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 Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:21 am
"Mmmm...."
Lina's eyes squeezed, then opened.
"....wh....where 'm I....?"
She still felt sick as hell--but more in a tired way, her body more exhausted than aching.
Alex turned her head slightly, trying not to move too quickly. "It's okay Lina," she said softly, "you're with the doctor, one of the natives and I." That sounded awkward. "You're safe, and you're recovering," she said earnestly.
Speaking of the doctor...she thought she heard his voice. Alex looked in the direction of where she'd seen the man disappear. She was relatively sure she he wasn't there, and-oh! There he is. Immediately, the woman was in a brighter mood. "The Doctor found something," she informed Lina. "I'm carrying you, so if you feel sick, let me know, okay?" She turned to the boy, smiling at him, "Let's try to finish this adventure."
Feeling revitalized that Lina was in fact better, Alex started to walk in the direction of Kenth's voice.
Lina groaned, burying her face in Alex's shoulder. "Mmmm, ever'thin' hurrtssssss...." she moaned, then brought a hand to her mouth to stifle the enroaching nausea she felt.
when Kenth saw Alex started to move toward him, he stopped at where he was. Lina showed movement on Alex's back, and Kenth sighed, relieved that Lina was okay.
When the three of them came closer, Kenth waved and pointed at his newest discovery.
"I think we've found the source of the remedy." He said, not bothering to conceal his excitement.
Alex smiled as she saw a new expression on the doctor's face. When he pointed and told them he'd found the source, she could identify the excitement immediately. She looked to where he pointed, seeing some spikey looking plant that had thick fronds.
She moved towards one of the plants and, lifting her boot, carefully broke off the tip of one of the fronts. Her eyes widened at the green goo that leaked out. "Aloe?" she asked in amazement. "This is all aloe?" Alex turned her gaze around the grounds, halting to stare at the building. "Then...what is this place? Some sort of herbal gathering site in the middle of a forest?"
Alex adjusted Lina on her back carefully, trying not to jostle the waking woman.
"Mmmmm, that hurts!" Lina protested, voice much clearer than before.
Weiuan followed, obediently, the covered bucket held tightly. Honestly, he felt a lot younger than he was, just staying quiet and following. But at last that woman was safe now.
He blinked, following the darker woman down into the temple. Since when was he a simple-minded guy who just obeyed? Ugh, this place took a rather large toll upon him.
Aloe? He looked around, glaring at the roof. He didn't like the condition of it at all. But they were right, it was indeed everywhere. Onyx eyes blinked. He moved to the center of the room. There was a stone table, a scroll was there too. It still seemed to be a little worn but no where near falling apart.
It...seemed oddly like a work station. He looked over his shoulder at the older pair. "It might be, but if there's a table right in the middle it might just be a work station too."
The boy's sudden comment shifted Kenth's attention from Alex and Lina to the stone table. He walked over and picked up the scroll. Unraveling it, Kenth found that the scoll was written in fancy calligraphy that looked nothing like the Chinese language, or even the language he had seen on Alex's copy of the book. What is this now? Another mystery? Looking up from the scroll, Kenth scanned his surroundings. The Walls of the site looked ancient, almost as if this place blended in with the nature surrounding it. Although from the looks of it, the stone was built tightly as if they were woven together. Even though it looked old and worn out, the place was no way near collapsing. The intricate structure within the seemingly rough stones amazed Kenth. Whoever built this must have had a full knowlege in the architechtural field. Kenth wondered if the primitive humans really had that kind of skill to build this place.
As he walked closer to the walls, Kenth could see faint marks on the stones that was similar to the calligraphy on the scroll. Perhaps this place was a temple of some sort, where rituals are performed. Kenth couldn't help but to think if the natives were the ones that created this place for their own religion. It would make sense, since the natives who lived here knew the best about the natural landscape.
In fact, this place looked so blend in that anything that were not looked obvious to the eye and out of place. Kenth glanced to the shadow of the stone table and immediately noticed something unnatural---a small, white piece of paper. Well, to say that it was a piece of paper would be lying, as Kenth picked it up, the substance didn't feel like paper at all. It felt hard, yet flexible, like a piece of soft metal that reflected in white color. Flipping the "paper" to the back, a miniture painting of a dark haired woman could be seen. And from the feel of it, the entire plate was indented to form a "L" shape that one could only feel from intricate touches.
An interesting piece of discovery, Kenth must admit. But would it be useful in anyway?
Still looking at the plate, Kenth walked back to where Alex was, and looked up.
"So Lina is awake now? Good. You can take a break now, Alex." He motioned to the stone table with his eyes, "Ms. Lina can rest on that table over there. And let's look around to see what else is interesting..."
"I'm sorry," she murmured apologetically to Lina, "I'll...I'll find a place to put you down so you can rest."
Alex looked over to the boy when he discovered the table. Odd, she thought, still somewhat unsettled by the place, more questions in this strange tale. At the doctor's word, she carefuly moved towards the table, standing with her back to it. She carefully lowered Lina so that she was partially sitting on it. Alex then carefully moved her arms and hands, which were a little stiff from being in a flexed position for all that time. She grasped Lina's hands and turned around to face her friend. "You look better," she told Lina honestly. "I'm glad you're a fighter."
She rolled her rucksack off her shoulder with a grimance, laying it on the table. "You can lay on this if you need to lay down," she smiled at Lina. "Take it easy, you're still recovering."
With a gentle pat on Lina's shoulder, Alex turned to inspect the creepy building. She walked over to the furthest wall, moving her hand just above the stones. She wanted to touch them and feel the groves, but she didn't really want to touch anything here. "Where's that light coming from?" she muttered to herself. Alex knew she'd seen a strange glow back in the forest...
She continued to observe the walls and the structure of the place, rubbing one of her shoulders as the males looked at the puzzle.
"Hm. Good question." Kenth commented, not reeally paying attention to the conversation between Alex and Lina. He saw the light also, but he no longer see them when they are inside of the place. It looked like...this entire place was glowing. The stones, the herb...everything. On one hand, it would make sense because they can obviously see better in this area than back in the forest. On the other hand, why would this place glow all by itself? Was there some kind of chemical substance that makes the place glow? Kenth obvisously did not see any torches around here, nor feel any form of heat. Whatever this chemical maybe, it must have been giving off fluorescent lights.
Folding his arms in front of his chest, Kenth strolled around the walls, examining the calligraphy marks. Kenth was not one to believe in magic, although he had to admit that the place seemed magical...
But then again, sceince was believed to be a form of magic long time ago.
Alex slowly circled the room, listening to the soft footfalls of the others. She just didn't understand this place! What was its purpose? Why was it here of all places? Who built it? And why was the damn thing glowing?
Her eyes turned to the roof, as though she may find some minute lights. They had made such good progress, and here they were, at another road block. Alex thought about the doctor, Lina, and the boy. Without the doctor, she never would have gone back to that village. Without Lina, she never would have gone into the houses, or found those buckets. The boy was special too, she was certain, but she didn't know how just yet. He was carrying the tonic that would save everyone; that made him special enough.
And now the rain ushered us into this place, she thought darkly. What strange forces-
Alex tripped. Her boot caught on something, and she went down hard on her hands and elbows. She let out a loud explictive in Italian, gritting her teeth. Her arms had still been sore from being in a locked position, and now it was two-fold. She looked blearily at her arms to make sure she wasn't scratched up. It didn't look like she was bleeding now, but that didn't mean the skin wasn't broken; other than some dirt and muck from an old temple floor and an extra sharp dose of arm cramps, she was okay.
"I'm fine," she said out loud, annoyed that she'd been so clumsy. "Probably tripped over my own two feet."
Alex's fall made a loud noise and made Kenth to turn around, just in time to see the poor woman on the ground, cursing and pretending that she was okay.
Kenth mentally rolled his eyes at the obviously-fake claim of Alex, and walked over to her to help her up.
"Be careful, the floor can be slippery with all the rain." Kenth held Alex's one hand, and the other hand reache out to grab her shoulder so she could be turned around to reveal the wound on her arm.
"Doesn't look like the bones are broken, but there could be cuts underneath all that dirt. Do you still have the remedy with you? Just to be safe, you might want to drink more of those to prevent more antigen infecting your body---"
Kenth stopped, his words hang midway in his mouth as he found something strange besides where Alex was sitting. A small pice of tile that was on the floor was elevated slightly, but enough to trip Alex over. In the middle of the tile was a small indent.
The indent on the plate!
Kenth reached into his pocket and took out the plate he had just found earlier and compared it with the tile on the floor.
It could just be a coincidence, but Kenth decided to try it out anyways.
"Alex, can you stand? If you can, I want you to go over to the table or be away from this area. I think I just found something."
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:24 am
The Italian woman grumbled as the doctor tended to her, trying to pawn the growing flush in her cheeks off on being embarrassed by falling. Her hand twitched as she made the effort not to grasp his hand. Don't want to give the wrong idea, she told herself stubbornly. She started to interject that she was fine and could clean off in the rain when the doctor stopped talking in mid-sentence.
Alex followed the doctor's gaze, finding the raised tile. She felt relieved that she wasn't such a klutz after all, and pissed that she hadn't seen it in the first place. Her free hand touched it gingerly; she couldn't help but feel that the mysteries were piling up for a reason.
She pushed herself up with a groan, glowering at the doctor. "Don't go being a tragic hero on us, Doctor Kenth," she shot at the man, only partially kidding. Her legs were stiff, but she walked normally, her pride not allowing a limp. She muttered under her breath, something about working together.
Dying? Death was really not the first thing on his Mind. In fact, it was probably the last thing that Kenth would have thought of from performing this experiment. Although Alex did have a good point. Without looking at the woman, Kenth nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
If he dies, at least Alex can take the remedy back to the lab. Hopefully Jonas will be smart enough to do some investigation on it...Kenth frowned at the thought of the older doctor. He wondered what he was doing at this moment. That man...could turn something simple into a calamity.
Shaking his head, Kenth carefully flattened out the plate so that the indent could be felt completely. He then matched the indent as best as he could to the indent on the stone, and pressed it firmly. For a moment nothing seemed to happen. Kenth stood up and took a step or two backward, observing the entire surface of the wall.
Then the ground seemed to start shaking. The rumbling noise of moving stones got louder and louder as the surface of the stone wall that Kenth was facing started to break apart. Unable to stable his footing at the moment, Kenth almost tripped backwards, possibly hitting his head if he didn't push back his arms against the ground. The dirt and small, sharp pieces of shattered stones dug into his palms, howevre, making the doctor hiss in pain.
As the stone wall parted, a dark cave was reveraled in front of Kenth. The doctor blinked. So this place was not natural after all...
"OwowowOW!" Lina yelped as the ground shook, her body bouncing slightly and hurting her a bit. "Oww...wait, what's that...?"
She slid off of the table, completely forgetting she'd been sick.
And then her knees gave out on her.
Alex crossed her arms as she watched the doctor, frowning deeply. She did NOT like being here. There was something very unnatural and uncomfortable about the place. It felt so...so shady, so out of place. She didn't trust it anymore than she trusted the abandoned village. In fact, she preferred the village! At least she knew what it was!
Before she could think any further on it, the ground started to shake. It wasn't too bad at first, but then it started to roll, and Alex couldn't keep her footing. She lurched towards the table, grabbing onto Lina just as she fell and reaching for the boy. Her feet set as firmly as she could on the floor; she held Lina against her as tightly as possible, also holding the boy to her legs. Alex could see the doctor fall, but was helpless to do anything for him.
Once the shaking rumbled to a halt, she stared at the hole it made in the wall. Oh this is bad, bad to worse, her mind tried to crawl into itself in fear. Give me a disease any day, this is way out of my league!
CALM DOWN. Alex closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and assessed the situation. She checked Lina first to make sure she was okay, then the boy. The tonic seemed to have been spared from the trembling, thank goodness. She grabbed the canteen and some bandages out of her utility belt, dipping the end of the bandage into the tonic before making her way to the doctor.
Remembering what he had said before, Alex took a quick sip of the canteen before leaning over the doctor's shoulder, doing a once over to make sure there was no blood or unnatural limb positions. She wanted something witty to say, but her heart felt grim. Instead, she gently wrapped her hands around his sides, urging him to stand; it would do no good to use his hands, seeing that he fell on them and she didn't want to aggravate any wounds.
For once, Alex had nothing to say.
"I'm okay." Kenth murmured, gently wiping his hands on the lab coat. It was a bad habit, since he knew there could be things on the lab coat that could as well be carried on to his hands. He looked down at his palms, and saw small red dots where the sandstones stabbed into his flesh. Impatiently he rubbed his palms together, feeling the heat of pain spreading accross both of his hands. Good thing that none of the stones got stuck in his skin. Kenth sighed, and tried to stand up with Alex's help.
And he needed help to even stand.
Kenth felt the color of shame rising onto his cheeks. Wasn't he like that when HE came to rescue him? This was almost a replay of his childhood! No, no, that cannot happen. He was all grown up now, and he was strong enough to support himself. Who needed HIM? HE was only there to make him look weak! HE was there so in comparision Kenth would look like a helpless little kid! Oh, Kenth would have been a lot better without him!
If only HE didn't exist.
Kenth shivered, and tried to repress his thoughts. Rather roughly he pushed Alex's arms away. "Thank you. I can stand up by myself."
Shaking his head hard so he could forget about the bothersome memory that had periodically haunted him, Kenth pushed on his feet hard so his body could be elevated. Still trying to adjust his footing, Kenth shifted his focus to the cave that was in front of the two. Kenth sighed.
"So...what do you think of this?" Tugging his hands into the lab coat pockets, Kenth turned his face slightly to look at Alex, waiting for her opinion.
"....." Lina shakily rose to her knees, but didn't say anything else, merely looked at Alex and the doctor before crawling over and taking a look at the fragments.
"....Was it a puzzle of some sort, perhaps?"
Alex scowled. The doctor seemed to have his demons visiting again, and she wasn't going to stand for it. "First," she practically growled, snatching his arm and grabbing his hand, "I'm going to clean your hands. And you're going to suffer it!" Her green eyes were dark, her lips pulled into a perpetual frown.
Alex scowled. The doctor seemed to have his demons visiting again, and she wasn't going to stand for it. "First," she practically growled, snatching his arm and grabbing his hand, "I'm going to clean your hands. And you're going to suffer it!" Her green eyes were dark, her lips pulled into a perpetual frown.
Alex's shoulders tensed at the doctor's words. So this is what he thinks of me, the woman thought, brow darkening. Just playing Mother Hen. She was quiet for a moment, making sure than when she did speak, it wouldn't be a line of verbal abuse. As angry as she was at the misconception, she was very gentle as she administered the bandages. So long as he didn't pull his hand away, she was going to clean it. She used the edge of the bandage dipped in the tonic to clean his wounds.
When she finally spoke, there was no mistaking her infamous Italian temper starting to bristle. "Secondly, Doctor Kenth," the words fell from her mouth like hot iron, continuing to answer his previous question, "we may have a cure for the disease but we don't know where it originates." She spared him a glance as she finished cleaning one of his hands, keeping her own extended for him to give the other one willingly. "I am fully aware there are important things to worry about, and that's exactly what I'm doing. Something as unsuspecting as the home for the cure could house the very ailment if fixes. In case you've forgotten, Lina ate a harmless piece of picked fruit, and we almost lost her. Now," her eyes narrowed again, "give me your other hand, please."
Alex had a good point, Kenth was well aware of that. However, the way she talked made him uncomfortable also. Kenth felt his temper rising, as the woman started to administer banages on his one hand. It felt...unfair to him, that she was always the one who's taking on the responsibility. It made him look useless and weak, just like when he was with HIM.
And it all had to come back to HIM.
Kenth frowned. He turned his head away from Alex so she wouldn't be able to see his almost annoyed expression. Alex was a stranger, but everything she did reminded him of someone he knew, someone that he hated for HIS goodness.
And what was Alex to him? She was nothing more than a helper. Why would she butt into his welfare? Why whould she be so kind to him? Why must she be so kind to EVERYONE?? Kenth was never treated this way when he was young. Not from his mother nor his father. Not from his teachers...peers if he had one. The only one who attempted to help Kenth was HIM, and Kenth gave HIM such a hard time that HE almost died for it.
Kenth didn't want Alex to suffer the same fate. It's no good for two points. One, it made Kenth feel weak, and two, it made Kenth angry at her. Her stubborness, her insisting on doing something for him.
So when the dark skinned woman asked for his other hand, Kenth didn't respond. Instead, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and started walking into the cave.
"Bandages can wait, Alex. I'm going in there to see what's going on. Maybe Lina's proposal was true."
Or...he needed a place to run away so he wouldn't get mad at this poor stranger who knew practically nothing about himself.
