The Planet of Humans and dolphins

Chapter 8 Trust and entrust

″Which way did my friends go? ″I was completely separated from everyone else.I searched around with my legs turned to lead.But I was at a loss because I couldn't find them.I had lost all sense of time, of how long I had been wandering.I feel like I was with everyone just a few minutes ago, and I feel like I strayed hours ago.Now and then a bird passes overhead."From a bird's eye view, I can easily see where everyone is..."Have all three of them come down the mountain yet?Or are they heading toward the Indian Platform?I figured if I had a cell phone I could call and ask.But I rethought it was meaningless because three also don't have.Besides, the scenery is different from the last time I was here.Every path I've walked so far has been different from the view the path I have taken with my friends before.There was nothing in the past that fit with my memories.I kind of felt like I would have to keep walking through the mountains, not seeing everyone all the time...With anxiety, I continued on the mountain road and saw a crepe stand, so I rushed to it.The owner of the crepe shop, with a mustache and a cook hat, welcomed Max with a friendly smile."Did you see my friend, Mr.?""You look like an elementary school student. Then your friends are about that... No, I don't see school students.""Really? You might have missed it if you made a crepe and looked down?"I don't think so, and if I did, there's no way I'd remember it in the first place if I missed it."Max was disappointed that he had a point."You see that security camera up in the tree? maybe that camera will catch a glimpse of your companion.""How can I see that video?""Come on, that's out of my jurisdiction.""Oh, Well... let me use your phone.""Do you want to call your friends?""Oh... no, come to think of it, all three didn't have a mobile phone."Max thought he might at least call someone's home and ask if he was already home."How about I let you use the phone and you call someone at home to pick you up first?"For a moment, Max thought it might be a good idea. If I keep walking until dark, might have to camp out tonightBefore that happens, it may be better to get home even if you can't meet everyone.But I already found out that my mother would get angry　if I got lost in the mountains, so I declined that suggestion.Looking up at the shopkeeper's face, he seemed to wonder what kind of wisdom he should give Max.I looked over and saw an unfamiliar word on the menu, so I asked about it."Do you have a flying squirrel-flavored crepe?""Oh, that's right. There are a lot of flying squirrels flying around here because it's in the mountains.""Catch it, grind it, and knead it into the cream. I recommend it, do you want to order it? "Even after receiving such an explanation, I didn't think that the flying squirrel was very delicious, and I felt sorry for it, so I ordered a normal blueberry jam flavor instead.He quickly made the crepe with a familiar hand and handed it to Max."Oh! I'm sorry, I don't have a wallet...""It's okay. Today is a service day, so every crepe is free. You don't need to pay.""It was good! I like this shop. I'll come back to eat again!""Oh, next time you come, try the flying squirrel-flavored crepe, because it's very delicious."After saying goodbye to the shopkeeper, I realized again that "By the way, I didn't bring my wallet."I'm glad that the crepe served me for free, but I was worried that I wouldn't be in trouble if I had to pay for something else.Munching and mumbling, I made my way up the mountain path, only to see someone approaching from the other side."Who is it, maybe an adult person..."The person who approached was the face in Max's memory."Ms.Causery, what are you doing here? hiking?""Oh, don't you recognize it?"She showed me a bundle of documents, which she had his hands full."I am going to take this to the principal's office. all you are graduating soon, aren't you? teachers are very busy this time of year.""Is that our report card?""Now, that's a secret, isn't it?"She brushed it off, but I was sure it was right.And asked her, "Could you show me a little bit for me and Marlo?"That way, when I meet Marlo, I can tell him, "I got to see earlier what our grades were!"However, I expected that the teacher would probably refuse, and I also thought that it would be unfair if we were the only ones who knew about it first, so I did not ask.Besides, it seems difficult to find what I was looking for from this huge bundle of materials.For now, I want to go hurry."So, Max, what are you doing?""I lost Marlo and the others. I'm looking for them.""Oh, the usual quartet""Yes, that's right, but I couldn't find them at all...""Then you might want to ask the Blue Moon Detective Agency to look for them.""What? That was a drama, that was done on TV a long time ago, isn't it? I've seen it on reruns.""Yes, ask Bruce Willis. He's so good, I'm sure he'll find you a friend in no time.""Where is that Blue Moon Detective Agency?""Wait, I'll look it up."After saying that, Ms.Causery tossed the materials onto the path and took out her mobile phone from her pocket.When Max saw it, and wondered, "Does she mind getting dirty with dirt...?"While Max was thinking, she was manipulating the mobile phone and found the information.Well, Blue Moon Detective Agency is in Alaska. So it needs an airplane, you have to go to the airport first."But the city with the airport is far away. It takes hours on the train..."What are you talking about? The airport is right next to the elementary school. Don't you guys always get so excited watching airplanes take off?""Oh, that's right! By the way, the airport was next to the elementary