Page 18 of 1000 of You
His handschecked his waist. There was no weapon, no sword, but there was a small, thinknife. He pulled it out and held it up to examine it. The blade was not meantto be used as a weapon of war. It was more of a utility tool, better suited toslice fruit or rope. He replaced it, his hand blindly sliding it into itssheath, guided there by the inherent memory retained by the body he inhabited.
He took adeep breath. From the smell of freshness, and the greenery surrounding him, heguessed it was the rebirthing time of a new year. The gods had converted thesnow into rain in order to wake up the plants. He took another breath. Healways loved this season, in spite of the torrential downpours that oftenaccompanied it.
He always loved.
Gova.
With the thought of her namecame the memory of her face. And with it, their past lives. Their past deaths.This was number forty-eight, if his counting was correct. He had no way ofkeeping track, other than to rely on what he could carry in his head.
He touchedthe slim knife at his hip again.Pleaselet this not be a life where I am forced to take hers again.He prayed tothe gods.Please let this be a deathworthy of her love for me, and mine for her.
The clouds grumbled loudly. Ahard gust of wind slammed into him, nearly knocking him off his feet.Muamcontinued walking. He had no idea where he was going.Hopefully he would get some idea soon. One thing, however, was certain.Whenever he became cognizant of who he was, findingGovawas never too far away. It was as if they were kept apart and unconscious ofeach other until that time when they were to finally meet. And then their realselves would emerge like chicks from eggs, ignorant of the new world aroundthem.
He kept hiseyes open for sight of her. As he topped a small rise, down below he discoveredhe was nearing a small village where the buildings were made mostly of wood orrock. What seemed to be homes extended up into thehillsides.He could only imagine what kind of majestic view the owners had from theirlofty perches.
“Ho, there!Tomasie!” The cry came from behind him. Turningaround,Muamspotted a horse-drawn wagon with asingle driver. The man waved at him. “Hold up! I will save you a few steps!”
Muamwaited for the older man to draw even with him. Goingover to the other side of the wagon, he hoisted himself up and joined the manon the seat. The stranger slapped the reins, and the horse continued on itsway.
“It is badenough having to walk all the way from your villa to town every day, much lessin this kind of weather,” the man remarked.
Muamsmiled. “I appreciate your kind gesture, but I do notmind the walk. And I like this weather.”
The olderman glanced at him sideways. “You must either be part duck or part frog to likethis rain,” he groused good-naturedly.
Muamlaughed. It was rare he was able to, given the curse.There were three certainties in his life now. Three events that guided each ofthese lives he contained. He would find himself, he would findGova, and then they both had to die in order for them bothto progress to the next life.
He loweredhis eyes to the horse, his memories flooding back as he recalled them. Therehad been one time when he’d been unable to kill her. A time when his love forher had stayed his hand at the last moment. He’d mistakenly believed that if herefused to kill her, they would have some time to spend together before theirinevitable demises. Perhaps a day. Maybe two days or longer. But the cursewould not allow them even that small blessing. When he’d refused to end herlife, she’d met her fate at the hands of another. The emotion he’d felt,watching her die, and unable to hold her in his arms to tell her goodbye, hadbeen torture. It was then he swore no one would ever take that from him again.
Once theymet, their fate was sealed, and death would swiftly follow for them both.
“It lookslike the rain is letting up,” the old man remarked, drawingMuamfrom his thoughts. “Good thing. The roads in some areas are becoming impassablewith all the mud.”
“But weshould have a bountiful crop this year.”
“True,true,” the driver admitted. “After the last three years of drought, and the firesthat almost razed the town, we have had more than our share of cursed luck. Weare due some good.”
Muamchuckled, unable to contain it. “Careful what you say,my friend. If the gods hear you, they may decide to prolong our problems, justfor their enjoyment.”
The mangave a little waggle of his head. “You have a point there,Tomasie.”
They madetheir way closer toward the small town, where there seemed to be a largecontingency of people milling about.Muamstraightened up. Here and there small tents had been erected. The sound of awind instrument also floated in the air. Was it a holiday? Eyeing the crowd, hesaw a couple of men in their cups, and by their actions, could tell they hadbeen imbibing for some time. “It looks like they have started without us,” hecommented, hoping the man would spill more information.
“They didnot need our permission,” was the reply.
The skyrumbled with renewed interest. “It also seems that they were determined to havethis festival, no matter the weather,”Muamadded.
“It is heldevery year, rain or shine, with the gods’ approval or not.”
The man pulledup to a grove a trees where several horses and carts were already tethered.Getting down from the wagon, the man added his mare to the group. “With thestreets blocked off for the festival, it will be easier to carry my suppliesback here. Were you planning on staying long?”
Muamslowly shook his head. He wondered how long it wouldtake for him to findGova. Or would she discover himfirst? Either way, their time together would be too brief. “No. I will only behere long enough to fulfill my obligation, and then I will go.”
“Well, ifyou find yourself ready to leave for home, and you see the wagon still here,you are welcome to wait and accompany me back.”
Muamgraced the older man with a warm smile. “Thank you. Imight take you up on your kind offer.” Giving a little wave of farewell, hebegan making his way toward the center of the town.
Seeing thehappy faces of those around him,Muamaverted hiseyes so they wouldn’t see his own pain. He remembered similar times in his oldvillage, during his first life. Yet, he couldn’t begrudge them their moment.This was the only life they would have. This was their only chance to live tothe fullest. To find that one person to love.