Alex watched the doctor walk away. She counted to three...then five...then ten...and decided her wrath knew no numbers.
Let him be proud, she scowled inwardly, let him do whatever he needs to. And more importantly, get yourself together, because you can't both be falling apart. Alex wished she could tell the doctor that she admired him and simply wanted to look out for him, because he was looking out for everyone else. She knew what it was like to neglect one's self for the sake of others. This time, however, she felt herself being more attached than before. You can't let this happen, she told herself in a slight acknowledgement of how she felt, you have to be helpful, not overbearing. You're only making him angry.
Her eyes closed as she toyed with the idea that he sincerely didn't like her. She had no idea if it was what she did or why she was trying to help, but she resolved to distance herself. There was no use in aggravating the doctor. He needed to focus.
The woman took a deep breath, then walked back towards Lina, looking over her shoulder at the mindless rocks in front of her friend. She was never good at puzzles, just straight forward facts. Give her facts to work with, and she was certain she could get through any problem. Throw in a variable that is a "could be" or "what if," and the woman could only surrender before she tore her hair out. "I hope you can make sense of that," she murmured, feeling her wounded pride in her chest, "I wouldn't know up from down on it."
She'd wait out here for a moment or two, she decided. Just to cool down.
"....He's pushing you away because he has his own insecurities to deal with," Lina murmured, beginning to sort through the pieces of slate and put together pieces that looked like they belonged. "Nai does it to me all the time. I try to convince him to see a counselor about his drinking problem, but...." she sighed, rubbing her head, trying to clear the fog.
"It's hard taking care of someone who won't take care of themselves. I have to constantly watch him to make sure he doesn't get in trouble...I had to drop out of college in order to do that. I was lucky to come here on scholarship."
Her hands dropped and she sighed. "...The only thing you can do for him right now, Alex, is be there for him and continue what you're doing, no matter how stubborn he is. It's never happened to me, but you'll find your happy ending."
Despite the fact that I've never found mine, she thought, but she didn't say anymore. She'd made sure to talk loudly and clearly enough that the doctor heard her; not imposing. Not preaching. Advising.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:26 am
The boy stood from where he was, the bucket held tight to him. He stared down into the entrance's darkness and then to the light around him. It was faint and slightly comforted him. His mind dinged. There was something familiar about this.
Gently, Weiyuan put the bucket down, reaching into his backpack. Shivering hands pulled out a black binder filled wiht his father's letters. 'It's too familiar...' He scanned through each, finally stopping upon one that held a sketch of the tablet.
The letter read: 'The natives have come to trust me a lot now, son. They've taken me to this ancient looking place. The inside glows a faint light, much similar to the bear night light you had when you were younger. Do you still have that thing?
Anyway, they had the key and it opened the door. They beckoned me to come follow them and I was near pursuing but the light fascinated me.
Well, that and their antidote. That Jonas won't listen to anything I say. Doesn't trust the natives, it's their damn land! But don't fear, you won't have to face this dolt of guy.
But the antidote. At least, it's the closest thing to it. Whatever this sickness is the natives have been living with full knowledge of it for a long time. But something's gone awry now and they're moving. I wish I knew what has changed.
Did I tell you about the lights? From what I can tell they're some form crystal that for some reason give off a strange light. I asked if I could take one but they said the crystals were an ancient gift from their god.
The people are very religious. Though they've adopted the new age of writing, they continue to use one that's centuries old. Sooner or later I'm going to learn it. Then I'll teach it to you so we can keep secrets from Mother. I bet your bored reading this now but there's one more thing I must say.
I haven't entered the cave yet, but I'm sure that whatever is down there, it will unlock a lot of things about the people. They waited until they could really trust me, it's taken months. I hope that it'll help son, I'll be home soon.
Love, Daddy.
PS. Make sure you buy Mei a nice jacket, I know it's starting to get cold over there.
He looked up. "Dr. Kenth! This place is mentioned in one of my father's letters!" He didn't like the thought of him going into the darkness, the natives...if this place really was sacred to him, who knows what could happen.
Alex blinked slowly, looking at her friend in wide-eyed amazement. "You've been unconscious for how long, and you've picked up how much?" She spoke softly, not really wanting the doctor to hear her admit that Lina had hit the nail on the head. Alex released a full throated laugh, covering her eyes with her hand. It felt good, and helped ease some of the wounded knot she was holding onto.
"You're brilliant, you know that?" she smiled fondly at the woman. She hadn't known Lina long, but she adored the woman immensely, and counted her as a good friend. They had met under such heavy circumstances, but they kept it together. They were alive, and supporting each other. If that's not friendship, I don't know what is, Alex thought with a smile. Although she wanted to inquire more about Lina's boyfriend, she knew now wasn't the time. After they saved the world, maybe?
She extended her hand, squeezing Lina's shoulder very gently. "I'll leave you to this, then," she motioned to the puzzle with her other hand, "and I'll take your advice."
Alex stood up again. Before she could move though, the boy finally spoke up for the first time since they'd found Lina. "Dr. Kenth! This place is mentioned in one of my father's letters!"
The Italian woman froze where she was. Now what? she wondered, feeling her heart leap a little. And how long did he know about this?
Kenth was listening to Lina's comments as he was about to turn to enter the cave himself. He didn't turn back upon hearing it, but something inside of him was trying to burst out from the comments. This...was too much for him. What did they know about him? What did they know about how he acts? Who were they to judge him? Heck, he didn't even allow HIM to judge him (and fortunately HE was smart enough to not do the judging). They know nothing...absolutely nothing. Then why should they act as if they knew everything? Why should they act as if he was being analyzed like those children in the development labs? Kenth clutched his fists hard, his logic trying best to surpress this outburst.
Do not judge me. Kenth wanted to turn back and speak the words to their faces. He knew it would be immature to do. And from his experience he knew very well that the only thing that could hurt him was his own vices. The only things that hurt him were truths about him. But his human part wouldn't admit to it...his vices were trying so hard to defend themselves.
He was a human being after all.
But at least he doesn't judge people. Kenth repeated this reassurance in his mind to calm himself down. Let all those idiots do the judging. Only fools would pretend that they are wise.
How hypocritical. Kenth sneered to himself.
The boy's surprising words was a savior to Kenth's thoughts and led him back to reality. Kenth turned and set his gaze on the boy.
"Really?" Kenth asked, sounding amused. He wondered why the boy hadn't mentioned it before. "What did the letter say about this cave?"
Lina didn't fathom what Kenth was thinking. But she certainly hadn't intended to be judging.
The vibes she sensed, however, and the info she'd gathered from previous interactions with the doctor, gave her a very general idea of what he might be thinking.
"Well, not to bite a gift horse in the mouth, but I was awake to watch how Kenth's reacted to you. Not brilliance, simple observation. That's a scientist's first and foremost job, after all, no?" she asked with a smile. Then she turned back to the puzzle after a quick nod to Alex.
At hearing the boy, however, she perked. His...father had been here....?
....!!!!
"Oi! Kid!" she abandoned the puzzle a moment and ran to him, almost tripping at the last second before grabbing onto him. "Does that binder have anything--"
She paused. Recognized that handwriting.
"...that's...Professor Leung's handwriting...."
Alex, of course, was one of the last people to pass any type of judgement on anyone. She was more the type to roll with the punches, and make the best out of the circumstance. She had no inkling as to what the doctor was thinking, which was probably for the best. He certainly wouldn't want inside her head!
Her attention turned back to Lina as she recognized something. Another doctor? That's lab stuff, then, Alex thought, a little dismayed. Nothing I can do for that. She absent-mindedly rolled up the bandage she'd be using on the doctor, frowing a little to herself. Alex suddenly felt that whatever they were about to discuss, simply did not concern her.
The boy seemed to have Doctor Kenth and Lina's attention. Since it really had nothing to do with her or any type of service she could provide, she meandered towards the hole in the wall, peeking in. She didn't know what to expect, or even if it was safe to enter. But if the boy's father had been here, she reasoned, then it is known by the natives. There shouldn't be anything...hostile, here. They aren't the type.
Alex was no anthropologist, but she liked to think she had an eye for culture. One foot forward, she thought to herself, stepping just inside the hole.
Weiyuan grew back into his old self having found something important. Though it was shameful that he only figured this thing just now. How much information had he missed due to his absent-mindedness? Shameful. No, he was here to redeem his father, not himself.
He turned to the once-suffering woman, eyes widened. She really did know his father. He turned back to the letters. "Sh..Shi (yes)...He...adopted me. I'm Weiyuan Leung." His body was shaking again but he fiercely pushed it out. He couldn't let emotions rule him anymore than they had! He flipped through some more letters.
"He didn't get the chance to fully explore it. But at first it's a hallway, then stairs leading down. Many times along the way they stopped to deactivate some traps. The ones in the hallway are easily avoidable even without disarming them. There is only one at the stairs. He did't know where the deactivation system for that one is, nor did he figure out what kind of trap it was."
The heart beat harder thinking that the doctor was going to go in on his own without any of this knowledge.
"After the stairs, they have a system much similar to the one to open the entrance for another door. Beyond that is a chamber. He was sworn not the mention what it was for. Something new society might accept by the way he wrote. But there was another door. The keys to unlocking the traps are similar to the first, just different shapes. He mentioned that the light they used was similar to what's used to light this room...except whatever it is in in a cluster. There should be a premade one somewhere unless they took it as they evacuated."
Weiyuan didn't want to say much more. Unless there was another letter on the way...the letters about that place ended there. He closed the binder, trying to force away his trembling heart. He missed the little notes his father left on his door. He didn't mention that his father once again ended the letter with a message to him, this one saying to give the family a goodnight kiss for him.
Lina's eyes widened. "I...I worked with your father. Read his works. I...admired him greatly."
There was an awkward silence.
"...Can I see the book? Is there anything about a puzzle in there?"
The shaking returned. The uncontrollable ans shameful shaking returned. Tears no longer threatened to fall but this time actually did. So many memories! It hurt...he was young and it hurt. He missed his father.
Silently, he handed it over to the woman, not wanting to reveal the inner torment to someone who could of seen his final scene. At the same time he should get used to this if he was to ever finish his duties as the oldest son.
So the boy had some crucial information after all. Kenth listened to the info, and was suddenly glad that he didn't go down the cave just yet. Who knows what was in store for him?
Kenth looked at the boy, and saw him shaking. It must have been hard for him, knowing that his father suffered the disease and died. Everyone here was here for a good cause...everyone other than himself.
Why was he here in the first place? Kenth mocked himself for his initial intention. This dangerous quest was none other than part of Kenth plan to prove himself. He knew nothing about the sufferings of the people, he knew nothing about the severity of the disease, and he didn't bother to get to know them. For him, those things were not important, for they did not effect him in a negative way. Instead, Kenth saw it as an opportunity to gain himself fame...everything he did up till now was because he wanted to be successful, not because he wanted to help. Of course, these poor, good helpers didn't know that. They appreciated him for what he had done, but had no idea why he had done so. Why, while he could have enjoyed a leisureable and safe life back in his headquater, would Kenth come all the way over and risk his life.
He was a selifish and greedy being. But these people didn't know that.
Kenth took a step closer to the boy and Lina, wanting to see more information from the binder the boy was holding.
" Did you father ever mention how to solve the traps?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:31 am
Alex stood just inside the mouth of the opening, heart beating too fast. She'd barely heard what the boy had said, and almost too late. And to think, her mind cringed, the doctor almost ran in here by himself. Because of YOU.
She stood very still, careful not to touch anything, trying to distribute her weight evenly. It was was dark enough she couldn't make out any detail on the walls, but her eyes were trying. She was looking for catches or protusions or faulty looking stones...anything that would signal a trap.
Swallowing hard, willing her heart to get out of her throat, Alex waited with her back to the trio, looking into the darkness. She listened hard; she didn't want to cost anyone their lives.
Lina accepted the help with a grateful smile. "...Professor Leung was a good man," she said, reading through his notes--not that she was able to understand most of them. "He had a lot of theories regarding blood circulation, mutation, and clotting. He tried to use it to help---"
She paused. Blinked. Once. Twice.
What if the disease lay dormant in the system...what if it was just the REACTION that was instantaneous, not the infection and reaction together?
He had to do this, he had to do this, he had to do this. He just kept on repeating it, his heart was having such a bad reaction to his place. It protested everyway it could. Tears streamed down his face, his heart ached like to other, his breathing was picking up speed, and his voice shook like no other.
"Y-yes...he-he mentioned k-keys. Sim-m-m-lar to the one th-that op-pe-ned the door. M-m-mos-st like-k-ly h-hid-d-den u-under a-a-a s-stone-n o-o-rr s-s-som-thin..."
He didn't like the way he sounded, he didn't like it at all. But at the moment he was the one with the most information. He had to speak. Yes...because he had to. He had to...
Kenth didn't like how the boy reacted. This was the exact reason why emotions can be both annoying and destructive. When you have them you'd get nothing done because they'd crowd onto you and cloud your judgement and senses.
"So in other words you don't know exactly where either." Kenth stared at the boy long enough to make the poor boy even more upset, and turned, was about to tell everyone else to start searching for the key when the he heard footsteps behind him.
Kenth immediately snaped his head the other way, just in time to see a small, native boy standing there, eyes wide with shock and horror, mouth agape as if the four of them were aliens.
The boy let out a high pitched cry, and immediately turned around, attempting to get away. Kenth took a large step further and caught the boy's arm with his hand. The friction between his palm and the boy's bare but rough arm caused a surging heat. Kenth bit his lips, but kept his strong grip while the boy struggled to get free.
"Zou Kai! Fang Kai Wo mi men zhe xie hun dan!! (Let go of me you bastards!!)" The boy screamed as loudly as he could, his eyes showed panic and fear.
"Gao su wo. Tell me what this place is, and who you are, and I'll let go. Wo bu shui shang hai ni. I'm not going to hurt you...if you can just stop screaming and calm down." Kenth squeezed hard on the boy's thin wrist, eyes focused on the boy, who attempted to turn away. Letting out a frustrated sigh, Kenth flung his arm and pushed the boy suddenly, causing him to stumbble in the direction where the other three were located.
"We are not enemies. So tell us."
Alex leapt out of the hole at the boy's high pitched scream. A child? This far in the forest? Her blood felt frozen from the sound; it reminded her of unpleasant times.
She started to speak to the boy, and stopped abruptly as the doctor man-handled him. Her mouth fell slightly agape at the exchange. She was torn between shock and the boys presence, and outrage at how the doctor was flinging him about like a ragdoll.
Alex had the distinct feeling that the good doctor didn't realize that they were the enemy. She dropped to one knee so she was eye level with the boy. There were many things she wanted to say to soothe the boy, but for some reason, no words came forth. Instead, she stayed in her passive position, and waited for the doctor. Her hand absently rubbed her arm, her skin smattered with goosebumps.
She hoped for everyone's sake involved that no one was rough with the boy.
Perhaps scared by his forced movement, the boy started to cry, his dirty hands rubbing his small eyes. Sobbing, the boy hissed at Kenth.
"Wo bu hui gao su ni men...There's no way I'd tell anything to you...you...invaders!"
So the boy was one of the natives. Kenth sighed, and bent down. Using a softer voice, he asked almost playfully.
"How do you know I'm an invader? Look at the boy over there." Kenth pointed to Weiyuan. "He's Chinese too, isn't he?"
The boy looked up quickly and glanced at Weiyuan, then lowered his head and went back to crying, although this time his voice was softer.
Ah, progress.
"So you see, we are not necessarily the bad guys you were thinking of. You can trust us."
The boy paused, and jerked his head up, his black eyes focused on Kenth's face. The boy inspected Kenth for a while, and then hissed.
"I don't believe you! You are dressed the same way as the invaders, your...your attitude and everything!"
Oh no, don't compare me to that Jonas. Kenth screamed in his mind, and felt his temper rising.
I hate kids.
"Listen." Kenth said, firmly now, "I am a doctor. You know what doctors are? They are healers. They save people's lives. There are people dying out there who's waiting for me to save them. And now your refusal to tell me anything is taking away lives out there. You know what death feel like? It's painful, and when you die you don't get to see your loved ones again. Do you want to die? I don't think so. So I don't think you want other people to feel the same way do you? I don't care who I am or which side I am on...my goal is to keep those people alive, and you and your people are killing them." Leaning closer to the boy, Kenth murmured softly into the boy's ear.
"Do you hear that? You are killing others, you are a murder. And killing people is bad...and must be punished. You don't want to be punished, do you?"
The boy's eyes got wider and became filled with fear and doubt. He looked around, eyes scanned acorss Weiyuan, then Alex and then Lina. He then tucked his chin onto his chest and started sobbing again. Seeing the boy was shaken, Kenth stood up and walked over to the other three.
"One of you try it. I've said all I could."
