The Phugwak planet: A Journey To Another Possibility

by Ayman Ghalit

  Welcoming Abode

  With honest caring questions, Edward, who sat with them in the guest room, asked, “How are you doing? I see a new face with you, as I miss another! What had happened to your father!? please, don’t say that he became a numbered casualty in this war!?”

  Carl tiresomely exhaling, and replied, “War forcibly parted us. And, with no phone to contact, nor someone to ask about him, we got nothing but hope to hang with. Safe and sound, we really hope he is.”

  “Worry not, my son. Am sure everything is going to be fine. And what about this young man? I didn’t see him the last time you were here.”

  They felt awkward as the kid’s eyes started to flow. He wept mumbling, ‘father and mother.’ Jack patted his shoulder and took him to Edwards’s golden-basin to wash up his face.

  The kid’s absence gave them the liberty to speak, so Gael told him about Howard’s sad story. And while staring at the ground with wide concerning eyes, Edward angrily bit on his lips, and said, “Astray, the bondmen went! May God quicken Death to this accursed regime. It brought only sorrow and pain to the Phugwaks. What guilt did this child do to deserve this? And how come those brainless Phugwaks do such thing? How did mercy or the phugwanity vanish from their chests? How come they don’t even fear God, I truly wonder!?”

  After moments of hesitating silence, Carl proposed, “We do know that this will be odd to hear, but do listen to us, Ms. Edward. It is only the coincidence that gathered us with Howard, and we can’t take him with us everywhere. We hope you take and shelter him. Consider him as your own child, or simply, just lead him to an orphanage or so.”

  Edward kept silent thinking about that for moments, then he nodded, and said “It’s all going to be alright. Worry not about it.”

  At the basin, Howard washed his face with blood, and with disposable towels he dried it out. Then, he returned with Jack, who wasn’t afraid, nor amazed anymore. Shortly after, Edward’s wife, who brought liquid refreshment of blood and serum, and some appetizers of small human organs, kidneys and eyes, joined them. Manners, timidity, and caution forced them to take a sip or two and to take a bite or so. They talked about Darg and what had happened to it and to its Phugwaks. And when the clock reached 8PM, Edward invited them to dinner which was greenish grilled chicken-like animal. Though, it tasted bitterly horrible, they ate, and drank from the tasteless blood serum that poured by Edward’s wife; whom nicely urged them to drink. Later, they finished eating and returned to the guest room where Edward and his wife brought pillows and blankets for them to sleep. Moments later, they left them alone, making Gael feel free to charge up the phone. He did, and after turning it on, he called the number, but it didn’t answer... He called it again, and again, but sadly, no one did answer. “Damn it.” he said. Kaiser yawned, and said, “Let us sleep and rest, in the morrow, we will deal with this issue.”

  “No rest for the worried, Kaiser.” He replied.

  “True, but there is nothing you can do.”

  In secrecy, and away from Howard, they wisely drank water, then they turned off the lights, laid on the smooth rug of the guest room; which was their only bed, and waited to sleep while in doubt and fear, hoping again for a joyful morrow. And when sleep was about to subdue them, Gael’s eyes swiftly opened wide when the phone rang. He then threw out the blanked, rushed, picked it up, and with worried voice, he answered, “Hello!”

  “Gael?” The caller asked.

  “…Mort?” he replied.

  “Yes, it’s me. How are you? And how are your friends?”

  Gael let out a long relieving sigh, then he smilingly looked at his friend while pointing at the phone, saying, “Its Mort!”

  “How is he?” asked Kais.

  “Where is he?” asked Carl.

  “Ask him about the keys!” said Jack.

  Gael, who had his own thoughts, said, “Where the fuck had you been. Do you know what we have been through waiting for your stupid call! Whe—!”

  Mort, whom his voice was a bit tired, interrupted him saying “Listen... I am in prison right now…”

  The word prison brought back the troubling and burdening thoughts to Gael, who thought for a little moment that this ominous journey has finally came to an end. “Prison!? What prison?” he nervously asked.

