As in the previous chapter, i would wanna encourage you to send any DM if you have any questions and/or feedback, also for any reviews.
The boat takes a while to start the engines and leave the dock, it is cold, I am in a crouched position; my knees bent and my hands clasped in an attempt to keep warm.
As if this were not enough, the sun is covering, little by little there are no longer rays of sun that pass through the clouds to heat the surface.
I look around me and I only see the same image that I am giving off right now, a human immersed in misery, bathed in despair who paddles or swims towards the only ray of light that he can see; how hopeless this is.
I turn to my left to see the group of lines of people sitting in the middle of the ship.
There are three groups of four lines of people sitting on the deck of the ship, the first is in the forward part of the ship; just behind the bow; the second in the central and the last towards the bridge.
This is not an ordinary ship, it seems to be a merchant ship, various containers and boxes had to be stacked right in the place that immigrants occupy right now, but that was before the war and who knows if this ship will last long enough to return to play its main role again.
I have to thank the coat that I got at the command center of the trenches of the town where I appeared, apart from my hands and face the rest is at a pleasant or acceptable temperature, the rest of the people do not seem to have that much luck.
The ship leaves the port and I am urged to look at the time to see how long it took them to carry out the operation, I immediately put my hand in my pocket but I stop suddenly when I remember the man's words so as not to attract unnecessary attention.
Instead I use my other hand to roll up the left sleeve and thereby see the watch the man gave me.
The watch is made of some polished metal with details in gold or gold. The crystal is made of quartz rather than glass, since it does not show completely clear through it.
The dial of the watch is of a white color similar to ivory, the numbers seem to have relief, they are also painted in a glossy black color and have stylized designs, the hands seem to be of the same material as the golden details of the case, or at least they have the same golden shine.
Right now it's a quarter to seven, or more or less, analog clocks are not as accurate as digital ones. It takes me a while to recognize the time, I haven't used a clock for a long time, now I do look like someone of my physical appearance.
A few letters could be read at the bottom of the dial, O and W, could they be the initials of that man?
Who knows. He stopped looking at the gift watch as soon as I noticed a look on me.
The people on this ship are desperate, unlike me, once they reach our destination probably none of them knows what they should or can do to escape from this destination.
I had at least one marked route. It didn't have to be the easy route, but at least he didn't have to think about what to do in the future or how; there will be difficult times, but I don't think they will be a great impediment. All I had to do was go to a recruiting office, just like that man said, and deliver the letter I kept along with my documentation to the highest ranking officer in the office. I didn't have free will, but it wasn't like I could do anything else in the situation I was in.
I look around and a couple of people had switched places so I checked my watch again, the minute hand had only moved a step. But how long is this trip going to take?
Sigh. This trip is going to be eternal.
I look around me again and I see that there are kids playing and running across the deck. I suppose it won't be frowned upon for me to take a ride around the ship until we get to port.
I get up, brush off any dust that may have adhered to the back of my coat and, grabbing the handles of my backpack; now huge for my size; I advance to the rail of the ship.
The sea usually makes me dizzy, but if I look at the landscape that doesn't happen. Upon reaching the railing I realized the problem; in the middle of the sea you can't see anything unless you sail close to the coast; I think this trip is going to be tough.
We are still on the coast and I don't have that problem but when we get to the open sea …
I still don't have the remotest idea of where I am, furthermore, from the ship there are no identifying structures of any country, and these structures are usually built inland several kilometers. In addition to that, at this time I doubt very much that those structures that I could recognize are even already built.
I sigh again. I'm nervous, and no wonder, on the ground at least I could see where I was going or, at least what would be ahead, but here; at sea; no.
Trying to calm down, I hold on to the railing and take a couple of deep breaths.
It doesn't work, I try again, it still doesn't work; so I try breathing again. I feel dizzy, I think I am hyperventilating.
I'm also having an anxiety attack, shit is many things at the same time.
I do not have time to continue overwhelming myself, as a boy more or less my height appears in front of me.
-Hi.- The boy greets happily.
-He ... Hello- I answered him.
