IoG:RtE chapter 6: "The Exodus"

The first sense to come back was his taste; His tongue tasted
like a brick. Then, his other senses faded-in. He could smell
the warm smell of his room, feel the softness of his tiny bed,
and hear the noise of the city below his window. Finally, his
vision came back. He turned in the bed as he muttered something.
Something that sounded like "Gaia"

He had awaken this morning to find no-one in the apartement he
shared with the group. They were making a habit of letting him
oversleep. Will didn't really mind, he almost felt grateful,
but he knew that he would soon become lazy, and that would ruin
his energy for the trip to come.

He didn't know where the others were, he didn't think about it
long, though. His mind was fixed on something else - Kara. He
remembered Gaia's words perfectly, something his "normal" dreams
didn't permit. Although Gaia was cold and impersonnal, her words
were embeded with fire upon one's heart for eternity.

He remembered vividly his discussion with the Goddess, every
little detail, every word and every reaction he had had to her
requests. His thoughts shifted to something else, something he
would have to ask Gaia later. 

Was the cycle everlating ? Would the comet ever disapear ?

He didn't know, but he had received his orders, and was more than
happy to comply this time. Find Kara... What a hard, yet beautiful
and rewarding task. He thought of many places the group could be,
but he didn't remember them saying anything about a specific
destination. They were supposed to meet Erik at 10 o'clock at the
mairy. Maybe he could catch him there and wait for the others,
wherever they had wandered.

				***

The weather was nice outside. It was one of those friday mornings
when you couldnt wait for the week-end to come, but you could still
appreciate.Will j-walked the street with ease, ignoring the cars
zooming by. He was going to the city hall. erik would be there,
and they could wait for the others and go grab lunch somewhere to
discuss their destination.

He had left the apartement hastily, dressing quickly and rushing
to the door, forgetting the note he had never noticed laying on
the living room table.

				***

Belle's Diner was a little street corner restaurant like all other
little street corner restaurants in South Cape. The food was good,
the ambience was friendly, the staff humble and the customers at
ease. At the counter were the frequent customers, eating their
breakfast, drinking one last cup of coffee before going to their jobs.
At a table in the corner were a group of old men, sipping on their
coffee, discussing politics and recent events. In the other corner
was a teble with three young folks. They were discussing the latest
news, and planning for a trip. 

"Hey I just hope Will found our note in the living room." The young
woman said, addressing no one in particular. She didn't expect an
answer, but Lance posted his own comment into the discussion. 
"Heh..." He laughed "As I know him, he must still be sleeping."
His remark was picked up by Seth, who agreed almost immediately.
"Yeah, most probably."

There they were, the companions of the old times. The overshadowed
sidekicks in the whole "comet affair". There they were , debating
whether or not the so-called "hero" would show up to fill them on
the situation.

Lilly was sitting with her back against the bench, her blue hair in a
ponytail lanted over her shoulder.Her arms and legs were crossed in a
serious "back-off" manner. Her boyfriend, Lance, was sitting next to her,
resting his strong arms on the round restaurant bench. Seth, the third
party, was almost lying on the sofa-bench with his hands in his pockets
and a look of weariness on his face.

The waitress came to see if everything was alright. They politley asked
for coffee refills and went back to their original discussion when she
was done. Lance yawned and asked: "So... What's next for us ?"
It was Lilly who was patient enough to re-tell him their short schedule.
"You didn't listen, did you? Well... We're going to meet Erik at ten,
then wait for Will." She paused, thought a little, then continued. 
"From there, we'll go and have our passports done, then we'll go
somewhere swanky for lunch."

"Maybe we can get something outta him this time." She added.
Seth responded almost immediately. He was one of these very witty guys.
"Your're right. I don't know what's gotten into him lately. He's just not
the same old Will. I'm under the impression he's hiding something from us."

Lance added to this. "Seth, d'you remember when he left South Cape for
the first time? He left without saying anything." His eyes shifted to his
empty cup. "the look on his face just now, it's just the same as it was
back then. As if he was leaving us forever." He shuddered.

Lilly noticed the tone of sadeness in her boyfriend's eyes, and added
slyly: "Well... We certainly won't let him escape like that this time.
He can't get rid of us that easily."

They laughed.

				***

Will entered the tall double doors of the city hall with a certain feeling
of pride. He had lived in the old South Cape for many years, and the
tallest building in town was the school. He remembered jumping down the
roof, frightening the caretaker to death when he landed next to him. Now,
it was an awesome sight to see the huge city hall and the buildings that
had evolved from the small fisherman town.

He went through the lobby directly to the receptionnist's desk. He asked
politely to see the mayor's son, and said that is was for personnal matters.

The receptionnist was somewhat stunned at the request. Normally, officials
would come in as a storm, and promptly demand to see a certain document or
arrange an appointement with someone. All of this was normally done in a
certain protocol, speed, and rudeness. She had before her a fine young man,
foreign to these oh-so-important matters, who demanded simply to see someone
he knew.

"Well, I must ask. Do you have an appointement?" She said, blushing. Will
had never been a figure of charism, but he seemed to have some effetc on
that one, he thought. "Well... I" He started, scratching his head, causing
another blush to show on the receptionnist's face, but he was interupted.

"Oh, but he dosen't need one" said someone, from behind.

It was Erik. Not the same feeble, childish erik he had known, but a young
man like him, a figure of energy, and a bit of a playboy with a nice suit.

"Oh Mr.Parkins! I didn't know, you know each other?" The young woman said,
obviously excited at the sight of the mayor's son.

"Of course, Julie. Please tell my father I'm gone for a while and that I
should be back by tonight" She nodded. "Thanks" He said.

"Come on, Will, we're going  to wait for the others ouside"

And they went out of the mairy.

Julie, the receptionist watched dreamily as the two guys went through the
lobby to the outside. She sighed. "There go two prefectly good men."


				***