  Mort wanted to answer, but got interrupted by someone who was angrily yelling at him, “That’s enough, inmate. You took more than you deserve. Give me the phone, ya mutant freak! … Hello, oh, am so sorry to tell you this, but your friend, Morton, is being held in Narbiz Military Prison.”

  “Really… In what charge?” He worryingly asked.

  “Afraid not, sir. It’s not a big deal. He has been caught stealing farmers’ chickens. Come in the morrow, and simply pay up his fees and he will be free to go… Good night, sir.”

  He hung up the phone on Gael who begged him to hold on for a minute. Then his friends, whom were dead curious, asked him what’s wrong? And with a face full of disappointment and confusing, he answered them that Mort is in prison. A military prison!

  “In what charge?” asked Carl.

  “He said that they caught him stealing chickens!”

  Bob responded, “A military prison is a no place for chicken thieves as far as I know. Am pretty sure his matter is bigger than this.”

  “He also called him a mutant freak, Carl.”

  Concerningly, Carl responded “Shit… That’s not good. That’s totally not good. They might have found out—”

  Kaiser impeded Carl by a glance that reminded him about Howard’s presence. He changed what he wanted to say to “…lets sleep for now, and tomorrow we will deal with this.”

  This unfortunate outcome made sleep so difficult for them to achieve, as dark thoughts and doubts about Mort kept storming in their heads.

  Irreversible Hand

  In Mawan’s cup coffee shop, Kaiser were sitting on a golden chair, and was facing his beloved one, Alma, who asked him, “Where have you been? You didn’t come to Zaimur as promised!”

  “I did,” he replied, “and I had searched for you far and wide, but couldn’t find you.”

  She looked him in the eye, hummed, and said, “You seem honest enough, but don’t do this again, Kaiser. Doubt and worry almost devoured me.”

  “What’s wrong with you, my love. I told you that I don’t break a promise.”

  She paused silent for a moment, then she asked him “Did you miss me?”

  “Ask me how many time had I wept your absence. Knowing that you are not beside me made feel life is worthless. You are my happiness, Alma. You are my life that I was missing.” ... After that, he pulled a small, purple, leathery box out of his pocket, knelt in front of her, and opened it to reveal a diamond wedding ring, then he proposed to her saying, “Little dove, will you marry me?”

  “Diamond?” she confusingly wondered.

  That answered made him realize that he is still in the Phugwak planet! He felt a little bit confuse as he took the ring out of its box to explain to her, but it fell in the ground, and when looked down to locate and pick it up, he found himself standing on a sea of shimmering wedding rings! He haplessly dropped on his knees and started to search for her ring, and while doing so, he rebuked himself saying in thoughts, “You are nothing but a stupid fool, how many time does take for you to understand that public proposal is a bad idea!”

  Moments later, He found the ring, but when looked up, Alma had left. He tried to catch up with her, but every time he approaches her, someone interrupt him, Gael, Carl, Jack, and Bob, who grabbed his shirt, saying “Kais, what are you doing?” He ignored him and followed her while only seeing her back. And when he finally stopped her, his eyes widened in confusing when she turned around. He didn’t find her Alma, rather, he found her Emily!

  “Emily!? W-What are you doing in here!”

  “Are you still following me?”

  “What! No… its. I, I thought you…”

  He got impeded by someone, shouting loud, “Run for
your lives. The imperial army is here.” He turned around to see Canth, Clark, and Thanker amongst those who were running. Running away from armored vehicles, tanks, and uncountable armed soldiers. He wanted to run with them, but got stopped by a weeping voice that called, “Kais, don’t leave me alone,” He tracked the caller, to find it was Alma in a deep pit that his hand couldn’t reach when he tried to pull her out. He tried, and tried, but it all went to failure. Then, Morton approached him and said that he had found the keys and they are leaving this planet. He closed his eyes to make a decision, and opened it to find himself pausing still on a chessboard-like ground. He turned left to find soldiers pointing at him, roaring loud, “This is the fiendish alien that I had told you about!”