-What's your name?-
-Erik ..- I don't have time to continue talking.
-I'm Albrecht, are you going to see some distant relatives too? - The boy introduces himself and asks.
-Err… No. I. I'm going to ... - Again he won't let me continue my explanation.
-No? My parents told me that the other boys and girls would go to their distant relatives' houses for the holidays. -He explains with a radiant smile, he won't let me explain but it doesn't seem like he really cares about my situation; he would be bored and anyone would be able to get out of the bland situation.
-I'm going to join the youth. I have a letter of recommendation.- I answer in a low voice and with a shy tone, I hope that since he is so small he does not pay attention to my tone or gestures. It is obvious that I am lying, the letter may be probable but I really do not know what is written inside.
-Oh!… -He exclaims with his mouth open. - How cool. My parents won't let me join because they say that when you grow up, if you were in the youth groups, you enter the army directly and they don't want me to go to the army. - I understand his parents. I also would not want to send my children to the army with an incipient war.
-I don't know that.- I shake my head, trying to sound childish. It's hard. I've been acting like an adult for some time.
-I'm going to a place with snow and forests.- He explains with the same radiant smile and eyes full of illusion. Wow, he has described about eighty percent of the Baltic countries in winter. -Do you want to come explore the ship with me? - It's not that I have something better to do and distracting myself for a while will make my dizziness and anguish go away. Probably.
-Yes of course. Where do you want to go?-
-Follow me- Albrecht tells me.
It had been a long time since I did mischief like a child, of course it had been a while since I stopped being a child.
I followed Albrecht on the deck, then we went inside the ship, the ship was full of sailors doing their chores, one of the sailors stroked Albrecht's head as we passed him. And the others who were with the sailor smiled, as if remembering childhood.
We went through many corridors, at some point it seemed to me as if we were going around the complex network of corridors two complete times until we came to a huge gate, this was open and gave a glimpse of what must have been the cargo deck.
It contained some boxes, but not many, what attracted the most attention was the group of boys and girls who were gathered there.
-Here are all the others.- Albrecht approaches the group of people. Some stop what they were doing to pay attention- This is Erik, I found him outside, on air; with the rest of the elderly.- The rest greets. I return the greeting. How innocent, how difficult it is for adults to make friends and how quickly children find someone to play with.
A girl comes up to me, looks and touches my coat. -My sister has a similar one, although it's not that long.- She sticks out her tongue and smiles. She must have said something funny but I can't find it funny. To keep up her appearances, I return her smile.-Did they give it to you or was it from your older brother?-
-My cousin gave it to me. She told me that I would need it more than him.- Another lie, but again, no one paid attention to the forced smile. They are kids, they don't care about things like this.
-Ohh… I see- The girl looks at me a little suspicious, although I can't guess why.
Before she opens her mouth again, someone takes my hand and pulls me. It's Albrecht, she takes me to the center of the group. They are not a very large group of people, there are eight in total, there are four girls and four boys, now five.
My presence seems to upset the balance, but they don't seem to care much either.
The girl who asked me about my coat earlier came between me and Albrecht.
-My name is Karin, these are Ingrid, Paula and Elsa.- She introduces herself and introduces the girls.
-You already know me- Albrecht adds, and says it as if we have known each other forever- Besides, these are Günther, Johann and Lars.- He names as he points out one by one to the boys. I nod. I don't have much to say and I was never very good at making new friends.
Karin is a tall, slender young girl with light brown hair and green eyes.
Ingrid seems more compact than the others with fair skin, red hair but with a tone that is more reminiscent of lava; her hair is orange instead of red; she with bright emerald eyes.
Paula is what we would say of normal height, with blonde hair and blue eyes.
While Elsa is tall like Karin but her skin tone is between Karin and Ingrid she also has dark brown hair and gray eyes whose tone she had never seen before.
On the boys' side: Albrecht is a cheerful boy; from what one can see; with fair complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.
Günter is a small boy, with more tanned skin; which makes me think that he was living somewhere where the sun is good; with brown hair and cinnamon eyes.
