Sand Blood and Bone

Part 2: Recognition

I awoke to a chill so cold it made my teeth chatter and bones rattle, even inside of my coat. I stepped back over to the window-like gap and stared sleepily outside, stretching out my aching back and not even trying to suppress a yawn. I was greeted with dark emptiness and realized we were still driving over the dessert, this was going to be a long journey. Wandering back towards the mound of bags, I crawled inside a small cave-like area, just big enough for a petite woman to rest in. It wasn't much, but it was warm.

I awoke again, not because of the cold but to the inviting aroma of sea salt. We had arrived at Southern Peak. Staring sleepily out of the windows, palm trees flashed by and plenty of houses, mansions even, with white marble steps leading up to large, wooden doors with platinum doorknobs. If some of these wealthy people donated the money spent for these unnecessary objects people wouldn't be living eleven in a room, not being able to read and write and being stuck in the same useless cycle earning just enough for one meal a day.

Suddenly the lulling purring of the engine cut off, leaving a filling silence only broken by the large crowds of people piling into the first and second class cabins. Several bags were flung in my direction and I had to try my absolute hardest not to get hit by the flying luggage.

After that hullabaloo, I watched the turquoise ocean with a longing in my eyes, watched the adults and children bathe alike. I wished I could have gotten off here and spent my remaining years just enjoying life but I had already accepted my task. With a lurch we set off again and the children, waving their multi-coloured caps up at us as we rode 160 mph past them all, creating a dust cloud so large it was a wave covering the station and it wouldn't clear until we were far on our way. We rode next to the sea, the spray splashing my face and coating my hair in salty smelling liquid. As the train's speed picked up my overgrown fringe slapped into my cheeks and cut small scratches in them, which began to sting in time but none of this mattered as for that moment the whole universe felt in balance.

The outskirts of Southern Peak were as bad, as or even worse than Crystal Springs', rubbish lay scattered about the dark and dreary alleys, people lay curled into balls while their children rooted through the overflowing bins for scraps to eat. Somehow I didn't see any innocence in a place like this, only drugged out mutts laying in piles like ragdolls a child had forgotten about. The shadows from the grey concrete buildings were ominous and cast shadows wherever they laid their eyes on and it felt like someone would sneak out from them and attack at any given moment. Rats scuttled among the filled bags and gnawed through the cheap plastic, spilling chewed bones and general waste onto the already filthy streets. As we passed the last of the houses my knowledge led me to believe that we were half way to Autumn Bay.

I settled myself on a particularly large bag and read back over the case notes. I would put them here but they're top secret and who knows, this might fall into the wrong hands. All I can say is that I didn't move from that position until my carriage was bathed in a soft orange light that signified dusk.

I tread on light toes over the opening and stared out into the meadow in front of me, beach trees that's leaves rustic finish, glided down to the dried up grass, like the swallows that circled around the sun, gleefully playing or perhaps just on their way home. Flowers of the same shade as the sky and some violets peeped out from underneath every tree. A warmth spread through my chest out the tips of my fingers and it was still there by the time the sun had set and the moon was showing its waxy face.

As wolves howled and foxes barked, suddenly flickering lights filled the deep blue sky and sparkled like fairy lights... Fireflies. They lined every centimeter and danced as if they were on a ballroom floor. A mix childish excitement and awe filled me, I remained stood there until the train pulled into Autumn Bay.

Boats of all sizes lined the harbor: large or small, propelled or sail this town had it all. One ship built of polished wood was over 12 meters tall. Large linen sails hung from the even taller masts and a bronze mermaid was positioned naked on the front. Several sailors (who were up extremely early) clad in a blue and white stripy uniform jumped around on deck enthusiastically cleaning and preparing for a voyage, maybe even to the wastelands.

Once again the train juddered to a stop and we had officially arrived in Autumn Bay. Here several fiery haired men and women queued in front of my small gap and started handing me their suitcases with clipped instructions on how to handle them(which I promptly ignored)Without warning another woman stepped in to my 'carriage' , her hair shoulder length and her fringe lapping into her eyes as she walked and her eyes were beady and black glittering in the morning light. She looked fragile though, not my wide muscular shoulders or tall frame, apart from that we looked the same. Her expression was of the same surprise and recognition that was mirrored in my face.

After the initial shock, she settled down on a bag labelled W.G Du.P and wept. Her tears rolled down her cheeks and landed in her blue pleated skirt. Drip. Drip. Drip. I couldn't stand there like a lemon, I had to do something so without further ado I wrapped my arms around her frail structure and let her lean on me like my mother had several years before. That was before, well it doesn't matter now.  

She clasped me and wouldn't let go so I stopped trying, never mind her small stature she had me trapped! I didn't want her to be offended, so naturally i didn't tell her how much she smelled. God! Where had this girl been? 

Soon soft snores came from her and as she still wouldn't let go of me I half carried, half dragged her back to the bag fort I had built. There, I too collapsed and fell into a dream-filled sleep.