Kino no Tabi:Volume17 Prologue
“Land of Passage • b” — Messengers • b —[edit]
Upon finishing the exit procedures, Master Shizu returned to the buggy.
And the gates opened with a sluggish thud.
It was unpleasantly cold, but it was a fine morning with not a single cloud visible in the sky.
Master Shizu settled himself on the driver’s seat.
The girl on the passenger seat, Ti, hugged my head tightly, as I was seated in front of her.
Now, let us part with this country and search for one where we can stay.
Master Shizu fastened his seat belt and pushed the buggy’s ignition starter switch.
The vibrating engine at the rear of the vehicle let out a resounding, harmonious hum.
As if it possessed a will, and yearned to run and go places.
At that moment,
“Traveler! Wait!”
Someone’s yelling voice. And the indistinct, dry sound of a different engine.
As there was no one else before the gates during that morning, the voice, without a doubt, was calling out to Master Shizu.
“Traveler!”
The girl’s voice came louder than before.
Master Shizu stopped in the middle of placing his hand on the gear.
“Traveler! Oh, thank goodness I got here on time!”
Along with the feeble sputter of an engine, a motorrad and the girl that rode it appeared.
The girl stopped the motorrad next to the buggy, alighted, and rushed over to the buggy’s driver seat where Master Shizu is.
And then,
“Please take this!”
The object she was handing over was a slightly biggish paper envelope.
Master Shizu took it, removed his gloves, and extracted its contents with his bare hands.
“This... it’s amazing.”
What he was looking at, and what he showed to me and Ti, was a photograph.
A colored photograph with incredibly vivid hues.
In front of the walls that was dyed orange thanks to the evening sun, Master Shizu stood next to the buggy, Ti stood above the car’s hood, while I peeked from the passenger seat.
It was focused perfectly, a truly splendid photo.
Master Shizu turned with a smile to the girl, and said,
“Thank you. This will make a very good remembrance. This country is wonderful.”
The gates opened fully, and a loud buzzer sounded.
It was a signal for us to leave immediately, as the gates should be shut soon.
“Everyone, please take care!”
That was all of the conversation with the girl.
Master Shizu pulled the gear, and the buggy took off.
And then we passed through the gates.
Mixed with the running sound of the buggy, I heard a faint click of a shutter.
That girl probably took one.
A photograph that we will never be able to see.
And as to what manner we, along with that picture, will be remembered in this country—
Surely, Master Shizu will never be able to ascertain. However—
I’m sure he regrets nothing.
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