Johann has white skin like the walls, I would say that he has anemia because of how white his skin looks, with gray hair and dark gray eyes. It is not the first time I have seen this hair color, but it is the first time I have seen it with this combination of eye color.
And finally; Lars is clearly taller than the rest, he also has a more developed complexion and looks like he is older than the rest, he has straw hair and aquamarine eyes.
They all make up a diverse group but, again, they don't seem to care much; they are kids after all. It really surprises and fascinates me in equal measure to see how they manage to come together and unite so well being so different apparently and how easy it is to find friends they have.
-Okay, what do we do now?- Albrecht asks.
-We were deciding what to do now when you two arrived.- Ingrid replies sourly.
-And?- Albrecht insists impatiently. He's a bit cheeky. Ingrid takes a deep breath.
-The old ones were talking about the place where we are going to go. I heard them say that we would be there until we came of age. I don't know what's going on outside, but it's big-
The other children nod. How is it possible that they do not realize that just a hundred kilometers to the south there is war?
I am stunned. As much as you want to hide the truth so that they do not suffer unnecessarily, it is quite obvious. Even without global communication channels like those of my era, it is very easy to imagine reality. I smile sourly to myself, they are just children; it is normal that they do not notice reality.
-Well, my grandfather, who fought in the great war, says they have returned.- Günter says. It seems that not all children have lived among cotton wool.
-Your grandfather is already very old. The great war happened before I was born. It was a long time ago.- Paula responds, trying to downplay Günter's comment.
-It wasn't that long ago, my mother's sister was in that war.- Elsa adds.
I hope he doesn't mean that he fought in it. Well, in the great war; which is what they called the First World War; women did not fight because at that time they were not even allowed to work. I suppose it refers to helping as a nurse, although I do not know if in those years they already allowed female volunteering. Formerly they were very machists.
-Well, my sister is now in Belgica and she said that she was not to worry.- Karin intervened, that's why she recognized the coat. Well, I don't think it is difficult to recognize the uniform of the armed forces of your own country.
-Your sister has no idea, she says what older people say to her.- Johann attacks. He seems suspicious about something. I think a "normal" person would have done better than me in this situation.
-You're lying, Johann, you don't know what you're saying. You say it because you are envious.- Karin answers angrily, in fact she faces him and the others have to get in the way so they don't fight. Why should I be envious? Is Johann an only child, or did his relatives die? I do not understand anything.
-My grandfather warned me about this, he knew things ... he fought two "great wars" .- Günter intervened again.
-We are back with that story ... -Lars says jaded as he raises both arms in the air.-Your grandfather was not a traveler. Put it in your head.-
-Of course he was.- Günter replies, red as a tomato.
I don't know what you mean by "traveler", I suppose it was that he fought on two fronts or in two different wars during the same period. I do not know what you want to fight in a war when you have just left another, but I suppose there are people for everything.
Nor do I see that the boys care much about the stories of the rest; Karin was sharing the information given by her sister when Günter had to intervene because we weren't talking about him. These guys are very self-centered.
Even so I was curious, I think I'll ask him about the "travelers" when the other two calm down.
I could ask him now but I think his chest would swell with ego to explode and the fight will continue to focus on something else. Karin pouts as she humps, Lars for the part of her just sighs and relaxes his shoulders.
I think they both come from very different families and therefore have different points of view.
A few minutes later, with the situation already calm, I approached Günter in search of the explanation I wanted.
Günter raises his head when my shadow covers the book he was reading and looks directly into my eyes, his expression is one of fear.
-What?- He asked with a terrified expression. I guess Günter is often bullied at school.
-That you told about your grandfather ... That he was a traveler ... What do you mean? -
-What? Don't you know what travelers are? - Asks Günter surprised, it must be common knowledge here.
-Here we go again ... - Lars says bored, I don't know if it is true but Lars' insistence on silencing Günter makes me feel heavier, if they really are nonsense, it shouldn't bother him that I talked about them unless they hurt him.
-Yes again. I will say it as many times as necessary.- Günter answers him, then he turns to me. -I'll explain, there are still some people who don't know about this.- I nod. -You'll usually see when the world has something new that nobody has ever seen, it's not because that person is a genius, no; normally that person only does something that he saw in the place where he came from.
