Yoghurt

Kino no Tabi

Volume 2

Chapter 1

The story of the ones who ate people

- I want to live -

Inside a snowy forest.

The snow piled up from a single winter, squashed all the grass. There were tall trees growing from the white ground, with long and thin leaves.

The sky that could be seen from the openings of the branches, looked like snow could fall again in any minute, as there were heavy low clouds spreading around. The light of the sun was weak.

It was a quiet place. Beside the sound of snow pattering down from the branches once in a while, no other sound could be heard. There was not even wind blowing.

On that place, there was a single wild rabbit. Its fur was white with the exception of the tips of its ears.

The rabbit advanced slowly, leaving a flat trace on the snow. It stopped and moved its ears and head with short and quick movements. After that, it started jumping, going forward.

After repeating that for a while, the rabbit stopped suddenly. It moved its ears. On the white head of the rabbit, a red point appeared. It was a light.

Inside the same forest, there was a person.

It was wearing an arctic coat with a hood and overpants that covered until the tip of the shoes. It had a hat covered with fur, one eye type goggles with yellow lenses, and a face warmer that covered it from the neck.

That person was leaning against the trunk of a tree, sitting with the knees bent forward. It had a single handgun between the legs and kept it there with both hands. The gun was a slender automatic with a harmonica type silencer attached. From a hole below the barrel, there was a red light being projected. A laser sight aim. It was pointing directly at the head of the rabbit in a straight line.

The person exhaled a slightly white air. It pulled the trigger slowly. Inside the gun, there was a clink, and the sound of something clapping could be heard.

The following instant, blood spouted from the spot on the head of the rabbit where the light had been reflected before.

The rabbit trembled for an instant and it soon fell down and stopped moving. The blood spilled from the head, dyed some of the white fur and then melted a little of the snow below.

Inside the forest, there was a single road. It went in a straight line, it was a road made by cutting off the trees. It was covered by snow, frozen in pure white.

On top of that road, there was a motorbike stopped. There was a solid carrier instead of the rear seat, but instead of luggage there was just a single bag tied.  

The motorbike was remodelled to be able to run on the snow. Both tires had studs attached so they would pierce into the frozen road. In front of the frame of the engine, there were arms to the left and to the right like assisting wheels from bicycles. On the tips of them, there were two planks to put the feet and below them, small sized skis. They were there so the motorbike wouldn’t fall even if a tire slipped.

- I shot one down, Hermes.

The person from the woods appeared carrying the rabbit hanging upside down with both legs tied together, and it spoke to the motorbike. In front of the stomach, it had a holster with a cover, fixed diagonally.

The motorbike called Hermes, replied happily.

- Excellent! This way the food rations won’t run out, Kino.

The person called Kino nodded and put the rabbit inside the bag and tied it to the luggage carrier.

Kino took off the goggles and a bandana. It lowered the face warmer. Its age was around sixteen to nineteen years old. With short black hair, it had big eyes and a fearless face. It wiped off the sweat lightly and fixed the hat on its place. Then, it said:

- Alright, should we hurry up and go back? If they die now, I’d be in a dilemma.

- A dilemma? - Hermes asked.

- I wouldn’t be able to show my face

- To who?

After Hermes asked one more time, Kino replied:

- To the rabbit.

Kino turned on Hermes’ engine. The tranquility of the forest was shattered by the sound of Hermes’ engine. Kino put on the goggles and the face warmer and put both feet on the supportive skis and made Hermes go forward.

In a corner of a white road, there was a truck of a relatively new model. The tires and the lower half of the body were completely covered by the snow, looking incapable of moving at all. On the roof, there was a thick layer of snow.

A little away from there, on the border between the woods and the road, there was a single tent. It was a dome type tent, only the snow from there was sunk as if it had fallen.

Finally, the sound of an engine could be heard and soon after that, Kino and Hermes arrived.

From inside the tent, a single man showed his face like if he was crawling out. It was a man around his thirties. His face couldn’t get any skinnier and his hair and beard had grown wildly. The arctic clothes he was wearing were dirty as well.

Kino took out the rabbit from the bag and showed it to the man. The man’s face looked happy and after seeing that, he returned his face back to the tent. Immediately after that, two other heads from men appeared from inside the tent. One was wearing glasses and was on his twenties, the other one was in his forties and had his hair streaked with white hair. Both of them were painfully skinny, but after seeing the rabbit, their faces smiled.

- I’ll make it edible for you. Lend me a cooking pan, please.

After Kino said that, the man in his thirties replied in a way like he couldn’t wait.

- It’s ok like that. Raw is ok!

The other men too, they complained they wanted to eat it in that instant, but Kino shook the head to the sides.

- No. If you got tularemia or something like that, it could be lethal.

The men made disappointed faces and took out from the tent  two cooking pans of different sizes. Kino received them and told them:

- I’ll tell you when it’s ready, so please rest until then.

- Yes, understood… Ms. Kino.

The man in his thirties called Kino who was about to turn around.

- What is it?

The man stared at Kino’s eyes.

- Thank you very much.

Kino made a slight smile and said:

- It’s still early… but you’re welcome.

About what had happened that morning.

Below thick clouds, Kino and Hermes ran through a frozen road.

Thanks to the studded tires and the supportive skis, they went at a fair speed.

On Hermes’ carrier on the rear, there were other things beside a bag. There was a tent for cold weather, a sleeping bag and many other things fastened as luggage for travel. Unexpectedly, Hermes opened his mouth.

- There’s a truck. Quite ahead.

Kino stopped the accelerator. Without using the breaks, they kept running like that from inertia. They stopped slowly in front of the truck buried in the snow. It turned off the engine and stepped down from Hermes. It lowered the goggles and the face warmer.

Kino opened the holster cover that was on its abdomen, and with the right hand, it took out a revolver type gun. Kino called that gun as “Cannon”.

Kino was about to approach the truck when it realized there was a tent right next to it. It saw the face of a man.

A bearded man around his thirties was watching Kino with an astonished expression. Kino returned “Cannon” to the holster, but spoke while having its hand still on the grip.

- Good morning.

Without saying anything, the man crawled out and stood up fraily. From inside the tent, two other men peeped, as expected, with a surprised face.

The men glanced at Kino and Hermes. Then, they asked with thin voices.

- You, you’re traveling by motorbike, aren’t you…? Hey, don’t you have some food?

Looking at their state, Hermes said indifferently:

- I see. I got more or less what happened.

Kino said:

- It’s not like I don’t have any. Since when are you all here?

- Don’t be surprised when you hear it… Since the beginning of the winter.

Kino showed a slightly surprised face and Hermes said:

- I’m surprised. That’s quite a lot.

- Yes. The snow started falling earlier than normal, then it turned into an intense snow storm. Since then, we’ve been stuck here…

- You were lucky you weren’t struck by a bier, right?*

(*note: Hermes was trying to make a joke, changing the man’s words into others that sound very similar. I tried to mimic that in english. The good thing is, it wasn’t supposed to be funny anyways.)

Hermes said that, but nobody laughed.

- You don't have any food in the truck either, don’t you?

Kino asked as to confirm and the men made sad and painful expressions.

- There was, but we ate all of it… a long time ago. Of course we had some but we didn’t think we could be trapped here. We were careless. All the time we were waiting for someone to pass. I beg you! Share some food with us, please… We’re three men…

The man pointed at the tent and the two men looked at Kino with a clingy expression.

- I beg you…

The men put their hands together and supplicated. Kino sighed slightly and spoke:

- The food I have are food rations. But me too, I only have the essential for one person. Even if I give you some spare, it won’t be enough for the three of you.

It could be heard how the men had their breath taken away.

- But - Kino said that and the men lifted their faces - I can go and hunt something for you. There sure are animals on the area, and since the weather is getting warmer, I’ll be able to get something somehow. If you regain some of your strength back, we might be able to move the truck. You still have fuel, right?

- Yes, we have! Then?

The man asked back to Kino, happily. Kino nodded slightly while feeling the men’s thrilled eyes.

- Yes. I’ll stay with you for some days.

The men’s faces smiled at Kino’s line. All the men spoke grateful words.

- What’s your name?

The man in his thirties standing in front, asked.

- Kino. This is Hermes.

- Ms. Kino. Please look at this for a moment.

The man took a small box from his pocket while he spoke. He opened it and turned it to Kino. Inside, there was a single ring. A few green jewels were fixed on the silver ring.

- This has surely quite a high price. Take it as a token of our gratitude for helping the three of us. Take it, please.

The man said that and pointed the box at Kino.

- It’s still early.

- It’s alright. Please, take it. I got it thinking in giving it to my wife after returning. But if I were to die here, then it would have no meaning.

- …

Kino picked that with its hand and tried opening it once. Without changing its expression, it looked at it for a while.

- I understand. I’ll receive it as a reward at the end. Until then, I’ll hold it - Kino put the box in a pocket. It talked to the men - Wait here for a while, I’ll go and search for a prey. I’ll leave my luggage here, but please leave it as it is. Meat is much more delicious than the food rations I have.

Kino unloaded all luggage from Hermes and just tied a single bag to the carrier

Then, it went to hunt.

Kino started cooking. It dug the snow near a tree until the soil was visible. There, it gathered a little of solid fuel, old newspapers and some wood, and it lighted a fire. With a rope, it made the cooking pan to hang from the tree and adjusted it so the fire would heat it properly. Inside the pan, it put the cleanest snow possible.

Kino put the rabbit on an iron plate that it normally used for shooting practice. For some seconds, it glared at the still rabbit and after some more seconds, it closed its own eyes.

After a short silent prayer, it started cutting the meat.

Kino took off the gloves it had on and put some gloves made of thin gum on both hands.

It took out a folded hunting knife. It made a cut around the center of the back of the rabbit, on the torso.

Next, it pulled the fur to the sides with both hands. It pulled it until the neck and the tip of the legs were completely visible, then it cut it off.

The rabbit got a size smaller and turned into a lump of pink meat.

Kino cut open the abdomen vertically from the throat to the anus and took out the internal organs.

It wiped the open abdomen with a paper and snow. It poured some water.

Kino made a cut on the base of the limbs, it moved it like if folding the hip joint and took them off. It cut the rear legs in two by the knees. It cut the torso in appropriated parts.

It finished the cutting and the rabbit turned into “meat” that could be sold in any butchery.

Kino regulated the fire and scooped up the visible dirt from the water in the pan.

Then, it put the meat inside the pan. It wiped the iron plate used as chopping board, with snow and put it on the fire for disinfection. At that moment, Kino took off the gloves, for the first time. After a while, the meat was cooked.

After Kino called the men, they all came out tottering and approached the fire, holding plates and cups. On those worned out faces, only the eyes were big, sparkling in a grotesque way.

The meat sprinkled over with salt and pepper was divided by Kino, and the men glared quietly at the food in front of them for a while. Finally, tears flowed on those cheeks full of grime.

- Damn it! It’s not a dream, right…?

- If you try eating it, you’ll know. Maybe it won’t disappear for sure - said Kino.

Then, while tearing the meat into pieces with their fingers, they slowly took them to their mouths. After chewing it some times, they swallowed it, closed their eyes and sighed.

- It’s good…

The man in his forties muttered while crying.

- It’s delicious…

The man in his twenties spoke while silently in tears without stopping the slow movements of his hands.

The other man swallowed it after chewing it with his eyes closed as to confirm the feeling. And swallowed

- Yes. It’s good, good. It’s been a while since I ate something so good. It’s a little salty, though.

The men laughed while crying. They wiped the tears. The grime fell a little.

Kino made tea with water boiled in another pan, and put it into different cups. On that moment, it passed some pills to the men’s hands.

- They’re pills with vitamins and so on. Since I have a spare of them.

Kino said that and the youngest man’s face smiled.

- Thanks. It’s a full course!

- Ms. Kino. Don’t you want some of the meat?

The man in his thirties asked.

