Kino no Tabi:Volume17 Chapter5
“A Land Torn Apart” — Trigger Happy —[edit]
“Hey there traveler and motorrad! If you have business in this country, I regret to say this, but you have to give up on it.”
Kino and Hermes were told such by a man in front of the country’s gates.
Seemingly in his forties, the bespectacled man had an air of a scholar. Beside him was a large truck with several bodyguards carrying rifles.
Indeed, the gates that should have been closed were reduced to a pile of charcoal.
The state the country was in could be seen beyond a huge hole in the tall, grey walls.
Houses burned to the ground, desolate fields, and collapsed buildings.
“It’s in ruins all right. Not a single soul in there,” Hermes said. After giving a simple self-introduction to bespectacled man, Kino said, “I heard that this was a ‘small but beautiful country, not so advanced in technology, in which people lived carefree lives’. ”
“That’s correct. Half a year ago, that is.”
“What happened here?”
“Was it destroyed by another country?”
The man only shook his head to Kino and Hermes’ questions.
“Nope. It’s a civil war. This country’s people killed each other, within the narrow confines of these walls.”
“Why? Are there differences in race or ideology severe enough to warrant killing each other?”
“Not really. The conflict was between ‘westerners’ and ‘easterners’. They are of one race, and there were no differences in beliefs, either. The only difference is on which side of the main road they live in.”
“Okay, but why? Since you seem to be well-informed about it, will you tell us?”
“Well, it’s the result of my research, but if you promise you won’t announce it in my country before me, I don’t really mind.”
After Kino and Hermes made their promise, the man took out a big binder from the bag at his feet.
He opened it, and showed the contents to Kino and Hermes.
Inside the binder were a number of papers contained within transparent films. The pieces of paper were dirty and slightly burnt. None of them are in good condition.
The man in glasses began, “These are journals and letters written by various people from this country. It took me days to gather these precious data from the ruins. At last I’ve finished my research, and just when I was about to return to my own country, you came. That’s some luck you have.”
“Kino’s luck is top class, you know. Anyway, what’s written in those? What did you find out?” Hermes asked.
“Will we understand if we read those? Will you let us read them?” Kino added.
The man smiled. “Sure. Please read them. But in the order I arranged them in. If you do, you’ll find out why this country perished.”
Kino took the binder.
To avoid dropping it, Kino placed it on top of the bag on Hermes’ carrier.
She then opened it and read aloud the first paper in the order the man placed them in.
‘It’s the end for this country. It’s likely that the one who will be reading this is not from this country. The attack of the easterners has begun. It’s to annihilate us westerners. We will be fighting as well. But all that will be left here will be corpses. It doesn’t matter which side wins; all’s over for this country. I’ll kill as many easterners as I can, to avenge the lives of our beloved children. Goodbye, everyone.’
When Kino finished reading,
“That’s the first page? The end of the civil war?” Hermes asked in wonder.
“This is in reversed chronological order, isn’t it.”
Kino turned to the bespectacled man, uttering a statement instead of a question. The man smiled, and urged her to go on.
Kino read the next page.
‘Today, the professional killers from the west side have gotten near our district. The men were soon discovered and seized. After a severe beating, they were killed. Even though they have killed so many, the westerners don’t have any plans to stop. But we can’t afford to withdraw. We have sacrificed so much. We will continue fighting until we achieve victory! We will be the ones to smile at the end!’
Kino read the next page.
‘It’s a war! A war! I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them all! The grown-ups told us kids that we can join now too! I’ll kill them! Those easterners! I’ll take on the guys that killed papa and brother! I’ll kill them all!’
Kino read the next page.
‘The police can no longer contain the fightings... or maybe they’re joining in themselves? The civilians are continuing to fight against each other. I live just beside the main street. I don’t want to fight with the easterners with whom I often chatted with. I can’t wield a sword against people I know. I’m sure they feel the same way. They won’t hear of fighting against their friends. It would be great if everyone calmed down. No, I’m sure it will be fine! Only fools would think it’s not stupid to kill each other in a small country like this. I truly believe that.’