Alex barely breathed as the doctor said horrible things to the young boy. Her eyes turned to the one that had been with them, the boy whose father worked in the lab. Could he hear the doctor? Did he think he was a murderer? Stop being a fool, Doctor Kenth, she thought, surprising herself. As he walked away, she reminded herself that the way he was, was simply because it was all that he knew. He hadn't lived out here like she had, or interacted with them. He wouldn't understand how they felt.
She stood and walked around the boy so that he could see her. Alex didn't recognize this one, but that wasn't going to stop her from trying. Kneeling down once again, she pulled a bandage out of her utility belt and gently started to wipe his face and tears. "" she said softly. ""
In an abnormally motherly gesture, Alex drew the boy into her arms, holding him tightly enough to make the motion an embrace, but not so tight he couldn't pull away if he so chose. "" she reassured him, brushing his hair with her fingers. After a moment of thought, she pulled him back so she could look him in the eye. "" She didn't wait for a reply before she turned him around delicately to face Lina.
Alex whispered to him softly. "" She smiled warmly at the boy over his shoulder, giving him a friendly squeeze. "" she lifted her chin towards the doctor, "" The woman's face showed that she understood the boy's hatred and distrust, especially after how he'd handled the boy. ""
Once more she turned him to face her, keeping her face earnest. It was okay if he didn't like her. She'd been spat on, cursed at, and so many other manner of things, that she wasn't sure he'd listen. I tried, she thought quietly. I have to. "" she concluded gently, ""
Alex wasn't used to reasoning with a child who hated her. The one's she had stayed with had liked her long dark hair and her playful demeanor; it wasn't easy to keep a child's mind from the harsh reality, but she had done her best. She had saved more than one child, but she wasn't expected to reach out to this one. Her hands released the boy's shoulders, resting on her knees. She was as harmless as she could possibly make herself.
enth grumbled as Alex handled the boy with care. Hate kids, definitely no good with them.
The boy's sob became litte sniffles as Alex started pointing out her friends. Stubbornly he looked away.
"Will you promise that you'll leave when you are done?"
Kenth huffed and rolled his eyes. "Thank goodness I don't want to live here."
The boy frowned, and looked back at Alex doubtfully.
Alex nodded once. "" She shot the doctor a sour glance, before standing next to the boy.
"" she asked quietly, ""
Kenth sighed and turned away when Alex cast him the glance, and waited. He wondered what would Alex do if the boy refused to cooperate.
The boy lowered his head a little and shook it. "I can't. I'm...I'm not a traitor. I don't want to...."
"Then you don't have to, and go feel guilty about it." Annoyed, Kenth turned back and looked at Alex, giving her an "I told you so" look, and turned to the boy.
"How's this, you can just lead us to your parents, and let them decide whether or not we are trustworthy. After all, I don't think their location is supposed to be secret, or else they won't leave these to us." Taking out the map and the book copy out of his pocket, Kenth flashed the two items at the boy's face.
The boy's mouth dropped, his eyes full of bewildered confusion.
"Where...where did you get that?" The boy got up and reached out to grab the items, but slipped when Kenth took them back.
"Your people left it for me." Kenth sneered, and stuffed the two back into his pockets.
The boy, no longer fearful, showed anxiousy and anger. "Give it back!"
"No, why?"
"Because--because we...." The boy stomped, and licked his lips, trying to make the decision whether or not he should tell. Kenth didn't wait for that, he continued, hands firmly on the two items.
"Lead us to your people, and we'll give it back."
"I---I don't believe you!"
"Then what? What do you do? You have no other choice, boy."
The boy sniffled hard and wiped his nose with the back of his hands. He stared spitefully at Kenth, and then turned to Alex, as if he was pleading for help.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:33 am
"Doctor Kenth, that's ENOUGH!" Alex snarled. Her infamous temper was rearing it's ugly head again, and she'd had just about enough of his careless attitude. She clenched her fists, using the remnants of the pain from her fall to bring her back down to earth.
"" she asked as she turned to the boy, her tone a little softer. "" She didn't know how to say some words, like lab or dorms, so she was trying to keep it simple. "" Her eyes looked genuinely sad and tired as she looked at the boy. ""
She looked at Kenth, growling, "There is no use threatening someone who doesn't understand! You can use your 'tactics' on parents or the others, but if you want to get anywhere you need to work WITH him, not AGAINST him. If you don't want to, you're just as bad as they are!" Alex's lips pulled tight. She didn't understand how he couldn't see that he was doing exactly what they were: unwilling to cooperate, and being brash and rude to each other.
"We're all in this together, doctor," her frown softened. All this fighting over who was wrong was wearing her down. "Please. Let's do this peacefully. We can't go down there without help. We can't leave this place without peace."
"KENTH!" Lina's voice was sharp, and she did something she'd never thought she'd do.
Somehow, she found the strength to stride angrily over to the doctor and give him a vicious backhand.
Lina stood there, breathing harshly, eyes distant.
"Stop playing your games of self-pity! Do you think it's easy for the rest of us? Do you truly think the rest of us don't have problems?! Look at this boy, who has lost his father!!! This woman, working hard as she can to get to your heart!!! And you--you're pushing them away as though they were merely trivial insects!!! YOUR WORLD DOES NOT INCLUDE ONLY YOU!!!!"
Lina spat and looked away. "...so stop acting as though you're the only person your self-misery is affecting." Because in the end, Kenth still had his dreams. His success.
Lina had nothing except an apartment, a drunk boyfriend, and a cafe to go home to.
With a tender voice, she spoke sweet Japanese words to the boy as she knelt, spreading her arms. The little words changed soon into a sweet tune; her voice was nearly childish, high, but it carried with it an air of purity.
Alex's mouth fell open in shock. What was the doctor's problem? Was he here to help or not? It was like his personality had turned on itself; he went from risking his life to condemning a child and his tribe to death, simply because they didn't do as he wanted! What poisoned him so badly? she asked herself in bewilderment.
"How-" was all she uttered before Lina closed the gap between herself and the doctor, and gave him the most stinging backhand Alex had ever seen.
Alex covered her mouth as she gasped, but it was only to hide her sudden grin. That was a good one! As Lina's emotions came undone, Alex could only stare in astonishment. This brilliant woman had come to her end, and had unleashed a torrant of rage that left Alex dumbfounded. And the doctor...he, too, was brilliant, straight forward and had a very no-nonsense attitude. She didn't know what happened, but she felt Doctor Kenth got what he deserved.
The Italian kneeled down again, the gravity of the situation hitting her hard. They were losing 'it'...they were losing the bond that had made them rely on each other. Alex found herself unable to trust the doctor's judgement anymore; Lina had found her strength and released it on the doctor's face. She wanted to go to him, to make sure he was okay...but Lina was right. He'd been pushing her away all this time. You promised yourself you'd distance yourself, she reminded herself wearily. You forget he has no fondness for you.
When it was all said and done, he'd go back to his lab. Lina would go back to her world...and Alex would wander the countries, never having a place to 'go back' to.
Even though she had just seen what a monster the doctor could be, she sat on the dirty floor, heart-broken and uncertain of what to do next.
Kenth's mind was swung several miles away from his head when Lina's hand stuck him. There was a loud noise in his head that sounded like bees buzzing, disturbing his thoughts.
When he did bring his mind back, Kenth felt pain sizzling like fire on his face. Blood rushed to his face, and there was no need to hide it since one side of it was red anways.
He turned rather calmly, and looked at Lina, who was panting now. Quietly he replied.
"And what is your problem? Why do you think that I think I'm the only one who's in pain? Or, why do you think that I am in pain? Why do you think I pity myself? Sure, I am selfish, and what's wrong with that? It is a human vise to be selfish." Kenth stopped, and looked around as if he was about to make an announcement.
"I am not a God. You guys are the ones who expect me to be. I am here to save your lives. If you don't want me to be here, I don't see a reason why I should be. You can spat at me all you want when I leave here. I don't give a damn. Because I am the kind of selfish b*****d in your eyes."
Kenth took a step back, and turned, and paused.
"By the way, Lina, I am not miserable. I am only a human, and I'd care about all other people like you and Alex...but they would be lies."
If he was selfish, he wouldn't have come all the way here in the first place.
If he was selfish, he would not have touched Lina when she was dying.
If he was selflish, he'd have tried to kill HIM again instead of running away,
But Kenth didn't know that. He was a selfish being, and a selfish being he will be...in his own mind. He knew well about it, and he was not afraid to express it.
That was the only reason so far that he could figure out as to why he was never able to surpass HIM.
He was a human, who was not going to hide his pains with a face of an angel...that is, if he felt any at all.
Kenth walked over to Alex, and put the two items on the stone table, and to Alex he whispered.
"I apologize for making you guys miserable because of my own none-existant problems."
And with that, Kenth walked about of the temple.
Lina's arms wrapped around the boy's.
She wished she could say she was sorry. She wished she COULD be sorry.
But Kenth...he had to realize that he was being selfish not by his statements...but by the way he tried to keep others from touching his heart. And, in the process, comforting himself with his own misery.
"....Alex. It has to be you from now on," she said as she cradled the child's head in her hands. "I....I can't do this anymore. I can't."
Her voice was sad, tired.
Alex felt like she had been ripped clean in half.
On one hand, now would be the time to pry for answers from the boy. The scary doctor was gone, and there was a good chance he'd be willing to talk to her if he asked. They may be able to get down the mysterious staircase to wherever it lead. Maybe to the source of the disease itself. Lina was a scientist, so she may be able to figure out what everyone had to do now. They had a native here, who could speak both languages clearly. Really, Alex was the muscle here, not the mind.
The other hand...Alex was no scientist. She followed her instinct, and did what she thought was best. It was true, she had a quick and easy crush on the doctor; he was an insightful, deep thinking man who had dreams that she couldn't fathom. Lina had doled out what he deserved. And yet...and yet...
She wanted to scream. Lina had the boy. The other one had the tonic for the ailments. The doctor was about to go out there, alone, into God knows what. And they would have never come here were it not for the doctor.
Make up your mind, and quickly, her cool rational voice told her. Make up your mind or lose everything.
Alex turned her wide eyes to Lina. "I promise you, I'll be back. Five minutes. Just...keep him calm," her voice ended in a whisper as she shot up and bolted out the temple after the doctor.
The girl nodded as her friend ran off, the sound of her footsteps fading on the steps. She leaned back and looked down at the crying boy in her arms.
"Well, I think I'm hungry. Would you like something to eat? So would I." She turned to Weiyuan. "Would you be a dear and gather some kindling for us, sir?"
Weiyuan stood there shocked. At the boy...at the doctor. It was a headache added onto a heartache. He wiped his tears away, hearing the other woman's words. 'What's a kindling' He didn't understand any of the foreign things. He runted, at the very least, if the doctor was going to give up, he should of brought a sample of the 'medicine' to analyze. Maybe the doctor wasn't what he thought he was.
Onyx eyes gazed to the boy, blinking. Something...there was something he could do. But for now they wanted food. He, himself, had no desire to fufill that part of being a human being. He opened his backpack, knowing his brought some prepackeged snack cakes with him. 'When did...?'
He pulled out some of the cakes along with a folder. It was hidden behind some of the other things. He was missing so many details. He opened the folder, eyes widened. When had his mother packed the sketches with his other things? Damn it. They too could of held vital information.
The boy prayed that Alex would bring the doctor back. Damn his memory! He stopped at a sketch. It was one of his father, handing out snacks to children of the village. One of the smiling faces was this boy.
He went back over to the two, handing a cake to each. But his focus was on the boy. He held up the sketch. "" He pointed to his father. "
Lina watched as the boy's eyes widened, and he pointed at the picture and began babbling in some Chinese language she couldn't comprehend. With regular Chinese, she could at least get the gist of what they were saying...but this was practically Martian to her.
"So he recognizes Professor Leung?" she asked. She smiled fondly and leaned forward, running her fingertips along the paper. "He was always fond of children. He showed me a picture of you and your family. I always found it odd that you two weren't related. You look so much alike."
Kenth did not know how long he walked.
His feet trumbled through the deep forest, caring not longer the wet soil underneath them. They only stopped when his heart started bumping so hard that he was breathing heavily, both from the excessive walking and from his attempt to control his feelings.
His mind was so full, that he felt so empty. Like headless flies, the memories of the immediate and his past entangled with his anger, his sadness, his hatred and his doubt for himself. They infected every corner of his brain, not leaving a single space for his struggling logical and calm mind.
He thought that he was just going to go berserk back in the cave. Lucky for his judgement, he retreated before this madness could be expressed. Now he was releasing all of it by pushing his body to its limit, to take the boiling blood away from his brain so it would die on itself...and forget about what happened.
He felt insulted, looked down upon, embarrassed, enraged...but more than anything else, he felt weak. He felt that he had done something wrong, something that he should not have done, something that he would never allow himself to do...But he did it anyways, just because he wasn't smart enough, wasn't strong enough to prevent himself from doing whatever he had done wrong.
Guilt, was his immediate reaction, then it triggered all feelings that followed.
in fact, guilt was probably the feeling that had drove him into hurting HIM, leaving home, and coming here and trying to save these people. Now guilt was making him to turn away, to run from his faults. This guilt had shut himself off from the rest of the world. For him, the only world was himself.
A selfish thought.
Not knowing where he was or how much time had passed, Kenth slowed down. His breathing was hearsh, but his mouth was firmly shut, as he grinded his teech hard against one another.
The question of course, would always come back to "why". Why did Lina slap him, why did Alex yell at him, why did he run...
Why couldn't he just do things right? Why couldn't he be strong? Why couldn't he be ever like HIM?
Kenth let out a long surpressed sigh. His whole body then collapsed on the ground. Leaning against a tree, he raised his head to look at the tiny bits of the downing sun from the slits between the thick leaves.
He felt...so tired of this.
Kenth slowly closed his eyes, allowing his arms to fall freely. He needed sleep, and rest. Perhaps when he wakes up, everything would be logical again.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:38 am
Alex was horribly, horribly lost.
She felt as though she'd been running circles for days. Every so often, she'd swear she saw the white of the doctor's coat, but looking back, she was almost positive she was seeing things. Her voice was hoarse from yelling for him. Five minutes...I'd promised, she thought miserably. I failed them. All of them, didn't I?
The woman stopped where she was, staring down at her filthy boots. What happened back there? What made her feel so justified in hurting the doctor? But on the other hand, what made him talk to a CHILD like that? What made him feel that he was right, and they were wrong, when they didn't know even a part of the story?
Is this part of the disease? she wondered tiredly. Temporary insanity? That's what it feels like. Like I'm losing my damn mind.
Alex leaned against the nearest tree, not caring if she scuffed up her clothes or skin. How long had she been chasing him, or the phantom of what she thought was him? For all she knew, she could have been running the wrong direction the whole time.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself, you fool! she hissed inwardly. The doctor is out there, and you need to set things right! Lina is waiting for the both of you.
She pushed herself away from the tree, her movement feeling sluggish and without meaning. "I screwed up," she said out loud, needing to hear it. Alex grimanced at her own words. "I was wrong." Saying it out loud made her feel humble, and ashamed. She wouldn't blame the doctor if he never wanted to see her again.
I'll offer him that, then, she thought decisively. Whatever it takes. We need to get back on track. A few more minutes...that's all I can do.
Swallowing hard, Alex started to trudge forward again, calling out, "Doctor Kenth?"
The sun filtered through the trees in a hypnotic pattern, dazzling in their ever changing array. Alex had to squint her eyes to keep from being blinded. The constant movement of the forest made the sunlight dance, and it was making her tired. She knew she was losing daylight, and she'd have to find her way back. The woman sighed deeply. She didn't want to give up, not yet...
Alex rounded one of the larger trees in the forest, and nearly stepped on the doctor. His white coat startled her, making her lose her balance. Luckily for him, she had enough presence of mind to throw her weight backwards, making her fall on her butt and, consequently, her already injured hands.
She squeezed her eyes shut, gritting her teeth for a moment. Then her green eyes popped open again, looking at the doctor. It was really him! Alex crawled forward slowly, waving her hand over his face, just below his nose. He was still breathing, thankfully. Seeing no outward sign of a wound, she settled on her knees, reaching out to touch his hand.
"Doctor Kenth?" she asked softly, not wanting to startle him.
Kenth twitched lightly and shook his head. His eyes slowly opened.
"What is it, G---oh!" Blinking and trying to get himself awake, Kenth looked up sheepishly at Alex. And, realizing who she was, Kenth sighed.
"I've left the book and the map, what else did I forget to give you?"
"You," she answered simply. She'd forget what she just heard him say, she'd forget that adorable look on his face, if he'd come back.
Alex felt a tirade of words building inside. Words she would say to convince him that he could come back and finish what he needed to without her getting in his way, or being nasty to him. Words that would set this whole mess straight, so they could finish what they'd set out to do.
The words didn't come; not yet. She looked at him serenely, carefully cradling his hand in the palm of hers, waiting to see what he had to say first.
"There's no need for me." Kenth said simply. "I'm not going to get any information out of that kid anyways, and I'll just there to obstruct your progress."
Since when had he became so negative about himself? Kenth did not know, but he felt that he had to say it, it was what he felt the most truthful.
Kenth shivered as his hand touched hers. It felt...warm and protected. When was the last time he felt like this...? Long time ago, he supposed. Kenth retracted his hands a little. It wasn't as if he hated it, but it brought up a feeling that Kenth didn't want to remember, the feeling of being sheltered...by someone stronger.
A little wasn't enough to make her let go; she simply inched closer to him, and put her other hand over his heart.
"Neither Lina nor my name have Doctor in front of them," she said quietly. "I'll not minse words. We were wrong to react the way we did. We're all very stressed, but we're close to the end of this tale. We...cannot do this without you. If it weren't for you, Lina would have died. If not for you, we wouldn't have found this temple. If not for you, that boy may have fled and we never would have had the chance to break him down. If not for you...we may all have died."
Her eyes were clear, her face placid. She gazed at him as the clarity of her mind formed into words. "We need you, Doctor Kenth. You are the only one who can save us."
"doctor is only a title." Kenth smiled weakly. His icy blue eyes met directly with Alex's, and the reflection of the sunlight made them almost green. "I'd be nothing without you...and Lina...and that..that boy. You were the ones that found the clue, you were the ones that saved lives. And me...I was just there to give out opinions, that was all."
Could Alex feel his heart beating? Kenth wondered quietly. His heart rate was appreatnly still unstable. As much relaxed as he looked, Kenth felt...a little scared somehow to the thought of going back. What would the others think? His flight seemed to be immature even to him now.
"It's a title earned, Doctor Kenth," she returned his smile gently. "You give yourself so little credit. It was your quick thinking that has kept us going. We rely on you." Her smile cracked into a partial grin. "I'm also afraid to face Lina without you. I promised I'd return with you at a time long since passed."
Alex felt different, somehow. Like some dormant switch had been clicked. Sailing on the tides of change, Alex lowered herself onto the doctor's chest, curling her arms around him in an embrace. He's going to kill me, she thought, smiling outwardly. "Don't think so little of yourself," she murmured lightly, "because we all think highly of you. I know I do."
The sudden embrace from Alex was a surprise to the young doctor. He froze for a minute or two, not knowing what to do. It wasn't the first time a woman had embraced him, but here, in the jungle, with no one else around?
Oh wait, that wasn't the problem, Alex was. The dark skinned woman gave the doctor such an impression that he didn't think the other posessed any ability to do anything like...embracing someone of the opposite gender.
Or maybe Kenth's mind was still out of order.
Making a slight and quick cough, Kenth tried to get up (or get away from Alex's embrace?), brushing off Alex's arm gently in the process.
"The day's not young, let's not waste time here..."
Alex laughed as she got up, brushing off her pants. "I told myself a while ago I was going to thank you back at the dorm. Having spent this much time with you, I knew that wouldn't be wise." Her laughter faded into chuckling. "Think of it as a thank you. If it is your will, I wont do so much as talk to you for the remainder of this journey. I'll try not to step on your toes."
If Lina could see him now, she thought, still smiling. If the day should end where they never saw each other again, Alex could be content that she had reached out to him. She wouldn't kick herself later. And maybe, on a cold night in his lab, he'd remember her...
Reaching to her hair clip to take down her hair, Alex flashed another grin. She felt she'd said what needed to be said. Alex had expressed her feelings without harm (or so she thought), and had told the doctor what she thought of him without making it personal. The ball was in his court, now.
Lina was waking just when Alex and Kenth were coming back. Weiyuan and the boy were still asleep.
"Ah! Alex...you guys are back. You made sure to take my advice about using anaconda intestines as a makeshift condom, right?" she asked without a hint of teasing in her voice, moving to stoke the fire.
He was stirred by the slightest movement. Time for sleep was like a mouse, gone within a flash. But he didn't move, his faced flush with red.
He was indeed old enough to know what a condom was and what it was for. Could they have? Is that why they were gone so long? He tried to not think about....that. Instead he focused on the village boy infront of him. The other youth cradled the image. His father had such a good effect on people.
He wished he was here. He would of been a better support most definately. For now though, he'd just pretend he was still asleep. Let the adult figure themselves out first. Then he'd tell them where he figured out where the keys were....
Alex smiled at her friend. Sharp as a razor and twice as lethal, that one. With an amused chuckle, she said, "I don't think the doctor would have let me resort to that." She thought to add more, but decided to keep her method of persuasion a secret. Her smile was almost enigmatic as she played with her hair, which was currently in a loose braid over her shoulder. To her, those brief minutes had been special. To him, well...he was probably tired of her being a bothersome little gnat, but she was still quite pleased that he had come along. They were all here again. It was time to work.
"Did you get any leads?" she asked gently, looking at the boys. "I'm sure his parents are worried."
Lina nodded, glancing over at the other two. "I couldn't understand much. But...I think this boy knew Professor Leung at one point. I think he...helped them.
"Mm, yes, our little helper here did say his father wrote about this place." Alex tapped her jaw thoughtfully, her eyes straying to the hole in the wall. "If it mentions the traps, even if just what to look for, we should try to move forward."
She stared at the hole quizically for a while, before asking out loud, "Should we bring sticks or rocks or something, to see if those will trigger any unseen traps?"
he little boy stirred, and rolled onto his back, his eyes trying to open. His one hand reached up to rubb his face, the other supported the body so he could sit up.
The boy blinked at everyone present, his expression changed from sleepiness to confusion then to panic.
"I'm late!" The boy cried out in Chinese, and stood up with lamost superhuman speed and rushed out of the temple. He took out a small bag that was on his waist, and started collecting the remedy with haste, while his mouth mumbled something in Chinese so fast that no one could understand. After he had collected a few of the leaves, the boy suddnely jerked up and ran back into the temple. He looked around carelessly, and eyes stopped on Kenth.
"If you want to, you can follow me."
Kenth raised his eyebrow. Lina must have done something extraordinary to change this boy's opinion. Or, something was supposed to be going on that interferred with his judgement? Either way, Kenth scanned quickly at the other three, motioning them to decide if they should accept this boy's invitation.
If his choice was unpopular, let them decide for themselves.
Weiyuan was up just as fast as the other boy. His eyes watched the boy do his tasks, understanding that every son has to do what he must.
He went to his backpack, and slung it over the hsoulder, moving towards the other boy. He nodded to the other and went over to a rock near the entrance. Like a key under a door mat. He flipped the rock over, moving his foot away quickly as a large spike rushed up.
Laced with poison no doubt. He reached past it and got out a little sack and a large lump of what seemed to be dirt. He smashed the lump into the ground, splitting it. A glowing came off from the crystals inside. He smirked, giving one half to the other boy. "We need to hurry."
Alex watched the flurry of action that the once sleeping boys sprung into. They moved with purpose, and she wasn't about to stand in their way. She took a few steps back, consequently putting her by the doctor. His intentions were made known, and she wasn't going to go against him again...so long as he didn't step on anymore moral boundaries.
"We go," she smiled at the doctor, turning to look at Lina for her approval.
Lina nodded. "Let's go. Lead the way, child."
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:40 am
The boy didn't say anything else, and started walking toward the cave. Since everyone decided to follow, Kenth nodded as well. He stepped in front of the team again to be the first to follow the boy. If he tries to do anything, Kenth'd be the first one to notice.
the group followed silently in the dark cave. The boy, obviously familiar with the area, walked fast and light. Kenth tried his best to catch up with the boy, and hoped that others can do so as well. Periodically he'd stumble on to something and slow himself down. The boy however, walked on without a problem. He seemed to grow eyes of an owl.
The groupl walked for a long time. Just as when Kenth was starting to wonder if the boy was tricking them, the cave suddenly changed from narrow routes to a large open space. Light of the bright flame can be seen from the passageway, and from the sudden breeze, Kenth realized that there was no ceiling on top of the open space, moreoever, from the errie silver glow of the place, the moon was right on top of the opening.
The boy stopped abruptly, and gestured the others to wait. He then approached to the flame slowly. As Kenth's eyes adjusted to the change of brightness of the environment, he could make out a large crowd of natives gathered around the flame. The boy approached one of the members, and started talking to him in a small voice that Kenth couldn't hear. The man replied in the same voice, but did not sound very happy.
As the conversation went on Kenth scanned around the area. Is there a ritual being performed right now? And appearantly the remedy was an important part of it? Kenth watched as the boy talk to the older man, his mind boiling with questions.
Lina had been wondering almost the same thing. But then she felt the breeze, the air...and the moon shining in the air, in her hair, all around and within her.
It was beauty.
"What...is this place...?"
Alex had followed behind Lina and the boy with the tonic, still worried about her friend's condition. It occured to her that she still didn't know the little savior's name.
She squinted, her eyes adjusting poorly due to the lack of light outside of the flame. Her lips turned into a faint frown. She STILL didn't like this.
The boy and the man conversed for a while. Kenth didn't know how long they have talked, but time seemed slow at the moment. Finally the boy turned around and waved at the group. Taking the hint, Kenth looked back at the others and nodded...it's now or never.
He turned, and walked out of the passageway. AS he approached the crowd, he noticed that it consisted of all natives, men, women and children. Each one of them were holding a piece of remedy leaf in their hands.
Alex's frown disappeared for the moment. She didn't want to appear hostile to the natives, especially if they really were going to help. Part of her wondered if they were just going to be used for some sort of ritual, but she brushed the idea aside. There were children here, after all.
She absently draped her hand over the boy's shoulder in a protective gesture. Her mind played back the boy's fear at leading them here in the first place. She wasn't going to let them hurt him. Alex skimmed her eyes over the throng of natives, inclining her head respectfully to those who looked back at her.
"Don't touch him!" The man who was talking to the boy abruply said in Chinese to Alex, and gestured for the boy to come back to the crowd. The boy obeyed, and walked to the man's side without looking at the strangers, when he did look, his eyes showed some kind of determination. It seemed that the boy felt more secure now that he was with his people. Kenth snorted on the side. So the boy still didn't trust them.
The man patted the boy's shoulder, and looked at at the group.
"Which one of you is the leader?"
Kenth wasn't sure the word choice the man used for "leader" in Chinese, but he figured it was something close, so the young doctor took a step forward.
"If you are talking about someone who guides the others, I suppose I am."
The boy whispered something into the man's ears, and the man looked at Kenth with an impatient expression.
"What do you want here?"
"I seek the answers to the question of why people are dying. You should know about the deaths."
The man's frown got deeper. "We did not kill them, they marked their own demise."
"I figured as such. Regardless, tell me a way to prevent it."
"Why should we? They are the invaders. It was their fault to come here in the first place. We have tried to help them, but they won't listen. "
"What did you do to try to help them?"
The man's head lowered, as if he was thinking, and then looked up. "That they should not reside in the home of her children."
Her children? Kenth raised an eyebrow. "What is this...children you are talking about?"
The man bit his lips, and looked back, murmuring to his fellow natives. There was a stir in the crowd, Kenth was able to see men and women talking and discussing with each other, some of them had a shocked expression on their face, the others looked at Kenth as if he was from another planet. Feeling more confused and slightly annoyed, Kenth turned to Alex and Weiyuan.
"Do you know what they are talking about?"
Alex frowned again. She just couldn't help it; this place felt so wrong to her. There was a world out there that they were letting die because of trivial differences. She felt the heat of impatience starting to rise in her neck. Once the doctor turned to speak to her, the rising tide of anger immediately left, leaving her feeling slightly dazed.
"I didn't understand everything you and he said," she replied honestly. "But...the part about staying in 'the home of her children'..." Alex closed her eyes momentarily, blocking out the sight of the mindless crowd. Her children, she thought. The home of her children? Who is she, and her children?
Her? And her children? Why did they hesistate to share this information? And if they told the researches about it, and they didn't understand, then...it was something only the natives knew about. It still came back to this 'her' that they spoke of. The home of her children was the village? There was so little that they knew about these natives, and if the ground was sacred, and it wasn't something they readily knew about, then what WAS it? She didn't think they were talking about a human female, so--
Her eyes snapped open. "If this is a temple, is it to a Goddess? Because...if so...we are 'in the home of her children.' And, perhaps, that's what the other village is, too, hence the sacred grounds we heard about earlier." That was the best she could think of. Nothing else was making sense, but if it was religious, that would explain the lack of understanding on everyone's part.
A Goddess? Kenth didn't comment about it, but for someone like him, Goddess was none other than a legend. Sure, there are elves and appearantly the humans were saved because of them, but this Goddess...? Kenth didn't buy it, but since the native people believed so firmly in this "her", Kenth might was well go along with it.
"So this her, is some kind og Goddess?"
The man looked back, mouth agape. He stared at Kenth for a while and then nodded.
"Yes, Luna."
Luna. The Goddess of moon and darkness. It explains why this ritual is taking place at night of a full moon. Kenth nodded hesitantly. He had heard about this Goddess along with others for his required reading. the human beings are just so hyped up about magic after the elves were found. He didn't read the material carefully, but he did have a sense of what this Goddess is all about.
Kenth mentally rolled his eyes. Bah, children of the Goddess, like hell.
"So Luna...the Goddess...bore children. And they were living at place where the science reseach building now resides?" Kenth asked, carefully not to show his sacrasm.
The man nodded firmly, and continued, "So they invaded a God's space, they should well be punished. We've warned them, but they wouldn't listen. And now they are receiving the punishment they deserve...I don't see a point in helping them."
Or, Jonas was the one that refused to listen. He's the b*****d that started everything.
"What about this?" Kenth pointed at the leaf that the man was holding. "This...herb has the ability to defy a God's punishment?"
The man looked down at his head and looked up. Shaking his head, he said, "this is a...scapegoat. The Goddess accept the watergreen as a replacement for your soul."
"...oh." Kenth couldn't help but to be amused by the native's firm belief in magic and soul and...eternal being, whatever. He felt a slight headache, as part of him was trying to rebuke the man's statement, and the other part was trying to surpress this urge.
He wondered if the man's words made any sense to the others.
Alex tried to listen, but it was difficult. Her grasp of Chinese was basic at best, and these two were speaking at a level far above herself. The Goddess theory was correct, it seemed, and although She was named, Alex didn't quite understand it. She gathered that Kenth had asked about where the children were born, but after that...she just didn't understand.
With scarred fingers, she rubbed her right temple, deciding the doctor knew what he was doing and was capable of handling the situation himself. Her green eyes observed each of the people gathered, clutching something in their hands like their lives depended on it. Maybe they do, she thought, somewhat amused by the idea. Using the name-sake of a Goddess to condemn everyone but theirselves...ah, religion at its finest.
"It seems it's okay for them to live, but not the rest of the people who don't understand," she said out loud, more to herself than anyone. "They seem to be afraid of whatever they worship." Some Goddess, she snarled inwardly, becoming annoyed with the mind games, She would kill everyone, even Her own people, if they weren't fearful for their own lives. What hypocrites.
The man looked sharply at Alex, then back at Kenth.
"What is she talking about?" The man asked demandingly.
Kenth shook his head, "she's confused about the concept of the children." A lie, Kenth knew, but of course if he said the truth, they'd most likely be cast out.
The man looked at Kenth suspiciously, trying to dig out the lie that laid in those icy blue eyes. After a while the man gave up, and said, "They are children of a Goddess."
"What do they look like?"
"we don't know. They are invisible to human eyes."
So something microscopic. Kenth decided. Although it didn't really help since that was his original hypothesis anyways.
"Then how do you the deaths were caused by these...these invisible children?"
The man looked at Kenth, confused by his question and perhaps his own words. He looked back at the crowd, and said something to them. The crowd stirred again, this time looking at each other with a baffled expression not much like the man's himself. Kenth snickered in his mind. So these people have holes in their reasonings, after all.
"We know it's the Goddess because the children only happens to come out under the full moon." The man said, after a long period of discussing. "The moon is the sign of the Goddess."
Kenth's eyes went wide. So the antigen release themselves from where they reside once in a full moon? Something in his mind was excited about this new clue. If he was right...then...
"Can you see the children under the moon?" Surpressing his excitment, Kenth continued the logical questioning.
"No, but they will take souls away if we don't calm them that day, and that's what we are here for. Soon, they'll arrive, and take those who have committed sins...and....we use this to calm them." The man raised his hand and flashed the leaf.
"Can we join the ceremony?" The words sounded impulsive, but Kenth decided it was worth a try.
The man hesitated, and looked at the crowd. Some of the people in the crowd frowns, some shrugged, the others looked at Kenth in disbelief and suspicion.