- I thought I would if there were some leftovers, but it seems you can eat all of it, right? I’m alright eating this as I always do.

Kino said that and showed a food ration that looked like a lump of squared clay.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

Kino spoke in response to the men’s docile thanks:

- If it’s possible, show your gratitude to it too. - while speaking, it pointed with its finger.

There, on a branch of the tree, was hanging the fur of the torso Kino had cut, the upper half and the lower half. The dark eyes which had lost any light, watched the four people.

After that, the men left the plates and cups on the snow at the same time, they joined their hands in front of their faces and closed their eyes.

In front of the eyes of Kino and Hermes, who was stopped behind, they all slowly started expressing their gratefulness to the gods.

- Dear gods, thank you very much. For creating us and the other living beings with blood flowing …. And dear gods, please forgive us, who killed for the sake of keep living.

- …

The prayers from the men continued for a while. Kino observed it while putting in its mouth the food rations, with an expression as if the flavour was quite bad.

The men devoured all of the meat after a considerable amount of time.

The sky that hadn’t been very bright since the sun started setting, became then even darker. The scenery changed into a tone of gray and silently, became deeper.

Kino set a tent for a single person on the other side of the men’s tent, sandwiching their truck in the middle.

Lastly during that day, it served tea to the men. They thanked it once more and returned to their tent.

Kino put a cover over Hermes’ engine and tank, and crawled inside its tent.

The morning of the following day.

Kino woke up while the area was quite dark. The sky was covered with clouds and powdery snow was swirling a little.

Kino moved its body above the snow and practiced drawing and shooting “Cannon” many times.

After having a breakfast of the food rations, it clapped Hermes to wake him up and turned on his engine. It fastened the bag. It asked the men, who had woken up by the sound of the motor sounds, to come out with their cups. It put snow in the cups and after putting them near Hermes’ engine and exhaust pipe, the snow was soon melted.

- Even if it’s not an engine made to boil water.

After Hermes complained, Kino calmed him down.

- It can be useful for many things.

During that day. Once again, Kino went to hunt with Hermes and catched two rabbits in a row. One of them was big.

After returning, it cut them in the same way and during the afternoon, it cooked the first one in the same way.

The men came out from the tent and once again, they ate while offering words of gratitude. Then, one more time, they returned to their tent and rested.

Kino cut off properly the branches of a tree, and hanged them to make up for the lack of firewood.

It cooked the other pieces of meat when the sunset was approaching.

The men devoured all of it. Next to the fire, a pile of clean bones was made.

While they ate, the men promised with a smile how if Kino ever went to visit their country, during the stay they would treat it with anything it liked, to the extent its weight would grow many times. Their physical strength was quickly returning and they were able to walk normally without teetering.

By the time it was night, the snow had stopped falling completely and rifts were starting to appear on the clouds. Bit by bit, stars became visible on the sky.

Kino entered in the sleeping bag inside the tent. Hermes, who was stopped in front of it, spoke.

- Kino, are you awake?

- Yes.

- Is it ok for us to take this detour?

To Hermes’ question, Kino replied honestly.

- It’s not good! No matter how warmer it had become. I want to leave this forest soon.

- Then?

- It’s because I have a reward, right? I’ll receive the ring.

Kino replied without changing the usual tone.

- What’s so good about that thing?

After Hermes asked that, there was a rustling sound for a while. And then, only Kino’s left hand came out. The ring was on that middle finger.

- How is it? - Kino asked while turning the hand back and forth.

- It doesn’t suit you - Hermes replied immediately.

The hand slowly went back inside and a voice replied back.

- … I think so too. I wonder if it would be a bother while grasping the clutch. But it’s valuable if sold. Also, helping others is not a bad thing.

- Is that so? - Hermes replied shortly.

The following day. In other words, the morning of the third day after meeting the men.

When Kino woke up, there was just a pale blue on the sky and it was clear as far as the eye could see. There were no clouds.

Behind Kino, who was exercising, a lump of orange light was rising. The shadows were long, stretching over the snow.

Finally, the men woke up. With a quick pace, they boiled some water by themselves.

- You’re much better already.

Kino spoke and the men nodded.

- Yes. Thank you.

Kino shared the food rations for the breakfast. The four of them ate it while squirming.

After eating, while they were having tea, the men talked about their home country.

- When we get back to our houses, I can imagine how surprised everyone will be. They must be thinking there was an accident. Or maybe they think we were shot to death…

- Maybe we have graves already.

- It’s great. Shall we visit our graves?

When the man in his thirties asked Kino which was its country, Kino replied shaking the head to the sides.

- Is that so?... I’m sorry.

The man said that and the conversation stopped.

As the sun rose quite a bit, the temperature rose a little as well

The man told Kino they wanted to move the truck. If they split and dug the snow creating a slope on the front and the back of the truck, it could possibly get free from being buried. If they could just move the truck, they could go to the nearest country.

The man in his thirties spoke to Kino.

- First, I want to unload all the luggage from the truck. If you’re ok, I would like you to help us.

Kino and the three men went to the back of the truck.

There were three locks on the load carrying platform. The other two men passed the keys to the man in his thirties, he opened the door and went inside. Coming from there, there was the sound of a click. The man in his forties spoke to Kino from a slightly separated spot.

- Ms. Kino, is that motorbike alright?

Kino turned around without understanding. At the same time, the man in his thirties quickly took out his body. He was holding a long gun with both hands. He aimed at Kino, who was turned back. The instant Kino saw the man’s gun, its right hand stretched to the holster but, it soon stopped trying to draw. With a nonchalant expression, it turned the face to the gun pointing at itself.

- It was a good decision. If you had drew it like that, I would have shot you without a doubt.

The man stepped down the truck while keeping his stance with no openings.

- Thanks for that.

Kino replied back normally, like if it wasn’t particularly surprised. The other two men walked some steps away from Kino while having severe expressions on their faces. The man in his thirties said:

- To be honest, I don’t want to shoot. Since we’re proud of how we deliver our merchandise without a single scratch.

- Merchandise?

Kino asked and the man in his forties replied:

- Yes. We have a temp agency and humans are our merchandise.

After those words, Hermes, stopped on a separated place behind Kino, spoke with a normal tone:

- Wow, uncles, are you kidnappers? As in... slave dealers?

Then, the man in his thirties spoke with a bitter smile.

- Don’t say it so boldly… but yeah, it’s like that. And now that we’re healthy again, we need to do our job for the sake of keep living. That’s why, Ms. Kino, we’ll take you to a person who will buy you. Don’t offer resistance, please.

Hermes said:

- Even if it’s like that, that would trouble me.

The man in his forties replied:

- Calm down, Hermes. Your partner is quite a beauty. If we brush her, she will shine and she’s so young, so she should be sold for a huge price for sure. We always decorate our merchandise with jewels or beautiful clothes. We sell them as sets. We won’t do anything that would damage you.

- It’s really good we understand each other - Kino said that indifferently, without moving the body.

The man in his thirties spoke to Kino, staring quietly at Kino’s eyes, while aiming at it.

- Please, don’t think badly of it. We thank you from our hearts that you saved us. It was delicious… It was very delicious. But, we’re like wolves. Wolves have a wolf way of living. Without helping it, it’s for the sake of living.

- I see.

Kino raised both arms slowly.

- Good. Take off that revolver on your stomach along with the holster with your left hand, slowly.

Kino took out slowly with the left hand, “Cannon’s” holster from the belt.

- Throw it.

Kino threw it and it fell in the space between them. It made a piercing sound and it got stabbed halfway in the snow.

The man in his twenties was about to go and pick it but the man in his forties next to him, stopped him. Then, he said:

- Take off your arctic clothes. Slowly. One hand at a time, facing to the front.

Kino took off the arctic clothes as it was told and had a thick belt fastened on the waist. There were many pockets attached to the belt.

- Turn around slowly.

Kino turned around. On the belt, there was the gun that Kino had used to hunt the rabbits, inside a sandwich type holster. Kino called it, “Person of the woods”.

- Just as I thought. Draw that gun too, then throw it, slowly.

- You’re very knowledgeable.

Kino spoke while looking at Hermes. It holded “Person of the woods” from the barrel, it took it off from the holster and threw it.

- Raise your hands and turn around. Slowly.

Kino raised both hands and faced the men slowly.

Two of them were about to approach, but this time, the man in his thirties holding the gun, stopped them.

- Wait. She had some knives, right? Where are they?.

Kino made a somewhat sad expression and replied bluntly.

- Here and there.

- Throw them all.

Kino put the right hand slowly on the pocket on the hem. It took the folded knife it had used for cooking and threw it like that.

Kino stretched the right hand slowly towards a pocket from the belt. From there, it took out the grip of a knife. The folded blade was raised and locked automatically. It threw that.

Kino put its right hand slowly on the left hem of the jacket. From there, it took out a knife with a double edged blade. It threw it. This time, it put the left hand in the right hem, and threw another knife just like the last one.

- …

In front of the men who were watching in silence, Kino started taking off the over pants. It slided down the side zippers and took one leg at a time. The boots and pants it was wearing below were visible. Kino lowered the waist as it was about to squat down, it took a knife from a sheath tied to the shin of the boot. It threw it.

Doing the same with the left hand, it took and then throw a knife on the left boot.

That hit another thrown knife and made a clink noise.

- You… are you a knife seller?

The man in his twenties muttered that without thinking.

Kino took out a knife slowly with its right hand from a sheath behind the right side of the belt. It was a double edged knife, the blade had a length of around fifteen centimeters and the grip had the shape of a thick circular cylinder.

Kino grabbed it with the right hand and, as a support, it holded the blade with the left hand. Kino spoke slowly while looking at the eyes of the man aiming the gun.

- This is the last one.

- Throw it.

On the forehead of the man who spoke like that, a red point appeared. That was a light.

Bababang! An explosion sound could be heard three times. On the border between the grip and the blade, there were four small holes and bullets were shot from three of those.

On the man’s forehead, blood spouted out from the spots where the red points were.

The man in his forties saw Kino moving towards him at the same time he heard the explosion, and swung his left hand instantaneously. Kino evaded it going below it and with the left hand holded the opponent's left hand from behind. It used the entire blade of the knife, piercing the left side of the center of his back.

At the same time the stabbed man said “guh!” shortly, the man with three small holes on his forehead collapsed like if he was crumbling.

Kino pushed the knife and the man like that, and hit the man in his twenties. On the instant the skinny man fell, Kino picked “Cannon” from the snow.

Kino lifted the hammer immediately and stood in front of the man fallen on his back, pinned under the corpse.

- Hya! - the man gave a shriek.

Kino’s face was dyed in a deep red as it glanced the fallen man next to it. Then, it aimed “Cannon” at the last man.

- Hel…

At the same moment there was a roaring sound and white smoke, Kino’s right hand jumped and some teeths from the man popped like popcorn.

For an instant, the man’s head moved as it had received an electrical shock and soon, it settled down. On the blood gathered on the mouth, a bubble was created with a “gup”, from the air squeezed out from the lungs. The bursting blood melted some of the snow from under his neck.

Kino stood in front of the corpses of the three men. A faint vapor was created from that blood.

- It was dangerous, wasn’t it? - Hermes spoke to Kino from behind - Any wounds?

- No - Kino said shortly and soon - I was scared. I thought it was going to be the end - it added.

After that, Kino stood awhile, holding “Cannon” with its right hand.

Between that clear sky and that shining silver world, Kino’s molars grinded resounding with a ticking sound.

- Are you alright now? - asked Hermes.

- I’m alright now. - Kino said while nodding.

There was no vapor coming out from the corpses anymore

Kino stood in front of the load carrying platform.

While still aiming “Cannon” very carefully, it slowly opened the door.

- I see

Kino muttered that and looked inside for some time. Then, it opened both doors. The light invaded the platform.

Inside a not very spacious platform, there were many pure white bones on the floor. They were human bones. Thin ribs. Small finger bones. A splitten ilium that looked like a spatula. Broken thigh bones with the marrows glurped.

