Chapter 11:

Pax

A Steam Requiem


Eugo had spent the last few weeks improving his shovel smithing capabilities, but otherwise he hadn’t really done much else. This meant that with days of frequently either smithing, visiting Fiz or Ilken his days had once again reached normality.

He still enjoyed burning coal and all that good stuff, but there was way more to do now, such as going out to engage with some of his newfound friends. Since meeting Fiz, Eugo had spent more and more time engaging with people such as George and Helena. 

Especially after the crucifixion incident.

Today Eugo was on his way to visit Helena, and then also Ilken a bit later if he had the time. He had become slightly annoyed with his lack of shovel-making progress and felt the need to get some fresh air. 

Plus, Helena’s Mum knew a reasonable amount regarding shovel making and he could always use more advice.

On his way he passed by George who seemed to be lazing out the front of his house… not really doing too much.

“Hi George… you awake?”

“Huh… huh! I wasn’t asleep no.” The boy stood up quickly and pretended to get back to work.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it…”

In the distance he heard George let out a long sigh, before seemingly collapsing back into his chair.

Eugo thought he had time to make a quick detour before visiting Helena, heading off down a lesser-known track with one sole purpose. He had to find something for Ilken.

As far as Eugo knew it had been around a hundred coal cycles since he had met him, even if it hadn’t, he still wanted to present him a gift. Since Eugo wasn’t entirely sure what Ilken liked, he went off into town to find him a small trinket.

§

Visiting a few various stores, he saw metal creatures, new steam engines, shovels, chains and rings, everything one could ever need. Though none of it called out to Eugo, he needed something special.

In a small alley away from any particular shops he found it, a perfectly spherical metal ball. Eugo knew it wasn’t anything magical… it was a ball after all, but there was a certain omnipotence to it. 

So perfect and so smooth Eugo was kinda attached to it, so he decided to lug it with him secretly. Eugo didn’t want to be seen randomly carrying a giant steel ball for no reason.

§

Later in the town centre it didn’t take Eugo long to find Helena laying atop a roof peacefully.

“Hi Helena.”

“Oh, hey Eugo, what have you been up to?”

“Nothing much really, same as the past few days. Make a shovel, admire it, throw it away, make a new one.”

“Sounds… like a pretty interesting life.”

“Yeah, I’m going out walking for a reason.” 

“Heh, fair enough, you wouldn’t happen to have seen George, would you?”

“Yeah, he’s out lazing about in front of his house.”

“You mind pointing me to where it is, I’ve kinda forgotten as I only found out just recently. I used to avoid anyway near his house as though within were the fiery flames of a steam engine.”

Eugo happily pointed it out to Helena from above.

“Are you getting along with George recently?”

“More than I used to, I think I almost respect him after what happened… still a creep though.”

“He can be like that, I’m sure if you give it time, you’ll come to tolerate him at the least.”

“I sure fucking hope so.”

“Anyway, I’d best be off, I have someone else I should probably go see.”

“Is it that eccentric friend of yours? I saw you hanging around her quite a bit recently.”

“Uhhhhh, no someone else.”

“Ok, you do you, seeya Eugo.”

On on his way, Eugo crossed the painfully long trip to reach the desert, to find Ilken sitting there alone by a tree. Walking up to him, something was different. As if the boy’s hope and wonder in the world had suddenly disappeared, Eugo just thought he was imagining things.

“Hi Ilken” Eugo didn’t receive a response, although it didn’t seem like Ilken had heard him.

“Ilken, you there?”

“Oh… Hi Eugo, I didn’t think you’d be coming today.”

“I just talked to some people on the way here, sorry I’m late.”

“It’s fine.”

“What do you want to talk about today?”

“I don’t care really.”

“You ok Ilken, you seem a lot more down than usual?”

“I just… give me a second to think.”

For a few minutes the two boys sat there in peace. As Eugo watch the world fly by slowly, step by step, minute by minute. Ilken seemed to contemplate something, almost as though he were having a nightmare.

His eyes would light up with fear, and sometimes glisten slightly, although Eugo wasn’t able to tell what was wrong. It didn’t help that whenever Eugo tried to speak up to him, Ilken just sat there. Silent.

In the end Eugo handed him the trinket he found sometime earlier. Ilken just looked at it, his eyes no longer brightened at the smallest of objects, and he no longer spoke with a whimsical joy.

“Is that a bullet Eugo?”

“A… wait what?”

“That is a bullet right… what else could it be. Why are you even showing me that?”

“I uhhhh, found it and thought you might find it interesting… like I did.”

The boy tossed the bullet as far as he could, disappearing into the endless metal desert.

“I don’t want something that pointless Eugo, why don’t you just go.”

Eugo sat there, looking up at the clouded sky above. “I refuse, I’ll wait here until you decide to talk.”

So, the two sat in peace. Nothing but the suffocating sound of silence and their own thoughts to entertain them.

Sometime later Ilken spoke.

“My parents… they were all I had. When I grew up, I always found myself hated by the other Spotless, just because we lived of a lower rank. Supposedly that meant we were lesser.

Though when I sat alone at home, with my parents nearby I felt content. It wasn’t an amazing life, we were treated far worse than those on the lower floors, but my parents were there to protect me. 

Every now and again we would play games, or simply talk, they did their best to make my life enjoyable. Eventually when they were busy, I started walking off to find places where I could be alone. 

At some point I found a small cave that led out here, then I met you. Since then, I spent less and less time at home… until when day I came back, my parents weren’t there. 

It wasn’t until later that I found out what happened and… they’d been used as food.” 

As the boy spoke tears began to well in his eyes, the thoughts seemed to make him want to vomit, as Eugo saw Ilken bend over in pain.

“I hate the Spotless Eugo! They are horrible, horrible beasts… They should all just die!”

Eugo could only watch as his friend released all his emotions. Gently holding him just to let him know he was there. Eugo had never lost a family member, or not one he could remember at least. 

He had been alone for as long as he knew, it was only as of recent that people began to surround him.

“I… I don’t know what to do anymore Eugo, there’s nowhere that will take me, nothing.”

Eugo could do little to assist his friend. They laid in silence for some time, but eventually Eugo spoke up.

“Ilken, time will come that you find those people that understand you, but for now you will always have me.”

It was enough, the boy smiled warming at Eugo and the two parted ways. In Eugo’s mind he wanted to know if there was something more. Could he have saved Ilken from his hell, or was he bound to it forever.

Eventually he relented that he couldn’t do anything, unable to comprehend the pain Ilken must feel, Eugo thought it was best to leave him in peace.

Lying awake that night in bed, Eugo placed himself in a situation. One where he lost a friend. It didn’t really matter to him who the friend was, but he tried to imagine the pain. Though incomplete Eugo was able to grasp the loneliness that Ilken may have felt.

Ostracised for all his life he only had one method of escape, his family. Now that they had disappeared, he had nothing left. Eugo just hoped Ilken would go back to his whimsical curious self.