The Thirteenth (Part 4)

Leona looked at her father and David, the thirteenth clone, who ran along with her to the edge of the forest, worried about nothing else but to save their skins. She was faster and knew the way, so she took charge of their protection. Fortunately, the armed men had not detected them so far, but it could only be a matter of time.

They heard more gunshots. Leona kept thinking of her brother. As long as she heard the sound of those shots, as dangerous as it might be, she knew he was probably alive. The silence could be a bad sign however. She was afraid to think of the worst. Her immediate concern was to run for safety.

- We have to reach the tunnels. It will be easier to go unnoticed once we are in there. Be careful, but do not stop one second.

She knew she demanded too much from those two different human beings, but she had to be strong for the two, who were practically reaching the limits of their strength. A thought went through her head and she tried to tear it off her mind, but it was not easy...

“What will this outbreak of adrenaline cause to the body of the clone? He is already in a strange mutation. What if this speeds up some process to the point of no return?”

One more shot. This time it seemed to be closer to them. She heard hurried footsteps. They were almost at the entrance to the tunnels. Leona did not look back. She kept her father and David under her full attention and had to concentrate on keeping them safe, no matter what. The future and the past were running along with her, under her full responsibility.

As they finally passed the entrance, Leona did not hesitate. That entanglement of passageways in the various galleries was like a maze, but both she and her brother knew the place very well. They used to have a private joke about their favorite hiding place.

"If it's not right to go right, then it is right to go left."

As soon as she felt safe, she let the two men finally catch their breath. The three of them were quietly trying to figure out if they were alone in there. The sound of hurried footsteps told them that someone was coming in the same direction. It could only be her brother, but she told the two of them to be hidden and silent, until they were sure of it, while she would check it.

- Leona, I saved the diary. Don’t even ask at what cost. You'd better take it with you. I will divert the attention of those men so that they never come close to the terminal until you are safe to be transported back to the future.

- No. We have very little time. We must get out of here together.

- It's our only chance. Trust me. I will be here on time. Don’t worry.

Not to worry and trust him? She had her doubts... As much as he seemed confident of what he was doing, it was still extremely risky.

The woman did not realize that her brother tried to hide his difficulty in breathing normally. He pretended to be only tired and worried about getting them out of there and back to safety.

- We'll meet at the terminal in fifteen minutes. Don’t wait more than five more minutes for me. Now go.

Leona quickly articulated an emergency plan in her mind, but she needed time to carry it out before her brother rejoined the group.

She called her father and the Thirteenth up. They followed her, saying nothing. The younger character could not hide how scared and afraid he was. The older man, used to sudden departs and a very unsafe life for long just followed his daughter, without complaining and in apprehensive quietness.

The woman was agile and knew the way through like no one else. The two of them made an extra effort to follow her, blindly and confidently. All the other sounds, besides their footsteps, had been completely left behind, making it easier for them to be attentive to the place and noises around.

- It's right over there. We’ve finally arrived.

***

Leona reprogrammed the transport terminal, as she had decided mentally, for the return of four travelers, rather than the three who had gotten in at that point in the past. Despite the risk of that action, and even knowing that she was going against all the security procedures and orders of the Supreme, she had no doubt she had taken the right decision.

She, her father and the Thirteenth clone were anxiously waiting for the fourth traveler, but time ran out too quickly and the terminal sent the transfer signal. The three of them placed themselves in the center of the capsule and waited a fraction of a second for it to begin the process.

The woman felt tired and sad, but she had to follow the procedure, especially in the name of the safety of her father and the clone. When they’d reach the future, she would try to get around the situation, probably by sending another signal, so that her brother would receive it and return. He would know what to do.

The sound of a burst of gunshots was not noticed by any of the three as they were being transferred back into the future because of the buzzing sound the machine emitted and the speed of the process. The Thirteenth felt a jerk in his foot, but did not realize what was really happening.

They heard an intermittent ringing a few seconds later.

The transfer had been effectively completed. They were now inside the transportation terminal of the main building in the year 4697.

Leona looked down, at the feet of the Thirteenth, and then realized the clone had his legs and feet stained with blood.

- What is it?

- It's… blood. Are you hurt?

- I don’t know…

The clone’s nose was also bleeding. He rolled his eyes and fell at the woman’s feet, apparently unconscious. She hurried to him, but then she saw that behind him lay the wounded and unconscious body of her brother. His hands were also covered with blood.

The two scientists arrived at that moment, together with the Supreme, who approached and spoke, before she had time to explain herself.

- I hope you have a very good explanation to this. I told you not to interfere with anything in the past. Your task was precisely to prevent that from happening.

- I know. But we were being chased by armed men and I could not leave anyone behind. It was the only alternative.

- The only alternative? The only alternative was to have avoided this whole mess...

- I know, but we have a more serious problem right now...

The Supreme looked over Leona's shoulders and understood what she meant. Although he was an extremely severe man, he was also consistent and fair.

***

- But we managed to save the diary, after all. Even after everything that happened... and...

- Yes. That's right. But at a very high price.

- This is no longer relevant. What matters now is that we have managed to protect our future and the living of all these people...

- But we messed with the past. It should not have happened. It was a very serious risk... and invariably every intervention has its consequences.

- But you were not going to live for long, back there, anyway... The attack may have been anticipated by our arrival at that time in the laboratory, but for all intents and purposes, you'd be dead that night and that's what happened. No one will ever know the truth... What difference could it make, now?