There were some empty containers of solid fuel on the floor. There was a metal plate, teared off from a part of the platform as well. And above them, there were scorched spinal column bones.

On a corner of the platform, there was the head from the one who owned the bones.

Tied to a pipe from the platform, a not very big head with long blond hair was hanging down. It was possibly from a girl around Kino’s age.

It had three quiet holes with no eyes or nose. The skin and meat from the cheeks and jaw were clipped and the more down you went on the skull, the more naked it was. The open lower jaw was barely attached.

On the opposite corner of the head, there was a vivid yellow dress folded carefully.

- … Hermes, can you see it?

Kino asked and Hermes replied.

- Yes. The leftovers from their meal, right?

Kino watched the corpses of the men lying down at its feet.

- Before that, it was surely an important merchandise.

- Then, before that? - Hermes followed Kino’s mutter and asked.

Kino said quietly while looking at the blond hair glittering.

- Who knows.

Kino spoke to the girl while slowly closing the door.

- It wasn’t right. But they didn’t want to die.

- We stopped for a while. Let’s depart soon.

Kino said that and started picking the thrown knives.

When it picked “Person of the woods” , the barrel was filled with snow. Kino aimed at nowhere and shot twice. Then it put the security lock on and returned it to the back of its waist.

It pulled the knife stabbed on the man’s back with all its strength. It pierced the snow with the blade stained with blood some times and cleaned it. Then, it wiped it on the clothes of the corpse.

Below the knife grip, there was a screwable lid, Kino opened and took out from there three empty cartridges. Kino took three bullets from the spare magazines of “Person of the woods” that were  in the belt, and put them inside the grip of the knife.

Then, it put back the gun-knife to the sheath on its right thigh.

Kino put on the overpants and the arctic clothes. It put “Cannon” back to its original position. It dismantled the tent quickly and loaded all the luggage on Hermes’ carrier. It turned on the engine.

Suddenly, Kino went back next to the truck. It squatted next to the corpse holding a gun.

It took off the left hand glove. The middle finger had the ring. There were some green jewels on the silver ring.

Kino looked at its left hand for some seconds. It took off the ring and took off the box from a pocket. It put that on the man’s chest pocket. It spoke in a thin voice.

- I’m returning this. Since I wasn’t able to save you.

With a thin voice like Kino, Hermes said:

- Oh, so you liked it.

Kino sat on Hermes. It hid its face putting the hat and the goggles.

Kino stepped lightly on the accelerator and the engine blowed with a good condition.

Hermes said:

- Shall we go?

- Yeah, right. - said Kino.

Kino turned the head lightly, checking if they weren’t forgetting anything. The three rabbits arranged on the branch, looked at Kino.

Kino said:

- Don’t think badly of it. We’re human beings.

The motorbike started running. It passed next to the truck, the tent and the four corpses and soon, it wasn’t visible anymore.

Kino no tabi

2nd volume

Frontispiece

The story of the sniper

- Fatalism –

There was a forest. It was a very abundant forest.

There was a hill. It was a tall hill from where one could survey the entire forest.

On top of the hill, there was a single sniper.

The sniper was laying upside down, clinging to a long gun used for sniping.

While spying through a scope that let him see at night and at the distance, he surveilled the forest from one corner to the other.

On that moment, something moved by the side of a pretty lake that was inside the forest. The focus of the sniper shifted towards there.

On the bank of a lake, a silhouette not wearing a single piece of clothing was having fun. It was the silhouette of a man, what was reflected on the sniper’s eyes.

The sniper got somewhat stiff for some time, but soon enough he locked the aim perfectly, at that man - it was a little short, handsome young man - .

The rest was pulling the trigger, then the bullet would go flying at an amazing speed and end up killing the man for sure. The water of the lake would surely be dyed in pure red.

The sniper put his breathing in order and on the instant he put his finger on the trigger:

- Please, stop.

From behind the sniper’s head, a beautiful voice could be heard as if it was becoming transparent. The sniper was a little surprised and lifted and turned back only his head. There was a single woman standing there.

She was wearing wonderful clothes and had a shiny black hair, she was a very beautiful person. And she was grasping a revolver of a big caliber. She was aiming perfectly at the sniper’s head.

- I’m sorry for surprising you. But don’t move, if I failed it would be a waste of gunpowder and bullets - said the woman.

The sniper opened his mouth slowly and asked:

- Why?

While smiling but aiming at him all the time, she said:

- Because you ended up killing the people who enter this forest. Some people living in a nearby country, the families, friends and lovers of the murdered people, commissioned me. Asking me to kill you.

After that, the sniper asked:

- In other words, you’re here to kill me - after the woman nodded, the sniper asked once more - If it’s like that, then why haven’t you shot already?

After hearing that, the woman made a troubled face. After saying “that’s a very good question, isn't it?”, she started explaining the slightly nuisance she was carrying on her shoulders:

- The truth is, after being requested to kill you, I was also commissioned by other people from that same country, “we’ll pay you the same amount of money so don’t kill him, please, leave everything as it is”... There was a lot of people who wished for me to kill you. But at the same time, thanks to you, sorrows and problems that had lasted many years were solved, the loud persons from the neighbourhoods disappeared, people got their inheritance faster, the mouths to feed in a family were reduced, people with incurable diseases were put at ease, some failures at raising children were resetted, and so on. The people who wished for me not to interfere too, it was around the same amount, there were lots of them. It seems for those people, you’re like the god of good fortune.

- Is that so?

- That’s why. I’ve come here wondering what should I do with you, what would be the good thing for me to do, even now I’m still wondering about that.

- If it’s like that…

- If it’s like that?

- Then order me, please. Until now, I’ve shot everyone that looked like I could aim at. From now on, I’ll only shoot one person from a certain amount of people. Please, be the one who decides what number. I will obey what you decide. From now on, the number of people who die in this forest will decrease. But it won’t end up being zero either.

- I see.

The woman decided the number and told it to the sniper. It was a complicated number that needed a complex calculation, so I won’t write it here.

The woman returned to the woods without shooting the sniper. She returned to the woods.

On the lake, inside the woods, the man was still swimming. After the man found the woman, he rushed over while naked, and talked with a face like he was about to cry.

- Teacher! Until when were you going to make me wait! I thought it had gone badly.

The woman told him in a bored way, it was alright already so he could put on his clothes.

While the man put on his clothes diligently, he asked:

- Then, the fact that we’re alive means you killed him, right?

- No.

The man was surprised at those words. He tried to put on his trousers in a hurry and he got upset when he put both legs on the same hole.

The woman explained what had happened to the man.

- But if it’s like that, isn’t it possible for us to be shot even now, according to the number?

The man said that, but the woman told him not to worry about that, as if it was something obvious, and they started walking towards their car - it was old and small, it looked like it could come apart in any moment - .

The man followed her in a hurry. They got into the car and the man asked:

- What are you going to do? Even if we go to that country, we can’t receive the payment since you didn’t kill him. But it’s not as if you didn’t interfere either, so we can’t receive the money from the other party either.

- I know that.

Then, the woman smiled elegantly and turned on the engine

- I received payment in advance from both of them. We’ll run away with it.

- …

The man looked like he really wanted to say something, but the woman ignored that and made the car take off suddenly. On the spot the car was stopped an instant before, a big bullet came flying. It ripped a tree that was there in two pieces. The car ran and ran.

That forest is there even now. The sniper is on top of the hill today as well.

(the end)

Kino no tabi

2nd volume

“I’ll add one more chapter as a special occasion”

Extra story

Anonymous pictures

My name is Riku. I’m a dog.

I have long white fur. I always have a happy smiling face but it’s not like I’m always smiling happily. It’s like that since I was born.

I’m on a journey.

But the truth is, it’s not me who is on a journey. Since my owner Shizu is on an aimless journey, I’m always by his side… Well for practical terms it might be the same thing, maybe.

Shizu is a young man who always wears a green sweater. He was born in the royal family from some country.

Both the royal family and the citizens seemed to form a frugal, simple and stable country. But when Shizu was fifteen years old, his father leadered a coup d’etat, killed the king and all blood relatives and took over the country. Shizu, who had escaped, swore he would take revenge and for the sake of killing “that man”, he experienced many different hardships that tempered him. That’s the time when I met him.

After a certain date passed, he returned to his homeland, which had been completely corrupted. He took part on a massacre that was celebrated in order to obtain the rights of a citizen, so he could use the chance when he was given the winning medal, to kill “that man”. Of course, he would be killed in that place.

I tried to stop him, telling him even if he was successful he wouldn’t get anything from it… but it was in vain.

Shizu kept winning and advancing to the next round indifferently, until he finally reached the final round.

“You’re free now, you can go anywhere you want. I had fun until now. I’ll do the things I need to do according to my believes...”

Leaving those final words with me, Shizu left for a match that no matter if he won or lost, had a certain death for him. I saw off that back.

Then, about what happened…

Shizu lost against his enemy, a young traveler named Kino. Well, I have the impression the other party was too strong, but he was treated well from beginning to end, so I was in a complex state of mind while watching that from the side.

But his destiny and mine as well, were changed by the hand of that traveler. Since after the match, the one the traveler killed wasn’t Shizu, with a pretended stray bullet, he ended up killing “that man”.

My master survived after losing the match, but his wish was also granted.

Shizu looked for that traveler outside the country and expressed his gratitude for assassinating his father. I also transmitted my feelings of gratitude from the bottom of my heart, for helping my master Shizu. I won’t forget that traveler as our benefactor for the rest of my life. Though the motorbike that was by its side, was a very disgusting guy…

Then, Shizu decided to go on a journey “until he could find what he wanted to do”, and he keeps wandering even now. And I’m always by his side.

- The painting of the war tanks is quite peculiar, isn’t it?

Shizu spoke while at the lobby of a hotel he had just arrived in some country. There was a big oil painting hanging on the wall, portraying a combat scene with tanks.

Shizu left his luggage near me. A big black cloth bag he always carry. Inside, there was his favourite katana.

He jumped across a sofa and approached the painting a little more. On that moment:

- Yes, excuse me a little.

A man who looked like an employee of the hotel, appeared holding a step ladder. He put the step ladder in front of the painting, he climbed it smoothly and removed that painting. Shizu spoke perplexed:

- What? Are you taking it off? I was looking at it.

Then, the worker just turned his face without saying anything, in his place, the hotel owner came and spoke politely.

- My apologies, Mr. customer. But it’s too embarrassing, we can’t keep having it on the wall.

- Embarrasing? - he asked.

- Yes, that is… If I keep that painting on the wall, my dignity will be put on doubt.

- Why? Even when you had it on such a great frame, hanging on the wall so carefully. I didn’t think it was weird or anything.

After Shizu said that, the hotel owner put a complicated face. It was a face like if it that explained everything, but at the same time it was embarrassing.

- That is… what…

After hesitating for some time, the owner said:

- I know! Mr. traveler, have you gone to the square?

The square was located around the center of the country. It was a park like the ones that can be found in any country, with grass, promenades and some fountains installed.

By the time we arrived, there was already a large group of people gathered, below a cloudy wintry sky, surrounding a big bonfire. It was such a big bonfire that one could think they were burning cars.

When we approached the bonfire, we saw that what was being burned was a large number of paintings. One by one, all kinds of different big and small drawings, were being thrown at the fire. Shizu asked to see a painting that was about to be thrown. Just as expected, it was a painting of war tanks, from the same artist as the one that was in the hotel.

- Thank you.

After he gave it back, it was soon thrown in the fire. In the blink of an eye, the canvas caught on fire and burned well.

The crowd surrounding the bonfire made a path and a single truck arrived. It tilted the load-carrying platform and dropped all that was carrying by the side of the fire. It was a big pile of thick books. The people competed to be the first ones to toss the books inside the fire. While saying things like “piece of crap”, “you bastard”. Each time the blazes grew bigger, shouts of joy rose.

