Chapter 4
Mercurial
After three days of constant rain, the sky finally shows itself. It reflects the ocean's color, and the golden sun beams down on the land with a scorching wrath, sucking the moisture out of the sand. A light breeze falls over the island, cooling the animal's plants and animating the fronds of the coconut palms and the leaves of the canopy trees. The gleam better reflects the beauty of the rainforest. The sun highlights the bright green of towering, mighty trees and the various palms, except for a few pinks and oranges of the flowers. The white sand is ablaze under the feet of families strewn over the beach. People play in the water and on the seaside, splashing water and kicking up sand. Sakuroma, sitting down and on her phone, stands up to look out the window, only to see people having fun in the ruthless sun.
Saku: "Tabi?" She says, still staring out of the window.
Tabi is sitting in one of the chairs in the living room.
Tabi: "Yeah!" He shouts.
Saku: "When are we going to the beach?"
Tabi: "Later."
Saku: "Why can't we go now?"
Tabi: "Because it's too hot."
Saku: "You sure?"
Tabi looks up at Saku.
Tabi: "Saku, you can go if you want to."
Saku turns away from the window to face him.
Saku: "Uhhh, I'd rather go with you guys."
Tabi: "Whatever you say Saku." He says, gesturing with his head.
She stares out the window for a few more minutes before walking to the door.
Saku: "I'm gonna go walk around for a bit." She says, looking at Tabi. "You wanna come with me?" She says, opening the door.
Tabi: "No, I'm okay."
Saku: "Alright, I'll see you later!" She says, walking out the door.
Tabi: "See you later!" He says, waving her goodbye.
Once Saku leaves the house, she walks along the shoreline, feeling the soft breeze blowing through her fur. She smiles, seeing the people enjoying their time on the beach. While observing the enchanting scene before her, she catches a rare scent. Unusual for the season. An aroma usually smelt during the time of snow and dead wilderness. Wood smoke was the scent, and a trail was coming out of the forest. Concerned and curious, she walks towards the alluring jungle opening. She finds the path from two days ago and begins a trek down the overrun road. The smell and the air grow thicker as she nears the source of the dark gas. Saku covers her nose with her shirt and pushes onwards. She finally reaches the source of the overwhelming vapor and the figure tending to it. A ring of rocks circles around large logs, burning a bright orange and yellow. A shadowy shape watches over the spectacle, throwing a log on it. Saku recognizes him as the person she met in the store days ago and walks over to him. Koan feels that someone is nearing him. He turns to see a sizeable silhouette walking towards him. The pins and needles return, and his robes feel damp again. He points his head slightly downwards as she approaches.
Saku: "Hey!" She says, stopping a few feet away from him. "Koan, right?"
He hesitates for a few moments.
Koan: "Yes." He says in a low voice.
Saku: "Remember me?"
Koan: "Yes, Sakuroma?" He says, looking at the ground. "What do you want?" He says flatly.
Saku: "I saw the smoke trail from the beach and followed the path down here." She says, smiling.
He looks up a little in shock.
Koan: "How did you find the path?!"
Saku: "It's right on the tree line." She says, taken aback. "I just happened to see it."
He pauses.
Koan: "OK, well, why are you here?"
Saku: "I guess I just wanna see what you're doing." She says, getting into a peppy mood.
Koan: "I'm burning wood." He says in his strange accent.
Saku: "Why?" She says, lifting her eyebrow.
Koan: "To make ash."
Saku: "For what?" She says eagerly.
Koan: "Can you stop asking questions." He says bluntly.
Saku: "I'm just trying to make conversation." She says, shocked.
Koan: "I don't want to talk."
Saku: " Then can I at least watch you?"
Koan: "Watch me what, burn wood?"
Saku: "Yeah."
Koan: "Fine, as long as you don't bother me." He says with a sigh.
Saku: "I'll try not to." She says, laughing.
The final log burns out, so Koan grabs a small dish-shaped earthen pot and scoops the white ash from the pile into a bigger clay pot. Saku watches curiously, wondering as to what he might need it for. He takes a large pot, sets it beside the fire pit, and places two long sticks on the top and bottom sides of the lid. He then grabs a slightly smaller clay bucket with holes and sets it on the sturdy sticks. Koan pours pebbles out a little pot into the resting bucket and then travels to a cabin.
Saku: "Where're you going?"
