Wandering Eternal: Brothers of War

Remembering

In the distance men can be heard performing routine military drills and routines along with gunfire and explosions. The smoke of factories producing weapons and freshly cut pine trees falling in the forest nearby fills the afternoon air.

“Sir! We need more men and better weapons if we want to wage a war this big! There’s simply not enough here for what you want to do...” General Helmuth von Moltke says with worry.

“Fear not, I will travel to other countries and force them to join us. I will have this war...” The man pulls on his cigar and huffs out a large cloud of smoke. He walks out of the tent and all of the nearby men stop what they’re doing to stand at attention and salute him, “it may not be soon,” he salutes to the men and puffs on his cigar again, “but I will have my war, brother...” he lowers his hand and the soldiers go back to what they were doing. He walks over to the nearest horse and mounts it riding south towards Austria-Hungary.

The gurgling noise gets louder as moments pass. Ezma clenches onto Zee’s hand as tight as she can closing her tear soaked eyes. Zee stands there without a blink staring into the dark forest motionless, a statue of valor. Then, as the gurgling is louder than the crickets and frogs chirping, a large white bengal tiger steps out from behind a large bush standing in front of them. Zee never moves and neither does the tiger, they stand there in a staring contest as if time stands still. After a few moments the tiger finally bows its head and walks toward Zee and Ezma. Zee crouches down, Ezma opens her eyes, and Zee reaches out with his left hand. The tiger walks up lifting its head into Zee’s hand and he pets the tiger scratching its ears moving his hand in slow massaging motions.

“How are you doing that?” Ezma whispers cautiously.

“The trick is to stay calm and let her know you mean well and have good intentions.” He says gently caressing the tiger’s chin.

“How do you know it’s a her? I can barely see it’s so dark.”

“She has a scent that follows her, plus she has two cubs in the bushes behind her waiting on her to signal for them to come out. I would guess they were coming back from a hunt to go home,” he reaches for Ezma’s hand and leads it to the tigers nose, “just let her smell you first then wait for her to rub her head on your hand,” Ezma waits patiently as the tiger sniffs her small hand. The tiger huffs startling Ezma and Zee catches her hand from snatching back holds it in front of the tiger. Ezma’s face is in despair until the tiger gently pushes her head into Ezma’s hand.

“Wow this is so amazing,” she says calming down.

“They are out here living the same lives as we are. They have every right to be fearful of us as we are of them,” he says and then clicks his tongue in a rattling sound and huffs loudly.

“Why would the tigers be scared of us? They could kill us so easily...” her words trail off to silence as the two cubs come out from the bushes running over to Zee, “this is absolutely unbelievable...” she says watching Zee play with the cubs as if they were his own. The mother decides to join the fun by falling down on her side purring while play biting with Zee and her cubs, “how is that so easy for you?”

“I try to keep peaceful thoughts and show them that I mean no harm, in fact I hope they live long happy lives free of ever having to deal with horrible humans,” he smiles while rubbing the mother’s underside. Then he stands up looking behind him, “we need to keep walking towards the village.”

She looks behind her then back at the tigers, “why? We are having fun here.”

“We need to get there before the sun comes up but after midnight,” he clicks his tongue and growls. The tigers all get up and start walking back in the direction they were originally heading.

“Why so specific?” She asks sadly watching the tigers disappear into the dark blackness of the night.

“We don’t want to arrive while anyone is awake. And if we are lucky we can find a place to rest before sunrise. Then we can blend in with the morning shuffle of the farmers and merchants,” he starts walking away leaving Ezma behind.

“Hey! Wait up, don’t leave me behind!” She squeaks trying to be quiet catching up to him and snatches his hand tightly, “it’s gonna be hard for you to blend in ya big goof. You look like one of those cowboys from the west without the big old goofy hat, and the weird accent,“ she chuckles lightly.

“Well I guess it will be difficult, but that’s why they make glasses for your eyes to hide them and help to shade from the sun. What do you know? You don’t look like the rest of the people around here either. Wait, are you from here? Or have you been traveling?” He feels her tug on his hand and he stops, looks at her, and realizes she does not have any shoes. He grabs her hand pulling her up to his shoulders and she sits on the backpack. She smiles comfortably and leans on his shoulders reaching her arms around his neck.

