Verny was the last place served by the great road which climbed up the valley from North City; the former capital lay at a much higher altitude than the new one and in early May there was still snow on the ground, in small heaps piled on the sidewalks and outside the chalets.
Passers-by and people across the street were surely thinking that the girl in pink, sitting yawning on the fence outside her home, was the typical slacker who gets waited on hand and foot by her man.
Anyone who had stopped to watch that ordinary moment, a couple moving into one of Verny's many chalets, didn't understand how the boy could go back and forth carrying stacked boxes as one brings plates to the table.
When Lapis had started emptying the jeep Carly had tried to help, but he had insisted on letting him.
-Eh, he's enjoying his workout!- Carly justified herself to their viewers, smiled and raised her hands, before closing the door to their new home.
The home of Lapis and Carly.
It was a three-bedroom chalet on two floors, with a long carved balcony, recently refurbished but not stripped of its older personality.
The couple would inaugurate them living together on a quiet street in Carly's favourite Northern city.
Carly hadn't known she had to thank Lazuli, ever since Lapis had mentioned that possibility.
Seventeen was impressed beyond words with the roadster: was there a way to repay the legendary Carly for such an amazing gift?
Seventeen had braced himself and sought advice from his sister.
Maybe he should have asked for Carly's hand!
No, Ronan and Mum had just risked separating due to too much haste.
"Start by moving in with Carly, before thinking of getting married. I wonder how long she's been waiting for you to ask her, poor thing."
Eighteen was right. Always right.
Before Carly turned twenty-four Seventeen had taken her to see the house, without telling her that he had already signed a two-year contract.
When they crossed the threshold, Seventeen felt Carly's stress; he had seen her relax when she had realised that the new house had been cleaned with the same products she used in her studio flat. Seventeen was thoughtful, since sniffing certain detergents had put his Carly in trouble lately.
"Please, no floral fragrances!" Lillian had warned him.
Whenever she visited Lillian and sniffed even the slightest hint of hibiscus, patchouli or chamomile, Carly always seemed on the verge of reupholstering lodging 36B, with the disgusted grimaces she made.
Carly hadn't had to wait until the end of May: on the 2nd Lapis had wished her happy birthday with a bunch of keys.
Seventeen had watched sweet Carly hold the keys to their new home in disbelief; she had sprung into his arms and hadn't held back her tears.
"Why didn't we do this before?"
Seventeen had never thought about it.
"I don't know. The important thing is that we're doing it now."
And so they were there, house still full with boxes, but at home. Together.
Pencil was the first to take the double bed, the most comfortable place in the house, covered with an old but soft duvet.
-Three bedrooms, Lapis. What for?-
-One for us, a game room and a study for you.-
Seventeen had chosen a spacious chalet on purpose, why living with the bare minimum if they could afford more space?
The house was unfurnished: the landlady had only provided a wardrobe, two chairs, a bed and a sofa.
-Tomorrow let's go get more furniture and a decent sofa, I saw one …-
Carly sat on the bed, listening to Pencil's purr; she smiled at Lapis, glad to see him so excited with this new phase of their life.
/
Evening had fallen, it was time to put together their first dinner in the new home.
-We don't even have a table!- grumbled Seventeen.
-We have a sofa, love.-
The pantries were empty, there was a lot of shopping to do: now they lived in Verny, restaurants, sushi bars, pubs and so on and so forth were at easier reach.
For Seventeen the solution was clear, -Carly, my powers don't include making laid tables appear out of nowhere. Let's go out.-
-After all you ate lunch, you wouldn't need dinner…-
-But I want dinner.-
Carly giggled: she would have loved to spend a night out with Lapis, at the restaurant, then at the bar, kissing, if she hadn't felt dead tired. It was an atavistic weariness that spread from her bones, stronger than her youth.
-I'm sorry, Lapis, I'm really dead. Can we order?-
Carly had been sleepy for several weeks, she slept more than usual; okay she was a basic human and those quickly ran out of energy, but Seventeen had never seen anyone sleep that much; he dropped onto the sofa and Carly put her arm around his shoulders.
-Ok Carly, let's stay. But the order is my choice.-
/
Shortly after Seventeen was distributing the newly arrived delivery.
-... two burgers, my chips and...this salad?- he laughed, holding the plastic bowl up. -What's your problem?-
-Chips are more caloric!-
Of course, Seventeen knew how it would end: women never wanted chips but then stole them. It was guaranteed, a girlfriend problem : Brent said it about Lillian too.
