by Jason Letts
“So every night before goin’ to bed you saw this,” Clara said. The cool grass tickled the back of her legs, and the breeze felt nice against her fingers.
“Not at all,” Mira replied, settling down on her side. “Dad enclosed me in a wall of mist, and I never saw anything outside of this yard except for the sun, which managed to burn through. That was until you came to find me here and everything changed.”
Clara had heard the story of how she appeared in the cloud that surrounded this place, but it always made her sad to think about.
“I gots no memory of it. I didn’t even mean to. It itched something awful to know there was a family who’d forgotten me, and I wanted to stamp it out and get rid of it.”
“I know, I know,” Mira said, putting her hand onto her shoulder and comforting her. It still felt strange to be touched. For most of her life, Clara had lived in her mind where she could never feel anything. “But there was a part of you that wanted to come home, and that’s what brought you here.”
“I’m ’fraid I can’t never be normal. I don’t know nothing what to say ’round your friends.”
“It was hard for me too, at first, but you’re doing fine. When you make yourself appear, you can be so confident. Soon you’ll realize what you have right here deserves all the same respect. Mom, Dad, and myself, we’re all going to support you. It’ll be OK,” Mira promised.
“Thank you for believing in me.” Clara nodded, brushing the hair out of her eyes. “Alright, I’m gonna try.”
Mira rubbed her hands together, and Clara pulled her legs up to her chest. The evening was chilly, and fall wouldn’t be too far away. Clara glanced at the sky until Mira’s hand on her shoulder drew her attention away. She had a serious, pained look in her eye, and the meaning of it struck Clara.
“There’s something I need you to do for us,” Mira began, her voice quivering but her eyes dry. “This has been our story, and we’ve been reunited, but far more than a single family was torn apart in the process. My friends, our friends, their families are still out there. They hold up well, but I see them hoping they’ve come home every time they turn their heads at the sound of a new arrival.
“I need you to find them, Clara, find them all. Use Knoll if you need to, and don’t stop until everyone is free from our pain. You can’t ever stop. There’s nothing more important than a family being together, and you’re the only one who can put their worries to rest.”
Though it appeared as though she wanted to say more, Mira stopped speaking all of a sudden. It took Clara a moment to realize what she was proposing. This was a mission, and Clara never said no to a mission. More than that, it was a way to assuage her guilt over what she’d done and prove herself to Mira’s friends. A smile came across her lips, one she couldn’t restrain.
“You got yourself a deal!” she glowed.
Mira didn’t say anything, though she seemed to be relieved. Suddenly a shadow cast itself over her, blocking out the web’s dim light. It was Clara’s projection, hovering triumphantly in the air above.
“I’ll find ’em,” she declared. “Don’t you worry yourself none ’bout that.”
“Good luck,” Mira whispered, and the apparition floated off into the air. Even though she was already beginning her search, it was comforting for Clara to remain beside her sister.
“Ain’t nothing can go wrong as long’s I’m right here with you.”
Mira smiled and reached out to pull her closer. They fell back against the cool grass and stared at the great web of interconnected stars.
Roselyn couldn’t remember a day she had ever been more nervous. She’d gotten up while it was still dark to clean her hair and bathe. During the morning, it was impossible to sit still. The butterflies in her stomach rattled around, making her jump and twitch at the slightest impulse. There had been less and less to do as the new outpost approached completion, and Roselyn had taken to making and repairing clothes. The first piece she restored was a white dress of her mother’s, which hadn’t moved from its place under the storage shed behind her old house. She wore it now, though it was just a little loose and the long lace would brush against the ground.
It was a special occasion after all. The outpost was finished, and there would be a special celebration and feast. The massive structure of criss-crossing archways supported a roof that looked spindly like a spider, but it was elegant too. Marble blocks formed its frame, which housed wooden halls, a marketplace square, and in the center a flowing fountain. It was beautiful, and Roselyn took a great deal of pride in knowing she had designed it alongside Mira, though this was not the source of her nerves at all.
