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Locusani - chapter Twelve

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Chapter Twelve
Found



It was midday when I awoke from my usual uneasy sleep to find that I had spent the night by the edge of the pond. I noticed that my left hand lay halfway submerged in the water – probably an effect of my tossing and turning.

I had gotten used to forgetting my dreams, for most of the time they were ambiguous, dark things that came and went. For a brief moment, I thought that yesterday’s events had been just that - a vividly remembered part of my nightmares; a rare spark of hope drowned by darker dreams. But then I remembered the book, still lying on my desk, the feeling of falling through the swirling panel and the narrow escape…

… And I remembered.

I knew that I needed to go back there. I vaguely recall that I was looking for something… reading it in a book…

She almost caught you last time.

I realize that. But I must know more. I must find a weak spot in his defenses that I can exploit – a chink in his armor.

But I cannot do it without some protection of my own.

I looked into the water, past my disheveled reflection, and noticed a rock that was a little larger than my fist and almost rectangular, though irregularly so.

It is perfect.

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The tiny, thin vines that bind the head of the hammer to its base didn’t look like they’d hold – but I was wrong. They are much stronger than I had thought. Likewise, the strips of hide that I had cut made for a sturdy, slip-proof surface when wrapped about the bundle of wood that served for the handle.

That was just like Edanna, though, always surprising and helpful. And it did make me feel a little better knowing that this age, with its myriad creatures and lush foliage, was basically a giant tree, and about as close as I was ever going to get to Narayan now.

But unlike Narayan, there were no other people here, and there never would be, save for me.

And, also unlike my home, Edanna would never die.

Why did you leave it, Saavedro? Tell me again what possessed you to leave.

I was trying to help.

A hero that sacrifices his life for a doomed world is not a hero.

I wanted justice.

How just is it for you? How fair is it to be stuck here for all eternity?

Leave me alone. I don’t want to talk with you anymore.

You are going to die here, do you know that?

Shut up!

Your plan will fail, and then what shall you do? You will still be trapped here, and you will have exhausted yourself for nothing.

No! No… It will work, I swear to the Weaver Herself, it will work!

And if your plan backfires?


I…

I just have to find a way. I know I can. I’ve survived here for years, and I will find a way eventually.

What if you can’t?

If I can’t…

I don’t know.

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I’m ready for you this time. Don’t try to sneak up on me, Atrus. I have a weapon this time, and I will use it.

I shift the hammer around in my hand, feeling its dull weight, and cautiously walk over to the desk. I sneak a quick glance at the double doors, to make sure that nobody will barge in on me. As before, all is silent, and I begin my search.

This time, I knew where to look and what to look for. I read every journal I found, scanning it first and then looking deeper if anything jumped out at me. There was a massive array of them, and in their pages, I read about Atrus’ struggles with his own father, his plans for the future that he had already made happen, his past, his present… everything. Currently, I was poring through one journal’s detailed description about an abandoned world named Myst that Atrus once called his home.

What was wrong with it, Atrus? I wondered as I slowly leafed through the pages. Did you tire of it the same way that you tired of Narayan? Or did your sons destroy this Myst Island as well? When will you learn that it is only a matter of time before your own boys are the death of you?

I closed the journal and turned away. I am not getting any closer to what I need, and it is beginning to get late. Perhaps I should come back later and -

I heard a rather loud noise that sounded suspiciously like footsteps to my left, and stared at the double doors. Vaguely, I saw the blurred silhouette of a person, heading straight for it.

Don’t come closer. Please, don’t come any closer than that. Go on your way…

The footsteps had slowed, and the shadow came closer.

I reach for my hammer, hoping that if this person opened the door, they got the idea that I shouldn’t be messed with. They would be sorry…

Stay quiet. If you are quiet, they will go away…

A voice, deep and fatherly, called to the person, but I couldn’t quite catch the name. Another person’s voice, that of a young female, responded.

There was laughter, and the footsteps faded as the shadow walked away from the door.

When I was sure they had gone, I slowly crept towards the door and locked it.

There. That at least would buy me a little time while I looked. This way, the person would have to stop to get a key or ask someone with a key to open the door, and that would give me plenty of time to escape if the need arose.

I must stay one step ahead… doing so could save my life.

I turned back to the desk and noticed a journal that I had missed, half-hidden by papers and a dark green in color. Carefully, I brushed the papers aside, picked up the journal, and began to read.

The Age, which I have named Releeshahn, is far more stable than I could have hoped, and the D’ni are readily adapting to it…

Wait.

They’ve returned?

How? How can this be possible? How can one man recreate that which has been dead for so long…?

Dead…
Dead…


But if he can do this…

… Can he restore Narayan as well?

It could be fixed.

You could go back. It would be all over.

… Finally over.

I…

I think I need a better plan.

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It makes no sense!

There has to be a way to lure him here. There must be. Something that is priceless, that he cannot replace, that is everything to him.

His wife?

No, that is too easy. She wouldn’t go willingly, and if she’s even half the woman that Tamra was, she would put up too much of a fight to be worthwhile.

Oh, Tamra…

This must work. I have to get her back.

But I need something of Atrus’ first…

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Here I am again, in his house, in his office. At least it’s night this time – he won’t enter his office to work late at night.

Yet again, I begin to search, this time for something that was important. What that item would be, I knew not – but it had to be something that he would miss, or else he would never come for it.

Halfway through my search, I noticed a book, sealed under glass. The book itself was equipped with a sturdy padlock to ward off intruders. The glass case also had a padlock, which meant that it would not open unless someone smashed it open or had the key to the lock. Curious now, I read the title.

Releeshahn.

Wait a moment…

I know that name. I’ve heard it somewhere…

No. Not heard – read.

It was the name of the book that leads to the new D’ni’s home world. It was the way that he had revived his brethren.

It’s perfect.
The twelfth chapter of the intriguing and moving Locusani: Saavedro's Tale. Saavedro begins to set his plot to kill Atrus into motion - but certain circumstances cause him to rethink his plans...

The above piece is mine. It was done in pencil and black Sharpie permanent marker.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Saavedro, Myst III: Exile, or any of the ages or other characters therein. All are trademark to cyan worlds and Presto Studios. I'm just taking them for a little while. Borrowing them, so to speak. ;)

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Faeliscity's avatar
"And if your plan backfires?"
"I…
I just have to find a way. I know I can. I’ve survived here for years, and I will find a way eventually."
"What if you can’t?"
"If I can’t…
I don’t know."


Possibly my favorite Saav inner monologue ever...