Kino's Journey - Volume 1, Chapter 2

The Country of Majority Rule -Ourselfish-

The carpet of grass stretched as far as the eye could see. Layers of the green, lightly undulated land overlapped each other as they disappear toward the horizon.

The vast sky was in clear blue, strewn with drifting white clouds, so vivid to the point of dazzling. In the distance, above the horizon, a cumulonimbus cloud rose like a white-walled sanctuary. The incessant cry of cicadas filled the air.

The meadow had but a single road.

The road could barely be acknowledged as one, being so narrow that its earth surface was hardly visible. It ran straight, with occasional iterations of sudden curves, as if they were avoiding the masses of trees. It headed due west.

A single motorrad (Note: Two-wheeled vehicle. Refers to only ones that cannot fly) was running down the road. The motorrad cleared the curves at a considerable speed. It accelerated upon entering a long, straight path, its rear wheel scattering dirt.

The motorrad's rider wore a long, black vest. The collar was opened wide, so as to let air in. A thick belt wrapped around the hips, and on its backside was a hand persuader holster (Note: Persuaders are firearms. In this case, a handgun). Inside it was a thin-framed hand persuader, grip pointed upwards. Another one could be seen on its wielder's right thigh.

Worn under the vest was a white shirt. To keep both sleeves from flapping in the wind, several elastic bands were wrapped around them.

The rider's short, black hair was blown into disarray by the wind. On top of the slender, tough-looking face was a pair of silver-framed goggles with chipped-off plating; under it, the rider's eyes glared straight ahead.

Approaching a curve, the rider decelerated and leaned the motorrad down. Its rear wheel slid along slightly before they made it through the curve safely.

The motorrad was one without a back seat, but rather a pipe-framed carrier. Bound on it was a large bag and a rolled-up, light brown coat. The topmost part was fastened tightly, albeit crudely, by the sleeves cut off from the rider's vest, which was formerly a jacket. Under the carrier were boxes for storing additional luggage, installed to both sides of the rear wheel.

As if it was gliding, the motorrad kept on running through the meadow.

Suddenly, the rider's chin lifted up slightly. Letting go of the left handle, the hand tapped twice on the motorrad's gas tank, then pointed forward.

"I can see it now."

The rider spoke to the motorrad.

"At long last."

The motorrad replied.

Beyond their course, the blurry outline of white city walls started coming in to view.

The rider opened up the throttle.

===

"Is anyone there?"

The motorrad's rider shouted. The goggles were removed and hung around the neck. An attempt was made to rake the windblown hair into order, which resulted in no significant change.

Before the rider's eyes was an arched gate in the high walls. However, the thick doors, which should have been tightly shut, was wide open. Squinting beyond the dark gate, several stone houses could be seen. The guardhouse, which should have been stationed with persuader-armed guards, showed no sign of human presence.

The rider waited there for a few moments, arm raised only once to wipe off sweat on the brows.

"Looks like no one's there, Kino."

Instead, the motorrad, leaning on the kickstand, was the one that answered.

"Strange."

The rider, who was referred to as Kino, shouted out once more.

Only the sound of the calmly drifting wind could be heard.

"No answer."

The motorrad made a minimal remark.

"How about we just go in? The gate's already open, after all."

"That'd be unwise, Hermes. If you go into someone's house without permission, you won't be able to complain even if they shot you dead."

'Sure...' muttered the motorrad, referred to as Hermes,

"But you can't get shot if there's no one there. Besides,"

"...Besides?"

Kino turned to Hermes, face painted with expectations.

"It's not like there's that many people who could kill you, Kino. Even if someone pulled a persuader on you from behind, you'd be able to turn and shoot first if it's the average deal. I guarantee it."

"...Thanks for that."

Smiling wryly, Kino tapped on the right thigh persuader holster, which contained a revolver-type hand persuader.

"Well, no way around it. We can't afford to stay here forever. How about we just barge in?"

"Let's go with that. We're in agreement now, then."

"But no fighting back. If it looks like something's up, we run."

"Whatever you prefer."

Kino went through the gate, pushing Hermes along.

"Kino. I'm sure there'd be someone if we go to the center of town. We can just ask for entrance and staying clearance when that time comes. Mm-hmm."

Hermes cracked a joke.