Seventeen was about to flip the Terminator switch on his double cheeseburger when it occurred to Kate to call him. He couldn't believe it...
"Excuse me for a moment, Carly. What is it, Kitty Kat?"
He walked to their bedroom, closing the door. Left alone and hungry, Carly began to nibble the salt sent by the pub, undecided on what to do with those inviting potato wedges left unattended. She reached out and Pencil stared at her, guessing her thoughts.
-Well? Only one.-
The cat emitted a small meow of disagreement: with chips, you know, one leads to another and you run out...
"Oh oh...what now?"
Lapis was still on the phone, Carly didn't know if she would have time to order more.
/
Seventeen was nimble; three days after the move he had finished tidying up all the content of the boxes. One morning, the insistent sound of the bell interrupted him from folding a basket of clean laundry; he ran into the backyard to open the gate.
He certainly did not expect to find Carly's educator friend and that boy posing as her honorary son. The educator looked at Seventeen as if to say "Isn't it a bit early?" as he cheekily took long gulps of his morning beer.
-Anna. And...you.-
Robbie, the truth teller, returned Seventeen a look that wasn't bursting with enthusiasm, -Oh, you again.-
-What do you mean 'me again'?-
Robbie was really, really blunt, -I wanted Carly. Why doesn't she send you away?-
-Robin!- Anna scolded, secretly amused.
Seventeen was undecided about laughing at such impudence (after all, he was very brazen himself) or getting mad. When in doubt, he finished his beer.
-Carly's sleeping; come back later,- he dismissed them.
Carly had informed Anna of the change of address and she had had to leave with Robbie as soon as the van had brought the group home to Viey. The two were about to turn around when they heard a voice calling.
-Robbie, Anna! Finally!-
Carly greeted from the balcony, happy and in a dressing gown, hair down and bulging nipples pressed against the malleable weave of her tank top; Seventeen felt jealous for a moment that these strangers could see his Carly in such a private way, as if they were on par with him.
The child began to whimper with delight when he saw his fairy queeny; Carly ran into the garden and hugged him with love and nostalgia. He had grown...
-Oh, my little Robbie! I missed you.-
The vet gave a welcome hug to Anna too, -Would you like to stop for breakfast? We have baked beans, fresh bread, eggs, bacon,...-
Anna acknowledged that it was almost noon. Maybe they could have stopped for lunch.
Seventeen watched Carly chase after Robbie and play hide and seek in the garden for perhaps half an hour, until the kid climbed a tree and Carly gave up chasing him.
-Play with me! Let's play!- Robbie exhorted her, not calculating Anna and her orders.
Carly had got tired, -Time-out for me. You can play with Seventeen.-
The young lady nodded at the blue-eyed man, with clear disapproval of the latter.
Robbie never knew his name, he didn't spare him -What a funny name you have!-
-Obviously, the two of them are Centries!- Anna scrambled, hoping that the top ranger wouldnot take offence.
Later, at the table, Carly talked to Anna about a tour to the Niaz village and Robbie studied Seventeen. If the latter poured himself tea or took a strip of bacon, Robbie poured or took twice as much, filling his small mouth with absolute haste, staring at the young man with a pompous air. All in total silence.
"Little beast..." Seventeen ignored him.
The mistress of the house got fed up, -You two must learn to tolerate each other. Robbie, Seventeen is my love and will always be with me; Seventeen, Robbie just wants affection. If you give him some you won't hurt.-
The cyborg thought that it wasn't worth getting jealous, after all: Robin was just a child, one more person who loved his girlfriend.
He pushed his empty plate away with a sigh, -Okay, I can play with Robbie.-
The child was waiting for nothing else; he darted out of the kitchen, running as fast as he could.
-Careful sweetie, he's fast!- Carly warned; but Seventeen caught him and lifted him up.
Robbie yelled, -Put me down!-
-No!-
Seventeen tossed him so high that the girls screamed in fright. Robbie, on the other hand, was screaming with joy and surprise, he had never played like that with any grown-up.
-Wee! I'm a terrodactyl!-
It soon wasn't clear who was having the most fun. Seventeen realised how right his Carly was: he was wary of everyone, not just of that little boy.
However he had wanted to trust her and playing with Robbie had turned out to be enjoyable. Every time Eighteen let him hold Marron he felt happy, every time he saw Carly with Robbie he couldn't help thinking that, one day, his children would have the best mother.