- Never underestimate the effects of the small things or those that seem to have little importance... How do you know that nothing has remained untouched in this future? Even if you have not noticed yet... there has been a change!

- Are you sure?

- I am, yes...

Leona looked at her father with concern. His brother's death had been a sacrifice, in the name of the future and science, which had not been foreseen, nor could it be prevented or reversed. Time is cruel and does not forgive... That new finding, however, was quite worrying.

Her father pointed to the laboratory. From there, David, the Thirteenth cone, looked at her and the old scientist.

Leona frowned. He seemed calm, but the anomaly was more and more evident. The woman pulled her father by the arm and they entered the immaculately white room.

The chief scientist seemed to be tremendously stressed and in despair.

The Thirteenth (Part 3)

It was not too late at night, in the suburbs. The silhouettes of two people, with very dissimilar looks, moved among the shadows, among the narrow streets and the dark alleys. Some people were still walking outside, others were chatting happily in the pubs and restaurants. It was quite a pleasant and fresh autumn night, fresh but not chilly at all. To the stronger man, that temperature was ideal, but his companion was uncomfortable, feeling his pale and fragile body tremble with cold.

- Let's go that way. We are not far by now. I just hope I don’t give the old man too much of a fright.

The other man looked at him, not quite realizing what that really meant and continued to follow the strong man, first behind a large house, which covered a whole block, in the farthest part of the village, then through a children’s playground at a small park and then they finally crossed a large patio that led them into a dense group of large trees.

When they started walking through the woods, they hit some branches of the Swan Milkweed that were hanging on their way and that had a surprising effect on some of the forest's temporary residents. A rustle of movement and color impressed the clone, but irritated the man who led him down those dark paths in the cool autumn night.

- Oh! What are these?

- They're butterflies. Monarchs, more specifically...

- How interesting... They are so...

Words failed him. He could not, with such a short life, say what he felt about beauty, one of the few things that really impressed him.

- ...annoying when they fly around us. We should avoid these swift moves because anything we do can raise suspicion and put us in danger. We have to keep our presence as discreet as possible.

The clone looked at the man, who was annoyed with such beauty and did not understand why he did not enjoy that unusual moment. The man pulled him by the arm, whispering, irritated.

- Let's go! Every minute we waste is too precious and we'll miss them eventually. You'll know more about the Monarchs, if you ever have the time... Now, let’s move on!

They finally arrived at the entrance of a tunnel, hidden in the basement of a building. From there, after passing through a series of other passageways, tangled in a rather intricate network, they finally got into a small old shed, built in the backyard of an ordinary house.

From there, they noticed there were lights on in the house, showing evidence that someone was still up. They were careful to stay hid in the shadows until they were absolutely sure no one could see them. The silence was proof enough that there was no danger. The two of them stepped up to the door. The stronger man knocked on the door with his knuckles. He then stopped for a short while and knocked again twice. That was the code he reminded. At the sound of footsteps coming from the inside, he felt a strange apprehension.

A middle-aged man opened the door, but his expression soon changed from a smile to a mix of worry and fear. What those two strangers were doing there at his door, using the code only known by his son and daughter, was unknown to him, but he felt they were no good news. The strongest man reminded him of someone he knew, but he could not recall who that could be.

- What can I do for you?

The man kept the door half open, trying to control the situation. He sensed that he was at a disadvantage, but he had to try and intimidate the visitors, who still stood somewhat in the shadow of the night.

- Can we come inside? It is important.

- No. You cannot, without telling me who you are and what you want.

 The younger man stepped forward, while the older man grabbed the door firmly, trying to close it, before he lost control, but his strength did not match that of the other one.

- Father?

The man's eyes widened. That was unexpected. He was absolutely sure he had no children that age. The younger man's eyes, however, when they were struck by the light from within the house, were as green as his son's, but he immediately refuted that common characteristic.

- My son is a lot younger than you and I'm pretty sure I've never had another one. I do not know who you are or what you want, but you will not get anything from me.

- I know it sounds unbelievable, but I can explain... Let us in, please. We are all in danger.

The older man’s face changed immediately to a very serious and hard expression. The younger man then tried his last attempt.

- I’m not trying to fool you. Look at this! Do you believe me now?

The man pulled the door open, carefully, so as to let the two visitors in. Until then, he'd hardly noticed the features of the little man, which he now watched, attentively. He was extremely pale, young and almost hairless. His head seemed to be disproportionately larger than those with whom he used to be. Her skin looked very thin. The green eyes also reminded him of someone, but he did not catch it at first. He was now busy examining that strange being whose anomaly he had already seen before in his own son.

- How could this be possible?

- We believe the answer is here at this time. That's why we need your help.

The three of them turned their attention to a spot in the shadows, behind the old man, from which the female voice was coming.

- Leona? What happened to you? You're so different...

- We are all, Father, but…

- You shouldn’t have come.

- And let you trigger a catastrophe? This untimely behavior of yours has already put us in a very big trouble... We have to interfere as little as possible with this time and place. Everything we do here, will surely have consequences in that world.

- What world? Can anyone explain this whole mess to me?

Before her brother began telling improper truths, Leona went forward. She would be more careful with the words and say only what would not change… much… the course of the events, but their father had to know what happened... or was going to happen... as a matter of fact… so he could help them.

The scientist listened quietly but not without showing how impressed he was. He would never imagine how important his research would become in the future. In his modesty and simplicity, behind all intelligence and brightness, he did not foresee that his work would bring so much benefit to mankind... or at least to a portion of it...

