*
“No!” screamed Barsch, waking from the nightmare. Trembling, he reached up and felt around his neck, sure that he would feel the bruises that she had made.
“It was just a dream…” he thought, trying to calm his racing heart. Outside, the thunderous downpour had at last disappeared, replaced by the blinding light of the morning sun. Although Barsch knew that he should have been glad to finally be going back, something kept the smile from his lips. His time with Kingston had been short, but already, he felt more at peace than he ever had in the Station.
Perhaps, if things had been different… if the planet had not been so damaged by man, if they had never had to freeze themselves to survive, then maybe Kingston would have had a happier life. Barsch could almost see it: playing chess with Kingston under the warm sun, inviting him to have dinner, where he would tell Barsch and his father stories and tales from his youth… But the world did not work like that, and everyone knew that both Fate and the Gods had long since abandoned humanity. Any hope for that perfect world lay in the distant future, and if Barsch was lucky, he would one day be able to show it to the old hermit.
“Are you okay, m’boy?” called Kingston from beyond the closed door.
“Yeah… just a bad dream… nothing to worry about,” replied Barsch, removing the bed covers. After dressing, he left the study, wondering if he would ever see it again.
“Good, good. Are you all ready?” Kingston’s expression was neutral, but Barsch knew that the old man did not want him to leave. Not for the first time, Barsch wondered if he was doing the right thing, if there was no other alternative… but, despite all his searching, he had found no other way forward. However, if by some chance he could not re-enter Genesis Station, then he might have to enjoy Kingston’s hospitality for a while longer.
“Yes. If I leave now, I might be able to miss the worst of the morning pollution.”
“I see… well, here, have some breakfast before you go. It’s a long walk, and I wouldn’t want you getting hungry now…”
“Thanks. I appreciate it, truly.”
But the old man had already left the kitchen, no doubt on his way to check on the crops. Barsch ate the rest of his breakfast in silence, chewing on the dried fish aimlessly while thinking about his upcoming trip. Kingston had told him that his hut lay only a few miles from the glade, so the Station could not be much further. In a few hours, he would be back in the Station, as alone as when he had first awoken. After finishing his meal, Barsch gathered up the rest of his things: his new clothes, a rucksack Kingston had given him, and a small lunch of dried fruit and nuts that Kingston had prepared for him.
“Here, I thought you might need this,” said Kingston, suddenly reappearing from the direction of his bedroom. In his hands was a long strip of sturdy cloth, to be used as a makeshift gas mask to protect against any airborne pollutants. He handed the cloth to Barsch, who felt that there was something wrapped up within it. Unravelling the brown material, he saw what else Kingston had gifted him with.
“Kingston… you can’t…” he mumbled, holding the knife up to the light. The dawn-rays glinted off the polished surface, making the blade glow white.
“That knife saved my life more times than I can count. I hope that it will do the same for you.”
“Kingston, thank you, for everything. If you hadn’t found me... if you hadn’t taken care of me…” Emotions that Barsch had not felt in decades were now all bubbling to the surface, stealing his words and wetting his eyes.
“I know. Now, go on, your father is probably worried sick about you…” Kingston said, trying to lighten the mood. He too looked as if he were about to cry, but he had many more years of experience in holding back his emotions.
“Okay…” Barsch said, wiping the tears from his eyes. Moving past Kingston, he entered the bedroom, intent on saying goodbye to the sleeping girl. Inside the room, he was presented with a rather strange sight. A bluejoy -a small, brightly coloured bird- had found its way inside the room. It was perched on the bedside table, close to the girl’s expressionless face. Barsch expected it to fly away as he approached, but it remained where it stood, looking from him to the girl. For a moment, Barsch fancied that the bird was watching over her, but he quickly dismissed this as childish fancy.
“Watch her for me, please,” he said to the bird, deciding to indulge his childish side for once. After leaving the room, he made for the front door, where Kingston was waiting. They walked outside together, taking a moment to enjoy the warm sunlight streaming through the trees. Kingston had already switched off the electric fence, so that Barsch could pass by unharmed. Facing him, Barsch could think of very little to say that had not been said already.
Kingston, seeing this, took the lead, and said, “Be safe.”
“You too,” replied Barsch, shaking the hermit’s outstretched hand. And just like that, Barsch’s time with Kingston had drawn to a close. Slinging the rucksack over his shoulder, he set off, stopping only long enough to wave goodbye. As he did so, he caught sight of the bluejoy, perched on the window-sill. Turning, he began his long walk, as the bluejoy’s melodious call began to fill the silent void he had made.
Awakening Page 21