Singing Snowberg
Chapter Seven
Lost Language <1>
Chros©
There’s a foreign book on the table, Chinese characters on the cover. Oh I know it’s a dictionary, an old woman gave me as a present back in China. I feel weakness gaining control, tirednesses come in waves.
Salty water is crystallising under the sun on my face, temperature is high, summer. “Cyano get up, they’re waiting for you.” Sunder is wearing her usual red clothes, but without her umbrella.
I’ve seen this in my dream, a strange place. Some wooden towers, paddy fields, a white light tower in the distance, the sky laden with silky clouds; the sound of tranquility with power penetrating throughout the scene.
When we arrived at the foot of a tower, two people were waiting outside. One of them has a black sack in his hand. “This is what he needs, please use it well.” “Thank you.” I take the sack. Is the herb inside? Should I open it and check out? He sees through my doubt, “seeds, more durable than the grown plants.” The woman speaks, “come inside, we prepared foods for you.” “No, I’d better go back as soon as possible.” This past me seems to know what I’m up to.
Sunder is absentminded, watching towards the sea. Some kids are looking down from the windows in curiosity. Where’s Salix? He should be with me? Little drizzle is falling from the sky, how strange. Then I turn back with her because we have nowhere to hide. The rain suddenly changes to a heavy one when we reach to their tower.
Looking out from the window, I couldn’t believe it’s wintertime on the other side of the Earth. Blazing hot sunshine still works his magic behind the raindrops. Some people are working in the fields.
“Why don’t we use machine?” “The wireless plague. Our machines were too advanced.” Hearing this, Sunder drops her chopsticks and says, “it’s better to have something to do, Isn’t it? In fact this is my first time in modern China, thank you for taking me here.” This is funny, I was expecting her to be my tour guide. She feeds herself a meatball, “the dishes don’t change.” “What are you looking at?” The host asked.
Some kids are peeping from behind the sliding door, I must be a strange person. “They’re curious, don’t be offended,” he turns to them, “go away, or serve us some wine.” “No no it’s okay, I like them.”
Few minutes later a little kid offers me a golden flower. Wow, it’s as big as my palm. The host explains, “only this county in China could culture this kind of plant, Golden Camellia.” “So, this is what we’re drinking.” There’s a giant flower in the glass tea pot, “so good! It’s the best flower tea I’ve ever tasted.” Sunder nods gently, “very good, indeed.” “There’re some in the sack I gave you. If you like it we give you more.”
The illusion is tearing itself apart from the middle, some kids are looking at me from the next one.
This is an old bus. Strangely everyone of them are kids. Oh they’re carrying school bags, this could be a commuter bus.
“Salix, look.” This body approaches the window, and everyone in the bus are looking outside the windows. There’s a giant shake flying across the sky, covered with red scales. “Oh my God is it a dragon?” “Don’t be stupid Cyano, it’s a loong, he has no wings.” Kids are laughing at Salix’s remark. I ask one of them, “what is it?” “It’s a mechanical dragon, Sir. Weather observer.” That dragon is beautiful. “How is it possible to fly without wings?” This girl shakes her head.
What a strange place. I want to know where we are by asking Salix but I have no control over this body. We just sit and watch, everything is fresh for us. Now I get how Salix felt, he couldn’t speak to the outside world because I have control over my body. So right now I’m the phantom Salix for this body, the only difference is I couldn’t communicate with him because this is the past, the truth that happened. And for those memories in which have the control are changeable, it means they could be fake. I could be fake to this body, but the Salix sits beside him is, was real. This moment I want to say something to my dear Salix.
The bus stopped at a station by the hill that’s facing the sea. “Let’s go, we should take the boat back to Cape Town.”
“Cape Town Cape Town....” “Cyano wake up, let’s have breakfast.” Oh good, what a smooth chest, Salix you’re real. “Don’t giggle and get up, it’s late.” I look at the window, but there’s no window at all, I forgot this isn’t my cell. Salix puts on his trousers, “still night outside.” Waking up is like the summer is over. Leave me alone, I want peace.
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