***

- Father, the chief scientist, who is a very experienced and competent man, could not find out what caused that anomaly in the clone. The concern is that it is serious and that will put a good part of those who are born at risk, as if it were an epidemic, difficult to control. Some element in the vaccine might have stopped working, or there was some mutation of a sort.

- I brought a sample of the new vaccine, which is under test, to be analyzed by you. How did you reverse the effect when it happened to me? There is no record about this in the known data.

- I know. I never left any of it written in the official records. I only made a few notes in my diary, which I kept out of sight for everyone. But I know what to do... I dealt with it not so long ago. But we're must first go to the University's laboratory, do some more tests. We have already eliminated the... err... I do not know if it will result in a clone, whose DNA may have already undergone many mutations, nor do I know what kind of reactions can still happen, but it’s worth a try.

Before they left, however, the man looked at the three visitors and, frowning, asked, with childlike ingenuity.

- What are clones for, anyway?

The three of them looked at the old scientist, as if he had said an obscenity. Leona laughed tenderly and said to him,

- I’ll try to explain on the way...

***

- What is it? It's so nice...

- It’s music. Let's go.

- Where is it coming from?

- Come on! Quickly! We do not have time for this.

The father, much more patient than his son, tried to explain, in a more or less coherent way:

- Music is the language though which the souls of men talk to those of the gods. It is capable to touch the most intangible living being. There are many different types and styles. This one that you hear is by a famous artist, who no longer walks on this Earth.

- No? Where does he walk on, now?

- He’s dead. His name was David Bowie. The music comes from the club bar ahead, but we should avoid going there. We cannot raise any suspicion and it’s too late in the evening already...

- By the way, we have to find a name for you. If someone stops us, for some reason, it will be the most convenient... and appropriate way. We should not take unnecessary risks.

- I am the Thirteenth.

- Yes. But that's not a decent name for this place. We have to choose another one; more common and suitable...

- Could it be David Bowie?

Leona chuckled loudly.

- It can be David. Forget the Bowie. It will raise more suspicion if it is used here.

***

The university campus was practically deserted when they arrived. There was a white van at the entrance, parked near the research area, where the lab was located. The letters N. M. E., painted in red, on the sides, did not raise suspicions, when the four characters descended the flight of stairs, which took them to their destination. As soon as the scientist took the key out of his pocket and turned the lock in the narrow metal door, a hiss was heard and a deep mark was engraved above his head, in the light gray hard metal. They threw themselves in, closing the door behind them so to gain some time and rushed to the Main Lab.

- Who are these? We are being attacked by fire guns. We have to get away and try to get back to the terminal. Let's all go. Run!

As they entered the lab, they dragged a large cabinet and blocked the door.

- We must use the emergency exit that is located at the opposite end of the laboratory. I'll show you the way. Now, hurry and keep on walking to the end of the hall and go through the door where it’s written "To the roof" and, instead of going up, go behind the stairs. There is another door there, at the bottom of the broom and cleaning cabinet, painted the same color as the walls, to make it difficult to find. I’ll have to go back and get my notes.

At that moment, they heard a loud blast. The front door had been broken into with explosives. The sounds of footsteps running down the hall, very close to them, made them panic and imagine a hurried escape plan.

- There is no time to go back. We have to get out of here as soon as possible. They are already coming after us...

- But it's extremely important... it's right in the desk drawer...

The younger man knew his father was right. It was extremely important to seek the information, to fulfill the purpose of that time travel or else it would have been useless. Without thinking much, he decided:

- I’ll go back. I'm faster and stronger. I can defend myself better, and besides, when we get back to the terminal, we will not be able all four to travel at the same time. The programming will be done for three, only...

- We can reprogram it.

- If we have time... Let’s hurry. I’ll come back. Don’t wait for me. Don’t worry, I'll find a way. If the portal is not open anymore, I’ll wait for a signal.

- We'll send one, as soon as we get there, programming the terminal for a passenger, only, so it closes as soon as you get in and we bring no more danger along with us to the future.

- OK. Now, let's move on. Time is short.

Leona felt a sting in her chest. Things had gotten out of hand. The whole operation had been too risky, and now they were struggling to stay alive. She had the lead and show the way, but they had to be fast and unsuspecting, until they reached the terminal.

Then they heard a series of gun shots. What an efficient and dangerous way to rush things...

The Thirteenth (Part 2)

Leona walked down to the end of the long corridor and carefully opened the door. The man who was there was busy with the archiving of the latest DNA analysis processes. It had been a long time since anyone, apart from him and the lab chief, had come in that part of the building. The man raised his head and met the familiar smiling face of the exquisite looking woman, his sister. He spoke in the official language of that world, to the Anno Domini of 4697.

- Well, well. What are you doing here, in this place so little treaded on by the people of the warmer areas? It must be a very serious thing, to have taken you out of the comfort of your life and come on such an unusual journey.

- Don’t be ironic. Things are not as they used to be. We've had a lot of changes since you were gotten out of there. You should be grateful to have your life saved.

- I've never asked for anything. It was better if I was left to die...

Leona pretended not to hear that last comment and ignored her brother's irony.

- I need your help. This is really serious.

- I understand it must be. But I do not know if I'm willing to get involved in your problems. Don’t count on me or my help...

- In the name of our father...

- Don’t talk about our father. He died because of you. What I´ve been through was also because of you. And being here, in this meaningless life, is also your fault, so don’t involve our father's name in this and do not you ever ask for anything in his name. You have no right to do so.

- We've talked about this already. I know the impression I left was that I went away, when I was most helpful to our father, but that was not what really happened...

