Poison City

 

“Yes, she told me.” Marcus nodded after a moment of silence: “When did she tell you that?”

 

“Last time I saw her, it was just a few days back.” Elvin sighed and shook his head: “But - I wanted to ask her to clarify on it. Because - because I am not sure which book - I’m so, so sorry son.” His voice shook and was almost inaudible when he got to the last words.

 

“It’s okay dad. I liked a lot of books.” Marcus sighed and smiled, trying to console his father: “Also, I found it. But I don’t know how significant it is - ”

 

“You found it? Which - which book is it?” Elvin took a deep breath and finished his tea.

 

“The Legend of the Burnt Queen and the One-armed Knight.” Marcus nodded: “I kept it in a small box after that thing - I still have it. I haven’t got a chance to look into its connections yet - do you - do you know what’s with it?”

 

“I don’t - I really don’t.” Elvin shook his head and wiped his eyes: “All I can think of right now is that it has something to do with the lake - and the lake - ”

 

“Yeah, I figured as much.” Marcus nodded, thinking about all the traces of evidence and information he gathered so far: “But I think I kinda know where to start - can you tell me about what happened that day, Dad?”

 

Elvin became silent, then stood up, went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of beer. With one gulp, he finished almost the entire bottle. Marcus watched and waited, with no intention to push at all.

 

“Do you remember, when I finally got back, I became sick for a few days?” Elvin asked.

 

“Yes. I had to take care of you for two weeks.” Marcus nodded.

 

“I was that way - partially because I actually saw your mother.” Elvin shook his head, his eyes grew red: “I saw her when I - when I went back for her.”

 

“I see.” Marcus already knew it, but wanted his father to keep talking, at his own pace and flow.

 

“I - well - ” Elvin took another deep breath and a gulp to finish his beer. And Marcus stood up to bring his father another bottle, and one for himself as well. Elvin continued: “I couldn’t - I really couldn’t do anything. I got there, and I dived into the water - she’s - she’s impaled by a metal bar. I think it might be a broken handrail or something - but - she’s not responding to me. And - I can’t really move her.”

 

“I’m - I’m very sorry Dad.”

 

“But - that’s not all.” Elvin took another gulp of his new bottle of beer, then continued while evading Marcus’ eyes: “I don’t know how much you believe in this, son. I still have a hard time believing everything myself. But - I saw faces, dozens, maybe even hundreds of them, deep down in the water. Staring at everyone struggling trying to find safety. I - do you believe me?”

 

“Just let me know what you saw.” Marcus narrowed his eyes and nodded: “What do these faces look like? And - what did they do?”

 

“Well - I just can’t tell. I was very scared. Scared out of my mind.” Elvin shivered and coughed: “I just remember their stares, and some of them are actually slowly getting closer and closer to me, or the ship, or the people - I don’t know. But it was then I decided to swim back, I just had to get back to you to make sure you are okay. So I grabbed something as a weapon and started swimming like hell.”

 

“I see.” Marcus held one of his father’s hands: “It’s okay, Dad. There’s nothing you could have done. And plus, sounds like you made the right decision and saved me.”

 

“I - I don’t know.” Elvin lowered his head and rested his forehead on his arms. Before long, Marcus could hear his father’s weeping. He did not say anything and just stayed by his side. In the meantime, he got his hand on his father’s wrist, and slowly pushed his Qi inside his father’s wrist. He had been doing this for a quite some time, thus he was already quite familiar with his father’s meridians at this point. It took around half a minute before he completed a quick “check up” on his father. Still the same result, healthy, nothing of concern to him.

 

“Sorry, my son.” Elvin raised his head again after a short moment, then he sniffled and wiped clean the corners of his eyes and under his nose: “You have more questions? I - I feel like you have more questions.”

 

“Yes.” Marcus sighed and nodded: “Do you remember anything about the faces? Do you recognize any of them?”

 

“What - I - I don’t think so…” Elvin frowned as he tried to recall: “I still remember their faces - some of them even had their hands on me, trying to pull me into the water. But I fought them off - I don’t know how, I don’t even know what I did that drove them away - ”

 

“Some of them grabbed you? What happened after that?” Marcus immediately started looking at his father’s arms: “What happened after that?”

 

“Well - do you remember I asked you to buy ginger and crush it for me then?” Elvin nodded as he continued working through his second bottle of beer: “I guess you might not remember this - I had a period when I covered both my arms with bandages. And after the first two weeks, I went to the local temples, do you remember that?”

 

“... yes.” Marcus nodded. He only had faint memories of that time, because he was young, and it was a time where he was also processing the idea of losing his mother.

 

“That was for that. ” Elvin sighed: “After they grabbed me, my skin started cracking, and my hands were becoming weak and I was losing the feeling of them. I did not know how to deal with it, so I just used what I remember as a child - ginger soaked warm towels around the upper part of the arm. It worked but not too well, so I had to go to the temple and ask the monks for help. ”

 

“And they were able to?”

 

“No - the temples around us could not. I have to go to some South-Eastern temples to seek out someone who actually knew what they were doing.”

 

“And this is why we moved?” Marcus sighed.

 

“Yes. Because I was in fear. I did not know what to do.” Elvin looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

 

“Thank you, Dad. I understand now.” Marcus nodded and patted his father on the shoulder: “And - I must still ask this, do you remember anything else about the faces? Were there anyone you recognized? Or knew any of them?”

 

“I - I really can’t remember - I don’t think - ”

 

“What about characteristics, anything you can tell me about?”

 

“What are you investigating, Marcus?” Elvin frowned: “Is this - is something your precinct’s looking into? It - it’s not safe! I - I can’t - ”

 

“Don’t worry Dad. We’re more ready and prepared than you think.” Marcus sighed: “And just so you know, we will consult experts as well. Don’t you worry.”

 

“I worry, son. I will worry. What happened at the lake - that was a nightmare!” Elvin grabbed Marcus’ hands and looked him in the eyes: “If it weren’t for all these days with your mother I wouldn’t even… Just - promise me you’ll be careful, okay?”