Short fiction: Faith

Faith

A tale in two parts.

Shiji

Shiji stumbled drunkenly from his market stall spilling his sampled wares, the smell of cattle strong amongst the fermentations, pointing at the column of light that now fountained skyward from To island, the peasants and merchants around him alerted to the impossible phenomena as the young man, face covered in unshaved stubble and reeking of alcohol and diverse other impolite perfumes, now forcing them to turn from their daily routine of buying and selling and pay close attention to this once in a lifetime moment. Shijo market emptied in pursuit of Shiji, who now walked barefoot in the muddy filth of michi road that divided the island of shima, descending for now through the city of Toshi toward the ever bountiful light with a gathering of followers that grew until they filled michi road to choking, forcing those in their way to retreat into buildings and side alleys or be swept forward down the hill until they reached the fishing boats beached on the grey pebbles.

The waters that separated Shiji from To island needed to be overcome and as he placed his hands against the timber of the nearest vessel ignorant of ownership other hands, understanding his intention to cross the wide water way to that part of Toshi city that occupied To island - port minato - pushed with him and the fleet of fishing boats descended into the water in pursuit of Shiji climbing into the boats as he climbed aboard and taking up an oar meant to close the distance to the call that beckoned him and his hundred followers and hands joined his hands until every oar was manned and Shiji pulled himself forward to a vantage point where he might row with a full view of the column of light. The great bell of shiro castle that had overlooked Toshi city sounded a warning only used to call in the fishing fleet but Shiji, deaf to all but the song of light that illuminated his mind ignored the bell's demands to obey continuing to paddle forward, and while his followers faith withered by a third those who remained continued digging their oars deeper into the rough grey waters emulating his every driving stroke until his desperate progress stalled.

Shiji didnt even acknowledge his fellow companions fears of the retribution of a shared master. Need overcame rational thought and Shiji dove into the water in pursuit of his oar with a driving, unstopable need that he might yet swim to shore. Each kick became the drawing of his breath. Each stroke became the beating of his heart as Shiji struggled to remain above water and his weight pushed the long wooden pole under. Shiji focused on the light that beckoned. The light that filled him. Come. Come. Come. The calling of it was overwhelming. Come.

The wood halted against the great dock of stone and Shiji abandoned his simple vessel, the pain overwhelming as he reached up to the edge of the stone in search of an impossible fingerhold. Come. His view of the light wasnt lost as he clambered along the edge of the wretched, unclimbable wall until his feet, submerged in the grey water, found a foothold. Shiji climbed. Pulling himself up out of the burning cold. Come. The chill bit at him as Shiji again collided with people, drawing their attention to the column of light that peaked skyward over the walls and pushed past those who did not yield to the compelling light that beckoned the rational mind forward. Come.

Shiji pushed past the crowded docks, the stone paving unique in that it was unlike the muddy michi road. Come. Shiji ignored the burning breath that attacked his lungs and climbed the stone stairs that led from the port, up a fissure cut into the hill, to a great coral white tower from which poured a fountain of light. Come. You are so close. Just a little further. Come. Skyward it ascended, the light blinding, burning white. Come. Overwhelming and bright. Come. Shiji pushed through the brush that lay in the shadow of To Tower, pushed aside the dead branches, the scratching briars that dug at his flesh and rags. Pushed aside the green growth. Come. Shiji could see the white coral of the tower, and he pushed once more and was rewarded with physical contact. The message changed as Shiji collapsed in an embrace of To Tower. Faith. Have faith in this moment. The idea was unfamiliar. The word was new to Shiji. Faith. Faith had compelled him forward, driven him to cross the grey waters.

Shiji felt cold. The sensation of pain. Overwhelming and ignored pain. Shiji looked down at the spear-tip, barbed, soaked in a dark, unfamiliar thing. Was that blood? Something pressed against his back and then jerked repeatedly. The sensation ended.

"faith." a shadow stepped into view.

"what did you say?" the voice, unfamiliar with the word.

"have faith in this moment." Shiji looked up at the fountain of light, the pain vanishing, and became one with it. Come.

Shinpo

The smell of sea-salt and fish assailed Shinpo. There are days when I wish I was lord of this island. Shinpo dropped three ceramic coins into the fish-monger's coin box and claimed the large fish taking a moment to look up hill at the castle. If only.

