"Hagi, there are people looking for you here. I think they want to hurt you." Her words rang out in his ears. He knew who the enemy was and he knew what they wanted. Pondering his situation, he gazed toward the horizon and thought of the hiding places he had.
Hagi stood up and walked to the ledge where a chain link fence protected sight seers from a very deadly fall. He clasped his hands behind his back as he looked out at the city below. Speaking softly he informed, "I know they are, Marva. This is why I must not be here. They will come after you and Claudia."
"Where will you go?" she asked.
"I am not certain," he sighed as he looked at the ground. He finished quietly, "I have a few places."
"Come with Claudia and me," she suggested. "We have to return to my parents' ranch. I plan on remaining there."
Hagi turned to her and asked, "I thought your parents disowned you."
She rose from the bench to join him and look at the scenery, "They passed away a week ago. I was hoping and praying I'd find you before we left. I'm their only living relative so I have to lay them to rest. And since I am their only living relative, I also get the ranch, too."
Hagi nodded. "I cannot stay far away from Saya."
"She's still sleeping, right? She isn't going to need you all the time. Just come and stay for a while and when Saya calls you, you can return," she explained. "Hagi, I'll even scrape some money together for the plane tickets."
"That will not be necessary," Hagi responded as he stared out at the city below. His instincts were telling him to stay behind, but something deep within him was screaming at him to follow her. Maybe the loneliness had become too much to bear- maybe his human side finally had enough of war. He pushed the thoughts aside, he couldn't just leave like he did in Vietnam- could he?
Marva smiled, "Besides, Hagi, ranch work is difficult. I have about four ranch hands and a boss working for me, but I could always use another man," she suggested, "especially one that can take down gigantic monsters." She knew he never would be able to resist a damsel in distress. She knew full well that the hired hands had been taking very good care of the ranch for years, but she also knew that she needed to convince Hagi that she really needed him- to pull him away from his thoughts of war, death, and suicide. He needed a peaceful distraction that was far away from here. She knew that she'd convince him if she sounded needy enough. He really has a "knight in shining armor complex", she smiled at the thought.
"I have never been to America before," he commented. "What is it like?"
Marva thought a minute before she gave an answer. "Well, it all depends on where you're going. There are many different places and they're all very beautiful in their own way. There are places like Washington State where they grow apples and cherries. It's nice during the summers, but the winter blankets the state in snow. Then there's Arizona, it's a beautiful desert state with the largest canyon in the world. Colorado has the beautiful mountains that turn into ski resorts in the winter." She cupped her hand to the side of her mouth and added, "Colorado has the most amazing sunrises I've ever seen."
"It sounds very beautiful," Hagi commented as he imagined the amazing sights he'd scene that colored everything in a deep crimson coat of blood. The war colored even the most beautiful places, because all it reminded him of was death, war, The Promise. Promise me, when this is all over… Promise me, when this is all over… Promise me… Promise me… His heart clenched as tears threatened behind his eyes, but the stoic façade did not crack- it didn't even twitch. He continued to look out at the horizon as a tiny part of him screamed, "You deserve this- you deserve a respite in the sea of unimaginable heartache and pain that has been your life! Take it! For all that is good and right with the world TAKE IT!" the voice was familiar. Someone who was a comfort when he was young and someone he dearly missed when he was a bit older called to him.
"Are you kidding?" she teased. "I haven't even begun to tell you of all the amazing places that are there. There's still the Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone, Niagara Falls… the list goes on and on."
"Have you seen them all?" he asked. He wondered at the idea of seeing the sights without the war coloring the memories. It would be nice to have something happy to remember other than the Zoo. He was being convinced- slowly, but surely.
"Oh, no, not yet. I plan to travel and see them all in my later years. I have a daughter to raise and a ranch to run," she smiled, knowing from that gleam in his eye she had all but convinced him. "So what do you say? You coming or not?"
Hagi knew what she was up to. She always seemed to know how to convince him to rescue her. He really didn't think of himself as a member of the family, yet. But he felt himself being drawn closer and closer to them... and to happiness as well. "Alright, Marva," he stated, "but I must go to Saya often, I must be around when she wakes up."
"I'll take what I can get," she smiled as she hugged him.
He embraced his friend as he thought out loud, "So where is the ranch?"
"Where else would a ranch be?" she laughed, "In Texas, of course!"
"What is Texas like?" he asked as his blue eyes seemed to stare into nothing, almost dreamily. He wondered if he could picture it in his mind.
