Forager (22 page)

The answer to these questions was staring me in the face – a major player, and quite possibly Hamamachi or perhaps a faction therein, was backing their attacks on us.

All began to go dark as Nanako removed my bulletproof vest to check my condition and discovered that the left side of my chest was soaked with blood. The last thing I heard was her demanding King to get a medic over pronto.

I came to slowly, as though waking from the deepest sleep I'd ever had. I was back in intensive care, lying in a hospital bed with a drip in the back of my left hand. There was a bandage around my chest and shoulder, and another around my head, thanks to King smashing his rifle butt against it earlier. In spite of my injuries, I felt little pain, so they must have drugged me on some pretty strong painkillers. I decided then and there not to rush out of the hospital this time, but give my poor body a chance to recover.

It was dark outside and the ward was shrouded in semi-darkness. Every bed I could see was filled and male nurses were quietly checking on patients who were worse off than others. Some patients groaned, others sobbed quietly.

Nanako was lying beside me with her head on my right shoulder. She was fast asleep. I ran my hand through her hair, simply glad to be with her and away from danger.

She stirred and her eyes flicked open. “Decided to rejoin us in the land of the living have we?” she teased.

“Well, you know, thought I’d pop in,” I laughed, and then winced. “How long have I been out?”

“About eighteen hours.” She glanced at the timepiece on her wrist.

“And what’s the prognosis. Will I live?”

“You lost a lot of blood and they had to close your wound again. But you’ve had a blood transfusion and have been on the drip ever since.” Rolling onto her stomach, she propped herself on her elbows. “You gotta be more careful, Ethan. No more heroics from you. Like, forever, okay? You were so pale I was afraid I was gonna lose you.”

“Don’t worry, you’ve got my full co-operation there,” I promised her.

“They wanted to give you a CAT scan for the blow to your head, but I refused. I had to make up some story that you and I were dead-set against X-ray technology because we believed it would harm us.”

“You did well,” I said, impressed by her ingenuity. “What’s the situation with the town and the sub?”

“After we stopped the Skel blowing up the sub, the rest of them pulled out of North End pretty quick, I was told. But so many Custodians and civilians have been killed or injured. North End’s hospital overflowed so badly that they had to bring many North Enders to this hospital, and they’re even using a school as a temporary hospital as well.”

I shook my head, finding it hard to believe the Skel had become so bold as to attack our strongly defended town so openly, the first time in a hundred years. I hoped they had paid dearly for their audacity.

“Can I ask a question?” I said after we’d been silent for a while.

“Of course you can, silly.”

“What was our wedding like?”

She drew herself up onto her knees. “Would you like to see a photo?”

The excitement that rose within me was so strong that for a moment I forgot all about my injuries. “What kind of question is that? Of course I do. Have you got lots of photos of the time I was in Hamamachi?”

She removed the weird goggles that were hanging around her neck. “I do, but I’m hesitant to show them to you yet because I don’t want the photos to form the basis of your memories. I want you to keep pushing your mind until you remember these things yourself. I don’t mind showing you this one photo, though, it’s kind of important, eh?” She put the goggles on and pressed the buttons on the side.

After a moment she pressed them against my eyes – she couldn’t put the strap on because of the bruise from King’s gun.

I gasped as soon as I saw the image. It was in 3D, with a depth I hadn’t thought possible with digital media. We were standing in front of an old brick chapel hidden away in the bush, set in the midst of a landscape of long grass, bushes and the occasional gum tree. It had a slanting slate-tile roof, wooden door, and stained glass windows. It must have been very lovingly maintained over the decades.

But it was Nanako herself who rendered me speechless. She was wearing a magnificent red kimono, embroidered with cranes, trees and mountains in gold, white and green thread. Her hair was put up with golden pins, with a few stray locks hanging loose around her face. The joy and rapture she felt on that day had been faithfully captured by the camera. She was glowing with happiness, complete with joyous smile and sparkling eyes.

I stood beside her wearing traditional Japanese men’s attire. It included black-and-white pleated hakama pants, a white undershirt, and black kimono and haori, the latter being a lightweight long coat with wide sleeves.

