Far Side of the Universe

by melanie de coster

  “There, you see the ears, they’re round, a female’s are usually pointed. Its face is triangular like those of females, but its eyes are small. Its eyebrows meet, its fingers are close together. Females have a thumb and the second finger noticeably separated, undoubtedly to better hold their young. The hind paws have toes, and its stomach is smooth. Females have a line that divides it. It’s a male.”

  Albin was stepping away when Cosmo caught up with him. He was impressed, which didn’t happen very often. He wanted to know how Albin had known so many facts about schlirbs.

  “My father is crazy about hunting. I could never go with him, but when I was a child, I really wanted to. I watched every documentary about animals and read stacks of books about them. I believed that if he saw how much I knew about animals, he would take me with him. Of course he never did, but at least I learned all about animals. There’s one thing in particular that I remember.”

  “Oh really. What?”

  Albin studied Cosmo. His eyes shone with impatience and of pleasure of what was to come.

  “Look at yourself, you’re so excited about learning something, it’s like dangling a bone over a dog’s nose.”

  “It’s possible. So?!”

  “You’re right. What I remember the most, and I believe isn’t just related to animals, is that the most logical proof isn’t always the best.”

  “Oh...”

  “Now, discussion is over. We’ve still got a lot of ground to cover.”

  Albin took off at a fast clip, distancing himself from Cosmo. For the first time, he had revealed some of the hurt that he hid behind his arrogance, and he didn’t want to lose any more time.

  PART THREE

  CHAPTER 16 SOMETIMES IT’S WORTH TAKING A DAY OFF

  Travel diary: Sara’s notes

  The journey continued on. Arthur finally came up with a name for his schlirb, he called him Finlay. He says it’s Gallic and means hero of the feast. Poor Finlay seemed so happy to see us again at the edge of the forest. This time, I watched him carefully and think Cosmo’s right. Finlay can sense when the passageway is about to open. Thirty seconds before anyone else felt the breeze, he started rubbing his nose with both hands in a fist. He’s just too cute when he does that. Imagine how worried he must be each time we disappear. Thanks to Finlay, Arthur can think of something else besides his father. Now he worries about his schlirb.

  We met an unusual man along the way. To us, he didn’t seem so odd, but people on Lalea gave him strange looks. This man, Ulysses, raises horses. He doesn’t have many, maybe four or five, but he told us that he didn’t have more because he didn’t want to scare his fellow citizens. Because apparently there aren’t a lot of animals on Lalea. That’s probably true, we never saw a single squirrel, bird, not even an insect when were in the forest. We’ve seen only a few birds and from far away, very few, and supposedly they haven’t been here for very long. Schlirbs are the only animals that have always been here. Ulysses told us some fascinating schlirb traditions that I must remember to write down.

  His horses are truly superb, real race horses, powerful and high strung. They seem to truly love him, affection I’ve never seen from horses, it’s almost as if they were dogs. He doesn’t remember how they ended up here. All he cares about is that they stay.

  Albin insisted we spend some time there. He desperately wanted to ride a horse. There weren’t any saddles and apparently no reins. And Albin hadn’t ever been near a horse. But his eyes were shining like a Hollywood star at a gala, and I remember he had wanted to be a cowboy if he’d been able to walk. After watching him up close with the horses, I think he could have been one.

  He entered the enclosure with Ulysses. On the other side of the fence, all eyes were on him. Except for Aidan’s. He’d walked away, frightened of the horses. He says they’re too big, too unpredictable. Fortunately these horses had been ridden before. Ulysses seemed embarrassed to admit to us, kind of like an adult caught playing a kid’s game, that he and his son sometimes raced them. He didn’t tell us this until later. I’m sort of jumping ahead in my story.

