The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death
Only a skeleton crew remained on board the white ship in San Ria, those who had drawn lots to stay on the ship, and those with no desire to see the city. Lady Thea, Pandora, Elisha, Sashiko and Arietta were the last to disembark, with Kane left in command.
“It’s such a huge city,” Pandora sighed, “How will we ever see it all?”
“We don’t need to,” Elisha explained, “In a city, most of the areas are residential. The shops and activity are usually in the center. So if we head there, we’ll probably see the most interesting things San Ria has to offer.”
“Why are we getting such strange glances from the people?” Arietta asked, as a young boy gave her a sneer, “Port towns usually take no notice of their visitors, since so many people come and go.”
“We’re well known in San Ria,” Lady Thea explained, “This has been our rest stop for several years, so most of the residents know who we are and what our mission is. Not all of them agree with our existence, though, so just keep your head down and ignore them.”
“I thought this was supposed to be a nice place,” Pandora sighed.
“It is,” Lady Thea said, “In Garania, we would have been arrested by now.”
They wandered past shops and drinking houses, taking in all the sights. People were milling about, though most of the shops seemed deserted.
“I wonder if something is going on,” Elisha said, “Everything seems rather quiet.”
As they entered the main square, they could see why; thousands of people were gathered around a huge stage where two men were debating in front of a live audience.
“This could be problematic,” Lady Thea said, “Apparently it’s time for the San Ria City-State Elections.”
“They’re electing a new President?” Arietta said, “That won’t be a problem for us, will it?”
“It could be if some factions believe we’ve come here to influence the election,” Elisha explained, “Our politics are well-known. We should probably go back to the ship.”
“No,” Lady Thea said, “Let’s at least see what’s going on.”
“I want to lead San Ria to a better future!” the one candidate was saying, “A future for families, where we get all the filth off the streets and give San Ria a better reputation; not as a city of sin and hedonism, but as a clean city to conduct business and raise families!”
A good portion of the crowd cheered, but Arietta felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. The candidate’s speech reminded her of the few months before the Moral Revolution, when Garania had been eating up the talk of forcing out sin and so-called moral decay. In reality, what that had meant was criminalizing the private acts of consenting adults, closing down drinking houses where gay people frequented and banning meetings of clubs that were not authorized by the government. She looked down at the ground.
“You’re wrong!” The other candidate replied, “San Ria isn’t overcome by sin and hedonism. There are many families here today that are happy to live in this city, while at the same time being able to enjoy their freedoms as adults to live in peace without being punished by the law for actions that are not understood by the majority! Do you really want us to become like Garania, where the Moral Revolution has led to violations such as “improper dress” being a criminal offense? Do you really want the city to dictate what people do in their own homes?”
“It’s about taking back this city from filth!” the other candidate snapped back, “I would close down whorehouses and re-criminalize unnatural acts that are corrupting our children! It’s true that at this very moment a sin ship has arrived at our docks, filled with white clothed “knights” that have come here to influence our election and try to convince you that unnatural acts are acceptable! Will you let my opponent welcome them as guests and let them marry in this jurisdiction like he promises? Or will you throw them out before they cause more harm to this city?”
“I would let them marry!” the other candidate declared, “They deserve basic human rights, just like everybody else!”
“We need to go. Now.” Thea whispered to the others, “Split up and return to the ship. If you find others along the way, bring them back as well.”
“Yes, Lady Thea,” they said, disappointed. What they had hoped would be a break for them all had quickly become a difficult political situation.
They split up, walking calmly to the edges of the square. Arietta kept Pandora in her sights, frightened for the slight girl. She could handle herself, she supposed, but Arietta worried for her anyway. Ducking down in an alleyway, she watched a mob go by with clubs in their hands. She hoped the ship would be safe until everybody could be recalled.
She had liked the one candidate, and wondered if he had any chance at all. She hoped that he did, because she feared the spread of the Moral Revolution. She did not want to keep running her whole life until they found Sanctuary, and she did not want conditions to worsen before they could create a nation for everybody to run to.
Ducking out from the alley, she looked for Pandora, but she was gone. Seeing the docks not far ahead, she hurried to the ship, hoping Pandora was already safely aboard.
~
Pandora lost sight of Arietta and found herself in a dingy, dirty backstreet which smelled of urine. She felt like everybody who passed her was watching her with distrusting eyes.