"You look simply gorgeous. Must have been such a wonderful day. What I'd give to get those memories back," I said when I took off the goggles and reluctantly handed them back. I was delighted to have a concrete image to associate with wedding day.

"It was the second happiest day of my life." She smiled broadly.

I raised my eyebrows, suddenly feeling a little threatened. What could mean more to someone than their wedding day? "Really. What was the happiest?"

She lay back down beside me with her head on my shoulder and took my left hand in hers. "Last night, when you told me that you are mine, now and forever, and we put our wedding rings back on."

I slipped my right arm around her and within minutes, her arms and legs twitched erratically – she had fallen asleep again.

It was hours before I fell asleep, but I didn't mind in the slightest. As I lay with my petite Japanese wife in my arms, I felt content and completely at peace. The ever-present emptiness I felt since awaking from the operation two years ago was gone. And I knew why. That emptiness I felt was her absence.

* * *

“Hey Jones, wake up!” said a familiar voice.

I jerked awake from a shallow sleep and saw my three workmates clustered around my bed. It was just after eight according to the clock on the wall.

"This is new,” Shorty said as he appraised Nanako sitting cross-legged on the bed beside me and holding my hand.

“So are the wedding rings.” Michal pointed out, observant as usual.

“Did we blink and miss something?” Shorty asked.

“Guys, may I present Nanako Jones, my wife.” I grinned like a Cheshire cat.

“Yep, I think we did,” Shorty said to Michal, and then to me. “Jones, what on earth are you talking about?”

I spent the next five minutes catching the lads up to speed.

“Man, what a story,” Shorty said when I’d finished, “I’m getting a headache just trying to get my head around it.”

"Great to see it work out for you two at last," Michal said sincerely. "Make sure you inform the Custodians or they'll get the wrong idea."

"Already have," I assured him, though not quite in the manner he would have assumed.

Shorty and David murmured similar comments, but truth be known, they were clearly uncomfortable with Nanako around. I questioned Newhome's traditions of so rigidly segregating males and females. I remembered how relaxed and natural Nanako and her foraging teammates had been together when I first met her, and concluded that Newhome’s Founders had lost the plot when they created our society.

"So how are you three going?" I asked in an attempt to end the awkward silence.

"Saturday was a blast," Shorty said with heavy sarcasm. "I never realised how much fun can be had digging through piles of junk and sorting it into its components."

"Well hopefully the Skel will count their losses and give Newhome a miss for a while," I replied thoughtfully.

"Don't count on it," Michal said.

"Yeah, we need to find a way to drive the Skel out of Melbourne altogether," David added.

"Maybe the Custodians will work out something?" Nanako suggested.

"I don't think they're interested in what goes on outside the city," Shorty said quietly, sending a dirty glance at David.

Nanako noticed the exchange and looked enquiringly at me.

"It's a long story, I'll fill you in later," I said.

She nodded and David looked most relieved. The last thing he wanted was to experience his shame in public again.

"Look, we've got to trot, we just popped in on the way to work to see how you were going," Shorty said. “And you know guys, I don’t think we need to look after him anymore, somehow.”

“Yeah, we’ve been superseded by a newer model.” Michal smiled bashfully at Nanako.

My workmates bade us farewell and threaded their way past the milling throng of nurses and family visitors.

“Oh no,” Nanako said suddenly in a worried voice.

"What’s wrong?"

“Your mother and sisters are here.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” I assured her as I spotted them approaching.

“But what if they’re angry because I didn’t tell them who I was?”

I didn’t have time to reply. Nanako hopped off the bed and walked around to meet them as they approached with concerned expressions. Well, except for Elder Sister, perhaps. Sometimes I wondered if she had any positive expressions in her repertoire.

Clearly troubled, Nanako bowed low and waited. She need not have worried, though. As soon as my mother reached her, she swept her into her arms with tears streaming down her face. "You poor dear, I'm so terribly sorry for the way my husband treated you. You must believe me when I say I didn't know you came to Newhome two years ago. And when Ethan said his father had you expelled from Newhome, forcing you apart from my son, my heart just broke for you, sweetheart. I just wish you'd come to see me as soon as you arrived and then none of this would have happened."

