The Great Altruist (7 page)

           
“What are you doing?” Genesis said.

           
“I can’t go back in this room.”

           
“You should,” she said. “If we leave now, the guards will find your clothes here on the ground and it may raise suspicion. They’ll also see the flash.”

           
Jadzia shook her head but quickly conceded the point. She took a deep breath, held it, and entered the room. Genesis crawled from her pocket and said nothing. Jadzia stripped off her clothes and held her breath, but the scent from the floor climbed inside her nostrils. Desperate for air, she hunched over and gasped, quietly coughing to catch her breath. Genesis reached down and put her hand on Jadzia’s shoulder while she cried.

           
“I’ve said all I can to my father,” Jadzia said. “Seeing him again was much harder than I imagined.”

           
“It was hard for me to watch too. I almost changed my mind about saving him.”

           
“You did?”

           
“I’m not cold-hearted. But I need to be responsible.”

           
Jadzia coughed again under the weight of the stale air. “Thank you for caring at least.”

           
“Are you sure you want to go see your mother now?”

           
“What choice do I have?” she asked rhetorically, ever mindful to keep her eyes closed and her breathing shallow.

           
“You forget that we can always come back to this point in time. If you would like to rest and settle yourself for a while, we can return later.”

           
Jadzia’s emotions had become impossible to control; her hands were shaking and her voice quivered as she spoke. “I suppose you’re right.”

           
“Then we’ll see your mother shortly. She will always be here at this point in time.”

           
Jadzia nodded as Genesis closed her eyes and gathered her strength. A brief moment later, in a flash of light, they were gone.

           
In the clearing once more, Jadzia and Genesis arrived at nearly the same moment they left. The fire still smoked and the rocks in the creek were still warm to the touch. Jadzia fell to the ground and gasped for fresh air. She drew long, deep breaths into her lungs and opened her eyes widely, soaking in the pleasant sights of the forest.

           
“Would you like something to eat?” Genesis offered.

           
“No, thanks,” Jadzia said. She stumbled to the bank of the creek and drank the cool water from her hands before splashing some on her face. “My stomach is churning. I couldn't hold anything down if I wanted.”

           
“For what it’s worth,” Genesis said, “I’m incredibly proud of you. Saying what you did to your father must have been very difficult. It took tremendous courage.”

           
Jadzia accepted the compliment and laid her head on the lush grass and closed her eyes. “Do you mind if I rest a bit?” she asked.

           
“Not at all.” Genesis left Jadzia to sleep and picked berries from the nearby bushes and ate.

           
Although exhausted and nauseated from the experiences of their morning, Jadzia dreamed of only the happiest memories of life with her father.

           
Genesis, on the other hand, found it difficult to sleep that night for the first time in ages. Even though her new life satisfied her desire to help people, something was missing. She tossed and turned all night while the voice of her conscience called out: “Do more.” Unsure of what that meant, she resolved anyway to listen to its command. Seconds later, she closed her eyes and entered a deep slumber.

          The following morning, Genesis awoke refreshed and gathered whatever food she could find from the surrounding countryside before Jadzia awoke. After eating to her heart’s content, she lied along the grass, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the symphony produced by the woodland creatures, trees, and trickling water.

           
Jadzia awakened after almost an entire day of sleep and wiped her eyes clean. She first sought privacy behind the fallen tree beyond the border of the clearing, and then washed her hands in the creek. Her nerves still rattled by the prior day’s exertions, she ate the food Genesis collected and tried to calm her pulse. But then she realized what still lied ahead and that it would be just as taxing as before. Just the thought of her mission caused her pulse to race again.

           
“Are you alright?” Genesis asked.

           
“I haven’t slept this well in years.”

           
“I can sense you’re nervous.”

           
“I am. How do I say good-bye to someone forever?”

           
Genesis remained silent. There was nothing she could say to answer her question.

           
“Is there no way we can save them?” Jadzia asked again.

