Vol 9 Chapter 2.1 (1/2)
CHAPTER 2
Cowards die many times before their deaths,
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
-Shakespeare, Julius Caesar Act II Scene II [1]
The street was filled with people.
Hundreds, thousands of people were running in the same direction. They flowed like a giant river. But a large river would have meandered gently; it would not be full of murderous intent. It would surge as these people did now.
Karan stood with her back to the wall, watching the people go by. The rows of small houses lining the street had all tightly shut their doors and turned off their lights.
Were their residents huddled quietly inside, or were they somewhere in this flow of people?
On her back she felt the cool emptiness of the abandoned houses.
”To the Moondrop!”
”We have a right to live, too!”
”Show us the mayor! Why are you pointing guns at your own people?”
”We won't stand for this!”
That was all Karan could pick up. The rest became angry yells, shouts, calling cries and responses that mingled, twisted and tangled with each other in the air.
The sheer energy of the sound was so great, Karan was seized by a floating sensation. Karan dug her heels in, and pushed her back up harder against the wall. If she didn't, she felt like she would be pulled into this flow, this cyclone. Her body and her soul would be carried away.
”Aghhh!!”
Suddenly she heard a scream that was a pitch higher than everything else. It was very sudden. It pierced the roaring din and impaled her eardrums.
A heavyset man standing diagonally in front of Karan fell on his side, clutching his neck. For an instant, the people ceased their clamour.
”H-Help... help me, someone... help...”
The man stood up, stumbled for a few steps, and collapsed again. His hair turned white in seconds, and his body began to wither. The man stopped moving.
”There it is. It's happened again. Another casualty!”
”We're going to be next!
”Do something! We have to do something quickly!”
The buzz of the crowd shook the air, and people began to flow again. No one tried to pick up the fallen man and carry him out of the crowd's path. People stepped on him, over him, around him, and pressed forward.
Spring was still far-off, the night was still chilly, but beads of sweat adorned everyone's face.
Karan also felt the sweat streaming down her cheek. She was unbearably thirsty. She felt like she was fainting; her hands and feet were growing numb, and she almost lost consciousness. She bit down on her lip.
I have to go back. Lili and everyone are waiting.
With her back still to the wall, Karan edged her way back to her shop. She moved against the flow of people.
The storefront was pitch-dark. She entered an alleyway and made for the back. A light was on―in the storage room, which had doubled as s.h.i.+on's bedroom. Karan cleaned it every day so it would be ready anytime s.h.i.+on came home.
That room was lit.
Phew. She let out a long breath that surprised even herself. Although it was impossible for anyone to have heard it, the door to the storage room opened just slightly. A small white face peeked out, and looked around cautiously.
”Lili.”
”Ma'am!”
Lili ran up to her. ”I'm so glad you're back, ma'am. You know, I had this feeling, I really did. Like you were outside. I could actually tell.”
Karan embraced Lili's body tightly. She was almost brought to tears by the softness and warmth of her small, young body.
”Was Madam Koka alright?”
”Yes...”
”Was she crying?”
”Yes.”
Karan had taken Koka back, the mother whose son had been shot to death. Koka had sunk to the ground by her son's body with vacant eyes, as if she had forgotten how to cry.
Every word of consolation was meaningless.
If s.h.i.+on had gone through the same thing― Just the thought of it racked her chest. She could vividly feel Koka's despair. That was why Karan could not find the right words to say to her.
”Ma'am Koka laughs, like, in this huuuuuge voice. And she laughs all the time,” Lili chattered.
”I know.”
”Do you think she'll laugh for us again? Is she gonna be able to, ever?”
Lili's face clouded over. Karan could not answer. How could anyone stand up again from the despair of losing her most beloved?
She softly placed her hand over her breast pocket. It contained three letters. They were from s.h.i.+on and from a boy called Nezumi. They were scribbles, almost too short to be called letters.
Words could not describe how much these letters had supported her―supported her, and kept her alive.
What will Koka turn to for support to live on? She didn't know. She could not answer Lili's question.
”Ma'am?” Lili looked up at her. Karan nodded and flashed her a vague smile.
I'm sorry, Lili. I've been alive for so much longer than you, and I can't answer any of your questions.
She heard a m.u.f.fled sound in the room.
”Lili, where's Renka? Where's your mother?”
”Mommy's looking at the computer. Uncle Yoming is in there.”
”Yoming?”
She held Lili's hand and walked inside. She closed the door and locked it. The room doubled as storage, and there were sacks of flour, sugar, and raisins piled high along with jars of honey and jam in rows.
In a far corner was s.h.i.+on's bed, and beside that was an old desk. s.h.i.+on's desk. In the drawer was a half-written report that s.h.i.+on was planning to hand in.
Renka was crouched over the desk, engrossed in the monitor of the outdated computer.
”Renka,” Karan called. Renka twitched slightly and turned around. Her bloodless face was illuminated by the dim light.
”Karan...”
”Renka, what's wrong? Has something happened?”
”Karan, it's my brother.” Renka straightened up awkwardly. ”Look.” She pointed at the computer screen.
Yoming was there. His fist was raised, and his expression was fierce. He was definitely Yoming, and yet he seemed a total stranger.
”Now is our time to stand!” he declared. ”If we do not stand up now to destroy everything, we will be slaves forever! Yes, slaves! You all must realize by now how No. 6 has deceived us all this time! How much unfair abuse we have suffered; how much exploitation we have endured! It has always been this way. It has always been this way, comrades. This city's horrific history is steeped in bloodshed. Let me tell you, comrades, about the hundreds of lives that have been banished to eternal darkness because they disputed the authorities; because they objected; because they resisted. Let me bring everything to light. Look, comrades!”
Yoming swept his hand towards the wall behind him.
Countless faces appeared on it. Youth, the elderly, young boys and young girls, even infants. A girl in her wedding dress; a muscular labourer; a thoughtful elderly gentleman; a smiling elderly lady; a sleeping infant; a girl running this way, laughing; a middle-aged woman with her eyes cast down; a young doctor wearing a stethoscope―many, many faces appeared before them.
Karan's heart thudded loudly.
Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum.