by MaeEadie
"Ja, Sir, you have already told me that. But please, tell me something else. You always tell me the rules but you never really tell me why. Is there one, a why, I mean?"
"Ja, of course. There is always a why. What I want to tell you is a story." The old leader led Florence over to a nearby tree stump. He hoisted himself up onto the seat, leaving Florence to sit on the ground.
"Not very many years ago, one hundred or so, we had another protector. He found our tribe by accident whilst he was lost one day. Of course, we had to make him our protector, otherwise he would most certainly tell the world about us. So we gave him the same rules that you have. For several years he remained loyal to us. He visited us every two days, always concerned for us and our wellbeing. He seemed like the perfect protector. Until one day, he made a bet. 'I bet that I can surprise you.' The boy took his friend into the forest and took him to our village. Just before the boy reached the clearing, I sent out our scouts. They diverted the boys away from our village. Fortunately they never reached us. Unfortunately, they have never left the forest?" the old leader spoke slowly and in all sincerity. His words were slow and refined, flicking thoughtfully off the edge of his tongue. He never met Florence's eyes, instead staring off into the trees, waiting for Florence’s response.
"Ja Herr Rafael." replied Florence, nodding. Florence swept one last habitual glance over the village. Everyone was going about their normal duties, carefree and at peace. She quickly completed the respectful gestures of the frescreets and left, turning on her heel.
"What on earth was that?" Florence thought aloud. Right from the start of his story, Florence knew he was lying. He had told her himself that she was the first human. An uneasy shiver ran down her spine. His need to scare her was so obviously strong. A little too strong for Florence’s liking.
'I'm probably just over thinking it.' she told herself. But that feeling of unease was still there, lurking in the back of Flory's conscience.
*
Florence wasn't sure.
But I am.
And let me tell you this,
Florence certainly wasn't over thinking it.
*
Tempers
20th June 1938
The sun was blazing down and the summer break was approaching quickly. Every classroom was full of impatient teenagers, daydreaming about lazy days and not having to think about much at all. Students of the mountainside school spent their recess breaks planning trips, excursions and expeditions for the weeks to come. There was so much talking and planning going on, ideas about everything and anything, except, of course, school. This made Frau Baasch even grumpier than usual. Even the thought of a few weeks of peace and quiet, free of pesky students was not enough to soften her temper.
In the last week of school, nobody was able to concentrate. A constant hum of anticipation seemed to be keeping the students on edge. People would lash out at the slightest provocation, sometimes ending in physical fights, much to the excitement of the other students. Wendel Kneller was a big sucker for those spontaneous outbreaks. In fact, most would say he was the centre of the action, managing to be a part of nearly every fight. In that last week, Wendel visited the nurse several times. Sometimes with a bloodied lip, or a nasty scratch. He even went for a knocked-out tooth. Let’s just say he wasn't the prettiest boy when the holidays came.
Frau Baasch was having the time of her life, she had a perfect excuse to be extra grumpy, all the time. Her lip took up permanent form as her famous puckered up pinprick, an inevitable stimulant for name calling. Younger students would often sprint past her, calling out insults, laughing over their shoulders.
Everyone seemed to be having a good time, being rowdy and generally obnoxious, nearly everyone. For the last week or two, Florence, Greta and Ben had, more or less, been in hiding. They had sought out a shaded tree, separate from the rest of the students. At the beginning of each break, the three of them would grab their lunches and sprint over to their hideout. One by one was best, it didn't attract as much attention. Once in the safety of their shade, they would make plans for the holidays. They each tried extra hard to keep their minds positive and not to think about how Ben had just one week left. Florence was having an especially hard time. Just contemplating school life without Ben was making her feel lonely. She found it was best to just keep busy and keep her mind occupied. None of them felt compelled to join in the end of term delirium, content with watching the frenzy from a distance. In fact, they went to a fair bit of trouble to keep that distance. The school yard was bad enough on a good day. Whenever a classmate would saunter over, looking for company, they would each split, Ben would dash for his locker, Florence would mutter about needing the bathroom and would walk away hastily. Whereas Greta would often panic and scamper up the tree trunk. They would all get a few odd looks now and again, but it was worth it because their plan would always work.
Clipping the secret's edge
25th June 1938
The previous day, the school year had ended. After a week of torture, the school bell rang one last time. The last time ever for Ben. The day had ended with the shouts and screams of ecstatic teenagers and the thundering of feet making a break for the doors. Ben had left looking relieved after realising he would never again have to endure the tortures of a school day! As far as he was concerned, he was free. No more classes, stupid rules and best of all, no more Frau Baasch. His only regret was Florence. He had to leave her for the wolves, she still had one more year of school to go.
*
They had left as soon as they could,
not looking back.
This,
they had decided,
was going to be a Summer of school-free thoughts.
*
It was a Saturday afternoon and the air was soaked in the dry summer heat, the sun bearing down. Ben and Flory walked along the road, kicking a stone along the way. Sweat trickled down their spines, accumulating in the smalls of their backs. Cool places were scarce, as they had found out.
"What about the river Flory?"