She didn’t see the mob coming until they charged her, a crude club hitting her in the back. She prepared a mild fire spell, even though she was afraid of using magic in the city. She didn’t want to be targeted for her ability as well as her sexuality. Just as she was about to unleash the spell, a cellar door opened up and a voice whispered, “Over here!”
She rushed over to the door, the mob following, and dived down into the dark hole just as her savior slammed the door closed and locked it. The stranger lit a torch and held it aloft, illuminating a pale face with light, short, pinkish hair and wide eyes a color that Pandora couldn’t ascertain. The mob beat on the door but eventually lost interest and moved on.
“Thank you,” Pandora said, following the girl through the tunnel, “I’m Pandora.”
“I’m Luna,” she said, “and I’ve long been an admirer of the White Ship. I’m glad I could help you.”
They climbed some steps into a well lit kitchen, where a middle-aged man sat slumped at a table.
“Did you rescue her?” he asked curiously.
Luna gestured behind her, and Pandora stepped out of the cellar, dusting off her white uniform, “Thank you so much,” she said, bowing formally, “You saved my life.”
“I’m just protecting one of my own,” Luna smiled, “We have to look out for each other, right?”
“Thanks,” Pandora said, “My friends are still out there. They’re trying to get back to the ship. There was a political rally, and the one man was stirring up feelings against us, so we thought we should get back to the ship.”
“Argustus Valen is an asshole,” the middle-aged man complained, “But people will vote for his extreme policies because they would rather be like Garania then dare to step into new territory. It’s amazing humans have ever achieved anything, for all our fear of change.”
“I wish people would vote for Jamien Talenqua instead,” Luna sighed, “Or anybody else, for that matter, “But Talenqua has given me so much hope. I keep thinking about what the world would be like if he got elected. I’ve been running a grassroots campaign, trying to win him more support. He does have quite a bit of support, mostly from people who despise Valen, but I’m not sure it’s enough to beat him.”
“I don’t think he’s going to beat Valen,” the middle-aged man said, “I want him to, Luna, I want him to win for you, so you can have a happy life, but I’m afraid we’re going the way of Garania.”
“But I can try, can’t I?” Luna asked desperately, “I won’t give up!”
Pandora sighed, “We arrived at exactly the wrong time. We just wanted to stock up on supplies and get some rest before heading out to look for Sanctuary, but we walked right into the middle of this minefield.”
“I’ll get you back to your ship,” Luna said, “Just wait a few hours until the rabble dies down. Things always get violent when Valen does one of his speeches. Don’t worry, just stay low here.”
~
Elisha met up with Thea on the docks, “Is anybody else here yet?” she asked, and just as she did, Sashiko rounded the corner. She had a cut on her forehead, but she was pointing ahead at the ship.
“Uh-oh,” Elisha said, “That looks bad.”
“Protestors,” Thea said, “It looks like guards are holding them back, though. We should make a break for the ship as soon as Arietta and Pandora get here, then send plain clothes messengers to find the other Knights in the city and bring them back. Once everybody is accounted for, we’ll cast off and make for Haven’s End.”
“There’s not a lot at Haven’s End,” Elisha sighed, “We’ll get the supplies we need, but it’s a dead port.”
“Shore leave will have to wait, Lieutenant,” Thea said, “There are more important things at stake.”
Arietta rounded the corner just then, and hurried over to them, “Did you see Pandora?” she asked, worried, “I thought she went ahead of me.”
“She’ll be here,” Thea said, “Don’t worry. Pandora can take care of herself.”
Half an hour passed, and they all began to look worried, “I’ll go look for her,” Arietta said, but Thea shook her head.
“We need to return to the ship,” Thea said, “I’ll send out a search party when we get back on board. In these white uniforms, we can’t do anything unnoticed.
“You can’t,” Arietta said, “But I’m not wearing white. I want to go and look for her.”
“Not alone,” Thea said, “I promise you I won’t abandon her, Arietta. But right now, we can’t afford to send people alone, unarmed into uncertain danger.”
Arietta sighed, but knew Thea was right, and she followed them along the dock, past the protestors and guards and onto the ship, all the while looking behind her for the hope that she would see Pandora arrive at the docks.
~
“Eat,” said Luna, “You must be hungry.”
“I’m sorry,” said Pandora, “I’m just worried about my friends. They all went off alone, unarmed...”
“They’ll be all right,” Luna said, “It’s said that the White Knights are strong and well-trained. Have faith in your friends.”