“Thank you, my feet were really starting to hurt. I don’t know where I’m from actually. All I remember is running away when they took my brother and left me there alone. Would you like to have an honest answer?” She says playing with his hair.

“Well of course, I’ve been nothing but honest with you so I’d expect the same in return,” he picks up his pace now that he can extend his stride without worrying.

“Well...I have kind of been...ummm,” She cautiously stutters while braiding his hair.

“Yes?” He impatiently intrudes.

“I have been following you,” she whispers.

“For how long? And why?”

“Umm, about two weeks before I pulled you out of the river,” her voice turns to a nervous shudder.

“Really? Why?” He slows down so he can listen to her.

“I was in Fo Shan trying to steal some food to eat when these guys with axes grabbed me and put a black bag over my head. Then the next thing I know you’re pulling the bag off my head asking if I was okay. You took my hand and walked me over to a restaurant and paid a lady to let me eat. After I was done I ran around looking for you but I couldn’t find you. So I gave up and went back to the market place to look for things to steal when I saw you walking out of the city. I followed you from a distance, trying to be sneaky. I guess since you saved me from those guys and then paid for my meal, I was thinking you might have more money,” she finishes braiding his hair then lays on his shoulders with her arms draped over his chest.

“What happened after that? How did I end up in the river?” He keeps walking patiently waiting for a reply. He finally stops at an overturned tree blocking the trail and turns his head to look at her.

“Zzzzzzzzz” she has a quiet soft snore and is drooling a little.

“Oh, I guess it has been a long day,” he whispers kneeling down. He gently picks her up off of his back and cradles her in his arms like a baby, “you should be more comfortable this way and I know you won’t fall off accidentally and get hurt,” he stays quiet for the rest of the journey through the forest. He arrives at the village a few hours before sunrise walking around looking for anyone who might still be awake. He tries to keep a keen eye out while walking towards a barn on the edge of town then sneaks into the back. He quickly finds a pile of hay behind a stall hoping it would hide them. He sets Ezma down and takes his coat off covering her up, then lays down next to her slowly closing his eyes.

As the sun rises and the people of the village scurry about, the noise of sheep bleating wakes Zee up. He opens his eyes slowly wincing at the brightness of the sun when he notices an old man standing in front of him holding a pitchfork to his neck. He slowly pulls the his coat up revealing Ezma sleeping, “I apologize, we arrived a few hours before sunrise and needed a safe place to rest for a while,” Zee whispers putting the coat back over Ezma’s head then holds his hands up in surrender.

The old man smiles lowering the fork down offering his hand to help Zee up, “I thought she might’ve been your sister or daughter. The fact that you’re both still clothed and as young as she looks I assumed as much. But with some of these men these days you can’t tell what they’re thinking with all the horrible gangs and foreigners scurrying about poisoning young people’s minds. I apologize for the rude fork at your neck, never can be too careful and I saw those guns on your bag,” The old man says in a hushed tone.

“I appreciate you not making a scene, I didn’t want a big commotion about us being here. Also, I don’t know if I could even use a g*n very well, I found them and didn’t think they should be lying around for anyone to get ahold of,” he reaches into his coin purse pulling a few pieces out handing them to the old man.

“There’s no need in that,” he pushes Zee’s hand back, “I’d rather you do some chores for me around here if you wouldn’t mind. I have too much to do and it’s getting harder for me in my old age. Then you can stay at my house over there tonight and eat with us. We have an extra room you and your umm, girl there, can sleep in. You, being a big, young, strong, stout looking fellow, could come in handy with some of the heavier work around here,” he walks outside motioning for Zee to follow him.

“I thank you sir. I will do any work you need me to do and my, erhmm, sister will any work as well. She just needs some rest, she’s been through a rough time lately,” he follows the old man out as he points to some bags of rice and a cart.

“I need all of those bags of rice loaded up on to that cart for shipment,” then he points to the sheep in his pasture, “they need to be herded into the corral for shearing, but be careful, some of them are a little feisty,” he then points out some weak spots on his fence, “the whole perimeter fence needs some repair,” he turns around pointing to a shack behind the barn, “that is my tool where you can find all the tools you should need.”