Shizu picked up a book. It was a compilation of paintings like the previous ones. It was a book with a luxurious edition that looked like it could be expensive if it was sold.

- Are you a traveler? You want that book? You plan on keeping it?

An old woman asked him. She was led by the hand by a middle age man who looked like her son. Shizu shook his head to both questions.

- Then, would you let me throw it, please?

Shizu glanced at me and then, passed the book to the old woman. The old woman throw the book to the fire with both hands. The paper too, burned well.

- It’s somewhat a waste…

After Shizu said that while looking at the fire mountain, the old woman laughed through her nose and spoke as she was actually angry.

- A waste? If we don’t at least do this, we won’t feel satisfied, everyone and me too.

- Burning the painting and also the books… I would like to know the reason for going so far.

The old woman said:

- Everyone fell for that scam.

- A scam?

Instead of the old woman, the middle age man replied to Shizu’s question.

- … we were lead to buy these useless things for ridiculous prices. We burn them like this because we can’t forgive it. Don’t try to stop us, please.

- I won’t stop you, but what happened concretely? If it’s not painful to talk about it, I’d like you to tell me.

After he asked with a severe expression, the man turned his eyes away for an instant. The old woman said:

- It’s ok, let’s explain it to the traveler. About what happened. - She encouraged her son like that.

The man started talking:

- Until recently, there had been a trauma in this country, because of an internal war that ended five years ago. For many years we killed each other like that.

- Ohh, then?

- By the time that was about to be healed naturally, hmm around two years and a half ago, some grotesque painting depicting battlefields with tanks started being sold.

- Those?

- Yes… The first people who happened to see them, said on their own things like, “these paintings are marvelous messages against war”, and sold them at excessive high prices. Everyone including me, well, because of the feelings we had had until that moment, we all thought “is it really like that?”...

The man had a very embarrassed expression. Shizu interrupted him.

- As the paintings from that artist kept being sold, the prices also raised.

- Exactly… everyone competed to buy them. The rich people competed to buy them just for the show. And the people like me who don’t have that much of money, bought the books or the reproductions, which were still expensive. Everyone in the country acted like expert art critics. Everybody and his brother commented things like, “what a nice painting!”, or, “just as I thought, fighting is so wrong”, while looking at them. Me too, I was one of them.

- Then?

- Then, by the time this foolish boom went until its limits, suddenly everyone came back to their senses. Everyone realized at the same time, how that war that happened more than five years ago wasn’t important anymore, and how that trauma had actually already disappeared completely. And at the same time, we also realized we had spent huge amounts of money on those trivial tank paintings.

- I see… I understand it well. Then, everyone got angry at their own faults, and now you all burn everything so not a single proof of it remains, right?

Shizu was completely surprised and actually spoke in a cynical way. On the contrary, while the man was explaining, it seemed like he remembered many different unpleasant things and now he was completely in low spirits. It put a sad face and said:

- We really acted in a foolish way. Even at the time the paintings started being sold, inside of our hearts we frankly wanted to enjoy that we were in peace. It would have been much better if instead of forcing ourselves to remember our past wounds, we would have faced the present and enjoyed to the fullest our current life. We ended up using the money that was originally for that sake, investing on those worthless paintings… In the end, the only ones who made good memories were that artist and the owner of the art gallery, who sold them wholesale.

After the man had spoken like that,

- See you. Mr. traveler as well, don’t commit a mistake like the one we did.

He muttered that without any strenght, and left leading his mother by the hand. Shizu saw them off and glanced at me, standing at his feet.

- A “scam”? What do you think, Riku?

I spoke:

- They reap what they sow. That’s why I truly pity them.

- … I see.

Then, Shizu walked some steps to the front, towards the flames of the bonfire and muttered.

- How warm.

Since we’re not there for tourism, as long as Shizu doesn’t have a special reason, we don’t stay in any country for a long time. And as in that country there wasn’t anything special to see, we left it on the next day. Early in the morning, Shizu supplied fuel to his favourite boogie and packed enough amounts of fuel rations and water.

He ran on his boogie until the walls. I sat on the passenger seat and looked to the front.

Below a wintry sky, the clouds were thick as usual. It was a weather where it seemed snow could start falling lightly in any second. As it would be cold for him just to wear his sweater, on top of it, he was wearing a waterproof parka. Also, goggles and gloves.

Suddenly, Shizu slowed down the speed of the boogie. That place was the edge of the country, the walls were so tall that if you looked up at them it seemed your neck would hurt, they gave a feeling of oppression. There were farms around, but only barren land could be seen at that moment.

There was a small three wheeled truck and by its side a young man was sitting on a folding chair. In front of him, an easel was standing with a brand new canvas. The man was showing his back to the scenery and just stared at the gray monochromatic walls.

He made the boogie to approach him slowly. The young man too, turned back slowly. He had a face like a corpse, with truly no aspiration.

- What do you think? - Shizu asked me.

- Probably the same thing.

- I see. But it could be different.

He turned off the engine.

- Good morning.

To Shizu’s greeting, after getting down the boogie and standing in front of him, the young man bowed his head lightly, while still sitting. He spoke quietly.

- What a peculiar boogie… are you a traveler?

- Yes. Though we’re already leaving the country. And you are…? Are you drawing outside on such a cold day?

- No… I don’t draw anymore.

Shizu glanced at me once and,

- Oh? so you drew in the past?

- Yes.

- Paintings of tanks? - he asked boldly.

- Yes - replied the artist.

- I’ve seen some of them. I didn’t think they were so bad… For them to be burning them, they’re quite cruel people, aren’t they?

Shizu spoke like that. I don’t know whether he thought they were really cruel or not.

Then, the artist looked once at him and started talking in a halting way.

- Even after they made me the favour of buying so many of them… Suddenly, I was told they weren’t needed. It was really suddenly. But that’s alright. It was still alright. Because those paintings of those tanks I like, I just painted them on my own. But, but, they said, “they’re worthless” and then burned them. That was incredibly sad for me. When I took all the effort to paint them..

- So it’s like that.

Shizu made an agreement humming with a gentle face. The artist kept talking without any expression.

- Then, then, I told them “if you’re going to burn them, you can give them back to me. Since I’ll hang them or store them. Maybe I’ll even make some corrections”. But everyone said things like, “don’t make fun of us”, or, “we won't be satisfied if we don’t burn them”. They were so cruel…Even the owner of the art gallery who got along with me, told me this: “I don’t need your drawings anymore. They won’t sell for sure from now on. Well, more than a boom, it was like everyone were crazy until now. But even so, the two of us made quite a profit. I thank you! I can stop having this gallery art. You too, you can spend the rest of your life doing as you please, right? Just stop doing paintings, since you never had the talent to begin with”. … I remember it so well.

Only at the end, the artist smiled with self scorn.

- …

- I became rich. That’s what provos the hostility from the people of the country. Everyone say they were tricked. Even when I was just painting the things I liked…

- And what are you doing now?

- … Until that, I had installed my easel on many different places but now, if it’s a place with many people, I get rocks thrown at me, so I sit here where nobody else ever comes. I don’t draw tanks paintings anymore. The truth is I want to draw them, I can't understand why but I don’t have the will to draw. I don’t have the will to be able to draw. That’s why now, I have some disgusting feelings inside of me that I want to discharge somewhere else. Thinking if I do that, my feelings will clear up a little. I turn all the weird things that come to my mind into doodles. They’re not interesting, but it’s better than not doing nothing.

- Ummm, where are those?

The artist directed his eyes to the load carrying platform of his own truck. After asking permission to see them, Shizu opened its door and picked one of the many oil paintings that were there.

I can’t understand anything about drawings, I just don’t have any interest in them. But, I was surprised to see how after my master looked at the drawing, he had his breath taken away for an instant.

- This…!

After saying just that, he was speechless for a while.

On that painting, many people were being portrayed. All of them had various expressions but everyone looked as if they were laughing. As if they were making fun of something. After some time passed, Shizu asked the artist on his back, while looking at the drawing he was holding with both hands.

- This… Have you shown this to an art dealer or someone else?

- Hmm? No. But some people saw it while I was doing it.

- And what those people said after looking at this?

- “What a waste of paint”...

- …

- It’s alright anyways. Since it’s not something I drew because I liked it.

Shizu put back the painting carefully and turned back to the artist.

- Hey, Mr. artist. I… you’ll see, I know a little about paintings. On the castl, on my parent’s house there were many and… because there was this annoying person who was really into art, me too, without realizing I came to see many of them, but…

Shizu was agitated, which was actually rare.

That parent's home he had mentioned it was the royal family, and that annoying knowledgeable guy, was his father. It seems before he committed treason he had invested quite a lot in paintings.

- … that’s why, that is, your drawings are amazing… That is… in other words…

Shizu spoke like that and got a little angry, maybe because he couldn’t express what he was thinking. That’s why he raised his voice a little.

- Why these can’t be sold! The people of this country have woodpecker holes in their heads or what?!

The artist didn’t change his expression.

- It’s fine by me, even if they don’t buy anything from me anymore. I have a lot of money. Money from deceiving and exploiting everyone. I don’t have problems to eat.

- …

After Shizu was speechless for a short while.

- Mr. artist. Don’t you feel like taking those paintings to some other country?

- Hmm?

- I think they would sell without any doubts in many of the countries I’ve visited so far. And for incredible prices. They would get extremely high appraisals. What do you think?

He spoke fast and in a cheering way, but the artist spoke without changing his dark expression.

- I don’t have any interest…

- But…

- If you want, I give them to you. If you promise not to burn them, you can take all of them. You could get money selling them.

The artist said that, but Shizu’s expression became cloudy.

- That’s impossible… I can’t carry them on my boogie without damaging them. It’s a very regrettable thing, then, let’s do this.

- Hmm?

- I will advertise you in the countries I will visit from now on. Maybe someone might come here to buy something. If that happens you should sell it. Maybe you’ll be able to sell a lot of them!

The artist shook his head towards those words.

- I don’t care about that, I don’t have problems with money. And also, I don’t want to draw these weird things. I don’t want anyone saying they will buy these things, or anyone asking me to draw more of them. What I really want to draw is the tanks paintings. I…

The artist started crying slowly. His tears went along his cheeks.

- I like the war tanks. I want to draw more and more of those tank paintings. But I can’t draw them…

- …

The artist opened a box that was at his feet and took out some tools. He set some paint on the palette and suddenly started painting. While crying, he kept applying the colors on the canvas. As expected, that painting became just like the rest, a drawing portraying people laughing at something.

Without resting his hand at all, and while sobbing all the time, the artist finished that single oil painting at a surprising speed. Shizu looked at the whole process in silence. Maybe while being moved, maybe in the middle of being struck by a thunder.

- Fiuu… I’m going.

The artist whispered that and without any speck of interest in what he had just finished, he put back his tools properly. He stood up and put the painting on the chair where he was sitting, he folded the easel and loaded it on the truck. Then, by the time he picked again the painting, Shizu came back to his senses and asked him.

- Tha, that painting. Wha, what are you going to do with it?

- I won't do anything. Since I don’t want to toss it, I’ll just put it somewhere. Though I’ll give it to you if you want it, Mr. traveler.

Shizu got stiff for some seconds with his eyes open. Then, he shook his head lightly some times, but his eyes didn’t turn aside from the painting. The artist asked:

- Do you want it?

Shizu stretched his hands slowly towards the painting. Then, I spoke:

- Where do you want to hang it?

- Ugh…

In an instant, Shizu’s expression turned severe. Then, he lowered slowly his stretched hands.

- No… it’s a pity.

- Oh.

The artist loaded that drawing on the truck. After saying shortly, “well then...”, the artist went away on the truck with three wheels.

He returned to the boogie and sat on the driver seat. While looking at the front, he put his right hand over my head and stroked it. Then, he muttered:

- This place is cold, isn’t it?

