by Amanda Rose
Suako nodded, “I could see how that would be. You got really sick, and you weren’t awake very much. We were stuck there for days. No one knows how long. It was getting pretty dicey, but Vince got us out of there. We carried you across the bridge to the second mountain Masumi told us about, remember her saying that? Well we’ve been here about two weeks now, and you’ve been in a coma since we got here. We fed you the rest of the broth we had till we ran out, and then made some more from some frozen vegetables we found left here and have been giving that to you…” Her maternal expression faded. She stayed quiet, just looking to the floor, “I wasn’t sure… I didn’t know if you’d make it. I’m glad your all right,” Suako said getting all choked up. Yu-Lee looked upon the girl as if at her own daughter. Yu-Lee offered wide-open arms to comfort her. Suako placed the dish down and wrapped her arms around Yu-Lee with tears of utter joy streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so happy you’re safe,” her weak voice muttered.
They held each other shortly, and then Suako returned to her seat. Wiping tears from her face, she couldn’t help but let out a timid giggle, laughing at herself for crying. Looking for distraction she remembered the soup and lifted the gently steaming bowl from the floor. “Thank you, Suako,” Yu-Lee squeaked out of her crackling throat. Deep eyes ensured sincerity in Yu-Lee’s thanks. The message was well received, but there was no more time for exchanging words, it was time for Yu-Lee to fill her begging tummy.
The silver spoon reached her lips, and the scent of food was intoxicating. Taste, incredibly overwhelming to a lonely tongue. It soared down to her stomach, and Like a trigger it began to increase her already bothersome appetite. Grumbling it sounded, calling for more. Slurp! Flavour blasted in on its way down.
The soup disappeared before the hunger. Disappointedly, Yu-Lee eyed the empty bowl. “Good, you finished everything. I’ll get you some more in a little while. You still need to rest. You only started to get better after you stopped coughing up phlegm the day before yesterday,” Suako informed her. Kindly she tugged the blanket up and tucked Yu-Lee in. “Sleep now,” her voice said. Yu-Lee hadn’t thought she could, but after closing her eyes the conversation behind her became muffled, and then darkness drew her in.
“…Man she’s a tough one,” Mei commented as she lay down a playing card on the table. They had found the playing deck left behind by previous tenants of the cabin, and it had been a welcomed distraction for them. Mei, Kato, Masumi, Kairu, Vince and Suako sat at one end of the table playing. Plunk! Kato dropped down his card. “No kiddin’ Mei. Must ‘ave a damn strong will t’ live.” Plunk, swish, and plunk! The cards slapped against the table.
Jenko sat with Mack down at the other end. Jenko was working fastidiously on his precious new map, and slowly he perfected it to his own specifications. With his thawed ink, which now ran too freely from the additional ice crystals that had built up and then melted to mix with his precious scripting ink, he carefully he detailed his map, making sure not to let the ink run or smudge while drying.
Mack’s cigar supply was running low. He’d been lucky enough to find one left by the fireplace in its wooden box, and though it was stale, he still enjoyed the taste. He lit it intermittently, enjoying it here and there as the days trailed on. He longed to buff up his diminishing supply, which now only numbered three. He inhaled one long drag of the cigar and released the smoke after he could no longer contain it, and skilfully produced tiny smoke rings. He then extinguished the remains. Standing up from the table he walked it over to the mantel. Setting it down, he’d leave the last bit for the next day. He marched back over to the table and fell into the chair.
Yu-Lee stirred in her sleep, and Suako’s eyes jumped from the game to Yu-Lee, “She really is getting better,” she said. Suako, who had not abandoned Yu-Lee’s side, even while she was herself recovering, was finally starting to feel at ease. She warded off the others, feeling the need to care for her solely. While the others were sleeping the previous night, she’d cast incantations to help Yu-Lee; and her pleas were heard! Yu-Lee woke the next day, though exhausted, with a definite zest for life still within her.