“If you wouldn’t mind doing all of that, then when your sister wakes up, she can help the old hag inside,” he laughs hardily while leaning on his pitchfork.

“Old hag?” Zee laughs with him, “is your wife that bad?” He asks wondering how bad a wife had to be to be called a hag.

“Just you wait, she’s one hell of a...”

“Si Pai!!!!! You left the door open again you old bastard dog! If it weren’t for my back I’d beat you with a broom until sundown!” The farmers wife shouts from the front door of the house and the farmer blows her a kiss. She scoffs then walks back inside talking to herself and the farmer laughs turning back to Zee.

“See what I mean? My name is Jeong Si Pai, and that was my wife Jeong Ching Wei. She’s a damn good cook, gave me a beautiful and wonderful daughter, and she is here when I want someone to talk to, that’s the only reason I keep her around,” they both laugh and Zee looks around the farm thinking for a moment then finally looks back at the farmer.

“My name is,” he pauses for a moment, “Zee,” they bow to each other.

“Aha! You were raised in the old ways no? Bowing when introducing yourself and addressing your elders properly. Such a nice refreshing change from the way people act around here recently,” he looks at Zee as if studying him, “actually, you remind me of a young fellow I met when I was just a boy in Hong Kong. He had the same scar but his hair was shorter,” he stands on the tip of his toes staring Zee straight in the eyes, “eh! It’s been so long ago! He’d be an old man by now, heck! Older than me! Haha!” He laughs patting Zee on the arm, “come on, I’ll get you some tea before you get started,” he leads Zee to the house and introduces him to his wife, all the while Zee keeps an eye on the barn watching for Ezma. Si and Zee walk back outside and Zee walks to the barn. He walks around the stalls noticing Ezma still laying there sleeping. He tries to gently pick her up without waking her but she rolls over in a sleepy eyed daze putting her arms around him.

“Zekiel, there you are, I thought I lost you...” she murmurs trailing off back to sleep. Zee smiles and picks her up gently and takes her into the house. He sets her down in the bedroom Si let them use and sits the bag down beside the bed. He walks back outside and over to the cart and rice bags. He stretches his arms and legs thoroughly before squatting down to grab four bags of rice in each hand then he rises up tossing them into the cart with ease. The bags land in the cart settling in neat stacks and he repeats the same action each time in repetition as if coordinated musically. Once he is finished he climbs onto the cart making sure the bags are organized. Then he jumps down and walks over to the pasture studying the herd of sheep. He vaults over the fence and whistles very loudly. All of the sheep turn their heads to look at him, then he clicks his tongue and whistles again while jogging along the right side of the sheep clapping his hands. The sheep start moving together towards the corral. He continues clicking his tongue, whistling, and clapping his hands in rhythmic actions while jogging slalom behind the sheep. After about five minutes of doing this he gets every last sheep into the corral and closes the gate behind them. Si walks up behind him laughing.

“I don’t know how you were able to do that but I’m astounded and I would like to hire you to be my farm hand. If only you weren’t a traveling man,” he laughs hardily.

“Most animals react better to music and actions that have rhythm like music, rather than force and violence. Just call it muscle memory, because it came to me as I did it,” he chuckles in lament and walks towards the shed vaulting back over the fence near the barn. Si laughs walking back over to the feeding trough and continues tossing hay. Zee opens the door of the shed and looks around at all of the tools that Si has collected or made. He grabs a leather bag full of nails, a wooden hammer, and a stack of scrap lumber. He walks out along the fence studying it for weak spots. As he comes across the places in need of fixing, he places a piece wood next to it, then keeps moving. Once he arrives back at the barn he looks around the farm spotting each board he placed counting them in his head. Then he makes his way around the fence stopping at each spot. He holds the wood up in place with his elbow, holds the nail in place, and pounds the nail with the hammer driving it in with a single strike. He continues along the property until he reaches the barn again then he puts the hammer and nails back in the shed shutting the door. Si watches Zee repair his entire fence with ease while in awe. He walks over to Zee as he is closing the shed door making his presence known so not to startle Zee as he approaches him.

