Page 41 of The Explorer
“Hurry, people, we’re going on a treasure hunt and you’re moving like slugs.”
Alex was amused by my enthusiasm and patted my shoulder. “Usually when we bring new people, they’re scared of touching anything. I can’t tell you how much fun it is to have you two come along like eager puppies.”
I couldn’t stop smiling. Everywhere I looked there were stories waiting to be explored. In the rest of the world, the survivors had torn down and buried the old world to start anew.
Val grabbed onto my shoulder when I moved forward with eagerness. “Wait.”
“What is it?”
His eyes were serious, but as always Val left it to Alex and Banni to communicate for him.
“We have a ritual before we go into cities,” Banni said. “I know you’re intrigued to see what’s left, but you’ll see that it’s not just the buildings that we’ll find. In this city alone, more than two hundred thousand people lived and died. Their remains are still here and you’ll see their bones and personal items. We always take a moment to honor their memory and let them know that we mean them no harm.”
“That’s right, and we always leave before the sun sets,” Alex added.
“Don’t tell me that you believe in ghosts,” Indiana said with surprise in his voice.
“Trust us, you would too if you stayed here overnight.”
Indiana stuffed his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his feet. “Maybe I will. I’ve never seen a ghost and it might be an experience.” Looking to me, he asked, “You up for it?”
My eyes lit up. “Hell yeah.”
Banni shook his head. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but there’s something wrong with you two. Now, be quiet and pay your respects for the next two minutes in silence.”
“Will they understand if we give our respects in English?”
Banni raised his left eyebrow, telling Indiana to stop fucking around.
We all bowed our heads and stood in silence for two minutes.
“Ready?” Banni asked when it was over.
“More than ready,” I said and clapped my hands together.
“Is your instrument secured?” Banni reached out his hand to mine and adjusted the small gamma reader that I carried like a ring on my finger. “Just wave your hand over an object and it will tell you if it's safe to touch.”
“Okay.”
In the beginning we walked in what had once been streets. Crumbled building materials were spread all around and trees stood in what had once been people’s houses. My head went from side to side as I took in everything. It was a good thing that Banni had warned me, because the remains of the city’s inhabitants were still around.
Val collected samples from the fungus growing on walls, while Alex filled sample collectors with soil.
Walking to a small building nestled between two taller ones, I saw what was left of a window display. Out of the thirty-six framed windowpanes, four still had glass in them. Inside the shop, the elements had destroyed the interior, which was now in a sad condition.
Above the shop hung a weathered sign with a name I couldn’t read and what looked like a hat.
“I think this was a shop that sold hats,” I told Indiana, who came to look for himself.
Banni passed the shop and with a quick glance he dismissed it.
“Come on. I want to show you the jewelry store.”
It was hard for me to pass by places that begged for us to come and investigate. It felt like the ghosts of this city were eager for us to recognize the life they left behind.
“It’s here. Let me just send in Pio first.”
We waited while the robot moved inside. Unlike our humanoid robots at home, this one was pure machine and small enough that it only reached my hip.
