"Finally, I've been walking nonstop for thirty minutes" Watanabe sighed after getting close to the border. The closer she got the more she could see and hear the large crowd gathered there.
*Flashback to when she first got into the city*
Griklin looked like an enormous Colosseum except it had four transparent glass like tubes extending outwards. The walls were seventy meters tall with the tubes being attached to it fifty meters from the ground.
The tubes were designed to act as a mini runway for aircrafts one at a time. The flawless design aided by gravity made it easier and faster for aircrafts to leave the city. Watanabe saw a few of them leave the city when she first arrived, she often wondered why the city had to be on such a hill-like platform.
*End of flashback*
She worked her way through the crowd to get a better view of what was happening in front of them. People were bidding for seats in the aircraft while some others gathered round a deflated gas balloon. Apparently, it was the last aircraft. Because of how rowdy it was, the flight attendants came up with an idea. They were asked to draw lots. After everyone including Watanabe drew a number which totalled over a hundred, thirty random numbers were selected. Those who drew the selected numbers were chosen as passengers. Watanabe sighed she had on her hand a card with the number 34 and the closest chosen number was 38. Immediately the passengers were announced, the remaining unlucky people took off in one direction. She was curious but she didn't have the strength to join them so she walked up to a staff to inquire where they were headed and why. The staff had this nonchalant look on his face but he responded well.
"They are going to the Southern border"
"ohhh.. what border is this?"
"it's the eastern one, wait are you telling me you didn't know which border this is? ... you came here without knowing that each border has specific places it takes people to, for example the north takes people to Asheville, Hal and xynodon.. This border here only takes people to Fluhxly, Lyptak and Gadora then the west has Acimers, v-"
"did you say Gadora?" She interrupted.
"Yh.. that's your venue? lucky you. No need to join the others"
"wait, does that mean they were confused like me or what?"
"Nope, under normal circumstances, no port would allow different destinations apart from its assigned ones, but it's been some minutes since that incident occured thereby nullifying the rules. During cases like this, they charge extra if the destination does not align with the port's default ones"
Some minutes passed while she got briefed by the staff, she was getting impatient so she asked
"How long does it take before another airship arrives?"
"the nearest would take about 4 hours"
"Hehh?! I can't wait that long, what do I do? I guess have to go to the nearest border like the others, but they've been gone for some minutes, how do I catch up?" She was confused
"I won't advice you to go there, the same scenario that took place here might be happening there, besides how are we sure that we don't have people from other part of the city leaving their borders and coming here? we can't communicate with them can we?"
The more he talked the more Watanabe got irritated.
"What would'ya recommend me to do then?!" She yelled, interrupting him.
"The best is to wai-"
"I can't do that! this can't be happening" She said interrupting him again. She leant against a pillar, had her arms crossed and kept on tapping her right foot on the ground. The staff couldn't take it anymore so he voiced out his opinion.
"There is another way..You just have to- don't interrupt me.. listen young woman.. This is a non conventional means of transportation. There are a few Ground vehicles. I know I know you're happy to hear this, it doesn't cost much but it's dangerous, if not because of the topography of this city, we'd have creatures looming around immediately the barrier gave out.. if you'd like to go using the ground vehicle, there's one thing you must have, a guardian young miss, if you don't then I'm afraid the best thing for you to do is to wait for the airships like this woman over there, this family over here and this man walking here" he said pointing around.
"...."
"Abby, haven't I told ya not to wander off on ya own?"
A tall man in coat and dark shades said holding her shoulder.
Watanabe wanted to voice out but the staff did before she could.
"excuse me sir, you know this young lady?" The staff asked
"sure, sure I do, she's my niece" he said patting her back.
She looked up at him and gave a wry smile.
"excuse me sir, your I D pls" the staff had his hand out requesting for means of identification from the fur coated man. As soon as he collected it, the man removed his shades and hat. After looking at the I.D properly, the staff straightened up correcting his posture.
"Sir Bernard, good to see you.. may I ask where you're headed?" The staff asked returning his I.D.
"Gadora, I believe you'll let me use... us use one the carriages you have at your disposal" Bernard says while looking at Watanabe.
"yes sir, this way please" the staff left his position and took them down the alley to where the ground vehicles were. They met up with one of the drivers whose destination was Gadora. Bernard insisted on paying for the trip even though the staff kept on refusing, this went on.
"come on ... ehh.. Joe" he looked at his shirt where he saw the staff's name. "Take it" he pressured the Joe till he gave in.
"Thank you very much sir, I don't still think it's right for someone who designed the airship we use to journey by land" Joe said before leaving them and returning to his post. Bernard wore his hat and walked along Watanabe towards their carriage. She who was silent throughout the whole conversation had a lot of questions going through her mind, one thing for sure was she was glad she didn't interrupt their conversation.
"Mister....Bernard" Watanabe tries to recall his name.
"call me uncle Ben"
"heh?" she had a confused face
"I'm glad you helped me get past that man, thank you sir" she bowed her head.
"I have a lot of questions, firstly, why did you help me back there? you said you were going to Gadora, you don't look like someone from that place or are there plenty others like you in this city that have something to do with Gadora? or you aren't even going but you eavesdropped and decided to help me out, there must be a reason for you helping me out, why?"
she asked utterly confused. Bernard started laughing and dropped the suitcase he had in his hand. He slipped his hand into his side pocket and brought out a pack of cigar, he took one, lit the end, inhaled and exhaled deeply.
"Abby... I'll answer all your questions in due time... Let's say it isn't something I can say here. come on, get in the carriage. we have a lot to talk about if you want your questions answered.." he said pointing into the carriage.
The driver helped arrange their stuff into the carriage. while they climb in afterwards.
"Thanks, so where is the horse?" she asked
"what horse?" Bernard looks at her
Watanabe: "The horse to move the carriage"
Bernard: "We don't need no horse"
They start moving, the driver horned, indicating that it was time for them to leave the city. One of the city mini doors was opened up to allow them through.
Watanabe: "we are moving, how come?"
The driver chuckled.
"What we have here is a Quadricycle, just think about a four wheeled bicycle with a carriage attached.
Watanabe: "a four wheeled bicycle? nah it ain't the same, I mean this one has a roof over its head.. I don't think a bicycle can pull stuff as heavy as this one"
Bernard: "The driver's explanation should be easy for you to understand, oh well, this is a vehicle designed using the principle of a bicycle, it has pedals, a breaking system and a shift gear. it was designed slightly differently from an actual bicycle, this helps reduce the strain on the pedler when climbing hilly places and stuff like that, anyways, it's more convenient than using horses"
Watanabe opened the window of the carriage to look outside, she saw a snaky road that extended far down the hill. She grinned, tightened her fist and said to herself.