"Texas is very big, but the ranch is in north Texas. The land there is a bit dry, but not a desert. It's wonderful grazing for the beef cattle. The grass can grow taller than most men. In the spring, there are fields full of wildflowers that dot the landscape in a rainbow of colors- especially blue. "
"Blue?" he asked, feeling a bit nervous as blue flowers reminded him of blue roses- blue roses reminded him of Diva.
She wasn't sure why, but his gaze had darkened and she wondered if it had to do with the Promise. "Yes, the state's flower, it's called a bluebonnet. It blankets entire fields and makes them look like an ocean of beautiful vivid blue."
"Really?" he asked. He felt reassured and that voice from his past- it made him feel so certain that this was what he needed to do. "I guess I will see it for myself soon enough."
Marva squealed her happiness as she threw her arms around him and gave him a joyful hug. For the first time ever, a small chuckle came from the stoic man. She commented, "Claudia's gonna be so happy! Who am I kidding? I'm so happy!"
Hagi followed her out as he thought, I hope I will be happy, too.
He had put all his clothing neatly into one suitcase. Marva and Claudia had 2 each. All the furniture was staying since Marva said that the ranch was already decorated. Claudia had a box of her toys and games that was being shipped to the ranch. He pulled his cello case over his shoulder as he lifted his suitcase. He looked back at the place he had stayed for most of the past 10 years and all the memories it held for him. He sighed as he clicked off the lights.
Marva locked the door and looked up at the sky, "Goodbye, Jeff," she whispered, "I must return to my home. You were a wonderful husband to me." Tears streaked her face as she turned toward the awaiting taxi. Hagi put a sympathetic arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. She reached up and gently stroked his bandaged hand that rested on her shoulder, "Thank you, Hagi, for everything."
"It is not necessary to thank me," he responded as he felt a sinking feeling. It was like the day they had left the charred remains of the Zoo. He knew his home was long gone, but he couldn't help but miss it and the happy times he had there as he fell in love with the woman he had vowed to devote his entire life to. Her blood pulsed through his veins as he bid goodbye to a place he had come to know as his temporary home. Maybe this new country and new house would be more permanent.
That was not possible- not for him. He was a traveler and on the move. Born to a band of traveling gypsies and even given a name that translated to pilgrim- a person that was always on the move and looking for a place to put down roots. They had cursed him to be a wondering vagabond, never to find a home.
The Zoo was the only place that was truly his home, but that was ripped away from him- the boy that was sold to the master of the sprawling mansion as a slave. He was destined to follow the woman that constantly hunted down her own flesh and blood, vowing to rid the world of her own kind.
Marva smiled, He never changes. Even now, I can see it in his eyes, he doesn't trust that the world under him is a solid foundation.
Hagi placed his cello in the trunk along with his suitcase. He noticed an old woman with silver streaked wavy black hair that went well past her hips walking into the woods. He didn't sense she was a chiropteran, but she seemed so very familiar. She wore a long black skirt that flared all the way to the ground, a white ruffled blouse with a simple woven vest. Her eyes caught his across the distance and she smiled at him, letting him know he had done well. He shook the thought off and when he looked up, she was gone. He headed to the cab, trying to shake the eerie feeling that came over him. When he came around, he noticed that Marva was in the passenger's seat leaving him to sit with Claudia in the back.
"I hope you don't mind," Marva said, "but Claudia said she wanted you to sit with her."
He looked back and saw the 10 year old had her face turned away from him. He saw her shoulders moving and knew she was crying. "Of course, I do not mind," he told Marva. She gave him a knowing look. He had grown so accustomed to the family that he knew what Marva was saying just by the look she gave. This time it was she won't stop crying and she doesn't want me to counsel her. Maybe you can get her to talk.
Hagi climbed in the backseat and pulled the girl into his arms. She turned to him and sobbed. He held her while she heaved huge sobs into his chest. He knew it was best just to hold her right now. He'd get her to talk once she calmed down. He noticed Marva going through the folder she was carrying, making sure their tickets, passports, and other documents were in place. He looked out the window, thinking of the past week.
Marva was on the phone talking to the travel agency. She was having trouble getting them to understand, "No! No! No! I need two one way tickets to Dallas, Texas and one round trip."
Hagi was filling out the paperwork for his passport. Marva had a friend that was able to get a forged birth certificate and ID for him. She only thought it fitting that his last name be Trudeaux. He smiled to himself. He had a last name now. His mother was listed as Marva Trudeaux, and his father, Jeffrey Trudeaux. He was now part of a family according to France. He had a mother and a father. He even had a little sister. He never thought he'd see the day that he would belong to a family.