Nanako returned my mother’s embrace, and sniffing back tears, answered, "Ethan's father said you refused to see me because you were angry he had married a girl from another town."

"And he said to me that a doctor had forbidden us to visit Ethan until after his operation. And we know why he said that now – it was to stop us meeting you. He would have known I would have accepted you as my own daughter. But, do you know what?"

Nanako shook her head.

"The moment you ran into our home the other night because you saw that Ethan had been hurt, and when I saw how much you cared for him, even standing up to his father, I wished that it was you he was marrying. Not that snooty King girl. So when Ethan told me that you were in fact his wife, I was so overjoyed for him, and for you." She lifted Nanako's head. "I am so happy to have you as my daughter-in-law, and I just wish there was some way I could make up to you the pain and anguish my husband has caused you."

"I'm just glad it's over now."

My younger sister stepped forward and embraced Nanako. "And we're sisters, isn't that just the best? And I'm trying the new diet you suggested and I'm gonna keep at it too, no matter how hard it is."

The new diet was already working. I hadn’t seen Younger Sister looking this well for months. I was also overjoyed to see my mother and younger sister welcome my wife into the family with such heartfelt warmth.

The biggest surprise was yet to come.

My heart stopped beating when my older sister took Nanako's small hand in hers and said with the barest hint of emotion, "Welcome to the family, Sister-in-law."

From there my mother and sisters spoke at length with Nanako, trying to catch up on two years of fellowship robbed them by my father's lies. I think they must have remembered I was there, and that I was injured, and should be the centre of attention, but I wasn't entirely sure...

They discharged me from the hospital on Tuesday morning, and I insisted on walking home to get some fresh air after I was cooped up in there for three days.

When we were back home, Nanako went through the whole flat with a critical eye, considering the paint scheme, faded second hand curtains, towels, sheets, the amenities in the cupboards, even the sofa.

"Do you still want to live in Newhome?" I asked, curious.

"Yep," she answered as she dug through the kitchen cupboards.

"But won't you feel smothered by our laws and traditions?”

“Such as?”

“You know, like young women cannot go to the market without an older woman to accompany them?"

“I know about that rule. I was warned about it when Councillor Okada and I arrived. That’s why he’s been accompanying me everywhere I go. Are there many laws like that?”

“I’m afraid so.” I ran more of Newhome’s laws past her, such as women not being able to go to school, work, or even go out after dark. I didn’t tell her about our cultural traditions, such as women waiting on men and not speaking during dinner without permission. We would not be observing those traditions in our home.

“That’s nuts! What is the penalty if women break these laws?” Nanako wasn’t impressed – shocked, even.

“The Custodians would arrest them. Depending on the nature of the ‘crime,’ they would hit them with hefty fines and possibly prison time,” I explained.

“Really? And your women folk put up with this – why?”

I explained to her about the Founders and their goal of establishing a society that would not make the same mistakes the pre-Apocalyptic world made. Mistakes that led to a worldwide nuclear war.

“And restricting women’s freedoms is going to prevent another nuclear war?”

“No, it’s more a case of men and women having clearly defined and uniquely different roles in society so that there will be less division and conflict. That’s what the Founders taught us in school. Sounds crazy, I know, but that’s what they believe.”

“I think there’s a lot more to this than what they’re letting on. I really wish we knew what country your Founders came from. I think that would explain a lot.” Nanako frowned. "Well, it looks like I’ll be asking your mother to come with me when I go shopping."

"Fair enough, but wouldn't our lives be simpler and easier if we went back to Hamamachi? That way you'll be free to do whatever you want," I suggested.

Nanako took me by the hand and led us to the sofa, where we sat down. "We can't ever go back to Hamamachi, Ethan. Not for any reason."

"Why not?"

"Do you know what caused your injury?" she asked carefully.

"My father told me I'd been hurt by a ceiling collapsing while foraging, but the neurologist I saw last Saturday said I'd been shot."

She nodded. "Yes, but not just shot – shot at point blank range."

Fear's icy fingers gripped my stomach and began to twist. I didn't want to hear anymore, but this was something I had to know. "How did it happen?"