  So, Ulysses entered the enclosure, walking calmly, and Albin followed him, tying to copy him with big, long strides and head held high. Though we who know him well realized he was more excited than a kid getting his first bicycle. He looked so proud and really happy. The horses immediately walked over, rubbing their heads against Ulysses’ pockets—they know that’s where he hides their treats. They were wary of Albin, being a stranger and all, but their love of treats, as well as their curiosity, won them over. Ulysses handed a sweet carrot, locally grown, to Albin. The horses would feel more confident around him if he fed them. One of them lingered near Albin. Completely brown, except for a white star on its forehead, and a mane that fell over one eye. A total rebel, all it needed was a black leather jacket. Albin smiled when the horse snorted on his neck. I wish Aidan could have seen it, but he had disappeared to some far corner of the house.

  Since Albin and the horse were getting along well, Ulysses decided he would ride that one. At first, Albin seemed panicked, but then quickly relaxed like a dependable cool guy in a superhero movie. Ulysses led the horse near the fence, and Albin hoisted himself up on its back. He had no idea what he was supposed to do or not do, so he gave the horse a tap to get it going. Evidently it wasn’t a tiny tap, because the horse took off fast, leaving Albin in the dust. He looked so sheepish that even though I was worried, I couldn’t help but laugh. He wasn’t hurt and couldn’t wait to get back on. The next time, he was gentler with the signal, and the horse began by walking while Albin worked on keeping his balance.

  What impressed me so much was how quickly Albin figured out how to move with the horse. He even learned, without Ulysses’ help, how to guide the horse. It was as if he’d been born doing it. There was one moment when he was on the horse, and one of the suns that his head was blocking created a halo effect around him. Then he turned towards me and winked. A look that would win the heart of his future sweetheart. He looked so brave and virile. That’s when I realized he’d changed. He was becoming what he’d always wanted to be, a hero, and it suited him rather well.

  He never ceased to amaze me that day. When Ulysses’ son arrived late afternoon in the purple horizon, Albin was ready to challenge him to a race. Yet until that very morning, he hadn’t ever touched a horse. They both took off, leaving the arena and galloped and galloped. We saw them disappear behind a hill, then turn right back around, Albin covered in dust, looking like he was about to laugh. He’d been outdistanced, but I don’t think he cared one bit. Just having the opportunity to race was enough for him. There are those times when it’s worth taking a day off.

  I’m sorry that Aidan missed the show. He must have felt alone, relegated to the kitchen without a woman there to feed it. He told us that he’d met a man, tall, yet he was wearing old, worn-out clothes that were too big for him, as if a scarecrow had worn them for ten years in a row. He was wearing a hat pulled down to his eyebrows and was chewing on some big walnuts that he had in his huge pockets. The man supposedly told him to be on guard and to not judge someone trustworthy just because they presented themselves as such. When he asked Ulysses if he knew this fellow, Aidan was giving him a sideways look. The nice man innocently replied that he had never noticed him before. I strongly suspect that Aidan didn’t believe him.

  But I wonder if he didn’t make up this story to make himself seem more interesting. Or if he fell asleep in the sun and had a heat stroke. Because when he rejoined us, he told us he had seen the Duc behind the barn. But I don’t know what he would have been looking for in this area. Anyway, we’ll find out soon. Ulysses is taking us to the fair in Midway, and we’re traveling in a carriage. Aidan doesn’t know this yet, and I look forward to seeing how he’ll react when he has to get close to the terrifying animals that Albin so beautifully controlled.

  Fortunately Ulysses promised he won’t leave until we get back. He’s even going to take care of Finlay. I wo
uldn’t know how to describe him if Titiana hadn’t spoken for all of us in saying, “Ulysses is a fair man.” I’m not exactly sure what she means by that, but I think it’s a fitting statement...to be fair. And furthermore, thanks to him, this day will have saved us some time on the road.

  I can’t wait to get to Midway, to meet Scarface, and at the same time, I would have liked continuing to travel. I wish it would never end.

  What Sara forgot to mention is what Ulysses taught them about schlirbs. These strange animals are in fact the favorite companion of families with children. But they aren’t always as easy to tame as Finlay. Tradition dictates how they become a part of young couple’s household. When a couple decides to get married, to build what will be their home, their closest friends have a meeting and one among them volunteers to safeguard the future of the engaged couple. The couple has no idea until the moment of their wedding which of their friends has chosen to be their protector.