Before Anna announced they had to head back to Viey, Carly spoke to the boys, -Having fun together is nice, isn't it? Now I want you to give each other a hug. Robbie…-
The child had loved playing with the young man, but he was always very cautious: he approached him and timidly put his arms around his waist. He tightened his grip when he realised that Seventeen wouldn't shake him off.
Under Carly's eloquent gaze, Seventeen also leaned over and returned the hug.
Anna thought that guy was the whole package: smart, good-looking, nature lover and he even got along with children. That Carly girl was really lucky.
Finally Robbie managed to do what he wanted to do since the year before, he touched Seventeen's hair with satisfaction.
Seventeen had never hugged any other children but Marron, he was surprised at his innate gentleness: Robbie was thin and fragile, a very light touch was all Sev needed. He felt his soft curls on his throat, touching them felt like those ball-like moss pillows found in woods and prairies.
And that contact felt warm, soothing. In the end, Seventeen had always loved children.
/
At 9 pm Carly's day was drawing to a close, her notes reread for the umpteenth time were placed on the bedside table; for Seventeen, however, it was almost time to go to work.
It would soon be his turn to roam those rotten marshes, but before that he would have to remain on patrol in Saint-Nicolas.
" It appears that Solway Solvents intends to use a rainwater catchment basin to dispose of industrial waste. I need you to catch them red-handed and...dissuade them," John had ordered.
"Solway Solvents is public, we have no jurisdiction," Seventeen had snorted back. Were his ways coming in handy to John, now?
The boss had shown him a document, now that the company had gone private and had entered into agreements with the RNP, they had jurisdiction indeed.
Since when did Seventeen ask questions about jurisdiction before beating up or even disintegrating someone?
Ah, sure, ever since John had thought of punishing him: that was fucking punishment.
Scarf around his neck and hair band on his wrist, Seventeen was ready to leave, but Carly demanded his company until she fell asleep; given the trend, it wouldn't take long. Seventeen tried to steal a kiss from her.
-Please don't. Not with the breath you have…-
-But if I just brushed my teeth.-
Carly gave him an elementary, Watson look. -Then you might need to brush them again, right?-
How bold; she was learning from him.
He pretended not to mind, -Hm. Are you mad at me?-
Carly didn't seem in the mood to argue, -Don't be touchy, Lapis: it's not like since you're a cyborg and you're handsome then you're immune.-
Sweat, bad breath and everything; Seventeen didn't listen to her, she was being weird.
Carly settled in blankets and pillows, closing her eyes, looking back on the pleasant morning with Robbie, -Do you ever think about the direction you want to give our life together?-
-Well...Stay together.-
-We could adopt Robbie.-
Robbie was not adoptable and Carly knew it, she just liked to wonder.
For Seventeen the conversation was becoming uncomfortable, Carly could never have enough: they had just moved in together and she was already projecting herself into the less near future. And in any case...
-Adopting? Don't you want my children anymore?-
That surprised, almost mortified look got Carly even more smitten: she had always dreamt of having Lapis's children.
-Of course I do! But one thing does not exclude the other, there are many children in the world who need a family, and some of them are a village away..-
They could have had biological and adopted children, why not.
Was Carly thinking of a plan B in case he couldn't anymore?
He had Eighteen's experience, but it was a guideline and not a guarantee: Seventeen didn't know what to really expect of himself, to what extent his physiology had been distorted.
By 9.30 pm Carly was already sleeping sound. Seventeen took a secret moment to hug closer those curves he loved so much; in his arms Carly's body felt sweeter than usual, her heartbeat faster than usual; he tied her hair in a braid for the night, she had forgotten to do it.
Finally, jacket and boots on, the top ranger turned off the light and left his sleeping beauty to her slumber.
/
Carly's student years had come to an end: the next day would be the fateful Monday of the final paper.
The tourist hiking season had officially begun: Carly could have joined Leni and Lillian, but she hadn't felt fit enough. The next important step would be the delivery of the diploma in September, a moment that she had pictured in her mind for years. Every so often she opened the wardrobe and looked at the elegant outfit she had already bought, just waiting to be worn.
Sunday morning Carly thought of that special and now near day, parking in the square of Viey and ignoring the gas light.
As she hoped she found Lillian at 36B, -Can you do me a favour?-
-Shoot.-
-Can you fill the Z4 up? I only half filled it.-
Carly hated the smell of gasoline, to the point of having nausea and headaches every time she smelled it.
In the North it was not like in the Centre, there was no fuel man to fill the tank at servicestations .
