The Magnetic Maniac

A Void

At least the after-world wasn't going to be that different for a starting. He was on the ground and that was just it, nothing more to see at any outlook. Was it Heaven or Hell? The question struck him. But his thoughts negated both. ''It's a void'' he supposed. It was too barren to be heaven, there was almost nothing in sight it seemed as if it was never created for any purpose. The darkness stretched to almost all directions but it wasn't the darkness that stopped him to see anything, there was literally nothing to see. It was just a derelict. However, it also didn't give the impression of hell. Firstly, the temperature was normal, he was on solid ground, he didn't have any injury and was mentally sound. ''Too generous to be hell'', he reckoned. ''Where are the other souls'' he asked himself, and where was he? Was this something else? Perhaps something never mentioned in the previous world. This was the most logical to him. He was still confused though. He couldn't even decide out that was a soul or a body or anything in between.

Alex decided to put his thoughts aside and explore the world he was in. It was dark and he saw some stars, that was one of the things he was familiar with, though there was no moon. He got up and started to walk on the terra firma. He barely got anything in his sight in such darkness but kept on moving. As he moved forth he was being convinced that he has been adapted to this place somehow. He saw something flashing far from him about 200 meters and started to move towards it. Alex was so absorbed in this situation that he didn't have any sensation of starvation or even his thirst.

He moved closer to the first sign of anything in that desolate part of whatever it was. Moving closer he came to know that the yellow light was coming from a Honai. It was built with wooden slats and thatched with dry leaves of Banyan. That was all his eyeballs could get in this wee light. It was the appetite of finding something that Alex noticed it from that far. The banyan trees were useful against rain. So that meant this place had water. The thought of water made him realize how thirsty he was. He began to move around the Honai and his skin sensed an increase in degrees and he smelled some smoke. There some fire close to him. He came to the only entrance of the little hut and he saw the fire in the center of that narrow space. It had plenty of firewood everywhere. Alex sat close to the fire on the terra firma because he couldn't find anything to sit on. The honai just had some utensils and some other stuff made up of clay and a lot of wild grass. The fire was mature and he felt warm. It wasn't particularly cold but he wasn't wearing anything. And that changed when he saw 2 sarongs hanging behind him on the mercy of a little stick. One was blue and the other was green. He picked up the blue one just because it was hanged before the green one. The string of sarong was a bit tough to tie but he eventually did it, he also found a long shirt kind of cloth and put that on as well. At least he had some privacy. But from whom? He was pretty sure that angels don't wear sarongs or make homes nor they would have needed fire to keep themselves warm. This made him one thing clear, this was not any of those places that he was told about before his death. But still the question intimidated him more than anything. 

He needed to be slow to get his answers. He had enough signs of life to conclude that he wasn't the only one there. The first thing to do was to find someone. So now all he had to do was wait for the one who was responsible for this fire. There was a lot of firewood to be burnt so that meant that someone was here 30 minutes before or so. Thinking about minutes gave birth to the question of timezone. Were here also 24 hours? Were that the same to the latter just like the air, temperature, and other natural phenomenons? 

The fire was getting warmish and now his thirst was getting inexorable. His dry throat made him uncover the utensils which were the only things in the place except for the fire. But all he could find was just some goat meat and a few vegetables. He was about to go out to find something to drink until he heard some footsteps. They sounded pretty heavy, the man came in and was completely shocked by somebody wearing his property inside his own property. Two meters away from him, Alex was excited to see the first living being after his death. The guy was almost 5.8ft tall, with long hair, dark olive skin tone, with eyes so small that he wondered how light entered them, an oval-shaped face, slender nose, wearing the same sarong as Alex but in white color and seemed as if he had a tough day because Alex could smell his body odor. Alex noticed that he was carrying a large jar. Of course there was water in it, Alex assessed. And ignoring the other guy's reaction and the stench, he took the jar from him. The guy didn't offer any resistance whatsoever, Alex without even checking what he was drinking, drank all of it. It was delectable, something so savory and exquisite. He was so impressed but the one in front of him wasn't. He was startled, not offended but rather scared of Alex. Alex considered the reaction. After all he was a complete stranger, he wore one of his few clothes and drank all of that delicious liquid. Maybe he was more thirsty than him or maybe he thought Alex was a robber or someone Authoritative. Alex owed an apology to him. He said "Sorry brother I should have asked first". Now the guy was sweating. So he didn't understand English, he inferred. Now Alex had to do something to mollify him. Then he remembered something his dad told him once " Everyone is familiar with the language of signs son". He quickly returned the jar back and joined his hands to apologize and brought his hand forward to shake. It worked and Alex was glad to see it. The guy was in a better state now. These 5 minutes had been confounding to him. He said something in maybe Arabic or Persian, Alex failed to choose one and was blank. Seeing Alex he got the idea that they both can't communicate with words.

The guy took some vegetables and some from utensils and placed them on fire in something that resembled a pan but was made of clay. He gestured Alex that it was food. Alex waved in return with a smile. Alex was amazed to see how quickly this guy was adjusted with him although they couldn't even converse. Alex was happy with this but something inside him told that he has a lot more to see, He can't stay here for long. 

Though they were in a Honai on a barren surface but this guy cooked unbelievably savory food, it was sapid and this tongue found it heavenly. He was also given a mattress kind of thing made of wild grass to sleep, it wasn't very comfortable but Alex would have even slept on the cold terra firma given his condition and anyways he was beholden by this gratitude. And five minutes later Alex as in deep sleep.

Alex woke up at mid-day, the guy had prepared food for him. It was the same broth kind of food that he ate last night and Alex loved it for the second time as well. The fire had cooled down, the rest looked the same. The guy stood up and signaled him to follow him. The barefooted Alex began to follow him. They paced for about half an hour and came to a kind of market.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The market was huge there were so many people there and of course, they were here to trade. Alex was amazed to see the resemblance of this world with the previous one. Some people were bartering some were shouting some were cleaning their place while some were exchanging coins for products, products which were made of clay and were no less than magnum opus. Most of them were olive-toned like the guy though there was a scarce number of pale-tone too. The guy was cruising through the market as if he owned the place, well some of it as they stopped at one place and the guy sat down and it beckoned Alex that this part belonged to the guy. It was small because there was barely any space for anyone to sit with him, there were some wooden boxes with locks on them and a balance and some stones. he guy took things out of a box which he unlocked with a wooden key. He took out some bags, boots, and all other stuff you would need for a hike. This was perfect, Alex had to move and with these things, it would be easier. He gestured the guy at his stuff and then towards himself and then gestured away. The guy understood him and gave him a pair of boots, a cap, some water bottles, a compass and a bag. He was also given some bananas and apples. Given the condition of that guy it was more than his capacity. The bag was heavy which meant that it had some more stuff to help. The bag had strings attached to it rather than zip. But Alex was more than grateful for everything. He stood up and the guy did the same and pointed towards East. Alex understood the gesture and opened his arms for a hug. They embraced and both got apart with a smile. Even though they had hardly spent a day together, it would be a time that Alex would never forget. He helped himself towards the exit of the market and headed East.