- I don’t want to know. You can go back to the place you came from, as there is nothing remaining in me that could be considered as empathy or solidarity... neither with you nor with anyone else. Go away from here.

- I cannot leave without telling you what's going on.

- Damn, woman! Haven’t I told you I don’t want to hear it. Go away. I went through hard times to save you and what did I get out of it? Exile and contempt! Do you think I have any reason to help you?

- Save me, killing the man I loved? Is that your idea of ​​salvation?

- It was the only way to save you from that spell, for a man so very different from us: a freak! I don’t regret what I did and would do it again if necessary...

The woman turned pale and dryly swallowed her disappointment and anguish. She turned around to leave the room, but stopped at the door and said, low, almost as if to justify herself.

- He has the same reaction you did when our father started testing the first vaccines on us... I thought you could be sympathetic to it, so we could solve the case, but I was mistaken... for a change...

She left without looking back. The man stared at the emptiness, thinking of a time that existed in his past and in another era, in another place and in another circumstance.

He got up slowly and went through the corridor in the direction of the main lab. His sister was no longer in sight.

***

- You should have known better. What were you expecting him to do?

- I hoped he could at least hear me or help us sort this out…

- It's not his function to help or solve any problem. He's fine where he is. He has learned other things besides his work. We must deal with it, without his or anyone else's help...

- I know that, now. It was a stupid mistake...

- Maybe not. It was just naivety or, perhaps, the deceiving hope to solve things in an unreasonable way. This romanticism no longer fits in this age and in this place... We have more urgent things to solve.

The woman lowered her head. She recognized that she was being impractical. She also admitted that she was behaving like a romantic and inadequate scientist. She thought about how she ended up in that place and the most important person in her life, as well as her father and brother. She was about to collapse in tears, but she had to be strong for her own sake.

The little man pretended not to notice that Leona was struggling to fight her own ghosts. She was now a very different woman from the one who had come to that place a long time ago.

She took a deep breath and decided to leave the matter with who could deal with. It was time to go back to her place. She entered the transport terminal and waited for the portal to open. She still took one last look at the chief scientist, who was seriously looking where he was dematerializing.

She did not realize that the door to the laboratory was open at that very moment, and that a man, very different from the one she had been talking to, was coming into the room.

***

Leona arrived at the Stellar Station a few seconds after leaving the Glacial. She was serious and tired. The conversation had been nothing like what she had thought and planned to be and she felt cheated by her own naivety.

After a few minutes, she would contact the two scientists to report on what she had accomplished as a result of her journey.

The two arrived in a few minutes. They were anxious to know what was new about the conversation with the chief scientist, but they did not expect that they would have to wait until the report was sent from the Glacial Station. They had to control their apprehension, until they knew more. 

Leona did not tell them everything she did or how badly the conversation with her brother ran. She decided that she had to keep that matter in the family, only. 

She knew, too, that the Supreme would want to talk to her... If she did not solve that matter soon, she would not be in peace... or sleep... 

At that right moment, however, she would not be able to talk to him, anyway. 

It was already late and she decided to wait until the next day. She would have to think about what she was going to say. In that case, maybe it was better to tell him the truth, anyway... just the part that mattered, obviously. She had already exposed herself too much and did not want to hear any reprimand about her attitude or her foolishness. 

Although the Supreme was not much given to lecturing because of his respect for her, just one of his glances at her would be enough to know that she had not been able to reach her brother’s heart, She would have to keep her cool in front of him, or else she would lose the opportunity for the other things as well. If he asked a lot of questions, she did not know if she was going to be able to keep the whole conversation she had at the Station as a secret. 

The woman with intense green eyes went to her room to try and rest. There was still a doubt in her mind that would not leave her mind at ease. 

How, after all that time, did such effect appear in a random clone that was created in the normal line? Where did that mutation come from, after so many generations have been produced? 

***

- I know it's not normal. Can it be reversed? Historically we know that it is possible.

- We know that it was possible in normal human beings. We do not know if we can do the same in clones.

- We are scientists. We must try our best. 

- We're already trying, Leona. I have already studied and developed a prototype and I have already tested it too. 

- And how did he respond? 

- I have not seen any reaction yet, but it's early still. We both know the cure was not immediate in the pure human organism... 

- My brother... 

- Yes. He is helping me with that. We've been working together since that day that you came in to the Glacial Station. The prototype of the new vaccine was crafted from his blood and DNA... At least we know it worked with him in the past. If we are lucky, his blood already has natural antibodies, designed to correct the effect of a future occurrence. But the bad news is that we've already had another reported occurrence from the laboratory: another clone with the same reaction... We must rush the solution, or else... 

Leona stood there, looking very serious at the lab chief. The last comment had not been not retained in her perception. She was more concerned about the information about her brother. She had no idea that, after all, her conversation with him had somehow worked. She, who had left the Station with the feeling of powerlessness, was now feeling unfair. 

She needed to speak to her brother and tell him that she was grateful. She felt she should have been more patient, more confident, and perhaps more fair-minded. There was still something good, maybe a remnant of their father's inheritance, in him, after all. 

She left the lab and went into the room down the hall. She was happy. She had not felt like that for a long time. She opened the door with energy and entered the room with a broad grin spsrkling on her face. 

The emptiness of the room took her by surprise. Where could he be? The chief said he would be in the room, working with the research files and the clone blood tests. But he was not. 

She hurried back to the main lab to speak to the chief, but in the middle of the corridor she found the man, who had a desperate look on his face. He seemed to be bewildered and extremely worried. 

