Vol 9 Chapter 2.2 (1/2)
This is a continuation of PART A.
As long as they lived in No. 6, all their hopes were like towers of sand. They melted away all too easily. Then, what are we to do? What must we do so we can build our lives on firm ground instead of sand?
If No. 6 isn't an idyllic city, then what is 'ideal' supposed to be? How are we to create an entirely new world, so different from No. 6?
”Renka, Yoming isn't working alone, is he?”
”No... there must be other people who have gone through the same thing―who have lost their family.”
”And Yoming is with them, right? They must be acting together.”
”Yes, I'm sure of it.”
”Do you have any idea where they might be?”
After some moments of thought, Renka shook her head.
”No. It looks like they're in some bas.e.m.e.nt studio. He would need proper equipment to make that video clip.”
”You're right. But neither of us know where that is. We have no way of meeting Yoming.”
”Karan,” Renka held her hand out. Karan grasped it. ”What will I do? What should I do, Karan?”
Karan could feel a presence. It pressed upon her from the street.
To battle, to battle, to battle, to battle, to battle.
Destroy it, destroy it, destroy it, destroy it.
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.
”Let's think about it, Renka.” She cupped her hand gently around Renka's belly. Then, she touched Lili's cheek.
”We still have hope.”
”What?”
”Hope. The baby in your belly, and Lili―they are our hope. We have to do our best so that these children will have a real world to live in. Right, Renka? We have our children. Not all our hope has been taken from us.”
”s.h.i.+on, too.” Renka wiped her tears away and nodded. ”s.h.i.+on is our hope too, isn't he? And a big one, too.”
”Mm-hmm. Thank you, Renka.”
”He's coming home soon,” Lili blurted without warning. ”Onii-chan's coming home soon. I can tell.”
”Why, Lili.” Karan scooped Lili up and kissed her on the cheek.
”It's true,” she insisted. ”He's really coming home.”
s.h.i.+on is... coming home.
Please come back, s.h.i.+on. And Safu, you too.
Please come home safe.
I pray for you.
Her prayers led also to the boy named Nezumi, whom she had yet to meet.
I would love to meet you, Nezumi. I would love to see you, and thank you. I want you to know how grateful I am for your support. s.h.i.+on, Safu, Nezumi. You, too, are my hope. My very large hope.
Come home to me.
No. 6's city hall, known informally as the Moondrop, was surrounded.
The citizens crowded the square and overflowed into the streets. Each shouted his own words of protest. Their voices melted into one, and boomed so loudly it seemed to shake the canopies.
But no matter how loud the clamour got, it did not reach the mayor's office. The office was on the highest floor of the building, with soundproof walls and windows. Whatever happened outside never disturbed the constant silence inside.
”Why? Why has something like this happened?” The silence was broken as the mayor spun around and shook his fist.
”Fennec, will you calm down?” the man in the lab coat answered. ”You should be the last to be agitated.” He sank deeply into the leather chair and crossed his legs.
Pitiful, he thought as he mentally clicked his tongue. He has always been like that. Ambitious but timid, and a coward. The man switched his legs and recrossed them.
But he has been able to come this far precisely because he is so timid and cowardly. He opens his heart to no one. He trusts no one. He is suspicious of everything and acts cautiously. A fennec indeed, the world's smallest desert-dwelling fox.
The mayor paced the room. He flitted back and forth busily. The thick carpet absorbed almost all of the noise generated by his footsteps.
”It wasn't supposed to be this way. Citizens are supposed to gather at the Moondrop to celebrate the Holy Day and the greatness of No. 6, are they not? To think it would turn out like―like this, I―how could such a thing have happened?”
The man gave a deliberate sigh. The mayor stopped pacing, and deep creases appeared on his brow as he looked over.
”Please, Fennec,” the man said. ”Compose yourself. All that's been coming out of your mouth these days is 'why' and 'such a thing'. I'm starting to get rather bored of it.”
”Answer me. Why has this happened?” The mayor's voice grew strained. The man gave another sigh.
”Because you haven't given it your all.”
”I haven't?”
”Yes. You mobilized the army, but you only cleared them away with a handful of firearms. Surely you wouldn't call that decisive action. Nothing is more effective than the army when it comes to subduing the imbecilic ma.s.ses. That was not the right way to use them. You should have used them with more flourish, more decision, and an iron finality.”
”You're telling me to ma.s.s-murder my citizens?”
”They'll prostrate themselves to you before they get themselves killed. They'll bow down in awe and fear. They'll tremble as their very hearts are seized with regret for ever opposing you or No. 6. They will be like neutered dogs. No matter how badly they are treated, they will never be able to bite back. Fennec, it is not too late. Mobilize the army again, and clear away the mob that is milling in the square. It may even be wise to use the shockwave cannon, depending on the situation and the course of events. You've already completed on-site testing in the West Block, have you not?”
”That's almost like―” the mayor swallowed. ”That's almost like a reign of terror.”
”Reign of terror? Absurd. I have told you before: you are the ruler of No. 6. Its King. You reign over this country. You embody justice itself and all its forms. Opposing you is the same as defiling justice. It is only normal to use force to make them comply.”
”...Stop it,” the mayor said weakly.
”Fennec, what are you afraid of? This is not like you. You have always acted like the King that you are. You are conscious of your position as the chosen one, and you have always lived under that notion.”
”I have.” The mayor slumped his shoulders, and dropped his gaze to his feet. ”I am the mayor. In No. 6's highest position of responsibility, highest position of power. It's only natural. We were the ones that built No. 6. We launched the revival project, and brought salvation to the dying land and its people. We built a utopian city, the most idyllic―most idyllic city possible by humankind.”
”Precisely. You and I were both central members. In fact, only the two of us truly understood the ideals that No. 6 strove for. The other members were highly qualified, yes, but they lacked creativity. Or you might say they severely lacked ambition, or an ability to observe the changing times. But fortunately for us, we had those abilities, almost in excess. That is why we have come this far.”
”This far?” the mayor said sarcastically. ”You mean being surrounded and condemned by our citizens? Was our creativity and ambition and skill all for this?”
”This is only a temporary situation. It will conclude instantly if only you would take effective measures.”
”Effective measures? I've taken several.”
”And those are?”