Chapter Eight: Imprisoned
"It won't be a while now." Ashitaka-sama said calmly.
Moro was beside his side, sitting in a prison cell, where Ashitaka-sama would stay until he was executed.
Five more days. How could he be so calm, Moro wondered. With his story, thought, it wasn't surprising. He had encountered death more than once.
Moro looked at Ashitaka-sama. His eyes and voice were now clear again, as if a burden was now released from him. How was that?
As if reading her thoughts, Ashitaka-sama said, "I am calm because I know my son is safe."
"Why?" Moro croaked. Ashitaka-sama edged closer to her. He reached up and touched her face, gently. It made Moro feel as if she was a child again. She instinctively calmed.
"I love my family, and I'll do whatever it is to protect them."
It sounded so simple. But Moro knew it was not.
"Even though you're sacrificing yourself because of it?" Moro whispered.
"Yes." Ashitaka-sama said. He reached for Moro's hands, and held him in his own. "Don't be imprisoned by fear, Moro. It will destroy you. Have courage."
Even after leaving the prison cell, Ashitaka-sama's words were still repeated in her head.