When Kino read up to this point,
“‘Believe’, huh? It’s pretty sad to read that when you already know the aftermath,” Hermes said, though it’s uncertain if he truly felt that way.
“You bet,” the man in glasses replied, but again it’s uncertain if he truly felt that way.
Kino read the next page.
‘Today, the skirmish finally turned into a full-blown war.... Dozens of easterners and westerners came to the central park with weapons in hand, killing each other. Unbelievable. Are our people really this stupid...? The police suppressed them, but several people died, and much more were injured. What foolishness... Of course, the easterners can’t be forgiven, but that’s no reason to kill each other.’
Kino read the next page.
‘I don’t believe it! Two idiots crossed swords and called it a ‘duel between east and west’! They even brought out ancient swords, armors and shields! What fools! If they want to die, they should die by themselves! But I won’t deny that those westerners are getting on my nerves!’
Kino read the next page.
‘Those easterners are getting cocky recently. What’s up with them? Were they like that before? I’ve talked with my family, and we all share the same opinion. But it’s annoying. I’m not saying westerners are superior or anything, but what happened to basic courtesy? Was it difference in education? Or in culture? Anyway, I’m really pissed off.’
Kino read the next page.
‘Today, I’ve spoken with westerners, and I thought every single one of them was weird. Maybe they have something against us who live in the eastern side? Was it because we have suddenly grown in number? I’m sure if we sat down and shared a meal, they’ll realize that we’re all brothers living in the same country. It’s not a good idea to fight.’
Kino read the next page.
‘Lately, easterners and westerners are calling each other fools. I don’t know how it started, but this doesn’t look good. Calling someone else a fool is definite proof of lack of confidence in yourself. I can imagine everyone blushing when they realize that. Humans learn from their mistakes, after all.’
Kino read the next page.
‘There was tension between an easterner mom and a westerner mom in today’s gathering. It was about a fight between their children. Children are prone to petty squabbles, in which parents should not interfere with. For adults to take them seriously... how childish.’
Kino read the next page.
‘Today, we quarrelled over what we like more: ‘onion field’ or ‘potato garden’. The easterner kids liked onion, while we westerners like potato. Everyone got angry when they told us that potato garden is weird. I know it’s not right, but I can’t help getting angry.’
Kino couldn’t read what’s next, because it was the last page.
“What’s ‘onion field’ and ‘potato garden’?” Kino raised her face and asked.
“Those are the most popular pastries in this country. They were introduced to this country ten years ago by another country. ‘Onion field’ is an onion-shaped chocolate-covered cracker, while ‘potato garden’ is a potato-shaped chocolate-covered biscuit.”
“Okay, aside from the shape, what else is different?”
The man titled his head to Hermes’ question.
“There’s no other difference. Unfortunately, all stocks were burnt away during the war, so I can’t show you a sample.”
Kino returned the binder.
“Thank you very much. —Then, you mean to say that the cause of the civil war is an argument on which is better between two sweets?”
“I’m not one hundred percent positive. But, I believe this is conclusive enough to report back to my country,” the man answered as he received the binder. Then, “I’ll have to go now. It takes one month to get home. It’s really troublesome. What about you guys?”
“...”
Kino seemed to be quietly thinking of something, then answered, “For now, I would like to check the country.”
“Well, touring ruins must be part of the fun of traveling huh? There are no duds in there, but be careful of the collapsing buildings. The remains had been collected after the investigation.”
“Thanks. By the way, there’s one last thing.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Why did you investigate?”
The man shrugged.
“Won’t it suffice to say that I was simply led by my curiosity?”
“It’s hard to imagine you’d go this far just for that. And I thought it was strange you know so well about the pastries even though, according to you, no stocks were left after the war.”
“You’re a sharp one.”
“It was your country who introduced the pastries here, right?”
“Well, you’ve got me beat! Okay, I surrender! You’re right!” The man answered in amusement. “Yes! Both sweets are being sold in our country. It is made by the same company. I was asked by that company to do a research, and to come back with the results.”
“Then what will you do with it?” Hermes asked.
“Why obviously, to come up with a marketing ploy! And I have!”
‘These pastries are worth fighting and dying for!’
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