"If we don't die...in this ceremony, then we prove ourselves worthy and not sinful." Kenth added.
The man looked at Kenth, questioning his purpose. After a while he nodded.
"Very well, let the Goddess be the judge."
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:48 am
The woman was trying desperately to keep her frown from deepening, but it was hard when the natives kept looking at the doctor as if he was blaspheming. Many of them seemed torn by whatever they were discussing, and Alex wasn't entirely sure that he didn't just offer all them up for some sort of ritual.
"Doctor Kenth, what's going on?" she asked tightly, looking between Lina and the man in question. She was completely ignoring the native man in charge who was giving her dirty looks; she was vaguely aware that she was starting to feel claustrophobic with so many people around, even in the open air. It made her patience dip into nonexistance, and made her extermely suspicious of those leaves in their hands. Alex felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as her discomfort grew.
Trust the doctor, she repeated a mantra in her head, he knows what he's doing.
Kenth turned back when the man turned to his people to get them to prepare for the ceremony. He didn't answer Alex's question first. Instead, he walked to the side of the open space and sat down. His fingers were still on his mouth, deep in thought.
After for about five minutes, Kenth looked up at Alex. "Do you still have the canteen of remedy with you?"
Lina's eyes widened. Luna...a Goddess...so there WERE still some Chinese people that followed the old, so-called "sinful" pagan ways!
She was about to inquire excitedly furthur when Kenth's remark cut her off. Her eyes widened. Her mouth fell slightly open.
"...don't be scared, Alex," she said, twining their hands.
Really, she was just trying to say so to comfort herself.
Five minutes passed, but it may have been another lifetime. Alex had to cross her arms to keep from cracking and clenching her knuckles, which was one of the bad habits she had picked up over the years. She stood perfectly still, careful not to lock her knees. Her eyes were the only give away that she was distressed; they were slightly too wide, and moving around too much. She didn't like this, didn't like the temple when she first saw it outside, and now she liked the people cowering inside even less. Alex knew Lina was trying to give her comfort, but she felt unusually keyed up. "I'm not scared," she said with a smile, although her teeth were clenched, "I feel like my skin is trying to crawl off." She actually grinned at that for a moment, realizing how absurd she must look.
Doctor Kenth's question almost made her jump. She looked at him with a blank expression for a moment, before giving a single nod. "I do." Alex also remembered she had her knife in her belt pouch. That gave her some sort of comfort.
Kenth's eyes lit up a little, and he stood up, hands in his pockets.
"Let's take in the remedy as much as we can...I have a feeling that this children might be the antigen itself. And...a whole bunch of them are coming to this area. We'll need to brace ourselves. This is...a bet of life. If we win, we get to know the true nature of 'Luna's children' and if we lose....we die. No other options."
Kenth looked back at the natives just brifely, and continued. "Since they don't know that we also have the remedy, we have a slight upper advantage. But...the risk is very high. But this is the only way to get answers from them...to get them to trust us first. We have no other choice."
Kenth paused, and added, "Or, if any of you guys have better ways, say it now."
"It's a bit late for second thoughts," Alex smiled dryly. The doctor had set the plan in motion, and now it was all she could to do follow. She carefully removed the canteen from her belt, handing it to him without question, her smile still intact.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, but that's why you're the Doctor." She shooke her head. Children? An antigen? Bet of life? She was a vagabond, not a scientist! This was all over her head, but she was going to play her part to make sure the the mystery was solved.
Kenth frowned. "I wouldn't want you to waste your life without understanding what's going on first. I am not sure about my hypothesis either."
He took the canteen, and took a sip of the remedy with strong taste. Kenth swallowed hard and gave the canteen back to Alex. "But here's what I thought of. This disease...it comes from some kind of antigen that only blows in its full force once a month, and that day happened to be the day of the full moon, which is also today." He pointed to the sky, the moon shone light on the ritual ground. "The plant that we found outside of the temple, also the plant that made this liquid, is able to cure or prevent the disease. We know that it cures the disease for sure, because Lina was saved from it. However, we are not sure if this plant here have preventive abilities also. Which is why this is a risk. If we drink the remedy now, will it have its effect when the antigen, the disease arrives?"
Kenth paused and looked at Alex and everyone else, waiting for the info to sink in.
Alex wasn't following what the doctor was saying. Didn't they already have the antigen? What did the leaf have to do with anything? She breathed in deeply, accepting the canteen and taking a brief sip; she'd already had some earlier after her unfortunate fall. "It's not throwing anything away if this mess can be solved," she replied simply. She didn't want to show her ignorance, so she said nothing about what Doctor Kenth had just described.
Her eyes turned to Lina and the boy. "Does he have to be a part of this? He's a native, he has nothing to prove."
Weiyuan absorbed the info easily. The speech was broken to him and only listened to what the doctor would say. But he got enough out of it.
A Goddess? He wasn't one to believe in such things but it was enough for him. As long as whatever it was ended he would be fine with that. He just wanted to end this...this touble. He wanted to solve the mystery, figure out how his father's death would be and just go home. Lay down on his bed and be depressed. He didn't have enough strength to hold this face up for too long.
He looked over to the darker woman, a sharp look in his eyes. "I'm doing this." Nothing. Nothing could take him away from this.
Alex looked steadily at the boy. "" she said quietly, not caring if the natives heard. "" She couldn't help but bristle at the idea that the boy's own people had at least partially been responsible for his father's death. No favoritism from the Goddess, she scowled inwardly.
The woman handed the boy the canteen. "" she introduced herself to the young man. It may be the last time they had a chance to speak. "" Her Chinese was still broken, but she hoped she got her point across, smiling encouragingly at him.
Weiyuan silently took the canteen and took a healthy slug from it. He couldn't say anything back. He had no words to say. Not about himself, or his father. The words, had this not been a serious situation, would of been rather comforting. But at the moment there were things to be revealed.
Kenth watched the three silently. His mind, however, was full of conflicts. If they really don't want to do this, he knew perfectly that all he had to do is to ask the natives to send them back. Despite however unreasonable they were, the natives were sane enough to not kill these innocent strangers. But Kenth's person would not let him talk to the natives as if he was admitting defeat. He had been beaten too many times already...and he'd hate it if he was beaten again.
Which is why he had to come out of this alive. They had to come out of this alive. For the sake of...even just for the sake of winning the bet.
The cool wind of a winter night brushed across the ritual area. It was late winter, yet the place was still warm like early autumn. There was an odd humidity about the place, as if the whole area was drowning in an aura of water vapors. Kenth didn't like the feeling of it.
Weiyuan looked towards the doctor. He sensed the tension in the air. He didn't dare say anything to the natives, even if he had some sort of in with them it didn't matter. He sighed.
The Goddess. If there really was one, she hadn't spared her father who had tried to help them. The world was screwed up, it probably meant the same for the greater beings.
Alex delicately took the canteen back from the boy, who was so serious he'd not even told her his name. She gingerly handed the tonic to Lina, her face drawn and serious.
Despite the warm weather of the winter night, Alex had goosebumps. The situation bothered her greatly. She tried to sort it out in her head, to see if anything fell into place. Supposedly, this old Goddess was supposed to curse those who had sinned so that they die. Hardly seems fair, she noted grimly, to die when one does not know what the Goddess considers a sin. Who knew constructing buildings for people to have homes would be a sin? According to Doctor Kenth, the children themselves were the antigens. Did that mean that everyone who died was childless? Not so, as the unnamed boy's father had died of the disease as well. Then, there was this...leaf. She didn't know if it was aloe or ginseng or something else completely, but it was supposed to be an acceptable sacrifice in place of a soul.
A LEAF, a DEAD LEAF is able to replace a human SOUL? Alex groaned quietly. These people were clearly out of their minds! She hadn't understood everything that was said, but what she did gather sounded like some demented fairy tale. A spiteful Goddess kills without discrimination, accepting leaves instead of bodies? Alex had come up with better stories as a child!
She closed her eyes , another ripple of goosebumps visible on her arms. Personally, Alex never believed in a God or Goddess. With all the horrors she had seen, all the terrible things that she had partaken in herself, she just couldn't accept that there was some being who had the capacity to love the human race without bias. This Goddess was a perfect example of her distrust. She didn't think to question any higher beings, but she couldn't prostrate herself before something that didn't exist.
The woman opened her eyes slowly, turning her green gaze to the doctor. They'd put themselves in his hands; she hoped he realized that they truly did trust him.
Kenth knew how nervous he was, and how nervous and scared the other three were. The religion that these natives believed in could fit into his hpothesis perfectly in his mind, but the other three don't know about it. It seemed unfair to let them risk their lives for a bet that they didn't understand.
Just as Kenth was wondering if he should talk to the natives and send the three people home, one of the natives started pointing to the sky, speaking in an alerted voice to other natives. Kenth couldn't hear what she was talking about, and as he tried to walk closer to the native crowd, the whole crowd stirred in excitement.
"Lai La!" This time Kenth could make out what they were saying.
They are coming.
The leading man that was talking to Kenth waved at the other natives. Men, women and children quickly took position in a circle around the fire, each holding the leaf in front of their chests, chanting silently to themselves. Kenth walked up to the man, who was busy setting the other natives in position.
"Excuse me--"
"no time." The man cut Kenth's request off abruptly. He turned to look at Kenth with determination. "If you wish to prove yourselves, stand with us."
Kenth frowned, but said no further. He walked back to his group and said quietly.
"Gather yourselves around the fire, make sure you drink enough of the remedy."
This moment...is the moment of truth.
The youngest of the trio was silent as he took a place among the circle. He felt a few gazes on him. Either they were perplexed this young non-native or they saw that he looked familiar to his father.
He sighed. Of course that was something that didn't really make sense to him either. He was adopted! And the two really didn't look alike. His father was much lighter than he, nor this his father sport his american brown hair. He'd let them speculate. Either way as long as this was ended.
Alex felt her skin start to crawl, looking skybound for whatever these people thought were coming. Her fingers gently pressed on the back of the young boy, ushering him to stand closer to the doctor and Lina. If the natives were going to get weird and start dying or otherwise being unpleasant, she was going to make sure she could keep an eye on her partners. The natives would sorely regret batting so much as an eyelash the wrong way at her three friends.
Friends, she startled herself, moving to stand between Lina and the doctor. Friends, huh. She curled one hand into the crook of Lina's elbow, the other lazing by her belt pouch - namely, the pouch with her knife - just in case. Her hand happened to brush against the doctor's arm-sleeve. Alex felt comfortable that way, and so she left her hand against his sleeve, not really touching him, barely putting any pressure there. She wouldn't have been surprised if he didn't feel the touch at all, but then...the motion was mostly unconscious, born from a desire to be near these three people.
Alex had no idea what to expect, but she knew she was going to walk out of here with her friends, no matter what.
By the time the three and Kenth successfully joined the group, the entire place fell silent. The only sound that could be heard was the cackling fire in the middle of the circle. Kenth looked around and saw the natives chanting soundlessly, holding their leaves tightly in front of their chests. The native, too, must have been scared also, despite their firm belief in the Goddess Luna...surely people have died within them. What were they praying for? Forgiveness to their sins? Certainly these people believed that the Goddess knows the best of every single one of them, and would punish whoever was sinful. But...what evidence do they have in believing this Goddess' justice? When an innocent person passed away due to this "punishment", would these people turn on their own people and accuse the dead of being sinful? That certainly seemed unfair to Kenth. If death were the punishment, there would be no respect for the dead...and no respect for the soul, and in turn the way these people judge themselves contradict with their own religious belief. And the worst part was that these people were hypocritical enough to go along with it! Kenth had heard about the Chinese people being conservative and shunn away all other customs, even if they make more sense. Logic didn't seem to exist in their minds, much thanks to their superficial ancestors.
But then again, these people have lived on this land, generations after generations. They should knew their surroundings best. If this ritual had been happening a long time ago, these people were the survivals of the disease. How they survive must have been related to the leaves that they were holding, but they knew nothing about science, and would therefore no nothing about how the human body worked. This lack of knowlege would also contribute to their stubborness and their firm belief in the Goddess. Whether this Goddess exist or not, the leaf itself certainly had its effects. The natives found the cure on coincidence, and they knew nothing about the true nature of the disease itself. It was now up to Kenth and his group to explain this strange phonomenon in scientific and logical thoughts, at the risk of their lives. If they were to succeed, would these people be deprived of their believes? Kenth decided that was not a good idea---traditions were as well to be passed on if it works to save these people. And perhaps that was how other modern day religion works.
Thoughts aside, Kenth felt goosepimps surficing onto his body. His skin was feeling the uncomfortableness in the air, as the air suddenly went from wet and warm to dry and cold instantly. Kenth realized that something up in the air was perhaps absorbing all the moisture. Holding his arms together, he glanced up, but saw nothing. However, as much as his eyes searched for what's happening in vain, his body reacted in the most violent way. He realized that he was having trouble to breathe, as if air itself was weighing a lot more than it should all of a sudden. He felt his throat running dry, and, as if something entered his bloodstream, his brain felt fuzzy and his lips started to turn blue---a sign of lack of oxygen...or blood in general within the body. He felt he was getting sick in the stomach, and was feeling nauscious. Trying hard to stand evenly, Kenth felt all his senses were somehow blocked by a cloud of tiny particles...he felt like...fainting.
Is this what the disease felt like? Is he...going to die?
Trying to breath, Kenth coughed out loud violently---a body's reflex to dispell any invading particles from his lung and throat. Although he couldn't see clearly, from the fuzzyness of his retina he could make out that the others, including the villagers, were probably feeling the same thing.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:51 am
Alex's skin started to burn shortly before the doctor started to cough. Even though the weather was cold, she was still wearing just a tank top and jeans. Her eyes started to water, and she felt like her wind pipe was being squeezed from the inside. She tried to clear her throat a few times, her eyes shedding a few tears with the reaction. It almost felt like she was too close to the fire; the coughing and similar reactions from the other people made her realize that wasn't the case at all. She grabbed for her rucksack, hoping to stem the burning sensation in her nasal cavity with a shirt, remembering belatedly that she'd left it in the main room for Lina to lay on. As a cough started to come on, she cursed herself thoroughly for being so thoughtless.
It would do no good, but Alex still put her hand over her mouth to cover her cough; she vaguely wondered if it was a forced reaction to breathe in whatever was spreading over everyone like...like dusting crops! Alex almost started to laugh at the idea, but her cough kept it from coming out too much. Even though her eyes were watering and stinging, she was trying to make sure she didn't lose Lina and the boy. Smooth, she felt herself mocking her own antics, you could be dying and you're making sure the others didn't wander off. Real smart! Alex doubled over as a wave of nausea gripped her, threatening to make her vomit the antigen she'd taken before.
The feeling of, in short, dying, continued for what seemed an eternity. Kenth felt as if he saw himself in the underworld. Not that he believed in it, but it felt so close to him, that he wondered if it was real. His mind was spinning, and he lost almost all the concentration on his current condition. Images of his childhood fleeted across his eyes. The feeling of that pair of strong hands that held him up when he fell, the feeling of embracing someone warm, the feeling of being protected, the warmth of his chest, the soft and calming voice...
This is all too stupid. Too, too stupid.
They say that when a human was near death all he could think was things that he regretted the most. What did it mean? Did he really wished that he was till home? Did he really want to see HIM again? No, no, he couldn't have. He'd cut off his cell phone lines to get away with that annoying voice of HIS, he'd fake his address to get rid of all of those disgusting letters, he'd even put down pen-names for famous science journals so that HE wouldn't know what he was doing. He'd grind his teeth every time HIS face appeared on TV as an honorable hero, he'd throw away any news about HIM, good or bad. He didn't want to see HIM! Heck, he didn't even want to hear about HIM! HE should be out of his head by now. Why, WHY the hell was HE still there???
Losing his balance, Kenth fell to the ground, panting. He felt a pair of hands on him, and some anxious murmurs in Chinese. Kenth goaned, and put his hands up to wipe his face. It felt wet.
Was he crying?
The woman stayed on her elbows and knees, curled tight into herself. She kept repeating to herself that she couldn't throw up, because it would mean everything up to this point was lost. From her foster parents taking her in and teaching her about the world; leaving home for the first time, already fluent in three languages; traveling east; looking at her hands, covered in the blood of her first human loss; more recently, helping Lina off the ground; meeting the doctor; it all came at her, and she had a strange sense of comfort that she had done all she could, the best she could, with no regrets. Alex felt only a single pang in her chest, and that was not properly expressing her gratitude of her most recent friendships. She felt they'd understand, and the pain loosened.
In fact, most of the pain seemed to be receeding, albeit slowly. She was dimly aware that she was shaking, although her eyes were squeezed shut so tightly, her body balled into itself, that she wasn't sure. The woman couldn't tell if she was in the position because of the pain, or if it was the memories of what she had been, and how far it was from what she was becoming. Alex didn't really care, at that point. As her throat slowly started to allow air into her lungs, she was just grateful to be able to feel anything at all. Even the pain was welcome.
