Kino no Tabi:Volume2 Chapter5
“Isn’t it a great piece of art?”
The inn keeper asked of the Traveler, when he found the Traveler looking at a portrait of a Battle Tank. In it, the Tank was in the midst of blasting away at the enemy.
“I have seen many pictures of Tanks by the same artist, is his work very popular?”
“Good question,” the keeper replied, nodding his head several times before continuing in a hush tone.
“There was a civil war between races here about ten years back, neighbor killing neighbor for four years and six months before finally realizing the futility of the war.”
“… does the war have anything to do with this picture?”
“This portrait reminds us about that foolish war, every citizen in this nation abhors it. The artist rekindled our abhorrent to war by painting images of battle scenes, strengthening our resolution against war. That is why his works are common in the nation.”
“Oh. Ok.”
“The artist appeared out of no where, painting nothing but Tanks on the battlefield, every one of them a great piece in itself. Not only had he become famous for his works, but also our Ambassador of Peace… traveler, have you been to City Hall?”
Once stepping into the richly built stone and mortar, an open gallery stood welcome to all visitors. On one side of the wall was a huge painting. It was a battle scene on a wide open field, Tanks could be seen in this piece as well. Below the painting was a stone slab with these words.
[Behold! Behold the hands of the dead reaching for the sky from their burning Tank. Telling us to learn from our mistake and aim for a higher purpose called Peace.]
“Amazing isn’t it? Those words were written by the current governor.”
Announced a man in his fifties, who proclaimed himself a headmaster of a junior high school that had just purchased a piece of artwork from the artist.
“I plan to have it on display so that the students will learn the horrors of war, that only in war would there be battle tanks rampaging the lives of many. It costs a heavy sum but I believe it would serve better then a book in telling the lesson… traveler, have you seen the art book?”
Stacked on the most convenient spot are copies of the mentioned art book. Even before the Traveler managed to reach down for a
copy, another copy had just been sold at the counter.
On the wrapping was a note,
[Rebuilding the nation with canvas, a must read for all citizens.]
The Traveler flipped through the art book.
Sure enough, it was filled with the images of tanks in war. One of them had a comment made by the book writer.
[We can only watch as the tanks grind mercilessly over the flowers, each one of them represent the lost lives of nameless solders.] Included were also comments made by the gallery owner who first discovered the talent.
[… although his works are only of battle tanks, it is not the image that matters but the message of the artist itself. The tanks may have powerful weaponry and great armoring, but on the fields of war, it is not invincible. It signified the strength and frailness man’s determination. Which is…]
The Traveler closed the book with a thud, and recalled the words of the excited inn keeper.
“A masterpiece has great power, it deeply moved the emotion of the viewer. Five years, ten years maybe even twenty years from now, how would I feel when I look upon this portrait again? I wish I could maintain how I feel toward it at that time.”
On the morning of the third day, Kino habitually rises with dawn.
“Good Morning, Hermes.”
Luggage was pilled on the Motoroide called Hermes, and they left the inn shortly after.
Later, as they were traveling along a stretch of lonely road on the outlaying farmland, they came across a young man sitting alone on a stool.
“Wow, that is a nice bike you got there, are you a traveler?”
Kino and Hermes slowed and made a full stop.
“Yes, we are just leaving.”
“Whatcha doing out here?” Hermes chirped.
“I am a painter, and I am here to gather inspiration.”
“Hmm… are your works popular?”
“Yup, my works are every where. There is one at the City Hall too.”
“Are they about the Tanks?” Hermes asked again.
“Yeah, you have seen them?”
Kino nodded.
“Yes, they are every where. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Why do you only draw Tanks and battlefield?”
The painter beamed “Good question.” and replied happily.
“I love Tanks! Aren’t they cool? They have great amour and powerful arsenal and treadmill that grinds over everything! They are the king of the battlefield!”
A grin slowly creeped on her face.
“I just love to paint Tanks running through the battlefield, that’s why I only draw them and nothing else. One day, when I took my painting to the gallery and they told me it would sell very well, I was speechless, they kept saying something about ‘never going to repeat past mistakes’ then offered me a large sum of money. I am very glad for it since all I do now is painting. ”
“You seems to be doing very well.”
Hearing that from Hermes the young painter nodded eagerly.
“I am very happy with my life now. Right! You travel a lot right? I bet you have seen different types of Tanks in other countrys. Maybe there is a Tank that can submerge in water, or fires depleted uranium shells or maybe fragment shells that explode inside the Tank.”
The painter stared dreamingly into space for a time then suddenly brightened.
“That’s right! That is why I love Tanks, I am getting some much needed inspiration.”
He immediately unwraped his canvas and began to sketch.
Kino started Hermes’ engine and said goodbye to the painter.
The painter thanked them happily and returns to his drawing as Kino left on the Motoroide.
