Ch.147Interlude (final)

Aurora didn’t get up until much later. “Go wash up first.”

She slipped on the white blouse she had carelessly discarded earlier, without even buttoning it. She wore nothing else except the blouse and her perfume. I wanted to ask where I should wash up, but somehow felt too embarrassed to look at her directly.

Aurora glanced back at me once, then pulled on a candlestick mounted on the wall. With a clunk, the wall rotated, revealing a narrow corridor with an iron door at the end. The door looked sturdy but was fortunately open.

Inside, one wall was lined with various clothing items, while the other held guns and ammunition. The room contained a bed, sofa, some snacks, and a bathroom with a shower.

I felt warmth behind me. It was Aurora.

“Panic room. Nice, right? Cost me a fortune.”

“Looks like it.”

“When such a precious guest visits, I’d lose face if someone were to barge in.”

Aurora brushed past me. She opened a cabinet and took out two martini glasses.

She then retrieved Cuban rum, lime juice, and a container of white powder. Finally, she completed her preparations by adding ice from a gas refrigerator beneath the cabinet to a silver shaker. Aurora skillfully mixed everything in the shaker, shook it vigorously, and poured the mixture into the martini glasses.

But she didn’t offer me a glass yet. Instead, she scooped some white powder with a teaspoon and dabbed it on her fingertip.

“Here.”

She extended her finger to my lips. When I hesitated to move, she wiggled it slightly. I tasted it carefully, avoiding her nail. It was sweet.

“It’s sugar. Don’t worry.” Aurora’s finger withdrew and moved toward her own mouth. She smiled mischievously and offered me a glass.

“Daiquiri cocktail.” Aurora raised her glass to eye level. I also lifted mine and took a sip. Crayfield would be able to describe this taste precisely. All I could say was that I enjoyed the sugar lingering on my tongue.

“Didn’t I tell you to wash up?”

“Am I in your way?”

“Want to shower together?”

Aurora burst into laughter with a slightly reddened face.

“No. I need to work. I was in the middle of something. Ha. I told myself not to pretend to be busy.”

“Who told you that?”

“Emperor Marcus Aurelius. In his Meditations.”

“Emperors don’t have much to be busy with. They just need to approve things properly.”

“Do you really think so?”

Dangerous. Aurora is dangerous. She becomes even more dangerous when she empties her glass and starts pouting in front of me. Especially when she crosses her arms between her breasts and sticks out her bottom.

“You’re right. He probably wasn’t busy. Too occupied with his own worries and loneliness. So, tell me. What’s so serious?”

I needed another sip of daiquiri.

“The end is coming.”

Thankfully, Aurora didn’t laugh. She didn’t mock me for talking nonsense or dismiss me by telling me to drink more.

“How many do you need?”

“Huh?”

“My men, how many do you need?” Aurora didn’t seem to be joking. “Just say it. I can give you anything. Weapons. Explosives. Money. People. You’re going to stop it, right? Like when you stopped the sixteen stars.”

“We cannot win,” Crayfield’s words flashed through my mind. Somehow, I felt rebellious against his statement. Not because I was braver or smarter than Crayfield. It wasn’t like him to give up so easily.

Maybe I could help him.

“Crayfield asked for the theater floor plans.”

“Oh? Alright.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Hey. Are you really not bothered by this?”

“Take them off.”

This is bad. I’ve finished my daiquiri.

“What?”

“I said take them off.” Aurora removed even her blouse. “Let’s shower together.”

* * * * *

The shower water was a bit hot. The pressure was somewhat strong. Steam rose up. I was slightly concerned about where this water came from, but then thought, what does it matter?

Aurora told me about her old mansion. Stories about her brother. About the butler. How the basement of her former home had burned down, and about the recurring dreams she’d been having lately.

“You’re lying there, hurt by my brother. Crayfield was crouched beside you. It’s always the same dream. But my appearance… changes each time. Sometimes I’m my current age. Sometimes I’m as young as I was then. Other times, I’m a medical officer… And then there’s the covenant that the butler and my brother talked about.”

