Epilogue One
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"Can you help me find this place?"
Kino stopped in a market at the next village to buy maps. She was curious to see if she could find any hint of the mysterious walled town she'd encountered. If those silent masked monks had a monastery in the area, and provided travelers were allowed inside, she very much wanted to visit.
She'd also never seen anything exactly like the spiced paste and bread dish the market sold to travelers. Always eager for new experiences, Kino purchased some and found it memorably good.
The market had a pleasant flower-lined patio with chairs and umbrellas to shade guests from the hot sun. As Kino enjoyed her lunch she fell into conversation with another traveler, a handsome and charismatic, if obese, man.
"My country is very prosperous. We achieve this by building and selling the finest weapons, equipment and training to less fortunate nations. At the moment I'm searching for a people called the Tatana. Can you help me find this place?"
Kino listened to the trader quietly. She'd already given Hermes a subtle warning glance, and the motorbike stayed silent.
After waiting for a response, any response, the trader continued. "I understand their neighbors ruthlessly prey upon these Tatana. They're impoverished of course, but we offer generous lines of credit."
Promptly repaid by plunder, I'll bet. Kino thought. Yeah, very profitable.
"If you could give me any idea where to find them, I certainly would be grateful."
The face of the Tatanan she'd slain appeared before her eyes again. Damn! Thought I was done with these flashbacks.
Kino sat silently for a very long time. Finally she said, "I can't help you. I only saw peaceful lands here. Good luck to you."
Not precisely a lie.
"Well, thank you for your time, traveler. Be safe."
"You too."
As she left, Kino patted her breast pocket.
Kino promptly mounted Hermes and together they hurried away from the village.
"Why didn't you tell him where to find that place?" Hermes asked in due time. "I thought you hated it."
Kino coasted to a stop and let out a long sigh. She allowed herself to sag in Hermes' saddle.
"I don't know if I made the right choice just now, Hermes. Maybe there is no right answer. A few days ago I'd have shown him the way -- with pleasure!" A small, cruel smile played across Kino's face, then vanished. "That was one of the hardest things I've ever done, not telling him."
"What's different?"
"Guri left me with a good feeling that I want to hang on to as long as I can. I don't want hate making my decisions, Hermes. Let some other traveler tell him. Not me."
"Humans make no sense at all sometimes."
Kino chuckled.
"I'm glad," Hermes added a few miles later.
"Hmm?"
"Sometimes traveling's no fun, and I was getting worried you were tired of it and wouldn't need me anymore. Now I know why you keep it up." Hermes sounded very pleased.
"And you're going to tell me...?" Kino prodded.
"When you change the scenery, sometimes it changes you right back."