Rhythm

Humming softly as she paddled through the swamp, a woman traveled at the early hours of the morning.

It was the only time that safe for any human to travel around. The oil marshes were full of strange creatures. Hybrid creatures that failed their tests in the Red City were disposed here. In fact, most of all the Red City’s failed experiments ended here in the oil marshes.

That was why the water was black and thick like oil. The woman lifted her paddle carefully to look at the syrup-oil dripping off the paddle.

The oil was acid. One touch of this on her skin and she would have a severe burn. Even though it was dangerous to boat across this oil marsh, the need outweighed the risks.

Just across this toxic oil marsh was an island. Thankfully, not all the Red City’s failed experiments were bad. A supply of batteries, ion generators, and even healing bottles were dumped here.

The woman had just collected any useful device that could fit on her boat. It would be help her clan.

There were very few human outposts anymore. The Red City hunted humans down for their experiments. It forced most people to go into hiding. However, no Red Masked hunters liked to go this far out. So… it seemed like everyone was safe for now.

Arriving at her destination, the woman dragged her metal boat to the shore and anchored it to the ground. She was greeted by a few other clan members.

“Jade. You have collected a lot of supplies… weren’t you worried the boat would be too heavy and you would sink?”

“Not at all. These supplies were light enough. Here, catch!”

Jade tossed a bottle to clan member and the old man immediately smiled.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this before. You seem to be better than your father at traveling the oil marsh.”

Jade laughed and awkwardly shrugged her shoulders.

“He always took be on boat rides remember? The clan chief never liked the idea of allowing kids visit the oil marsh, but I guess it was for the best.”

Not many from people in the clan could travel across the oil marsh. They didn’t know how to read the shift in the direction of the streams.

Of course, Jade had the rare opportunity to get to know the oil marsh at an early stage in her life. She remembered how often she would simply stare out into the blackness and be guided by her father to learn its movement.

Jade snapped back to attention when the children came running to see what she had brought back from the island.

“Any toys for me?”

“No. Not today my little friends.”

“Then what’s this?” Said a small child as they lifted up a round orb.

Jade reddened in embarrassment.

“That’s… a gift for Rutherford.”

All the children exchanged a mischievous grin.

“Jade likes Rutherford! Jade likes Rutherford!” All the children chanted in harmony.

Jade laughed in agreement and pulled a small item from her jacket.

“Okay, you guys got me. Here take this. Now be quiet and don’t say that nonsense anymore. Be gone now!”

The children took the strange item and were immediately dazzled by its shiny appearance. The ran off to play with it.

The old man chuckled as Jade collected the supplies off her boat.

“Is it that obvious?” Said Jade softly.

“Like the scar on my nose.”

The old man had a wrinkled smile as he began to walk away. He had a bad knee after an accident years back.

Jade quickly set down her boxes and went back to the boat. She pulled out a long box and rushed to the old man.

“Here. I found this. It will help.”

“This… is.”

The old man took out the mesh wire and placed it around his fragile knee. It was a tool to help support the muscle and bone structure.

Touched by the young woman’s kindness, the old man patted her shoulder.

“Your kindness knows no bounds. This clan is lucky to have you. Since the death of your father, I half expected you to become bitter and resentful of the clan… but you are still Jade.”

***

Jade continued to drop off supplies throughout the clan.

She gave a few healing bottles to a mother with a sick baby, she also gave it to an old woman who had been feeling unwell for the past few days even if was reluctant to admit it.

The clan also had a a few inventors that benefited from Jade’s occasional drop off of new and strange devices. They helped make certain tools more useful by taking their parts and building something new.

Jade stood at the last person she needed to gift supplies to. Rutherford. He happened to be one of those creative inventors of this clan. Perhaps the best one. He would spend hours trying to make tools work and improve them.

She took a deep breath at his front door. Her heart was pounding and there were butterflies in her stomach.

“I’ll just leave the supplies outside by his door-“ thought Jade.

Unfortunately, her plan was ruined. A few children began calling out to her singing that chant from earlier. Jade shooed them away and threatened not to bring them anymore toys if they continued.

Composing herself, Jade whirled around to set the supplies down, but the door opened.