  They chased him, as he ran. He tried to run as fast as he could, but no matter how much effort he puts, he feels that he is running way too slow. He felt his legs heavy and are barely moving, as if it was stuck in muddy ground. He desperately tried, and tried, till on of the soldiers grabbed him by the back of his collar, then... he gasped waking up. Sweating and heavily breathing,

  “Oh God...! what a nightmare!”

  He calmed, looked at his sleeping friends, and somehow, he envied their carefree minds. The room was dark and calm except for chirping sound of some insect outside. Again, Kaiser has been succumbed by the painful feelings that he desperately wanted to run from. He remembered Alma, her sad fate, the joyful moments with her that didn’t last, the delightful days with Emily who left him, the true love that didn’t happen, and his joyful dream that didn’t come true. He ruefully sighed, and when his eyes involuntarily started to flow, he said before going back to sleep,

  “Tearful your eyes, in a lonesome weep!

  With scathed soul, and a burdening heap.

  If none will listen, and none will care,

  And none will lend, and none will share!

  Then!

  Why is it you try? And for what you dig?

  Why is it you dream? and why is it so big!

  Seal your mouth, and wipe out the tears

  Ignore what passed, and face your fears.

  It’s dark, gloomy, and surly not fair.

  But, honor awaits, with dignity to wear.”

  Into the Coop

  Around 6AM, Edward woke them up to join him and his wife for breakfast. They gathered around the table with its golden dinning items that were gleaming the morning sunshine seeping in through the opened window. True, they got used to this kind of fairytale-like view, but it did not cease to amaze them. They managed to finished their bitter breakfast, and expressed gratitude for Edward and his wife after. Later, they excused them for leaving. He did ask where and why, but they simply answered him saying it is a matter that he doesn’t have to worry about. Minutes after, in the guest room, while Edward and his wife were away, Gael said they have to go to the prison, but Carl suggested that only one or two should go and they mustn’t go together for they shouldn’t make this reckless move. But no one volunteered to stay, and no one took the risk to go alone. And as they were discussing this, Howard came along. They looked at each other in question, “How are we going to tell him?” Kaiser placed his palms on Howard’s shoulders, and said, “Listen, um? we have to go, and... we can’t take you with us. You have to stay with Edward and his wife, this is the best place for you now… am, am really sorry.”

  Howard, who tried to express carelessness, kept silent for a moment, and said “Alright, thank you for everything.”

  Pity they felt for him when his facial feature started to turn sad, Jack patted his head and said, “Stay strong, little body. Everything is going to be fine.”

  They thanked Edward; who urged them to stay, and his wife; who were beside Howard, and bid them farewell. They got into the car, and headed off to Narbiz prison after taking its direction from one of the pedestrians. And before they reach the prison, they argued about this matter again; paperless weapons, a stolen car, and without IDs? Gael said that they will hide the weapons and will ask about Mort at the first checkpoint to see how they will respond. But when they reached the first checkpoint, they found it hard to penetrate as armored vehicles and armed masked soldiers in front of triple golden wired-fence gate were locked and loaded. The soldiers pointed their guns at the guys, and stopped them at 200 meters distant or so. It wasn’t easy as they thought, and the soldiers weren’t as friendly as expected.

  “HALT! Wharrya want!” a soldier aggressively shouted.

  Gael, who was the driver, stutteringly flustered, saying “We, w-we are here for Morton.”

  The soldiers immediately lowered their weapons after hearing an order from the highest rank amongst them telling that it is the order of Colonel Alfred to bring anyone who asks about Morton. He ordered the guys to collaborate and exit the vehicle with both arms up in the air. They did, and got professionally searched from head to toe. After that, they handcuffed them. That made them realize how stupid they were to do this brainless move. Gael asked himself “What the hell! What have I done?”

  Jack said in thoughts, “Fuuuuck! Fuuuck! we became a Colonel’s issue now?”

  By an armored silver-bus, they delivered them to the main prison which was a fortress-like building. Vast, wide, with tall wired walls, and lots of watchtowers. The main golden gate consisted of five huge pillars that vary in height. They entered the prison that brought them chaotically bad feelings. Carl then realized that Mort’s matter is way bigger than chicken thievery. And when stopped at main building, Kaiser, whom were devoured by relinquishing feelings, let out a faint surrendering chuckle!