school!"A little hope came into view, Max chewed another crepe."Take care, If you see the aurora in Alaska, take a picture. I'll use it for our learning presentation someday.""Yeah, thanks. Take care too!"I parted ways with Ms.Causery and felt a little relieved that I knew where I needed to head.But soon I realized that I needed a flight ticket fee."Today is a service day, so I am sure Mr. Bruce Willis will investigate for free.""I hope the flight ticket price is free. I've always wanted to fly. but will they permit just one child...? ″First of all, Max walked toward the foot of the mountain, aiming for his school.Max expected if three were about to descend from the mountain, they might meet on the way.Max started to feel anxious again, "But if they are heading toward Indian Platform, I'm walking in the opposite direction, so I'm still not going to see them."The crepe was finally eaten, and he was lonely to walk on the mountain road.Perhaps all three of them fell down the slope trying to forcibly pick up the fallen backpack.If they were, they'd be in big trouble.Even if they didn't fall out, they may have gotten into a fight because of the backpack thing.Or maybe from the bushes on the mountain road, the beast from that time is again watching for the indication of three members.Max wanted to escape from all these worries, so he walked quickly to arrive at the school as soon as possible.While being wary of being attacked by the beast.It seemed like he was on an emotional roller coaster, swinging relieved, and anxious.As he was in a hurry, the slope of the road was almost gone and it was almost flat.Evidence that the foot of the mountain is approaching. At this rate, boarding an airplane at the airport shouldn't be long before."auto campsite must be around here"The moment I thought so, I was already on the campsite grounds before I knew it."I wonder if this is the place where I caught some insects..."Max looked around and tried to recall his childhood memories, but he just couldn't.When Max was about to return to the road from the campsite, a big insect crossed in front of him and unintentionally shouted "Oh!".It hadn't flown away yet and was a few meters away from Max, and if he chased it, I was likely to be caught.Max should have been tired after walking for so long, but he felt strangely empowered as started running toward that insect."Dad, bring the bug net! I've got one in the back of the van!"Max shouted, but no one answered."Look! That's an Elaphus stag beetle! That's the one in the illustrated encyclopedia!"Max realized after I shouted that again."Yes, I didn't have a Dad anymore... also the car was sold..."The boat and the car were bought by the same vendor, so Max had a faint memory of the day they were taken at the same time.With a sense of emptiness in his heart, he chased after the stag beetle by himself.The various thoughts in his head were sidelined, and Max could only see the stag beetle in my eyes.As Max continued to chase after desperately, he realized that an insect net was in his hand before he knew it."Hey, this isn't my net. It's my cousin Roy's. I borrowed it when we went camping together before......was it before Iris was born then?"When Max chased the stag beetle, he felt it settle into the net, after shaking it several times."Yeah!, I got it!"Max held the mouth of the net with the ground and crouched down to search inside the net."Stag beetle is big and has a big mandible, so be careful not to be bitten."Max looked carefully, but for some reason the net was empty and he couldn't find any stag beetles there no matter how many times he looked."It's weird... I felt like I was in it..."Max wondered if it was an illusion that had caught it, and when he was disappointed, suddenly felt someone standing beside him, and Max looked up at that person's face while sitting.Dad!"There was a familiar face there that Max hadn't seen for years.Max stood up and clung to that big, nostalgic body."Dad, I missed you!""I wanted to talk to Max too. How are you?"The smile that was directed at Max every single day of his childhood, the smile that Max loved most of all was now in front of him again."Dad, where have you been? I've been looking all over for you!""Sorry, I haven't been able to meet you until now. Do you have any problems? I came to see you because worried about it.""Yes !, my mom has been meant all the time lately !, I'm having a hard time...""Well... I died first. she's tired and anxious. Please forgive your Mom."Max buried his face into Dad's chest, Max was held by him, and his big hand of Dad was touching Max's face.Max noticed that his body had reverted to the way it was when he was a little boy."Dad just said he was dead, but that's wrong, Dad was alive. Because here he is, right in front of me, and I'm hugging like this..."Father's large body and his warmth enveloped Max.Tears continued to stream from Max's eyes.It was the happiest tear in his life so far."Dad, come back to me. I can't do anything without you, We all went to the Indian Platform the other day. I want to go with you.""I am always with Max. I climbed the same mountain as Max and saw the same rainbow."Max raised his crying face and asked."So did you see us all pee together?""Yeah, I saw it.""Oh, yeah... I'm kind of embarrassed...""You don't have to mind about it."A bashful smile finally slowed the flow of tears."I've always wanted to ask you.""What is it?"Max looked up at his face as held and asked him to look into his father's eyes."When I was born, did you say, 'You didn't have to be born,' as you said to Iris?""No, when Max was born I used different words. I said, 'Love you and will support the way all of your life.Dad