Part VIII: The Journey Begins

He picked himself up, and also picked up the X-Ball. At least he had this. Perhaps it would lead him to a better destiny. But first, he had to lead himself to the docks.

He passed through the fishing village surrounding the docks, and sighed. Over there was a young couple, kissing and laughing. To his right was a an older couple dozing in each other's arms in the afternoon sun. To his left was a man, furiously gutting a fish.

Hiro thought of his wife, how they had once been young and in love. And how he had hoped they would grow old together. And now how he wanted to gut her like a fish.

Up ahead was the boat the Emperor had prepared for him. It was a small vessel, but sturdy. He boarded, and saw there was a small cabin below for sleeping. It seemed comfortable, and he hoped that it would be, as he would be out to sea for a long while.

He lightly placed the X-Ball at the stern of the ship, and began to unwrap the rope holding the boat to the dock. He heard a voice from below.

"Hiro," said Hiro's ex-wife. "It is I, your ex-wife. Don't go."

"Why," said Hiro. "You betrayed me. The Emperor condemned me. It's just me and this X-Ball now." He displayed the X-Ball to his wife."

"But Hiro, I- I- I miss you. I miss the way you would hold me. The way we'd laugh. The way you would kiss me, sometimes all night."

Hiro looked straight at his ex-wife. "I have the X-Ball for kissing now." With that, he placed his supple lips upon the X-Ball, looked back at the woman standing, crying on the dock, and pulled the last piece of rope from the mooring.

As he slowly drifted from the port, he looked at his ex-wife, standing, alone. He couldn't lie to himself. He still loved her. He would never forget her, or love again.*

*Although the X-Ball was a great kisser.


NEXT WEEK: Out to Sea


THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF X-BALL:
PART I       PART II       PART III       PART IV

PART V      PART VI      PART VII      PART VIII