A Machine Called Earth
Chapter 18- Campfire Conversations

The pain of Hector’s cut-out eye was unrelenting. Looking out through the exit of the cave, across the waterlogged valley, and along the mist-filled mountains concealing the horizon, Hector had some getting used to only seeing through one eye. Obviously depth perception is an issue when it comes to looking through one eye, but what you might not know, is the straining that the other eye undergoes, while compensating for the loss of the other. This straining results in a pain of its own, like a muscle that’s over worked and tired. There is as well, the occasional going out of focus while it works overtime to give sight. Hector had a lot to get used to.

Now that he was out of the darkness of his cell, Hector now knew what difference only having one eye makes. Also being with Hope again, he was reminded of how he got his evil eye in the first place. Such memories are quite disheartening.

Remembering past foolishness. But one must move on, there is nothing beneficial in holding onto the past. For he had escaped the clutches of death, and it was Hope who saved him. This was a new start.

The storm was in full swing, so they got together some branches and such, and made a fire. The fire struggled at first, but within moments, it was raging and warm. The three of them sat down by the fire. Hope sat opposite Hector, towards his left, and Jessy was beside her, lying with his head in her lap, were he soon fell asleep.

“So why did you come to rescue me?” Hector said. “I mean, you hardly know me.”

“Hector, you were the only one trying to stop this. It has been too long since there has been someone doing good in this world.” Hope said. “That’s why I had to come. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Hope had grabbed Hector’s vest, which he had tossed on the ground, and she pulled out a knife, were she cut a strip of material from the bottom of the vest.

“Here take this.” Hope said, throwing the strip to Hector. “Put it on. To cover your eye. Like an eyepatch.”

Hector was a little embarrassed at first, wearing an eyepatch, but it felt good, having the wound concealed and bandaged. There is a vulnerability in having an open wound exposed.

“Thank you.” They were the only words he could think to say. Although he felt they didn’t quite express the gratitude he felt, for all that Hope had done. Hector knew not of anyone who would have risked their life for him like what Hope did.

Hector wasn’t sure if these were his true feelings, or the result of such an emotional and troubling experience, but he was urged to do something. That something was to, shuffle over to Hope for a kiss. One thing Hector knew for sure, was that he loved Hope, even though he didn’t know her well at all. She was a mystery. However, when Hector leaned in for a kiss. Hope pulled back.

“Hector. I have a husband. I’m sorry if I didn’t let that be known.”

Hector returned to his place around the campfire. He was embarrassed and disheartened. He thought back to the dream he had in the forest. The one with Hope. He thought that perhaps dreams don’t always come true. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He then said. However this was a lie. He knew very well that his feelings for Hope were stronger than any other he had felt before. He sat silently.

Hope then asked, as an attempt to break the awkward silence that erupted within the cave. “How did you get into this mess? What happened?”

That was quite a question, and Hector hadn't actually thought about that himself. Everything seemed to just happen so fast. Not to mention that his mind was elsewhere. But he decided to do his best at telling his story.

And that he did. He told his story. It was obviously the shortened version of what happened. Many other things happened which he had left out, but Hector grew weary from talking. Hope would have had questions, as Hector had left out many details. But she didn’t have the time to ask, for Hector had asked her a question.

“So how did you find me?” Hector asked.

Hope thought for a moment, as her story would also need some calibrating. She then moved her hair behind her ear with her hand, as she began to speak.

“Well, when Jessy and I made it to Tammerville, it was far gone. The majority of the people were monsters. But I found a group of people who were not as deformed, and they feared the beasts. After spending the night, we went off and found your sister Jane.”

“So she is ok?” Hector asked. For he was quite worried about her, and with all that has happened with him, he almost forgot that she was still in Tammerville.

“Yes she was fine. When we found her though, things went bad. The sun began to go down, and the beasts came from the shadows. They chased us to your house, but before they got to us, something happened.”

Hector was puzzled. “What happened?”

With one eye still closed, Jessy lifted his head and said. “A bell.”