told Max that it was an Australian Aboriginal gift for newborns."That's the first word I said to Max.""That's so. but I don't remember at all...""Of course, you are a newborn baby."But the truth, it is remembered.Even if you are just born, even if your physical head and physical ears have been forgotten.Max's soul has heard those words properly, It is firmly carved on the edge of it.And Max has cherished that word forever.Suddenly, the presence that Max hug and felt, in his father's body was going to fade away.Before Max knew it, his father was walking down the road, away from Max."Wait! Dad, don't go! There's a flying squirrel-flavored crepe shop over there! Let's go and eat together!"Max called out loudly to stay with him for as long as possible, trying to get his attention.I have to go now, Max. I know it's difficult, but please help your Mom."He did not stop walking, but moved further and further away, his figure and his voice fading into the distance as if melting into the fog."Wait! Don't go, Dad!"The last word came from my father who didn't turn around."You'll forget everything we met here, but if you can memorize one phrase, it's 'Chase a beetle.'""Don't go !, Dad !, Don't go!"Max screamed over and over again and ran toward where my father had disappeared.But only to find himself lost in the fog.Tears began to overflow again, Max couldn't see a figure of his father, the scenery around him, or anything else have vanished. - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - When Max woke up in the morning, he noticed a wet mark on the pillow that was pressing on his face.Apparently, in the middle of the night, he had a sad dream and cried."What kind of dream was it...?"Max tried to remember somehow, but his efforts were limited till the time washed his face.By the time Max left the door and headed to the school bus pickup point, he had forgotten all about the wet pillow and the fact that he was trying to remember that dream.It can't be helped. because dreams are like that.It can't be helped. That's what dreams are. - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - The shopping mall "Wanza" has an atrium structure throughout the building, with various stores lining both sides.Due to the air circulation of the facility, a gentle wind like an updraft was constantly blowing in the atrium, and the airflow seemed to rise to the mood of the visiting children.Still, several children with circumstances may not be able to ride that rising flow.Max received Sundae from a sweets shop clerk and sat down at the food court.Max had his first asthma attack last night.When lies down, he constantly cough, so Max spent the night sitting up on the sofa in the living room.Max had been between sleep and wake all the nighttime and finally slept a little in the morning.The hot milk with honey that his mother made didn't work either.Max wasn't feeling more cheerful even though he was in Wanza, where he usually wanted to go so extremely.Is it because of lack of sleep? Or maybe it's because he's alone here no fellows.Seizures seemed to be only at night and I rarely coughed nowHowever, Max was worried from now on that he might have the same seizures tonight.Max plans to meet his mother at 2:00 p.m. in front of the object at the entrance.Security was tight in the mall, so children were allowed to be alone."Never get out of the building," his mother took to give a warning.It took an hour and a half by bus to get to the hospital, so they had to leave the house in the morning after the seizures had subsided.Max fell asleep as soon as he sat down in his seat, so he did not remember any scenery from the bus window.The town where Max lives has no designated hospital for his mother's insurance at work.In any case, it was a Saturday, so the only medical care available was at the hospital in the big town.The medical examination ended earlier than they expected.When they came to the city, there was a free shuttle bus that is from the hospital to Wanza mall, so Max and his mother got on the shuttle bus."I want to go to a bookstore or a toy store by myself"The separation from his mother that Max wanted was not opposed.Perhaps if Max didn't say so, also his mother wanted to suggest, "Have fun on your own."It would have been easier for her to take her time, and it would be easier for each other to freely look around the mall."I'll lose a day's pay, even though Saturday is a special hourly wage..."The mother muttered when they left home after making a phone to her office about her absence.Max took his inhaler out of his backpack and tried it in his mouth the way the nurse had explained, but he wasn't sure how well it worked.Since it was a weekend, most of the seats around him were occupied by families.At the next table, a small girl talks to her mother who wipes the sauce on the girl's mouth.At the table over there, two boys who seem to be elementary school students are playing with their parents.All of their faces look happy.Max looked around and found that I was the only one sitting alone.This made him feel uncomfortable, like the place he wasn't supposed to be."I used to be like that when I was little..."Staring at the inhaler in his hand, he remembered his mother's other words."Kids are troublesome..."When did I hear that word? I can't remember when it was.Maybe that's what she said when on the phone with someone.Instead, it may have been the words when she was talking to someone at another time.In a chain reaction, Max recalled her other words of her and her rugged expression."Why don't you do as I tell you?""You are the cause of my complaints!""If asthma continues for a long time, I will become more and more troublesome..."With that