"We won't be able to get our big toes in. I heard that nearly everyone was going there today." Disappointed, they trudged on, wiping the perspiration off their foreheads. They were ready to give up and return home, boiled like a potato.
"Hey Flory, umm... Well, what about that, yeh know, that pool thing you've been to before, in the forest?" Ben asked hesitantly, fully aware that he shouldn't know about it. Florence stopped dead in her tracks. She faced Ben, hands on her hips.
"How on earth, Benjamin, did you find out about that?"
"Well, I just, kind of followed you one day, I was curious." Florence stared at him, aghast. How much had he seen? Would he have noticed the frescreets? Would he have gone back and found clues? Her heart was beating fast, there was no way she was going to take him there. But all she could think to ask was;
"Did you see me naked!?"
Florence led the way through the shady forest, alert, on edge, checking every movement was that of a bird, not a small porcelain doll-like creature. Ben followed along happily, completely unaware of Florence's worries.
They entered the clearing, Flory's heart bouncing around in her mouth. Florence led the way over to the pool, cautiously avoiding any slight indication of frescreet activity. Ben smiled at her, Florence forced one in return. At the pools edge, they kicked off their shoes and dangled their feet over the side. The cool water was refreshing, cool on their skin.
"Hey Ben, I just want to say dankeschön."
"Sure... no problems. Why though?"
"For respecting me. Yeh know, you're probably the only teenage boy who would have looked away when I got changed."
"No problems." he grinned cheekily. "I wouldn't want to see you naked anyway. You're hideous!"
"Hey!" Florence laughed and shoved Ben into the water. He fumbled around, laughing and choking, before yanking Florence in too. They teased and chased each other around the grassy clearing for a while, soaked to the skin
and carefree.
Eventually, they both collapsed, side by side, panting and gasping for breath. Big smiles were painted on their faces, bright and colourful.
Florence hadn't been so happy in months. She couldn't wipe the smile away. Ben was much the same. For months, his spirits had gradually lowered, until he couldn't be worse. Just over a month ago, Florence had lifted that weight off his shoulders. No. She had shown him that he could lift that weight. She'd shown him his worth and that alone gave him the strength to lift it. He had felt so light and free. A month later, that feeling of freedom and happiness was still fresh for him. Not only had he realised that Florence loved and accepted him the way he is, but he was able to accept and respect himself.
Ben stood up, reluctantly.
"Come on Flory, we'd better get back." Florence led the way back out of the clearing. They were just about to enter the trees again when Ben stopped dead in his tracks.
"What the...? Hey Flory, come look at this." Florence's heart pounded in her chest. She walked over to where Ben was looking and she stopped breathing. There on the ground at the edge of the clearing, was a line of footprints. They were about one and a half inches long and the same shape as human feet.
Frescreet footprints.
Leading straight to their village.
Florence's mind was numb, she couldn't think of anything to say.
"Umm... It must be, err, a deer, maybe." Florence grabbed Ben by the wrist and dragged him out of the clearing. Her grip didn't loosen until they were well into the forest. Her brain was frantic and the only thing she could think was that she had to get away.
"Hey! Florence let me go! What's wrong with you?" Ben yanked his wrist out of her grip.
"Nothing. It's nothing."
"I have noticed you know. I can tell you're hiding something from me. Best friends don't keep secrets from each other." Ben looked into Florence's eyes, seeking the truth, seeking anything. Florence looked away and stared at the ground. Ben grunted and turned on his heels. He stormed off, muttering under his breath. Florence was left alone, standing in the shadow of a dark pine tree. She sunk to the ground, tears rolling down her face.
*
Florence had realised then.
She wasn't alone in her suffering.
It was Ben too.
The secrets.
The lies.
All of it.
It got him where it hurts the most,
in his heart.
I know what she was thinking.
'Why did I have to be the one?
Surely there are other purines in Switzerland?
Why me?
Why Ben?'
Sorry Florence.
I just planned it that way.
She will thank me one day.
*
Experiments
10th July 1938
The air was thick with the scent of forest weeds and wild flowers. The window had been left wide open, light spilling in. An assortment of pens and pencils were scattered across the wooden table, all cracked or snapped, all foraged from roadsides and bins. Small sprouts of grass grew up through the earthen floor, shots of green in a room of brown.
Rafael sat at his desk, his walking cane resting against his chair. Head down, he was gazing at a second hand notepad. It was covered with scratchy lines and curving marks. He had drawn a detailed map of the human body, complete with odd bits here and there, guesses of things he'd never seen. But the drawing was finally complete. Rafael jumped up with glee, something he hadn't done in many years.
"Jael! Jael! It is complete! I have finally completed it!" Rafael danced on his spindly, fragile legs around his small house. His wife hobbled in, her face lit up like a candle. They danced around their home, laughing and singing, their ancient legs wobbling underneath them.
Rafael and Jael poured intently over the drawing, pointing out flaws and imperfections. The light grew dim around them, unnoticed until their eyes were battling the dark to see.