  They pulled them out of the bus, and led them to the Colonel office which was in the upper floor in the tallest building. And through the skin-creeping halls, while led by three soldiers, they can easily hear frightening screams and cries from the nearby prisoners. Some were begging for mercy in a weeping voice which made Jack’s knees shudder.

  “I swear that I don’t know,” someone painfully cried.

  “Then, what brought his number to your phone?... you can’t fool us... turn on the switch, soldier!”

  “No, I beg you, not the switch. Please, make him stop, pleeeeeease!”

  Later, they passed by a window in the Colonel’s office floor that happened to be not fully closed. Gael, who were close to it, swiftly glanced at the outside ground to see dozens of motionless hanged men! He felt it’s all done right now, and that he is totally doomed after seeing their bodies barely sways with the wind. He also realized that there is nothing he can do, especially as a mere powerless human.

  He pursed his lips in fear and sadness when he remembered his dad and how he obnoxiously treated him. Again, in silent words, he asked the supreme, the supernatural, and the beneficent being whom he believes can hear him,

  “My Lord, I sincerely implore.

  Forgive me for my sins and for my wasted efforts.

  Make my foothold sure, and deliver me from this wicked place in peace and secure.”

  Moments Later, they reached the Colonel’s office to be blocked by a guarding soldier. A soldier in his forties; thin in shape, with short spiky beard, and with a long pale face shaped by distress and tiredness. One of his golden uniform buttons was missing, and his handgun holster was not tight enough making the gun points up. The name-tag on his chest reads: Pablo Mendoza.

  “What is wrong with you? It is the Colonel’s order to bring them as soon as possible.”

  “Colonel Alfred told me not to let anyone in,” he replied.

  “They are here for Morton, Mendoza. Let us deliver them to him or the Colonel will not be happy.”

  When their voice went slightly loud, someone shouted from the office “What is happening outside?” Mendoza opened the door and told him about the arrivals, then the Colonel angrily said, “Are you stupid? Let them in, and go bring Morton to here. Quickly!” Mendoza saluted him and left to bring Mort.

  The soldiers brought them in, and sat them on black leathery buttoned sofa that was facing the Colonel who w
as sitting behind a shiny white desk and didn’t even bother to glance them. The soldiers saluted him and left after being told that their presence is no longer required.

  *Alfred, the Fatherless, was his name. An orphan who have been abandoned at birth on one of the narrow streets of Darg. A self-made Phugwak who dug his path up to become one of the most iconic military figures in the current imperial history. Emotionless man who follows the orders no matter what it was, and do his tasks no matter what and how much it costs. He was known for his effective ability to extract valuable intel from the tenacious and the willful. *

  The office was cold, frightening, and silent, except for the scribbling of the silver pen of Colonel, who was reviewing, writing, and signing up papers. Carl, who couldn’t bear the dreadful silence, asked, “Why are we here?” But the colonel didn’t answer, look, or stop what he was doing. Later, Mendoza came back with Mort, who was in an unenviable and piteous condition. He was fully chained up, both in arms and legs, he was chained as if he was some kind of maniac or so. His facial expressions were fatigues and tired. They wondered after seeing him like that; what was the real reason he did to deserve this dire situation?

  Mort looked at them, disappointedly sighed, and said, “All of you!?”

  Cornered Truth

  Mendoza firmly stood, saluted the Colonel, and said, “Pardon I seek sir, but... whet about my request?”

  “What request?” Alfred replied with bothered face.

  “You know… my request for an emergency leave.”

  “Declined…” he replied.

  “But it is my son, sir.”

  “Declined, soldier. And don’t argue again. How come that you be this oblivious? Are you not aware of what is happening to the empire right now? Are you not aware of this monstrous plotting that we are facing? How selfish can you be? The only emergency that requires full attention is fighting for the empire and defending it from the terrorists and those anarchists whom are rapidly multiplying and freely roaming the streets right now. You are now dismissed, return to guard, and don’t let anyone pass to here.”