Awakening

by Hayden Pearton

Chapter XI: On Ice

  In which hope is rekindled...

  “Heal him!”

  Kingston knelt protectively over Barsch's fallen figure, a furious scowl disfiguring his fatherly face. His abrupt demand had been directed at Alza, who was standing placidly beside Maloch. Barsch's body had been moved to a nearby store, and had been carefully placed on the wooden floor. He had not made a sound since collapsing several minutes before, and he gave no response when touched. His breathing was shallow, and his back and most of his arms had been burnt raw. His bleeding had temporarily been stopped by several lengths of cloth, which had come from the unused shop curtains.

  “What... what are you talking about?” Alza wore a look of forced apathy, as she tried to placate Kingston's anger. Her fists were clenched to her sides, and she appeared to have grown paler since first seeing Barsch's sacrificial wound.

  Kingston was still kneeling over Barsch, but his anger made him seem bigger than Maloch, and his voice was barely held in check by his self-restraint. With clenched teeth, he said, “In the desert... during the night, after the Avatars had left... I saw you! Barsch's leg was clearly broken, but you healed him until he was as good as new! Don't you dare try and act like you don't understand! I want you to heal him, even if it kills you!”

  To Alza, each accusation felt like a physical blow, and she drew back, nearer to Maloch. The old hermit had lost himself to desperation, and would no longer trust her words. Still, she tried to explain her lack of desire to heal their fallen comrade. After clearing her throat and regaining her posture, she coolly said, “I understand that you are worried about him, but there is nothing I can do. If I did indeed heal him back then, then the knowledge has been lost to me. That night even now is a blur for me, and anything I might have done or said... I cannot remember any of it.”

  “Then try to remember! Can't you use that power of yours? I'm sure that if you just tried, then it would all come back-

  “Even if I wanted to heal him, and I'm not saying I don't...I can't. Even before the battle with that wolf, my power has been weak. I've been trying to summon it since I saw him, but it won't come, no matter how hard I try. If I could rest for a day or two, and return to my full capacity, I might have a better chance. Until then... there's nothing I can do.”

  Upon hearing Alza's explanation, Kingston's anger visibly deflated. His downcast eyes showed that he felt shame at having lost his temper, but his trembling hands meant that the anger had only temporarily receded. With a heavy sigh, he said, “I see, I'm sorry... It's just, this is my fault, and I want to be the one who saves him this time. If I hadn't fallen, If I had only been stronger, maybe this wouldn't of happened. I told him to go, but I knew that he would stay. I should have tried harder to convince him to leave me!”

  It was then, when Kingston was furiously berating himself, that Maloch spoke. In a voice that was designed to be both pleasant and firm, he said, “Kingston, you are not to blame. We all know what Barsch is like, and I am convinced that there was nothing you or anyone could have said to make him turn his back on you. He was willing to sacrifice his body for you. It wasn't out of pity or pay-back... it was out of compassion. He knew that any of us would have done the same for him. So do not despair, for this is what he chose to do.”

  What remained of Kingston's anger vanished in that instant, and there was a grateful yet clenched smile on his face when he said, “You're right, Maloch. I’m sorry that I lost my temper… But still, we should leave this place while we can, before that beast returns. We can’t look after Barsch and fight it at the same time. We need a place with a medical supplies, and perhaps some food and water. Do either of you have any ideas?”

  Alza, who was missing her memories, had no suggestions, but Maloch's eyes lighted up with recognition as he said, “During my previous scan of the area I found a place that may contain all of those things. Luckily there happens to be a cryogenesis station a few hours from our current location. Inside, we should be able to find a way to heal Barsch. I can download the blueprints and a map to the entrance if it pleases you?”

  Hope visibly returned to Kingston's face as he said, “A cryogenesis station, eh? Certainly, there will be a lot of things there that we can use, but their security systems were built in order to keep things from disturbing the people inside... it won't be easy to get in undetected...”

  “Do not worry master, I will deal with the system when we get there. So, do you wish to proceed with my idea?”

  Kingston thought of the dangers that they would face if they tried to enter a station in lock-down, but his desire to save Barsch forced logic from his mind. After standing and stretching out his pained back, he said, “There’s nothing we can do but try. If we do nothing... we may lose him, and I won’t let that happen.” A quick glance to Barsch's immobilized body made him add, “Before we go, we should figure out a way to carry him. Perhaps we can make a litter from the things here?”

  For the next half-hour, they searched and scavenged, looking for loose sheets of cloth and dried wood. The sun was sinking towards the edge of the world by the time the litter was finished, bringing a cold chill that was reminiscent of the temperature in the ç'aether forest. Given the amount of ç'aether surrounding the city, Kingston had expected it to be cold, but it still chilled him to the bone nonetheless. In addition to the plummeting temperature, a biting wind had arisen from the west, further robbing Kingston and Alza of heat and simultaneously slowing their movements.

  After strapping Barsch to the litter, they left the shop, heading in a north-westerly direction towards the station. The litter itself was a simple construct, consisting of nothing more than a few lengths of fabric suspended between two sturdy planks, but it was effective. In the end, it was decided that the litter would be supported between Maloch and Kingston, with Alza carrying Barsch's pack and Lanista.

  After making sure that the acid rain was indeed gone, they made their way towards the city centre, hopefully for the last time. It was as they had left it, with the scars of their recent battle still etched into the destroyed buildings. With only one last lingering gaze on the throne of rubble, they left the city centre behind.