III.

Later that night, Sefgh, Matt, M-Bot and I gathered around a campfire shortly outside the edge of the town. F.P. was staying one last night with his parents, and it was the last night the rest of us were going to spend on this end of the Dead Sea for months or even years as we completed our divine task. It was a very special occasion for us all. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, and the stars and the full moon shone down on us, bathing our clearing in dark blue light, complimenting the bright reds and oranges of our campfire. Bugs buzzed peacefully, a calm wind blew through the damp air, and the four of us lay down circled around the campfire, having eaten our dinners but not yet ready to sleep, talking the night away. We were talking about what we each got from our stops, and I mentioned what I'd been told, which sparked a very long conversation. I'll abbreviate it a bit here, but I want to write it all down while it's still in my memory.

Maine: While I was getting my books, the person running the shop told me this whole really long story.

Sefgh: What was it?

Maine: The story of The Comet. He said it used to be pretty famous.

Sefgh: You've never heard it?

Maine: Nope.

Matt: Some education you had! I learned that when I was just'a kid!

Sefgh: What kind of school did you go to?

Matt: Oh, y'know, nothing too fancy. You?

Sefgh: Just the one in our town. I've been there since I was a kid, remember?

Matt: Well sure, but what was it actually like?

Sefgh: Pretty good! I mean, not like I've been to any other school, but you know, it was nice.

Sefgh: What about you, Maine?

Maine: I never actually went to school.

Matt: I knew it!

Maine: Whatever, I was happy enough not being in it. Everything you two tell me about it makes it sound miserable.

Matt: But it wasn't miserable!

Maine: Sitting in a room getting lectured for hours when you're a kid sounds pretty boring. Didn't you ever want to just leave?

Matt: Not when I was actually payin' attention!

Maine: Sounds dumb.

M-Bot: Sometimes I think you're the only sane one here, Maine.

Sefgh: Hey, not you too!

M-Bot: What? I mean, who really cares about half the stuff you're supposed to learn about in school? It's a lot easier already knowing all of it.

Matt: Showoff!

Sefgh: Most people don't already know all of it, that's the point!

Maine: Never hurt me. If it's not something you learn surviving in the world, who cares?

Sefgh: What about history?

Maine: History is stupid.

Sefgh: But you need to know that stuff!

M-Bot: But why? It's just a bunch of stuff that already happened.

Sefgh: Things that already happened still affect the world! None of this would even be happening without the stuff that already happened! Like the Comet - none of us would even be here without her!

Maine: Is that story even true?

Sefgh: Yes, and you'd know if you read about it, dummy!

Matt: Hey, watch your language!

Sefgh: Haha, whatever!

Maine: But seriously, why actually bother learning about it? I mean, stuff that just happened, sure, but thousands of years ago?

Matt: Well, y'know, there are certain patterns that repeat through history. If you just keep trying stuff that already happened, it won't work!

Maine: Well... in that story, the Comet tried healing the world through violence, and it didn't work. What about what we're doing now?

Sefgh: What do you mean?

Maine: Aren't we trying to heal the world through violence?

M-Bot: I thought you were already convinced to keep going.

Maine: I am, I'm just making an argument.

Sefgh: Well... sure, but it's different this time! The Weapon became the Comet because of a message from the heavens. What we're doing now is because of a message from the heavens, too!

Matt: Different situations require different solutions.

Maine: So actually, history doesn't matter, because if you do different things, they might just work anyways?

Matt: Exactly!

Sefgh: Stop grinning when you say stupid stuff!

Matt: Hah! Well, hey, it's not totally wrong. Sometimes you gotta do something different, sometimes you gotta do the same thing but different! Big difference!

Maine: And you think this is the second thing?

Sefgh: Exactly. I mean-

M-Bot: You do want to do this, right? You keep being a killjoy.

Maine: What joy? We're killing people.

M-Bot: Oh, you know what I mean.