“Covenant?”

“They said one person from the family must be offered. That would pay the price.”

“That’s a bad dream.”

“I don’t know.” Aurora nestled deeper into my arms.

“It’s all blurry now. Whether it was a memory or just a bad dream. Because after that day, I started to… lose my mind bit by bit. After meeting you, it felt like I found my life again.”

Life.

Lifetime.

Aurora looked me straight in the eyes.

“So. Let’s get married.”

“Under the shower?”

“Is that funny?” Despite her words, Aurora herself giggled.

“It’s nice. The shower head is the officiant. The flowing water is our witness. And there’s plenty of applause.”

“It’s a bit sudden.”

“You’re the stupid one.” Aurora pinched my side.

“I’ve been asking you to become part of my family for a while now. But you never seemed to understand. I wondered if you were just thoughtless, but no. You were more obtuse than I thought. Do you dislike me?”

“No.”

“So you don’t like me either.”

“We need to survive the apocalypse first.”

“You really.”

Aurora gently bit my chest, just with her lips.

“That’s why we should get married before then. I don’t want to enjoy newlywed life in a ruined world. Do you?”

Not wanting that, I wrapped my arms around her waist. I caressed the curve of her back down to the hollow beneath her buttocks. An “Ah” of pleasure tickled my ear again.

“Really. I need to work…”

Not wanting to hear that, I kissed her.

* * * * *

PM 4:20

Aurora provided the blueprints. I told her to be careful with water. To boil it before drinking, and to get water from other regions if possible. For her subordinates too. For the businesses she managed.

Though reluctant, I also visited the Irishman’s street. Before the red-headed O’Malley gang could approach too closely, I left a message to boil their water well. They treated me like a madman, but they seemed to understand when I said the water coming from Arkham was contaminated.

Finally, I headed to the Southern Cathedral. The main building was still under reconstruction, but Father Michael and the nun’s quarters were safe. Father Michael was still caring for the slum dwellers, so I could pass on the warning about the water.

“I apologize.”

But the priest’s first words were an apology.

“What are you sorry for, Father?”

“Sister Abasina is… a bit busy right now.”

“Abasina?” I looked at the entrance to the convent. It didn’t seem much different than usual.

“Did she return to the Vatican?”

“No, no. Nothing like that…” Father Michael roughly scratched the back of his head. I couldn’t understand why such a rugged man was so perplexed.

“Anyway. I understand your message. Water. And securing doors. Right?”

“I didn’t mention securing doors, but that should be included too.”

I returned to 22 Gorgad. Mrs. Margaret Graham was sweeping in front of the building entrance.

“Can I help you?”

“I wish Crayfield was half as kind as you.” Though she said this, she didn’t hand over the broom.

“By the way, Crayfield was talking nonsense. He’s not on drugs, is he?”

“Alcohol… no. He does take quite a few sedatives, but he doesn’t touch things like opium.”

“But he does smoke.”

“He doesn’t do drugs.”

“You don’t need to imitate Crayfield’s slickness too, do you? He was earnestly insisting that everyone boil their water well. He even asked me to tell the pharmacists and customers. What’s it all about?”

“Ah. The drinking water comes from Arkham, right? Apparently, that water is quite suspicious. It seems the verification is incomplete. Something about unfinished E. coli testing?”

“Those idiots.” Mrs. Graham clicked her tongue. “The cholera outbreak just ended, and they manage water quality like that? Those bureaucrats… Did Crayfield get an upset stomach? Wait a moment.”

She handed me the broom and went into the pharmacy. Soon she returned with a small bottle containing a mixture of dried herbs.

“Tell him to brew this in hot water and drink it. No sugar. Bad habit. And tell him to cut down on alcohol and cigarettes.”

“I’ll make sure to tell him.”

Mrs. Graham quickly snatched the broom back from my hand.

