by Amanda Rose
The snow began to fall thickly, it was a white out in every direction. The sky above was a maroon haze through the muffling flakes. Not long after the heavy snow started, their compass went wacky, and with no way to see landmarks, or anyway to know which direction kept them on course, it was no use to keep going. They couldn’t see two feet in front of themselves, how could they ever certain they were travelling in a straight line?
Against the forces of nature, they attempted to set up camp, but Mother Nature had other plans. The tent wouldn’t hold up, and they had no way to secure it down with the snow being so deep, no anchors presented themselves. Once again, stranded with nothing. Now what? They’d freeze to death if they stayed there. Pink skin began to be hindered to a bluish-purple colour. On top of that, the degraded air was already becoming a challenge to breathe in those days, but the ghastly damp northern storm air proved to be attained in a brutally painful fashion by weary bodies.
Then the cave; a random flash back to the cave. How they got there Mack could not recall. It was small, and didn’t keep the wind from gusting inside. Jiro was suffering, the most, he was in critical condition. Somehow, he’d broken a rib. Another part that white out erased from his mind.
They were trapped; outside they couldn’t see two feet in front of themselves, and inside they were slowly freezing to death. The wind was too strong for them to build a fire. Their options were nil, they had to wait it out. Would they be able to wait it out? Mack couldn’t help but wonder as he saw Jiro’s lips turn blue as he quivered, like a bow after releasing an arrow.
Huddled together beneath sleeping bags their mutual body heat was all they had to rely on. It was nearly unbearable. As light cracked in occasionally he could see ice begin to form on their eyelashes, eyebrows, and any other hair exposed to the condensation from their breathing. It was freezing, yet somehow, they were surviving. Somehow, they hadn’t fallen into an endless sleep. Somehow…
The next day wasn’t any better. The numbing of body parts was giving off extreme warning signals of immanent death. They couldn’t stay there any longer, but when they tried to move Jiro he gasped. The pain caused him to shriek, in a weak airless manner. Things did not look so good; they had to leave, or they’d all face the deathly fate of becoming human ice cubes.
Kentaro and Mack had no choice but to take turns carrying Jiro on their backs. They left the cave and went back out into the whiteout of a storm. The snow, now mixed with ice pellets, nicked and scratched at their skin. As they headed against the storm they found their skin being torn open by the sharp winter blades. Blood dripped until it froze to their faces. They continued, headstrong toward a cabin on their map; it was their only chance of making it through this.
As feet plunged down again and again into knee deep snow, the bottoms of their legs began to feel awkward. They could only feel the slightest sensations below their knees. Jiro was wheezing as he bounced up and down on his transport’s back. Every step down insured a sharp scrutinising pain, like a stab wound pulsing through his chest, as he bounced against his carrier. Jiro cringed at every single change to his bodily position.
After a while Jiro’s breathing slowed, but Mack, who had been carrying him at the time, didn’t notice. It was too noisy outside to hear much else but the wind, never the less the subtle sound of someone inhaling and exhaling. Kentaro was slowly fading in health as well; dark circles under his eyes looked terrifyingly unhealthy. Nothing but the will to live kept his legs moving forward, as Kentaro looked to the map every now and then, Mack wondered if hi friend’s eyes could even make anything out in the state they were in.
Abruptly Jiro’s hold around Mack’s shoulders went limp, and Jiro fell back into the snow, behind Mack. His body indented the thick snow when he hit the ground. Mack called out to Kentaro, using all of his strength to produce any sort of sound, “K... Kent… Kentaro!” was all he could manage from a frozen throat. He turned and his legs wobbled as he fell to his knees. Kentaro struggled backward to them. It was too late, Jiro was dead, his face was already frozen. He was mummified by the storm, his skin was an eerie pale blue, which made Jiro look like some sort of porcelain doll.
With no other choice, they left him there, with grieving hearts that sunk low. Guilt followed them for not having even buried their comrade, but there simply wasn’t time, they were on death’s door too. If they’d had had any feeling left in their numb torsos they would’ve felt a great emptiness within. They barely knew Jiro, yet it was just as if leaving a very old friend behind. Tears froze to their faces.