Hagi looked down at the brown haired little girl in his arms, his little sister. He felt that she was upset because she had to leave her life behind to go to an unknown place and start over again. Not an easy task for a 10 year old or a 12 year old. He began to remember that dark day.
His mother was scolding him to put on the outfit that was given to her. That large man with the dark hair had given it to them the previous day. He also gave them a loaf of bread and told them he'd return tomorrow, expecting the boy to be thoroughly bathed and on his best behavior.
His mother was a beautiful woman that wouldn't stay home with her husband- he knew. The night would fall and Hagi would get out of bed and see her leaving, dressed in clothing that showed off more than was necessary. He remembered the many fights he got into when other boys from the caravan or otherwise, would tease him about his mother being a whore and a slut. The words that stung the most were- bastard child. It was plain to see that the light-skinned, blue-eyed boy with strikingly handsome features was definitely not his father's son.
His father would get drunk every night and come after him. He would beat Hagi, if he could catch him. Most of the time, he would just pass out, cursing the boy for being born. He even told Hagi that he wasn't his son. He didn't look like his father, but he looked a lot like his mother. She was tall and slender with dark wavy hair. Her face was angled the same way as her son, but softer and more feminine. Her skin not as fair as his and her eyes were green- not blue. His father's skin was deep tan and his hair was stringy and brown. His eyes were dark brown and almost always bloodshot from all the drinking. Whenever his father had the notion to ask his mother about it, she'd just laugh and sit on his lap. She never answered him.
His father constantly reminded the boy that he only lived on because he might bring a good price at the slave market.
Hagi was heartbroken when he saw the sunrise the next day and the wealthy imposing man walked up to the caravan. The dark haired man had returned and took Hagi with him. When Hagi turned to plead with his parents not to let him go, they did not turn around. They kept going and NEVER looked back. Hagi cried silent tears all the way to the Zoo, to his new home. He felt like it may as well be his prison.
The dark haired man took Hagi to a small room across the hall from a very large room that was full of frilly pillows and other "girly stuff".
"This is your room, Hagi," The dark haired man announced. "You have changes of clothes in the wardrobe. Lunch is at 1 pm and dinner is at 6pm. Make sure that you are not late." The room was larger than any room he'd ever stayed in. It had a simple bed and nightstand. There was a window next to the bed that overlooked the gardens. "Come on, Hagi," the man called, "it is time you met Saya."
An older gentleman came up to them, "Amshel," he asked, "is this…"
"Yes, Joel," he answered, "this is Hagi."
The old man looked him over and smiled, "Very nice, Amshel," he commented. "I will take him to Saya."
The dark haired man turned and walked away.
"Hagi," the old man said, "I am Joel. You have been brought here to become a friend to our Saya. She is young and needs some companions her own age. We just want you to be a friend to her. If you need anything, you can come to me. My office is right here around this corner. He led Hagi into the courtyard where a young girl with long dark hair was trying to catch the koi that were swimming in the fountain. "Saya," Joel called to her. She looked up. Hagi didn't look up. He was angry and scared and didn't really feel like being friendly with anyone right now. "This is Hagi."
Hagi pulled a stray curl away from Claudia's face. She had fallen asleep in his arms. "You have your mother and I," Hagi told her softly, "so do not be sad, Claudia. You are not alone."
Marva carried her purse and a small carry- on, while Hagi shouldered his cello and carried a sleeping Claudia. The security guards checked the cello case, but found nothing. They didn't notice the secret compartment and the metal detectors couldn't scan the contents because it kept breaking down every time they tried to run the case through. They ended waving the family through without further incident.
As the plane left the runway, Hagi whispered, "Saya, I will return soon." He looked out the window and wondered what this new place would be like. He remembered history lessons on the country that had won its independence in the late 1700s. The memory of it was vague as his tutor had felt the country on the other side of the world would never hold much importance to a young Frenchman, but Hagi loved the idea of a place where one had the freedom to live however one would chose. The story of the Civil War was always a fascinating topic to him, after all, the war itself was over slavery- something that would be of importance to him.
Hagi tried to picture the rugged landscape Marva described, but it seemed impossible. He'd never seen fields of grasses as tall as a man or flowers the shade of the ocean that covered entire fields. She told him that the ranch boss would be meeting them in Dallas. Hagi had seen pictures of American cowboys and even watched part of a John Wayne film, he wondered if the man looked anything like that.