- The Thirteenth clone and the new vaccines are gone... 

- As is my brother, too... 

They looked at each other. They did not need much to figure out what had happened. 

- What shall we do now? 

- We need to check the settings of the transport terminal. They must have gone there, since other routes would be easily detectable.... 

The two entered the teleportation room and immediately realized that the terminal memory data had been erased, probably on purpose. The programming was not available. 

To have access to the data, they would have to make a formal request to the Central, but that would entail a series of questions, generating special security procedures. Leona looked at the head of the laboratory and decided.

- We must know where they've gone to. No matter what that might entail. 

The man, though very worried, acceded. It was the best thing to do.

- I'm going to speak to the Supreme. He should know the truth.

- This will put us all in a big problem. You know that. 

- Yes. I do know it. But we ought to do what is right. In fact, it was a mistake not to have done it from the beginning. I will deal with the consequences if it is necessary... 

*** 

The Supreme has given orders to check the database immediately after being told by Leona about what had happened. He was annoyed and disappointed by the attitude she and the scientists took, but now he had to be practical and act quickly. 

When the report was delivered to him, he looked up, with obvious concern emblazoned on his serious face which had been almost always devoid of emotions. His face was less pale than usual. 

- They went back to the past. This is very serious! 

- But everyone knows this is not allowed! The consequences can be terrible and irreversible... 

- And since when does your brother care about what is right or wrong? Look at this date. Does it say anything? 

Leona looked at the man with a worried expression and did not know what to say. The Supreme was right. This was serious enough, and it was bound to have dangerous consequences. One way or another, she felt responsible for what had happened. She had to sort the situation out urgently.

- I must go after them and try to prevent a catastrophe from happening because of this inconsequential attitude. 

- I cannot allow it! No way. 

- I feel responsible for what happened. I must try, at least. It's our only chance. If we send another person, he will defend himself and become unpredictable and dangerous. I can at least try to control the situation before he makes another big mistake. 

- He's always been unpredictable, but maybe you're right. Let's schedule your trip in the most appropriate way, but you will not have much time to remedy this situation. Any minute you're in the past will be extremely dangerous for the future. 

- I know. And I'm prepared for that. We better get to the transport terminal now.

Wild Like the Wind (Part 1)

- It must be at least the third time you hear this same song over and over. You’re staring out and beyond that window and across the sea for some time already.

- Oh. I’m sorry. I have not realized...

- Are you homesick?

I felt a strange and unexpected, but familiar sting, piercing my chest.

- Nostalgic, perhaps...

- Any regrets?

She came closer and touched my shoulder from behind. I turned around and looked right into those eyes I knew very well. They looked greener and brighter with the daylight coming through the window. Her pupils dilated when our eyes met and I knew very well what that meant.

I reckon I am, most of the times, a very difficult person to deal with and once I have taken a decision, I hardly ever turn back or show any sign of regret. Perhaps I simply have learned, with life, how to become a somewhat gloomy man.

- I never have regrets... My heart is still the same as always, so there is no reason for any regrets. I'm practically the same as before... as and when you met me.

- I no longer know if you are the same as before. You were so free and so wild...

- Like the wind…

- Like the song repeats endlessly...

- As my head keeps on repeating endlessly...

And I got carried away by the caring memories...

***

- Who would ever need to be alone for so long?

I laughed. I admitted that I really spent plenty of time alone but I always needed that like the air I breathed. I did not expect anyone to understand, just to accept it. I knew she was just being confrontational, so I said:

- Me!

- You are yourself so unorthodox. 

- Unorthodox? Who in perfect sense still uses this kind of word nowadays?

- I'm not going to discuss it or try to understand... either you or your insanities! And don’t make fun of my unorthodox way of speaking.

She said it laughing, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She knew I was a lost battle and she did not want nor would fight for something she could not win. But she knew how to go around situations when she wanted something. I was a challenge to her powers of persuasion and creativity. And she loved challenges... especially the difficult ones.

The song played on the car CD player and I tried my best baritone voice to sing the well-known verses, along with the velvet and always amazing voice of the known singer.

She looked at me, looking somewhat puzzled, but said nothing else. She must have thought something really atrocious, but she just ended up laughing at my attempt to be a "cool" singer... I stopped singing and kept on humming and whispering the notes and a few words here and there, almost resisting the urge to sing as loudly as I could. She turned to the other side, as if enjoying the scenery, but I figured out that she was trying at all costs, to hold the laughter.

'How many people can value the power to make another smile? At least she is enjoying herself, even if it is at my expense’, I thought...

A wide view of the ocean opened up ahead of us when the car started going down the steep hill. The main road led to a secondary pathway which snaked down to the seaway, where a narrow dirty road hid one of our favourite beach spots.

***

We had become inseparable friends above all, from the time we were studying at the University. Either the small or the great adventures were part of what our friendship was all about. 

We used to have long discussions about our favourite books, which we read one after the other, in spite of being in a very technical course. Details and preferred parts, as well as our own interpretations of the intentions behind the words were also themes of our lengthy conversations. Music, movies and food... everything was notably part of our history. She had every Alice Cooper and Supertramp records. I was a fan of Bowie and Led Zeppelin and made a huge effort to save some money and complete my own collection.

We used to wander, wherever we could, almost aimlessly, around the country... even with little money, which was the best and riskier part of our adventures.

