In Huck's Hands

Chapter 16: Aequora Solitudo

As we made our final approach, I gazed in wonder at the glistening metallic isle arising from sky-blue tides. Constructed from salvaged shipping containers and shining steel alloy, Aequora Solitudo's angular overlooks and snaking chutes left a vivid guise against the barren ocean expanse.

My jaw grew tight as the endless waves were nothing like my desert home...my first trip outside Buriti and it was nothing but waning blue fields of foam and filthy techno garbage! The hum of the plane's engines quickly boggled my train of thought.

I was witnessing firsthand this engineering marvel commandeering the open ocean induced a thrill I hadn't expected though juxtaposing my sense of dread over our means of travel. The sheer audacity of Aequora Solitudo's odd beauty kindled hopes that Buriti too might rise anew from destruction's depths, reforged stronger than before...If only I could tap into the hidden power of these '1st world' nation's coalition.

Oxidized metal circular spires lined boxily with elegant stainless steel, presumed to keep its impossibly spiraled structure from being destroyed in the salt water. As the rickety plane circled lower, preparing to dock, I was not as thrilled at glimpsing bustling masses on runways.

There were many nations in attendance based on varying attire, skin tones, and even glimpses of exotic technologies draped on them like clothing. The simple almost seethrough garbs of the Doigan republics' delegation. While I never even attempted to spin a globe let alone study it, our southern neighbors had made such a name for themselves as loose pedlars of sex and cheap wares among the dunes...

How could these perverted jungle straddlers be invited to such a grand stage?! I looked to Aiko as she held an even face, mind seemingly focused solely on our decent...I knew something was bothering her, yet I could not tell what, Compelling the thought from my head as I thought of simpler times. Small goosebumps pricked my brown cracked skin, the mark of the goddess still absent all this time.

I smiled wistfully wanting to change my attitude, remembering how as a boy I would gape at contraband topography books my free-spirited mother smuggled home, starving after snapshots of distant public and places that imagination alone could scarce conjure.

The only true wonder outside Buriti Vasca in my mind was always Atlantia--Large buildings, free choice for everyone, no royal status just a man's wealth and power...As an adult, I heard a word the capitalist pigs were nearly eating themselves now that they see the environment as something to protect. Sanctioning any small country not able to bend to their demands is seen as 'the right way'.

The sight of Yana in my peripheral, spine straight and green steely gaze forward, kept me from truly rambling too far mentally...as ruling sovereign, I had the obligation to scour this exotic world's assemblage firsthand. I had no intention of bringing such horrible displays of wasted wealth and power but I did plan on gleaming every way they fueled these garbage 'scientific' endeavors.

My pulse quickened as the wheels touched the tarmac with a jarring landing. It was finally time to put preadolescence fantasies to bed and gamble a man's claim to my dominion of this world! History was being made and I would ensure Buriti's voice rang loudly in the chorus of screaming on this churning planet.

Yana was the first to step off the aircraft to greet the skinny albino lad wearing a pearl-colored toga. I watched from behind Aygu and Aiko as Yana and the strange pale boy exchanged placative salutations outside my hearing range, my brow furrowed before I even found the words to speak. "That boy looks as if he's been whipped and kept in a knee-high cage...". The loud dissonant chatter of the crowd drowned my voice out but I frowned as Kyler was muttering prayers behind me.