Although the whiffs of petrol always had the same effect on her, Carly had learned to suck it up: it had been a problem fo as long as she could remember.
Before getting into Viey, Carly had promised Lapis that she would fill up the tank of his roadster; maybe it was good that there hadn't been an attendantstanding near the pumps, Carly would have caught him when she had started retching and she had thrown herself out of the car.
-Aw, God! All right, I'm going now, before my shift. You solemnly swear you won't hit me if I make dents in the car?-
-This is Lapis's car, your choice...Thanks for your help,- Carly handed her a bunch of zeni and the keys to the Z4; she watched her drive away.
Carly had come down to Viey just for Robbie, she had promised they would play together from the time he had visited her at home.
She still had heartburn and couldn't stop drooling; maybe she had to give herself a break from super salty foods, she was sure she had given herself reflux.
In any case, she had to recover immediately, for that Sunday she had plans for Robbie and for a sushi night with Leni and Lillian.
Not showing up to her exam because of health problems that she had caused to herself would have amounted to throwing away all those years of sacrifice, but also of satisfaction.
/
When Lillian returned to Viey with the Z4 full and untouched, she found Carly pretty sprightly in the company of some children in the courtyard of the camps' house. They were soaking wet.
-We...made...water bombs!- Carly gasped, intent on jumping rope at a brisk pace.
Anna approached Lillian, -Are you coming too tomorrow? Carly and I are taking the children up to Niaz, to that pasture…-
Robbie, wrapped in a large towel, prodded the educator's arm, -I want to come too!-
-Only if you feel better.-
Anna stroked his damp hair, then turned to Lillian, -He's a little under the weather today.-
Ah ok. It seemed odd to the ranger girl that Robbie hadn't clung to Carly. He was probably too weak to jump rope.
/
Seventeen didn't much like the fact that Carly had become so somnolent; she must also be anxious about her exam so the cyborg had decided, on the spot, that some high mountain air would energise her. When Seventeen wrapped up his shift, on that beautiful spring Sunday, he went to pick Carly up and pulled her over his shoulder on one of their bird's-eye trips; Carly's favourite part was when they skimmed the surface of a lake and he held her steady, making her do a kind of waterski. While exploring the higher sites of the RNP, the top ranger had accidentally found a secluded lake, a liquid gem set among spires of red rock. It was a picturesque place, difficult to reach (the maps gave that path for difficult, Expert Hikers level ; it took crampons and ropes, so to speak).
Seventeen often went there on his own, to relax.
Aquatic plants rimmed with long, dark leaves grew around the lake, and a small clover field grew on a strip of land nearby: Carly had set out in search of four-leaf clovers, she could never find any but wanted to try.
And that time she found some.
-Lapis, look! Two four-leaf clovers!-
She started to run to Seventeen and stumbled, falling on the soft green carpet; Seventeen also lay there.
-They say every leaf has a meaning,- Carly smiled, touching the leaves one by one. -Faith, hope, love and luck.-
All things they had.
Carly intended to put the plants to dry in her books as a good luck charm; even if they weren't magical, they would make her smile.
-They also say that whoever finds four-leaf clovers will meet someone to love the same day.-
-Um?- Lapis spread his arms pompously. He had been in Carly's life for a while.
Carly blushed with love, gently smoothing those locks of hair that always ended up in his eyes, or mouth.
-It's true, I love you . I want to live as if I met you for the first time every day, because the intensity with which I am in love with you is always the same.-
Carly heard laughter echo in his chest.
-You're so sweet you'll give me diabetes.- Little or so Seventeen was always moved by Carly's expansiveness, but teasing her was almost a duty.
Carly turned the plants over in her fingers, -You never change! And I've got two... ohhhh!-
Carly propped her elbows in the ground and held her breath, staring at Lapis with an expression so astonished it bordered on shock: she was having a dazzling epiphany.
And then she confused Seventeen by darting away aimlessly, running and jumping randomly. Seventeen, laughter lingering on his lips, silently witnessed the triumph of her joy.
-Hey Carly! Let's go down now, if you don't want to be late.-
He didn't even know if Carly was still listening to him, her voice came from the lake shore.
-...I am late! Yeeeah!-
In all that cheering, Carly fell and disappeared among the grasses. Seventeen found her still laughing, supine on the cold water. Her dress had become transparent.
-What's going on with you?-
She continued floating, -It's wonderful!-
-Falling into freezing water?-
As long as it pleased her...He heard her give off a squeak-chirp as she jumped and ran away again, with incredible energy, as if she couldn't sit still.