* * * * *

July 17, 1929. AM 3:03

22 Gorgad

Assistant’s Room

Pollard Island

In the middle of the night, I vaguely heard the sound of a motorcycle. Strange. No one at 22 Gorgad rode such a loud motorcycle. Looking at the clock, it was three in the morning.

Knock knock.

No one would knock on my door at three in the morning. Could it be Crayfield? Was he in danger? That didn’t seem likely, but I grabbed my revolver and pressed against the wall beside the door. If the person on the other side had a shotgun, they might blast through the door the moment I spoke. This flimsy wooden door wouldn’t stop all the bullets.

“Who is it?”

“Beast.”

I opened the door immediately. It was Abasina. She was crying. I quickly stepped away from the door.

“Were you… asleep?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Sorry for the late hour. I made a lot of noise.”

“Why didn’t you just climb through the window like usual?”

It was half a joke, but I wanted to bite my tongue. Abasina shook her head.

“That’s not why I came today.”

“I’m sorry. Please sit down.”

I closed the door and offered Abasina a chair. I felt a bit sorry toward Crayfield, but I boiled water and served her Mrs. Graham’s herbs. Abasina silently sipped the hot herbal tea.

“I went by this afternoon, but the priest said you were busy and apologized.”

“Can I ask you a favor?”

This was becoming more and more puzzling. She was clearly confused. Somehow, I felt I needed to remain composed to help her find stability. Perhaps, unknowingly, I had looked like this when I went to see Aurora.

“What is it?”

Abasina struggled to speak. I waited. At least, from my perspective, our relationship wasn’t one where silence would create awkwardness.

Instead, I put down my cup on the table and held her small hand. I could see Abasina’s pale face turning red.

“Will you watch the sunrise with me?”

I didn’t ask why such a simple request was so difficult for her. I didn’t laugh and ask if that was all her solemn build-up was for.

“Shall we go now?”

Abasina nodded.

* * * * *

AM 4:22

Eastern Coast of Pollard Island

An Indian motorcycle isn’t exactly quiet. But no one denies its swiftness. I often got that impression from Indians.

But Abasina rode the motorcycle quietly. From behind her, with my arms gently around her body, I tried not to disturb the wooden box in the cargo compartment. I didn’t know what was inside, but it kept making thudding sounds as if it contained something quite heavy.

Abasina drove the motorcycle toward the eastern coast. To a spot above the beach where a small hill and cliff were visible.

I spread out a large cloth I had brought as a makeshift blanket, and Abasina removed the wooden box from the motorcycle. A note with elegant handwriting that read “Gift” fluttered without falling off. It seemed to be nailed on.

After safely placing the box at the edge of the cliff, Abasina sat on the wide cloth. The wind blowing from the sea tried to peek under her nun’s habit but quickly turned away. Even the wind seemed to be holding its breath today. As I sat beside her, Abasina leaned her body toward me.

“The last time I saw a sunrise was when I was thirteen. So… the sun is red. The sky is red. Over green mountains covered with white snow. Beast. I… have hardly ever seen the sun rise over the sea.”

Her silver-gray eyes sparkled unusually.

Eyes that cannot see color. Only beasts and someone’s spilled blood, and for reasons unknown, only I appear to her with full “color.” In the world she sees, I am like a color film character in a black and white movie. I now know that’s why she calls me “beast.”

Of course, her world isn’t as well-calibrated as a black and white film. In a world full of only light and shadow with all color extracted, human skin appears close to lead-colored, and red apples resemble the dull silver of mercury. Yet even in such a dreary world, she was always bright.

But the sun she would see could never be red.

A pungent smell came from somewhere. It was different from the fishy smell and salty scent coming from the seaside. It was more… disgusting. I could quickly tell that the wooden box was the source. What on earth was inside that box?

“Did you have a bad dream?”

I didn’t have the courage to ask directly. Somehow, it felt like that would hurt her. Abasina lay down on the blanket.

“Will you hold me?”