“Rutherford.” Said Jade quickly.

“What’s all the commotion?”

“The children.” Answered Jade with a nervous look, “they kept asking for you to make a new toy… er… that I should ask you to make them a new toy, is what basically happened.”

Jade nodded her head to reassure her lie. Rutherford blinked and pushed up his cloudy glasses.

“Hm. I guess it is about time I made something for them. Come inside, Jade. I have something for you too.”

Jade’s felt as though a python had began to coil itself tighter around her heart. He was good looking and cool. Nothing rattled Rutherford. He was incredibly focused on his work and determined to do better every time.

How could she not admire him?

Without even thinking, Jade entered. She was pulled inside by curiosity. Rutherford was a bit secretive with his work. This seemed to be a laboratory rather than his home.

Screws were neatly organized on the tables. Metal Gears lined the walls. Even the ceiling had bits of dangly bits and oddities overhead.

Jade couldn’t believe how many projects he was working on. He seemed to be detailed in his notes. She couldn’t read, but knew that the tight neat letters was exceptionally small and detailed.

Standing before a bookshelf, Jade smiled at the small trinkets he had completed. Simple tools to help the village function. Near the window was a telescope. Her hand instinctively went to touch it.

“Careful…”

Rutherford grabbed her hand and smirked.

“You are too reckless.” He whispered into her ear.

Jade immediately pulled away and awkwardly coughed.

“What is that for?” Asked Jade quickly.

Rutherford hesitated to answer. At last he spoke.

“The allows an object to appear much closer than it is…”

He shifted the telescope out the window and directed it to the direction of the Red City.

Jade looked through the glass and gasped.

The cold metal walls of the Red City was right before her. She looked away immediately.

“That’s… terrifying.” She said quietly.

“Hm…? Not every view is amiable. It depends on where you want to look.”

He shifted the telescope and changed the magnification.

Jade was now looking in the sky. She could see a bird, count all its feather as though she could reach out and stroke its head. She backed away slowly from the telescope after amusing herself with the idea of having a pet bird.

“So… you’ve been busy with all this. I’m glad I got a few extra items. It looks like you’re going to need them.”

Rutherford went to a table and rummaged through his drawers.

“I do what I can.” He replied.

He found the item and placed it on the table.

Jade neared it and tilted her head to the side.

“It’s a music box.” Began Rutherford, “I heard you humming. You like to hum that tune a lot. So much so that it got stuck in my head too.”

Jade reddened.

“Oh. Thanks.”

She collected the item and inspected it closely. It was pretty. A small sliver of metal in the shape of a leaf.

***

Stealing away into the night, Jade wandered in the forests to finally play the music.

She wanted to be the only one to the hear it. At least when it was first played.

Jade seen the moon in the night sky and knew it was the right time. She pressed the leaf lightly and the tune began to play.

It sounded like a piano key. Jade listened intently. Every note was correct. The tune reminded her of her father singing the same song as they traveled across the oil marsh.

His low melodic voice soothed her. She was never afraid of the oil marsh when he sang his song. She never felt alone even after his death thanks to this simple tune.

Closing her eyes, Jade laid in the grass and felt a sense of peace. She was drifting in time. Bathed by the light of the moon and in a trance from the music that played.

Her heart was light. Her mind clear. It felt as though a thousand eyes watched her from the heavens as she reveled in this paradise.

Little to her knowledge, she also observed by another pair of eyes. He was watching her breathe. He studied her carefully.

It was hard to tell if he would ever admit to be interested in anything other than metal. As a man of invention, Rutherford prided himself to nothing other than his world of math and science. He had heard of the rumors that Jade had feelings for him. He confirmed it by her nervous reactions whenever she was near him.

He considered Jade as a strange and simple and shy woman… and yet there were times that something stirred inside him without warning. Very few women could do that. Perhaps it was merely the fleeting desire to experience love as most every young person feels.

Still. He wished to hear her sigh that escaped her lips as she got up to return to her bed. Of course, it was too early to know if he had become infatuated or merely intrigued by the youthful beauty a woman may possess. At the very least, he was content to watch that shy creature wander the night just before he fell asleep.

Since that was the only thing that could give him peace.

***

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