“I do,” Pandora said, “Luna... what will you do if Valen wins this election?”
“I don’t know,” Luna sighed, “I try not to think about it... Truth is, I’m afraid. This city has always been divided, but good sense has always managed to win out. However, Valen is good at using people’s emotions to get across his point. I’ve seen good friends become bitter enemies over this election. They keep telling me that I’m wrong, that I’m unnatural...”
“You are never unnatural!” Pandora said, “Never believe that. If we are here, if we were born, then we are all part of the natural order. People like to think that everybody should be the same, but that’s not true. I think it would be a boring world if we were all alike.”
“If only it were that easy... The Book of The Seven Gods specifically decries homosexual acts. I believe in the Seven Gods, Pandora... Some say that the Fire God, one of the Seven, still sleeps in the volcano above San Ria and that he could destroy us, any time. I go to my church and I look for peace but I only find emptiness and self-loathing. I try to stand up for myself, to believe in myself, but I’m not sure I do. I’m not sure that I’m natural.” Luna hung her head, “You seem so sure of yourself. How are you so sure. How can you be?”
Pandora held one finger up and let fire spark on the end of it. It burst into flame, a blue flame that did not burn but simply existed on the end of Pandora’s finger. She closed her hand, stretched it out again, and the flame was gone.
“A magic user!?” Luna said, “Thats impossible! That’s just a legend!”
“Yet, I exist,” Pandora said, “Everybody said that I was unnatural for having that power, and exiled me from my village. I wandered alone for years, searching for the answers. I wanted to be normal, wanted to throw away my power and go back to my people, even though they hated and feared me. I was so ashamed of myself. I fell even further into self-loathing when I met a girl on the road and fell in love with her while we were traveling together. She rejected me and I travelled alone again, until the day I found the white ship. They didn’t care that I could use magic. They didn’t care that I loved women. They just wanted help to find a place where all people could live together. Fact is, I still feel that self-doubt at times. I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. But then I go back to my friends and they welcome me with open arms, and I think if this is wrong, then what is right? Is it right to throw away your family members because they have an ability that you consider evil? Is it right to abandon your friends because they might possibly develop tender feelings for you? If that’s right, then I’m glad to be wrong, Luna.”
Luna sat still and thought for a moment, “But the Fire God... what if he comes back?”
“He could come back for all kinds of reasons,” Pandora said, “Why does it have to be you? This city has been a relatively accepting place before now, and yet in the last thousand years, the volcano has not erupted. In fact, many people have come up with a scientific explanation for the volcano. So indeed, it might not be the Fire God’s wrath at all. But either way, you are who you are. Is it wrong for you to seek happiness?”
“I suppose not,” said Luna, “I wanted everybody else to be happy, I wanted Talenqua to win for them. But I’ve been punishing myself ever since I knew who I was. Pandora, thank you. I wish I could go with you on the White Ship, but I want to see what happens here. I want to stay and cast my vote for Talenqua.”
“I understand,” Pandora said, “So how am I going to get back to the ship? It’s not far, I could probably make it under the cover of darkness...”
“Tomorrow morning Talenqua is going to go on a parade around the city to rally support. We’ll be covered by a supportive crowd while we make our way back to the ship.” Luna said.
“I really think I should go now,” Pandora said, “They’ll send a search party for me soon.”
“The streets aren’t safe at night,” Luna said, “Please, stay for tonight.”
“All right,” Pandora said, “Thank you for saving me, Luna.”
As Pandora slept, Luna crept out of her house, making for the giant cathedral that was the church of the Seven Gods. Tears flowed down her face as she stepped into its dimly lit interior. It was deserted, and she took a moment to look at the statues of all the Seven Gods, before ascending to the altar of the Fire God, San Ria’s foremost god.
“I’ll take her as a sign from you,” Luna whispered in prayer, “Only you would send somebody who could summon fire to me. I’ll go with her and protect your messenger and help her in her mission,” she promised.
As she left, she left a load behind her, her self-doubt unravelling. Pandora had told her not to hate herself, hadn’t she? That the Gods had made her as she was, so she was not unnatural? She desperately wanted to believe that she didn’t deserve to be hated.
When she returned home, her father stood in the doorway, “Have you made your peace with the Fire God?” he asked.
“Yes,” Luna replied.
“It’s not fair to delay that girl any longer, Luna,” her father said, “Her people will be worried about her. You can’t keep her here until the election, no matter how strong your feelings are about Talenqua. You have to make a choice.”
