The Antelope's Journey

12. This money could save my son’s life

It’s that kid. He’s always staring at me. For what, I don’t know.

“Francina!”

Francina woke up from her thoughts. She looked back at Jim, who had been calling. Jim ordered, “You get back here! What are you doing?! We’re almost done!!” She saw Jim get another blast that transferred to the man he was squabbling with. The other man—the last cousin—vanished from the blast and morphed into a floating soul. Jim could now jump in time before his tile could disappear. Francina was not changing her mind and Jim saw that he could never persuade the stubborn Francina. Jim decided to continue ahead as there was no point in trying to convince her to come back. Francina had her mind set on helping the boy. He was suspended, dangling down from the tile. Any minute now, he would fall off.

Francina and Jim had both succeeded in throwing Alamson and Victor off the tiles. This must have been sweet revenge for Francina. The game was over for the two cousins.

Far ahead, Kamo had made it to the tree. He was safe and that was when he saw his boy, Kali, struggling on a tile. It silently broke Kamo to have to see that. “Why didn’t I see him? Dammit!” Kamo surely, felt like a failure. He was disappointed in himself yet again. Back home, he left his son at the hospital suffering from heart disease.

He’s close to death now. I’ve worked all his life trying to gather up some funds to get him treated. I let him down. I’ve spent my entire wealth on him and he’s still not okay. If I could win this thing on time and get back to him, oh… My wife and I fought every day, we cried every day and we ended up starving every day to save money for my son’s bills. The decade has been tough on us, no mercy at all.

I met this kid here, and he reminds me a lot of my son. I let him down too. I, Kamo Mohale, am useless!

Francina went back, she had to go through the witches again and the disappearing tiles again. Still, she was half way there and she wanted to finish what she started. She only hoped that he would continue to hold on. Thoughts flashed in her head and she paused.

Exactly, why am I doing this? Who is this kid to me anyway?

“No, no!” Kamo cried, “Please, go help him!”

No wait, I saw this kid in my neighbourhood. He offered me bread. Did he think I was homeless? He thought I was in need and he tried to help me! In my right mind, it is only fair that I do the same.

The whole time, Monkey was asleep in Kali’s bag. As soon as Kali fell off and started dangling over, Monkey did sense tension. Monkey had gotten out of the bag and climbed back to the top of the tile. Monkey had been trying to pull Kali up onto the tile but her hands were tiny and Kali’s weight was a ton heavy for her. Monkey screeched and hopped around trying to grab all the other contestants’ attention, but they had all minded their own business. The tile vanished and Kali could almost fall off. Instantly, he felt his clothes holding him up. He looked up and he saw Francina grabbing the back piece of his wear. The monkey was holding onto him as well. Hurried, Kali swung up his arm and reached for her wrist. She pulled them both up.

Now, they had to go forward. Kamo watched intensely, he was rooting for them. Jim still felt it was stupid of Francina to turn back for someone unknown like that. He was keeping watch of the others from making the chant and leaving them there alone, and stuck.

“How many times did you get shot?”

Kali answered, “Many, I don’t know.”

Francina had made an estimation that the herbs could only protect them at least five times. She felt it would be embarrassing if Kali got shot and lost after all she had done already. She had decided to keep him alive at all costs. She knew she had been shot only once. She would use her body to protect him.

It’s been a while now, and I’ve taken 3 shots for him already because of his recklessness. I hope my estimation is correct. On the 5th blast, there’s a possibility that I might go.

She got very excited as they were one more step there. Kamo stood by to receive them. Some others cheered on. Francina and Kali leaped one more time. Kali landed while his body was in shock. Francina got up from her fall. She quickly realized that he had taken the last blast that was headed for her. All in suspense, they watched him zapping in response to the current.

He snapped out of it, all of a sudden, and he fell back to his unconsciousness. He was not moving and neither was he responsive. Kamo felt like a true failure this and Francina fell like a real fool. She tried to play the hero, she had shown greatest courage among the rest, but now, there laid Kali, unresponsive.

They all turned to the tree as there was nothing left to stay for anymore. They had to get going—

“HUH!” Kali jumped awake! They all turned back and saw him get up. It was a cheerful moment but still, Francina charged towards him angrily. She grabbed his thin biceps and gave him an intimidating glare. “What were you thinking?!”

Kali pulled himself off of her, “I was trying to help you!”

The rest were all relieved that he was okay. This was a boy who had no issues with anyone. And so, it was easy for all of them to be happy about his survival. Francina did feel touched to hear his words. No-one had ever tried to help her before. Before that day, she knew no-one who would give up their life like that for her. She wanted to stay mad at the reckless boy. However, she was impressed.

Kamo was the most relieved. He went and picked up his boy. He spun him around and squeezed him tight. Kali’s monkey was still unconscious in his bag, but it was okay. They made the chant around the tree. They got absorbed by the tree. A sensation like that of teleportation over powered them and kept them strictly non-locomotive. They could not move and they could not even open their eyes. What was happening?