

  “No, Gael, it not. Let me tell you what’s truly sound nonsensical; I will be with her, I will fight for her, and I will even marry and spend the rest of my
life with her.”

  With surprised widened eyes, he sarcastically cackled, and said, “Foolish indeed, are you serious?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “We discussed this earlier,” said Carl. “She is literally different than us!”

  “I care not about this matter anymore.”

  Gael confronted, “Kais! Wake up! Wake up from this stupid dream of yours. Wake up from theses pseudo feelings. Don’t emotionally venture with her, Kaiser… you got nothing in common, not in food nor in drink, not in illness nor in health, not in planet nor in galaxy, not in smell nor in taste. Your road is largely blocked, you will be left with nothing but a finger-biting regret.”

  “True, but we got what is much stronger and eternal.”

  “And what could that be!?”

  “Love.”

  Gael paused for a moment, looking at the guys, as if saying ‘Do you hear this?’ Then, he let out a ridiculing chuckle, and said, “Alright! This is nothing but a meager dream that will eventually be crushed by reality. Look around you, Kais. What does your brain really tell you!? Am pretty sure it is screaming out loud, ‘It is a lie.’ You know who is she, but she doesn’t know your reality, and that reality is that you are nothing but an alien.”

  With questioning eyes, Kais looked him in the eyes, and said, “Why is that I find you envious, Gael?”

  “Envious! who? me! No... no, by God I swear. I am the honest warner. The one who gives you the true advice that may bring you back to reality. Because, this delusional feeling will badly hurt you.”

  “Much obliged then, but I made up my mind, and nothing you can do about it. And if it is regret that’s await me? Then, be it.”

  “Kais! look up.” said Carl who pointed at the fleshy-leaved tree and its tiny throbbing heart-fruits. “This is us, Kais. You have to understand.”