Maine: Yeah, sure. I do want to do this. It's a divine quest, and besides, if that man who came from the clouds was telling the truth, and if what Zsuius said is any indication he definitely was, this 'Cardo' definitely deserves to die. I guess I just don't get how none of you three have any doubts over it, even for a second.

Sefgh: You can't get too hung up on this stuff, Maine. Knowledge is important, but sometimes faith is even more important. Knowing what to do and when to do it...

Maine: Sure, I know.

Sefgh: No! I mean it! It can't just be an impulse. Getting handed a divine quest is basically the most direct it can possibly be, can't it?

Maine: I do know! That's not what I'm talking about!

Matt: You're talkin' about how Sefgh's a true believer, right?

Maine: Yes, exactly! You too.

Sefgh: I mean, you haven't spent as much time in that town as Matt and I have, Maine...

M-Bot: Glad to be out, personally! That place was falling apart.

Sefgh: Oh, whatever. You can't judge it just because it's fallen on hard times! It's about the community, you know? I mean...

Matt: We have a God in our backyard!

Sefgh: Exactly! How can you not believe it? My dad saw Her, one of my other friends saw Her, one of Matt's friends saw Her...

Matt: Don't you know anyone who has?

Maine: Sure.

Matt: So you see why we believe so hard!

Sefgh: The Relayer relays the truth!

M-Bot: But how do you know he's not just lying about what She says?

Maine: Yeah, exactly.

Sefgh: He wouldn't do that!

Maine: You're sure?

Sefgh: He's done so much for us! He helps run the place, he keeps everything working, the church helps the homeless and the hopeless, he's a good guy, Maine!

Matt: And c'mon, even if he was lying, a lot of the stuff he's said's come true, hasn't it? The two holy figures, the man from the other world, 'n' now even some of the later stuff from the prophecy...

Sefgh: Yes, exactly! We met a dark man in a dark place - Zsuius in the cave - and now we're about to part the sea!

M-Bot: 'Part the sea'? You mean use a bridge?

Sefgh: Oh, stop being so obtuse. It's metaphorical! That's how prophecies are!

M-Bot: I'm not impressed yet. It could be vague on purpose.

Sefgh: Now I know you're just messing with us, it's not vague at all!

M-Bot: Then why doesn't it include days of the week, and times of day, and exact locations?

Matt: Oh, what are you, a robot?

M-Bot: That joke stopped being funny.

Matt: Haha! It was never funny!

M-Bot: That joke was never funny.

Sefgh: I guess I don't blame you though, Maine. I mean, it's like you said... murder is pretty heavy stuff. I'm still scared, honestly.

Maine: Exactly. What's the worst crime you've ever even committed?

Sefgh: Well... one time I... stole something.

Maine: You stole something?

Sefgh: Yeah, when I was a kid. And... well...

Matt: That's nothin'!

Sefgh: Huh?

Matt: Stealing something when you were a kid? No one would ever get mad at'cha for that!

Sefgh: Like you've done anything worse!

Matt: I have!

Sefgh: And what was that, hm?

Matt: I... killed someone once!

Maine: No you didn't.

Matt: A spider! In my house! I killed with no mercy!

Sefgh: That doesn't count!

M-Bot: Well, if you've read the people I have, some of them would beg to differ.

Sefgh: Whatever! It doesn't count.

Matt: What about you, Maine? What's the worst crime you've ever done?

Maine: Not saying.

Matt: M-Bot?

M-Bot: How could I commit a crime if one of you three is constantly breathing down my neck?

Sefgh: M-Bot!

M-Bot: See? You scold me like a kid.

Sefgh: Well you are! You're barely two years old.

M-Bot: Do I act like a toddler?

Sefgh: No, you act like a teenager.

Matt: Hahaha! You were the least rebellious teenager I've ever heard of, Sef. I mean, here I was sneaking outta my parents' house all the time, all in a rush to live in my own place, still reeling from the move north, and you were always so... [he puts on an accent] prim and proper!

Sefgh: Hey!

Matt: It's cuz you're so sheltered!