Lina stood perfectly still.
And then watched as others started to faint on her. Her eyes widened.
She...why wasn't she....
"ALEX!!!!" She fell to the ground, shaking her friend violently before pinching her on the cheek. "Don't you DARE die on me! Don't you dare!!! YOU HEAR ME?!?!??!"
Alex gasped deeply, as if she hadn't been breathing. She flinched when she was pinched, blinking too fast. Her eyes felt like they were void of any moisture, and as if her lungs had taken in too much. She licked her lips, croaking out, "Takes...s'more..." The woman coughed, then squeezed out, "more 'n that t'kill me." She managed a weak grin at Lina before wheezing again.
"You...you're okay?" she forced her voice to work, trying to push herself into a sitting position. Her muscles burned as though she had been running for weeks. "And the boy?" She tried to look around, but her head felt as if it might roll off her shoulders. Alex grimanced, lowering her head with the intention of laying down for another moment, before practically leaping up into a standing position. "The doctor?" she tried to cry out; it fell from her lips like a whisper before she realized her legs weren't yet ready to support her weight. She wobbled, trying not to fall on her injured hands for a third time.
"Hai Huo Zhe?" A deep but more clear voice of the native man rang in Kenth head. Weakly he nodded without opening his eyes. His body was exhausted, but at least it was in recovery...for his lungs no longer felt stuffed with solid substances. As his mind became more clear, his thoughts immediately went back to reasoning why he was still alive. He was relieved, of course, that the remedy he had drank earlier somehow worked, which confirmed his hypothesis that the remedy works in preventing the antigen from killing him as well.
Moaning, Kenth asked to no one in particular. "Are they gone?"
The voice confirmed Kenth's questioning.
"Yes they have. And you have passed."
Alex was still weak, her muscles still burning. She fell back to her butt, once again landing on her hands. The woman hissed another explictive, making a note to ask if there were any hot springs in the area. She deserved that much, after all this.
"Insensato," she growled under her breath, becoming irritated once more. These people thought it was great fun to stand in the face of some airborn THING and claim it was the work of a Goddess? Had they never seen pollen from trees, or flowers? "Maledizione!" she snarled, wiping her hands on her pants, flinching at the thrice reopened wounds.
She wearily turned her head to look over her shoulder, seeing the doctor also looking a little worse for the wear. Alex didn't know if she wanted to strangle him or kiss him for making it through this.
Kenth's eyes snaped open at the man's words. Forgetting all about the sickness he had felt, the young doctor sat up and grabbed the man by his shirt.
"You are gonna pay if this is staged intentionally." Kenth hissed, face close to the man. He had a feeling that all the clues that led up to where he was now seemed too coincidental. Why was the map found in the village? Why was the remedy there? If there was no more people living in that place, having a bucket full of fresh medicine seemed strange. And why was the piece of plate paper near the stone table? And why did that boy appear just as when they were hestitating? All of these clues were too unnatural to Kenth, and the only reason he would see fit was---
"What exactly do you and your people want? If you want us to know the truth, why go through all the trouble making up things?"
The man sighed, and shook his head. Then he smiled weakly.
"You are smarter than we thought." He chuckled to himself. "We just want to show you the true power of magic and the Goddess herself so you arrogant scientists can leave us alone!" The man blantantly grabbed Kenth's arm and pushed it away forcefully, making the doctor stumble backwards. "We have heard about you from the prime minister himself. And you think you are some kind of person who can challenge God? This is to teach you a lesson, this is...to show you how much we have struggled to make this land ours, and to keep this sacred land pure. We want to let you feel what we have to go through every single month, and you...you sicentists..." The man sneered, "you think you can stay on this land without knowing these sufferings? How could you? How could somebody so ignorant like you to take advantage of the Goddess's gift??" Clearly both excited and angry. the man approached Kenth, caught his lab coat, and in a swift motion, the bones of his knuckles slamed against the doctor's chin, making a loud, crashing sound.
Alex's pupils dilated, the green swallowed from her eyes. Her adrenaline kicked in, and Alex's idea of 'fight or flight' rarely considered the latter option. Her heart sped up, her muscles burned with a new type of ache, and everything seemed to slow down. The pain was gone, the fear was gone, everything was gone but the man that had just hit Doctor Kenth. Her companions may have known her as a helper, but she'd done some mercenary work; she was no stranger to fighting.
She moved. Her hand dipped into a pocket in the back of her utility belt. Alex withdrew her hunting knife in a swift motion, choosing it over the normal pocket knife because right now, she wasn't going to threat or make promises; it was do or die. The blade was black, serrated and curved, cleaned and well taken care of. She hadn't used it for a while, but the body never forgets.
Before the man could bring his hand back, she was there. She gripped the knife in her left hand and crashed her elbow into his nose, lifting her free hand to jab him in the throat, knocking him backwards to seperate the fool from the doctor. She fully intended to incapacitate the man, and if he got back up, she was going to do worse. While killing wasn't her method of choice, the adrenaline didn't distinguish what was right and proper. Alex's goal right now was to free the doctor from this man's grasp, and to beat the living hell out of him if he tried anything further.
She stood between the doctor and the head native, perfectly still with her knees partly bent, feeling very much like the cornered tiger. The knife's tractioned hilt was rough on her hand, but the pain still couldn't reach her. Alex was beyond words, beyond diplomacy and manners. If the natives wanted to hurt her friends, the people who were trying to save innocents from dying, people who had never done anything but put themselves on the line for these ungrateful worms, they would have to get through her first. Dimly, she hoped they had enough sense to run, because she didn't.
Unexpected at the action behind his back, the man got caught off guard and screamed as Alex hit, stumbling backwards in the process. A few of the native men ran up to him, trying to help him. One of the man looked at Alex and said something in his native tougue, persumably a swear. A few other natives approached Alex and Kenth and surrounded the two. They were unarmed, but everyone of them had the confusion and anger on their faces that it was clear that they were ready for a fight.
Kenth choked on his own saliva as his head flung backwards from the force. He struggled to keep his stance, hands grabbing on to the side of the stone wall. His hand slipped, and he fell forwards, almost colliding with Alex who suddenly jumped in front of him. Panting heavily, he looked up both in frustration and surprise. The corner of his mouth was bleeding, and there was a spreading purple bruse surficing on the side of his chin. Rubbing against the bruse, Kenth looked around and immediately realized the situation he and Alex got themselves into. Kenth frowned. He had come here to save people and to solve the mystery, he had not come here to provoke the villagers, no matter what they did to them. That was precisely what Jonas did, and it got the sicentists to nowhere other than dying.
"Drop the knife, Alex." Kenth commanded, his voice horse from just coming in contact with a blow. "Fighting is useless." Then in Chinese, he called out aloud, "We have passed the test, so you have no right to hurt us since by Goddess's judgement we are not sinful!"
Alex stayed where she was, eyes flitting between the men who were coming closer. They may get in a few good swings, but she could leave something everlasting. She felt somewhat amused that she wasn't afraid, and almost felt pity for the misguided natives.
That's the adrenaline talking, she told herself, her own thoughts sounding foggy and faraway. She knew that when she came off of this high, she was going to be hurting badly; she had over-exerted herself, but it hadn't touched her yet. Somewhere in the dense mist of her mind, she was aware that if they had hurt Lina, there would have been a death rather than an attack.
The doctor's voice cut through the fog, bringing her back to herself a little bit. She blinked, but didn't move as the men were still near. "" she found her voice, although it was gutteral and hardly her own, ""
Out of the corner of her mouth, she replied to the doctor, "I'll put it away, but I will not let us be at their mercy. They're liars, and murderers, Doctor Kenth. If they touch you again, you better take the others and run." She left it at that, moving very slowly to show the natives she was putting the knife away...for now. Alex hoped for their sake that they didn't make her bloody it. Her head hummed with the adrenaline; she felt invincible, and was going to test that theory if they insisted on causing problems. There was no rationalizing with rage.
Kenth laid a hand on Alex shoulder, partically to calm her down and partically to support himself. "It doesn't matter what they are, Alex. Fighting with people who are stubborn as donkeys would only spark a war."
The man, now finally stopped choking, managed to get up with the help of three other men. He looked at Kenth wearily, his mouth open, but no words seemed to come out. Finally he said to his fellow villagers in Chinese. The crowd hesitated at first, but eventually backed down, fading themselves to the shadows of the moon while their eyes kept focused on Alex and Kenth.
Kenth sighed. At least, their leader is a man of senses.
"Alex, go and take care of Lina and Weiyuan (somehow the hit made Kenth remember his name??). I'll deal with these." Taking his hand off of Alex, Kenth whispered in a low voice. "And thanks for the protection" Even though he didn't need it, Kenth thought. Alex was just...too much like HIM, perhaps more hot-headed.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:53 am
Alex scowled deeply as the doctor spoke, her eyes never leaving the fools in front of her. She was furious that the leader had dared to lay a hand on the doctor, after all of them - including a child - had submitted their lives to a Goddess none of them had known about. How dare they manhandle anyone, her mind seethed, I'll make them pay if they try it again.
When the leader got up, Alex tensed, preparing herself in case he was truly as stupid as he had just displayed. When the natives started to fade back, the woman bristled. Her muscles twitched, but she stayed put. If they were going to be good obedient cattle, then she'd be the jovial little healer she had been mere moments before.
She heard the doctor speak, but she wasn't listening. His half-hearted thanks fell on deaf ears. Alex already knew he disliked her for trying to keep him safe, she knew he didn't like it. Why was anyone's guess, but it wasn't her concern right now. The doctor was about to be beaten to a pulp, and if he didn't see that, well...he was already missing a few obvious things, so it didn't surprise her. Alex closed her eyes, gave a curt nod, and walked away without a word.
Kenth watched as Alex stepped aside without saying anything. He sighed. The woman's feeling would gonna have to wait till later. For now, Kenth had to finish dealing with these donkeys.
"I hope you understand now that my only purpose here is to stop the spreading of this 'children' you are talking about."
"You will have no way but to leave. The Goddess cannot be challenged." The man said, eyes fixed on Alex.
Putting his hands in his pockets, Kenth lowered his head and thought for a while, he looked up afterwards, and gestured as if he was surrendering to the man.
"Alright, fine. How's this...tell me all you know about the Goddess and the children, and I'll tell my people to move out of your land."
The man looked amused, but shook his head. "I don't believe you in such thing."
"I'm not making you to believe anything I say. You can see this as a possibility. Think about it. You telling me about your belief on the Goddess and things you have witnessed will not hurt you in anyway. It will not hurt the Goddess since she is all powerful, yes? On the other hand, there is a possibility that the reasearchers will be moving out of this land because you have told me something that doesn't hurt you nor your people. Besdies...the Goddess will protect you, won't she?" That last statement had a hint of sacrasm to it, but Kenth tried his best to make the deal seem more adventageous to the natives.
The man hesitated, and looked at his people, whose expressions cannot be read by Kenth in the shadows. Finally he said quietly.
"I'll think about it."
Kenth scoffed under his breath, but nodded, and walked over to the other three, leaving the man with his people.
Shifting the soil under his feet, Kenth scanned the three that was with him. It seemed everyone was safe. Alex being a little flushed, but other than that...they were alive.
Thank goodness.
Alex was trying to apologize to the boy - Weiyuan, the doctor had said his name was - smiling as well as she could at him. "" she said earnestly while the doctor talked with his lying assailant. She wouldn't offer any other explanation unless the boy asked. He was smart, and she didn't want him to think she didn't realize that.
The adrenaline hadn't quite worn off, but she could feel it leaving her slowly. It was making her feel heavy and worn. She'd been soaked, dirtied, lied to and forced to fight a crippling disease. Alex had been running around the area, carrying a grown woman on her back, chased the doctor and had just hit a full grown man in the face with the intent of murder. She was very, very tired.
When the doctor turned to them, all she could muster was a weary, "What do we do now, Doctor Kenth?"
"Now...we wait." Kenth sighed, and crouched down. "Is everyone alright here?" The young doctor looked around and looked at Alex.
"That was rather imprudent of you, I was shocked."
Alex shrugged, hand dipping into her pocket to pull out some clean bandages. One of her last packs, in fact. She handed it to him, not daring to try and treat him herself. Other than the fact she knew he wouldn't let her, she didn't trust herself to do it properly in her condition.
"Would you like me to apologize for not letting him hurt you?" she asked quietly, looking at the doctor with a serious expression. She didn't feel it necessary to mention that they would have come for the rest of them when they'd finished with him; it went without saying, as far as she was concerned. It was quite simple in her mind at the time. She wasn't going to tell him it was because she cared, or because her emotions got the best of her. She certainly wouldn't tell him it was because in that moment, she was afraid. The woman simply gazed at him, wondering why he thought that trying to help someone who was being hurt, someone who was important to her, was imprudent.
Kenth sighed, and took the bandages. Instead of putting it around his chin, however, he put it aside. Kenth was not really in the mood of treating himself. Besides, he wasn't hurt too badly. Carelessly he wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and shifted his focus back to Alex. He looked at the dark skinned woman for a while, then shook his head gently.
"No. That's not necessary. I was...it...came unexpected, that was all." And the way she stood in front of him...Kenth shook his head again. He'd rather not let his mind wander back again.
"But thank you, for trying to protect me." Tapping his knees, Kenth murmured. His voice was so small that it went almost incoherent under the sound of the fire. Surely he appreciated her effort, now and before. It was admitting that he appreciated it that was hard. Kenth knew he would not have done anything successful without this woman, and the other two's help, although he knew that when he goes back and publish his findings, the credit would all be granted to himself.
It was unfair. The world was unfair.
"Sit down, Alex. You look exhausted."
Alex scowled immediately when he put the bandages aside. You'd think he'd learn, with an airborn disease and all, she hissed inwardly. That made her feel a little better, a little more like herself. She stared at his hand for moment, and the blood seeping into his black arm-pieces. Her green eyes returned to the doctor's face as he spoke, trying to keep her focus.
She decided to deal to him the same favor he dealt to her; she ignored his acknowledgement of her condition. Alex knew it was being childish, but her mind was filled with so much cotton that she just didn't care. "I'm fine," she said nonchalantly, shifting on her feet. "I can't pretend to relax around these lying sacks of flesh. Not without the risk..."
The woman clenched her jaw and looked at the fire. She kept seeing the man swing his fist at the doctor, kept hearing that awful sound it made. And here he was, trying to tell her that SHE looked exhausted. Maybe she was, but she was too proud to admit it. To admit many things. The mere memory of what the man had done to Doctor Kenth made her a bit on edge, more aware of her surroundings. She was sorely overexerting her body, but it was going to be necessary to get out of this alive, let alone in one piece.
"I'm fine," she repeated darkly, looking back to the man. "I just want to get out of here." That's a lie, her mind tried to snake into her emotions, but she batted the idea away before it could form.
"We will get out of here once we aquired what we need to know." What I need to know, in other words. Kenth sighed again, "Acutally...you can leave me here and go back to the dorm with these two also. I hope you know the way back."
Kenth stood up, and clapsed his hands together. The palm still stinged a little, but that was not Kenth's concern. "I will ask someone to escort you out of this cave, from that on, you'll be on your own. Would that be okay with you? Or would you rather stay? I am sorry for dragging you all the way here." Not that they were willing to stay behind in the first place...but now that they got through this, there's no point in keeping them here with these unsafe people.
"When you go back you'll know at least what the cure to the disease was, that's gonna help the people back there a lot." With his head bowed down Kenth continued. He looked up again when he was done with his proposal.
"Well?"
Alex grinned widely, reaching out to take his hands in her injured ones. "I say you're a fool, that's what I say." She shook her head a few times, causing some of her hair to fall in front of her eyes. "I didn't just bash some guy's nose in to leave you here alone." Her eyes rolled visibly, ending on the doctor's serious face.
"I can't speak for the other two," she commented, glancing at them, "but you're stuck with me." That phrase said more than she had meant to, but she left it at that. Her anger had evaporated, her mind a little more clear. The idea of leaving the doctor alone was absurd, and Alex wasn't going to hear of it.
Onyx eyes focused on the doctor as he coughed. He gazed quickly shifted to the darker woman. It was here already?
His chest ightened suddenly, his vision blurred. Some how he ended up kneeling and just concentrated on staying awake.
He was next aware of the native fighting the doctor. He stood up quickly, backing off. He felt a bit dizzy, more so recovering from whatever it was. He let his mind clear before finally realizing that they were just waiting.
He looked around to the natives. The four of them were...such outcasts compared to him. He sighed, and sat down roughly. Eyes shifted towards the pair and he rolled his eyes. Flirting while their lives were still at stake?