“Suako… Suako?” Masumi tapped her arm. “Hmm? Ah, oh! Yes? Sorry. What is it?” Suako said, coming back from her thoughts. “How well do you think she’s doing?” the innocent youthful girl had returned in Masumi. “Oh,” Suako giggled, having thought she’d been needed for something more urgent. “Quite well,” Suako told her. Mack took up an interest in the conversation from across the way, “When will she be able to go?” he asked. “I’m not sure, but she’s been doing really well. A few more days and I think she may be able to handle it. A week at most,” Suako estimated. “Good,” Mack nodded.
Yu-Lee woke up some hours later, and again Suako tended her with soup, and now with a tiny bit of rice, which they’d found among a few other non-perishable goods within the shelter, to settle her rumbling tummy. Energy returned to her as her body absorbed the rice. Dedicatedly, Suako fed Yu-Lee and kept her company. In and out of consciousness she drifted, always to happily find Suako by her side when she woke.
Once Yu-Lee fell victim to her bodies will to sleep, Mack insisted Suako turn her maternal care toward herself. He fixed her a bowl of rice and had her come from Yu-Lee and join the others at the table. “Girl you need to rest. Yu-Lee’s fine. We’ll keep a close watch on her. You finish that up and grab yourself forty winks, eh?” Mei leaned her elbows on the table as she spoke. “She’s right. Now eat up an’ get t’ sleep!” Kato seconded the motion. Like a big brother and sister, they watched her back, looking out for her.
Suako caved in and did as they suggested, though she strongly desired defiance. As she ate, Kairu brought a blanket and placed it over her shoulders. They were right, despite her will to never admit any form of weakness, she was about to work herself sick. It had always been in her nature to do, Suako never knew when to quit. She always worked until the job was done, taking her body to extremes, it suffered often for her die-hard iron will. She was not easily detoured from a path she’d choose to take. They were her family, and always watching out for her, and they knew if they didn’t slow her down, she would not do so on her own. They cared, and she knew it, and because of that she would occasionally bend and heed their advice.
Her body longed for a nice comfy bed more then it willed to finish eating. She set the bowl down, stood up, and stumbled over to a bed. Flopping down on it, the bed welcomed her like she imagined falling onto a fluffy cloud would feel. It was welcoming, and already warmed from Masumi who had been laying there not ten minutes ago. She wished herself to flip onto her back, but her body just ignored her intentions.
Just leave me here forever… I don’t want to leave. Let me stay, let me be…
The week passed, and Yu-Lee mended tremendously as it did. By the end of the week she was ready to go just as Suako had predicted. They prepared to leave the very next morning. In that last night Kairu had been fortunate enough to come upon a straight razor, so they could groom before they left. Kato trimmed his beard, Vince redefined his goatee, Mack shaved his face entirely, as did Kairu revealing his baby face once more. Jenko passed it up, quite enjoying the lengthy beard he’d grown. Mei had Suako cut her hair short once more; she detested it much longer than an inch or two after her family was taken from her. Her husband always stroked her long hair; it was too painful for her to keep it long.
Now, all spruced up, it was time to focus on vital survival supplies. They had little grace on time, all food, except a half bag of rice, some carrots, two potatoes, a few bottles of preserved fruits and the sweets Vince had brought from Uwajima, had been eaten. They still had a couple days ahead of them just to the base of the mountain, not to mention how long it would take them to reach another town once they were down. Rations were low, and stomachs grouchy. They’d asked Masumi about where they would next find civility, but she only knew of Tomakomai’s location, besides that she was just as new to the countryside as they were. She informed them it was about a
nine-day journey to Tomakomai, and that there may have been a town in between, but the young age she had crossed at before left little ability recall for the small things along the way.
“…So, this is all that’s left.” Mack plopped down the left-over rations on the table. Everyone’s eyes looked depressed upon seeing the remnants. “Well… let’s just hope Kairu finds something else to kill,” Kato laughed, breaking the mood, if only temporarily. “We need to tighten our belts, and…” Yu-Lee interrupted Mack before he could finish. “Wait a minute!” She got up and went over to her back. Rummaging through it, she grunted as she pulled things free, then tossed them aside. She then pulled an oblong package, which she stared at for a while. Yu-Lee developed a wrinkle in her brow as she did, until a sudden overall remembrance overtook her expression.