"You went out on a classified mission with your squad of Rangers in September 2120. When your squad failed to report in, they sent another squad to find out why. A day later they brought your squad back. Four members were dead, and you were at death's door. After they operated on you they put you in a forced coma, and somehow, you pulled through, although in a very unhealthy state, as you know."

"Did they give you any details on the mission?" I asked, the fear turning and twisting into dread. How could five Rangers be wiped out so easily?

"No," she answered gruffly, "Regardless of how many times I asked or how hard I pushed, they refused to give me any details of what happened, just that you'd been shot in the line of duty. But you know that's impossible, don't you?"

"What do you mean?" The dread was snaking up my spine and spreading its icy tendrils into the back of my head.

"There's no way someone could creep up on you and shoot you in the head at point blank range, is there?"

I knew what she meant, and I agreed – I had already reached the same conclusion. "No, there isn't. No one can creep up on me when I'm awake, and even if I was asleep, the faintest suspicious sound would wake me."

"So what conclusion does that lead you to?"

"I was shot by someone I knew and trusted implicitly." The dread exploding throughout my head.

"Exactly."

"Do you have any idea who it could have been?" I asked.

"No, that's a question I was hoping you could answer. Have any of the memories that returned...?"

I shook my head, "Sorry, apart from the dream, I’ve only seen fragments. Always of mundane things, not people."

"That's what I thought. So then, do you understand why we can't go back to Hamamachi? Someone there – someone you trusted – murdered your squad and tried to kill you too. If we went back there to live, they may try to finish what they started."

I nodded thoughtfully, and added hesitantly, "Actually, I think it may be worse than that."

"What do you mean?"

"Does Councillor Okada have many enemies?"

"There are those who oppose him in the council, but that's to be expected, right? I'm not aware of him having any actual enemies who'd go so far as to try to harm him. Why do you ask?"

"The whole affair of the Skel ambushing you and Councillor Okada when you came to Newhome doesn't sit well with me," I replied. "I reckon those Skel were waiting for you."

Nanako's eyes widened in alarm. "I thought it was a coincidence, just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

I shook my head. "A large group of Skel, equipped with bombs powerful enough to blow apart one of your big 4WDs, who just happened to be on the very road  you were using? That's too many coincidences for me."

"But if that's true, it means that someone – or someones – in Hamamachi just tried to kill me and the Councillor! And not only that, they must be working with the Skel!"

"That's right, though without any proof it's all conjecture."

"I have to tell Councillor Okada about this," she said.

"I'm sure it's already occurred to him."

"You may be right, but I'll mention it just in case. And oh, one more thing, don't tell anyone else that your memories have started to return. It's possible they didn't try to kill you when you were in the hospital because of the amnesia."

"Okay, but what about Councillor Okada, have you told him I remembered meeting you?"

She shook her head. "No, I told him you found out who I was from the hospital admission form."

"You don't trust him?" Surely she trusted her faithful chaperone.

"Well of course I trust him, but what if he accidentally lets it slip in front of the wrong person?"

"If you don't mind my asking, what is your relationship with the councillor?" I asked. They acted more like family, not like a councillor and his interpreter.

"He was my father's best friend," she replied. "And he's been like a father to my brother, sister and I since our father passed away."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. What happened?" I asked.

She averted my gaze when she answered. "He had cancer, and died a year before I met you. Sorry, can we not talk about this now?"

That answer sent a dozen questions spinning through my mind, but I respected her request and let the matter drop. At a guess, I'd say she'd been very close to him.

* * *

Councillor Okada dropped by our flat on Thursday while Nanako and I were productively engaged repainting my flat’s ugly duck-egg blue walls with a refreshing pale golden-yellow. He informed us that he was returning to Hamamachi tomorrow, now that the consignment of goods Newhome was going to trade with the Japanese was finally ready.

We returned to painting after he left, though with some difficulty on my part due to one arm being in a sling.

“You realise you were speaking to Councillor Okada with paint on your nose,” I said to my wife.

“That’s because you put it there,” she replied.

I held up my hands in mock indignation. “Surely not I? Here, would you like me to wipe it off?”

“Please do.”