Whatever.
He focused back onto the natives. He wondered how many of them knew his father. His father hadn't gotten a chance to have this test against the Goddess. Did they know that she took him away? Did he do something wrong to upset her?
He shook his head, there was no need to get so worked up over this. He moved his backpack into his lap and pulled out a notebook and pencil. Idly he sketched the scene. His father would of enjoyed to see nearly completed adventures illustrated. Of course he wasn't as good as his father, their styles just barely similar.
Lina shook her head. "No, Doctor. I'm just as curious about this as you are. I'll stick with you. And besides...maybe I can coax them to tell me a little bit about their religion." Because I was going to minor in world religions, she thought, but I never made it past fifth semester of college.
"Mm," Alex continued to grin, releasing the doctor's hands, "guess you're stuck with all of us." She turned her grin to Lina, which softened into an adoring smile. "Maybe you can explain it to me when we're back at the dorms? That way I'll be less likely to be...imprudent." Her smile twitched into something slightly sarcastic before settling into her normal, jovial expression.
Sometimes she felt like she had split personalities. She felt fine now, but minutes ago, she had been homicidal. That's survival skills, she noted, eyes straying to the doctor's bruising jaw, something that no one can teach you. Alex realized that while the doctor was brilliant in everything he knew, he wasn't so swift in reacting. The woman relied on instinct and reactions; sometimes they were all she had to keep herself alive. Hmm. Guess I make up that one spot in him, she started to grin, shaking her head to herself. He would be loathe to hear that, though.
She decided to let the doctor and Lina take care of the situation. Alex would do her best to listen, and draw her own conclusions
Kenth nodded hesitantly at the three, and turned to watch the natives over his shoulders. The man was making all kind of gestures at his people to explain things well, although there seemed to be disputes still. Kenth didn't see the point of why they would not reveal their beliefs...if it was nothing to be ashamed of.
Finally the crowd settled, and the man turned and walked toward Kenth and his group. The young doctor stood up to greet the man, who shook his head slightly.
"We can only tell you about things we know, but other than that, it's up to you to figure them out."
Kenth raised an eyebrow. So the natives were confused about their belief themselves? Perhaps this was something that they had made up after all when the disease first took place? He must have looked at the man with suspicision, for the other looked away, biting his lips.
"The boy told me you have something that belong to us?"
Kenth blinked. "You mean the book and the map? I believe they do." Kenth motioned the other three, remembering that he had left the objects on the stone table when he tried to leave. "Although the book is just a copy, the original was still in your...abandoned village." Kenth wasn't sure if the village was really abandoned, or the people just purposefully moved out of there for this ritual. The man gave no clear answer to it. Instead, he lend out a hand.
"Show me the book, and I'll translate the script for you."
Kenth tilted his head a little in questioning the man's intension, but nodded slightly. He looked over to the group and asked iin English.
"Does anyone of you have the book copy and the map?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:58 am
"Doctor? I believe..." She held out the book and the other materials the doctor was looking for. And the small sheet of paper she'd found with the picture of the Goddess on it. "Do you mind if I keep the scrap, though? I've been studying it and...even from this little bit it's fascinating...."
Kenth nodded. "Of course, but right now this native here wants them for translation..purposes. Will you hand them to him for the moment?"
Lina nodded. "Sir?"
She held out the book to him. "Although...is this a relatively recent piece? Or an older one? Was this book written by you, or your descendants?"
The man carefully took over the book, eyes confused at what Lina was talking about. He looked at Kenth, then at Lina, and back to Kenth again. Noting the hint, Kenth managed an awkward smile.
"She was saying how she wanted to keep the copy when you are done translating...for study purposes."
The man frowned, but said nothing. He lowered his head and flipped the paper a few times and finally settled in one position. Holding the copy upright, he read aloud in clear Chinese. Kenth managed to grab his notebook and pen on time to write things down, although most of them were only stored in his head, as the man read the script very fluently, and very fast.
"...Death is a such work of the Goddess herself. She grows her children, who are neither dead or living...when the power of the full moon shines on them, the silent water carries her seeds through and into the streams of those lost souls...guiding them to their eternal home...punishement it may be, it is also a way to release the troubles of this decayng world...us humble men should accept this gift, the blessing of the Goddess."
Alex tried to keep her face neutral as the man approached the small group, not wanting to make matters worse. She watched the exchange with a careful eye to making sure no strange movements or signals were exchanged.
As the doctor started to write down what the man was saying, she shuffled behind him, looking over his shoulder. She read the passage several times while murmuring the words as if it would make the meaning clear. Alex bit her lip, trying to figure it out; once again, she was reminded how horrible she was at riddles.
"I hope you understand that, doctor. It's all inane gibberish to me." She frowned at the translated words, annoyed that this was the best information the book could hold.
Kenth waited until the man to finish, then looked down at what he wrote. Most of it, to him, seemed to be another puzzle he had to solve. He frowned, and looked up at the man, who was holding the book copy, waiting for Kenth to take it away.
"That is all I can tell you." The man shook his head, noting the confused expression on Kenth's face. "And that is all we know about the Goddess."
Kenth said nothing. He silently took the book copy with him and went back to read the passage again. Goddess...children...souls...most of these didn't tell Kenth anything. It sounded all too religious. Kenth was, of course, not surprised about the religious connotations, since the natives were hopelessly firm in believing this Goddess whose name was Luna. He then tried to move on looking at words that made some scientific sense to him. Grows...dead...living...water...
Something that moves with water. It made sense that the environment here was exceedingly wet. For some reason Kenth thought about the human reproductive system, where the sperm had to swim all the way up to meet the egg...to produce...
A child.
Children.
Kenth's eyes lit up as an idea suddenly struck his head. He looked around at the other three with him in excitement and burst out in English.
"We have to go back, I've thought about something."
And, not waiting for the other three to answer, Kenth turned to the man who looked equally confused at his outburst. "Will you help us to get out of the cave? Thank you for this...this is a lot for me." Kenth bowed slightly to the man, who tilted his head as if he was not understanding what Kenth was talking about. After a pause the man turned and waved at the boy who lead the group down. The boy ran over, and the man whispered something in his ears. He nodded, and approached Kenth and his group.
"This way. " He said, "Follow me."
Alex stuffed her hands in her pockets, frowning at nothing in particular. Her eyes were as far away as her thoughts, which were consumed by the translation of the cryptic Chinese runes.
She turned the words over in her mind, reaching for the possibilities. "...Death is such work of the Goddess herself." So. She's a Goddess of death. Great. "She grows her children, who are neither dead or living." Something is neither dead nor alive...cannot exist, not logically. Alex tapped her lip as she thought, following the doctor without question. It was completely possible she hadn't even heard him. She GROWS Her children, the words seperated in her mind, and there's a mention of water later on. Growing children...plants? Alex's lips moved in the formation of the words as she thought of the rest of the passage. "Silent water...seeds...lost souls."
Something about the moon triggered her thought process. Some flowers bloom under the full moon, so what if there was a plant...something with pollen or the like...that came out only under the full moon? It wasn't impossible or unheard of, although she wasn't familiar with the foliage in this land. Alex knew a little about basic herbs, but this could be anything.
Some sort of plant, that emits pollen, that opens under the moon, that survives in wet territory? It sounded way too far fetched. She hoped the doctor had something a little more...grounded.
Kenth walked fast and steady. He pratically ignored the others' presence beside him. His mind was spinning with possible connections between the clues. The feeling he'd felt, the words he'd heard, the taste he'd experienced...all of them are gradually coming together. And now, the one last thing that could either reject all the clues or confirm all of them was to go back to the lab and see what was going on. He could solve the mystery, and could save these mysterious deaths, and could publish his findings and that would mark another piece of glory in the history of medical sicence. Now was the time Kenth wished he had wings so that he could fly back to the lab instantly.
The boy leading the group stopped short after they went back up the temple. He looked at the three and nodded. "This is as far as I go." With that he turned and disappeared into the cave again. Kenth's brain only accepted the words mechanically---he himself was not exactly aware of the boy leaving, not until he stepped outside of the temple and caught the remedy plant in his sight.
"You two." Kenth suddenly turned to Weiyuan and Alex. "Try and collect as much leaves as you can...we'll need them when we get back. I'll give you five minutes, go."
And that wasn't a request...it was a command.
Still walking in a daze, Alex barely had enough presence of mind to grab her rucksack before they exited the temple. Leaving it made her mind clear up significantly, as if she'd be under a dark shroud during the whole ordeal. She blinked rapidly a few times, turning around to regard the building. It seemed like it was a lifetime ago that the four of them had entered the place. Perhaps it wasn't so bad, she looked at the stones thoughtfully, Lina woke up, the source was solved, and-- The image of the lead native's angry and excited faced flashed in her mind. She gave it a few unpleasant choice words in Italian as a bitter farewell before turning to follow the doctor.
As such, she almost ran into him when he suddenly turned around. Alex scratched her head, staring at the doctor and his sudden demand. It took a few seconds to register what he was talking about before she gave another singular nod and took off to the nearest plant. Her deft, damaged fingers plucked the leaves quickly and efficiently, placing them in her rucksack in the safe nesting of a shirt as she moved.
Weiyuan was barely listening, wrapped up in his drawing. When the doctor moved out of the room, with the rest of the group following, he blinked. He moved slower than they had, the adrenaline dissapating from his system.
He blinked again after being ordered. He sighed and idly did so, putting the leaves into an outer pocket of his bag. He was surprsingly good at this.
His mind muled over the clues. 'I've heard of plants that bloom only in the moonlight before...though those ones have only been flowers. This area is much too wet to support one of those delicate things. Though...what would strive here...' His eyes widened. They did live in this kind of setting.
He looked to the doctor. "You mean to say you think the cause of this is some sort of fungi?"
It made real freaking sense. Especially since a month's time bfore this expedition he had to learn about the nasty little buggers. This wet area was a perfect growing place for fungi. The things drop 16 million spores. Those spores could of came from anywhere.
"Time's up." Kenth glanced at his watch and looked up. Not even waiting for Alex and Weiyuan to stand and to stuff the leaves into their backpacks, Kenth continued on walking. If Weiyuan mentioned something before Kenth did not hear it. But the crucial word rang in his head. If there are others who thought the same, Kenth had a feeling that his hypothesis was right after all. And that gave him all the more reason to hurry back. He no longer cared the wet soil nor the watery climate, all he wanted was to go back and confirm nis findings...and then he could leave this place.
Of course, not that he was really excited to go to his new work place. But at least it sounded much better than here.
The boy rolled his eyes. The doctor was getting to into himself. Nonetheless he followed the man.
His gaze was trained upon the floor. If it really, really was fungus that caused it all there should still be some around despite the village being built.
Though the doctor had not given her specific instructions, Lina still made sure to gather some leaves and pic one of the mushrooms, careful not to disturb the cap and release the spores as she caerfully slid it into a plastic bag.
The Italian woman looked under her arm, blinking at the boy. Fungi! That was along her train of thought, but she hadn't considered actual mushrooms or the like. She hadn't seen any, but that didn't mean they didn't exist. "" she bowed towards the young boy, looking over to Doctor Kenth to see what he thought.
Alex frowned, her eyes narrowing as the doctor took off. She glanced over to Lina, jogging to catch up with her friend before whispering in her ear, "Guess he's done with us?" The woman couldn't keep the hint of sadness out of her voice. She realized, in her heart, that she didn't want to go back to how it used to be. Even though the circumstances were less than desirable, she had enjoyed the time spent with these three individuals.
But, that's life.
"Let's get to the lab, then," she said, a shadow of a smile on her lips. "The sooner I can rid myself of these plants, the sooner I can get back on the road." And continue down that lonely path, she added quietly. I hope I have the strength to follow it.
The group didn't say much to each other on their way back to the lab. Kenth mainly had his own thoughts, and was eager to follow them. One or two hours under the moonlight (for at the time was about two or three in the morning) seemed to fleet away at an unusual speed. Shadows of trees, the abandoned village, the rice patties...all of them faded back, as if the moon shone directly, and only on the group, watching them, following them.
It didn't take too long for the group to arrive back at the dorm. There was not a single light on in the building. Everything seemed so quiet. Of course, at the time of the night even if there was people they were most likely to be sleeping. And the group was about to disturb the quietness.
Kenth stormed into the building and practically flipped every single light switch that he could get his hands on. Immediately the building lit up as if morning had all of a sudden arrived. Not only that, Kenth had also switched something that could give hell to those who had not waked up----the fire alarm.
And of course effectively everybody, pratically everyone in the dorm who still have a pair of working ears jumped up from their bed and came out running, mostly half (or completely) naked other than their underwear, panically looking at each other in a half-asleep and confused expression. And then they would see Kenth and the other three people, who they assumed had unfortunately disappeared as a side effect of the disease (or Alien abduction??). So they stood there, in their pajamas and underwears, mouth agape and gawking at the sudden reappearance of Kenth and Alex and Lina and Weiyuan, wondering if they had come back here to hunt them (or have become slaves of the said alien) because they had pretty much, done nothing over the past 20 hours.
And welcome back to the world of idiots, Kenth thought sacrastically. Ignoring the awkward stares (fearful too), Kenth cleared his throat and asked outloud.
"Is Doctor White here?"
Jonas, being the one who had spread the rumor of alien abduction, ducked his head as low as possible and stayed in the back. The poor guy did not expect that Kenth would actually call on him (even though the chance would be pretty high considering that he was the lead researcher). So hesitating, half naked and in a pair of stiped boxer, Jonas moved slowly through the crowd, unwillingly revealing himself in front of Kenth, teech chattering and shivering all over.
"Dr---Dr Kenth?"
Kenth rolled his eyes in his mind, but coughed as if to warn Jonas of the embarrassing moment he was in. "I need the key to the lab building."
Jonas blinked, trying to register what Kenth was talking about. As soon as the information sank in he jumped back, shocked at the request that Kenth was making. Lab? Did Kenth find the cure? He knew well that the lab was off limits because of the disease, furthermore, he was the one who requested the lab to be locked! Staring at Kenth in disbelief, Jonas muttered a "why" in his mouth that was rebutted harshly by a repetition of the younger doctor's request, this time more like a demand.
"I need the key to the lab building."
Jonas gulped, and realized that the doctor was probably serious about his request. So without saying anything else he walked---fled---from the crowd, scrambling down to this room to get the lab key, which he had thrown carelessly in his pile of luggages.
Kenth watched at Jonas went (like a scared monkey! What a shame). He sighed, and looked at the others that had formed a small crowd in front of him. Kenth scratched his head slightly and said as calmly as he could (without burst out in laughter or anger at the stupidity these people were showing): "Go back to sleep, sorry about that."
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:59 am
Alex used every ounce of strength she possessed not to clap her hands over her ears at the fire alarm. It had been so very quiet for the past few hours that the sudden noise was offensive.
She sighed deeply, not responding to the stares. They had all been through so much, and all anyone could do was gawp. Guess it would be going against human nature to offer something substantial, she mused darkly. Alex had been in an uncharacteristically quiet and unpleasant mood, generally keeping to herself and not doing so much as looking at the others.
Weiyuan was quick to follow Dr. Kenth. Though something in the moonlight caught his gaze. He bent down and spotted some of the fungi. They were headed in the direction of the dorms. They would need this then.
He shed his backpack and jacket, a shiver going through him. It didn't matter, the building would be much warmer than here. Finding a stick, he laid his jacked down near the fungi. Two large caps and a few of them seemed to just be growing. With the stick he dug them out into his jacket and quickly wrapped them in the apparel.
The boy hurried along after, only coming into the building when the alarm went off. He visibly winced. How he hated alarms. He caught up with the group, bundle in his arms and backpack hanging from one shoulder.
He couldn't help but chuckle at the idiot doctor. He looked like a fool!
The lab...they were headed to the lab. His heart froze for a moment before his determination took over once more. So what if they were headed to the area of his father's death? There were more important matters at hand. He'd just have to go back later to set up the little shrine.
Good thing that Jonas came back quickly with the key in his hand. The bad thing of course, was that the doctor did not bother to adjust his rather inappropriate clothings, and looked more bizzare than ever. Clearly had been running all the way up to his dorm and then all the way back down again, Jonas was panting hard as he handed Kenth a chain of keys that would open the various rooms in the lab, not able to explain which one goes with which door. Kenth received the keys with good manner (that is, without laughing and mocking at Jonas), and nodded as he turned to walk out of the dorm, shutting off the fire alarm along the way.
Before he walked out, Kenth asked the two who had the leaves to leave some in the dorm so hopefully people won't start dying when the disease somehow hits (but if these people who lived in the dorms had not been infected under full moon, then chances are they won't be). Then to the people Kenth announced.
"The remedy for the disease is here, only eat them when you are dying. They don't taste delicious in the first place."
