Chapter 10

Jamanukai Villlage

I sit on the nearest chair. The elderly woman walks to a different chair with difficulty. She leans her cane against the table. I get up and grab her arms, supporting her to sit. "Thank you, young man," she says and I resume my seat.

Jane speaks in a cheerful tone, "This our grandmother, Lisa and this is my older brother, Jason."

"Greetings, Mrs. Lisa and Mr. Jason," I bow my head slightly towards the elderly lady, then at the teenager. They exchange glances, and seem to be refraining from laughing. I don't understand why.

"Nice to meet you," Mrs. Lisa responds. "You may call me Grandmother

"Same here," Jason replies, "Just call me Jason."

"What's your name?" Mrs. Lisa asks.

"I don't know," I tell her.

"What do you mean?"

"Um, well, you see," Jane began, " he has lost his memory and I told him he can stay here until we find his family. Is that alright Grandmother?"

The kind old lady put a hand close to her mouth and exclaimed, "That's terrible! Of course you can stay!"

"Thank you Mrs. Lisa," I reply.

She waves her hand dismissively, "Please call me Grandmother and no need to be polite. Although this is not much, treat this place as your home."

I nod, smiling.

"By the way, what's that round your neck?" Jason points.

I pull of what is round my neck and gaze at it. "It's a jade pendant," I tell them, "Inscribed in it is a name. It's most likely mine."

"What is it?" Jane inquires.

"Zane," I announce. Jane stares at my face for a moment. "Is something the matter?" I ask.

"No. The name suits you. Do you like it?"

"Yes, I am quite fond of it."

"Are you going to keep it as your name?"

"Yes. Is that okay with you?"

"You don't need our approval. It's your name, Zane," Jane smiles at me.

Jason gets out of his chair, "Why don't you sleep in my room? Come on, I'll show it to you." I follow him to a narrow hallway with three doors. He walks to the end one and opens it. "After you," he says. I enter. The two things it contains are a bed and a wooden crate. I don't know why, but it feels home-like to me. "You can take the bed," Jason says, "I have a few extra sheets and blankets to made a bed on the floor."

"No, Jason, I will sleep on the floor," I say to him.

"No, you're the guest, so you sleep on the bed. I insist."

"I can't do that. I insist as well."

"Zane, we'll have to find a way to agree. Why don't we arm-wrestle? You do know how right?"

"Yes, certainly. "

We pull the crate into the middle of the room and get on our knees on either side of it. "Which hand are we doing?" I ask.

"I'm left handed. You?"

"Same here." We place our left arms on the table and grip each other's hands. "On three," I say calmly, "One, two-"

"Two and a half!" Jason shouts, grinning widely.

Why did he interrupt? "Three."

"What are you two doing?" Jane strides into the room. Her face lights up, "Oh, keep going! I want to see!" Our arms lock tightly, muscles straining. He pushes my arm to the side slightly, but my strength counters his. I move it back and past where he had. I'm almost there. I can feel his sweaty palms hot with rigidity. Slam! I smack his hand down onto the crate.

"Aw!" Jason swings his hands in the air and then sets them back on the table, "You cheated!"

"I did?" I ask and both siblings burst out laughing. "Why are you laughing?"

"I was joking!" Jason tells me between gasps, "Of course you didn't cheat!"

"Oh," I respond, confused.

Grandmother ambles in and suggests, "Why don't you two show Zane around? After all, it's a tiny village."

"Sure," Jane says, "Come on Zane." We head outside. Thunder rumbles once we step out the front door. Dark clouds have been around all day long and it seems as if it will rain soon. The siblings show me around for about five minutes when Jane snaps her fingers and exclaims, "Ah, I forgot! I was supposed to purchase a bag of rice! I'll go and buy it really quick." She takes off in the opposite direction.

"Okay! I'll take Zane to see the tea shop!" Jason calls back. I follow him quietly for a minute or two and he stops all of a sudden in front of a gap between two buildings. "We have to pass this alleyway in order to get there."

"It's a bit dark inside," I say, "Are you certain this is the only way?" I don't know why, but I feel uneasy about going in.

"It is. Don't worry. I've been here numerous times and nothing has happened. It's empty in there."

I nervously enter the dark alley. This area seems too quiet and I sense something is not right. But what is it? I begin to turn as someone grabs me from behind and pins me to the right wall. Something cold touches back and a voice whispers, "Don't make a sound."