  This person makes that decision known by presenting the gift of a schlirb to the young couple. A schlirb that they will have gotten from the heart of the blue forest. The schlirb will be a reflection of the couple’s marriage. They will take care of it as a way of showing they are taking care of each other, and it will accompany their children throughout the stages of their childhood. It’s said that schlirbs have a gift for always being by a child’s side during times of need.

  Only couples who have been banished from society don’t have schlirb companions, therefore Marie had every right to be suspicious when she realized they were traveling without one.

  Finlay, companion by happenstance, younger than most schlirbs presented as gifts, was more than just an animal. He was an admission ticket lending them credibility. And soon he would demonstrate what more he could be.

  CHAPTER 17 EBONY FORTRESS

  They reached Midway riding in their makeshift carriage designed by Cosmo and built by Ulysses. Fortunately for them, Lalea’s inhabitants were expert carpenters who knew more than anyone beyond this world about working with wood. The material seemed to bend to their will, forming the shape they desired before they had even begun to saw and put it together.

  It was the first vehicle to have ever circulated on Lalea. Aidan had chosen the far back seat so he could be the first to jump off if the horses reared up. Albin sat in the front seat beside Ulysses, and the rest of them took the middle seats. Finlay jumped from seat to seat testing to see if each spot on this new mode of transportation felt the same.

  They saw Midway long before reaching it. From afar, the town was hard to miss because of its bright light. The water circling the city reflected multiples of suns shining stronger than ever. A light breeze, as if arriving on call to cool down the burning heat of the suns, carried with it all the odors of the city. The air was filled with dozens of smells: the sweet bitterness of cut grass, the euphoria of southern spices, the tingling of mint, and the mellowness of almonds. Odors drifted from the dusty, trampled roads exposed to the festive suns, the bestiality of sweat from human hide, and the delicacy of silks. The travelers were even more spellbound as they got closer, inhaling the aroma of juicy meats slowly roasting on a spit fork, an aroma that was all the more startling in a world of vegetarians by necessity. Even the exchanges of shouting and laughter had a scent of heated stones and games with balls, a fragrance that was both spicy and soft.

  Melodious strains floated from the town, the warm cacophony of a promising morning. Voices of women calling out to each other at the fountain, screams and laughter of children chasing each other in the street, yelling of merchants trying to attract their first customers. No chirping of birds, no barking, just the bellowing of the impressive cow-fish swishing idly in the river that ringed the town. No feet, but horns, and a face with veiled eyes. They were incapable of seeing the nets waiting for them near the bridge or the fishermen approaching when they had run out of their meat.

  Midway was the only town with animals, and their horns and scales became precious souvenirs for tourists and gifts for cousins who couldn’t make it to the fair.

  They passed by families walking on the road, generating astonishment with every stride. Children pointed at them, mouths agape, and their parents’ reactions were almost the same. The first vehicle, the first carriage, and for most of them, the first horses. Those who weren’t standing stock still, not believing their eyes or too frightened to move, quickly grabbed their children who had their hands out to touch the carriage and horses. Not knowing what evil spell this carriage might hold, they preferred to keep their distance.

  They were gripped with curiosity when they caught sight of Albin and his friends who were acting nonchalant though inwardly rejoicing.

  They reached the bridge, which was guarded by not quite a man, a teen grown up and newly promoted. Scarcely older than they were, he was intensely proud of his green uniform, which suited his red-headed complexion, and of his horn that he blew with joy early every morning. His mother was no less proud, and the salt of her dried tears rimmed his shoulders. The welcoming of visitors was considered an important job by all the young people in Midway. It had always been bestowed on the student who showed the most promise during the final year of school. Year after year he had worked so hard to finally have the honor of pronouncing the key phrase: “Greetings, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Midway. Prepare yourselves to be amazed in every way. Enjoy the fair.” The last sentence had been his own touch. He probably wouldn’t have added it if he’d known how many times he’d have to repeat it.