On and on they went, will we ever find that cabin? Mack wondered, amongst his image of Jiro etched into his skull. That face, it didn’t look real. The life had been sucked right out of it. It seemed as if they’d never find it, that they’d die out in this horrendous storm just like Jiro. The weather just seemed to worsen. Ahead he watched as Kentaro fell face forward into the snow. Mack quickened his pace to get to him.
Mack turned him over and rested his head on his lap. Kentaro was in horrible shape, and his eyes were the only indication that he was still in his right mind. Lips chapped so badly they’d cracked and bled. Kentaro complained of his legs. Mack checked them, and saw his feet had severe frostbite that was spreading up his calves. It was a miracle he’d gone as far as he had. Scared eyes looked up at Mack, and his weary voice came forth to admit his mental defeat, and his fear, “It’s coming down too quickly. We’ll never make it! We’ll never make it! Mack, oh god! Don’t leave me here! …”
Mack opened his eyes. Everyone was following him, and he knew they were going to have issues reaching that train station in time. Already it was getting hard to pinpoint where it was through the snowfall. He remembered carrying Kentaro to the cabin, and the bitter operation that left him without his legs from the knee down. All to well he remembered the life like doll of what used to be a man. He wasn’t prepared to relive that.
Mack looked around himself, and he waited for some sort of solution to present itself. “Common… Common, give me something… anything please…” he pleaded with some invisible force. Nothing came to him. “Please!” He yelled out. Still nothing came. The feeling of defeat was tugging at his ankles, but he refused to give in.
Rage infused into his voice as he began to curse the storm, the C.D.F.P., and the entire state of life. Everyone had stopped behind him, and huddled together. They all heard ranting, but nothing was clear through the harsh winds, it was as if listening to a radio when the fuzz was just to strong to make out more then one or two words. “…Damn…. I hate… Bastards… Mother f…” it went on and on.
Mack took in a deep breath and cursed one last time. Yu-Lee had been spending that time heaving her way through the snow to him, and finally, she had reached him. Her eyes met his. He looked at her rather confused for a moment, and then suddenly knew, that she knew about his last experience. He didn’t know how she knew, but he knew she did.
Yu-Lee took his hand. As their palms met Mack felt a surge of energy pulse through his body. He understood, to some degree, what he should do. It was a knowing that he could not describe, it was just there, and that’s was all that mattered.
With a small indicating gesture of the head, Mack began. He stood facing against the storm winds, pushing in from the south. Harshly he jolted their connected hands up, and took a moment to focus his thoughts. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to say. Everyone saw the pyramid formation of their arms, and they watched with wonder.
Mack looked on. into the storm, and he thought about the many things that made him upset about it, and that helped him gather emotional strength. In the end all he could think of to say was, “I will not let you take anyone else from me!” Although it had appeared as if he was talking to the storm, deep down the statement was guided toward the C.D.F.P.
Like a successful oil dig, a light blue, almost white, energy spouted out from them; up and out at the grey overhead. Mack felt like a conductor rod for some sort of electrical current. A prickle
sensation titillated throughout his body; the feeling was remarkable, and left him invigorated.
Higher and higher the energy ray climbed, until it was reaching beyond the clouds. It had appeared as if it had gone up, and up and done nothing. Mack kept watching, and with one final emotional boost, he finished off the chain. The energy wave pushed out of them, and sent Yu-Lee and Mack to the ground. Up and up it went. At the top, it disappeared. There was nothing, and then, a lavender glimmer pulsed across the sky. Boom! Like a nuclear blast, the energy began to work it’s magick. Whoosh! It spread outward in all directions. In a perfect circle the clouds were pushed back, further and further, until they vanished beyond the horizon; past the mountains and over the ocean it receded. There was nothing left of the storm but minute wisps of cloud against a blue sky. Instantly the sun warmed them, and the temperature skyrocketed up. The storm was gone, and the crest of the waxing moon looked like a cloud amidst the day sky.
