1、Animal Never Lies ...
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People always liked Eric the first sight they met, though he was only 7 years old.
You wouldn’t ignore his good-looking. That’s not the way to say he was not cute. Dark blue eyes he had, showed his beauty as a charming young man.
Moona called that was “handsome”.
Eric first knew this word from her. Moona was mama’s good friend, but she was so different from others.
She impressed him with a bunch of fresh amazing flowers, all that he had not seen before. A card was enclosed—to dear Eric. Not beautiful handwriting.
Who gave it to me? Asked Eric.
A girl lived far away. You would know her soon, said Moona.
How far?
Four days in carriage and one day on foot, answered the wise lady.
Eric was surprised totally, a real journey different from those small visits to the outskirts of Canya. He couldn’t find the right word to express his longing towards it. But soon he found something couldn’t understand.
But, my lady, how could flowers be kept so fresh during such a long time?
Moona twinkled her eyes and said in a secret way, well, I just had the way.
If Eric had been two years older or more, he would not have believed it and called that a lie. But fortunately he was younger than 7 at that time. So he just felt so incredible, and asked why to everyone he met.
Young boy he was, who would he meet?
Dozens of family tutors.
Those long-beard or stone-face men or ladies were considered clever by mama, but they all ignored his question with no answer.
Only Sealy gave one answer—
Maybe she was a witch?
Eric opened his eyes widely, thinking Sealy should be called the wisest one instead, though she always emphasized him on calling her “Sealy” rather than “Silly”.
How did you know? Have you met a witch before? What’s her name?
A 7-year old had loads of questions.
Sealy gave a weak smile.
I just made a guess. I remember I met a witch before, but I couldn’t remember her name.
Or maybe she hadn’t given her name to me, thought Sealy herself. ‘Cause to a witch, name was really important, like a deal, a help or a promise.
Cool.
A simple word from Eric. But Sealy knew that was really a progress. Ten days ago, he was such a quiet boy that seemed to have no reaction to the surrounding environment.
Too quiet a boy, remarked Sealy. And apparently Mrs. Fitch thought so, too. She insisted having all kinds of family tutors for Eric, thinking that would help her little child.
Mrs. Fitch was Eric’s mother.
A pretty and pretty dull lady. She’s one of the women that could enjoy a cup of tea for a whole afternoon, doing nothing else.
They had a small talk just before. In a short distance, Sealy discovered the beautiful eyes that Eric had were from his mother.
Eric seemed to speak more and happier. But Miss…Sealy, he needed a teacher more than a mate. You were too young.
Sealy frowned as a habit of thinking.
Ma’am, I was already 17years old.
Mrs. Fitch wouldn’t give more word. She was actually quieter than her son even, but people tended to call that elegant.
What were you thinking? You were frowning again.
Little boy grabbed her sleeve, showing a little confusion. He was always very careful.
The outside. She turned back, beautiful lights in her eyes, I missed those freedom and vivid life outside.
Eric was definitely lured. He opened his eyes widely,you were leaving too? Could I go with you? I promised I wouldn’t make things difficult.
Sealy was astonished to some extent, things got on so well.
She gave him a hug—
No,you made things easier.
A big fire, everything was eaten up.
There was a voice yelling to her, run away. More voices were calling help. But soon, really soon, there was only the sound of fire left, moving in a way seemed that it couldn’t be fed up forever.
She finally remembered to run away, using all her heart.
Suddenly, there was someone fell down after her. Hearing the weak voice, she turned back to see the girl lying in the ground in blue shirts and white dress, slim and dirty.
The girl had the face of hers.
Sealy, Sealy…wake up.
Eric’s voice.
She opened her eyes then. Eric’s face, handsomely cute, but eyes with tears.
Sorry, Eric, did I forgot to say a good night? I was so tired.
Sealy got up and rubbed his hair softly. It was just too tired to get Eric out from Canya the Manor.
Eric shook his head and asked in a low voice, was it good not to say a good bye to mama? He dropped his eyes to hide his tears.
Sealy frowned a while.
You wouldn’t get away from home with a good bye. Actually, Eric, Good Bye never existed.
Eric silenced and then showed a little vivacity as his age.
So would you give me a good bye?
He asked in a way like a poor small animal. Sealy felt so tender and gave him a good night kiss.
Not till I was died.
She always kept her promise. Yes, saying good bye was the necessary process for whomever two people, but the point was, she was dead already.
She was still a keep-promise girl.
She was dead.
She wouldn’t believe this when the witch told her.
Sealy asked why. How could a person speak, move or feel after his death?
The witch forced a smile, stopped a while but continued—
Let the bear tell you.