And with that he left the dorm, leaving the half-sleeping people wonder at what just happened.
Alex obeyed quietly, reaching into her rucksack and pulling out some of the leaves. "You will only need one," she said, her voice clear and loud enough to carry through the halls. "Eat it only if it becomes necessary." She saw the incident at the temple play out again, everyone coughing and falling over, before her dark green eyes focused again on the still-gaping people.
She forcefully put one into Jonas's hand, trying not to hate the man as much as the doctor did; at least, it wasn't for the same reason. "Get dressed," she offered as kindly as she could to the bedraggled man, before moving to the next person. "Form a line for goodness sake, don't just stand there in your little jammies!"
Alex was tired, hungry, thirsty, hurting, and in dire need of a hot spring. If they didn't like her attitude, she was going to HELP them eat the leaf.
Weiyuan nodded to the doctor, extracting the leaves from the pocket in his backpack. He gave portions to the people, repeating what Dr. Kenth just said.
Even though the room he stayed in was near he didn't dare go in and contaminate his other belongings. He'd have to burn these before he returned home. It was a good thing he didn't really care for these clothes.
He was about to follow after the doctor, but a tap on the shoulder stopped him. It was one of the kids in the dorms next to his.
"This came in for you."
It was an envelope. He knew what was inside. He took it slowly, muttering a thank you. He turned and followed Dr. Kenth.
His mind was split between walking and opening the letter. Why he was so eager he didn't know. He just was. He stuffed the envelope in his pocket, letter grasped tightly between shaking fingers.
If he read it now he would be distracted when helping. If he didn't he'd be distracted due to thinking about what the letter contained. Weiyuan unfolded the letter, grasping the mushroom bundle tightly.
'Dear son,
I do hope you've been well. Honestly I could of been better. That Jonas is an idiot. He doesn't want to listen to any of my findings so I've found myself to hang around the natives more.
They were so suspicious of me at first but now they are practically calling me their family. It makes me miss you all Wei. Just so much. The natives had been fighting the disease for so long.
Surprisingly enough, it's a leaf. The antidote. They gather it and turn it into a liquid. I can tell they've wanted to offer some to me but couldn't because their Goddess hadn't had a chance to test me. Actually I'm going to let them do so soon.
Oh, I've bet you noticed how much sloppier my writing is right now. We were investigating a body that died from the disease. I pricked my finger, enough for it to bleed. That's why. Oh don't worry about it, son. I'm fine so far. Don't tell your Mother though, you know how she'll get. She has your sister to worry about.
If Jonas would listen to me we could be so close to finishing this. But that man is dumber than every sort of animal in the world. I hope you like my drawing, I would of included more if I wasn't so busy. But oh well.
It's the chamber where my test with the natives is supposed to take place. They took me down there but it wasn't the right time so nothing really happened.
I'll be home soon son. Keep up the good work and make sure your Mother doesn't worry too much. Play with your sister for me.
Daddy.'
He father really was a smart person. He smiled. He was sure Dr. Kenth and his father would of figured out this whole thing in half the time. But he would finish his father's work. That's all he had to concentrate on.
Alex handed out the rest of the leaves with Weiyuan, trying not to scowl at the people as they took the antidote. He did what he promised he'd do, she thought sourly, watching the people shuffle to and fro. And he wont get so much as a thank you. At least he has the three of us to truly know what he did.
The woman did a quick count to make sure everyone had a leaf. She left a few on a nearby table, in case she missed some people, before leaving the dorms without another word. People like that were the reason she didn't care for big cities; they seemed to multiply in number and stupidity.
For the first time in a few hours, Alex's lips quirked into a ghost of a smile. You're starting to sound like Doctor Kenth. She sped up her pace to catch up with Weiyuan, doing so just after he read the letter. Alex didn't look at it or ask what it was; it was simply none of her business, and their business was almost concluded here.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:00 pm
Alex's conclusion Alex walked over to the lab, feeling as though the energy was leaving her with every step. She put her hand on the door and stopped. There was no need to go inside with the doctor, as she'd only get in the way. Instead, she pressed her forehead to the cool wall next to the entryway, turning around so her back was flat upon the surface. Taking a deep breath, despite the fact it was near the disease outbreak, she slid down to the floor, allowing herself to sit comfortably for the first time in ages. Her eyes dropped to her hands, examining the barely scabbed cuts and bruises. It seemed so long ago when she had first seen people fleeing their own fears, trying to chase down the lost families in the confusion. So, so long ago when she set up a temporary residence with children whose parents she hadn't found yet. Ages ago when she saw that helicopter and its precious cargo. Lina. Alex's eyes flitted up momentarily, then rested again on her hands, as though they were too heavy to keep elsewhere. She'd found the woman sprawled in the dirt, knocked over by the thankless crowd of gawkers. In the moment Alex had offered her hand, she had no idea that the person who would grasp it would be one of the most respectable people she'd ever met. There was no way she could know that the woman's strength would cheat death, and that her heart would find the sense to slap the doctor when he stepped out of line. Alex was sincerely grateful that Lina had been with them, and that she had survived. She dare-say she loved Lina as a dear friend, even though they knew so little about each other. Strength of character is so much more important, and Lina embodies that characteristic. Then there was the boy, Weiyuan. He was hard to make an impression on. His heart seemed to be encased by the love of his father, and nothing else could reach him. A strong sense of family and doing what was right were the only things Alex could garner out of his personality, but she respected him for that. And, he figured out the source of the disease, she reminded herself. She felt a little ashamed that she hadn't thought of it, but truthfully, Alex knew nothing about fungi. If she'd seen more of it, she may have thought of it, but she just wasn't that observant otherwise. She respected the boy, and had good thoughts for him as to who he'd be when he grew up. The disease... Alex's eyes fluttered and shut, closing off the the soon to be rising sun from her view. She had been totally clueless, even when the buckets had been found. Even though she'd been able to identify one of the herbs...she didn't know. When the clues were laid out neatly, she still didn't see it. She'd been useless in terms of solving the mystery. In this moment, she had no doubt in her mind that the boy was right; the wetlands had been the means of spreading a poisonous spore from a mushroom. I'm not a doctor, or a scientist...I'm not even the daughter of one, she tried to console herself, leaning her head back on the wall. I was just...moral support. Sure, she had carried Lina, and chased after the doctor, but if she hadn't been there, it may have never been a problem. "It's hard to say," she mumbled to herself, "but I'm glad I was there anyway." The three of her companions had been the brain, and she had supplied the muscle. Unwelcomed, the image of that nasty leader came back to her, the horrible man who had-- Alex's eyes opened again, halfway, although they were fully focused. She wanted to be angry, or hurt, or upset, or something that would make this easier. Doctor Kenth, she said quietly in her mind, her dark green eyes gazing into the image of his icy blue stare. My only regret. She never should have been so involved with his well being. She never should have been so blindsided by him. He was handsome, which was the first hook. The second came when he opened his mouth and declared his brutal honesty of why he was here. The third, when he saved Lina's life. The rest just kept coming and hadn't stopped. He was good looking, honest, selfless when he didn't need to be and ruthless to do what was expected of him. She should have asked more about him, gotten to know him...and on the other hand, she never should have spoken so freely with him, never allowed those hooks to be thrown. It doesn't matter now. Her eyes drifted upwards to the sky, watching the stars fade with the night. It was almost time to say good bye. She'd changed over the course of these hours. What happened here would stay with her always. She only had one last thing to offer, and that was her good byes to the people who had left such an impression on her. No regrets, Alex told herself, make sure when it's time, you take the pieces of what you learned here. Take it and run with it, because there's no looking back. Lina's conclusion So she ordered a cup of coffee while she waited for the doctor, savored the new sharpness of her senses. Touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing...everything in clearer definition. She wondered if it was death, or the disease, or the cure. She'd do a blood sample test later. She also had time to think. Think about Alex, the tender girl, the smiles and her boundless optimism. She'd fight for what she believed. Hot-blooded, vivacious, independant and friendly--all things she admired. She cared for the girl and admired her. She wished she could be that strong, that loving of herself. What did she have but a drunken boyfriend and a singing job at a club? Weiyuan's father had tried to teach her more. Had tried to pull her from this depression that he'd sunken into. Tried to teach her she was important, vital, and that her opinions mattered. The boy was exactly like his father--attentive, selfless, and willing to fight for the people who he tried to save. Just like Alex. Both of them would go far in life. As far as Kenth, she thought. Her thoughts paused here. Kenth...what was wrong with him? They were so alike--is that why she had slapped him? They both had standards that they seemed to have failed...both of them were looking for a way out. Maybe...maybe her answer was in him...? The answer to her problems. She stirred the coffee in the cup. Life was complicated, shitty, and downright unfair sometimes. And Lina wouldn't have it any other way. Weiyuan's conclusion The boy sighed. It was over, at long last it was freaking over. He turned away from the people and layedhis head upon the cool surface. Things...they would go back to how they were now. He'd go on, get into a good school, an even better job. He had to support his family. Weiyuan almost didn't want to leave. Never before had he felt like he was anything important. His father was right. He was more than anyone ever thought. Average grades...they did nothing to show how he really was. He was better than this. His father knew that most of all. Eyes gazed to the other women. The lighter of the two, he envied how strength...he needed to have strength like hers. Near dying and yet she hadn't. The fem didn't hesitate to do what was neede and even so she did things in the most polite way...except for that slap. Which was actually really amusing to see. Alex. That woman would always try to protect him. He who was a total strangers. The emotions the girl felt and gave off...it was overwhelming in that attractive sense. She was such a fighting force, he was glad she was here. THough not as glad as he was that Dr. Kenth was here. He, whether or not the man would acknowledge them, had great skill. All adults had problems but he had no reason to butt into them unless they were turing harmful. The past was catching up to the man, and he would end up facing them. If he could...Wei would like to be there to help the man up whenever he fell. There was so much respect for this guy. At last he turned, and slid down the wall. He was exhausted. A fungus...upon which 16 million spores were created from it. Those tiny little things caused deaths. Not to the natives who fought against the test their Goddess Luna, but to outsiders. Like his father......like his father. He liked this. This...saving lives thing. He really was just like the man who was more his father than any blood could prove. The boy smiled and looked down at dirtied hands. It was decided. He would be just like his father. Who else was better?
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:01 pm
Kenth's conclusion Report to the International Board of Medicine, Month/Date/2021 : The strange epidemic started when researchers funded by the archiology and biology devision of the science department moved into the small region near the destroyed city of Shanghai that was near the shore of the Yangzi river. Victims of the disease display signs of suffocating and chest pain prior to their death. Their capillaries were completely blocked, and blood in the arteries and veins were also mixed with an unknown particle that seemed to break down the oxygen carrying function of the red blood cell and the solidify function of the platelettes. The artery, after being filled up with this particle, leaks within the chest area that causes severe pain. The heart, unable to receive any oxygen, soon stopps beating, causing a cardiac arrest which results in a quick death. Because the said disease was highly invasive and infectious, the lab building, where most deaths were found, was blocked off and guarded under constant watches. The disease, howwever, seemed to not have invaded a nearby building that was less than 400 feet away. From there it can be concluded that the disease would only be fast spreading under certain conditions. Taking a trip down to the nearby native villages, it was noted that these Chinese peasants, although in poor health conditions, had a much better survival rate from the disease. Along with this question also comes to the fact that these people hold a grudge against us the scientists, a possbile result of their firm belief in magic, but also can be caused by the racist attitude of the lead scientist, Doctor Jonas White. From their village, we found a possible cure that proved to be effective in saving one of our sicentist's life. Following the traces of the natives, the source of the remedy was also found near an ancient temple where the natives used to worship their Goddess, Luna. Fortunately we have encountered a such ritual during our visit. And a surprise it was to find out that the disease itself was closely related to their belief. These people thought the disease as a curse from the almighty Goddess, in which the sinful were punished by death. And because the sicentists have invaded their land, punishment was bestowed upon them, and would only be prevented by leaving the place alone. Not a true believer in magic, we stayed with the natives during their ritual, in which their sins were cleansed away by the Goddess' children, which happened to be the disease particle themselves. We had a guess of the disease's true nature, and was later confirmed by the investigation back in the lab building under a microscope. The disease was caused by the spores of a certain fungus, ironically named Luna's cap, that would reproduce and shed its gametes once a month during the time when the climate was the most wet. This day also happened to be full moon, where the waters from the Yanzi river rise to its nearby shores due to the tile angle of the earth, where the gravity was the least significant on the water itself. After the parent fugus spread out its children it dies, and leaves the spores flying with the wind that would then be transferred elsewhere. The land where the lab building was built upon happened to be right on top of where a mass of Luna's cap were grown, and when it came to the time of the full moon, the spores were trapped within the building, making the building itself literally a death trap. Different from most of the fungus, Luna's cap has spores that possess a most adhesive nature. This is the reason why they would enter the human body and cause a blockage. The spores, mostly breathed in (or taken in with food), would adhere to the walls of the arteries and eventually build up like cholestrol. Unlike cholestrol, however, this substance tend to build up quickly within the body, and would cause death in the matter of hours. The remedy, an algae nicknamed by the natives "waterglass", was effective in preventing the build up and have the ability to dissolve any build-ups. In a way, the juice of waterglass acts like a lubricate in that it coats the walls of the artery a thin layer of mucus for a certain period of time. Spores entering the body would be blocked and dissolved by this layer, and thus unable to adhere to the artery walls and cause any damage to the body. The cure, of course, was easy. In fact, the disease itself could be easily avoided if we have been patient enough to listen to the natives and settle our foundations at a place elsewhere...... __________________________________________________________________ Kenth sighed heavily and threw his arms from the keyboard to the back of his head. The report, he knew, would need a lot more revision, and the disease and more importantly, the "waterglass" should be investigated further. For now, however, it was time for a break. Tilting his head as far back as he could, Kenth stretched out idelly on his office chair. The room was turning gray now, and sky from outside of the window seemed to become lighter. It was almost morning again...24 hours ago he had just arrived in this place, and now... Kenth closed his eyes, images from the past 24 hours flashed like films in his mind. Everything from Jona's stupidity, the native's hatred, the people's confusion, Weiyuan's determination, Lina's struggle, Alex's...... Embrace. Kenth frowned, and forced his thoughts back. changing the target in his mind, Kenth reflected upon each individual's contribution. Jonas was an idiot. If it wasn't for him Kenth would have never come to this place. No matter how Kenth tried to forgive him, he could not. That man was immoral, immature, and overall unfit for a doctor. In fact, Kenth wondered if grade school would be the best for that man. Of course he'd not say so...it would just destroy the poor doctor's already none-existent integrity. Turning his thoughts, Kenth thought about the other people, ones that stayed to help and ones that left. All of them have suffered didn't they? All of them were in one way or another effected by this disease, this...simple thing that would never have caused a panic in the area if the sicnetists were cautious and smart enough. The least person who was effected by this was Kenth himself. After all, he had no family that he could cry after they died, he had no friends in this area...the only thing that would effect him was his own health, and his fame. Which was, of course, not nearly as tramatic if any of those things failed. Well, it was not like if he died anyone would cry for him. Maybe HIM....But Kenth would not let HIM know that, never. He thought of Weiyuan. That boy, that bright bright boy was one of the victims, where his father fell to the disease. Kenth had nothing else to think of the boy. He felt sympathy, and admired his determination, and was thankful for his contributions. If the school was accepting genius young boys, Weiyuan would definitely be one on his recommended list. And then there's Lina. Kenth couldn't help but to still hold a grudge on how she had slapped him. He knew he acted immature in handling a certain situation, but it was against his belief, and he was not going to bow his head down for something that he did not belive in. Sure, he was amazed by the girl's strength, her intelligence, but he was not about to apologize for something that he thought was right. There was one thing he didn't believe in, and that one thing he'd never accept...and that would be sweetness. From one to another, Kenth's thought eventually wandered back to that dark skinned woman who had pretty much saved all of them, himself included. There was so much he could think of about Alex, too much actually...and he didn't know where to start. He didn't know whether he hated her or loved her, for, he'd feel jeaulous at the woman's strength, he'd hate part of her that reminded him everything about HIM, but on the other hand, nothing could be accomplished without her. Kenth wondered if she should be the second author for his paper. A sacrastic thought, but it made sense since Alex contributed the most...perhaps even more than himself. And why was he so frustrated about that one embrace? Kenth shook his head, annoyed. Everything had to come back down to that. Sitting up, Kenth reached out to save the report file and shut down the computer. The room was now silent, and Kenth closed his eyes again. He really needed a good sleep...and everything would go back to normal after that...and tomorrow he'd leave this place and head for Shinkami, leave this place behind, and everyone else... Before Kenth fell unconscious, he slapped himself mentally for thinking of Alex again.
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