by C. S. Elston
The woman frantically climbed out, sprinted around the pool and into the locker room, praying out loud the entire way. Desperately searching for scissors, she finally found a glass container full of combs in barbicide. Amongst the combs was one pair of scissors. She pulled the metal top that raised the contents up from the bottom, grabbed the scissors and sprinted back out of the locker room.
When she reached the pool area, she was relieved to find that everything looked the same as it had when she left. Realizing she could take a quicker route to her daughter than she had on the way to the locker room, she jumped into the water and then quickly stepped through a water wall and into the clear path Rio had created. She had to duck under each lane divider but hustled as fast as she could.
Finally approaching her daughter, she was shocked at how calm her little girl was. She reached behind her daughter’s head and cut the hair that was trapping her. With her daughter finally free, the woman picked the little girl up and gave her a big hug.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
“Yep,” her daughter responded.
“Thank God.”
The woman lifted her daughter out of the pool and set her on the ground above it. She then pulled herself out and turned to face Rio as she sat on the concrete, picked her daughter up again, placed her in her lap, and squeezed her tightly.
Rio finally let go of the water and, all at once, it came crashing back down into the pool.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Witnesses
Jacoba, as Rio had learned the woman was called, couldn’t decide who to hug more: her daughter or Rio. She went back and forth between the two, thanking Rio profusely and embracing the child she nearly lost. Tears had started to fall just before Isaac had walked into the room, only moments after the water had re-filled the pool. Rio quickly discovered that Isaac and Jacoba were husband and wife. She also learned that their daughter, the girl whose life Rio had just saved, was named Zahava. Isaac, however, kept calling her Zee.
Luke was the last to arrive on the scene. Both he and Isaac were shocked to learn about the events of the early morning. Isaac was just stopping by to see his wife and daughter before going to his office to get some work done and Luke was up and ready early, figuring he’d find Rio in the pool before they left on the new adventures the day was sure to hold. Little did he know the adventures had already begun.
Zee never shed a tear. She had, however, taken quite a liking to her savior and wanted to go right back into the pool. But, only if Rio would go with her. Of course, Rio obliged.
While the two girls were swimming, splashing and laughing together, Luke, Isaac and Jacoba had a conversation about what had taken place just moments earlier. The word miracle was used several times, mostly by Jacoba. Both Isaac and Jacoba reassured Luke that Rio’s secret was safe with them. Of course, it was. Rio had just saved their daughter’s life. And, in doing so, exposed herself. That was a major risk that demanded a great amount of loyalty.
They discussed the many potential downsides to people learning about Rio’s gift. Not only would the resulting fame mean that she would likely find herself constantly hounded for the rest of her life but, even worse, she could find herself spending that life living as someone’s rat in a lab somewhere. It was clear to them why Rio wished to keep this a secret for however long she was able.
Eventually, the conversation subsided and Isaac asked if he could pray with everyone. Rio and Zee climbed out of the pool and dried off with their towels. The five of them gathered in a circle and held hands as Isaac began thanking God for sending Rio into their lives and the fact that they got to leave there this morning with little Zee needing nothing more than a haircut to even things out.
Luke peeked out of his left eye and saw Rio with her eyes closed, listening and involved. He smiled briefly, then closed his eye, feeling guilty for breaking his own concentration.
Isaac continued praying. He asked God to protect Luke and Rio as they went in search for Rio’s biological father. To prepare the way and give them guidance. To lead them and to use them for the glory of the Kingdom of God.
Rio noticed that, as he was wrapping up his prayer, Isaac praised the name of God the Father but also mentioned that he was praying these things in the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. She made a mental note of the confusion over the duality of persons in that prayer, wondering if it was one God or two that they believed in. From what she had read last night, it was just one. It was a bit puzzling and she decided she would ask Luke about it later. She thanked Isaac for his prayer and hugged him before everyone started making their way toward the locker rooms.
Isaac and Luke exited through the men’s locker room and went out to the hallway on the other side of it. Jacoba and Zee dried off and said a difficult goodbye to Rio on their way through the women’s locker room. Rio stayed behind, showered and quickly got ready for the day. Luke was waiting for her when she came out. Isaac’s family was long gone by then and Luke greeted Rio with a big grin.
“So,” he began to ask, feigning both ignorance and casual triviality, “what’s up?”
“Not much,” Rio teased back.
“What’ve you been up to?”
“Nothin’,” Rio gave Luke a gentle push and they both started laughing.
“Big morning,” Luke said, now speaking sincerely as they began to walk toward the building’s exit. “Two in a row, actually.”
“Yeah, unexpected to say the least.”
“I’m sorry I missed this one.”
“I’ll try to let you know ahead of time from now on,” Rio quipped.
“Thanks,” Luke said with a chuckle. He thought a moment before adding, “You know, that’s kind of their second miracle with Zee.”