“There’s something about you young man. First of all you threw those rice bags with ease, secondly you corralled my sheep with hardly any effort so fast that I hardly had time to realize what you had done, and lastly you fixed the entire fence. And you completed all of them a whole two hours before lunch time. I don’t think there’s anything else I need done before lunch. I don’t understand how you still seem so full of energy...are you a pugilistic monk or are you some kind of half man half mule?” He strokes his long white shaggy beard curiously while leaning on his pitchfork.

“Honestly, I don’t remember anything past yesterday. I woke with that girl sleeping on my chest inside of a cabin. She claims to have dragged me out of the river to the east of here. I have a blurred memory of her leaning over me and we were both soaking wet. Then she said that she took care of me while I was unconscious for four days. So, with that being said, I owe her my life for saving me from the river and looking after me. And since she is alone, with no family, and had already been following me for a while. I don’t mind having the company and I can keep her safe and out of trouble. She’s too young to have her innocence taken or be influenced by the sins of today,” he rolls his sleeves up to his elbows and wipes the sweat off of his forehead.

“Yes, I see. You’re a wise man for your age and strong no doubt. You should stay here tonight and eat with us. Tonight I want to show you something I think you’ll want to see.” He motions for Zee to follow him and they walk to the house talking about the events that occurred the day before. Si opens the front door then they both walk into the house. Once inside Zee notices Ezma sweeping dirt out the back door, and Ching preparing meat for dinner.

“Glad to see you’re awake Ezma.” He says startling her. He waves at her and she drops her broom running over to him tackling him with a hug.

“I thought you left me! I looked everywhere for you and you were gone!” She sobs hugging him very tightly. He raises an eyebrow hugging her back. He looks at Si and he shrugs his shoulders then they both hear Ching laughing.

“I told her you had run off and left her here with us to raise her like a daughter!” She continues to laugh hysterically, “it was the only way to get her to do some work, she’s lazy!” She stomps her foot on the floor and the entire house rumbles slightly.

Zee leans over to Si and whispers, “your wife is a very powerful woman huh?”

Si whispers back, “yes, she’s the only thing that keeps wolves and bandits off our farm,” he laughs quietly. Zee rises back up and pries Ezma off of him. Then he kneels down putting his hands on her shoulders.

“You have to do any and every task that they give you,” he looks up at Si then Ching, “they are allowing us to use their extra room to sleep in tonight and also feeding us without asking for anything in return. Aside from a small amount of work to earn the room and food. I am finished with my chores. So now you must also do some work and do it correctly,” he smiles rubbing the top of her head. She pouts dragging her feet while walking back to the broom she dropped. Ching pulls a bamboo prod from the pocket of her apron whipping Ezma’s ankles, calves, buttocks, upper and lower back, and the back of her neck.

“Ow!! Hey! What was that for?!” She snaps at Ching rubbing each spot that she is able to reach.

“A lady must not drag her feet or slouch. No being lazy! Stand up straight, pick your feet up when you walk and pull your shoulders back,” she starts to whisper, “when your breasts grow in it helps them stick out for boys to look at you! Hehe,” she chuckles poking her breasts with the prod then shoos her towards the broom.

“Yes...” Ezma picks up the broom.

“Yes what?” Ching cups her hand around her ear.

“Yes ma’am,” Ezma’s voice is somber and melancholy. Ching smiles bowing to Ezma who bows back to her then Ching returns the prod to her apron pocket. Ezma stands upright, picks her feet up, and rolls her shoulders back and tries to continue to sweep in her awkward pose. Zee walks over to Ezma and puts his hands on her shoulders bending over to whisper to her.

“The faster you work the faster you can join me to go to the market to pick you out some clothes and shoes to wear, how does that sound?” He kisses her on the forehead and walks to their room. She blushes brightly and nods smiling while being hasty but also thorough. Zee picks up the coat off of the bed and puts it on. Then he leans forward grabbing the bag up, slings it over his shoulder, and checks his coin purse reassuring that he tied it tightly on his waist. He turns around and is face to face with a man that looks exactly like him without the scar on his face. The man is wearing a fine black suit with a white ruffled shirt and a loose hanging crimson red tie. His hair is slicked back mostly white with some black streaks scattered throughout. He has a cigar hanging from his lips and a glass holding an amber colored liquid. The iris of his eyes are as black as the night sky with a white circle outside the cornea.