Creeping behind one of the archway legs, Roselyn peeked around to spot her friends attending to the construction materials in the square. It was quite clear Mira had become a ball of nerves as well, and she restlessly went about her labors despite the pleadings of the others.
“I’m telling you, Mira. You can relax. It’s all done,” Will said, and he looked so handsome. Frazzled, Mira couldn’t believe it.
“You mean I don’t have to mix any more paint? There are no more nails to be forged or stone to be cut? We’ve carried out all the plans and inspected all the work?” she chattered.
“Yes, it’s all over,” Vern said, catching her and trying to hold her still. She wriggled loose though, and glanced around at the freshly painted buildings.
“It’s not true. It can’t be done until we put in all the windows. I’ll have to modify the furnace to make glass. We’ll need silicon dioxide, sodium carbonate…and lime…and a handful of other compounds. I can get them though.”
Her frantic calculating was making everyone laugh, and Aoi encouraged her to take a deep breath.
“You can relax now. You’ve done enough,” she said, seeming to squelch back her own emotion.
“The only way we’re ever going to get her to stop is to start the opening ceremony. Can someone go ring the bell and get everyone assembled?” Vern called, and Mary immediately jumped from her seat.
“I’ll do it,” she said, already running toward the front side, which faced the farmland and the mountains just as the old outpost did. A large bell hung from the main entranceway, and at present its rope dangled nearly to the ground. Leaping into the air, Mary grabbed the rope and swung back and forth as though it were a swing.
Each time the bell tolled, the sound echoed through Roselyn, who knew she could no longer keep herself concealed. She touched her hair to make sure it remained in place, took a deep breath, and emerged from behind the stone archway. No one noticed her at first, but then she caught Chucky’s attention a few steps out.
“Wow,” he gasped amidst the ringing bell. Everyone turned to her at once, and Roselyn felt so awfully embarrassed. They were all wearing their school uniforms, and she seemed so overdressed. Will met her at her side though, and his soft gaze was always a great comfort.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered, leaning in to gingerly kiss her on the cheek. Roselyn meant to say thank you, but she only blushed.
“Seeing you makes me think we should have dancing tonight!” Vern cheered. “It’ll be a night we’ll never forget!”
“I’d like that,” Roselyn stammered.
The townspeople were assembling on the farmland between the outpost and the shantytown. There were hundreds of people, already more than the population before the town had been eradicated. The murmuring and the chatter drifted in and tickled their ears.
“We’d better not waste any more time,” Mira said. “Come on everyone.”
Walking side by side, Mira, Chucky, Vern, Aoi, Will, and Roselyn strolled through the square toward the entrance. Mary joined them there, and they approached the assembled masses to present them with the centerpiece to their new home. They hadn’t planned on it, but they took each other’s hands, casting glances at each other and giggling. Applause broke out within the crowd, and soon everyone was clapping and cheering. Back behind them, the new outpost looked like a br
ight and shining canopy that would shield them from all ills.
Mert Bogger, Crimshaw, Kevin, Jeana, and Clara Ipswich all stood at the front of the gathering. There were more than a few tears waiting to greet them, and Mira responded with a few of her own. Standing in a straight line, they raised their hands high into the air and dropped them in a great bow. The clapping and cheering increased, echoing through the forest and into the sky.
Ambling out to join them, Mert surveyed the structure. His jaw dropped open a bit and he held his hand to his chest. His eyes watered over and he nodded approvingly.
“Why, this’ll do fine,” he muttered. “Old Corey’d be proud.”
He turned in a sudden flourish, wiped his eye, and made a grand gesture to the crowd, who inched forward in preparation of rushing the new outpost. Mert opened his mouth to speak, a broad smile returning to his face.
“Wait!” came another voice, startling the old man, who cast his eyes about for its source. Roselyn exhaled, feeling like she was barely able to stand. She noticed her arms were shaking so she crossed them in front of her.
