[EXCLUSIVE] - Gaia Gear Ch.01 Pt.03

3

　It seemed like the heavy winds would uproot all the palm trees across the island. The spray from the tide erupted from the shoreline, becoming a white curtain as it assailed the island. 

　Whump!

　The heavy thuds of falling coconuts punctuated the raging storm. 

　"We have to hurry!"

　The shout came from the youth Carre Haw, a friend of Affranchi who always spoke respectfully of him.　

　The two raced through the grove of palm trees with their upper bodies almost at ninety degrees. Still, the wind would push their bodies back if they weren't careful.

　Raindrops stung their shoulders, chests, and faces.

　The house, only dimly visible in the raging storm, looked like a person hunched low before the forces of nature. The house appeared to be made of wood, but it was made entirely of reinforced plastic. 

　It would neither corrode nor would it age. It would look new for three hundred years, but beyond that, there was still no guarantee of how it would deteriorate. 

　The scientists, or the companies that manufacture and sell the materials, say, "Even after a thousand years, there will be no material degradation. Worry not." They say that because they have perfect results from scientific durability tests. 

　"Do they have the technology to condense time? Then maybe there is technology to lengthen time." Affranchi Char often thought as a child. 

　That was particularly the case when he thoroughly enjoyed himself; the thought would arise: "If only time would move more slowly!" 

　Now, as he got older, he no longer got as excited, nor did he think like that anymore.

　Instead, he thought, "Time itself must have its properties. How fantastic would that be if there were people with the technology to replace one property for another, but could that be possible?"

　Such thoughts ran through his mind now.

　"Gaba Suu!"

　Affranchi took the hand of the frail older man lying on the bed, tears unwittingly welling up in his eyes.

　Gaba Suu's skin, hardened by the sun and tides, was creased with deep wrinkles, and his once thick, strong fingernails had become brittle.

　 The hand that had held Affranchi, beaten him, and fed him now felt oh-so-light as it sank into Affranchi's youthful hands. 

　The entire structure rumbled as if terrified by the storm. 

　A gust of wind blew in, causing the sun-baked lace curtains by the windows to flutter violently.

　Everly Key entered the room.

　"The Elder?"

　"Hush now."

　The elders gathered behind Affranchi chided her.

　Affranchi drew his ear close to Gaba Suu's moving lips.

　"You must go out into space... You are of this Earth... I was only entrusted with you, to raise you here... But... I know nothing of your origin. I never asked... But, I know, all I know is that the universe is waiting for you..."

　"To outer space?"

　Affranchi Char echoed.

　"Outer space?"

　Everly's voice trembled slightly, frightened. 

　The termor in her breath rang clearly in Affranchi's ears, even over the sound of the storm raging outside.

　Long breaths escaped from her lips... 

　When the storm passed at dawn, Gaba Suu was dead.

　"He lived a long life. Do not be sad."

　The older woman, now the eldest of the group, spoke.

　"Gaba Suu died of natural causes. He was born on this island, and there were times when he ventured from island to island. And after experiencing love a few times, Gaba returned to this island. I remember that time well... Gaba Suu returned to our island and married Kasan Mooth... I guess he had no love for me."

　That's when the older woman let out a brief chuckle. Yet, no one blamed her; instead, they listened cordially. 

　"It has been twenty years since Kasan died, right?"

　"Twenty-three years!"

　There was some reproach there.

　The whole assembly looked at the man who got the number of years wrong, with some saying, "You've gone senile, haven't you?" 

　"Gaba, he had many children, but Gaba's children were all strong. But because they were strong, they all left the island. Many of them liked to meddle with machines... So when you came, Affranchi, Gaba raised you." 

　"And now, here I am, older..."

　The whole assembly nodded in agreement.

　"By Gaba's dying wish, Affranchi, go forth into space."

　 So they said to each other.

　"But, I... I only know this island. I am afraid to leave here..." stammered Affranchi as he stared down at Gaba Suu, who now looked as thin as a sheet of paper.

×　×　×