Hero The Human Robot

It is raining. Red Kikii is making paper boats and leaving them afloat in the little water streams in front of her house. Rows of neat little houses. It’s a village. The neighbor is sitting on a wooden stool. Water gushes in and pushes the stool which hits against a pineapple tree. The pineapple falls on his bald head. The pineapple spines stick on his head and it looks like he has grown hair out of the blue. Red Kikii laughs. “HehahaaHehhaa.” Red Kikii laughs.  It is raining heavily. There is a flash of lightning and then a Duum Dakdakdakdak Drrrrrrr. She runs inside and into her house. She goes towards the window pulls herself up bent at her knees and peers through the space between the window bars, her eyes taking in the sight of the feisty tropical monsoon. It is beautiful. Another electric flash followed by a DuumDakdakdakdakdrrrrrrr sound. “Oh! Origami!” It so beautiful. I love the rains. And the lightning and thunder is like a light and sound show.” She tells her mom. Her mom smiles. She is busy lighting a fire to cook dinner. “Why lightning always comes first and then thunder. Mom?” The door of her little village home opened suddenly and she is jolted out of her reverie. It is her father. She jumps up and rushes to hug him. But he seems to be in a hurry today. He turned towards her mom and said in a deep voice. “Pack whatever you can. Shinto the dam has cracked.” Shinto was the village dam. “They are saying it may break.” “Will it break into two pieces Dad?” Red Kikii asked her eyes wide in apprehension. “I just don’t like things breaking.” “This seems pretty awful.” She added in a low voice. He looked at her and without answering picked her up. Red Kikii looked around. Her mother seemed to be just magical. She was always on the spot. In just no time at all she was ready and was now just standing beside her hubby. She gave one bag to her hubby while she carried two. And they were off. They stepped out and so had all their neighbors. Everybody seemed to be running for safety. Uphill was the way to go. But it was dark and the heavy downpour did not allow Red Kikii to see beyond a few inches. As they went further it was clear that the entire village was outside. Many were carrying torches and flashing it to light up the way. It had taken some time but now they could see the silhouette of the mountain. “A quarter of an hour and we will be safe on the mountain.” Someone shouted. Perhaps it was said a moment too soon. There was a horrendous sound. And then the sound of gushing water. Water had reached the top of Shinto. Small sprays of water here and there. So many sprays in holes here and there. It would have been an exciting sight if it had not been dangerous. Some sprays are becoming bigger and bigger. And finally, Shinto crumbles and bursts with a loud bang. Shinto had broken. People began to run frantically. Someone fell. There was a wail and crying. The water which was at the ankle began to rise. Water rises to knees, hips, chest. Swirls of water curl over Red Kikii’s legs and reach her back. “Dad. Are we drowning?” Dad picks her up and carries her on his broad strong shoulder. In the flash of a torch light Red Kikii saw a round float going by. She alerted her mother who stood in front of it and managed to grab it with both hands. There is a dog in Kikii’s hand. “Kui Kui Kui.” The dog is nervous. “Careful Tink. Careful.” Kikii says. Tink is Red Kikii’s pet dog. Tink jumps into the float. Others are busy getting in. When Tink jumps the float tilts slightly and Tink falls into the water. Others don’t notice that. Dad puts in Red Kikii and throws in the baggage. Dad then jumps in after helping mom to climb. The float twirled in the rising waters. Everyone gets in and the float sets off circling in the swirling waters. Red Kikii looks around. Tink is not there. ‘Tink, Tink’ Red Kikii shouts frantically looking around. The rain is still torrential and she couldn’t spot Tink. Just that far, Tink was paddling with both his paws and pushing with his hind legs. Red Kiki is looking for him but unable to see or hear him. She is frightened. “Tink is lost. Mom. Tink is lost. Where is he? Please find him. Dad.” She shouts tugging at her dad and mom. Tink started paddling more furiously, like a sputtering motor boat. The gap between him and the float began to shrink and he soon caught up with it. There was a familiar breathing. Red Kikii looked over the side of the float and Tink was looking up at her with woeful eyes. Tink had caught hold of the float with both his paws. Tink’s tail comes out of the water. Tink is wagging his tail. Happy to be reunited with his dear family.