I said:

- Yeah, right.

I wanted to mention my project for translating Kino’s Journey from japanese to spanish. I’m starting with volume 1. I had posted the prologue on february, but some days ago I finally posted the first chapter. I found once one translation to spanish but it was derived from english. I suppose after finishing posting the chapters of volume 2 here - hopefully this week- I’ll start translating the chapters for that first volume in english here too. I guess most people who read here won’t be very interested in it, but just in case, I’m leaving the link here:

http://elviajedekino.tumblr.com/

Kino no tabi

2nd volume

Chapter 8

The gentle country

- Tomorrow never comes –

The ground was coloured.

Highlands where the mountains stretched out quietly. An abundant forest covered all peaks, valleys and ridges. Those leaves were dyed in yellow and red, and combined with the ones with the original deep green, they made a mosaic pattern.

On the sky, a pale blue spread out. It was extremely high. Clouds couldn’t be seen anywhere.

In the forests, the trees dropped their red leaves.

There was a single road on that place.

On the road made of hardened soil, the fallen leaves overlapped softly. The road ran like sewing the face of the mountains, repeating curves and up-downs.

A single motorbike ran through that road. Almost as a boat going through the waves, it went through making the fallen leaves to soar. Since there were many sudden curves, the motorbike ran slowly, like tracing the road.

The driver of the motorbike was around past fifteen years old. It had big eyes and a fearless face. Wearing a brown coat, with its long hems were folded on both thighs. It had a hat with a brim and flaps that covered the ears, fastened by the band of a pair of goggles, so they wouldn’t fly away by the wind pressure.

Behind the driver seat, there’s a carrier with a big bag fastened. Below that, there were two boxes installed like if they were sandwiching the rear wheel.

- To tell you the truth, Hermes - the driver said, while running - the country we’re heading right now, it’s not very… no, it doesn’t have a very good popularity among travelers.

- Is that so? - the motorbike called Hermes asked back quite surprised.

- I was told that before. “They’re not just unsociable, they’re simply cold against foreigners”, or, “on that country there’s no such a thing as hospitable words”, or, “no matter how hard I try, I can’t think of a single good thing about it”, or “they think they’re so distinguished, how they came to be so convinced of that?”.

- …

- “In any case, they’re unkind and very disgusting”, or, “the kids throw rocks at travelers”, or, “when a traveler goes, all shops close or they tell you they are out of stock of products”, or, “there was nothing to eat but awful food”, or, “take care for them not to overprice things”.

- …

- “They make you wait an entire day before letting inside the country”, or, “you’ll see for yourself how much they hate travelers”, or, “they don’t even guide you to a hotel, it’s better for you to sleep in the open!”, or, “I don’t even want to go near there”, or, “I wish for that country to disappear soon”.

- …

- When I said I wanted to try going, all of them tried to stop me - after saying that, the driver smiled lightly. After that, Hermes asked considerably surprised:

- … despite that, you want to go, Kino? Even when there are many other roads. Even when you can choose them freely.

The driver called Kino, replied while smiling:

- That’s why I’m going. After being warned so much, I want to know what kind of country it is. Also, there’s the chance it could have gotten better.

- Ahh, then what if it didn’t change at all?

- That’s alright too. Let’s complain about it together after we leave the country - asserted Kino.

- Well, that’s good too I suppose… - Hermes muttered.

Finally, the road became into a steep zigzag. It ran upwards on the mountain face in a straight line, repeating sudden curves. Kino looked down and could see well the road they had been taking until that moment, between the trees.

At last, the road stopped climbing up. Kino stopped Hermes.

The road crossed the ridge and then started going down. On the right side, the ridge line extended until a high summit. On the front, a grand U-shaped valley extended until the ridge on the other side. In that area, there was a country surrounded by round gray castle walls, and it looked tiny in the distance.

- The landscape is beautiful - Hermes expressed his impression.

- Yes. But from here, we don’t know how the people living here really are.

- Right. Then, let’s go! It could leave a treasured memory, a country that we can’t forget in a lifetime - Hermes joked and Kino smiled.

- It would be nice if it was like that.

The motorbike came down the slight slope.

On the castle walls, there was a gate. It was firmly closed, and in front of it, there were some soldiers with long rifle guns, standing like if they were on the watch for Kino and company.

Kino muttered while dropping the speed:

- Hmm, i wonder if they will let us go inside without problems.

- If you were the only one who couldn’t enter, what would you do? - Hermes replied.

Kino stopped Hermes in front of the gates. It turned off the engine and stepped down. Kino approached the soldiers while taking off the goggles. All of them looked at Kino and Hermes with a severe expression.

When Kino was about to greet them:

- How many days are you planning to stay? - one of the soldiers asked out of the blue in a blunt way.

- Oh, could it be as the rumours said? - Hermes muttered slowly, so absolutely no one could hear it.

- Three days. In other words, I was thinking in staying until the day after tomorrow.

After Kino said that, suddenly all tension was released from the soldiers’ faces. They all smiled gently and for a second they looked at each other. After that, they all slowly stood at attention. Then, with a movement with no hesitation, they all saluted Kino and Hermes.

One of them, who looked like the leader, spoke politely:

- Welcome to our country. Visitors, I give the welcome to you from the bottom of my heart.

- …

Kino was surprised for an instant, and then took of the hat.

- Good afternoon. I’m Kino. This is Hermes - Kino smiled and the soldiers finally dropped their hands from the salutation stand.

- Ms. Kino and Mr. Hermes, right? Please come here.

The leader guided Kino and Hermes not to the guard post on the side, but directly towards the gates. Kino was surprised once again,, and asked:

- You don’t need to do an examination or something? Like inspecting my possessions…

- No. Since it would be rude as long as you hadn’t committed any crime.

The leader said that while smiling. Another soldier entered the guard post and the external gates were immediately risen.

- Go ahead. We’re on duty so we have to stay outside the walls. There will be someone inside, so you can ask them anything.

After leaving behind a polite salute, while pushing Hermes, Kino passed through a thick castle wall.

Hermes said:

- It’s somewhat a let down, isn’t it? Could it be you mistook the road?

- It’s not like that.

In front of Kino’s eyes, who had negated like that, the inner gates started to open.

After passing through the inner gates, Kino and Hermes appeared on a street of the city.

In front of the castle walls, there was a square. There were some people gathered and after finding them, they all said to Kino in an intimate way, “thank you for coming!”.

While Kino was listening and replying to them, more people started gathering from here and there and in the end, Kino and company were in the center of a crowd. They were all smiling and every mouth pronounced welcome words. There were no people scowling at them or throwing rocks.

Hermes shouted in a small voice so nobody but Kino could hear:

- It’s another country! We came to another country for sure!

- It’s not like that… maybe.

Kino spoke to everyone standing there:

- Thank you very much. I didn’t expect such a warm welcome, so I’m a bit surprised. Umm… there’s something I’d like to ask, though - all the people became silent, in order not to miss Kino’s words. With a slightly nervous face, it asked if there wasn’t a hotel with not very high prices, with a place where it could leave Hermes and that it had a shower.

They started to talk to each other saying, “that place is alright”, “no, that one is better”. On that moment, a girl voice could be heard from behind the crowd.

- Ours is like that!

Pushing her way though the people, a girl came out right in front of them. It was a girl of around eleven or twelve years old, she had short hair and big eyes. The girl quickly bowed her head in front of Kino and said:

- Good afternoon, Ms. traveler. I’m called “Sakura”.

- Good afternoon. I’m Kino. This is my partner Hermes.

Kino said that with a smile and Hermes greeted her with a “hello”.

Sakura looked directly at Kino and asked with a both arms put together politely in front of her body:

- My parents manage a hotel. It’s very close. I’m sure it will be of your liking. Would you like to come?

For just an instant, surprise was shown on Kino’s face. Then, it squinted the eyes.

- Then, would you guide us?

- Yeah. We leave it to you.

After Kino and Hermes spoke like that, Sakura nodded cheerfully with a smile.

- Yes!

Kino walked pushing Hermes, following Sakura’s guide.

During the walk, Kino had taken off the coat and put it on the luggage carrier. Kino was wearing a black jacket and had a thick belt around the waist. On the right thigh, the revolver called “Cannon” by Kino, was in its holdster.

- Hey, Ms. Kino.

Sakura looked up to Kino and spoke.

- Hmm?

- The name “Kino” is short and has a nice sound, easy to pronounce, it’s very beautiful, isn’t it?

- Thank you. Long ago, I thought so too!

After Kino said that, Sakura made a slightly perplexed face.

- Long ago? What about now?

- Now, I think the same. That it’s a good name. But, the name “Sakura”, has a very nice sound too. What does it mean?

Sakura replied embarrassed:

- It’s the name of a flower. A beautiful pink flower that blooms on spring.

- Ohhh - said Kino shortly.

This time, Sakura spoke getting sulky:

-But my friends make fun of it, calling me Okura and Nekura! It’s terrible.*

(note: Nekura means gloomy or pessimistic and Okura is the name of a herb.)

- ...

Hermes asked to Kino, who was silent with eyes that were looking at the distance.

- What is it, Kino?

- Nothing - the reply came immediately. Then, it added - It’s not something that can be explained.

Finally, Kino and company arrived at the hotel.

It wasn’t that big, but since it was carefully cleaned outside and inside too, it was pretty.

A young couple who was in the reception, greeted them.

- Welcome. It’s been really a while since we had visitors from outside.

- They’re my father and my mother. They manage this hotel as its owners. They also work as tourist guides from around here. And I’m their promising apprentice - said Sakura.

Kino made a slight bow, while smiling and introduced Hermes.

- Which room would be of your liking? - Sakura’s mother asked Kino, and Sakura replied while nimbly peeping on the account book.

- Is the room in the first floor with the big door available? - the mother nodded - then, that one. So it’s easier for Mr. Hermes to come in and out.

Kino and Hermes were guided to the room that was suggested by Sakura. As she had said, Hermes could enter with a good margin, and also without changing the direction, he could go outside from a different door; it was a convenient room. When asked by Sakura how the room was, Kino said it was very satisfied.

- Soon, it will be lunch time, so please, come to the dining room. On the right side of the front, it’s the door with the drawing big fruit from a tree.

- Thank you. I’ll go soon!

After Sakura left, Hermes spoke to Kino, who was unloading the luggage from the carrier.

- Somehow this is extremely different to the previous comments from the travelers.

- Right? I’m surprised as well.

Hermes dropped the volume of his voice a little and said in a serious tone:

- Kino, perhaps. All the attention we have received so far won’t suddenly change completely from now on? And because of that, the travelers fell to the depths of insatisfaction?

- Would they do something so elaborated…? Well, it’s ok even if it’s like that. I’ll go eat the dinner. After that, let’s look around the town. Maybe it will be as you say, Hermes - Kino said that with a bitter smile and left the room.

After a very delicious meal, Sakura volunteered to act as a guide for free to Kino, who wanted to tour the town. Kino accepted her proposal gratefully.

Kino took off the boxes that were by the sides of Hermes’ rear wheel. It asked Sakura to bring a cushion, and then it spread it on the carrier, making like that an express rear seat.

Sakura sat there sideways. While moving, Kino made sure its hands could turn around the waist and paid attention not to touch “Cannon”, on its right thigh.

The first thing Kino asked was a place where a mechanic could check on Hermes’ condition. The middle age mechanic who repaired cars, accepted Kino’s request without any problem. He checked Hermes from tip to tip. Then, he quickly found the worn out aching spots and all the places in bad condition.

- Hmm? What happened here?

The mechanic asked Kino about a missing nut on the side of the engine.

After Kino embarrassed, spoke ambiguously, in its place, Hermes said:

- Kino shot at it with a gun. Saying it wouldn’t come off.

- Shot?

- It was a nut that it didn’t come off no matter what, so using a gun with less quantity of gunpowder, Kino shot at the corner of the bolt after applying a solidification putty on it. Despite I said it was better not to do it.

