Cloud Gazing

Rubbing my eyes, I shuffle over to my bedroom window and let my gaze wander over my family's fields. The stalks are gently swaying in the wind. It's a beautiful morning. Suddenly, something enters the view from above: A hot air balloon. I run downstairs, ignoring my brother's groaning as my feet bang on the old staircase.

By the time I've reached the balloon, the pilot is nowhere to be found. The basket is empty, aside from a couple of packages. I recognize the International Airmail Federation's logo. 

"Did you see anything?" I ask my brother, who has followed me to see what all the noise was about. He shakes his head and his stomach growls. I sigh and head back inside to prepare breakfast.

***

Mysteries lie upon the land.

The world in its “hands.”

Growing old out of simplicity.

Wanting to reach for the city.

Town Living

***

The church bell rings out ten times in succession, calling for an emergency assembly. I ride my bike into town to find out why. When I enter the church, I find the entire town gathered inside. Up at his usual spot behind the lecture stand, Abbot Luke scowls at Walter, the woodcutter, who stands with arms crossed at the head of the crowd.

“You can’t be serious. You know what's lurking in the forest.”

“Oh, spare me the old wives' tales! I’m up there every day, and I’m fine, ain’t I?”

Luke shakes his head. “Yes, your guardian spirit must be quite overworked.”

Walter scoffs. “We can’t just leave somebody up there all alone! The way he’s stuck, there’s no way he’ll-”

“Are you even sure it’s… somebody?”

“Yes!? I saw him clear as day! A man of about thirty. He had these weird goggles...”

“But, well, everyone’s here, right? None of our men are missing. Isn’t this the exact kind of trick the myths warn us of?”

The crowd murmurs in agreement. Walter exhales sharply and takes a step forward.

“Are you-“

“Enough!”

A bellowing voice cuts through the din. The chief rises from his seat next to the abbot.

“I won't allow harm to befall any person walking upon my land.”

The abbot nervously nestles with his hands.

“B-but sir! We still don’t know if it’s a person at all…”

Before the Chief can say anything, I shove my way to the front and shout out: “I think I can help!”

The chief pauses and looks at me. “Say what, my boy?”

“I think I know who this guy is. Earlier today, a balloon of the Airmail Federation landed on our fields, but I couldn’t find the pilot anywhere...”

Walter grunts. “Explains those goggles.”

The chief scratches his chin for a moment, then turns towards Luke.

“Fetch your healing salves, Abbot," he commands. "We are going up the mountain."

***

The people of the town get to work. Within minutes, they’ve gathered a stretcher, rescue gear, and provisions. We reconvene at the town square. The chief stands tall next to the well as he issues his orders.

“Walter and Fred, you are coming with me. Roy”- he points at me – “since you’re so eager to help, prepare your house to take in our guest.” His voice takes on a gentler tone for a moment. “Do you think you can manage that?”

“Yes, sir!” I shout in reply. The chief smiles.

I jump onto my bike and make my way back home. Once I’ve arrived, I put the bike back into the shed and head to the landing site. There might be something important to my guest left in the basket.

I see many packages and personal supplies the man has left behind. It does not seem like the wreck of an unplanned crash. Most, if not all, of the packages are still intact. Among the provisions, I find a bottle of champagne. 

I go inside and put it on the table, then prepare the place for our guest. I start by cleaning out a space in the living room for the temporary bed. Suddenly, I feel something tugging at my shirt. It’s my brother.

“What are you doing, Roy?”

“We’re having a visitor tonight. They found him in the forest, and he’s pretty banged up.”

My brother furrows his brows.

“Why does he have to sleep here? Couldn’t he stay in the church?”

“You wouldn’t get it. This is a special mission from the chief.”

He pouts.

“I’m not going to stay in a place with some creepy stranger!”

“If you don’t like it, go visit Grandma downhill.”

He stomps out. A few moments later, I watch his bike shrink into the distance through the window. Once I’m certain he’s gone, I drop the bedding and pay the balloon another visit.

I climb into the basket. There is nothing new to be found, no matter how often I look. I rest my arms on the basket's rim and take a breather. I drift off, wondering about the life of a pilot. A life on the move sounds exhilarating and free, but I wonder if they ever get to stop and enjoy moments like these. I take another breath of fresh air and listen to the wind blow.

I let the wind ruffle my hair a little. It reminds me of my mother’s hand. Dad told me I had to be a man and take care of things while they’re gone, but sometimes, it's all too much. At times like that, all I want to do is follow them and be their child again. Still…

After a while, I hear the church bell ring. The chief and the others should be back soon. I'd better hurry to make sure everything’s ready when they arrive.

***

Many long for life in the city.

Many long for life in the town.

Even in the middle of a megalopolis, sometimes, nothing happens.

Even in the middle of nowhere, sometimes, the impossible happens.

