Salty and Cara – Purple Peak 3
Love and crime in a world of fruits and vegetables – a juicy fable.
Third story, third episode: After their arrival on Purple Peak, the trio must go deep to find answers.
What is this all about? [Salty & Cara – Info Page: Overview, table of contents and background]
Factor Time
They entered a dome cut into the mountain. From the hall, a number of passageways led in different directions. Some of them were brightly lit, others had only an obscure illumination of a color Salty had never seen.
A young hooded eggplant was waiting for them. He and Hanano obviously knew each other, and there was a cheerful greeting. Then they followed their guide into one of the dimly lit tunnels. As they walked deeper into the stone, Salty observed the strange lighting on the walls. They could see well, but everything around them was bathed in an unreal glow, like in a dream.
“I take it these are the special quarters,” he asked Joe as Hanano strolled far ahead, chatting with the young fruit.
“You’ll see,” came a short reply and Joe showed what could be interpreted as a smile.
Then they came to another hall. Not quite as big as the entrance chamber, but still astounding.
‘How did they cut and carry all that material?’ the investigator mused in the back of his mind, but Salty had no time for further contemplation as they were about to go through a complex procedure. They had to take off their coats and all other items they had on them. This was followed by a walk through a soothing waterfall that smelled like a flower. The smell was somehow familiar, but he couldn’t quite place its origin. On the other side was a room. They could dry off and were given a simple sheet to change into. Salty had a little problem with this, but the two bananas and the eggplant showed a routine that indicated they had done this several times.
Now Hanano came over to talk to Salty.
“It seems that a lot has happened here since my last visit. Of course, everyone is very upset about what happened with the deadly nutrient. And there is also a search for Gio. Which is quite unusual … .”
He did not get to finish his hushed information because the guide motioned for them to follow him into a room which was sealed off by a door that seemed to be made entirely of the light material on the wall. As they got closer, it became apparent that it was actually some kind of semi-opaque metal.
“Ah, Lanceolato. How long has it been since you were in my humble home, my friend?”
The eggplant, clad in the same kind of sheet they were wearing, was old. Very old.
“You are too kind, Master,” the agent replied, “For one thing, I would say it has been far too long, for I have missed our conversations. But it has also been far too short, for there was trouble the last time I visited you, and there is trouble now.”
“That’s my quick seeker. To the point as always.”
Hanano seemed almost a little embarrassed by the comment: “Forgive me, Master. I am rushing again. I know: What has the right time will find the right place.”
“You have been an excellent student, dear Lanceolato. I hope Her Majesty is well.”
“Bright as the day, like always.”
“Oh yes, she certainly is,” the master smirked, “It’s a good thing she’s also pleasant to the eye. Otherwise, everyone would be afraid of her.”
“Who are you telling?”, Hanano wore a mixture of tenderness and anger on his face now.
“She still has that spell over you, doesn’t she …?”
“Hm …”, Her Majesty’s special agent was not amused by the insinuation, but obviously could not disagree with the statement.
“…so, my grand nephew has gotten himself into very serious trouble, I hear,” the old master broke the strange silence after a short while, “His mother was an exceptional student, and so was her brother. But when he went to work at the university in the New Valley, I was not so sure about the outcome of that venture. Sadly, I was right. My niece died after her brother returned, and we could not help him with his poisoning. Aubergio followed the same path as his uncle, and it led him straight to despair.” The Master was really sad, you could tell.
“You still do not approve of your people leaving the mountains, Your Highness? Times are changing. The aubergine community provides valuable products and services to the valleys. And the eggplants are honest and good workers. They are highly respected everywhere I ask.”
“That’s very kind of you to say. I know we have to adapt. That is why we helped you last time. The world out there is moving fast now. And if we don’t want to fall off the tree, we better start climbing. That’s what my young friend Adam Anacuta, the mayor of New Valley, always says, isn’t it? I was devastated to hear that he lost his daughter Bosca to my nephew’s ambitious plans. I am so sorry.”
“I know, Master. We all understand that this is a singular failure and your community has nothing to do with it. We do not blame you.”
‘Interesting, Salty thought, ‘it sounds like pleasantries, but it feels like politics. These two have been playing this game for a long time.’
The Master had taken a seat on an old pedestal at the side of the room. He motioned for Hanano to sit next to him. The following conversation was held in a low voice, and Salty could only make out fragments of sentences.
“Hideout … watch … not involved … no harm … prosecution.”
“No!” The old Eggplant Supreme Leader had risen quickly and was now angry. But his opponent was not willing to let the matter go away easily.
“He may be your nephew, Your Highness, but he is also a criminal and a murderer.”
There was a tense silence.
“You can try him in your court, but you cannot put him in jail or execute him. We will deal with him here.”
“You would kill your own family member?”
“You know we do not kill, Lanceolato. We are bound by an oath to protect life. That is our core. But we can make the decision to shorten the span that someone has to live.”
“So you will try him after we have tried him?”
“Certainly.”
“And what if the council decides he is not guilty?”
“That will not happen. He has broken the oath. He has given away his right to be protected.”
“What will you do?”
“Give him his poison.”
I would say it has been far too long, for I have missed our conversations. But it has also been far too short, for there was trouble the last time I visited you, and there is trouble now.”
Side Notes:
- If you’re curious about what happens next, well, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until the last Friday of next month. As always.
- You have no idea what is going on? Well, maybe take a look at the [Salty and Cara – Info Page], the [Salty and Cara – Who is Who] page or the [Salty and Cara – How About] page.
Needless to say, the stories about Salty and Cara are pure figments of my imagination. No resemblance to any person or place – present or past – is intended. But I am sure you have already figured that out 😉