Koan does not answer her and continues to the bottom of the cottage. He grabs the bundles of grass and then walks back to the pots.
Saku: "That's your house?" She says in amazement.
Koan: "Obviously." He says in a snarky tone.
Saku: "Did you build it yourself?"
Koan: "Didn't I say not to bother me?" He says with growing anger.
Saku: "Alright, I'll stop." She says innocently. "Damn." She says under her breath.
He piles the dried bundles of grass into the bucket and then pours the white ash at the top. Saku pays close attention while he pats the materials down, compressing them into the bucket. The embers begin to die, so Koan puts another log on them and blows to ignite the flame again. Once the fire is hot enough, he goes over to the earthen pots filled with water and grabs one of them. He carefully walks over to a wide pot and pours abundant water into it. Then he places the wide pot into the fire quickly, despite his wide sleeves, and finally sits down to wait for it to boil.
The morning is warm and dark on the island. The trees are at a standstill, and animals scream out. Cy stands on a metal platform with Athy, waiting for a shuttle to take him to Naboo. A tall lamp towers above them as they see the large aircraft approaching from the sky, so Athy turns to Cy.
Athy: "Are you sure you can see him?" She said with a concerned look.
Cy: "Yes." He said, turning to her.
Athy: "How did you say you were going to get in?"
Cy: "I'm going to ask a guard if I can talk to Xerx."
Athy: "That's a terrible idea." She said with a stupefied look.
Cy: "You have a better one?" He said with a smirk.
Athy groaned at his snide question.
Athy: "Be safe, okay." She said, hugging him.
Cy: "I will." He says affectionately
The ship lands in front of them, disturbing the surrounding area and blowing warm air in every direction. Cy walks up to the side door where a slot to the left is. It reads, "One Credit," so he inserts a small metal bar in the slot. He then steps on but pauses when he hears Athy.
Athy: "What time will you be back?"
Cy: "In a few hours." He said, turning around
Athy: "OK, I love you!" She said, waving at him.
Cy: "I love you too!" He said, getting on the shuttle.
He observes the familiar brightly lit inside. 6 sets of 3 seats line the walls on both sides with spaces in between. He travels to the center and chooses his seat to the left. The doors stay open for a few more minutes before closing. He looks to the right down the aisle to see the sign above the cockpit door saying, "Destination: Theed, Naboo." He shifts slightly as the craft takes off towards the atmosphere. He is alone, the whirring of the ship being the only sound to fill the air. The whirring suddenly intensifies, and he is forced to the side as the shuttle jumps lightspeed. After a few hours, he moves slightly toward his original position from when the ship took off. A deep rumbling is to the left of the spacecraft. Cy recognizes this as another spacecraft passing by as they head to the teal and blue planet's surface. He can feel his body being pushed upwards from the ship descending to the landing pad. They finally arrive at their destination. Once perched, the doors open, so he stands up and steps outside to be instantly blinded by a bright light. His eyes adjust after a few seconds to see the metal roof a few feet in front of him that blocks out most of the light. He looks up to see tall cliffsides covered in heavy greenery with trees at the top. He also sees two waterfalls, one running off the cliffside to the far left of the spaceport roof and the other falling inside the spaceport. The backside of a grand palace resting on the edge of a mountain is also visible, situated in the distance next to the far left waterfall. He looks forward and sees the bag and body search stations inside two semicircular openings of the metal building. He walks to a line of people, waiting at one of the many stations, and then takes his place as more people fill the space behind him. He is given a pass straight to the body searching station since he does not have a bag. There Naboo Royal Security guards scan and physically search him. He is cleared and then sent off into the rest of the spaceport. Various species walk with bags toward search stations, turbo lifts, ships, and check-in counters. He quickly walks forward to an Uberlift on the right and stands on a step as it takes him to a shining opening above him. The waterfall cascades into a large fountain at the base of the Uberlifts. Water from the waterfall lightly strews droplets on the left side of Cy on the way up. He is briefly blinded once he reaches the top. His eyes adjust to the scene around him, and he sees vibrant trees and grayish-tan buildings with tall pillars and round tops.
Saku and Koan both sit, still waiting for the water to boil. Saku receives a text from Tabi.
Hey, we're going to the beach now.
She looks diagonally to her left to tell Koan.
Saku: "Hey, Koan."
Koan: "Yes?" He says, agitated.