I picked up the small cloth we’d been using to wipe up accidents and spills, and gave her irresistibly cute button-nose a bit of a rub. “Hmm, the paint seems to have dried. I’ll have to use a wet rag.” I dipped the rag into the wet paint and painted the rest of her nose pale golden-yellow.

“Ethan, you’re supposed to be painting the walls, not me!” She admonished me with a touch of mirth as she stepped forward to wrap her arms around me. But as I embraced her with my right arm, I felt a paint roller run down my back.

Nanako stepped back giggling – the first time I’d seen her do so, and it had to be the cutest thing I’d ever seen. It made me wonder how many times we had like this when we were newlyweds.

“These are my best clothes!” I protested in mock indignation.

“Lucky the paint is acrylic then, eh?”

“Absolutely, especially considering your nose is covered in it,” I laughed. And then, on a more serious note, I asked “Have I changed much?”

“What do you mean?” she asked as she put down the paint roller.

“You know, from when you knew me before,” I replied. “I mean, for me, getting to know you is all new, and I’m loving every minute of it, because you’re just the most amazing person I’ve ever met. But what about you? How do I compare to the Ethan you used to know? Are you disappointed?”

She took my right hand in hers and looked up to make eye contact. “You’re still you – the same Ethan I fell in love with three years ago – if that’s what you’re asking. But there’s a depth to you now that wasn’t so obvious when you were eighteen. Back then, life was one big adventure, but now you know there’s a darker side to it as well. We’ve both changed because of this trial we’ve been forced to endure, but now that we're back together again, our wounded hearts can begin the healing process to become whole again. From here it will only get better.”

A sharp rap on the door interrupted our conversation. Expecting it to be one of my friends, since I’d heard only one pair of boots approaching, I was most unpleasantly surprised when I opened the door and found our visitor was Lieutenant King.

He tipped his head slightly. "Mr. and Mrs. Jones."

At least he had accepted we were married now. "How can we help you, Lieutenant?"

He removed a sealed letter from his Custodian fatigues and handed it to me. "Orders from Custodian command, Jones."

I read the letter and handed it to Nanako, who was standing beside me now. "Why me, Sir?"

The faintest trace of an empty smile tweaked the corners of King's mouth. "In light of your considerable experience with the Skel and Melbourne's eastern suburbs, I considered you to be the obvious choice to lead the trade convoy to Hamamachi."

“You can’t ask Ethan to do this, he hasn’t recovered from his wounds,” Nanako protested.

Bearing in mind what we had discussed on Tuesday about why we couldn’t ever go to Hamamachi, this order from Custodian command was the last thing we needed.

"This isn't an option, Mrs. Jones," he snarled. “And besides, he won’t be driving, just directing the convoy where to go.”

Nanako looked up at me for help, her eyes desperate. I gave my head the slightest shake. There was nothing we could do. The Custodians' orders were law.

"Fine, my foraging team and I will lead the convoy, Sir, but on two conditions," I replied.

"You aren't in any position to make demands, Jones." King appeared amused I had the presumption to say such a thing.

"Nevertheless, if you want this convoy to be able to fight off a Skel attack, I request that you reinstate me as leader of the foraging team and replace Cooper with Leigh Williams. And we'll need our bows and arrows back. You can hide them under our vehicles’ seats if you like."

"Leigh Williams is in prison."

"I need him, Lieutenant. He knows how to hunt and bring down Skel," I said, refusing to budge an inch. Actually, Leigh was the least capable of my team, but this was an opportunity to get him out of prison and I wasn't going let it pass by. "Perhaps Custodian Command could offer him a pardon on the condition he accepts this assignment, Sir."

I could almost see the cogwheels in King's brain turning as he considered my requests. "Fine," he finally grunted. "I'll see what I can do. I will pick up you at five sharp tomorrow morning."

"What, are you going too, Sir?" I asked, suddenly concerned. He was the last person in the world I wanted to accompany all the way to Hamamachi and back.

This time King did smile – a cold, merciless expression. "Oh yes, did I forget to mention it? I’m leading the Custodian team providing protection for the convoy."

"How long will we stay in Hamamachi, Lieutenant?" Nanako asked, her voice wavering.

“We? These orders are for Ethan and him alone,” King shot back.