章節 4: The Follower
He promised us. He said he will surely take us all from this city of misery and sufferings. He told me there was a land beyond this border where there is great prosper and growth. The land where water is fresh sweet nectar and trees grow all the needs whether food or clothes. The others remain skeptical. They think he was the devil disguising in beautiful form to bring us into its lair.
But I didn't. Whether he was angel or demon, I am sick of living in this hellhole. For once, I wanted to take risk for the greater good. I shook his hand and become his first mate. I never had a name. I was borned slave and alone. I see him as my savior. When I was lying on the ground, starving and weak, he came to me with spare food and drink. He himself is bruised and in pain. I am no special man with talents. Yet he seeked friendship with me.
He named me "Christoph". I despised it. But he was my benefactor. So I must not complain. He said he had a dream. A dream with direction to the land that should only exist in dreams. Yet I trusted him. He looked special. He was special. With all his offering toward others of his share of sustenance, he should be at the very least be malnourished. But he stayed fit like a man in his prime.
When we left the city, there were only a few dozen people following behind. Many did not believe him and was left dwelling in the same old labyrinth of torment. We crossed desert after desert. Everywhere we see are sand and mirage. The desert wind is howling like a dying vulture desperate for feast. We were walking on the big wide belly of death. The morale has started to decrease after day one. A few dozen people has become a few people. I could even count how many are left at a quick glance.
At the middle of this journey, even I have doubted myself if I were in the wrong. But if I were to turn back, it would no be different than to die in an unending road. He kept saying we were almost there. But where. All I see is yellowish brown color of dunes. Not a speck of greeness were popped up in my vision. I could die and be in peace. Would this be the land he speaks of.
The night has fallen and I couldn't even make a tent. I layed my carpet on the ground and I fell asleep. Hearing the sound of crowd, I woke up. My mind feels hazy. I realized I have been sleeping on the grass I had longed to see. I saw people smiling and laughing. I saw tables placed all around everywhere. Delicious foods and drinks steaming with delightful smells are alerting me even more. I am here. I am finally here...
No...this cannot be true. We were in the middle of desert a while ago. This must be an illusion. Or is it really reality. I had thought
arriving here after I died. My thoughts were interrupted by growling of my stomach. Can you get hungry in afterlife? I don't have timeto care. I rushed into nearest table and gobbled everyrhing I see. In my moth, I put foods and drinks and foods and drinks and...
I spitted it all out. They all turned into sands and muds. They are not foods. The people around me are not smiling and laughing. They were screaming in agony. And I am not in the land he was taking me to. I am home... I am back at the place I hate to call a home. Suddenly, I was burned alive along with other people. I am in hell. Someone save me... Someone...
Pat! Pat! Pat!
I felt something tapping on my check. I opened my eye to see the same man I was following. It was a nightmare. I was relieved. But, would it still be better if I was still in the desert? I get up to see no body was present except him and me. Everyone has lefted. Should I too? That is silly. I literally has a nightmare about my old city. I have no other choice but to endure. He then continued his way. And I continued to follow.
After half a day walking, the ground beneath me shifted from plain sands to hard ground. It wasn't an improvement, but at the least I am seeing some changes. I see some cactuses in a few feet away too. I noticed they were fully and brightly green while also being rhick and plump. Does this mean there are water nearby? I saw him pulling out his knife and stabbed the cactus then pouring its liquid into the bottle. He then handed me the cactus juice. Thirsting for days, I drank whole bottle in one go. The cactus water was surprisingly delicious. It almost has no flavor of bitter taste. It was like drinking from the regular clean water.
As my energy refilled, my trust for my "savior" has once again restored. Maybe things can become better. I will accompany him. Even if I possibly won't make it to the land, he keeps me healthier than anyone. Sticking with him was a best choice. I will pay him back. As he promised me to take the land of his dream, I will also promised myself to be his loyal man. I kneeled before him and requested him to make a way.
The sky begins to be dark again. But not by nightfall, by rain clouds. The sounds of thunders were like music to my ear.
"I am almost there."
I keep chanting that same sentence on repeat. Then, strong winds blew toward us. A storm is forming near. But I feel safe around him. He walks with confident and I walk with a smile on my face. I laughed at the face of a violent storm. The storm takes that as a challenge. It hits us more and more with its maniacal wrath. The amount of raindrops are heavy enough to crush boulders. But I, right now is too determined to be stronger rhan boulders. It cannot faze me. Nothing can stop us at this moment.
Soon, the storm finally gave up and applogized us with beautiful sunlight and rainbow. At the end of the rainbow... grass. Real grass... no fuzzy dream nonsense. It's grass in it's humble form. The more grass.. more plants and... trees. This is it... This is the dream land except it is no longer a dream. There are no any fantastical things he has described but I didn't care. We're here and it was all that's matter. There were fields and house and... whole civilization absolutely different from my home. I ran past him yell loud enough for everyone to hear. Then I looked back...
Where is he? I cannot find him. He's gone... disappeared. I knew he was not normal. And I started to feel light headed and I fell to the grown. Before I closed my eye, I saw people running toward me to help. It was worth it...
The End
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票