-I don't understand you, what do you mean? You explain it in a very strange way.- I find it difficult to understand what this kid tries to teach me, he will not know how to explain himself and express himself well.
-Let's see.- He sighs as if he were doing hard work. -Sometimes people appear from nowhere.- I frown. -People who appear here and stay.- My grandfather was one of those, he said that he came from a place similar to this but that it was not the same.- Shit, I think this information was more valuable than it seemed. I need to know more.
-Where was your grandfather from?- I ask curiously, although I think I already know the answer.
-From the same town as my grandmother, apparently. According to my grandfather he was fighting the "ivans" of whom it was all the fault and a few days later he was fighting our enemies.- This is somewhat confusing, but he is clarifying some things for me.
-Ivans? -
-Yes, it was what my grandfather called the Kazakhs.- Günter explains.- My grandfather invented the current machine gun system but he says that it was already used in his previous country and that he only brought it with him.- Günter shrinks shoulders when I look at him in disbelief. The rest have more or less the same expression but mine is for a different reason.
-So, your grandfather, you say that he copied things from his country, for this country ...- Günter nods. I'd like to give him some other incentive to keep giving me information, but anything he said could be misinterpreted or get too much attention as the man with the watch. -Yes, my grandfather was from another world. He spent his entire life looking for people just like him. And did you know? It turns out that almost all the advances in the story are thanks to the travelers. Which, by the way, is a term that was used by Antoine Foss.- He says the name as if it were someone famous but because of the faces of the rest, it must not be so well known.- When they asked him who he was from and where he came from and he He said "Me? I am just a traveler. " That is why they are called like that.- He responds enthusiastically. It seems to be his favorite subject.
-And did your grandfather find others like him?- If his grandfather could find others in the same situation, I may also find them. Besides, I do not come from a time of war, getting along with people from other countries is possible and understanding with them ... As long as they understand and speak English, everything will be fine.
-Of course. He came with his Gruppe. My grandfather belonged to a Stoss Gruppe- He answered excited as well as proud. "Stoss Gruppe"; I think they were those crazy people who carried flamethrowers and submachine guns in the First World War, of course the German side.
-And did an entire Gruppe came?- Günter nods. And why do I have to come alone? I remember there were more people around me just before I disappeared.
-Yes, he came with three others, they helped a lot in the war. Two of them died before it was over.- He says with a sad tone. -Then the one who remained moved to Berlin and did not speak to my grandfather again. He said that he blamed him for the other two dying.- he adds.
He was explaining more and more things for a while, I almost regret the moment I asked him, but my doubts were clarified when I remembered all the information I had obtained. In addition to the information provided by the rest of the boys and girls who, from time to time, made items in the torrent of information on Günter's favorite topic.
Karin said that this kind of people did exist, but that although there have always been some in history; these were rare.
Albrecht said that he knew some, although he did not give more information, I don't know if he was just trying to be interesting. Ingrid said that she had ever heard of them.
Paula added; To everyone's surprise; that she was a descendant of another of these people, but that her arrival dated from the fifteenth century.
Elsa and Johann contributed nothing. And Lars was still determined to deny the existence of these people. I prefer not to say anything about my situation, I took the advice of the man with the watch very seriously; don't stand out.
In this situation, telling about my origins could be a double-edged sword, on the one hand it would allow me to access information quickly but on the other hand it would end up attracting unnecessary attention as well as automatically getting on badly with Lars.
Also, if I analyze my stay on the ship and how long the trip will last, I think that I will be able to access that additional information if I talk more with Günter.
The children soon got bored of talking, yes, this is more of a youth or adult practice.
Someone suggested playing hide and seek. We agreed, I left my backpack with the other boys' belongings and we began to explore the depths of the ship.
After living in that town I must have become quieter because not once or twice but four times I managed to outwit the boys as they looked away, moving through the shadows and without making noise.
It was exciting to be aware that if they turned around right then he would be discovered. It was fun. None of the seventeen rounds were able to find me.