“I must go with the White Ship,” Luna said, “It’s what the Fire God told me to do.”
“How do you feel about that, Luna?” Her father asked, “Your faith has always been strong, but you need to consider your personal feelings as well. You are not just a servant of the Fire God or anybody else. Remember that.”
“I want to go, Father,” Luna said, “If there is truly a Sanctuary out there, then I need to find it. Before this whole world goes mad.”
“Then you have my blessing,” her father said, “I’ll vote for Talenqua, I promise.”
“Thanks, Father,” Luna said, and hugged him.
~
“We can’t wait any longer to send a search party!” Arietta cried, “She could die while we sit here doing nothing!”
“It does appear to be quiet in the city, Lady Thea,” Elisha said, “We could send a small group of skilled Knights to look for Pandora.”
“We must wait until morning,” Lady Thea said, “Intelligence tells me that there’s going to be a political march for Talenqua tomorrow morning. We can use the cover of people who are not hostile to us to search the city. Dismissed.”
“But!” Arietta protested.
“Those are my orders,” Thea said firmly, and Arietta marched out of the room.
“Why are you so wary?” Elisha asked, “You seem almost frightened of going back to the city. What are you hiding from us?”
“I know Valen,” Thea said, “As he knows us. He contributed to the Moral Revolution, he’s bribed politicians in several countries to pass his extreme reforms... and he once served on the White Ship.”
“What!?” Elisha said, “How?”
“He said he was an ally of ours. This was back when my wife and I ran this ship together, before the split. We were young, naive and hopeful. We wanted to believe that he was here to help us find Sanctuary. So we let him serve in the White Knights.” Thea sighed, “In a way, he caused the split between my wife and I. He betrayed us with false hints of where Sanctuary might be, and led us right into an armada from the Arian Empire, his home country, and a very extreme place. It’s where the Moral Revolution was born. He was inspired by the politics of his home country, and led us into a trap to “get rid of filth”. We were all captured, until all the prisoners led a revolt and escaped. We were able to rescue our ship and escape, but I lost trust in anybody who came forward claiming to be an ally of ours. That’s what led to the decline of my marriage...”
“There’s still so much I don’t know,” Elisha said, “Sometimes I forget that you’ve been on this ship for a long time, and that I’m still just a relative newcomer.”
“Valen would do anything to get back at me,” Thea said, “He can’t get us arrested, because the laws of the land forbid him from touching us. But he can incite the crowds to kill us, or damage the ship. That’s why we’ve had to leave port and go out into deeper waters. I’m not happy about leaving Pandora there overnight. But we’re all in danger here, not just her.”
“Why didn’t you tell everybody?” Elisha asked, “Especially Arietta.”
“I don’t want people to be distrustful of bringing new recruits to our cause,” Thea said, “That’s what caused the split, my hatred and distrust of everybody who wasn’t gay. I don’t want that to happen again. We need to trust some people if we’re ever going to have enough recruits to find and populate Sanctuary.”
“But why not Arietta?” Elisha said, “She doesn’t have a hateful bone in her body.”
“Selesti is out there,” Thea said, “Even though they’ve parted, Arietta must be worried about her in these troubled circumstances. I don’t want Arietta going after Selesti. We need her here.”
“I see...” Elisha said, “Perhaps you’re right, Lady Thea. I should have trusted your judgement.”
~
Pandora woke, stretching as sunlight streamed in the window. Luna was already awake, and she could hear the distant sounds of people mingling in the streets. She dressed quickly, and ate the bowl of soup that Luna provided for her.
“Is it nearly time?” Pandora asked, “I’m anxious to get back to the ship.”
“Almost,” Luna said, “Be patient.”
People started to gather in the streets outside, and Pandora felt nervous. She hoped that Luna’s plan worked and she was able to return to the ship. She was afraid of being alone again, trapped without the ship and her friends. She didn’t want to wander alone in the world, looking for Sanctuary by herself. She wanted her friends by her side, and their warmth, acceptance and love. She missed Arietta’s goodness, and Elisha’s determination. She wondered if Luna might like to come aboard the ship, and was about to ask when Luna declared, “It’s time.”
They left the house like ordinary citizens, Pandora wearing a long cloak to hide her uniform, and mingled into the crowd. Adoring crowds stood in the street, cheering even though Talenqua was still quite far off, being carried in a float by his guards. They slipped through the crowds, mostly ignored except for the odd angry onlookers who thought they were jostling for a better position.
