Purity’s brown eyes are the first thing I see before I notice the rubble caked around us. The boy is lying flat on his stomach, he doesn’t move. Tears are racing down his face, but he doesn’t speak or cry out. I wipe away bits of rubble and scoot over to him. My body is too battered to actually get up.
I run my hand through his hair. “What is it Purity?” I ask him. No words or movements come from him. I run my hand down his back, but he does not respond to my touch. I knock the rubble off and still he does not respond.
Rushing feet grabs my attention. I see Dr. Nu hurrying over to us. He drops down to Purity’s side and replaces my hand. “Purity!” Again silence only comes from him.
Dr. Nu looks up at me. “Where is Kintin?”
“We left her with Roark in the picture room. That was about an hour ago,” I say.
“Good, good she’s up high,” Dr. Nu says still rubbing his son down. I’m not sure he heard what I said. He’s having a hard time holding back his tears.
Naveen screams and tosses her body over Purity. “What’s wrong with him?”
Dr. Nu’s eyes glaze over before he pulls Naveen into his arms. They stay like that for a while longer and then he greets her eyes. “There is nothing anyone can do Naveen. He’s paralyzed; the elders are going to take his life.”
“No!” She shouts and pushes away from Dr. Nu and puts her body over her son again. Tears continue to stream down his face. I hold onto his hand and rock. “There was a time when a simple procedure would have healed him.” Mama used to tell me stories of how the world was so advanced that no one remained ill longer than two hours.
This society has the equipment and the past knowledge to help their people. Why wouldn’t they use it? Then I look around and I see people gathering in the center. They’re on their hands and knees rocking and screaming something to the sky.
“What are they doing?” I ask them.
“Preparing their chi to return to the Universe,” Dr. Nu says. His face is down cast and every now and again he looks at his son. “That was the worst quake yet; they’re coming more and more frequent now.” Just like Garden Home.
Kintin shows up and screams when she sees her brother. I pay no heed to her pain and watch the astonishing event. They are preparing to die instead of doing anything and everything in their power to save themselves.
“This is madness,” I say a little too loudly. Somehow, through slow movements I get to my feet. “You have everything you need to get out of this place, but all you do is sit around waiting for the Universe to reveal the things that you’ve have already seen.” My mind is reeling now. “You said you are here to be of use to the Universe. You are the Universe. What have you done in regards to its prosperity? Nothing, not a single thing.”
“What would you have us do Saved?” The woman speaks. “We cannot breathe outside like you do.”
“But you have machines that can filter in oxygen from the plants, and half a boat waiting to be completed. You just have to figure out how.” I move away from them. “There is an island that I am going to find.” I point to my chest. “When I find it, I will come back for each one of you, not because I have to, but because I am able to. That is what I’ve learned from you and your Universe. I am able to.” The voice continues to chant my course. Feed me, love me, live for me.
Aches riddle every centimeter of me, but I hobble away with confidence holding me upright. I know, no, I feel, that their belief in the Universe holds some truths, but so does God. The Universe is me, is us, it prospers on purpose, on love. And God’s bible gives me moral commandments that staunch suffering, not a guaranteed ride to the afterlife. Together they fill a void that I didn’t realize was empty.
These people thought impasse was their answer, but now they have lost several servants because they allowed another to rule the voice in their head. Not me, until I cannot muster another breath, I will not stop living for my God the Universe. This world is dying but the one of the island might be vibrant. Somehow I will deliver his servants to his home, and there we will begin a new, more conscious life.
“Saved?” Naveen calls out to me. “Take Purity with you.” I look to see her holding a mask in her hand. The first sign of a new dawn. “I can’t watch him slip away.”
The boat barely holds me, but I will not deny her wish. Purity will sail away in search of the island with me, even if it’s the last thing he does. Dr. Nu lifts his son and we ascend to the surface. All is quiet now, all is peaceful inside. I know that God is not in a book or ethereal place, but all around me. His words of feed me, love me, live for me repeat joyously in my head. My chi is now wide open.