We were in company of each other whenever we could and people wondered if there was more than just a friendship between us. Some of them dared to ask us about it. We always denied it. In the end, we felt that going beyond that point could spoil our so innocently cultivated friendship. Time would show that our fear was completely unfounded.

We were always going together to the beach, the country side, or anyplace else. Nothing was too small for us to face, not big enough to stop us. We were like wild horses, free and adventurous. We were like seagulls, always ready to fly high and far, with eyes so far beyond the horizon, full of life and adrenaline.

- Do you think our friendship will ever cool down?

- Why worry? I like what we have... despite the adventures and our craziness, I feel it is so placid. Who can afford the luxury of being with one person and need not say anything, for long minutes and still seem to have said so much?

- I know.

She was silent for a moment, looking at the blue and white brushstroke sky, through the leaves and the long overhanging branches of the huge willow, planted around the lake, opposite to the University library. We lay on the lawn, side by side without touching one another. It was our favourite place, away from everyone and everything.

- It's all very intense, but...

- What worries you? Do you fear anything can happen and change this?

- I think it's already happening...

I turned around and looked at her, worried about what she would say, feeling a sudden discomfort rising in my chest.

- What do you mean?

- What if someone showed up in my life and wanted more than friendship from me?

- If that would make you happy...

She looked at my face.

- And if that changed what we have now? I don’t want to lose your friendship.

- It will not change anything. Unless we allow it to. And we won’t, will we?

A pale ray of light hit her blond hair framing her round face with a strange light. Her eyes looked bigger and brighter. She looked me in the eye. Her pupils dilated, almost covering those unusual iris, so green then with the bright sunlight.

- I'm afraid of losing it...

In a foolish rush of insanity, I came closer to her and for once in such a long time, I felt that she shuddered and stopped. A strange feeling filled me up. Before I realized, my lips were on hers and our arms were wrapped around each other’s bodies.

It was a simple, affectionate kiss, not exactly sexy. But both of us realized it was a sign of a great change in us and an important milestone to that friendship.

We said nothing, just moved away from each other, looking at different sides. I lay down on the grass again and closed my eyes. I thought I messed it all up. What went on through my head? She had just spoken about another man and of a possible relationship and I made that senseless and inconvenient blunder...

'I’m such a stupid man!'

I cursed my tactless attitude, now afraid of having put everything to lose. My eyes were still closed and feeling ashamed, I said:

- I apologize. I…

I gasped. The words just did not come out. I covered my face with my hands. I felt so bad. What if she hated me, from then on, to spoil the beauty of our friendship?

The wind blew over the overhanging branches of the tree around us. It was like the wind of change, signalling the end of our innocence...

I was feeling sad and helpless, unable to face her or make the time go back, even if it were only for a few seconds...

That was when I felt she was much closer to me than I thought. Her lips touched mine gently, but that time with more sensuality than when I forced the first kiss.

Without much thinking, I surrendered to that touch, awkwardly at first, but I relaxed my defences and gave my body and soul in to it, right there, in the shade of the willow tree, whose leaves and branches hid us from the world that turned around us, unconscious of what was happening in that tiny piece of protected universe...

***

- Has it been that long?

- Since that day?

I nodded, a bit sad and thoughtful.

- Of course.

- Remember how people used to envy what we had? We were so close to each other…

- Until that day...

- Leave the past back where it belongs. We have made so many mistakes and have fixed some, somehow... Let’s not think about it anymore.

I came up and looked into her eyes, as I used to do so often before that. She still had that spark that ignited when our eyes crossed.

I wondered for what reason we had left the fear intervene in what there was between us.

So long… so much lost... two kisses, twice the same mistake... and that friendship, once so innocent, spoilt by the heat of the moment and a sense of misplaced and inconvenient guilt... that separated us for too long.

Our lives went on in separate ways, as they should go. Two marriages, two divorces... one of each... so much story to tell or to be forgotten...

My divorce had been so long past, I could not even remember what it was like to live with someone again. I was back to being the lonely and wild man, living by my own rules and keeping myself distant from relationships and people...

Who could say, however, that the same song, after all that time, would bring us together once again?

***

Of Sea and Men (Epilogue)

The opened door did not seem to be a good sign to the fisherman, who was still wary by the dream he had a few weeks before. He put his coat on and ran out of the door in a desperate rush. He could not even tell if his reaction was protective or defensive; if it were either a fear of losing or at the same time, of being alone...

He could hardly feel his feet trampling the soft wet sand nor could he sense the adrenaline running fast in his body, as he hastened along the beach, feeling the anguish upsurge exponentially within. In his mind, he could only think of the worse. And the worst was inconceivable to him at the time.

It was still dawning and the cool breeze, mixed with a dense fog, quite common at that time of the year, passed almost unnoticed by the man’s troubled mind, whose eyes, more carefully than his feet, scrutinized the waterfront with extreme and meticulous attention. The visibility was precarious due to the poor daylight and fog, but he was moved by a force which led him not to give up until he found the boy.

Up ahead, he discerned the outlined silhouette of his friend, sitting on a rock by the cliff. The mixed emotions of relief and urgency blended into his chest while he ran in that direction.

- You gave me such a huge fright, young man. I thought the worst had happened.

- I’m sorry for that. I had to think a little bit about everything that happened recently. Being here gives me a sense of security and broadens the horizons. I try to think outside the box... and it's not easy... My life will take a twist very soon and I have to make the right decisions.

- I see. We were caught in surprise, were we not?

- Certainly. It's all a little too fanciful to me right now and I have to think seriously about what to do.