Sefgh: Well, alright, maybe.

Matt: You lived your whole life in that town, you always believed all of it... the closest you ever got to rebellion was, like, getting into robotics when your parents thought all the li'l robots around town were a pain in the ass!

Maine: Language.

Matt: Ass ass ass ass ass! There!

Maine: I can't believe you'd say that.

Matt: Well I did! So there!

Sefgh: Well, because I got into robotics, now we have M-Bot, so it all worked out in the end, didn't it?

M-Bot: What, like you all would've died without me?

Matt: It's nice having you around! Four is better than three.

M-Bot: Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm the best of us all.

Matt: It's true!

M-Bot: Those stupid meatbags have no idea how much better I am. Isn't that right?

Sefgh: Why are you talking to a rock like you know it?

M-Bot: It's my distant ancestor. I'm made of metal, you see.

Sefgh: Robot jokes stopped being funny!

M-Bot: You're just jealous of my comedy processors.

Sefgh: You don't have those!

By this point we were all laughing, even M-Bot. The conversation died down for a bit, and we looked up at the stars. The campfire had started to wane, and they had begun to outshine it.

Maine: So do you think you're all ready to cross the bridge tomorrow?

Matt: Born ready!

Maine: Really? It feels a bit like a point of no return for me, like we won't be going back for a long time.

Matt: And I'm ready for it. Y'think I'm joking? That town was getting boring as hell anyways!

Sefgh: Well...

Matt: Y'don't think so?

Sefgh: I'm gonna miss my friends there. Won't you?

Matt: Oh, sure. Vanis, Jaletto, Alamo...

Sefgh: Yon, Alexicut, and I mean, don't forget Jozep...

Matt: God, you're always talkin' about Jozep! Sometimes I think you wanted that guy to come with us, hahaha.

Sefgh: He's really nice! I mean what can I say? We've been friends for ages, he always helped me when I felt down...

Matt: I know, I know, just ribbin' you.

Sefgh: I guess there's no point in reminiscing too much, though. We had to go, like it or not, right?

M-Bot: Like it.

Sefgh: And we'll be going back there by the end anyways, if it all goes right...

Matt: Yeah! And it won't be the same old crap either, it'll all be better! Pretty worth it, right?

Sefgh: Yeah... sometimes, you just have to do what has to be done.

(A pause.)

Sefgh: ...But it is pretty scary, isn't it? I have no idea what's on the other side of that bridge, at least not firsthand. I've read books, but I've hardly ever travelled outside of our town. Sure, it's been fine so far, but so far we haven't really done anything, either. Most of our... targets... are on that side of the Sea, and I'm... well, I'm scared of it. Scared to kill, and...

Maine: Scared to die?

Sefgh: Maybe. I have faith we won't. But I'm definitely scared of getting hurt!

Matt: The prophecy mentions death a lot, y'know.

Sefgh: Sure, and it's metaphorical. How can we keep going if we die?

Matt: Magic!

Sefgh: Well fine, maybe I'm a little scared to die. But I have faith I won't stay dead! It's like the Relayer always says, death and rebirth!

Matt: Now that's the spirit!

M-Bot: I'm scared to die.

Matt: That's not the spirit!

M-Bot: But I'm ready to finally do something. My life has been boring so far, and so has yours, Sefgh, Matt, Maine.

Maine: Not mine.

Matt: Yeah, whatever, Mr. Mystery.

Maine: But you mean it? You're all ready?

Sefgh: Yes. You?

Maine: Yeah. I'm ready. I'm not afraid to die.

The next morning, when we woke up, our campsite was covered in fog, the sunrise's brilliant tones only coming through faintly. We stayed there a bit longer before going back to the Town of the Dead Sea Bridge, picking up F.P., and crossing the bridge without incident, which took about half the day. When we came through to the other side, it took a few more hours to pass through that side's town, a much less impressive place, and then into the thick forests of the region, all smothered with fog. We were there, and finally opened up our book of names once again. It was time to take things seriously.