The mechanic turned back at Kino and put a shocked bitter expression.

- Ms. traveler… that was splendid, but not very admirable.

- You’re right… I’m sorry.

After Kino said so:

- Mister! Reprehend her more! - Hermes said in a half serious tone. At last, the mechanic showed a smile on his face covered with oil.

- Well, it looks like it’s worth fixing. Ms. traveler, would you wait while you have tea with Sakura? Alright, let’s go, Hermes.

- I’m on your hands! - Hermes said that like he couldn’t be any happier.

On the bench in reception of the mecanic store, Kino and Sakura had the tea that was arranged. A beautiful clear sky and a warm sun.

- He’s a polite and very skilled person. It’s extremely rare for Hermes to be so happy to be fixed - after Kino said that, Sakura looked up at Kino, sitting next to her, and replied.

- I’m glad.

Kino added:

- And also, he’s a person who can scold properly his customers - Sakura giggled innocently - and the tea is also good.

In front of Kino, who had had said that:

- Ms. traveler! Welcome to our country! - someone from the city waived its hands, smiling from the window of a car, as it passed.

The morning of the second day, Kino woke up along with the dawn.

It left Hermes, who had been fixed to the point of being like brand new, in a deep sleep in the room, and went to a little park near the hotel. There wasn’t a speck of clouds in the sky. The tall peaks which towered the north of the town, could be seen clearly as if they were very close.

Kino moved its body there, as usual. From simple exercises to fight training. And then, it trained drawing an unloaded “Cannon” many times.

By the time Kino was wiping off some sweat, a man jogging approached. He greeted Kino with a smile and Kino returned the greeting. The man asked what was its impression of the country so far.

Kino replied sincerely, how different it was to all the rumours they had heard, here and there until now. The man heard that and replied with a bitter smile, “yeah right, in the old days it was terrible”.

The man pointed at “Cannon” and asked if it had been overhauled recently. After Kino shook the head, the man said there was a skilled gunsmith on the South Avenue, so it could be worth to try going; then, he drew a simple map on the ground.

After Kino thanked him, the man said:

- Compared to the favor you did for us, visiting our country, this is really nothing!

And then, he left while waving a hand a smiling.

- A gunsmith in the South Avenue, right? Understood. If we go to the South District, the parks there are splendid.

After having the breakfast, when Kino asked Sakura if it was alright to request once again her guiding, Sakura replied like that and accepted willingly.

After Kino thanked her, Sakura concluded:

- Since satisfying the customers is the job of a tourist guide.

They both rode Hermes, the same way as the day before and arrived at a small store near the south walls. Sakura asked in a loud voice if there was someone. After a while, from inside, a small sized bald old man with a moody look, came out.

- Today is my day off. Wait no, even tomorrow will be a day off. Would you come the day after tomorrow?

The gunsmith who seemed like he had been sleeping, said that with a face that didn’t look amused.

Sakura said:

- This person here is Kino, a traveler. She’ll only be here until tomorrow. Can’t we ask you for gun repairings?

The gunsmith made a surprised face.

- A traveler? - after Sakura nodded, he glanced at Kino and asked bluntly - Which?

Then, he saw “Cannon” after Kino took it from its holdster, and for a second he made serious face. He shook his fingers lightly, asking for Kino to hand it over. When he received it, he stared at it fixedly with a severe expression. After a moment, he said like muttering:

- … Yes, I understand. If it’s alright for you, I’ll be tampering it.

The gunsmith urged Kino to give him the other parts. Kino thanked him and gave him several “Cannon’s” spare parts and empty cylinders.

- It’s pretty worn out so I’ll check it starting from the frame. I’ll change parts if it’s needed so it will take some time. Around afternoon maybe. You can go and check the park. There’s a festival there.

While the gunsmith was saying that, he slowly picked one of the guns he had hanging on the wall. It was a double action revolver with a 45mm diameter. He also gave Kino some semicircular chips with bullets.

- This is the replacement. It’s not necessary in this country, but well just in case. Wear it for a while.

The traveler, the motorbike and the girl thanked him and left the store. The old man glared at the gun he had just received. And then, inside the store where there was nobody else, he muttered:

- What a surprise…! I was really surprised. You live a long life, don’t you?

In a place not far from the store, there was a big park. Inside, there were trees from woods left untouched, and beautiful mountain streams and ponds. There were simple houses made of wood, where kids played.

On a corner of the park, there was an open air theatre where people were gathering.

By the time Kino, Hermes and Sakura arrived there, they were performing a play. Sakura explained it was performed by the residents and that it was a play that taught kids about the history of the country.

Kino said it was very interested in history and Sakura guided them saying, “let’s go watch it”.

The two people and the motorbike directed themselves to the place at the back. Then, when they did that, a person who was sitting there, saw the traveler Kino and let them go a row ahead of him. The next person also conceded a place to Kino , and the next one too, conceded a seat with a smile. In the end, after thanking many different people, Kino and company ended up on the center of the seats, where it was easier to look at the stage.

Kino sat down while feeling a little embarrassed. Hermes was standing by the side. The play had already started. By the time Kino tried to pursue the story, the man who worked as the narrator suddenly raised his voice from the side of the stage.

- Wait a little. Wait!... Oh, sorry. But wait a little! Could it be, the one there, is the traveler who arrived yesterday?

The people on the stage and under the stage, all of them noticed Kino simultaneously. Sakura leapt to her feet and:

- Exactly! Just now, they wanted to see the play so we came…! I’m their guide!

She replied like that. The adults around broke out in shouts of joy. For some reason, they all naturally started clapping their hands. Even the performers in the stage started applauding and whistling through their fingers. The narrator said:

- What do you think, everyone? Since we still hadn’t started the main part of the play and for the sake of Ms. traveler, who won’t have another chance to see it, what if we start it over from the beginning?

Around Kino and Hermes being quite shocked, voices could be heard. “I don’t have any complaint”, “good idea!”. Then, another applause started. A young woman stood up:

- My boy is a star performer, everyone, this time look at him properly, alright? He’s the third tree from the left- she shouted in a loud voice, inviting everyone’s laughter.

Kino stood up and after looking around, it bowed the head.

- Aaalright! It’s settled, then! - the narrator spoke like that and the preparations started on stage.

Kino dropped into the bench:

- I was surprised! - it said looking at Sakura.

- Same comment - said Hermes.

- Welcome to our country!

After Sakura spoke with a smile, the play started.

The play explained the history of that country.

On the distant past, on a far off country, there was a group of people who were persecuted and chased away. They arrived at many other countries here and there, but none of them received them.

After wandering for a long time, they ended up getting lost inside a deep forest.

However, the forest blessings saved the life of the starving people. On that forest, where there was nobody who rejected them, they decided to create a new country and make it their permanent residence land.

Since that moment, an uncountable amount of time had passed.

- And then, I’m here now. I’m on the front of that stream - in the middle of the clapping hands, Sakura spoke in a murmur.

- Ms. traveler, by all means have lunch along with us.

There were so many people suggesting that, Kino and company were somewhat troubled. In the end, they took part on the party the members of the play were throwing.

During the barbecue on the park, when Kino asked for something to help with, it received the task of turning the charcoal. After Kino finished that in the blink of an eye, next time it worked as the person charge of the grill. Embarrassed, it put on the apron they offered and cooked skillfully ten skewers.

While Kino was working like that:

- Somehow, it looks like she’s having fun - Hermes muttered.

After the party, Kino and company looked around the park. Then, they went back to the gunsmith store.

- It’s ready!

The gunsmith raised his head and and stood up from his chair while speaking like that. He took “Cannon”, which was wrapped on a cloth on the top of a working table. He looked at Kino with blue eyes, surrounded by wrinkles. Then, with “Cannon” still on the cloth, he presented it with the grip pointing to the front.

- It’s a very good gun. I’ll be glad if you treasure it.

- Thank you very much.

After Kino received it, it lifted the hammer and pulled the trigger many times, checking how it worked. That face changed slightly.

- I’m surprised… It’s even better than the time I got it.

- Is that so? - the gunsmith said curtly.

- Thank you very much. How much it would be?

- Nothing.

- Eh?

The gunsmith sat on his chair, he looked at Kino and asked:

- Ms. traveler, you’re a good shooter, right?

- Yes, more or less.

- About that, I’d like to ask you something…

- Yes?

- In the past, there was a legendary shooter of a great skill, called “Teacher” by its former students. It was a traveler and while wandered here and there, it put its neck in many troubles. It was so talented that it was scowled at, and appreciated in many countries… it’s a story from long ago. If it’s still alive, I think it must be quite old already.

- …

- Ms. traveler. Could it be that you know this person?

Kino glanced at “Cannon” and put it inside the holdster. Looking straight at the gunsmith’s face, it said:

- No, I don’t know about it.

The gunsmith smiled slowly.

- I understand. Thanks. The repairing is free of charge. Also… - he rotated the chair and turned back, it took a wooden box that was there and then, he presented it to Kino - I’d like for you to see this.

- …?

When Kino received the box and opened it, there was a single handgun.

The slender silhouette of an automatic 22mm caliber. It had a squared barrel with a weight attached below.

The safety equipment, the slide stop and the magazine catch too, were all on the right side, so it looked like it was intended to be used with the left hand. Inside the box, there was also a spare magazine and other parts, a silencer with a harmonica shape, a slide lock for the time when using the silencer, a cleaning kit, and also a holdster.

- It looks very good, it’s my first time seeing this type - after Kino spoke, the gunsmith nodded.

- It was called “Person of the woods” at the time it was born. It’s a characteristic 22mm caliber handgun.

- Ohh, it’s something expensive, isn’t it?

Kino said that, deeply impressed and by the time it was about to put it back in the box, the gunsmith said sighing.

- I’d like for you to use it, Ms. traveler. Please, accept it.

Kino was surprised and raised its head. The old man started explaining quietly.

- Long ago, I wore it on my waist, on the times I travelled. It saved my life many times. But it’s been decades without using it. I grew old and I don’t travel anymore…. this can still be used for a long time. It would be a waste if it crumbles to dust along with me. I want for it to travel like in the past.

- Is that so…? But...

- You’ll take it, won’t you?

- Eh…

- You’ll use it, right?

- … I …

- You’ll receive it, won’t you?

- … I understand. I’ll use it.

After Kino said that, a smile appeared on the gunsmith’s face.

The smile was a grin, like if he had just won a bet. He suddenly got up and let out a loud voice, like if he was about to explode:

- Aaalright! Well said! Come with me. I’ll show you some tips. I’ll also tamper the holdster and the grip. Come here!

He then, pulled Kino in a strong way, unexpected for an old person and took it towards a door with a signboard where it was written “Shooting Range”. On the front of the store, Sakura and Hermes were left behind dumbfounded.

- I’ll go contact the reception, to tell them we’ll arrive a little late.

Sakura said that and went to a nearby shop to borrow their phone. Kino and Hermes waited on a corner of the street. It became evening and the shapes of people in the street decreased in number.

- Honestly, I didn’t think he would make me shoot so much.

Kino said that, in its hands there was a bag with the wooden box. The gunsmith hadn’t released Kino until it shot three hundred times. In the mean time, he remodelled the holdster so it could be wore on the back of a belt. And in the end, when Kino and company left the store, he saw them off with a satisfied face.

- It’s ok. Here we were utterly bored.

Hermes spoke in a slightly harsh tone.

- I’m sorry I made you wait. But this time, it wasn’t my fault.

- Is that so?

Kino raised the bag lightly.

- What should we do with this?

- Wouldn’t be ok if you used it? Since you received it.

- You can say that easily. What would Teacher say if she saw me wearing a 22mm caliber automatic?

- You wouldn’t be told anything. You would be shot.

- …

- That’s if you were seen, right? It will be ok as long as you’re not seen.

Hermes said with a nonchalant air and Kino replied.

