And then there was darkness.
There was no light. No moon, no stars. Only the sound of the wind in the trees, wafting through the darkness.
"You know... it's kind of like..." Kino trailed off. A contemplative silence followed. Or perhaps sleep.
"Kind of like what?" Hermes asked.
"I sometimes wonder if I'm really just a terrible person. Sometimes I feel like I am. Sometimes, it actually makes sense that I am. Because I can't change things; or worse – I just tell myself I can't, so I don't. But whenever I get like that – feeling terrible, I mean –everything else – the world, the people I meet – it all becomes incredibly beautiful to me. I fall in love with it. That's why I keep traveling – because I want to experience more. Because sometimes, I get to see some good. Maybe even do some good."
Kino paused to entertain another thought. "Still, I know if I keep on moving, I'll always see more sadness, more tragedy – experience more sadness and tragedy."
"But if you experience it – if you know it's tragic – how can you be a terrible person? Terrible people don't experience other people's pain... do they?"
"I don't know. I only know it doesn't mean I'm going to stop traveling. I love traveling, and even though I see so much death – even though I have to kill people sometimes – I want to keep doing it. And..."
"And?"
"I can stop anytime." Kino's tone was resolute. "So I keep going... You see?"
"Honestly? Not really."
"Oh. Well, that's okay."
"You sure? I mean, it helps if we're of one mind about things..."
"How can I expect you to understand it if I don't? And I don't. Not really. I'm still confused, Hermes. And in order to find my way out of this confusion, I keep traveling." As if there were a road that led away from it.
"Ah..."
"I'm going to sleep. We've got a long way to go tomorrow. Good night, Hermes."
"Good night, Kino."
Thick cloth softly rustled, and then utter silence filled the darkness again.