| Chapter 14 It was a nice day that day in Neptune. It wasn’t too windy, and the sky wasn’t too dark. On the waters of Neptune Dylan’s pirate ship rocked softly. The young elves that lived in the Neptune colonies were playing in the streets. Balthasaar, Aakkar, Smickson and America’s second back colony of Neptune were all once again flourishing. Neptune’s green houses were sprouting small new growths of life, and there were even amounts of growth in the dusty ground that made up their planet. The raccoons in the palace garden had quints that day, and Mrs. Smarken birthed twins, one of the first babies born on Neptune. It was a healthy birth, one boy and one girl. For Matt junior though, his world was falling apart. He and the psychologist had stayed up all-night and unraveled the last six years of his missing life. A past that should have been left forgotten. “I tried to kill Hannahoko,” he said, “I killed others for Mona- I don’t know, I thought somehow it would help...” the Kidd muttered half to himself and half to the silent psychologist. The Kidd was sprawled out on the ground of the palace courtyard. His blue eyes were full of frustration, hurt, and perhaps even anger. “Why didn’t you just kill me when I came here?” Asked the Kidd. The psychologist chose his words slowly, “I thought about it. But I knew she would never forgive me. Besides, I did not want to take your life without you knowing exactly why.” “Will you kill me now then?” This question was asked bluntly with no obvious concern over the possible answer. “No.” “You won’t?” “Not now.” “I would if I were you,” the Kidd said this more to himself than to the psychologist. “I won’t for her sake.” “Yes, your sister... How could I have been so stupid? How could I believe that she was the cause of my pain? Matt- I came so close to taking her life. If I had a sister that someone tried to murder I would not give them time to even ask for forgiveness.” “Yes, and look at where your life has led you. You should not look so much for death, JJ; it will come soon enough for you.” The Kidd sat up and looked straight at the psychologist. “I was going to murder her while she slept! I wasn’t even going to give her a chance to defend herself! It was so easy; I would sneak in and slit her throat while was asleep. Of course, you and Ben Ben managed to keep me away more than once. But that last time, that last time I almost killed her.” “You didn’t.” “But I would have, except, I chickened out. I was watching her breathing, I was so angry at her. She was sleeping very peacefully. But then she woke up...and she looked at me, and asked me why I was there. I had my knife in my hand and yet she did not believe I would hurt her, it didn’t even cross her mind.” “Yes..?” “And I couldn’t do it...I threw the knife in the wall and ran away.” “And Mona?” The Kidd looked at the ground again, “She told me that I was a coward and that she did not have cowards under her reign. She planned to kill me since I knew so much, but I escaped. I have not talked to her since then.” The psychologist nodded but said nothing. ********** Hannahoko sat on her bed with one leg tucked under herself. She leaned against two over-stuffed pillows. In one hand she held a leather-bound book and in the other she held a pencil. She looked intently at the book and chewed on the eraser of the pencil. “Knock Knock.” Hannahoko looked up to see Anday standing in the doorway of her bedroom. “You know, your highness, you kind of look cute when you’re all intense like that.” “Hello Anday,” the Queen smiled a little while rolling her eyes. “What’re you reading?” he inquired. “John.” “You mean the Bible?” “Mhmm,” she said. “I didn’t know you were religious, Hannahoko.” “That is a real problem, I’m afraid. I should have made it more well known.” “I’ve picked up the Bible a few times myself,” said Anday. “Have you? Have you ever really read it, I mean...not just read it, but study it? The Bible is the most complex and yet most simple book I’ve ever read in my life. Can I read you something?” she spoke with excitement and wonder filled her brown eyes almost making her seem vulnerable. Anday stepped in a little more and sat down on a hope chest. “Shoot.” “As he, I mean, Jesus, went along he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was blind?’ ‘Neither this man or his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ’but this happened so that the work of God may be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work while I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ Having said this he spit on the ground, made some mud and saliva and put it on the man’s eyes. ‘Go,’ he told him, ’Wash in the pool of Siloam, so the man went and washed and came home seeing.’” “Yes, I’m sure I read that one. Jesus did a lot of miracles,” Anday said. “Yes but, I mean...I think I can take this story and apply it to my life. It isn’t my fault that I have this burden put on me, and it isn’t my parent’s fault. I’m supposed to release the penny to show the glory of God. I mean, well, I can use it for that. In all of my worries about being a Queen I’ve forgotten what is really important.” “Your friends?” Anday smirked. “Well, yes, actually. We need a church here, so I can save my friends. I have been neglecting them that way. So that is what I’m going to do. I’m going to build a church in every colony. And the church can double as a school so the kids can learn to read. You can’t study the Bible if you can’t read. We aren’t going to have a leader of the church just tell everyone what to believe, either.” “That’s fine Hannah’, but what kind of church is it going to be?” “I’m not sure yet, but we are going to call it Christian, and that is all that really matters. There are too many sects of Christianity back on Earth, why don’t we begin with one and see how it ends up.” “What about Jews?” “I don’t know yet.” “I see.” “Will you help me, Anday?” he brown eyes turned up and looked into his dark blue ones. Man, she is so naive, thought Anday, I’m surprised her burdens haven’t crushed her yet. She tries so hard to seem tough about things, too. It’s really kind of sweet. I wonder how she continues to be so innocent? “Yes, I will help you,” he said finally, “What do you want me to do?” She smiled at him, her entire face brightening. “Will you fight for Neptune? Well, I suppose I should explain more about what I’m talking about.” She spilled out everything that had been happening recently. How Russia planned a sneak attack, and also about her penny, and then she asked again, “Will you command a force against Russia while I escape and do what I must do?” “Command, your highness?” “Yes, Anday, I am promoting you back to Commander, you are the best I have as long as you can keep your temper down and think straight.” “Your highness, I will do anything to help Neptune,” and then he added, “And you.” She stood up and walked over to Anday. “Thank you,” she said, “Now, do you know where the Kidd is?” “No, actually, he’s been missing since yesterday.” “What do you mean he’s missing?!” she cried. “I don’t know, he just disappeared.” “Is the other Matt here?” “You mean the psychologist?” “Yes.” “Now that you mention it, I haven’t seem him lately, either.” “Oh no..” ******************************** |