Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Grayson’s eyes widened and quickly hide. He slowly walks, so Abriella won’t notice him. Without making noise he finally gets away from the place. Then unexpectedly a tiny little voice speaks, “What are you doing?”

Grayson jumped and swiftly covers Daniel’s mouth. Thereafter he turns his head to check if Abriella heard them— he drags him from the side.

“Mmmm-“ Daniel struggle.

He quickly withdraws his hand and bends his knee to level his height to Daniel, “I’m the one who should ask that. Why are you always on your own? Where are your parents?”

“They are working, and you told me you were going to the library, so, I came to search you.”

“You should not wander with yourself. Something might happen. At the moment, I can’t hang out with you. I still have things to do.”

Daniel didn’t respond and Grayson felt guilty thinking the promise that he would read him books.

He has an idea and ponders. Pinyin is a small province. Unlike in the City of Xia, this province is small and everything is manually done.

“What about this, Daniel? You tour me. If they allow it, we can visit your parents at their work.”

In a short time, his face was replaced with a smile.

“You gonna take me there?” He asked and clap his hand.

“Yes. But where are your parents working?”

“They are working on the farm. Farmers are busy during harvest time. What about you? You said you were busy in the library, why are you here? Where are you heading?”

“I’m going to buy a drink. Come! I will take you to your house. Where is it? And is there anyone in your house?” he nagged.

“No one’s in our house,” he whispered.

Grayson ponders and said, “I’ll let you come with me but don’t do any trouble, okay?”

Daniel nodded and Grayson holds his small palm. When they came back from the library, he sneaks Daniel. The librarian didn’t notice because she’s busy writing.

During their time walking on the stairs, Grayson heard talking.

“They say it is possible,” a mild voice said, “it’s not proven but general relativity, time travel is theoretically possible!”

“Then, can you explain why Grayson reacted to you and me when that’s the first time he saw us? Also, didn’t we wake up just only the two of us?” Elijah replied.

Grayson moves forward and still holding Daniel’s hand. Elijah’s eyes went to them and have a question in his eyes, “Who’s that?”

Grayson did not throw a glance at Abriella. He eyed Austen and Elijah, “What’s the matter?”

No one answered. Everyone is silent when Austen confessed, “They are relating your case into time travel. This girl here said she did her research and the only possible answer is time travel.”

“Because it’s the truth!” she interrupts.

“Then how can you explain Elijah’s questions?”

“That’s why I’m here! To gather more information. To prove that it exists. I asked someone I know and they said Pinyin provides the most accurate answer when it comes to this. We can also ask elders about it,”

“It’s true,” a little voice cut in.

Grayson scolds him in a low voice, “Children shouldn’t barge in when adults are talking. And you’re still young, do you know what we are discussing?”

“But grandpa said that he’s not from here. When I asked him, he explained to me that he already saw and experience what’s going to come,” the innocent child explained.

“Hah! See? I told you!” Abriella blurted.

“Oh! Oh! Calm down, woman. Children often tell lies,” Austen mocked.

She rolled her eyes and focus on Elijah, “Do you believe me now?”

Elijah ignored her and lean-to Daniel, “Is there any chance we can see your grandpa?”

“He’s not my real grandpa, he used to read books with me but people started calling him crazy. He lives in the forest, so you can’t find him anymore,” Daniel weep.

“You see—the forest is broad and wide. Where in part of it?” Elijah questioned.

“I haven’t been there yet,” Daniel clutch to Grayson’s shirt.

“Why don’t we search the books here?” Austen suggested.

“You said we will go to my parents,” Daniel’s eyes sparkle while pulling the end of their shirt of Grayson.

Elijah stands up, “Austen will support Abriella to look for more information. Grayson and I will ask people where we could find the old man.”

Abriella wants to oppose but Austen had preceded him, “You can count me,” he winks and salute.

Grayson forgot to leave the drinks, while waiting for the carriage, Daniel asked, “Can you give those to me? If you won’t drink them.”

Grayson raised the plastic bags, “What will you do with these many?”

“I’ll give them to my parents and other farmers.”

Grayson hands them and an idea popped. He gives Daniel’s hand to Elijah, “Wait for me here.”

“Where are you going?” Elijah asked.

“I’m gonna buy food, our work will be easier if we show them that our intention is pure,” he whispered.

He thought that if he could get their trust, they would give information without doubting them.

He’s already back and the carriage is waiting for him. It took them 30 minutes before finally arriving because he had no idea that going to the farm is hard. The carriage went through the narrow road, a wrong move they could be instantly dead.

They come out and saw the farmers. Daniel runs toward his parents and gives them the drinks. He pointed them and say something. They are sweating and scorching in the heat of the sun.

Grayson feels nervous again, farmers are all looking. Elijah holds his hand and comforts him, “Calm down. Breath.”

He wants to slap his head for having this feeling every time he goes to crowd places but after Elijah’s comfort, he feels secure.

He approaches them and offered food. They are delighted taking food and asking where they are from.

Farmers are talking to Elijah but he couldn’t bring himself to communicate. He is just sitting beside Elijah and Daniel is with his parents.

Daniel is coming to him bringing a basket with something on it.

“This is for you. This is called Litchi small rounded fruit with sweet white scented flesh, a large central stone, and thin rough skin. Try it with the big guy,” he said and was ready to leave.

Grayson chuckled when he heard the words big guy and thanked Daniel. They were eating and listening to farmers joking about they should finish eating because they still have a lot to finish.

Elijah stands up and approaches one of the farmers, “Can I help?”

Some people who heard him were stunned, some of them laughed.

“Child. This work is not for you and it’s hard,” the one man he asked said.

“I can learn easily,” he insisted.

“Me too,” Grayson volunteer too.

“Don’t blame me if your body gives up the next day,” he laughed, “you harvest litchi using pruning shears. Litchi harvest is never done fruit by fruit, as it’s hard to remove them from the stem without damaging the skin and seriously reducing shelf life.”

He explained and demonstrate how it’s done.

The roads shimmered in the heat of the midday sun, slowly going and replacing into warm light.

“Let’s go home and go back tomorrow. The weather is not good, it would be a disaster if the rain starts pouring,” a lady announced.

Someone approaches us, “What about you two? Come with us.”

“Thank you but we will just wait for carriage,” Grayson answers, and now.

“Are you sure? The weather is bad, there is a chance that no coachman would come.”

“Yes. We are sure, we don’t want to bother you any longer.”

The farmers get into the wooden seat where is attached to the body of a horse. There are three hoarse enough for them.

Daniel screamed and waived, “Bye-bye beauty and big guy!”

“At the end, I couldn’t ask them,” Grayson mumbled.

“Don’t worry about it, we can do it some other time,” Elijah said and mess his hair.

The wind started making the trees dance and rush across the field. The sky launches a strong rumble. The cloud is getting dark.

“Let’s start walking and find a house or shelter where we can stay,” Elijah suggested.

But before they begin to move, the sudden and intense rainfall started.