It’s a summer night. The weather is warm. We won’t catch a cold from removing a few clothes.

Thinking the moon would avert its eyes a little, I embraced her. She didn’t want to stop. She cried silently and made sorrowful sounds but wouldn’t let me go. It felt like comforting a crying child. A lost child who was sobbing with all their might.

Thanks to body heat. Or perhaps because the summer night embraced us. Or maybe because the hill on Pollard Island concealed us. She seemed to calm down a bit.

“Beast.”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a past you want to return to?”

Today seems to be a day for difficult questions. I don’t have such a past. Old times… are empty. As Katherine Scully once said, people have archives filled with memories in their hearts. But my archive doesn’t have such things.

But now didn’t seem like the time to think about myself.

“No.”

“I, even in moments of prayer. Even while making love with you. Or when taking care of children in the slums… sometimes. I think about it. If that hadn’t happened. What kind of life would I have lived? If I had aged normally. Even if not like in fairy tales, but like others. If I had lived like that… what would such a life be like?”

The context didn’t match, and I couldn’t understand what she was saying, but I felt I knew what state Abasina was in. She herself wouldn’t know. She was randomly pulling out broken pieces and trying to fit them together bit by bit. So I remained silent.

“I’ve waited a long time for the moment to meet the person who twisted my life. If they can be called a person, that is. How should I repay them? What should I say? How… should I torment them… But… someone took my share. Why am I like this?”

Abasina sobbed again.

“Why does someone keep twisting the trajectory of my life? Why? What should I do? Beast. What should I do…?”

I didn’t know what to say. My dull mind couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t offer any story that might serve as an answer.

Instead, there was light.

The first light pierced my eyes like an arrow from beyond the horizon. As if this place were the Garden of Eden, the sunlight covered everything in a golden hue. We lay naked like the humans of the beginning who knew no shame.

A ship’s horn sounded with a deep “booo.” The sailors were about to start work again. Below the hill, workers on duty could be seen moving around, doing stretches to warm up.

In this world, only Abasina was placed in a world of the moon. Under moonlight, the world is only black and white.

A thought crossed my mind. I sat up straight.

“Abasina.”

“Yes?”

I brushed my shoulder.

“Drink.”

“…Now?”

It would have been quite amusing if a passerby had seen us. Naked humans sitting upright, staring at the rising sun. Fortunately, this place was far from any path. Even if someone passed by, I wouldn’t have noticed.

Though it felt like my eyes were burning, I stared directly at the rising sun. I felt Abasina’s cold lips touch my shoulder. I also felt her small teeth, the teeth of a blood lord who didn’t want to hurt me, strangely digging into my skin.

Still, I had to watch the sunrise.

What my eyes saw would remain in memory. Memory would flow through blood, and Abasina was the master of blood.

“I can see it…”

Something flowed down my shoulder. I couldn’t tell exactly, but it was probably tears. By now the sun had risen too high to look at directly, but I still tried to look straight at it, squinting my eyes.

The sound of seagulls. The warmth of light on my face. Waves rippling like molten gold. I hoped that what she had lost would be filled. Not a cover-up or an addition. I didn’t want to use grand words like healing.

This was just a small spark.

A spark passed to me by everyone I’ve met. A spark that everyone passes to each other to keep hope alive. Just as Abasina had given me a spark, I wanted to give her blood and memory.

Abasina slowly removed her lips. A pleasant drowsiness washed over me. If I could, I would have just lain down and slept.

“Drink more.”

“That’s enough.”

Abasina stood up. I thought, what if someone sees us, but then thought, it’s the end of the world, so who cares? So I lazily watched as Abasina picked up the wooden box and threw it with all her might toward the sea.

Abasina turned around. Bathed in sunlight, she truly looked like an angel. When she opened her arms, the angel fell into my embrace again. Once more, I offered my shoulder, and Abasina kept kissing and taking my blood. Yeah, who cares. This is fine as it is.

“I object to this marriage.”

That’s what I thought until I heard those ominous words.