“Please, just wait one moment,” she said.
Facing her friends, she saw their puzzled glances. The crowd waited silently. But Will was right there, his blue eyes upon her. There was no turning back now. He appeared patient and understanding when she took him by the hand and led him back a few steps. Her lips trembled and she looked about demurely.
“Will, you were so brave and so caring. You’ve always supported me and put me before yourself, even when you had no reason to. My only regret is that I didn’t realize it sooner. You’re the only one I belong with, and I owe you so much more than my life.”
Roselyn cleared her throat, blushing. Will appeared to be choking up. Holding his hand, she got down on one knee and looked up at his face, which was still so boyish despite all they’d been through together.
“Will, I love you. Marry me.”
Blinking rapidly, Will’s mouth hung open and he stared into her eyes with all of the wonder and amazement he could convey. Excited chatter rippled through the audience.
“Let me, let me think about this,” he gasped.
Such a rush came over Roselyn after making her proposal, she couldn’t even comprehend. She leapt up at Will and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Too bad, it wasn’t a question!” she said, kissing him.
“OK, OK, OK. I accept!” Will cheered, once their lips parted. The crowd erupted in whooping applause. Everyone shouted their congratulations, and both Roselyn and Will turned a bright shade of pink in their voluminous adoration.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” Mary said, throwing her arms around her best friend. Vern gave Will a slap on the back, nodding in approval. Mert Bogger chuckled heartily, and he again threw his hands out to the spider-like structure behind.
“Welcome home!” he hollered, and the assembled mass rushed by them to revel in its glory. Old Mert flashed a smile to the happy couple before limping after the crowd. Suddenly, they were left to themselves, the four Ipswiches and their six friends.
“This is crazy! I’m so happy for you!” Mira congratulated them. Everyone gathered around them, babbling and laughing. Roselyn was sure she’d never been happier in her entire life, and not for a moment did she let go of Will’s hand.
Kevin and Jeana sidled up next to Mira, both of them with huge smiles on their faces.
“It’s wonderful, isn’t it?” Kevin asked.
“It absolutely is,” Mira agreed.
“So,” Jeana began, eyeing her oldest daughter, “you must be next, right?”
Mira looked like she’d been doused with cold water.
“You must’ve lost your mind. I’m not old enough for anything like that!”
Everyone laughed, but Roselyn knew it wouldn’t be long. Even at just the mere mention, Chucky had begun to blush as well. He shied away but raised his hand toward the mountains when he noticed something in the distance.
“What do you know? We’ve got some new arrivals too!” he said, and the group turned to look. Walking in the bright sun, another couple approached hand in hand. It was difficult to see them, but they seemed about the same height. Another few moments and it was clear both were bald. Aoi took a step out toward them, stopping suddenly and putting her fingers to her lips.
“I knew they would come,” she whispered.
“Who are they? What’s going on?” Jeana wondered.
“They’re two of the Specials, Mom. We met them in the cave,” Mira responded.
There was no doubt she was right. The identical-looking pair walked right toward them, neither malice nor joy on their faces. When they came close enough, they saw a small octopus scuttling around on their shoulders. The two men continued until they were a few yards away, where they stopped and waited. Aoi put her head down and bit her lip. Carefully, she took another step toward them.
“Wait a second! Where are you going?” Vern called, forcing Aoi to twist in place. Her black hair curved around her face, and she looked so sharp in her beauty.
“She’s supposed to be our healer,” Mary added.
“I can’t stay here with you. I’m one of them, and that’s why I need to leave. We have to find the others when they are reborn from the web. Then we lock ourselves away in stasis, and in so doing we keep the world safe,” she said, her words flowing with bittersweet resolve.
Vern staggered forward, shaking his head. He reached out for her, his arm dangling in the air.
“Please, you don’t have to do this. You’re not a danger to anyone. We have the carafe now. There’s no need for you to separate yourself.”
His words appeared to hurt Aoi, making her leaving all the more excruciating for everyone. Aoi shook her head slightly, swallowing hard.
“There’s far more that can trouble us than just war. We’re the glue that keeps the world together. If I can safely bear this gift, then I must do so forever, because the ones who follow may never have the chance to learn what I know.”
She could restrain her emotions no longer, and a tear trickled from her eye. It was possible they would never see her again. Anything was possible, but they wouldn’t be with her to witness it.
“Mira, you have to make a place for us. Somewhere we can never be found. You’re exactly what’s needed here, and I’m sorry I won’t be around to see you make this town flourish. There won’t be a day I won’t remember you all. It breaks my heart to leave.”
Stepping out next to Vern, Mira opened her mouth to speak. She had a look of protest on her face, her eyes darting about and searching for something. But then she let go of her struggles all at once, relaxing herself and nodding.
“I understand,” she said.
Taking one last, long look, Aoi surveyed her friends before turning to her new companions, who stood stoically behind. Roselyn couldn’t bear this feeling of loss, and she knew only one response for an occasion so full of emotion. She began to sing the song her mother had taught to her, and in it she wrapped good wishes to her departing friend and solace for herself and those she would leave behind. Those three little notes, rising and repeating, could accompany Aoi for as far and as long as her travels took her. In their hearts, they would always be together.
Epilogue
Twenty Years Later
A black train with silver streaks chugged along a track leading through a small town by a mountainside. Curving left and right, it rounded a pond and a mine. Identical looking trees lined the railway as it cut through a dense forest. A clicking sound came when a young girl twisted a dial, making the train accelerate. About eleven years old, she had almond eyes, bushy brown hair, and an overpowering smell of cinnamon.
“It’s beautiful. I’m so proud of you,” said the girl’s mother, who marveled at the train’s spinning wheels and pulsing pistons. It raced toward a sharp bend near a cliff, jumped the track, and leveled a few trees before spilling over the edge of the table and clattering against the floor. T
he girl giggled, but Mira just shook her head and kneeled beside her daughter.
“You’d better get all of that out of your system before we build the life-size version to Second Darmen. Last thing we need is a train full of people finding out how deep the pit is.”
Mira ran her hand through her hair, which she kept at shoulder length but now had gray strands here and there. She had wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, but they were not enough to detract from the look of contentment on her face. Leaning back against a plush leather sofa, she listened to the sound of rain coming through the thick clay walls. One hand on the girl’s back, the other gestured to the sharp bend in the track.
“Now what is the maximum velocity the train can have to make it around that corner safely?” she asked, but a loud knock sounded from the front door as soon as she did. “Chucky, honey, can you get that?”
There was no response, and Mira patted her daughter on the back before getting up. Stepping over robotic dolls and other toys, she hurried to the wooden door and pulled the metal handle. It was dark and raining heavily, the sound hitting her as soon as the door opened. A young man stood there, soaked and alone. He had a handsome, strong face, a helmet, and a dutiful demeanor.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but some visitors have requested your presence,” he said. Mira looked at her thin robes, which would become soaked immediately, and pursed her lips.
“Thank you, Knoll. Please show me the way.”
“What is it?” a voice asked, before she could step through the doorway. It was Chucky, who entered the living room giving a piggyback ride to a stringy ten-year-old boy. Mira held herself at the doorway, turned to them, and smiled.
“I…I’m not sure. I doubt it’ll take long.”
“Be careful,” he said grimly. “You might catch a cold.”
Ducking into the rain, Mira left her home, passing a plaque that said “Elder’s Residence” as she followed Knoll down the cobblestone street. He stalked undaunted through the pouring rain, which dripped around the brim of his helmet. The falling water felt good on Mira’s skin, and she watched it pass through the light of the electric lampposts dotting the streets. Trickling down her face, the clean rain, usually so relaxing, wasn’t enough to help her shake the strange apprehension she felt.