Hector was still rather confused. But Hope continued.

“Well, it is as Jessy said. We heard the sound of a bell, and this caused the beasts to stop in their tracks and leave the town.”

“A bell you say?” Hector said with a furrowed brow. “From where?”

“I haven’t a clue. But it was distant and very loud. It came from the south. I thought maybe you might have heard it in your travels.” Hope said. “Anyways, that was when we decided to go and find you. Well it was Jessy’s idea.

So we traveled south through the Westwood forest, making sure not to be spotted by any beasts on the way. But as things go, we got lost. It was nighttime, in my defense and the Westward forest is quite dense. In fact, as the stories go, the Westwood forest has no greater joy than swallowing passing travelers into its grasp. Those who are not born within it, that is. But do you ever think that things happen for a reason?”

“In fact, I do. I’m beginning to think there is more happening at the moment, then we know.”

“Me too.” Hope agreed. “While we were lost, the three of us, we found a small derelict structure in the middle of the forest, completely camouflaged in the thicket of the trees, we would have missed it if it wasn’t for a light on inside. As it was dark and cold, I decided that we should venture in. I knocked on the door, but it was already unlocked, and the door just creaked open. Inside was a man. And he was expecting us. He knew our names, and that we were coming. It was strange. But he seemed nice, and he had a meal waiting for us. Warm, as if just made. The cabin was actually held together by the vines and branches of the wood. With them, the building would have no doubt collapsed.”

“Was he the Keeper?” Hector asked, as he leaned forward in excitement. Seeing Hope’s face fill with color as she recalled the cabin and the one dwelling within.

“No, he was but a messenger. His name was Norrth. He gave me an envelope, and said to open it when I found you. Although he did speak quite highly of the Keeper. He did speak with sure and beautiful words also. But he stated several times, almost excessively, that he was only the messenger of the Keeper. Not that I knew who the keeper was, nor did he go into great detail of who he was either.”

‘So this was a messenger of the Keeper. How amazing.’ Hector thought.

“He also gave me instructions on how to find you. And as Jessy and I left to find you, after a restful night. He put Jane under some sort of spell or something, were she fell asleep. I believe he did it to keep her safe. He must have knew that our path was riddled with dangers. I felt bad leaving Jane with him, but he seemed the safest person I had ever met. And his cabin could never be found. ‘Not but the ones whom are allocated to find It.’ he says.”

Now this may sound quite amazing, the fact that Norrth knew where Hector was. But something you should know, my readers, is that, at the time Hope received this letter. Hector was still unconscious under the water. And I’m telling you this now, so that you will know that there is more to the Keeper, than keeper of the control room. I could tell you more, but there is beauty in mystery. Perhaps that’s what Hector liked about Hope, for she was quite mysterious. For while she was speaking, Hector realized that she was carrying two guns, both with the Arrowhead inlay.

“How did you get those guns?” Hector asked after a time of silence, as Hope had finished her story, and was staring into the glowing embers of the fire. “They’re from Jacob.” Hector said.

“Oh these?” Hope said, placing them on the ground. “They were in a chest which I unlocked.”

Now Hector knew Jacob well. He was friends with his son Charlie for some time, and they would spend a lot of time together. He knew that in Jacob’s workshop, he had all the weapons locked in a chest. He also knew that he always, and I mean always, kept the key on his person at all times. So Hector was quite curious as to how Hope ‘unlocked’ the chest. And that is why he pressed the matter.

“So, how exactly did you unlock the chest?” Hector asked. “I know quite well, that Jacob and Charlie, would not be so clumsy to leave the key lying around their workshop.”

“I picked the lock in fact. Well, it was a little difficult, but it was easy enough. It was quite a standard three pin lock.”

“I have to ask, how did you learn such a skill? One doesn't just learn such a skill, for the fun of it.”

“My husband.” Hope said. And as she told Hector, she looked away, as this was something she didn’t want to talk about. Hector saw that she didn’t want to talk about him anymore, so he let it go for the moment. They then sat in silence until the storm passed.

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