Pools of Blood

chapter 43

"What do you remember about your family before the blast? ", Jasmine asked as we were climbing the ruined old rocky staircase toward the way to the heavenly bamboo forest.

" Um.. nothing much. I was just eight years old. There are only some flashes and tidbits of it that are printed into my memory. Such as my mother used to wear kimono all day. She used to wear a rose brocade and used a floral-designed hairpin to tie her hair. I can't remember her face, though. As for my dad, he had rich brown hair. And he loved to wear linen kimono shirts just like the ancient Japanese. "

-"Can you recollect any incidents before they died? Some happy memories or something?"

-"My mom used to sing a song. I don’t remember the words, but the tune is fresh in my mind. That was very unique and lively. I always used to sing it even after when I started living with Alfred’s family, that was the only tune that didn’t fade out like the rest of the things."

I hummed the tune softly. It was a lullaby. A soft, low-pitched hum that my mom used to sing every day when she tucked me into bed. I didn’t recapitulate anything of my past. Only this tune was left with me.

It took like forever to reach the top of the stairs. There were old and rocks were jutting out at odd angles. Jasmine almost slipped twice and I clutched her hand from falling. The sun had already set when we reached the top. The whole ambiance looked eerie and silent. Not a bird chirped, not a gust of wind blew over our faces. It felt as if the whole world has stood still waiting for our next move.

Tall bamboos covered the sky like an umbrella. They looked dark and sinister. The floor of the forest was heavily carpeted with green mosses and weeds. Everywhere was dark mossy trees to look at. We walked for at least fifteen minutes and then reached the big substantial lodge. It looked like a haunted house from the movies. Tall, dark canopies covered half of the building from view. Lights were on and a small fountain jutted pink water up in the sky. A guard was dozing near the gate.

We woke him up and he mumbled an apology and opened the gates. Inside the lodge it was quite comfortable.. the parlor was fully furnished with settees and ottomans. A beautiful-looking young receptionist stood on the counter looking curiously at us.

We introduced ourselves and she provided us two adjacent rooms for the night. Not many people arrived and took shelter in that lodge so it was always nearly empty.

"Is there anyone who can provide me some information about an incident that happened around twenty years ago? ", I asked the receptionist.

She looked at me inquisitively and said, " Yes. Our manager here has been working in this lodge for around thirty years. Though he is old, he might help you. He will come tomorrow for a daily round. I am going to appoint a meeting between you two."

I agreed.

The rooms, although were old and with an odd smell of being remote and smug pervaded all around, but still, everything was clean and well decorated. I washed clean and laid down on the warm soft bed. Jasmine might have already fallen asleep so I didn’t think it was proper to wake her up for dinner. That poor girl was already on the verge of collapse. Her body was denying to provide her support and she has to take medicines every hour just to stay on her legs upright. Had I been her, I would have quit a long time ago, sat in some corner, and cried my heart out. But she wasn’t like that, maybe that’s why Alfred fell in love with her. Her dynamic personality, her bold and brave demeanor, and her intellectual outsmarted even the best police officers of our station. 

I didn’t realize when I fell asleep. I woke up in a daze with the sound of jasmine's knocking. At first, I thought there might be any danger or she might have got attacked again, but when I saw her laughing hysterically at my expression, I was relieved.

"It's already seven in the morning. Are you aiming for sleeping the whole day?"

I looked at my watch foolishly.

" The way you were knocking on the door, I thought maybe Frank’s goons has attacked again. I literally jumped out of bed half-naked in sleep with my pistol loaded to kill."

She laughed again, clutching her tummy.

"Relax! No one has attacked me except a couple of flies at night".

I nodded. " That’s good to know. At least you have slept one night in peace, haven’t you? "

She smiled in reply.

"Let's go. The manager is already here. He is waiting for you."

I quickly got ready and together we followed the waitress towards the patio. A small swimming pool, covered by bamboos from all sides made me desire to jump and try a few strokes into the crystal green waters, but I resisted the urge.

He was waiting near the pool, sitting on a chair drinking a glass of lemonade. As soon as he saw me, his eyes lit up in wonder. He was a tall man with whiffs on grey and white hairs on his head and a French beard on his smiling face. A pair of spectacles adorned his sparkling blue eyes. He wore a pink jacket over a blue tunic and a pair of sneakers.

" Michael, I knew one day you would come here. I was waiting for you for a long time."

I was amazed. How did that man know me?

"Do you know me, Sir? "

He shushed his hand in the air.

"Oh, don't you sir me. You used to call me Topaz uncle when you were a child. Do you remember anything? "