“It is?”
“Yeah, it’s really just a miracle she’s here at all.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, our staff gets together once a week for an early morning devotional and Isaac shared a few months back that about a year after they were married, doctors told Jacoba she couldn’t have children. She was devastated. Isaac prayed every day for almost three years that God would see fit to bless her with a child. One day, He finally said yes. Isaac joked that he thought he had nagged God until He caved in. But, ultimately, he realized that sometimes God just makes things that we take for granted difficult so that we have no other choice but to rely on Him until He can bless us and we’ll unmistakably know exactly where that blessing came from. Zee is, without a doubt, that blessing for them. Maybe he just wanted to remind them of that this morning. And, he used you to do it.”
The thought of God using her in that way gave Rio pause. It didn’t make sense to her that He would use someone like her at all. Until recently, she hadn’t given Him much consideration. But, that was all changing now. Perhaps, that too, was part of His plan.
“You ready to go find that bench? Or, are you wanting to go out to Kyoto first?”
Rio remained quiet for a moment. But, the new questions from Luke had sent her mind spinning off onto a different course. Now, she was deep in thought, trying to prioritize the day, as they exited the building and started their walk toward the van. Finally, the thoughts all started to meld together and she gave Luke his answer.
“This morning was a pretty strong reminder that my time of anonymity might be running short.”
“I talked to Isaac and Jacoba. You don’t have to worry about them blabbing to anyone or anything.”
“I believe that. I do. But, I don’t know what the days that lie ahead hold. Heck, I don’t know what the rest of today holds. And, if I’m in a situation like I was this morning, where I have the chance to save a life, I’m going to take it. I don’t care who’s watching.”
Luke smiled, tears forming in his eyes as he told her, “God knew that about you before He even started knitting you together in your mother’s womb. That’s why He chose you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Seeker Of Truth
As
the van pulled out of the CYOI parking lot, Rio was deep in thought again. But, this time, she wanted to invite Luke in to be a part of it. She just didn’t know where to start. Then, suddenly, as if he could read her mind, Luke created a verbal bridge.
“So,” he began to ask, “did you get any reading done last night?”
“Yeah,” she responded. “A lot, actually.”
“Interesting stuff, huh?”
“Very.” Rio swallowed. She was about to take a giant leap. She had reached some conclusions but, now it was time to admit them out loud.
“I had never given God a lot of thought until I met you. If anything, I would have said He was a myth that a lot of people believed in but not all in the same way. Jesus, too. But, I know that’s not true anymore.”
Luke listened intently as Rio continued talking.
“Not just because of what’s happening to me or the fact that the books you gave me to read prove it to be true in every way that something like that can be proven. Although, they do. They make me believe that the Bible is as true as any history book. Maybe even more so because it’s been put to the test more than any other book of any kind. And, that means God is real. That means Jesus is, not only real but, exactly who He claims to be. When you realize that the likelihood of any person fulfilling just eight of the prophecies about the coming Messiah, written hundreds and in some cases even thousands of years before Jesus was born, is roughly the same as a huge meteorite landing on your house, then you read that Jesus fulfilled all three hundred and fifty-three of those Old Testament prophecies . . . Well, I think in order not to believe you’d have to make a decision to flat out ignore the truth.”
Luke smiled and his eyes filled with tears again.
“That’s what I want to read next, by the way. I want to read those Old Testament prophecies for myself. Then I want to read how Jesus fulfilled them. So, if it’s alright with you, I’d like to borrow a Bible next.”
“Of course,” Luke responded with quick enthusiasm. “You mean, after you finish the books you borrowed last night? Or, right away.”
“Both.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I did finish.”
“Which one?”
“Both.”
Luke nearly ran off the road as he asked, “You read both of those books in their entirety last night?”
“Yeah. I didn’t sleep again. Tonight, I want to read the Bible.”
“Okay . . . Now, you said it wasn’t just the books or your abilities that make you believe. What else is it?”
“You,” Rio answered without hesitation. “You make me believe, Luke. Because you believe so deeply that it pours out of who you are. And, I know you to be true, good, and honest. I know very little about what the Bible teaches but, I have gotten to know you and someone who believes that deeply must represent what’s in that book. Therefore, I look at you and I know it’s authentic. I know that, not only is God real, but He’s someone I want to meet and get to know. I’ve never known anyone like you, Luke. But, getting to know you has made me also want to get to know the one who has made you the way you are. So, tonight I want to read the Bible.”
“I’m lucky if I can get through it twice in one year. You’ll probably get through the whole thing in one night.”
Both chuckling, Rio looked over and noticed that Luke was wiping tears off his cheeks.
“Why are you crying?”
“There’s not a higher compliment that anyone can be paid than the one you just gave me.”
“Well,” Rio joked, “don’t let it go to your head.”
Luke started laughing as he told her, “I’ll try not to.”
