Chapter 3 Escape
The couple arrived in the city Vylta it wasn't as big as Moslin but it was big enough for Kanonno and the man to not be noticed. Kanonno gave the man a hat to hide his hair. The two headed for the inn just as the sun was going down, the two walked up to the front desk to the innkeeper.
"Is there a vacant room here?" Kanonno asked.
"What do I look like? Your servant? Scram!" Shouted the innkeeper.
"Hey! We're travelers! Is this how you treat a customer?" The man shouted back.
"You know something kid? I hate traveler they always flaunt about they're capitalistic ways thinking they're better!" The innkeeper spat.
"Well …" The man started while thinking of a comeback, "I happen to have close connections to the government …" He lied with a sincere grin on his face "Do you really want them to find out that you were rude to a close friend?"
"What's you're name?" The innkeeper asked frantically.
"It's … Simon." He said spitting out the first name that came to mind.
"Here's your room Mr. Simon, please don't mention this to the government. I've been on edge lately because I hardly have visitor. Please forgive me." Panicked the innkeeper handing the man the key to room 257.
"Thank you very much have a good evening." Said the man bowing his head chuckling a bit.
"I would've threatened him if he was being rude to us, but you've handled it better than I expected … Simon … looks like you've gotten yourself a name." Laughed Kanonno.
"I just hope he doesn't figure out that I'm lying, did anything give it away?"
"No worries, I brought some gald along, we could always bribe him."
"You're quite the villain aren't you?" Said Simon looking over to Kanonno who had a big grin on her face.
"Rebel would be the more correct term." Said Kanonno as she and Simon approached the door.
"So miss rebel what are we gonna do from here?" Asked Simon sarcastically while opening the door.
"Well, we're probably gonna have to sneak onto a train somewhere … but we don't have a passport or visa so we could get caught by soldiers. I think we have to steal some visas or something." She shrugged, flopping onto the bed.
"Why not knock out the soldiers and take their clothes?" asked Simon.
"I don't think they have any female patrolmen and do I have to remind you about your hair?" Argued Kanonno. "Oh what do you know you're the amnesiac."
"Why don't you catch some sleep? We've had a long day we could think about the plan tomorrow." Suggested Simon. Kanonno didn't respond, for she was already asleep by the time.
The next morning, they had some breakfast at the inn and left with a bit of gald on the front desk. The question is how are they going to get across the boarder without getting caught. They were throwing suggestions at each other anything from camping out on top of the trains to hiding in someone's luggage on their way to the train tracks.
"How about we hide under the train?" Suggested Simon, Kanonno gawked at him.
"Do you want to get smeared?" She asked, "How about we beat up a couple of passengers, take their clothes, tickets, and visas and go as them."
"Wouldn't we get caught?" Simon asked, "Why not get on the back of the train and sneak inside when we're getting close to the boarder."
"You know, that might not be such a bad idea." Agreed Kanonno, "We just hop onto the back of a passenger train and then sneak into one of the carts that the patrolmen don't check."
"It's settled then all we need is a train to come by, and us to be at the tracks."
"Relax we're probably almost there."
"How do you know?"
"I got a map of the city while you were eating. The tracks should be within a few feet."
At the tracks they were waiting for a train to come by, as long as it wasn't a cattle train they would be good. The train zoomed by breaking to a stop at the train station. Simon and Kanonno snuck around to the back of the train and went inside the cart, which had accommodations for the crew. Just as the train started to move the two walked to the next cart, Simon let Kanonno jump ahead of him, when she got to the other side she stretched out her hand. Simon grabbed her hand and leapt to the other cart, filled with passengers. This continued until they reached the baggage cart, one cart behind the engine.
They said nothing for a long while until Simon spat out: "And now we just sit here."
"Yeah unless you have some cards." Replied Kanonno.
"Do you think anyone is suspicious of us?"
"Maybe, but more often than not the passengers will ignore us."
"So … can I take off my hat?"
"Go ahead, as long as we don't end up stopping somewhere still in the country we should be fine." Said Kanonno peeking her head out the door to see where they are.
"Hope we only have the boarder patrol and the closest town in Speg."
"I'm not sure about the closest town but I heard that international trains normally head to the capital of a country." Figured Kanonno. "Well except in Sakriny, which stops at a tourist attraction."
"Is it because the government doesn't want to have tourist figuring out what's really going on in the country?"
"Something like that." Shrugged Kanonno. "Anyway if we got onto the right train we should be heading to Saint Gabriel, the capital of Speg. But if we end up at a harbor I guess it won't be that bad."