Leaving the shadow of the gate, Kino and Hermes made their way into the town in which the walls encompassed.

===

"Camping out in the streets, huh."

Feeding kindling to the bonfire, Kino made a somewhat self-mocking remark. The surroundings, pitch black; the sky, full of stars, hid away here and there by the clouds.

"At least it's not your fault, Kino."

Hermes stood to the side, all luggage unloaded, metallic parts twinking with reflections of the flame.

"What, so is it yours, Hermes?"

Kino fired back with a joke.

"No way. The residents of this country are the ones responsible. For no one to be living in a town this well-built is an insult to the buildings. What insolence."

Hermes made a somewhat resentful remark.

The place where Kino and Hermes set up camp was in the dead center of a large intersection.

Stone-paved roads, wide enough for several cars to pass side by side, stretched neatly in all four directions. Stone buildings lined along the sides of the roads, without a single gap between them. All were four-story-tall, of identical design, and showed a splendid sense of history. However, no light radiated from any window.

In the end, after having wandered around town for half the day, Kino and Hermes never managed to find a single person. There were not even signs of anyone having lived here recently.

Weary of exploring abandoned buildings, they'd set up camp here, where they could keep a clear watch on their surroundings. For some reason, there was a single spot in which the stone pavement crumbled into a hole. Using gathered dry wood, which seemed to be from roadside trees, they'd built a fire.

"A ghost town, huh."

Kino muttered while splitting a block of clay-like portable ration. It was then thrown into the diner's mouth. There was no indication whatsoever of it being a palatable consumption.

"What're we gonna do tomorrow?"

Hermes asked Kino, now having finished the little meal.

"There are still places we haven't been yet. Let's go check them out."

"Might end up being futile."

"Well, that's fine, too."

Kino gave a short reply, then reached into the bag and pulled out a blanket. Walking over to under the eaves of a building in a corner, Hermes and the bonfire were left behind. Sitting down on the blanket that had been spread on the sidewalk, Kino muttered,

"I want a comfy bed with white sheets..."

"My condolences. No shower with hot water for you in the morning either, by the way."

"...Oh well."

Kino pulled the persuader out of the right thigh holster. A single-action revolver, one Kino referred to as 'Canon'. Grasped in hand, its wielder crawled into the blanket and lied down.

"Going to sleep already?"

"Yeah, there's nothing to do. I'll leave the rest to you. Good night, Hermes."

Soon after having said that, Kino's well-ordered sleeping breath ensued.

===

The night of the ghost town passed in silence.

Audible only once in a while were murmurs of the phrase:

"It's so boring..."

===

The next morning...

Kino woke at the break of dawn. The immediate surroundings were shrouded in mist.

Kino performed some light exercises, then persuader maintenance and practice. After which came breakfast, of the same menu as the night before.

When the sun appeared and the mist cleared, it was time to knock Hermes awake.

What remained of the bonfire was more or less cleaned up. Then, after all the luggage have been loaded up, they left the place behind.

Kino and Hermes spent half the day roamed around to places they haven't been to on the previous day. As before, they caught sight of no one. Nor was there any indication of people living there.

Then came noon, when they were starting to tire of their search, Kino and Hermes arrived at a large park.

Paths of white stone pavement stretched the extensive plot of green. It was wide enough that even with a motorrad, one would not be able to quickly reach the other end. Here, too, was in such a state that suggested no recent maintenance: the trees and grass were overgrown, the pond had dried up, and all of the flower beds had withered away.

Kino and Hermes proceeded to the park's inner area, discovering a structure of white limestone.

"This is amazing. Must have taken a lot of time and money. Truly splendid."

Hermes sang it praises in astonishment.

Kino and Hermes were right in front of the white marble structure. One so large that Kino's field of vision saw no end of it. Its construct was nothing short of magnificence; from one end to another, from top to bottom, finely decorated.

"Maybe it was a palace or something."

Kino muttered, while using the shirt sleeve to wipe off sweat on the forehead. The sun was at its zenith; its rays, dazzling.

"Probably. One fit for a rich king to live in. Well, can't say about the time period though."

"So, maybe the monarchy was abolished and they turned it into a park... I wonder if there's any guide to tell us the history around here?"

As Kino made a somewhat sarcastic remark, Hermes also grumbled,

"Oh, c'mon. I wanna hear it, too."