Voices. The crowd of the street pressed down on him, pushing him into the fish.

"Who dares?" the fish stall collapsed under the weight of Shinpo, the fish, and several other individuals caught by the press of the crowd.

"guards! Guards! Send to the castle!" others screamed in pain at being trampled. Shinpo pulled himself across the spilled fish stall.

"what lunacy is this?" Shinpo, covered in mud and the stench of fish struggled to his feet that he might confront the mob but they had continued down Michi road toward the boats on the beach. Shinpo looked at the departing mob and noticed the fountain of light.
What? What is that? The fountain of light rising skyward from To Island spoke to him. I can grant you your wish.

Shinpo hurried down Michi road after the mob, pain burning in his knee. At the boats, the pebbles crunched beneath his feet, and Shinpo joined the mob who seemed focused on the actions of the leader of their band struggling to push a boat into the water.

"all to the boats!" Shinpo seemed surprised that he had even spoken the words. Hands joined the leader of the mob and boats pushed forward into the water. Shinpo climbed into a boat allowing others to take up oars.

"Row!" Shinpo found himself compelling the mob toward To Island. Power. Shinpo looked at the man rowing in a distant boat, head always looking up at the fountain of light. Almost. Not quite yet. Shinpo wiped a sweat from his mouth. How?

The bell of shiro castle sounded a return to port. The bell seemed to have broken the spell on several of the boats and they began to turn back toward Toshi city. No! A number of his own oarsmen put up their oars and Shinpo was filled with anger.

"forward! We must go forward! Row!" an oarsman looked at Shinpo as though he were mad sparking a need in Shinpo to get to To Island. All the more determined to make a discovery that would unleash him from other men, Shinpo held up a coin.

"a coin for each of you. Row!" the oarsman snatched the coin and returning his oar to water was mimicked by the others. Each paid, the boat paddled forward. On another boat, where the oarsmen had come to doubt the leadership compelling the mob forward, the madman who had initiated this blind rush for boats on a beach dove into the water with his oar and made for the docks of Port Minato. Shinpo watched him struggle to keep from drowning.

"forward! We cant stop now." Shinpo compelled his oarsmen forward to the docks. His rival reached the shear wall of stone that was the docks and Shinpo watched as he moved along, clumsily, eyes ever skyward, to a position where he could climb out of the water.

Shinpo clenched his hand into a fist and pounded the timber of the boat in frustration.

"get me to the docks now!" the oarsmen pulled at the water to close that little distance remaining. The boat scraped against stone and the oarsmen struggled to straighten the vessel. Shinpo slipped over the edge of the boat and landed awkwardly on the docks. Struggling to his feet he was overcome with a sensation of loss. His enemy had vanished onto the docks of Port Minato. Where? Shinpo looked up at the fountain of light and smiled. He would be headed for the source - To Tower.

A dolphin spear, brutal and barbed, rested on a rack with a half dozen others. That would be sufficient. Shinpo claimed the spear and forced his way through the crowded dockside pushing gawkers who had only now noticed the fountain of light pointing skyward.

There. Shinpo spotted his quarry climbing stone stairs at the edge of the port. Between two stone columns they led up a ravine to the tower of To. Shinpo climbed up the stairs at a distance where he could watch his rival vanish into the brush. Shinpo picked up the pace, climbing quickly with the barbed spear, and caught sight of the dishevelled man he was hunting. The smell of fish mingled with the smell of fermented substances all too familiar. Was he drunk? The madman before him ignored the clearly visible path that wound around the briars, dead trees, and green brush.

Shinpo closed quickly on his enemy who had pushed through that last wall of easily avoided brush and collapsed at the base of the Coral white tower. Shinpo closed for the kill taking a strong grip on the dolphin spear and drove it through the back of the dishevelled and bloodied madman. Shinpo placed a foot against the spine of his prey but was unable to free the weapon.

"faith." Shinpo hadnt quite heard the word. Had not understood the word and he stepped into view of the dying man at his feet.

"What did you say?" Shinpo looked down at the dead man.

"have faith in this moment." Words. Words that were power.