"What I don't understand, Jael, is how despite the fact humans are so ignorant and naive, they still manage to progress so greatly, while we're still in the dark ages, hiding in the forest and living in makeshift huts? Seeing how we are the wizened ones with the knowledge. It makes no sense."
Rafael prepared for his next experiment. Within the village, Rafael had acquired the art of experimentation. He obsessed over humans. How do they function? How are they similar to his own kind? What goes through their brains? But most of all, how could they be used to his advantage?
*
Only a few thought that Rafael was a crazy old creature,
obsessed with power over humans and enslaving them for his own benefit.
In truth,
they were correct.
His idea of a perfect species had taken control,
he had given himself up to his idealistic imagination.
*
Rafael planned to spend the rest of his days devoted to saving his people. He would spend what was left of his very long life researching the common threat, humans. In his secluded hut, Rafael spent hours bent over books and textbooks that he had scavenged. He learnt all he could, filling his brain with knowledge. He studied their brains, pinpointing all their flaws, finding their weak points. He studied their hearts, smiling at his brilliance all the while. With this acquired knowledge, Rafael improved his village. He used the human's weak points to his advantage, targeting their fears and phobias to create defence systems. Rafael's only goal left was to leave Earth having secured his tribe's safety. He had promised his tribe several years earlier, that until he found a way for them to live fearlessly, he would try very hard not to die. Only once he had saved them would he live out his days, mind at peace knowing that he had succeeded. Rafael knew all too well that several humans would have to make some sacrifices along the way. Florence, his current experiment, would have to make some sacrifices.
'Well. It is for the greater good and no one person is greater than good.' he would preach.
He didn't care.
He pretended to. His caring was all an act.
That's just who he was.
The frail frescreet clambered into bed, his nightshirt swaying around his knobbly knees. That night, Rafael went to sleep contently. His unsettled mind had tasted a hint of satisfaction.
Reunited
16th July 1938
The weeks ran by and the return to school was drawing near. The summer sun hugged the day, hot and burning. Everyone kicked battered footballs around the streets, half-hearted and lazy. They all wore brown patches of dirt on their knees. The days moulded into one, just a blur of endless adventure. All together. Exploring together.
Except one. Florence spent her days avoiding everyone. Avoiding her best friend. She hadn't seen him. Not since their visit to her secret pool several weeks before. He deserved the truth and she didn't trust herself to hold it back. She found it was better to just shut herself out, taking no risks.
*
And then there was Ben.
He was going crazy.
All he wanted was a word.
An acknowledgement.
A sign.
*
"What are you doing Ben?" Herr Seelenfreund walked in, sitting down in the chair beside him. "You do have permission to live, you know." For several weeks, Ben had barely left the house. His attempts to find Florence had failed. He shrugged his shoulders. "Is this about Florence? You know, friends come and go. Maybe Florence is moving on." Ben shrugged again, not looking up. "You should just let her go. It'll do no good for you." Ben watched his father walk away, shaking his head.
"Nein Papa. I can't."
*
Florence spent her summer holidays within sight of her house, never leaving the gates except to check on the frescreets. She whiled away the hours emerged in a book. She would often begin and complete one in a day, having nothing else to do. Despite her never ending boredom, she stayed put. It was the best option, for everyone. The
frescreet's secrecy would remain so, Ben wouldn't get any more suspicious than he already was and she wouldn't have to face her friend.
*
In a few days, Ben would start work. His childhood days of roaming free would be over and his endless hours of work would begin. He did all he could to drag out his last remaining days of freedom. He went hiking with his brothers to peaks of neighbouring mountains. They would stand at its top and call out over the side. Their shouts echoed down the rugged cliff face, bouncing off rocks and settling in shrubs. Whilst his brothers swore as heartily as they could, Ben stayed silent. He had to.
*
Unless he wanted to start crying.
Crying out for Florence.
*
He longed to spend his last few childhood days with her. They could've been roaming the forest together, exploring parts of their small world or just sitting, enjoying the warm days, Florence with a novel and Ben with a comic.
Instead, they were separated. A couple of wooden walls were all that lay between them but they could have been a world away. So Ben was left to live out his last few free days alone, unable to reach his best friend.
Greta walked up nervously toward the Mele household. No one had seen Florence for several weeks. She had volunteered to go and 'check on her', really meaning to investigate. Even so, she was concerned for Florence.
'Is she really sick?' Greta raised her hand to the door knocker, banging thrice, loudly. Gabriel answered, his broad shoulders barricading the doorway.
"Guten Morgen, Herr Mele." said Greta, her curls bouncing around with her slightest movement.
"Ah, guten morgen. Come in Greta, would you like some tea?" Gabriel Mele stepped aside and Greta shuffled in.
"Nein, danke Herr Mele, would I be able to see Florence?" Greta asked anxiously.
"Of course, she's out in the garden. I've been trying to get her out of the house for weeks, so good luck." Gabriel pointed to the back door before returning to his newspaper. Greta spotted Flory out on the grass. She was sprawled under a shady tree, book in hand and fanning her face with the other. Greta ran up to her friend, jumping on her and hugging her tight.