Kino threw a pebble. It landed in the water with a little plop, waves spreading out across the surface. They quickly subsided and the pastoral picture was restored, the trees seeming to lean out over the water as if to catch their reflections in it.
"Say, Kino...”
"What is it, Hermes?"
Hermes did not answer immediately. They simply listened to the birds singing around them. After a while, he went on, "Remember that couple we met? The ones with the horse-drawn carriage?"
"Yeah."
Kino tossed another pebble.
"You said they told you about this place."
Kino nodded. "They did."
"But as I recall, we met the wife again later. And she was alone."
Yes, she was. "I remember," she said aloud. Another pebble went into the lake, this time skipping across the surface.
"Now, if I'm remembering things correctly, the woman smiled at you and said, 'It was a wonderful country. You should make sure to visit it, Kino.’"
"Yeah, that's what she said."
"Okay. I'll admit it. I don't get it. I'm stumped. What did she mean? We saw what that 'wonderful country' was like."
Kino picked up a rock the size of a baby's head and hurled it. With a great splash, it sent ugly ripples racing across the water, and the world reflected on the surface shook. But it didn't last forever, and eventually the lake was a tranquil mirror once more.
Is that the way of the beautiful world? Does serenity always return even after the most devastating of shockwaves?
"I don't get it either," Kino admitted. She stood and dusted off the seat of her pants, glancing briefly down into the water. A young, thin face with disheveled black hair looked back at her. She looked away.
As she was mounting Hermes, she heard the sound of an engine in the forest behind them. It was getting closer.
"It's a dune buggy," announced Hermes. "Engine rhythm is a dead giveaway.”
Suddenly, a low-riding du ne buggy broke from the verge of the woods and drew to a stop in front of Kino and Hermes. Sitting in the driver's seat was Shizu. Next to him was a big dog with thick, white fur. It had large, almond-shaped eyes and a pert face that appeared to be smiling.
"Hello again, Kino," said Shizu, his smile matching his canine companion's.
Kino carefully schooled her expression. "Hello."
Shizu turned off the engine of his vehicle and got out, taking off his goggles. His katana lay on the passenger-side floorboard.
When he reached Kino, Shizu said, "I hoped I would see you again,"
He had surprised her. "Did you? Sorry you couldn't become a citizen. Or King."
"'I wanted neither, remember? I did want to thank you, though."
"'Thank... me?" asked Kino guardedly.
"'Yes," said Shizu, bowing his head. "'I wanted to win so that I could do... what you did for me. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you," he looked Kino right in the eye, "for killing my father."
Kino said nothing, could say nothing. How could I not have known?
Hermes cried, "You're the prince?"
"I was. Not anymore... my plan was to win, and when the king tried to pin the medal on me, to strike him down. I'd been planning this for seven years. And thanks to you, Kino, I'm finally free.” Shizu chuckled awkwardly and glanced down at the goggles in his hands as if they had done something amusing.
Kino said, "Revenge... is a bad idea.”
Shizu nodded, still smiling. "Yes, so it is.”
Both of them fell silent for a time.
"What will you do now?" Kino as ked Shizu, as he climbed into the buggy.
"Wander, I guess. As you do. Until I find something I want to do. Someplace I want to stay. For the moment, I'll head north. We're used to cold places, right, Riku?" he said, patting the dog sitting next to him.
Hermes expected the creature to bark, but instead it said, "If you say so, Shizu."
Hermes was stunned. "No way! That dog just spoke!"
Riku raised a white brow. "Got something against talking dogs? A little uppity for a motorcycle, aren't you?"
"The nerve!" Hermes hissed.
"What kind of self-respecting sidekick needs a driver anyway? Go on, just try and catch up with us by yourself. Bet you can't do it."
"Oh, bite me! That's all you canines do, isn't it? And you're one to talk – pack animals, the lot of you. Pack animals with a congenital compulsion to be leaded."
"Pack animal?" The dog sneered. "Look who's talking! You're the one with a – what do you call that thing – a saddle?"
"That's not what I meant!"
"I know what you meant. You see any other dogs around here? Any talking dogs? I'm unique."
"Well, so am l!"
Shizu and Kino shared a swift glance before speaking simultaneously.
"Stop that, Riku."
"Enough, Hermes."
Riku looked about ready to leap at the motorcycle, but he fell silent and gave Kino a look of obvious respect. "I am Riku, loyal servant of my master, Shizu. I was honored to watch your performance in the final round. All things considered, Shizu survived today because of you. I too, thank you."
Kino's smile was humble. "You're welcome. What a wonderful dog! May I pet you?"
The dog wagged his tail eagerly, and Kino moved to hug him, running both hands through his thick fur. Riku licked Kino 's cheek.
Hermes watched Riku enjoying this hug with extreme annoyance. "Suck-up," he muttered, too quietly for anyone to hear.
Kino petted Riku for a moment, then reached down and drew something from under the passenger seat. It was the crown, twisted and torn, that had recently sat upon King Yukio's head.
Seeing it, Shizu grimaced. “I couldn't believe there was anything left of it. It took me the better part of half an hour to clean it up and beat it back into shape... sort of. I took it to remember my grandfather by."
Kino rubbed Riku's head one last time, kissed his mu zzle, then turned to Shizu. "I suppose I'm really not the person to say this, but are you sure you won't take the throne?"
He nodded. "Very sure."
"Why not?"
"A man who tried to kill his own father has no right to rule a kingdom."
"You think so? What about a man who tried to undo a great evil?" Kino took the crown in both hands, and – silently, gently – placed it on the young man's head.
Shizu grimaced. "Looks terrible, doesn't it?"
Kino gazed at him for a moment, then smiled and said, "Maybe so."
"Ahem," said Hermes. "I hate to interrupt this touching moment, but I believe we were leaving, Kino?"
She gave him a narrowed glance, then moved back to his side, where she knew she belonged. She put on her hat and goggles, flung her leg over the seat, and started the engine. Hermes could feel Shizu's eyes on them – on her – as he sat in his vehicle, the broken crown still on his head.
"Kino," he called. "Sure you won't come with me to the north? I know the way."
"No, thank you. There's somewhere I have to go. And... "
"And?"
"They tell me it's unwise for a girl to go off with strange men."
Shizu blinked and glanced at Riku. In response, the dog whispered something to him that seemed to surprise him. For a moment, the two engaged in a quick round of furious whispers, at the conclusion of which Shizu looked back at Kino again and shook his head, smiling.
"Well, that's a relief. Okay, then. I guess this is goodbye... for now, at least. I hope we meet again someday, Kino... Hermes."
"May you be well. Riku too," Kino bowed.
"Thank you," said Riku.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Hermes chimed in, "Bye-bye, suck-up!"
"Next time, derelict,"
"Hmph!" The motorcycle carried Kino away, aware that Shizu and Riku watched them until they were out of sight.
Shizu didn't drive away as he'd intended. Instead, he got out of the buggy and walked down to the edge of the lake. He looked down into the water. A young man wearing King Yukio's twisted crown looked back at him. Before he could decide if it looked like it belonged on him or not, Riku began to lap the surface of the water at his feet. Tiny waves spread across Shizu's reflection, breaking it into a million pieces.
Shizu turned around, looking back at the forest from where he'd come. He could no longer see his homeland beyond the trees. "What do you think I should do, Riku?" Shizu asked his companion.
"I'd rather stand on my head than tell you what to do, master," said Riku easily.
Shizu felt... contented, at peace. "Yes," he whispered.
And he looked one last time back toward the city beyond the forest.