Perhaps they just weren’t smart enough to figure it out. Perhaps it was not for the children of the tree to understand. Or maybe, just maybe, there was no answer.
Ben scratched that idea instantly. It was something more.
Something...foreboding. Something...dark.
* * *
The Leaves had no concept of attention from others watching them. They were the only ones who remembered the entire thing. Most everyone else was so newly reborn they likely couldn’t piece it all together just yet, if ever. They cared little for any eyes that might find them, -too happy to have just made it through together. The ordeal was at last behind them, and judging by the odd outcome, they rejoiced in the fact that they had made a difference. If they hadn’t, things would’ve turned out just as Shannon had expected –bleakly for all.
In that line of thought, she suddenly found herself thinking of how it all began.
“Deh?” Shannon asked. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”
“You may ask me anything, always, Lady White Leaves.” He nodded with a graceful smile.
“It’s silly.” Shannon smiled back.
“I don’t mind.” Deh answered.
“Ok.” Shannon stifled her grin as best she was able. “Why… why were you shooting those trucks that night? At Murton and Norton? I mean, why shoot at trucks? Of all the things to shoot, you take out a bunch of tonkas? I keep wondering why. It just struck me as bizarre when it was happening. And I might have never seen you, had you not been. And this whole end might never have come.”
“Oh?” He started, arching an obsidian brow.
“Why were you there at all?” Shannon spoke over him.
“Easily answered.” He grinned. “It would seem that despite my orders to hand down the admonishing, by the bigger picture, I was there to meet you.”
Shannon frowned. That was a nice answer and all. In fact, it was a beautiful answer, better than what she’d asked for. But it was not what she’d asked for. She wanted to know the direct reason for his being there that night, and for why he’d shot at the dump truck fleet at all. It hadn’t made sense to her when this all began, and it didn’t make any sense now. Such petty puny displays of his power made anonymously made zero sense.
“Not what I meant.” She glowered playfully.
“Oh.” He answered. “Why was I there?”
“Yeah…” She eyed him evenly.
“You don’t know?”
“No.” She firmed up.
“Then I’ll have to tell you some time.” He smiled, turned, and started walking away. Shannon gasped a mockery of offense, then gave chase. There really was all the time in the world to hear that story.
She supposed…it could wait.
E.L.F. - White Leaves Page 40