- That night I told you I had a strange dream, I was quite apprehensive. I dreamed you were trying to commit suicide, drowning in the sea. I could not buy that story of the witness who saw you being assaulted and thrown into a car. When I saw that the door was open and you were not lying on the couch, I could only recall my dream... or nightmare... and think that it became real somehow. I confess I was afraid...

- Not so fast, my friend... I also had a very peculiar dream that night, you know...

The boy told him, in detail, the dream he had weeks before. The fisherman found it much more credible than the "evidence" informed by the police. In a way it kind of corroborated the presence of the man dressed in black.

- Do you think my memory, by some means, brought that fact to my mind? Or was it too coincidental?

- Anything is possible, my friend. Everything is possible in this story. I wish your memory recovered to end up with this mystery, but at the same time, I am afraid of what you'll remember and what will happen next. But you have to go ahead, no matter what you'll discover.

- Don’t be afraid. We will not stop being friends, regardless of what I will remember... I will not be able to shut my life down to what happened this time I am living on this island. I may be young... much younger than you, to tell the truth, but I am not ungrateful or stupid and do not take things for granted.

- I have never thought something in this regard, my friend. You know how much I care about you.

The boy looked at the man sitting next to him, facing the sea vastness and smiled. He patted the hand of his protector and said:

- Let's go back? We have much to do. The sea awaits us...

- You do not need to help me in the sea labours anymore. You know that.

- But I want to... one more time, at least. Tomorrow I must return to the mainland, and from then on, I do not know what will happen to me. But it's necessary to go on…

***

- I'm glad you came. Are you ready? We should go soon...

The man, dressed in black and wearing a very discreet but elegant dark blue silk tie with a small logo printed, possibly of the firm where he worked at, seemed to be in his early forties. He had the body shape of whom spent many hours in the gym and weight lifting. It would not be a surprise that he was also an expert in martial arts and personal defence or carry a gun on himself. After all, he was the head of security of a company whose founder’s bastard son had mysteriously disappeared, some time before, not long after his father recognize him as such.

The Chief of Security had come to the island on the morning ferry, along with the doctor and, like the week before, with a single interest: to bring the boy to the mainland and undergo a revolutionary new treatment for memory recovery, specially developed and designed for those people who had it lost in traumatic situations.

According to him, the young man had a Q.I. well above average and an immense sensory capacity, as well as an exceptional knack for investment analysis and a flair to work with computer programs. His skills had brought much profit to the company’s entrepreneurs and investors. For these and other reasons, it was interesting for the Administration to invest in his recovery and have him return to the business world as shortly as possible.

The deal was the boy be ready in a week’s time from the first visit of the chief of Security, who had been designated responsible for identifying the "survivor", who had been recognized by pamphlets that the police had distributed across the country. He was carrying documents and a series of photographs, that supported the authentication. When the boy came in, accompanied by the fisherman, he was showing documentary evidence to the doctor, who admitted they were very well supported and evident.

- I cannot recognize myself in these photos. That's not me. Or rather... that young man has nothing to do with me whatsoever. I am thinking of studying, graduate and make my life. I want to study Oceanography and deepen my IT knowledge, which seems to be my expertise. I want to associate the two fields in a career...

- You must come back to work with us. You'll have everything you want, supported by the firm and by your father. He anxiously waits for you. The company needs your services... and the sooner the better.

- But I do not want to go back to the company this way... I want to recover the memory, yes, but I have other plans. If the company does not want to invest in me in these terms - which is understandable - no problem. My life is no longer focused in that direction. I want to decide for myself...

- And how can you support this decision? You do not have financial conditions to do so. We can provide you everything you desire. At least until you can get enough to endure a change. Until then, you need a decent job. I do not think an old fishing boat can be your source of livelihood for a long time. Your father would never forgive you...

- I don't know the man you state as being my father. I don't know the company. I know nothing beyond the old fishing boat... which, after all, gave me all I have now... I don't want to go back to the life I had and of which I know nothing about, nor do I have any recollection whatsoever.

- I've come though this previously... Before you disappeared, you had already showed intentions to leave the company. It was a great disappointment to your father, my boss, and a problem for all of us. Let's stop this chit-chat and leave before the ferry departs without us.

The man dressed in black firmly grabbed the boy's arm, which seemed quite odd to the other two men. The boy pulled his arm off the other man’s grip, freeing himself up.

- If my father was really worried about me, he would have come himself and meet me, not just sent his body guard...

The man was livid. He knew he had a mission. The consequences of not carrying out his task, he knew very well. He stepped forward, toward the boy, who dodged. He put his hand inside his jacket and pulled a small pistol out, to the astonishment of all.

The boy looked at the man with the gun pointed in his direction and it was like a flash passed through his eyes, bringing his long-lost memories back, as if the forbidden archives had been opened in his mind and he remembered.

He was being chased through the streets and hiding in the city alleys by the river. He saw that there was a boat ready to leave the dock, at that very moment. He tried to listen carefully to the sounds close to him, to be able to take some action even if he had to risk too much. That same man, dressed in black, was carefully looking for him, armed with a pistol, probably with the sole intention of bringing him back at any cost and in any case...

At any cost, or in any way, however, it was not his intention to return to anywhere... even less to that company...

The boy kept his eyes on the gun pointed at him and said, pretending a serenity he did not really feel:

- Now I remember what happened...

***

- It was almost a miracle having my memory back, so clear, before that shocking situation. I almost froze...