           
“Anything
can
be done. The question is whether it should. I’ve witnessed extraordinary pain throughout history, and there is much I wish I could interfere
with
. I
’
m just not sure if I
’
d be doing the right thing. Maybe things should be allowed to unfold as they are. Otherwise, where would I stop?
”

           
“Have you ever thought of stopping all of it?”

           
“You mean all suffering?” she asked incredulously. “Again, I don’t think that’s why I’m here.”

           
“You’re here to help people, aren’t you?”

           
“Yes, but life needs to be allowed to run its course.”

           
“What about me?”

           
“I don’t have the answer you want, Jadzia. Perhaps I should never have to come to
you
either. Maybe one day I’ll regret all of this. Maybe stopping all human suffering
is
what I’m here to do. I’m still finding my own path.”

           
“How do you know?”

           
“I don’t. All I know now is that I’m going to help
you
to the best of my ability. You have my word.”

           
Jadzia capitulated and said: “Then I should be more grateful. I’m just being selfish.”

           
“Wanting your parents to escape death is hardly selfish. The power I wield must be used responsibly though.”

           
“I know,” she said. “Promise me – if there’s any way to save them – you’ll save them.”

           
“I give you my word.”

           
The two women sat silently on the grass, neither of them eager to begin the day’s agenda. Genesis never wanted Jadzia to feel pressured. If she felt the need to spend several days more resting, Genesis had the time. She started to doze off when Jadzia stood up and readied herself to leave. “Is it time?” Genesis asked.

           
“Yes. I want to see my mother.”

           
“Right away.” Genesis bolted from the ground and rushed to Jadzia’s side. Seconds later, they were gone.

           
Nighttime ruled the camp when the two women arrived. The moon cast its light all across the grounds and Genesis cautiously canvassed the area, making sure the path was safe. She crawled through the window of a nearby building as Jadzia reemerged from the stream.

           
“Keep your eyes closed,” Genesis said.

           
Jadzia obeyed as Genesis led her by the hand through the dark to avoid the bodies that lied on the floor. Once she found clothes and was dressed, she left the gas chamber and hid behind a nearby guard shack. Genesis stayed in front of her at all times and motioned her to follow when the path was clear. She eventually led her down the moonlit road to the barrack where Jadzia’s mother was kept. She hid inside the pocket of Jadzia’s coat as they entered the shed.

           
Inside the barrack, the beds were stacked as they were where her father slept. The women were skin over bones; many had lost their hair, their faces drenched in ennui. The stench, juxtaposed against the fresh night air, hit Jadzia like a punch in the face. She covered her mouth and nose and gathered her composure before she moved on to find her mother. The women were gathered several per bed, but her mother was nowhere to be found. Behind the rows of bunks lied a group of women gathered on the floor, stacked against each other like sardines with hardly any room to breathe. To Jadzia’s chagrin, her mother was surrounded on all sides. She cautiously approached her mother and touched her leg, stirring her awake as calmly as possible.

           
Her mother awoke and carefully looked around when she saw a beautiful, familiar-looking woman standing above her. Like Jadzia’s father, her mother did not take long to recognize her. “Jadzia?” she whispered.

           
Jadzia got on her knees and said: “Yes, Mama, it’s me.”

           
“I thought I’d lost you.” Jadzia’s mother began to cry.

           
“I’m fine,” she said as she reached out to take her mother’s hand.

           
“How did you get here? You don’t look sixteen.”

           
Jadzia felt a slight pinch on her breast from Genesis in her pocket, reminding her not to divulge too much. “I can’t tell you how I got here. It isn’t safe. I came to tell you that I love you.”

           
“I’ve missed you so,” her mother said.

           
“I’ve missed you too. And father too.”

           
Her mother was aghast. “Have you seen him? Where is he?”

           
“He’s in a camp like this one not far from here. He wanted me to tell you he loves you and hopes to be with you soon.”

           
She knew her words would go unfulfilled and as hard she tried to contain it, a knot formed in her stomach and her emotions took over. Tears followed.

           
“What’s wrong?” her mother asked, stroking her daughter’s cheek.