"That if we end up at one of those labor camps?"
"Then we boarded the wrong train, and well … we'd be dead. Hopefully that doesn't happen if it does we run."
"Understood." Stated Simon, then the two fell back into silence. Kanonno would occasionally look out the cart door to see where they are while Simon just twiddled his thumbs not thinking of anything. Eventually Simon drifted off to sleep.
"Simon … Simon! Wake up!" Whispered Kanonno shaking him. He jolted up as if he had a nightmare, making Kanonno jump.
"Kanonno … Where are we?" He asked.
"We're at a city, now let's get out before we get caught." She whispered, sneaking out through the back of the cart, with Simon following her. The town they arrived in was rainy, foggy, and cold, not as cold as Sakriny. The two ran to the nearest building and slammed the door behind them. The building they ran into was a small church, the people were in the middle of mass when they entered, Simon and Kanonno were greeted with awkward stares from the pews and the altar.
"Um …" Simon began, "Sorry, we were just looking for shelter from the rain."
The priest at the front gestured for the two to sit down. "A guest is more than welcome in the church of the holy tree." The two sat in a pew in the back as the preacher picked up where he left off. "Brothers and sisters we must remember the teachings of the first descender: Martha..."
"What is this place?" Simon whispered to Kannono.
"This is a church that worships a religion that revolves around the world tree, Yggdrasil, they believe that Yggdrasil has holy powers to usher a descender in existence and once the descender has done their duty they disappear or something like that. They also believe in multiple descenders." Kanonno whispered back.
"I see … but why believe in something that's already dead?"
"I don't know. Oh and when the priest calls anyone brother or sister that's just a formality"
" … We should work together for the rebirth of Yggdrasil and the coming of a new age of prosperity." The Priest continued, "Brothers and Sisters remember the message of love that the child of Mary preached to us: Only despair spawns from hate but what sprouts from love is hope. Brothers and Sisters I encourage that we ignore the issues of race and accept each other as who they are."
"I wonder … can we really do that?" Kanonno said to herself leaning back.
"Let us stand." Ordered the priest, everyone, including Simon and Kanonno stood up as the piano in the corner started playing and the worshippers sang a hymn.
After mass, just as everyone was leaving, Simon went up to the priest in the front while Kanonno stayed in the back.
"Excuse me … sir." Began Simon, catching the priest's attention.
"Why what is it brother?" The priest asked.
"My friend and I were wondering where we are…" Said Simon telling the story of his and Kanonno's escape.
"I see, well you are in Madine, Speg, it's not too far from St. Gabriel, trains normally stop here to refuel before heading off to a destination. Though most refugees fleeing Sakriny usually get off here." Explained the priest, tapping his chin. "You know … this town has several guild supporters including myself. Shall I ask the guild to provide you and your friend escorts?"
"It's fine, I was planning to go back after I get him across Sakriny's boarder, I'll be fine if I don't get caught." Said Kanonno overhearing the two.
"Will you be fine without an escort?" The priest asked Simon.
"Um … how dangerous is it between here and St. Gabriel?" Simon asked in response.
"Well, the road does have monsters along it, and there is the chance of getting hit by an automobile, those who know how to defend himself should be able get there without trouble." Explained the priest.
Kanonno face-palmed, 'He's doomed.' She thought.
"I need an escort." Stated Simon, Kanonno sighed with relief.
"Very well, I'll contact the guild, please, get some rest at the local inn and come back in the morning." Insisted the priest, Kanonno eyed him suspiciously.
"Thank you." Said Simon bowing down his head.
As he and Kanonno left the church Kanonno whispered to him, "He's a nice man … he's a little too nice."
"Huh?" Simon wondered.
"Oh nothing I just find kindness suspicious. The nice ones are at times the ones to stab you in the back first."
"If that's the case then why don't you find me suspicious?" Said Simon opening the church doors for Kanonno.
"Because you're a random dude with amnesia." Kanonno answered bluntly. "Though how you ended up on the roof of a weapons factory naked and unconscious is odd."
"Yeah … how did I end up there?"
"Hey Simon, wanna make a bet on the priest?" grinned Kanonno, changing the subject.
"Why? You think that he's up to no good? But what are you gonna bet?"
"This bag of gald, if you win you could have it, if I win, I keep it. What do you say?" She offered "Will he bring someone other than a guild member?"
"Sure, but I think that he's not sleazy and will keep his word, what worth will he gain for lying to us? The wrath of some previous descender?" Dealt Simon, jokingly.
"He's a religious leader." Laughed Kanonno, Simon looked at her confused when they checked into the inn.