I
Aida and Jurko and their entourage arrived at the port of the island in the afternoon. The board is placed, both of them get off the ship. Tabot was already waiting for their arrival. He was full of joyous smile, and Aida didn't understand what had happened to him. He faced the scientist with Jurko, Tabot kept smiling and didn't speak in front of her.
"What's up Tabot?" asked Jurko who smiled as he saw his friend smile.
"I'll tell you, but I'll tell you what happened during your two days of long journeys," Tabot invited the two to get into the wagon that was waiting for the three of them.
They boarded it and the coachman immediately made the buffalo in front of him walk. The wagon roamed the road that went up the ramp to the fort. Tabot sat in front of Aida and beside the old investigator, his mouth looking like he wanted to speak.
"So? What do you want to tell us?"
"There are three big news."
"What is it?" Aida tilted her head.
"First. When you two left, I came to King Rakai's grand event. Me and the whole Spearhead. We were partying, both sides were happy. Midnight came, King Rakai talked to me."
"About?"
"Wait, I'll explain. We exchanged stories for a while, and other things. I met a man that said he was saved by Nazeir and you, as well as the princess that Nazeir defended from Wendigo. Good people, no less good than the king who made the proposal to us."
Jurko turned his body interested in Tabot's explanation.
"The king gave us an agreement. He will take care of us and all the sea that surrounds this island, on the condition that we will guard his back. Hukoleener ships will guard us, and our sword will guard the lands."
"Sounds like a wonderful agreement."
"Wait a minute, I negotiated with him too. And it all ended on a beautiful note," Jurko prepared to tell the two. "We will be provided with a small fleet, workers to help build the fort. We have officially become trading partners of Hukoleen."
"That's wonderful, Tabot," Jurko stood up from his seat. "We have our own island? This is more than what I wanted. A good fort that we could renovate, good naval power. This is... this... this is amazing!"
"A man has come to the island and mapped this island, he is Luckasz. Do you remember him?"
"Yes, I remember the young man."
"A Brilliant mind has great potential. Not just an artist, it turns out to be a young engineer."
"You're likely to have someone to talk to, Tabot."
The old man laughed, and the cart stopped moving.
The coachman said something in the southern language.
Looking around, Aida realized that they weren't close to the fort. They were in the forest, more precisely in front of a trench filled with human bones. The three of them walked over there and looked down the ravine.
Jurko and Tabot spoke southern languages, and Aida could only hear. He once saw the Tabot pointing at a bone down there, and Jurko answered the point with a surprised face.
A few minutes later, they finished talking and the two returned to the wagon. Aida couldn't help but ask, she finally got rid of her discomfort.
"Master Tabot?"
"What is it?"
"What were you two talking about in the trench? I can't bear to say this, but master pointed to the remains of human bones down there. And master Jurko looked like he couldn't believe what you were saying. What happened?"
Jurko approached the Tabot and uttered the word that Aida could hear, "talendum.." into his ear.
"Just a small talk about how we bury those people. You see, if we bury them in the wrong style of burials, the bone's spirit won't come out of the earth swiftly."
"Is that really what you were talking about?"
"Sure, that's what we were talking about," Tabot fake a laugh. "Now let's get back to the wagon, we're going back to the fort."
Aida didn't encourage questions, she just went along with what Tabot said. When the cart moved again, Aida stared at the trench. She wondered what would happen to that person's body, or who were they? She would find out, even though neither of them wanted to.
When they arrived at the fort, Aida and the two people got off the wagon. Tabot took them to a small tent. Aida saw Zahra there standing beside the dining table full of delicious dishes.
"A little party for our newest member," Tabot held up a glass of white wine. "For Ada, the newest Spearhead spy," he said.
"Me? A spy?"
"Sure! You will have your own division and full of elected soldiers. Now, sit down! We have a lot to talk about."
The three of them sat at the wide table. Aida took off her mask and took another breath. She could smell the delicious food in front of her. Chickens, vegetables, fishes, it's all there. Aida was a little uncomfortable, she didn't know which one to take.
"Take what you want, Ada," said Jurko, who was eating venison with his hands.
The woman didn't mince words and jumped straight into her food.
"So, how was the trip to Koto Tigo?"
"Comfortable, quiet sea," answered Jurko.
"And how was your first mission, Ada? Interesting?"
"Master can say it like that," Aida replied in a weak tone.
"We can't discuss the details at this time, Tabot. We'd better have some food first!" said Jurko.
When eating chicken meat, Tabot blows his hand which looks hot.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you blowing your hands?"
"It's certainly not wise to eat chili chicken with your hands," Tabot blew back his finger. "The hot chili is stinging, I forgot about this. But it's okay, this dish is delicious," Tabot glanced at Zahra. "Why aren't you eating? Grab a stool and join in on this feast that Hukoleener said as 'mamam'."
The doctor laughed shyly and took a stool and sat next to Aida who was eating vegetables with a spoon.
"There will be a big day to come for the Spearhead. And I thank you for everything. The safety and health of all of you," said Tabot. "We will work hard to rebuild the glory of the investigators and the genius scientists on earth. From now on until the end when we close our eyes."
Jurko toasted himself.
"For the soldiers who died to save this chapter of the story, and what is to come. Their sacrifices will bear fruit today, if not, tomorrow."
Zahra's turn to toast.
"To all the doctors and nurses. Saving lives for the wounded and sick. Giving another chance for the soldiers so they can stand up again."
Jurko and Tabot toasted again.
Now the eyes were on Aida. The woman raised her glass thinking about what she wanted to say.
"For brothers in arms, take care of each other's brothers and sisters. Until death."
Jurko, Tabot, and Zahra raised their glasses and drank their drinks. Jurko wiped his mouth, exhale in satisfaction. Yet, something is need to be asked.
"I think this is our third good news?" joked Jurko.
Tabot smiled with a mouth full of water which he then took a gulp. He shook his head at Jurko, not agreeing with what he was saying.
"I don't think the good news is this afternoon's meal."
"So what?"
"What?" Tabot asked Jurko back. "Ada, what do you think the good news is?"
The woman shrugged her shoulders.
"I do not know."
"You should know. Who made you the Spearhead's spy? I don't have any idea about it, maybe people who know you really well are the one who came up with the idea."
Aida was silent thinking about Tabot's answer and immediately dropped her spoon making a loud clang on the plate. She looked at Jurko and Tabot, the woman's eyes wide open as if she knew the answer. Zahra looked at her with one eyebrow raised.
Aida took a cloth and wiped her mouth clean. She moved very quickly, stood up from the bench and came out with her mask over her face. She immediately ran through the camp crowd.
The masked woman opened the curtain of the tent, she looked inside and there was no one there. The tank is not full with liquid mutagen, it's empty. A nurse came and saw Aida who was in a hurry. Looking back at the curtain of the tent door, there the nurse stood in surprise. Aida held her shoulder, lifting her gaze.
"Where is he?" Aida asked.
The woman just looked at Aida's empty glasses. She was silent, unable to speak with the pressure that Aida gave her.
"Where's is he!?"
The woman pointed towards the outside of the tent.
"On.. the cliff.." she trembled.
Aida let go of her grip and immediately got out of the tent. The sun wanted to set, and she wanted to see the person. Having been apart for too long, her heart was pounding.
Walking to the far cliff at the back of the fort, there she saw a man in cloth standing looking at the sun that was about to set from the edge of the world. Aida could not move her body anymore, in the end she could see the man who was still breathing and alive.