- You know, I always have the feeling we’re being watched by that person.

- You have my deepest sympathy… by the way, why did you say you didn’t know about her?

Hermes asked. Kino replied sincerely.

- I was told to reply like that by Teacher if I was asked someday…

- Ohh, I see. She was thinking on your safety, right Kino?

Hermes was impressed and Kino asked to nobody.

- What on earth did that person commit in the past?

Sakura came back.

- Ms. Kino, my mother said she would make the dinner slowly.

- Thank you. Then, should we go back?

By the time Kino was about to turn on Hermes’ engine:

- Wait a little, please - said Sakura - Ms. Kino, Mr. Hermes. Before that, there’s a place where I would like to take you. We can’t go at any other time. Is it impossible?

- No, I don’t mind. What about you, Hermes?

- It’s ok, what kind of place is it?

After Hermes asked, Sakura only replied:

- It’s a very wonderful place!

- It’s amazing.                                    -How niiice.

The door opened and Kino and Hermes raised their voices in admiration at the same time. Kino and Hermes and also Sakura, were standing on the highest place on the walls. Following Sakura’s guide, they went to an operation shack on the walls, and stepped into a luggage elevator.

There, it was red.

The sun that had just set was dying the sky in red. It was a strong red, and on some parts it was almost transparent.

In the distance, the line of raging peaks could be seen clearly. The sky started from there.

- Here it’s my favourite place, the one I think is the most beautiful. I used to think, “someday when a tourist comes, I’ll take him there by all means”, and you’re the first ones.

- What an honor then.

Kino said that and left Hermes on the side stand.

For a while, the two persons and the motorbike stood while glaring at the red sky.

Suddenly, Sakura said:

- In the future, I want to inherit the hotel from my father and mother, and become a great hotel owner and tourist guide… I wonder if I’ll be able.

- You will. No, you’re already a great tourist guide. I had a lot of fun during these two days.

Kino said that with a smile.

- Same opinion! This wonderful Ms. guide matches this wonderful country, doesn't it? - Hermes said that elegantly and Sakura was surprised and said bashfully:

- Ehehe. Thank you, Ms. Kino and Mr. Hermes.

Kino sat down on the walls and looked up to Sakura.

Sakura started talking slowly while standing, facing at the setting sun.

- I want to know more and more things so I can become a better and better guide. I want for more and more travelers to visit this country where I was born, and then, to go back to their homes after creating wonderful memories they won’t forget in the entire life - then, the girl watched Kino with a smile free of any worries - to be able to help them like that, isn’t it lovely?

Kino looked up at Sakura while smiling and spoke, nodding slightly many times:

- Yes. It’s an amazing job.

And then once more, its eyes looked at the sky.

When they arrived to the hotel, Kino had dinner along with Sakura. Hermes was sleeping in the room. After a delicious meal, Sakura’s mother brought cake and tea. She asked if Sakura had caused any problems but:

- That’s unthinkable. Instead of problems, I received a very fun time.

Since Kino replied like that, Sakura smiled with a little pride.

Sakura asked:

- Hmm Ms. Kino. Are there bad or hard things when you travel?

Kino replied while nodding.

- There are, yes. Every now and then.

- Don’t you want to stop travelling, then?

Sakura asked that while glancing fixedly at Kino’s face, who was having tea.

- No, I’ll keep doing it despite that.

- Is that because that’s the thing you think you should be doing?

To Sakura’s question, Kino shook the head.

- It’s because that’s the thing I think I want to do - and it replied like that.

Sakura smiled with satisfaction and approached her mug cup to her mouth. She had two sips, and then asked as if to change the subject:

- Ms. Kino. During your travels, you didn’t happen to meet with a wonderful person, like someone who you were destined to be with?

Kino was a little surprised and immediately replied with a bitter face.

- No. Sadly, it never happened. But what happened many times is people running away from me because I swing my gun.

While the two of them were laughing, Sakura’s parents, who seemed to have finished their work already, approached to them. They sat near Sakura.

The mother opened her mouth.

- You know, Sakura. If you would like to, even you could go on a journey.

- Eh?

Sakura was surprised and looked at her parent’s faces.

- You could do as Ms. Kino, going here and there, seeing many different things and studying. Wouldn’t be nice if you can become a guide after doing that? While looking at Kino, we realized there's also that kind of training.

- Is that so?

- What do you think?

Sakura looked as if she was considering the options for a brief moment, but she shook her head immediately  with a smile.

- No. I won't’ go anywhere. By studying here, I’ll become the best guide from here. That’s my dream. Also, here I have splendid examples to follow. Right? Dad, mom.

Both parents looked at each other for a moment.

- Yeah… that’s good too. If you ever worked even a little bit more, you would be putting too much effort and we would end up with nothing to do.

After the mother spoke like that, her daughter replied immediately.

- Exactly!

Then, the family laughed happily.

Kino glared at that, almost if it was something happening in a different world.

The following day, in other words, the morning of the third day since Kino had entered the country. Kino didn’t wake up along with the dawn as always.

By the time the sun had already rose considerably, Hermes woke up by itself and was surprised to see Kino still on the bed. Then, he raised his voice and woke it up.

Kino immediately jumped from the bed after waking up. Then, watching the sun outside the window, it made a depressed expression.

- What happened, Kino?

Hermes asked, but Kino muttered with an expression like even itself didn’t understand it at all.

- It’s weird, right…? I wonder if my body has gone crazy.

- Ms. Kino. Very near from here, there’s a wedding. Would you like to come and see it?

After Kino finished eating a late breakfast, Sakura’s silhouette came wearing an apron and holding a plate, and asked that.

After Kino accepted, it went back to the room and took Hermes outside. Along with Sakura, they walked towards a religious construction that was nearby. It wasn’t a long distance so they walked pushing Hermes.

Towards the cheerful crowd, the groom and bride were standing, wearing clothes of composed colors.

Both of them were young. They were teens between fifteen and nineteen years old.

- They’re getting married pretty fast, aren’t they?

Hermes asked and Sakura replied:

- Normally, people get married when they're more than twenty years old. How unusual.

The groom and the bride went on a stage holding a big bag. From all the guests, only the women rushed in front of them. Sakura explained quickly.

- The couple will threw many little bags. Mixed between them, there are some with the seed of a tree. That’s the amount of children they want to have in the future. They say the person who meets tomorrow morning holding one of the seeds, will be the next person to become a happy bride.

Sakura spoke like that, while looking really eager to participate herself, so Kino said:

- Is it alright if I help you to search it too? Two people is better than one.

Sakura asked surprised.

- Is it ok?

- It’s ok, let’s go.

Both of them joined the women guests.

- Fiuuu - by the time Hermes complained being left behind, the groom and the bride shouted:

- “We’re thinking on having five children!”.

Then, they started throwing little bags. They threw them one after another, and the women guests standing with quite a bit of thirst of blood in their faces, they started to desperately gather the fallen bags. After opening them and checking there was nothing inside, they threw it near another person. As Sakura too, was searching while having bags being thrown at her, her hand was pulled by Kino. Then she was taken outside the crowd.

- Here you have.

Inside the bag Kino gave her, there was one big seed.

- Waa! … but how could you find it so soon?

After Sakura asked surprised:

- From long ago the only good thing I have is luck.

Kino said as if it was nothing.

- … is it ok for me to keep it?

Kino replied to Sakura, who asked as if to confirm it.

- Of course. It probably isn’t enough to pay you back from your services as a guide, though.

Sakura said while shaking her head.

- It’s not like that! I’ve never picked one. I always wished to get one someday. Thank you very much, Ms. Kino!

Kino spoke to Sakura, who was embracing the bag with deep emotion.

- You’re welcome.

When Kino and company returned to the hotel, there were some unarmed soldiers standing outside. After they saw Kino, they bowed when they were in front of them. One of them spoke:

- Ms. traveler. We’d like you to start getting ready to leave the country soon.

After thinking a little, Kino asked nonchalantly:

- Umm, couldn’t I stay here for one or two days more?

Surprised, Sakura looked up to Kino’s face and Hermes asked in a loud voice.

- Uwaaaa! Ki, Kino. What happened to you?

- Nothing, just somehow… don’t be that surprised!

Then, without changing his hard expression, the soldier said:

- … it’s a pity, but when you entered the country you said it was for three days. Those are the rules so… We’d like for you to start getting ready soon.

Not having any other choice, Kino started the preparations. It got fuel nearby and bought food rations. The middle age woman at the store had a sullen face, but when she was asked for the price, she gave everything for almost free.

- Is it alright?

After Kino asked surprised:

- Yes, if it’s for a traveler. In exchange, advertise my store to other travelers, alright? Telling them to be sure to buy here. That if they go to other stores, they’ll have bad luck on their journey.

The woman spoke like that and winked. She wasn’t very cute.

After they returned to the hotel, Kino gathered the luggage quietly. Sakura, her parents and the soldiers from before, were waiting in the reception of the hotel.

- If you go to the west, there’s a good spot to sleep in the open on the surroundings of the ridge. Since before that place, there’s the risk of falling rocks. And after that, the road descends steeply.

After Sakura’s dad spoke like that, the soldier too:

- Yes, that place is good. And after descending a little there’s a small marsh there. The scenery is very nice.

After saying that, he drew a simple map.

- Here you have.

Sakura handed over two packages.

Sakura’s mother said:

- It’s traditional food from our country. I cooked it with Sakura. You can eat the small one tonight, and then you leave the other for tomorrow breakfast, for example. They’ll last for a while.

Kino received it and then spoke facing all the people there.

- For everything you have done for me, I really thank you very much.

Then, it looked for a handshake with Sakura, and said, while shaking her small hand.

- Thank you. I could make very beautiful memories.

Sakura put a lot of strength in the shaking hand and said:

- You’re welcome.

In front of the gates on the west side, there was a square, and there were Hermes loaded with the luggage and Kino wearing a coat. Before them, there were lots of residents, like the time they had arrived, but this time they were gathering to seeing them off.

Finally, Kino spoke in front of everyone.

- Everyone, thank you very much. I’ve visited many different places but it’s the first time I’m treated so gently, and the first time I see such an enjoyable country.

All the people there smiled. They started clapping their hands naturally. Sakura came directly to the front of the crowd with her little body and quickly bowed her small head respectfully.

- Ms. Kino and Mr. Hermes. Thank you very much for your stay. Next time, by all means, come along with a wonderful person for your honeymoon. I’ll guide you to the best room.

She talked pretending she was an adult, like if she was a great hotel owner.

Kino smiled.

- Yes. Someday again.

To those words, the crowd bursted in shouts of joy.

- Someday again!

While they were saying that, Sakura waved her little hand and Kino too, turned around with a smile.

Then, Kino crossed the internal gates while pushing Hermes. Not even once it looked back.

Then, by the time they reached the outside of the gates, Kino turned on Hermes’ engine. The soldiers went outside to see them off.

- Take care.

The soldiers said that, and Kino, facing everyone, took off the hat and made a small bow. Leaving the salutations behind, it made Hermes to go forward.

Until the motorbike disappeared in the distance, the soldiers didn’t drop their hands as they kept seeing them off.

- Kino? How odd, for you to wish to stay more than three days.

While they were running in the woods, Hermes asked Kino.

- Yes. Even I am quite surprised - Kino said that and shifted one gear. Then it followed - But maybe it was better this way. If we stayed more, maybe I would have wanted to stay for a longer time. And then, gradually I would never be able to leave that country.

- … such rare words. Those can’t be heard normally. Are they a herald of an extraordinary natural phenomenon?

- How rude.

Kino said while laughing lightly. Hermes talked in a little pensive tone.

- It was a nice country, wasn’t it?

Kino nodded.

- I enjoyed it very much.

After running for a while, Hermes said as if remembering:

- It was completely different from the rumours.

- Yes.