“Brother...” his voice echoes fading.

“Hey Zee! I’m done! Are you ready?! I can’t wait to go the market!” Ezma waves at him from the hallway. Zee snaps back to reality looking around for the man but does not see him anywhere. He sprints past Ezma and out of the front door searching the farm frantically feeling a deep sense of fear, “hey ya big dummy, you know I’m right here don’t you? What are you doing?” Ezma yells from the front door of the house. Zee looks back at her then walks over to her. She sees a fear in his eyes, “hey why do you look scared? It’s just a trip to the market! We don’t have to spend much, just want some shoes. I like wearing your shirt,” she grabs his hand and he starts to calm down while thinking and hoping it was a hallucination. They start walking to the market but Zee is lost in his own thoughts.

“Who was that? And why do I feel like my heart has been ripped from my chest?” He whispers to himself as they enter the market place which is full of people and animals.

“What? You’re gonna have to speak up it’s very loud and noisy here with all of these people yelling. You are acting weird today Zee. You might need to drink some tea when we get back. This heat must be getting to you,” she keeps talking away while looking back and forth at the different stalls clinging to Zee’s hand. She stops suddenly when she sees a pair of fancy slippers sitting on top of a stand on a merchants stall along with a variety of very pretty shoes sitting along the shelves, “hey Zee, can I have those blue ones on the stand over there?” She points at the fancy ones on the stand. Zee looks over and sees the shoes, blue fabric with white rubber bottoms, silver embroidery along the sides and up through the top to the toe. They walk over to the stand and Zee looks at other shoes trying to find a more suitable pair for travel. He finds a pair of boots on the side of the stand and picks them up.

“How about these for when we travel? We can still get the fancy ones for when we get somewhere nice, but the boots will be easier on your feet while walking,” he tries to sell her on getting more than just something that is aesthetically pleasing. She looks at them with disgust but tries them on anyways with a perfect fit and they actually feel comfortable on her feet.

“Sure they are comfortable and they fit. But I want to try the blue ones on now please?” He nods and hands them to her.

“The boots are two silver pieces and the slippers are five gold pieces. I handmade them myself using the finest materials and rubber from the west,” the merchant says smiling. Ezma tries putting them on but they are too big for her feet and she frowns with her eyes almost tearing up.

“How long would it take you to make a custom pair for her?” Zee asks the merchant smiling, hoping he does not say too long.

“Oh? Let’s see, come over here dear and take a seat,” she walks over to him and sits on the chair where his foot board is, “let’s get your foot measurements,” he pulls her foot up measuring her entire foot and then does the other, “you have lovely feet miss, just a little dirty and calloused from not wearing shoes for a long time yes?” He looks up at her and then to Zee, “I can make them in one day, just come back at this time tomorrow and I’ll have them ready,” he says looking at Zee, “would you like anything special?” Zee looks at Ezma and the merchant looks at her too pulling out a paper and coal pencil.

“Umm,” she thinks for a moment not expecting to have anything made specially for her, “I like the blue and silver, but I’d like the insides to have black fabric with something to make the bottom more comfortable, is that okay?” She looks at the merchant hopefully.

“Yes, yes, I think I have my new design now,” he picks the paper up showing it to her. She smiles and nods, “okay just make sure to come back tomorrow around this time. Three gold pieces because you’re just so darn cute, huh?” He helps Ezma up and then grabs some socks out of his trunk and a couple of white thigh high socks and hands them to her. Zee reaches in his coin purse and takes out eight gold pieces and hands them to the merchant smiling, “this is...”

“Just keep the change,” Zee pushes the merchants hand back. The merchant smiles sitting back down pulling fabric out from the rolls around him then starts working on the shoes. Zee grabs Ezma’s hand and leads her over to the side of the street where a water trough for horses is. He sits her down next to it and dips her feet in washing them with the back storm flap of his coat. After cleaning her feet he slides the thigh high socks onto her legs then puts the boots on, “how is that?” He stands her up.

“They actually look good with the socks and my feet feel so good now,” she smiles and then throws herself at Zee hugging him. Zee grabs her hand and walks back out to the market.