Mack just sat in the snow looking upward, as his brain refused to compute the happenings as real. The snow, as if a light powder, rested on their clothing and red flushed skin. There was a long silence. The others lowered their hoods and looked around in awe. Oddities had become more of a normal thing on this trip, but this by far had topped everything they’d seen off as of yet. “Whoa…” Mack finally said, then burst out laughing hysterically.
While everyone was still distracted Mack turned to see Yu-Lee, and she returned the stare. ‘How?’ he mouthed the question without a sound, not desiring to have anyone else pry into his painful recollection. She turned away and then looked back, holding up a wand. Then she mouthed a single word back, ‘Otojiro.’ That was all there was to say, until he stood up and offered her a hand to help her up. As he did she whispered to him, “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell a soul,” she assured him, and she kept her word.
The past will not haunt me anymore…
Chapter 20: Death Trap
After the storm had been sent away, the group had found their way easily to the station. At the top of the hill, above the train station, they spied down. It was apparent that the train was being used to transport troops and supplies for the Tomakomai distributed regiments, and, of course, the C.D.F.P. that were helping; this was no civilian train.
The sun was setting behind the station, making everything glow with a frame of bright orange light. The station itself indicated it was in use, before its military inhabitancy, for leisure travel for people across the Imperial continent. It was a very dark stacked stone building, which had dark forest green sign with gold letters, illegible from the distance Mack was at, resting above a glass window leading into the station. A beautifully crafted, recently shovelled, wooden platform sat next to the train. Tall lamp poles, and benches sat on top of the platform, and some soldiers sat on top of them. The faint scent of burnt coal lingered in the air.
Dark green uniforms, best for fighting in the forests to the east, like at Uwajima, suited the soldiers. They were armed, but not heavily. Everyone, even though the event had happened hours ago, looked as if to still be questioning the bizarre clearing of the storm. Every so often someone would point up and say something to the person next to them, who would, in turn simply shrug their shoulders, just as clueless about freak occurrence.
They had a few lookouts, but they weren’t looking their way. In fact, they looked like they might just be pretending to be on the watch. Posted to watch out for a civilian attack? Likely, but what were the chances of that? There weren’t any towns to close to here, and Mack’s small outfit had enough difficulty manoeuvring over those damned mountains.
Many cargo carts of the train were being loaded with numerous crates. It looked like they were empty ones, perhaps to be sent back to be refilled at their base. Only a few of the soldiers appeared to be taking the train besides the conductor. Perfect, Mack thought, all we have to do is hide in one of the carts and wait until we get to Tomakomai… Now, which cart? Carefully he searched the train with his eyes, and he saw that the soldiers were working towards finishing loading the carts closest to the front.
“Everyone listen up we’re hitching a ride, now take a look… see near the back they’ve already finished up loading. We’re going to go for the third one from the rear, it looks like the door is still open a bit. We have to keep low,” he paused to smirk, “Looks like they’re all looking up,” Mack said pointing to the sky. Many little snickers, sarcastic waves of the hand, and rolling of the eyes ensued towards the remark, as if to comment, “Yeah, yeah… show off!” all in good humour.
Mack lifted his eyes up to see what was going on down below. He held up his hand, index and middle finger extended with the others curled in. He made quick movements, in two tiny warning jolts. Then he signalled it was time to go.
They sprinted down the side of the hill to the lower ground. They seemed to have been moving faster than their legs were able to go, the downward momentum propelling them ahead. Now, up against the snowy banks near the tracks, they pressed their bodies. As slim as possible, they tried to hide themselves. Mack then eyed the way again, and he waited. Ill-fated, the lookouts did actually peer out every now and then. Now was one of those times, so they’d have to be patient and wait.
Whooo-Whooo! The train whistle sounded, and it was about to pull out of the station. Of all the luck, the damn stacking didn’t require all of the carts as earlier hypothesised. Well, they’d have to do what they could. No use complaining now, Mack just wanted the obstacles to stop. He was ready for a break; his body wasn’t as energetic as it used to be.