  All his preparation did him no service when he saw Ulysses’ chariot approach him. Ulysses remained still in front of the young man who was incapable of reacting or ceding the way. The city gates, symbols of welcome, were just wide enough for them to get through. They were making their way through when the fiery leprechaun stopped them—he had almost forgotten to pronounce his ritual greeting. Pale-faced, he babbled at Ulysses and avoided acknowledging anything unusual about the scene. He seemed slightly assuaged after hearing Ulysses thank him.

  The town looked exactly how they had imagined it. Children chasing after each other barely missed running into the horses’ hooves, merchants hiccupped and then returned to their sales pitches, and the crowd continued to grow behind them. The six travelers hopped down from the carriage—they were in a hurry to get to wherever they needed to go. They said their farewells as they parted ways with Ulysses. Albin gave a silent goodbye to the horses, which were beginning to get nervous, though they remained calm while Albin was still in sight.

  Before they could lose their way in the city, the Duc emerged out of nowhere.

  “The Duc has found you again. He saw you near some strange creatures; you could have shown a bit more discretion. The Duc will now lead you to the Master. You must follow him and remain silent. The Duc would appreciate it if no one notices you.”

  So they obeyed the little man who crept past bystanders who moved out of his way, acting like they hadn’t seen him, yet flaring their nostrils. It seemed he wasn’t very well liked in this corner of the world. They didn’t have time to give it much thought because they were so busy trying not to lose him in the heart of the unknown city. Without slowing their pace, they had soon left the wide streets and were weaving their way through dark, narrow alleys. As they slipped farther away from the city center, structures rose progressively taller to the point of reaching the height of a four-story building. The sunlight seemed to have difficulty making its way between the walls, as if not used to their stature. A stream of brackish water flowed down the alleyway, and the shadows seemed to grow thicker. Right before reaching Scarface’s abode, they saw some haggard shapes moving that appeared to be hunchbacked men wearing rags. The Duc gave them a signal, and they stepped aside, but not before Albin glimpsed feverish expressions as they turned away and blended into the gray walls.

  He didn’t linger too long on the somber feeling they had given him because they were finally reaching the inner sanctum of their quest. The building
sat atop a small hill ringed by the same waters that flowed along the neighboring alleys. To the eye, the glistening waters alternated between purple and a blood-stained red. The ebony fortress reflected no sunlight and gave the impression of being made of one massive piece of wood. No arrow slits disfigured the surface of the walls. Four taciturn guards surveyed them as they crossed the bridge and didn’t look away until the Duc faced them. Albin could feel their stares shoot through his back until the heavy door closed behind them without making a sound.

  More guards were gathered at the entrance, quietly curious just like the others. The Duc practically shoved them into an octagonal room, seeming more and more nervous, even uncomfortable. It was obvious he didn’t want stick around, almost begging them to wait there for Scarface.

  The room was an eight-sided black box made with boards so tightly joined as to be inseparable. The door behind them blended seamlessly into the wall. There weren’t even any handles to delineate it from the partitions around it. The only pieces of furniture were a big desk made out of the same wood and a deep armchair made of crackled leather. The only illumination came from wall torches that cast a hot and undulating light throughout the space.

  Cosmo was walking toward the desk to get a closer look at it when he heard a voice call out to them.

  “Hello, my young friends. I am happy, so very happy that you made this long journey to see me. I hope it wasn’t too unpleasant.”

  Scarface, having silently entered the room, shook each person’s hand while staring straight into their eyes. He looked like they’d imagined him, yet not exactly. He was tall, that was for sure, but was now wearing his hair short. They felt a powerful force emanating from him. The dry hands they shook were covered in crudely sewn, black leather mittens. The thick threads, almost bristles, crisscrossed the skin. Fists that made them uncomfortable. He was also wearing white clothes, but they weren’t his size, which made him look disheveled. Above all, no one felt what they had been expecting from this meeting, a sense of warmth and trust.