- I wonder why - to that Hermes’ question:

- Who knows. It bothered me a little at the beginning, but somewhere in the middle I stopped caring - Kino said that with a satisfied smile below the goggles. And then it added - if by chance, another traveler asked me, “what kind of country it was?”, I would tell them, “it was a very gentle and wonderful country where they treated me very politely”.

After running until the evening, they arrived to the ridge. It was the place Sakura’s father and the soldier had talked about. Kino decided to make a camp there.

It passed a rope between Hermes and a tree, and put a tarp to be prepared in case it rained. Below that, it spread a cloth and on top of it, a sleeping bag.

When it opened the small bundle it had received from Sakura, there was a lightly brown roasted mountain fowl. Kino ate it completely. It used boiled stagnant water from the marsh, to make some tea. Kino glared at the scenery on the east, while holding a cup.

A full moon was rising slowly from the mountain range, lighting up the woods slightly. There could be seen many artificial lights gathered on the distant surface. It was Sakura’s country.

Kino holded up slightly the cup and mimicked a toast.

After drinking the tea, Kino said, “I leave the rest to you”. Then, while wearing the jacket and with the boots on, it entered the sleeping bag below the tarp.

It was the time when the full moon reached its highest point. Kino woke up inside the sleeping bag, and just like that, it got up in a rush. Hermes asked:

- What is it, Kino? There’s nothing out of the ordinary. There are no animals nearby. The weather is also probably ok.

- I can’t sleep.

Kino crawled out from the sleeping bag. It stood up next to Hermes.

- Maybe it’s because you woke up late in the morning?

- No, it’s something else.

The expression on Kino while doing that assertion was stiff.

- There’s something, I have a very bad feeling… like as if I were chewing sand.

After saying that, Kino slowly took out “Cannon” from its holdster on the right thigh. As expected after seeing that, Hermes too, spoke with tense tone:

- Waa, what is it?

He asked shortly but, without replying, Kino watched out for the surroundings. Hermes too, somehow looked round.

On the sky there was a pale violet gradation towards the moon. On the distance the ranging black mountains could be seen. On the east, there were small lights on the surface, which would be some people staying up late on Sakura’s country.

Hermes spoke to a Kino whose face looked like the one of a rookie soldier ambushing the enemy:

- There’s nothing special. Aren’t you worrying too much?

On that instant, the ground vibrated a little. Then, a low sound reverberated.

From halfway of a tall mountain towering on the north side, some black lumps were heading up. Almost like cumulonimbus from the middle of the summer, that thing started swelling with a fast pace. The difference was the strong gray color below the moonlight, and the fact that they were being born from the face of the mountain.

After swelling to a certain degree, one after another, while collapsing from the edge they started to roll over.

While the low sound resounded, they went down at an intense speed like if they were licking the slope. From where Kino and company were looking, their direction was from the left to the right.

That gigantic fluid, ended up swallowing the small lights.

- What…? What’s that!?

Kino shouted while aiming “Cannon’s” barrel. Hermes spoke in an undertone, muttering every word:

- If my memories are correct, that’s pyroclastic flow.

- Pyro.. what did you say?

Kino turned back and asked. With the rope and the tarp installed, he replied with the tone of a scholar.

- Pyroclastic flow. It’s a phenomenon when volcanic ashes and pumice stone are blown at high temperatures and they flow down by a mountain face. That’s a pyroclastic flow.

- … A volcanic eruption?

- Yeah, that.

After saying that, Hermes remained silent.

The pyroclastic flow kept descending over the valley. While looking at the lights on the ground that couldn’t be seen anymore, Kino said:

- If I were to go there now, there would something I could do?

- No - Hermes replied without hesitation.

- …

- The pyroclastic flow is near a thousand degrees centigrades. A thing like a person, in the blink of an eye is… the blood inside boils in an instant and it dies from the shock. They’re all dead. There’s no time to escape. That’s why, there’s nothing you can do, Kino. Even if you go, you’ll just die.

Hermes spoke calmly, to a Kino stroke by amazement.

- …

In the middle of the reverberating low sound, Kino sat down.

After a while, the surroundings became quiet, and even later, when the valley field of vision became clear, the moon was inclined to the west, and the eastern sky was starting to get brighter. Kino had been sitting holding “Cannon” in its right hand all the time. Kino didn’t say anything and Hermes didn’t ask anything.

When dawn had passed completely, the colors came back to the sky and to the mosaic ground. Only the valley where the country had been, was covered in a single gray color.

Kino stood up. It put “Cannon” back to its holdster. Without words, it folded the tarp and gathered the cloth and the sleeping bag. It took out the big bundle which was inside the bag.

- After eating… let’s take off.

Kino said that, sat on Hermes and opened the bundle. There was bread and meat preserved in salt.

Kino ate all of it in silence. When it was about to fold the bundle, it realized there was an envelope together with another small bundle.

Kino took out a letter. There, the names of the recipients and the sender were written.

- … It’s a letter. For me and you. From Sakura’s mother.

- Read it.

Below Kino, Hermes replied shortly.

Under which had become a pretty bright sky, Kino started reading the letter.

“To Ms. Kino. To Mr. Hermes. To the last travelers who made us the favor of visiting our country.

By the time you read this letter, I think we won’t be in this world anymore. Our country and ourselves will be burned by the pyroclastic flow and we will remain buried below the ashes for sure.

It’s also possible that you could have seen that yourselves.

We came to know about the big eruption of that mountain around one month ago. According to the investigators researches we came to know that an unprecedented large scale pyroclastic flow would attack our country.

There were just two roads for us to take. Abandoning the country or not abandoning the country.

We decided our answer. To remain in this country.

For travelers like you, it’s possible this action might be seen as foolish. But we were born and raised here. We don’t know other places. We don’t know other ways of living. It could be there was never room for us to decide from the very beginning. But even if it was like that, we don’t think of it as something unhappy.

While feeling a kind of relief, we thought of living the remaining days giving our best. Without cursing our destiny, without feeling hatred, without feeling sad, we lived a full life.

But at that time, we were shocked. When we had disappeared from this world, the only people who would remember us, would be others, in other words, only travelers. I don’t know if you’re aware or not but, we always had an arrogant attitude towards the travelers who visited us until then. We were quite aware that we hurt their feelings by doing that.

We realized if we kept acting like that, we would end up remaining on other people’s memories as an ill-mannered country.

We decided in our hearts that if someone came to visit us, we would give them a warm reception as much as possible. We wished for the memories of this country, for the memories of us to remain as something wonderful.

Ironically, after we had decided that in our hearts, the travelers stopped coming altogether. Maybe it was a curse from our bad reputation until then.

The time flowed quietly. When there were only three days left, by the time we had already given up, Ms. Kino and Mr. Hermes, you two came.

As a representant of our country, I welcome you from the bottom of my heart.

Ms. Kino, Mr. Hermes.

Welcome.

Ps. I was struggling thinking if I should write it or not, But I’d like for you to know.

The ones who knew the truth were the citizens with the right to vote, people older than twelve years old. The next day after the eruption, in other words, the “today” from your perspective, is exactly Sakura’s twelfth birthday.

Ms. Kino. After seeing how well you got along with Sakura, we thought of giving that child to you by force if it was necessary. But last night, that girl said she would like to inherit the hotel and become a tourist guide for this country. If that was that girl’s dream, you might think of it as an extremely selfish act, but we will take this girl with us.

Thank you very much for reading this until the end.”

- I see. So that’s why. I understand it - Hermes said.

Kino kept holding the letter and thinking for a while.

Finally, with a low voice muttered as if it was groaning.

- Ego!... that’s ego!

Hermes said quietly:

- It can be that. But, it’s already hopeless. One way or another, a journey of two people is impossible.

Kino folded the letter and put it back on the envelope.

It took the other small bundle. Inside, there was a single folded paper and a little bag. It was the bag Kino had found in the wedding and then given to Sakura. When it looked inside, the seed was still there.

Kino opened the paper in a rush, and started reading what it was written there.

“For Ms. Kino. Even if I”

Kino’s mouth stopped on that moment.

For a while, it opened its eyes wide and stiff, but after Hermes urged it to read, it read the rest all at once.

“Even if I keep this, it would be useless. It’s yours. Take care. Don’t forget about us.

Sakura”

Kino sighed and looked up to the sky. It did that for a while.

Finally, Kino put back slowly and carefully the bag and the letter inside the luggage.

At the same time, Kino took out the box it had received from the gunsmith. It put the holdster from the box on the back of its belt.

It packed the small bullets in the magazine. It put some in a pocket and one in “Person of the woods”. After it loaded it and activated the security lock, it put it inside the holdster.

The holdster that surrounded the barrel inside, “Person of the Woods” adorned Kino’s back, visible for the most of it from a single glance.

- Yes. It suits you.

Hermes said. Kino smiled a little without saying anything.

Kino put the luggage on Hermes and tied it. It turned Herme’s engine on. Kino put on the coat. It put the hat and the goggles on the neck. By the time the sun started showing its shape slowly, the green, red and yellow from the woods, were brightening vividly. Kino narrowed its eyes and put the goggles on. The lens reflected the light and hid Kino’s expression.

- It was a good country, wasn’t it? - said Hermes.

- Yes, I enjoyed it a lot… I don’t have any complaint - Kino sat on Hermes and said - shall we go?

- Yeah, right?

Kino looked back just once and looked at the quiet valley coloured in gray. It looked at the country sank below the ashes.

Then, it faced the front.

At last, the motorbike went away and soon that place became silent.

Yeah, actually I’ve been slowly translating some of the first volume, but to spanish, in a secondary line. This week I’ll be hmm correcting and reviewing the draft I have for the first chapter of the first volume. The thing is the first volume is lincensed in english so, I’m not very sure how ok is if i post here some alternative version of it. The way I see it, there shouldn’t be any problem, specially because I won’t be selling it or making profit in any monetary way. But, things don’t always follow very logic ways. 

I was thinking once I finished the first chapter in spanish I was going to present the link for the other tumblr where is going to be. I’m not sure if it’s the best thing to make a new tumblr just for the spanish version but, for now i’ll try that.

About an english version, sure, I suppose I could try translating the prologue and the first chapter of that first volume, and posting them and seeing what happens then. Maybe to be sure I wouldn’t add images for those. 

I should have probably said this before but the translated epilogue I posted some days ago it’s the second part of a story that starts (or ends) on the prologue of this second volume - which is here: http://ioghurt.tumblr.com/post/109427030550/in-the-middle-of-the-desert

On all volumes I have read so far, the prologue and the epilogue conform one more story. The first chronological half is at the end of the book in the epilogue, and the second chronological half is at the beginning of the book, in the prologue. I read some time ago that on the “official” translation of the first book, they inverted the order of this halves without any explanation about it. I think that’s really a harsh thing to do for the sake of “simplifying” the source material. If they thought it was a really complex thing they could have just added a note, but changing so much the book? I think it was really an offensive thing to do. It’s like saying oh flashbacks are too complex, let’s make it all linear.

I think the author wrote it in that way for a reason. For example, in this second volume, it start not making much sense, Kino just laughing in the rain with Hermes kinda mad for some reason. But after reading all the stories from the book, when you finish reading the epilogue everything starts making much more sense. Something I can do with this volume but not with the others, though I haven’t spent so much time in this one as with the other ones, is thinking of it as a unity, most of it at least. Yeah there are some chapters that kinda don’t go so well with the others in the way I’m thinking. But in the rest, all the chapters are about people who are about to experience or already experienced a “journey”. The kid from Overprotection, Nimya, the guy from Homecoming, the person from the country of books, the artist... they were all struggling to find their place, while surrounded by hostile enviroment. Some managed to do it, like Nimya, some utterly failed, like the guy trying to get back to his home. But for most of them it’s uncertain what happened to them. I think this story in the prologue and the epilogue, is there to somewhat tie them together: why some of them succeed and some of them failed? Is it because some of them didn’t try enough, because some were nice people and the others weren’t?