A Collection of Short Stories

Unzen

The car's hum reverberated in my head. The droplets of rainfall tapped the roof of the car like small soft pebbles. Out of the car's window was a magnificent spectacle--Mt. Unzen. Pyroclastic substances slid down the mountain steadily causing massive amounts of ash to discharge into the air. It was my first time witnessing an eruption up close. I was just an intern in the local media company. I couldn't believe I was travelling directly from school to see this. I swung the car door ajar and strolled to a van. I gathered with our unit and translator since the legendary Kraffts were here to take photos and videos of the eruption. We had a briefing about our plan. The time was 3:25 pm--merely an hour and a half after I finished school for the day. The Kraffts cautioned that the first large-scale pyroclastic flow would occur within the ensuing hour. I stood in wonder as I observed the volcano increase in volatility.

I spoke with my colleagues and quipped about arriving at school covered in ash. The crew came over and ordered us to get into our vans for closer observation. There was a spot called the "fixed-point" where we would bring our cameras as close as possible to the lava. Everyone rushed into their cars and trucks and drove off. We trailed close behind a van as the radio played the current news. "Mount Unzen is growing unstable and specialists declare that it could incinerate anyone nearby." I didn't listen to the radio and instead followed the instructions of our higher-ups. I was still skeptical of our safety, though these people were professionals who understood what they were doing. I gazed at the volcano, admiring the view. The road began to steepen and we overheard that the fixed-point was nearby. We emptied and swarmed near a small shed.

"We received word that a major pyroclastic flow will transpire near the fixed-point so be wary," an official stated.

I peered at the pathway that we soon followed. It was almost entirely concealed by nature. We hiked and approached our destination. There was a bluff that overlooked the incoming stream. It was a beauty to behold. I slipped out my camera and began taking photos of the scene. The medium-sized pyroclastic flow stretched through the side of the mountain. I glanced back at the crew and they appeared to be occupied.

The atmosphere was beginning to thicken with tephra. We were advised to protect our lungs. Officials handed us masks and scarfs. I strapped mine over my face and looked back at the view. I kneeled near the edge of the cliff. There was a make-shift guardrail that prevented us from falling. Although I was aware of the guardrail, I still lost my footing. A hand gripped my sleeve. I looked to see a man had grabbed me. I balanced myself and kneeled back. He kneeled next to me.

"Hey kid, you alright?" he asked concernedly.

"Yep, I'm fine," I mumbled.

"Oh, well...um, my name is Takashi Ozaki. I'm from the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper company. You an intern or somethin'?"

The man looked at me; still recovering. He didn't appear as old as the rest of the crew. I suspected he was in his late twenties.

"Yeah, I'm just doing part-time photography for the television news," I answered, "My name is Yuuta."

"That's cool...You know I was like you when I was younger?" he continued.

"Oh, well I'm just a freelance photographer who got picked up by some news television company. There's nothing special about me," I clarified.

"Hey, don't doubt yourself. Here, let's see some of your photographs." He sat down and spread his legs along the lush grass. I imitated him and scrolled through some of the recent photos. Takashi showed me his camera--I was amazed.

"Is that a Nikon F4?!" I blurted.

"Heh, it's the newest camera on the market," he boastfully announced.

I looked down at the lava. The hazy air didn't hinder the glow that the lava emitted. It shined through the viscous material in the air. The camera was beginning to grow impotent against the harsh ash. I offered Takashi a ride downhill; away from all the smog. I gathered my tools and asked a driver to bring us down. It was around four o'clock pm. We arrived away from the cloud of smoke. Takashi and I took out our cameras and snapped pictures of the gradually increasing cloud.

As I was clearing my lens, the ground vigorously rocked. I fell as my camera crashed onto the concrete floor. I scanned for Takashi, who was recovering from a blow to his left arm--he had protected his camera. We both gaped at each other and then toward the mountain. Vociferous thunders came from the Volcano as it ruptured with pyroclastic materials--which expelled into the sky. I remained in hysteria and couldn't process the situation. Felsic lava began to ooze out the vent as opaque gas engulfed the encompassing area. My instinctive reaction was to run. I began to dart as quick as my limbs could guide me. I looked back as Takashi stood there in awe.

"C'mon!" I shrieked.

"I-I think I'm going to stay here," Takashi emphatically murmured, "After all, we're pretty far away--aren't we?"

"But what if--" I trailed off.

"It's alright kid," he smiled, "This is a once in a lifetime chance to get this close..."

"And it's the last thing you'll ever do!" I began choking up.

I rubbed away the tears streaming down my cheeks. I somberly arrived back inside the van. I told the driver that Takashi wasn't leaving. A firetruck's siren was growing louder--someone was coming.

"People are trying to escape..." I breathed.

"It's getting closer!" the driver yelled.

Smoke blazed over the van and I felt a surge of heat. The driver and I were increasingly cooked by the scorching air. I passed out.

It was soundless. The tone of a steady heart monitor filled the hollow void. My eyes gradually opened and I started to remember what had happened. I gazed down at my arms and saw that I was attached to a device. I couldn't move. Each time I attempted to move my paralyzed limbs, a sharp pain seared through my body. I darted my eyes toward a television.

"Just an hour ago, the cinder cone volcano, known as Mt. Unzen, exploded violently. We've just received word that forty-three individuals have died in the incident. Among them, the famous Kraffts and Harry Glicken--volcanologists who were trapped near the fixed-point. There have been nine confirmed survivors who have been severely burned and have sustained airway damage. Authorities recommend that anyone nearby evacuate if they haven't already. The ash and smoke may cause future devastating effects on the lungs. The granitic magma that Mt. Unzen produces is known for its slow-moving pace so please evacuate ASAP."

I ignored the news as I looked around. It seemed that no one was in the room. I glanced out the window to my left and saw the mountain on the horizon. Smoke was still emanating even an hour after the last outburst. I remembered that my camera broke and that all this suffering was for nothing.

"--of the other notable losses was Takashi Ozaki. Mr. Ozaki's Nikon F4 has been unearthed and is in the process of recovery. We expect that this will be forlorn evidence of this tragedy. His body was spotted curled around the camera in his arms."

I laid in shock. Ozaki didn't die in vain--he would become a permanent mark in history. I felt short-term satisfaction and decided to rest. I closed my eyes as the noise was drowned away by the deafening silence of my breathing.

"Yuuta?"