Will this help me when I'm in combat? Do not know. The truth is that I would rather avoid going into combat but I think I will end up being one of the "crazy kids with panzerfaust".
I am much more afraid that his indoctrination will sink into my being, I don't want to stop being myself.
When we are about to start round eighteen, Johann asks for a moment.
-Who owns the turn? - He asks with a face that can suggest ulterior motives.
-To Erik.-Karin answers pointing at me.
-Then I will not play this time.- She announces at the news that, finally, it was my turn to look for them. The rest complain about the news.-No. But if we have not been able to catch him even once.-
-He's very good.- Elsa answers. Then everyone focuses their gaze on me, I just leave an expressionless face, I try to appear not very threatening; maybe if I succeed, they will agree to play with me one more round. He doesn't do it on purpose.
Johann sighs and nods after a few seconds. Then everyone is happy that he gives in.
They took me to a remote place, in front of a very large box; more than an adult; located at one end of the deck of the almost empty cargo. This is not the usual place to count. When I ask about the reason for changing, Elsa replies that if the counting point were in the center they would have no chance against me.
She shrugged and I turned around, facing the huge box. Then I close my eyes and start counting out loud.
How long has it been since I last played this? Fifteen or twenty years? As soon as I start the count, I hear a lot of heavy footsteps that gradually recede.
Two go to the right, three to the end; right behind me; and two go to the left. I am missing one. I pretend to swallow hard to listen more carefully around me and that's when I hear someone's weak breathing. He is a small person, but of course, we are young children so it will not be easy to know who he is before he opens his eyes, however I need the name of the person to be able to "hunt" her. I have to identify her before the count ends as this person's strategy seems to be to wait right here to simply touch the box and save themselves.
I tune my ear. I have to resume the account out loud or they will complain that I am against the rules but I still have time to try at least two more times before the account ends.
Then it occurs to me to do something unexpected, since I have my head resting against one of my arms, I can pretend that my arm got tired and change arms. I do a sweep with my arm and I may catch this person in his path, he will not have time to dodge and since children tend to make very exaggerated movements it should not be very noticeable.
I sweep and all I can do is brush my fingers over the person waiting next to me for the count to finish.
Has long hair, so she is one of the girls. But I have no further information.
So I resort to the above trick and take advantage of the moment of swallowing to listen, I tune my hearing and I can hear how the boys complain about the hiding place; apparently only two people enter. I also hear Karin and Elsa to the right which leaves me with Ingrid, Lars and Paula. Which of the two girls will be the one waiting next to me?
I have time to perform the same ploy once more, that's when I remember that Paula seemed to have a certain attachment to Lars, she must like the boy and as girls are precocious than boys, Lars doesn't seem to notice. It is a risky gamble, as I rely on my own intuition that; in these cases it is usually not good.
Finally I finish the count and, since I'm not sure who it could be, I open my eyes and turn to the person next to me. My eyes go wide and the girl gives me a mischievous smile.
She was not who she believed. I was dumbfounded for a few seconds.
This time is used to boldly save themselves by Lars, Elsa and Ingrid; who appear from the opposite place of the one who had heard them.
That's when I reacted and turned around to "hunt" Paula, who had waited by my side to give the rest a chance.
I was not going to accept such a humiliating defeat.
-I got you, Paula. - Paula was quick to try to save herself, but I was quicker.
-Oh ... No, I thought I wouldn't give you time.- Look at those who did manage to save themselves taking advantage of the distraction.
-Don't be cheats.-Paula complains, waving her arms.
-We haven't cheated.- Ingrid excuses herself.
-Well… In fact you have left the cargo deck. You went to the left and came from the opposite side.- I accuse Lars and Elsa of breaking their own rules.
-That's because when you turn around the left turns into the right.- Elsa explains mockingly trying to deceive me.
-No, the side is the same although it is called differently. You left that way- I pointed in one direction- And you came back the other way.-
-And how do you know that? Were you watching? -Lars asks questioningly, trying to defend himself against the accusation.
-No, but I heard you clearly.- Lars pouts. And Elsa asks for forgiveness. They say that their violation of the rules makes them lose automatically.
I do not mind losing when I do it against a strong opponent, but I do care when it is because someone does not comply with the rules.
Even so, Ingrid does manage to save herself from her, since she did come from the same direction that she apparently left and she was fast enough to go the whole distance before she came out of my stupor.
Now it only remains for me to find Johann, Günter and Albrecht. I take a deep sigh, it will be difficult to find and hunt them if they separate, but I am counting on at least two of them together in the same place.
I fall completely silent again, then I relax my breathing and open my mouth, so that the noise of my breathing is as low as possible. They all stay quiet and watch carefully what I do. I catch a sound just from the direction the boys went.
She turned her head to focus her ear in this direction. I catch two strong breaths, they must be crouched somewhere but tense.
I point the direction with two outstretched fingers and show two fingers, then I hear the soles of a shoe rub against the ground, someone in a semi-crouched position preparing to run. He just turned one foot to face a certain direction, I think he was trying to use the box as an obstacle to my vision as he moved around.
I point in the other direction and show a finger. Ingrid opens her mouth in disbelief.
That's when I point my finger to Lars and Paula, they look at the place and since they don't see anything, they look back at me to ask for an explanation.
I simply point to the spot again and smile. Then Paula with immense curiosity begins to walk towards the place without caring about the noise it may make, Lars looks at me strangely and I start walking in the opposite direction, enough to see the side of the box in which the person was hiding, that had been left out of the plan.
After a moment and as I had planned, a person appeared that I recognized as Günter hiding on that same side; probably thinking that the footsteps he heard on the other side of the cargo deck were my own.
As soon as he gets into position, he squats down and turns around to see how I've been watching him for a while.
-Nooooooooo… -Günter stands up screaming, staggering from being so long with his legs bent and I walk back to the box walking fast to give Günter "hunted".
-Noooo… -He keeps complaining until he sees how I put my hand on the box, then he gives up and his voice becomes a weak thread. Günter walks up to us while he breathes heavily. -Scheisse ... -He only says that when he reaches the box, it seems that he wanted to say something else but his voice does not reach him.
I only have Albrecht and Johann left. I know who they are but I can't just hunt it down, for that I have to make eye contact before going back and touching the box.
I touch my chin, thinking of a way to get them out of there without having to stray too far from the box. I don't know how good the physical fitness of my new little body will be but if it is similar to my original one I will have to stay close to the box.
That's when it occurs to me that I don't have to go out looking for them, there's no time limit and, as long as I don't break the rules, I can do whatever I want. I sit on the floor right in front of the box with my back to it, far enough away so that my sight reaches all the corners exposed to the light but close enough to touch the box by lying on the floor and extending my arm to touch it.
I don't have to go for them. They are the ones who have to come here to save themselves.
Yes, I am camping the box.
Yes, I'm a sucks a little right now.
I wait patiently for a while, I look at the watch on my wrist; my new clock; and I'm still waiting.
The wait doesn't last much longer, as Albrecht appears from a box at the end of the cargo bay, followed by a Johann who runs towards the nearest exit as he clutches his crotch with both hands. The hunted and Ingrid watch with their mouths open as Johan runs as fast as he can in the opposite direction of the box in search of a toilet.
Then they burst out laughing. Albrecht, who had been staring at the ground; probably because Johann pushed him out of the hiding place; he turns his head from him while still on the ground and gives me an innocent smile. I lie down and touch the wood to consider Albrecht "hunted".
He gets up and comes over to us while joking about Johann's inevitable "urgency," he laughs out loud and everyone laughs with him. I remain without saying anything, the truth is that it is a funny moment but I do not think that Johann found it the same grace so out of respect for the attempt not to laugh.
After a while Johann comes back, he comes with all the calm in the world, when he is about to arrive I put my hand on the box and scoop last.
Johann asks in surprise if he hadn't caught him when he had to run off in search of a bathroom. Then he thanks me for keeping me "legal" and I answer that that is the honor.
Why am I giving adult lessons to kids?