.The Eraser.

dix-huit

                                                                -18-

The warm sun casting down on them did not ease the pain of loss. The atmosphere was filled with deep gloom. The wind was blowing around the green cemetery as the mourners gathered around together. It was silent, only the words of the minister drifted off together with the rustling wind. 

The minister was speaking words of wisdom as he tried to lift up the sad spirits of the people around him. 

The Erasers were biding their last farewell to Copper. Everyone at the base had come to the funeral, to pay their last respect to ''a fallen soldier''-as Jean had put it when he said his solemn speech earlier. 

Atara was dressed in a black dress just below her knees and was standing next to her father who was also in black attire. She looked at his sad face as he intently listened to the minister in front of them and then she moved her eyes to the others scattered around the coffin. 

They all looked downhearted. Some of them casted their eyes downwards to the green grass; while others looked ahead at the talking middle aged pastor and at the coffin. The men tried to appear strong with their straight faces, but it was hard to keep up the act; while most of the females present visibly showed their discontent. 

They all knew that Copper was young-only nineteen years of age. She had a whole life ahead of her. She did not deserve to lose her life the way that she did- nobody did. They had all agreed that every Eraser that lost their lives either during a mission or outside one would get a proper funeral as though they had led normal lives. 

Richard noticed the rebellious tear that ran down his daughter's right cheek. He slung his arm over her shoulders to comfort her. He knew exactly what she was going through. It was the first time that she had lost a partner.  

Atara relaxed her tense shoulders and rested her head against Richard's body. She continued to tear up. It was still unbelievable that the girl that got on her nerves more times than she could count was no more. Death was definitely unfair.  

Now more than ever she felt a deep resentment towards the ZED. Her anger towards them was now personal. They killed an Eraser-her family member. 

The coffin was now going down into its final destination- the dugout hole. Since no remains of Copper had made it in the explosion; the only thing in the wooden box was her neck lace that her parents had given her. It seemed fit to put it in there. 

Sounds of sniffing could be heard as the coffin continued to be lowered deeper and deeper into the pit, as the minister stood silently and everyone watched. 

Atara's heart clenched. The feeling of guilt was still there inside her, but slowly it was losing its strong effect on her. She breathed in deeply, trying to calm her vexed heart organ. 

The minister gave way to Louisse and Jean who walked beside a Japanese woman that Atara could not recognize. The woman had wrinkles on her face and on her arms that were not covered by the black material she had on. Her mother and Jean held onto her delicately as they made their way to where the coffin was. She was old with grey hair. 

Every one watched her as the tears freely fell from her eyes. It was heart breaking. 

''Who's that?'' Atara whispered to her father. She was curious. 

''That's Copper's grandmother.'' 

Something clicked in Atara as she tried to remember where the old lady had been mentioned before. 

''She became her legal guardian when her parents died.'' Richard explained. '' Poor lady. She has lost the only family that she had alive. She is now alone.''