Somewhere

***

There's a commotion outside. I rush out the front door. Immediately, I notice that most of the expedition members are missing. Before I can ask anything, Fred falls to his knees and begins to scream. 

“They are watching me… The crows, they know, they know…” 

He drops the stretcher and runs towards the shed, continuing to screech his head off. Walter bends over to puke. His vomit is weirdly sparkly. As he bends down, I catch a glimpse of the back of his neck.

Mushrooms have sprouted from Walter's neck.

I look down at the guy on the stretcher and see that he, too, is covered in hundreds of tiny yellow-capped fungi. He's hugging a lifeless baby deer to his chest. A cloud of strange dust hovers around him. As I take a step back, one of the townspeople grabs Walter by the arm.

She starts dragging him towards the house. I run out to help her. The lady and I pick him up, carry him inside, and roll him onto the bed.

“What happened to the chief?” I ask.

She responds without looking up. “He's back in town.”

Just then, another scream from the shed. I rush over and push the door aside. The smell of vomit is very potent. I find Fred curled into a ball in the corner. His body is ravaged by holes from which the familiar fungi emerge. He, too, is covered in that strange dust. It has spread all over the walls of the shed. Suddenly, I understand. Spores. I stumble backwards. Careful not to breathe in, I run back to the house.

There, I find the woman I was just talking to kneeling on the ground and reaching up into the air trying to grasp something.

“Please, babe, don't leave me! It was only one time! One time...” She breaks out into tears.

Things have spiraled way out of control. I can't deal with this. I can't deal with any of this. I need to find the chief.

Holding my breath, I grab my bicycle from the shed and ride into town. 

The smell of vomit and cries for help hit me from every direction as I arrive downtown. I see Margaret, the baker, sprawled out shirtless on the ground. She's desperately trying to dig out the caps growing across her back and screams, “It itches, it itches...” 

I finally reach the church. As I open the door, it bumps against something. I look down to see Luke lying there, naked and lifeless. A trail of blood leads from his body to the altar. Here, I find the chief. He stands high behind the podium, having donned the abbot's bloody garments. Bumps across his neck like a royal necklace, caps ready to pop out. He raises his arms.

“You damn heathens. I warned you all, and now he has come to deliver his punishment...” He interrupts his rambling when he spots me. “Have you come to repent, my child? The forest's spirits have descended to take us once and for all. There is no way out now, no way out but death at our own hands, that we may be spared their ensnarement! Join me, child!” 

His necklace begins to sprout.

I run out of the church, jump onto my bicycle, and keep pedaling mindlessly until I collapse in front of the general store. I have to leave. The thought flashes through my head. Get out... get out, get out...

Suddenly, I remember the balloon. If I had a gas canister... 

I rush into the store, steal the first best gas can, secure it to my bike's back, and take off.

I look past the buildings at the mountain range. Is it getting tighter around us? I don’t remember it being that close to town. It's coming for me, coming to trap me here. 

GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT... 

I keep pedaling like crazy until I reach Grandma’s house. I frantically jump off my bike and run inside. I meet my brother in the living room. He seems surprised to see me. 

“Hey, it's Roy!”

He freezes for a second, then starts backing up into a corner while staring at me.

I try to calm him down. “We have to run. I know it may be scary, but it's the only way we'll survive. Please, trust me...”

He is beginning to tear up. “What is wrong with you? What's all that stuff on your body? You smell weird…” 

He pukes onto the floor. 

“Why... What did you do to our house? Why is it... empty... I want everything to be..." His sobbing becomes unintelligible.

I don't have time for this. The rocks are closing in. I try to drag him along, but the bastard digs his heels in and keeps screeching until Grandma shows up in the doorframe, wielding a knife. Mushrooms cover her face, rendering her blind. She growls with a raspy voice. "Get out! Don't touch me! Get out of my-" She takes a stab at the air. I make a run for it.

GET

OUT

GET 

OUT

I've reached the balloon. The rocks are closing in on me. Quickly, I exchange the gas tanks and light the burner. My hands move automatically; It feels like I'm sleepwalking. Above me, the rubber bulb begins to expand.

I hear the crunch of wheatstalks under boots. The man of the forest has awoken from his slumber. Covered in caps, he emerges from the wheat. 

I take a step towards him, and I speak, “I’m not... staying... in this town, not a second more.” 

I break out into panting. My words have become heavy. “I will... make it... out of here... Mom... Da-” 

I let go and collapse onto the ground. The pilot stands above me, holding the bottle of champagne in one arm, the deer in the other. Spores all around us. Rocks closing in.

On the ground. My body itching. Growing beyond myself. Into the earth. Sprouting roots. Never, never getting out.

Facing the sky. Unusually fluffy clouds. Eyes resting.


Rocks closing in.