- Normally, situations where there is a great rush of adrenaline trigger this sort of reaction. If he had not said that you would not escape him a second time, pointing that gun, like that, at you, we would have no reason to attack him, nor grounds for the police to arrest him. Thankfully, our reaction was quick, but I still have the mark of the bullet scraped in my arm when I and the doctor ran and jumped on him. The bad intentions of the man were clear from that moment on.

- But it could have been much worse. We could have been shot dead. After the gun was taken from his hand, it was easier. I still remember the matron hitting him hard in the back, knocking him down at once. Beating the confession out of him after that whole mess and in the middle of an angry outburst, when he could deny it if he were smarter, was a lucky treat for us... but he was completely overcome with anger by then...

- Yes. We were very lucky. It was a great team effort. He could have done anything, but he just did not count that you would survive after you've been beaten, stripped and thrown overboard. What I don’t understand, however, is the reason why he chose to hit your head, although very hard and getting rid of the body, without making sure you were really dead.

- He must have thought that the blow could be easier to explain if the body was found. He wanted it to look like an unfortunate accident. The master touch was thinking that by being naked I would be more difficult to identify... and he had a good point after all...

- Fortunately it all ended up well and I found out on the beach at the right time. I would never hesitate to defend you from any dangers that could appear. I would do it all again if I needed to. You can be sure of that.

- You know what I think? You are like the rain: sometimes falls down and refreshes; sometimes simply floods. You're a good man. It doesn't matter to me what you have done in the past or what your past has done to you. You have already lived your private hell. Your debt has been paid and has nothing to do with me. You did not know me and yet you did everything possible to help me out without even knowing who I was. You had no obligation whatsoever and you were my best mentor and protector. You were the only person who really cared for me, never thinking of ulterior intentions. You simply followed your heart and I'm very grateful to you for what you did. My debt to you is eternal.

- Nonsense. You owe me nothing!

The boy hugged his old mentor and friend with true affection and gratitude and said something he would never expect to hear.

- Yes, I do. I owe you my life!

For some inexplicable reason, that hug caused him a very peculiar effect. He felt light and full of life, with his heart warmed up with long lost emotions...

- I can hardly admit I was still able to feel these kind of emotions. I did not even know that it was possible to bring them out of my most basic needs...

- You think too much. It seems that you're afraid to show your feelings, as if they were a sign of weakness. I may be young yet but I can guarantee that only the strong live, truly, their feelings... and they’re not ashamed or afraid of that.

***

A few months later, the seaman received two envelopes by mail.

The smaller one enclosed a simple letter, coming from afar, written in a calligraphy he recognized immediately. The news were comforting. After a few tries, the boy had gotten a scholarship in the College of Oceanography. The money he had used earlier in order to pay his expenses, while going through admission tests, had been very well spent and the letter held the promise of returning the amount to his mentor and friend, within a reasonable time.

The man smiled. He had invested with his heart, in the success of his young friend and felt he had already obtained the profits of that venture. He was not worried about the money, in fact, but with the progress that his protégé had been achieving since he went back to the city. Life was ultimately good for the boy, in response to his efforts and capabilities.

He put the letter aside, still smiling and turned his attention to the brown envelope, larger than the other, where there was a well-known logo, printed on the upper-left corner. It was sent from a renowned firm in the city, whose name brought him some unusual memories.

He opened it with uneasy fingers. There was a message and a report from the lawyers. The letter stated that an inquiry had been opened to investigate the accident/incident and his wife’s subsequent death during the surgery procedure. A note revealed the reason for the reopening of the investigation process. They had grounds to believe that the death was not a simple and unfortunate contingency, once some witnesses had heard him arguing with his wife, about her infidelity, during the dinner at the restaurant on the night of the accident. Apparently the doctor had left the place, quite altered, emotionally. Despite the fact that he had already served time for manslaughter, he could still be convicted if deceit could be evidenced.

The man set the document back on the table. A deep sadness pressed his chest, like a straitjacket, tied with effective cruelty, hindering the movements of his soul. The wind and drizzle falling outside the grey and almost too chilly day, only intensified his melancholy and brought long time vivid memories back to his troubled mind. Two hot tears streamed down his cold face and fell on the letterhead paper lying on the table, with so unwelcome news.

***

A middle-aged man was walking along the beach, completely immersed in his thoughts. Those ghosts, who were very well concealed for so long, had decided to come back to mind and haunt him. There were days when he felt more alone than in others and that was definitely one of them. He felt sad and a sense of emptiness seemed to grow within him. At that moment, he was sensiblly charged with memories that made him emotional and somewhat frail, about to surrender to tears, but strong enough to want to stay alive.

Circumstances put people and situations in our way to assess us or to shake our balance up and get us out of our comfort zones. The Universe has its own means and plans, which life itself is unaware of. The beauty of living is exactly the surprises and unpredictability of what happens to us every day. The fisherman knew that life puts us to test, all the time, challenging our limits. It is the way to make us stronger and more tolerant, increasing our resistance to the circumstances. Living is truly a constant exercise of adaptation, endurance and strength. The good thing is that all along the road, we often find people and even animals, moments and occasions that are effectively worth it.

The autumn wind blew fresh, yet mild, against his body and his face framed by an auburn beard, misaligning his light brown hair, which has thinned on top of the head. He stopped, looked at the horizon and felt the urge to get carried away by a silent invitation. Almost instinctively, he undressed and walked into the ocean, without thinking any much. The low temperature of the waters made him feel more alive than long ago. He took a few steps ahead and dove into the chilling sea, allowing his naked body to be completely surrounded by that welcome and cooling sensation...