“Now, before we start strategizing about the day, I do have a quick question that’s kind of on topic.”
“Shoot.”
“When Isaac was praying earlier, he mentioned both God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. It got me thinking, and I know reading the Bible will probably help clear this up too but, how is one God multiple beings?”
“Wow. That might be a quick question but it’s not a quick answer.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“The quickest analogy I can think of, which you already have a special relationship with, is water.”
“Yes, I’m quite familiar with water.”
“Good. Then you know it can be liquid, solid or vapor. But, it’s always still water.”
“Oh, ice and gas. Yeah. Right.”
“That’s kind of the same thing with God. In all three forms, the chemical composition of water never changes. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all still God. But, unlike water, God is all three at the same time.”
“Got it. That’s kind of awesome.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
The conversation continued pretty much the whole way to Kyoto and, therefore, they never came up with much of a strategy for the day before their arrival. So, when they got there, they parked the van and started walking around as they discussed their next steps. They tried to put themselves in Sota’s shoes and asked where he would go. Ideas like bars, homeless shelters and brothels were tossed around. However, they kept returning to the fact that Yoshito said Sota wanted to return a better man.
Luke got hungry so, they stopped and ate. But, otherwise, they walked around, until mid-afternoon, showing Sota’s picture and asking people if he looked familiar. They were close to giving up and going to look for the bench instead, and Rio had even remarked about wishing her newfound gifts included psychic abilities, when someone finally recognized Sota.
An older man, who appeared to be homeless, looked long and hard at the picture. Speaking in Japanese, of course, the man pointed to Sota and exclaimed, “I remember.”
Both Luke and Rio, who were barely even paying attention by this point, did double-takes between the man and each other. “You remember?” Rio asked in English before correcting herself and repeating the question in Japanese.
“Yes. Long time ago. Many years.”
“Yes. It probably would have been many years ago. Did you know him?”
“For a short time.”
“Where did he go?”
The man pointed at Mount Kurama.
“He . . . He went up there? Into the mountains?”
The man nodded before speaking again. “Never returned.”
Rio stood in stunned silence as the man walked away. Luke stared at her. It was the first time he’d seen her look defeated. She backed into the concrete wall of a building, slid down it, and sat on the pavement like a scene out of a movie.
“What are you doing?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know. What if he went up there and committed suicide like so many people think he did. If he’s dead then I don’t know why I’m even here.”
“Maybe you being here has nothing to do with Sota. And, maybe it has everything to do with Sota. We don’t know. But, God brought you here for a reason and you’re finding God on this trip. Not only is that a purpose . . . it’s not just something, it’s everything, Rio. Now, get up. Let’s go.”
“Go where?”
“To find your father.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Fanning The Flame
“We can’t just march up into the mountains without knowing where we’re going,” Rio nearly shouted as she chased Luke down the street, dodging passersby as she went.
“You finally have some direction,” Luke stated sincerely. “And, you don’t want to take it?”
“Some strange guy pointing at a mountain barely qualifies as direction,” Rio insisted, hurrying as she attempted to keep up with Luke.
“Are you kidding?” Luke asked as he finally stopped, almost causing Rio to run into him. “You came all this way to find your father. We just found the man who may have been the last person to see him alive. We know, generally, where he was heading. You have been indomitable in your quest up to this point. And, this is where you want to call it quits?”
Rio didn’t answer right
away. Luke made it sound simple and made her sudden hesitation seem a bit ridiculous. He was right. But, so was she.
“I never said I wanted to quit. I just want to hit the pause button so we can come up with an actual game plan rather than going off half-cocked. What I don’t want to do, is head up into the mountains a couple of hours before dark just to spend the night getting lost with no one to find us but wild animals who are hungry and see us as food. Please, tell me I’m making sense.”
“You’re making sense,” Luke admitted. “Maybe I was being a bit rash.”
“A bit,” Rio teased.
“Now I’m the wild animal who wants food,” Luke said with a smile.
“That’s more like it,” Rio said as she returned the playful look. “Dinner’s on me. I saw a place a few blocks back that looked really good.”
Now it was Rio in front as they reversed direction and started walking. She quickly led him to a tucked away okonomiyaki restaurant that Luke didn’t even remember passing. When he saw what kind of restaurant it was, his eyes lit up.
“Have you had okonomiyaki before?” Luke asked with enthusiasm.
“No,” Rio admitted. “It just looked good. Is it?”
“It’s awesome.”
“What is it?”
“A savory pancake with all kinds of yummy ingredients. I didn’t even know they had an okonomiyaki restaurant in Kyoto. You mostly find them in Kansi and Hiroshima. Come on. This is going to be a real treat.”
Luke opened the door and Rio went inside. They were both quickly intoxicated with the delicious smell. Rio was excited to try something new and Luke was equally excited to have something he had enjoyed before and was certain it would be delicious.