Harken

Chapter 10

The light breeze dancing through the air carried with it the smell of salt and fine sand. Harken and Alex had been walking in silence for a bit after seeing the poster, both unsure of what to say and letting the awkward silence simmer like runny caramel. They'd been walking far enough to come across a seaside farm, perched on a ledge that overlooked a sandy beach ready to flood with ocean waves. The tall wheat spun around and twirled, majestically showing off their husks as they were reaped by back-turned farmers with long silver scythes. The swishes encouraged Harken to think of approaching and having a look; he wanted to know if Nekrah was right about the goggles. He strode through the field, outpacing Alex, the plants tickling his legs as he started to gain speed and bask in the sunlight above. "Excuse me..." he began. But no more words. The sun tanned farmer had turned around, covered in grey stubble and with several scars displayed on his thick arms. His grey hair was still thick (despite his age) and they complimented the goggles. Bronze. With leather straps and tinted glass eyepieces that sparkled in the light, a kaleidoscope showering onto Harken. "What d'you want?" huffed the farmer, leaning the scythe against his chest. "I thought he was lying. About the goggles." Harken stammered, shocked at it all. How would one wear this without seeing themselves as a mouse in the cage? Able to be stroked by its captor but never being able to leave the sawdust behind apart from when they walked the darkened tunnel that directed them towards death. When do people stop being subject and start being individuals? The mechanical angel stood. The farmer laughed, "you the angel then? You're a bit scrawny, aren't you? God, I guess they'll let anyone be the messiah sort these days" and then continued the harvest. "Why do you wear them though? Surely you'd be better off without constraints?" Harken pleaded, backed up by the arrival of Alex and his agreement through murmurs. "They're lovely for sunglasses though" joked the farmer, "and keeping wheat out your eyes. None I know wear them like real goggles, just as temporary things. It's just egotistical nonsense for the big guy." He descended into a rant: "he won't lower tax or cast out all those no good Eupherans from outside, committing all sorts of crimes and leeching out money. Don't work a minute, they don't! My family has to tend our farm and send some food to the palace, because we have quality grains we do, but those rebels just intercept it and take it right to those no-goods. And if you're that Alexiares, then I have to tell you that your brother Anicetus is a..." but a thin wrinkled hand clasped over his mouth. It belonged to an sun-tanned blonde woman with a cheerful smile and a hint of annoyance on her face. "I'm sorry boys, but my husband Austin can't seem to stop complaining. And I'm Elle, if you were wondering. You can come inside if you want? You must've been walking a while, all the way here maybe". She squinted at them in blatant curiosity. "Ma'am," Alex began, "before you let us in at least let us help with your field first, to pay for your hospitality. And to make up for the annoyance my brother has caused you," directing a cheeky grin in Austin's direction. So they spent an hour or so in the fields, teaching Harken how to strike down the crops of the land and prepare it for grinding. Such simple tasks gave him peace he never knew he needed but also a sense that this would be a short lived experience. It was when they had finished their labour, they were inside the rustic farmhouse drinking milky tea from small flowery teacups. Harken was admiring the merging of the sky and sea on the horizon, a vortex of bluish hues, while the others talked about their individual struggles. "You know dear, you could go out on the beach. Lovely weather and the suns out." Elle ventured, seeing Harken so fixed. "Come on, it'll be fun! You've never been anywhere with sand before, you might like it or hate it or at least feel some way about it that made the experience gained worth living". Alex was excited at the prospect too. So down they went, with a small tartan blanket Austin and Elle had kindly loaned them, trying not to fall down a steep grassy bank leading to the plateau of beach below. The golden sand looked like breadcrumbs dry and peanut butter when wet, wriggling and clinging onto Harkens bare feet like wreck survivors do an inflatable buoy. He didn't really like how uncomfortable he felt, but powered on anyway towards the frothy turquoise ocean stretching far ahead. It seemed there was little past that point, like the world reached an indefinite halt beyond where the roaring raved lapped at the tawny orange sun, its rays humming all around its low position in the sky. A gallant run into the surf gave the boys one conclusion; it was too chilly to swim in and salty enough to leave crystals encrusted on their rolled up trousers. The blanket was rolled out and they sat facing the scene played out in front of them, watching the play of life unfold. "What are we going to do now?", whispered Alex with a look of expectant worry in his eyes. The afternoon sunlight turned his skin a shade of burnt ochre, tinged with vivid bursts of red. "I think we should meet both sides, end the war and come out alive. We could meet them in the church in the forest, even ground. No advantage". Harken turned to look at Alex, scaring the other with a look of fear. The reply may have been a nod and the uncertainty may only have been a blip in history, but it may have started yet another scene for the actors all around to pull from make believe.