===

Kino explored the building, pushing Hermes along.

The interior was no less extravagant than the exterior, having halls decorated with tens of stained-glass windows, bathrooms far larger than ones of the average house, and endless corridors.

Except, everything was covered in dust.

Having adequately inspected everything, Kino and Hermes found themselves coming out through the building's rear exit. It led to a terrace, on which the vast garden could be seen in its entirety.

"I see now..."

Hermes muttered frankly upon seeing the scene that spread before them. Kino said nothing, only leaning forward from the terrace to take a closer look.

It was a graveyard.

Amid the garden's greenery were simple mounds of earth, each marked as graves by thin wooden boards.

In the literal sense, the garden, one that spread as far as the eye could see, was filled with lines of such graves. Thousands, or even tens of thousands-- they were of an uncountable quantity.

Perhaps this garden had once been the royal hunting grounds, or a relaxation spot for the town's citizens. There was no written explanation. At this point in time, it was nothing more than a vast cemetery.

Kino let out a long, deep breath, then stood there to take in the scenery for a while longer.

The late summer sun started its gradual wane, quietly taking away the luminance from the sky. Light rapidly diminished under the building's shadow. As if sinking into darkness.

"Kino, most of the people who lived here are probably dead."

"......"

"And those who survived must have already gone somewhere else. It's a deserted country."

"...That might be the case. I wonder why?"

"Who knows..."

Kino turned around to face Hermes, leaning on the terrace's railing.

"There's nothing else to gain in staying here. Let's just go to the next country."

Kino denied with a light shake of the head,

"No. We'll stay here for the night, then leave tomorrow morning. It hasn't been three days yet."

Hermes asked, considerably puzzled,

"That again? That rule of staying in each country for three days... Is there any meaning to it?"

Kino smiled, albeit only faintly.

"A traveler I met long ago told me... That it's just about the right length for a stay."

"Oh really."

Hermes mumbled, showing little interest.

Still leaning on the railing, Kino turned around only from the neck up and took another look at the graves.

===

In a cabin near the park's entrance, Kino and Hermes woke up to face the morning of the third day.

Kino rose at dawn, unchanged from the usual. So did the persuader practice and maintenance routines. Which were followed by wiping the body clean with a damp cloth, then breakfast. Then, after all the luggage have been packed, Hermes was knocked awake.

Vest worn on top of shirt, belt wrapped around the wist. Persuader in holster, confirmed.

Kino departed for the west gate.

The morning of the ghost town passed in silence, as with ones of any other town.

Kino went well above the speed limit, letting the roar of Hermes' engine echo through the buildings without reservation.

===

Right when the wall came into view, Kino could see a single agricultural tractor parked in front of the gate.

The trailer on its rear piled high with fruits and vegetables. In the driver's seat sat a man with a hat pulled low over his eyes. He was around thirty years of age, wearing work clothes covered in dirt.

"Kino! A person! There is someone in this country!"

Hermes exclaimed in excitement, as if a person being there was an absurdity.

Kino and Hermes approached the tractor. The man was sleeping. To Hermes' exhaust, he rose with a scowl on his face, lightly shaking his head. He opened his eyes. Then, those eyes met with Kino's.

Kino cut Hermes' engine. An abrupt silence ensued in the vicinity.

"Apologies for waking you, but... Good morning."

"Hello there."

Kino and Hermes said their greetings.

"Well, what a surprise..."

The man's eyes opened, wide as can be. He was now in a state of wake, his drowsiness blown off in an instant.

"Ah--! Don't tell me, you're a traveler? ...Give me a sec!"

The man jumped down from the driver's seat. He stumbled once before trotting over to Kino.

"Hey, a good day to you! I'm this country's resident. The only resident. Welcome to my country! Really, thanks for visiting! I'm so glad to meet you!"

Kino had an expression of mixed feelings in reception of such an exaggerated greeting, delivered two days late.

And so Hermes asked,

"You said you're the only one in this country, mister? What in the world happened?"

With that, the man burst into tears, in an expression that could be either happiness or sadness. He asked Kino and Hermes,

"Are you two leaving soon? Any time to spare?"

"We can leave whenever, as long as it's within today."

Hearing that, the man desperately begged,

"Th-- then! I'd want to-- to explain to you two what happened in this country! You'll listen, right? Please! I beg of you!"