The surveillance recessed. “Go!” Mack ordered the first three people he saw. He held the others back, it was too visible, and too risky this close up to go all at once. Masumi, Kairu and Kato hurtled over to the train. As fast as they could, they got to the train car and managed to drag open the door, and jump in.
Just in time. Mack saw the watchmen looking in that direction just as Kato sank behind the shadows. Sweat began to bead on Mack’s forehead. Whooo-whooo! The whistle blew again, but this time another sound followed. The train shook, and seemed to make some sort of rattle. A black puff of smoke came out of a funnel near the front of the train; it was about to start out. Common, Common! Look the other way damn you! Mack ordered in his mind, as if thinking it would make it happen. Leisurely the lookout eventually turned. The wheels had already started to move, they had to hurry.
Mack pointed to Mei, Suako, and Jenko. “Go!” He frantically demanded. They scampered off. They were three quarters of the way there. No problem... Good... Mack saw one of the lookouts was about to look their way. “Get down!” Mack called in a yell-whisper as best he could. They plummeted back behind a big crate that had been left behind. Their furs seem to match well with the crate, and they went unnoticed.
Jenko kept his eyes on Mack, waiting for the signal for him to go. Mack was about to have a heart attack. “Phew, I can’t breathe,” Mack tugged at his collar, but it was reluctant to loosen up. Mack’s eyes gazed back and forth. The coast was clear, he waved his hand, and Jenko nodded, and the three of them dashed the rest of the way towards the train.
The wheels were creeping slowly against the metal tracks, gradually picking up momentum. It was now or never. Eyes averted… “Now!” Mack commanded, and the last commission bounded forward. Mack kept looking all around, ever vigilant. Vince thought Mack’s head might fall off if he kept it up. Almost there! Almost there! … Mack’s eyes were plastered on the goal. Boof! A mild sound came from behind. What the hell was that? Mack halted and turned around. Yu-Lee had tripped and fallen in the snow.
Mack spurted back hastily to her, and Vince turned to help to but Mack pointed to the train, “Go, I’ll take care of this! Just run!” Vince accepted the command, this was no time to argue. The wheels hummed along grasping the rails. It began to pattern its cycle of movement, and the cycle gradually went faster and faster with every rotation. Vince could hear it doing so; he didn’t have to look to know. He re
ached the cart, and Kato and Masumi helped to hoist him up. They looked back, with worrisome eyes to see how far back Mack and Yu-Lee were.
Yu-Lee was pushing herself up, and Mack took her by the arms and hurried her up, lifting her to her feet. She tried to thank him, but now wasn’t the time. Not allowing her any time to dust off, he took her hand and persevered onward, nearly dragging her behind. He continued to watch for eyes prying. Those evilly condemning eyes that would do them in. The train chugged along, and it was picking up speed.
Yu-Lee struggled to keep up from behind. She felt like Mack just might tear off her arm if he pulled just a little bit harder. He realised he was tugging furiously, but he wouldn’t stop; their destination was getting farther away. A feeling of abandonment put its icy unwelcome hand on Mack’s shoulder…
The train’s gone. We’re were too late. Yu-Lee’s fall cost us our ride... Shit, we’re out in the open! All eyes, all of those condemning eyes, focused in on them. They were like two black sheep among a heard of white. “Throw down your weapons!” the lookout aimed his sniper riffle at them. “You have to the count of five!” He warned. “One! …” They’d been had. There was no way out of this pickle. “Two! …” Everyone else was looking at them, one by one guns were raised. “Three! …” His voice rang in the air. Hills repeated his words as they echoed, like children passing a ball back and forth. His voice was deep. “Four! … This is your last chance!” Yu-Lee shivered fretfully. Mack still had his gun at hand. He still searched for a way out. He did not wish to surrender... “Five!” POW!
Mack shuddered. His imagination could be brutal at times. If they didn’t get on that train, and it pulled away, they’d be exposed. If they weren’t shot dead on the spot, they’d be taken hostage, and be interrogated and tortured. He knew the scenario in his head wouldn’t be that far off from the truth. The fear of abandonment, and what it meant in the long run, gave Mack the extra oomph! He needed.