She could be so happy for two miserable plants, how not to love her? Eight years and Seventeen didn't know, or remembered, that Carly loved four-leaf clovers that much.
/
Carly, Leni and Lillian had established their sushi nights earlier in the year. It had become a Sundy routine.
-The three of us don't eat sushi. We wipe it off the face of the Earth,- Leni proclaimed, separating her chopsticks.
For that sushi night Carly hadn't been interested in her beloved sashimi; since she had ordered it every Sunday since January, she must have eventually grown sick of it.
Lillian and Leni watched her squeeze eight sachets of soy sauce onto her katsu curry.
-I really...you're ruining the dish!- Lillian admonished.
-I told you I prefer savoury.-
-Me too. But that and the brine, yikes.-
Leni had missed out, -What did she do with brine?-
-Kind of a dirty martini, but forget the martini.-
-This is what my body requires of me; and I respect it,- Carly concluded.
-That's sound reasoning,- Leni mused.
Then Carly complained of stomach pain; Lillian had seen her drinking vinegar and licking salt flakes.
Carly was lost in thought and when dinner was over she began to touch her waist, stomach and thighs. Whenever she gratified herself with a satisfying meal she would have to do that, feeling guilty.
-What a fool!- chuckled Lillian -she's checking if she's thin…-
-But it all ends there for her.- Leni looked up at Carly's cleavage.
-True, look at those jugs.-
-You had some work done?-
Carly covered her chest with her hands and made a face, -Do you think I need some work done?-
-You're all buttery,- Lillian pinched her belly, but Carly frowned.
-I'm a porker, right?-
Her eyes turned to pure jade, glistening with unshed tears. Leni nudged Lillian's flat abs, making a gesture of reproach.
-No and I wouldn't use the word "fat" to insult you.-
What was going on with Carly? Usually it was Lillian who told her to stop seeing herself fat. Now it seemed her emotions were in caps lock; Seventeen was right when he said exactly that.
Carly got nervous, whimpered, didn't know why she did that.
-Ahh, you got your period.- Lillian stroked her hair.
-No,- Carly muttered, her head on the table.
-Did something happen with the Seventeen?-
Leni blamed Lapis by default ...
Carly seemed to forget about her own crying, -Nothing negative, quite the opposite.-
/
Meanwhile, Krillin and Hacchan were fighting hand to hand.
Krillin hadn't seen this cyborg in decades, but had greeted him with friendship: they weren't really friends, rather some sort of old allies.
-Have you sat on your laurels, Hacchan?-
Krillin dodged a punch and kicked # 8's large body into the crumbly ground.
-I'll start with you, then I'll move on to her,- Hacchan glanced at Eighteen, who was watching them from the top of a natural gallery. They had withdrawn to fight in a scenario of very high caves, illuminated by plays of light.
-You have a long way to go!-
Eighteen was sure Hacchan had heard her. She wondered why she had accompanied them, Hacchan wasn't ready to face her. Perhaps, she had wanted to take advantage of the fact that Kate was sitting Marron for them…Eighteen walked through that cave system, moving away until she heard only the rumble of the fight.
She was completely alone in those corridors. Or maybe not…
Turning a corner, Eighteen was surprised by a figure in the distance; outlines of a massive body and a pointed hat, artificial retinas gleaming red.
Eighteen leapt into the dripping water and decapitated the figure with her bare hand, she listened to the clang of the head rolling to the ground. But it slid back onto the body as if attracted by magnets. The chubby, white face of a mime turned 360 degrees; he looked at Eighteen with cold almond-shaped eyes that resembled her own, a pallid imitation.
Eighteen prepared the synchronization with the kachi katchin and her hand glowed.
-Stop, 18.-
-Goodbye, 19.2 .-
Eighteen attacked again; 19.2 blocked her arm, holding the flesh steady without touching the blade. -Kami thinks the threat is me.-
The android's voice was impartial, his grip left marks on Eighteen's skin.
-We are all irrelevant, even when born again.-
Eighteen struggled; 19.2 fell when she cut off his shin. -If Dende has entrusted me with this task, you are not irrelevant.-
-If this is what you think, 18, then may Kami save you and those who are like you.-
19.2 picked up his shin off the ground and darted away across the rock wall.
/
Thoughts of the author:
For this chapter..I wish I could tell Seventeen a couple of things, too bad I can't go inside the story. And poor Eighteen, I never leave her alone.
The chapter ends with a warning, you must keep this in mind, because the meaning will come out sooner or later!