Saku: "My friend just texted me and said he's going to the beach, so I'm gonna go, ok?" She says uncomfortably.
Koan: "OK." He says, slightly turning to her with a conflicted look.
Saku: "See you later!" She says, walking away.
As she walks down the path, she thinks about the rocky experience.
Saku: "Why was he being such an asshole to me?" She thinks to herself.
She reaches the cabin after a few minutes and then knocks on the door. A floating goat skull with skeletal hands and swim shorts greets her.
Tabi: "Hey, Saku."
Saku: "Hey." She says smiling.
Tabi: "Everyone's almost ready, so you better hurry and change."
Saku: "I will!" She says, rushing to her room.
After a short time, she exits her room wearing a red skirtini. The others wait for her in the living room. She sees Nikusa sitting in a chair with a black tanga, Sarv in an aubergine, skirted flounce swimsuit, tabi in navy blue swim shorts, and Ruv with his grey and black parka. Tabi looks up to see her.
Tabi: "OK, let's go." He calls out while standing up.
Everyone else stands up and walks to the door.
Sarv: "Your bikini's so cute, Saku!" She says in a cheery tone.
Saku: "Thanks, your flounce is really pretty!" She says with a toothy grin.
They all make it to the less-crowded beach and begin their activities. Nikusa lays on the chair that once held a robed man. Sarv and Ruv, close by her side, walk the shoreline admiring the bright blue glittering ocean.
Sarv: "I don't know how you do it!" She says with a smile.
Ruv: "Do what?" He says, confused.
Sarv: "Wear that big jacket on a beach!"
Ruv: "Oh, this?" He says, looking at his coat. "You get used to it after a while."
Sarv: "I'd never get used to that!" She says with a laugh.
Saku calls out to Tabi.
Saku: "Hey Tabi, come swim with me!" She says, yelling.
Tabi: "OK, I'll be there in a second." He yells back.
Saku: "Nikusa, you wanna come?" She yells across the beach.
Nikusa: "No, I'll stay here and tan!" She shouts.
Saku: "Ok!" She shouts back.
Tabi joins her soon after. They go to the coast and splash around in the water. The warm saltwater washes over Sakus's legs, wetting them. The water passes over Tabi's invisible legs as if an unknowable force were parting the ocean.
Saku: "Hey Tabs." She says in a mildly concerned tone.
Tabi: "Yeah?" He says, looking up.
Saku: "You remember that guy in the black robe?"
Tabi: "How could I not?" He says with a nervous laugh.
Saku: "I talked to him." She says, concerned.
Tabi: "What?!" He says with a sharp turn of his head.
Saku: "Yeah, I was with him earlier."
Tabi: "Why?!" He says seriously.
Saku: "I was bored and I saw him making something, so I wanted to watch."
Tabi: "Saku, you shouldn't be around him. What if he's dangerous?" He says, worried.
Saku: "Don't worry Tabs, I'll be ok." She says, smiling.
Tabi: "I don't trust him; he gives me a bad feeling." He says uncomfortably. "But if you're going to hang out with him, at least be safe." He says, uneasy.
Saku: "I will Tabs." She says reassuringly. "Besides, I don't think I'm gonna talk to him anymore. He was really rude to me." She says with a slight smile.
Tabi: "What did he do?" He says with growing anger.
Saku: "He just kept shutting me down whenever I tried to talk to him." She says, slightly annoyed.
Tabi: "What a dick!" He says, aggrieved.
Saku: "Yeah, he kinda was, but he was probably just mad I disturbed him."
Tabi: "He's probably just a prick." He says, turning the tables.
Saku: "Whatever it is, I'm sure he has a good reason for being a jerk. She says with a titter.
Tabi: "Whatever you say." He says, perplexed. "So, did he tell you his name?"
Saku: "He said his name was Koan."
Tabi: "Huh, oh, and didn't you say he was making something?"
Saku: "Yeah, but I don't know what it was."
Nikusa butts in before Tabi could respond.
Nikusa: "Mind if I join?" She says Charmingly.
Tabi: "No, come swim with us!" He says excitedly.
The radiant sun illuminates the land, while the gentle breeze and cool water refresh the beach. Nikusa, Tabi, and Sakuroma swim and frolic in the water. Sarv soon joins them, with Ruv watching from the beach a few feet away. They continue their joyful activities until the sun sets over the island.