Kino glanced at Hermes, turned back to the man, then smiled and said,

"Yes, please do. We'd very much like to know."

===

In front of the gate, on the first floor of a building in a corner of the plaza, was what seemed to had once been an open-air cafe, chairs and tables stacked.

The man pulled the awning out across the sidewalk, then pulled out a table and some chairs. He lightly dusted off a chair and gestured for Kino to sit. Hermes stayed at Kino's side, leaning on the center stand.

The man rested his elbows on the table and folded his hands beneath his chin.

"Now, where to begin... Well, I suppose it's got to be the monarchy and the revolution."

"So there was a monarchy, after all?"

Kino asked, and the man nodded.

"Right. Up until ten years ago, that is."

"Then the revolution happened, hmm. Just as we thought, Kino."

"Looks like you two already went to the central park. Surely you've seen them."

The man slightly clouded up in both expression and voice.

"Yes, we did. Went in of our own accord."

Hermes replied, in a tendency of sarcasm.

"It's fine, it's fine. Makes the story easier to tell, after all."

"So, those are the graves of this country's people?"

The man nodded several times.

"Yeah... But... It's something that was inevitable."

"Was it an epidemic or something of the sort?"

Kino asked. The man produced out quite the sorrowful expression, saying,

"No, that's not it. Only a single person died of illness... Let me tell you about it, all in order."

===

"Since its founding, this country's government has always been a monarchy. A single king would reign over the land and all of its people. Among the several tens of kings we had, there were a few of admirable rule; they were beloved by the people. But the overwhelming majority were not like that... Especially the bastard who took the throne fourteen years ago, the lowest of them all. Maybe because he was crown prince for a very long time, he did whatever he liked the moment he became king. Those who opposed him were killed. Back then there were economic difficulties due to bad harvests, but he ignored them all, indulging in his amusements. The poor crops went on for three years, and most people were starving. But of course, that bastard didn't care. He probably didn't even know what the word 'starve' means."

"If they have no bread, let them eat cake."

As Hermes poked fun at the situation, the man grinned,

"Quite a profound one you got there."

Hermes then gave a short reply of thanks.

"Eleven years ago, life got so difficult that a group of farmers begged the king to reduce taxes, but they were all killed. We were at the peak of our anger. We could no longer abide the king's violence. The only thing we could do about this situation was no other than to overthrow the king and the monarchy system, and so the plot for a real revolution was set in motion. At the time, I was studying literature in university. My household was relatively well-off, but I felt the same pain of the poor. And so I was involved in the plotting from a fairly early stage."

"Mm~hmm."

"What if you'd been caught?"

To Kino's question, the man's face darkened.

"The death penalty, of course. Several of my friends were arrested and executed. Do you know the traditional method of execution in this country? They kill you by tying up your legs and hands, hanging you upside down, then dropping you down head first in the middle of the street. In this country, your family would be executed as well. I've seen it again and again, the public execution in the dead center of the intersection. Your friends' families are the first to be dropped. Their parents, spouses, children, one by one in order... Among them, some of my friends would spot me and the others in the crowd, right before they were blindfolded. It felt like something's been cut off between us at the moment they're dropped down, and in the next, I watched their skulls and necks crack and break."

"......"

"One spring morning ten years ago, our uprising finally began. First of all, we attacked the guards' armories. Of course, it was for getting our hands on persuaders and ammunition. Before then, the general population was forbidden from owning weapons, you see. It was only natural, I suppose. The worse those good-for-nothings in power are, the more they are afraid of an armed populace. Anyway, we succeeded in obtaining persuaders from each of the armories. We got some of the guards to coming over to our side as well. Then, we were supposed to rush the palace in one go and seize the king. But the plan was called off."

As the man spoke up to this point, he lightly smiled.

"Called off? But why? Because it looked like it's going to rain?"

Hermes asked in surprise.

"...This isn't like hanging out the laundry, Hermes."

Kino said with a bitter face, then turned to the man,

"It was no longer necessary to do so, yes? Because the king ran away?"

The man raised his index finger and laughed delightfully,

"Correct. It was as you said."

"How'd you know that, Kino?"

"It's because the building didn't suffer any damage."

'I see...' Hermes murmured.