Animals wouldn’t tell lies. And she survived the hungriest bear in the mountain.
How honest the bear was and how wise you were.
It was an exclamatory sentence but she spoke out in a plain tone. She had no more strength. People should feel sorrow at this situation, shouldn’t they?
She just felt empty.
I would give you the answer, but with a pay.
So you see how precise a witch was. She knew exactly what you wanted, and of course what herself wanted.
The pay was Eric.
Bring the boy out of home before the War to the Eastern was end. Call my name whenever you need to.
Sealy had so many questions but she never called the witch once. She didn’t remember the name. Maybe the witch forgot to give her name or maybe she forgot it. Sealy couldn’t remember things well.
Memories before meeting Eric became vague already. Only three things stayed firmly in her mind: her unchanging in appearance for 7 years, the deal with the witch and a big fire.
The big fire, always appeared in her dream, took place before meeting the witch maybe, should have something to do with her death.
But she just lost the memory. She spent 7 years to find Eric, just few days before the war was declared an end. Sealy didn’t know how manyyears it would take to find the witch.
Outside people were celebrating the coming back of the Duke and the win of the battle.
They all ran with a destination, not like me. Shouldn’t I feel shame or sorry for that? But she just couldn’t.
There were so many “couldn’t” for her now. Couldn’t get old, couldn’t remember things well and couldn’t have the correct emotions. Even if I hadn’t gone to ask the bear, I would be persuaded into a death, too —
Time, also, never told lies.
Suddenly, the word “fire” get into her ears. She was always sensitive to that word. Sealy listened more carefully and made out the full sentence—
Canya the Manor, got on fire just when Duke Fitch went back from the battle. No survivor.
No word she could figure out to describe her emotions at this moment, but to Eric, it must be sad, depressed, hopeless…all that kind of negative words.
There’s still a survivor, sleeping right beside her in the bed.
I didn’t know why the witch asked me to bring you out, maybe she predicted something in advance. You were definitely luckier than me, Eric.
Like your mama’ word, I was not suitable as a teacher. But I knew living carefree was better than dying nothing to you, so young a boyyou were.
She stared at Eric, his face in real peace.
I would keep the promise, till the end of the deal.
Sealy would be a good mate-she had confidence of that. Having spent 7years in traveling, though she couldn’t remember things well, that’s okay. For each time, it would be a new explosion to her.
She patented herself as the professor on travelling.
Eric woke up in unknown gentle shake that he hadn’t experienced before. He was now in a small room not the big bedroom in Canya neither the apartment in the hotel.
Where were we now? He asked Sealy, who was now reading a book in the sofa.
The White Whale. She answered briefly, then she realized Eric might not have heard of that before.
A steamer, she added.
Eric hadn’t heard of the White Whale before of course, but he heard something unusual through the half-open door.
Were we in the sea now?
Sealy nodded and smiled, but you couldn’t go to the deck now. The wind was not suit. Take a rest and we would have the chance to see the sunset, in the sea.
Eric opened his mouth twice, didn’t say a word. It’s a small chamber, little decorated but neat. A little crowded for two people, but his heart had never felt so broad before. He hadn’t seen the sea, but could feel its endless wave hitting this ship. Sunlight climbed in the room through the small round window that couldn’t be opened. The space was lit up brightly just like his heart.
He jumped off the bed, running to Sealy’s embrace with bared feet. A series of behaviors he wouldn’t do in Canya, even to mama.
Sealy opened her arms wide subconsciously. Eric’s bear hug couldn’t surprise her more. This was the first hug he gave her initiatively. She would always remember it as the sentence he said following-
I had only seen the sea from books before. I believed I would love it however it impressed me in our first meet. And it was! I told everyone I loved travelling. But Sealy,you were the first one took it seriously. You would never know how important it was to me. Sealy, thank you, thank you very, very, very much.
She laughed slightly, I accepted your gratitude.
Mama always told me that she provided the best life for me. But I…I didn’t know how to say…I just was not fond of the life in Canya. But, mama was always right…his voice got smaller.
Eric, there’s no best life, but a better life. People always looked for a better life in other’s eyes instead of the suitable life in his own preference. Of course, some of them didn’t have the right to choose what kind of life they want, but now you have the chance to choose.
Mother was not always right; they were always tight, tight about your future.
They were not wrong, but they were not right either, always.
Eric digested a not short time and raised a question, why now I had a chance?
Because…she frowned.
Because, I gave you the chance.
Eric looked at her I the eyes and kissed her in the forehead.
Thank you. Sealy.
作者有话说
第1章 Animal Never Lies