“Not far now. Keep going,” Luna said.
~
As dawn came, the white ship pulled into the harbor again and weighed anchor. Arietta, Elisha and Sashiko, all dressed in plain clothes, hurried from the ship and made for the town square, mingling with the early morning shoppers heading to the market and those who deeply admired Talenqua and wanted the best position to see him.
“Have you seen this girl?” Arietta asked for the thirtieth time, showing the old lady in front of her a drawing of Pandora. The old lady shook her head, and Arietta began to feel despair. Perhaps she was being held captive somewhere, she wondered, and she feared they might never find her.
As she looked for Pandora, she also found herself looking for Selesti. She knew they had parted ways, but she wanted to see the girl again, just to know she was safe and to warn her to leave the city before she attracted attention to herself. If Valen won, she knew that Selesti would not stay hidden for long with her condition.
Elisha was having little luck also. Nobody recognized Pandora’s picture, and she was trying desperately to keep an eye on Arietta to make sure she didn’t go looking for Selesti.
“Sashiko, come here,” Elisha said.
“What is it?” Sashiko asked. She was a tall woman with oriental features and black hair, who had been trained in the samurai tradition.
“I need you to trail Arietta,” Elisha said, “I get the feeling she’s going to look for trouble.”
“You think she’s going to look for that Selesti woman.” Sashiko said, “and the places such a woman would go are not the kind of places Arietta should be.”
“Exactly,” Elisha said.
Arietta found herself at a dingy alleyway, filled with little curio shops. She found her mind wandering, and let herself walk down the alley, looking in the windows. She put her hood up to hide her features, in case anybody recognized her from the day before, but the alley seemed to be mostly deserted in the morning light. Sashiko followed in the shadows, unknown to Arietta.
As she reached the end of the alley, she saw a woman dressed in tight clothing, gesturing to a dirty building with the door open. She didn’t know why she went, but she found herself descending the stairs into the dirty hole. The smell of incense wafted up to her, but it was mixed with the smell of sex and she knew she had come to a place she should not have.
“Ah, robed stranger,” said a lady at the bottom of the steps, “I understand your desire to remain anonymous. Do you have a particular lady you would like to see today?”
“Selesti,” she said, not knowing why she said it, but knowing at the same time that she had come down here to find Selesti, to know how low she had sold herself to try and keep her desire under control.
“She’s not one of our girls,” the woman said, “She’s one of Alandra’s girls, down the street, “But we have a good selection for you to choose from...”
Arietta turned and left.
It was only a few houses down that she saw Selesti standing outside Alandra’s brothel, dressed in a tawdry dress that showed almost all of her breast and came up to the top of her legs. Arietta stood for a moment, wondering how to approach Selesti, how to tell her to leave the city, when a man came up to Selesti and offered her a bag of coins, groping her as he did so. She took his hand and led him into the darkness of the brothel, and Arietta stood in the street, a light rain falling on her, wondering why she had come here why she had let her last memories of a woman she loved be tainted by that sight. Did she need one last stab of pain to sever that cord, to say goodbye to her feelings?
Sashiko approached her then, “Arietta?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, Sashiko,” Arietta said, “I didn’t mean to abandon the search for Pandora. I just... I just had to know, and something led me here... and... and...” She started crying, and Sashiko shook her head and embraced Arietta, soothing her.
“We should get back to Elisha,” Sashiko said, “Pandora still needs our help.”
The sun was bright and strong by the time they got back to Elisha. Throngs of people lined the route, all hoping for a glimpse of their candidate, the man who embodied all their hopes and dreams.
“Are you all right?” Elisha asked Arietta above the noise of the crowd.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” Arietta said, “I’m sorry, Elisha. I wasted so much time that there’s no way we’ll find Pandora now, it’s too busy.”
“We should get closer to the ship,” said Elisha, “but I’m not giving up on Pandora. We’ll find her, and I’m not going to return to the ship until I do.”
They moved though the crowd, trying to keep ahead of the float with Talenqua on board so they wouldn’t be mowed down by the throngs of crowds that were following his journey through the city.
Arietta thought she saw a flash of green hair in the crowd, “Elisha, Sashiko!” she said excitedly, “Look!”
“Where?” Elisha said, “I don’t see anything!”
“Over there!” Arietta said, as she saw the jade green hair appear again above the heads of the crowd.