At long last she pulled free a good size bag of flour which she’d stored. It was enough to provide two meals, small meals, but meals all the same, for the group. Thump! She put it on the table along with the other few things they’d had left. “We can mix it mix some water and cook it to make some flat bread. It isn’t great, but it’ll keep us going,” she said. Analysis provided an understanding of roughly three to four days worth of food. It was nine days from where they stood all the way to their destination.
“We’re going to be in trouble if we don’t find something on the way,” Kairu lifted his eyes from the table to meet Mack’s. “You’re right,” Jenko nodded, “we’ll stick to a strict diet. If we plan it out right we can make it last,” the food adoring man sighed. “Half you’re regular portions everyone. It may get nasty, but we’ll just have to deal with it,” Mack added authoritatively. They all agreed, without having a choice to do otherwise, regardless of desire. “Right everyone… Common let’s back up. The sooner we leave the sooner we reach a place to stay, and some food. Maybe we can cut a day or two off if we go long days. Get ready, and then get some sleep. We’ll leave at first light,” Mack told them. Chairs discontentedly squeaked across the floor as they got up from the table. Prospects didn’t look as pleasant as they’d hoped.
Yu-Lee went back to her bed. “Suako? Vince? Would you please join me for a moment?” she asked with her backs to them. They looked to each other and then meandered over. “What is it?” Suako queried. “We never opened this…” she presented the package before them. It was what Otojiro had given them before they’d left Quan. “Shall we?” the maternal yet quirky Yu-Lee asked with a grin from ear to ear.
Like children Vince and Suako’s eyes glistened; gifts were rarely given to them. Yu-Lee pulled the twine string from the rough silk wrapped package, and as it came loose the material flopped open. Within her lap lay an oak wand with quartz décor, a double-edged dagger chipped from granite and a rare pistol, a collectors’ item from its age, gleaming as it mirrored the flame from the fireplace. Each lifted their new weapon for closer examination.
Vince lifted his blade, testing its sharpness on a few strands of hair, and it cut threw them without any pressure. It was as sharp as the best crafted Samurai sword would. Vince practised with it, indulging into a fantasy fight with his shadow. The dagger soared here and there as he whisked it threw the air. At the end he bowed respectfully as he would to an actual partner, and then carefully hitched it onto his belt.
Suako raised the pistol in her hands. Below it lay a white box, she picked it up and snuck a look inside to see it contained silver bullets. This truly was a rare piece of mechanical glory. It was weighty, and it would make a good kill shot she figured. The metal had embroidered rose vines across the barrel; immediately she felt connection to it.
Yu-Lee had watched them discovering their precious wonders. She lastly picked up the wand, and it zapped her with a dose of intense magickal potency the second she lay her hand upon it. Her eyes rolled back in her head, as the blissful power ebbed into her. When she came back around to opening her eyes she looked down at the wand in her hand, and as she did she noticed another package wrapped in the lavender silk the others had been. A small wooden piece of bark had ‘Kairu’ scribed into it. Placing her wand aside she took the package in her hands and walked over to Kairu who had been conversing with Masumi with much laughter.
Yu-Lee tapped taped Kairu’s shoulder, and he turned sharply to see the older woman. “Otojiro had given this to me to give to you. Take it,” she held the package forth to him. He first looked at it, then his arm slowly crept upward and wrapped around the package. Kairu picked it up and looked wide eyed at it, then he looked to Yu-Lee, to whom he bowed. “Thank you,” he said in his maturing voice. More and more he shed his quiet, reserved voice and began to sound like a leader. “You are welcome,” she smiled, then left him to enjoy his present.
Kairu took a seat on his mattress. Masumi looked over his shoulder, “What is it?” her youthful curiosity begged to know. “Who’s… Who’s, uh?” she couldn’t recall the name. “Otojiro,” Kairu helped her along. “Yes! Who’s he?” she pondered. Kairu thought long and hard about how to label him. He eventually came up with his answer, “…a friend.” He unravelled the package to find folded papers. He pulled them apart and found within it a letter. “A letter? … well I’ll leave you to it then,” Masumi blurted out and returned to her packing.
