Brave Story - Miyuki Miyabe [223]
Even Meena got into the act. Egged on by the crowd, she started to sing, and the level of excitement escalated even further. There was a thunderous storm of applause when she finished, and cries for one more song. She was happy to oblige.
A great crowd formed a circle around her. There ensued much clapping of hands, stamping of feet, and dancing. Wataru was swept up with the crowd—grabbing on to hands and shoulders as the waterkin jumped in the air. It wasn’t long before the waterkin wine took effect. He started to swoon and thought he’d collapse on the floor before the song was finished.
“You okay?”
“Maybe not,” Wataru said. “I think I’ll go for a walk along the beach. Some fresh air will do me good.”
Walking down the outside steps, Wataru had to step over clumps of waterkin drinking and laughing. Alone at last, he let himself relax and flopped down onto the sand.
A soft sea wind brushed his cheeks. The night was anything but dark. Twinkling stars shone like silver sand spread on the deep navy blue cloth of the sky. Wataru enjoyed the feel of the sand beneath his fingertips and let the rhythm of the waves wash over him.
Vision was beautiful. Lying back like this, the night sky seemed even closer than when he had been sitting up. He felt like he could reach out and touch the heavens. The lilting sound of Meena singing reached his ears.
It was a ballad—a beautiful thing, with a shifting melody. Her sweet voice trembled sorrowfully, matching the rhythm of the waves.
So far away, the one I love.
What sky are you under tonight?
What wind will my song ride…
To carry my voice to you?
Tell me, winds,
Where he may be.
Tell me, winds,
What star he looks upon.
My ears are like two white seashells,
Listening for dawn to come.
It was a song about long-distance lovers. Or maybe it was a one-sided love. He closed his eyes and let his heart fill with happiness.
“Wataru, you’re not sleeping, are you?”
“Huh?!” he said jumping to his feet. “I haven’t heard from you since the hospital,”
“No, no, we talked after that too. Have you forgotten? Remember when that meek little starseer saved you by the Swamp of Grief? I spoke to you in your dream, while you slept. Don’t you remember?”
Wataru racked his foggy head, trying to remember. His memories were vague. He remembered Shin Suxin’s concerned look when his eyes first opened…
“Tsk. I’m disappointed. But no matter. We’ve met again, after all,” the sweet voice said cheerfully.
“I’m sorry, the poison from the swamp was making me hallucinate.”
“Oh? You weren’t seeing things. Everything really happened.”
Wataru froze. What? It wasn’t an illusion—a nightmare?
“You…” he began.
“It’s okay, what you did. Really. Forget that now. What you need to focus on is what you’re about to do.”
“What I’m about to do?”
“You plan to go to the Goddess and ask her to stop the sacrifices, no? Do you really think you can do that?”
Wataru rubbed his eyes, and sat down on the sand. “How do you know that?”
“Your thoughts are easy enough to read,” she said with a chuckle. “I’m worried, though. I don’t think you know what it is you’re trying to do. I don’t think you’re fully aware.”
“Aware?”
“Oh, to be sure, it’s your choice if you want to go meet the Goddess and ask her to stop the sacrifices. She grants a wish to every Traveler who reaches the Tower of Destiny on his own. That is how it has been for ages. But I think you’re forgetting something. The Goddess may grant each Traveler only one wish. You don’t get two or three. If you ask her to stop the sacrifices, what will happen to your own destiny? Isn’t that why you came to Vision in the first place, to change your own fate?”
The sea breeze that blew gently through his hair suddenly turned cold. He could practically hear his body temperature drop.
The Goddess grants only one wish.
“I think you’ve remembered,” the sweet voice said, sounding satisfied. “You are too nice for your own good, Wataru. Who cares about the people here in Vision? You have to go back to the real world someday,