“It’s her!” Elisha said, “Quickly, get over to that side of the street, before the float comes down here!”
They pushed their way through the crowds, ignoring the angry protests of the tightly packed people. They reached the clumsily constructed wooden barrier and ducked under it, diving out before the float.
It all happened at once. Shots rang out, Arietta saw Pandora turn with a look of horror on her face. Talenqua fell back, as if in slow motion, blood spraying from his chest. Luna gasped and rushed through the fleeing crowds, ducking under the barrier to reach Talenqua’s side and taking him in her arms. Pandora followed her, as guards rushed to cordon off the scene.
“Talenqua!” Luna cried, tears welling in her eyes, “You can’t die! Not now! We’re all depending on you!”
“Luna...” Pandora sighed, putting her hand on Luna’s shoulder gently.
“Pandora, I’m glad you’re all right,” Arietta said.
“Were you looking for me?” Pandora asked, and she smiled wanly as Arietta, Sashiko and Elisha nodded, “Thanks,” she said, “Though I wish you’d found me in better circumstances.”
“Who’s your friend?” Elisha asked.
“Her name’s Luna,” Pandora said, “She saved me from an angry mob. She’s one of us, and I’m grateful to her. But Talenqua was her hope for a better future.” She knelt down next to Luna and wrapped her arms around her, “Luna,” she soothed.
“He’s dead,” Luna said, as the guards took Talenqua’s lifeless body from her arms. People were screaming and crying in the streets and violence had broken out, but Luna just knelt there, blood on her cloak, stunned and shocked.
“We should get out of here, Luna,” Pandora said, “It’s not safe here. We should get you back to your father’s house.”
“I’m not going back, Pandora,” she said, “I can’t go back. This city isn’t safe any more. No matter what candidate replaces Talenqua or how long they delay the election, Valen has already won. Soon, this city will be just like Garania.”
“Then come with us,” Arietta said, “There’s a home for everybody on the White Ship. Come seek Sanctuary with us, and help build a city that’s worth living in.” She looked around her, “These people still have a choice. If they honor Talenqua’s sacrifice, everything may be all right for them yet.”
“I doubt it,” Luna said, “Talenqua was a popular man, but even he was losing to Valen. There’s nobody to fill his shoes.” She stood up and looked around her at the violence and devastation unfolding around them, “So this is how it ends.”
Arietta surveyed the violence with sorrowful eyes, wishing there was something she could do, but she knew her responsibility was to get the others back to the ship. There was nothing she could do to save San Ria from becoming like Garania, and it saddened her.
“This is how it ends...” she echoed Luna’s words, “No, someday... we will reclaim both San Ria and Garania.”
She took Elisha and Pandora’s hands, Pandora took Luna’s hand, and together they rushed through the streets, hurrying to the port, leaving the violence behind them.
~
When they reached the ship, Lady Thea was waiting for them. She looked relieved to see Pandora with the group.
“That’s everybody accounted for then,” Thea said, “We should cast off at once. What happened out there?”
“Talenqua was assassinated,” Elisha explained.
“That’s a shame,” Thea said, “He was a good man.”
“Wait,” Arietta said, “Shouldn’t we do or say something to try and stop the violence here? We can’t just let these people descend into misery!”
“The more we interfere, the worse it will be for us,” Thea sighed, “It’s bad enough that White Knights were in the city when this assassination happened. If we hang around, we could get arrested, blamed for the assassination. We could become the excuse for much more suffering. We should leave at the earliest opportunity.”
“Luna,” Pandora said, “Once we leave, we won’t be coming back for a long time. Are you sure it’s all right to come with us? What about your father?”
“To tell the truth,” said Luna, sniffling, “I had intended to come with you all along. I told my father last night, and made my peace with the Fire God. I just didn’t know how to ask.”
“I’m sorry about Talenqua,” Pandora said, “I know that he meant a lot to you.”
“He was a good man,” Luna said, looking over the side as they sailed off into the ocean, “There’s a shortage of good, brave people these days. He knew that what he was doing was controversial and that his proposed reforms would probably cost him his life long before the election, but he walked into the valley of the shadow of death regardless. He even talked of his own death like it was an inevitability in the current climate. What makes somebody tread forward, even though they know each step may well be their last? What drives a human being to override his will to survive to make a better future?”
“Hope,” said Pandora, “It’s the force that drives us all.”
Deviant Hearts Archive | Back to main index