Kairu began to read the ill hand-written ledger of a man whom seldom put pen to paper:
“Dear Kairu,
You once came to me desiring certain information for your party, and in doing so, you awakened an old man’s passion. My friend, I desire to thank you for what you have done. You have been the first person to unselfishly ask me questions in what I dare may say has been years. You awakened the sleeping dragon within my soul. Thank you.
Now, on to some important things you must know. I have foreseen many challenges in the road ahead of you. You must not loose hope. The odds are against you, your numbers are few, but your intentions are noble, and hearts brave. Do not fold to evil’s will. You will be given a choice, and either path will cause a devastating consequence. Either way will bring loss into your life. The result of your choice will not be visible at first. Be forewarned. That is all I can say on this subject. I am sorry…”
That letter went on, but Kairu had to reread the second paragraph several times over. It baffled and worried him all at the same time. What was it that he saw? he could not remove the question from his mind. It nagged at him, and dwelled there until he finally couldn’t think about it anymore and finished reading his letter. The question was always infringing on his thoughts from there on.
Two shadowy figures stood by the window. The curtain was halfway closed, the night was still, and constellations shinning brightly. Soft murmurs of slumber mingled in the background. Peering out, not a branch stirred, and there were no clouds to block the sky. No beasts prowled the mountainside. The only lively business was that of the two shadows by the window.
“…Are they all asleep?” Mack asked. “Yes,” said, looking over the sleeping bodies. “Good. They should get as much rest as they can… Their energy’s gonna be gone quick,” Mack said, worry in his voice. “Hmm, yea. We need to boot our asses down that mountain, Mack,” Jenko nodded, sharing his concern. “I just hope Masumi’s right. We’re in some serious shit if it takes longer. Hell! We’re in trouble as it is… anyway… the sooner we get to Tomakomai the better,” Mack sighed. “We’ll need to be careful my friend. If the civil war has spread all over we need to watch our step,” Jenko warned. Mack paused before he spoke, “…I know. I’m not expecting a warm welcome. If my prediction’s right then we’ll have someone waiting for us.” “…Mack?” Jenko eyed his friend. “What is it?” Mack asked. “You’ve been keeping to yourself, more then usual. What’s on your mind?” Jenko asked.
“I can’t hide anything from you, can I? Heh. Never could. Hmm… Well, a lot. I’ve been thinking about what’s going to happen if… if we fail… I remember my parents talking about their childhoods. They told me stories that I'll never forget, I know you know what I’m talking about. Hell
! Even when we were young the East Green Continent was at least green! Well some of it was… it’s just that… even seeing the world over here, it isn’t enough, and it won’t last. We both know that. The world is falling apart. The people deserve trees, air… they deserve life, but they’ve been denied by the god damned C.D.F.P. and it’s fucking disgusting!”
“I want to be able to breathe without some stupid dome. I want to not have to worry about my skin melting off when I step into the sun. I don’t want to see any more morphed freaks of animals trying to kill whatever it can to survive. I’m damn well tired of seeing people working themselves to death for the Company! I want to watch that piece of SHIT Empire fall to the ground and see what its like!” Mack held himself back from yelling with much restraint. Pulsating blood pounded threw veins, perspiration over red skin, heavy breaths and bitter eyes replaced the calm and collective leader. He trembled as he stood there. Slowly he allowed himself to cool down. Inhale... Exhale… Inhale... Exhale... Jenko said nothing, just standing there with him.
“…If we fail, all that was ever good about this planet is gone, not to mention the planet itself. It won’t be long. It’s like a time bomb that’ll implode… if we fail, what chance is there? There isn’t one. We’re it, all there is… it’s just… just getting a little overwhelming. Sorry… I shouldn’t have…” Mack fought back his feelings. “Mack, don’t, you’re right. Yes, you’re our leader, but you’re human too. Those bastards have been toying around too long. We are the last hope. We can’t fail, and we won’t fail. I have faith and you should too. Look around you! Everyone here has lost something or someone dear. They would follow you to their deaths to bring the Company down. We will succeed. We will,” Jenko’s sincere words were like a comforter providing relief.