in mind, it seemed like Max was being thrown out of this world.Max didn't want to admit he had asthma, and he was tempted to throw away the inhaler.But then he reconsidered that it was a meaningless action that would only make his mother even angrier.Max felt a few tears welling up in both his own eyes.At that time, an angry voice was heard from a section of the food court, and the eyes of several families around him were turned to it.Max turned and looked in that direction, too.There were two large men and a boy of about junior high school age who seemed to be receiving some sort of reprimand from the two men.Max didn't see it at that moment, but he was sure a hard slapping sound at the same time as the angry voicePerhaps a person of the two struck a boy.After that, the two continued to poke and prod the boy, seemingly accusing him of something.Max wiped his tears and stared into the scene, and he recognized the boy's face.It was Ned.Perhaps the two were Ned's father and brother, and Ned did something to offend them.In the school, Ned act as if he owned the place in a lordly way, has strutted about down the hallway and can be violent at times.He is now at the mercy of two large men who are poking and prodding him.Max was surprised to see the unexpected appearance of the school emperor.Ned's father noticed the gaze from those around him and felt embarrassed.He unleashed one phrase "What the hell are you staring at!" and, he pulled Ned's arm and tried to leave the place.The other day, when Max faced Ned, he was terrified by the size of Ned's body, but now it looks like a gazelle being dragged by two carnivorous beasts.The three of them walked away from Max, but at some point, Ned's face turned toward Max.″Found me! ″It was too late to turn my face away.Max felt chills and his heart palpitations quickened.Ned's sharp gaze, which he glared at while being dragged, was not that of Gazelle.He was the carnivore that eats gazelle.Even if the three people disappeared, the palpitation did not subside.″It was my imagination that Ned was staring at me.""Even if he had seen me, he might not have recognized me."I tried to tell myself that. But it was impossible.Certainly, Ned was watching here.The grim expression on his face seemed to appeal, "You're the one at that time."The case in the corridor was just a few days ago, After all, Max's face would be remembered."There are a lot of students who saw Ned get beat up by his brother."Suddenly, Marlo's words came back to me.Max stood up and threw a Sundae that hadn't eaten into the dust box.Wanted to escape from the scene of this beating drama as soon as possible.Wanted to escape from a place of happiness for families that didn't suit him. - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - Max ran into a trading game card store as if to escape.All the shelves in the shop are stuffed tightly.From top to bottom, every display shelf is packed with cards so tightly that there is no gap between it and the next item.Each series of different types of card games incessantly release new card packs.The colorful designs, new effects on the new cards, and the announcement of new tactics for the DUAL captured the hearts of the children and did not let go.Incorporate the cards you get into your own deck, prepare for a match against your friends, and imagine your strategy as a choice in your hand.Standing in front of a display shelf, in front of a battalion of cards, you could be the commander of the various cards and give them orders.Just by envisioning such a thing, the kid's hearts were throbbing.It was this shop that Max came to the mall and was the first to visit.At that time, he bought only one pack and opened it outside the store, but it did not contain the card Max was looking for.Somehow the card store, a place to be buried in fun, had now lost its euphoric effect.The crush and dreaminess that he should have felt have been dissipated somewhere. No, not just now. The effect was weak even when Max visited earlier."What happened to me...?"Max wanted to forget all the incidents earlier and the unpleasant things, among the fun stuff.However, his heart was empty, and all the originally colorful cards in front of me looked gray.″I'll just buy one more pack...″Even without checking his wallet, Max knew that if bought another pack, wouldn't be able to buy anything else until next month.The invisible rope entwined around his neck felt a little shrunk again.Max picked up one card pack from the rack.When Daniel was suspected of shoplifting, the shopkeeper said he would call Daniel's house.Even if I shoplift, will they call my Mom?Will my Mom be mad at me?Max was unaware of it, but he was aware of it.The mother is trying to use her child's life for her own sake.To take it away and make it own, Max received a message that is the way the world should be.To take it away and make it own, everyone does that.David also cheated Daniel, getting his item.Then what's wrong with me doing it?Max tucked the T-shirt and he will hide the pack under the shirt.At that time, his name was suddenly called."Max, come over here, Max"Max freaked out, and quickly put the pack under his T-shirt back on the rack.The man who cast the voice was Doc.The mall, is an extraordinary space for Max, away from the town where he lives.In that place, there was a second face that Max knew.Doc slowly walked up to Max as if to give him a time.What a coincidence that we meet here."Max tried to be as calm as possible, but he remained frozen and could not move."W, Why are you here?"That's the only phrase, Max could barely say."Sometimes I even shop buying in the city."Max didn't know where to put the hand that put the card back in the rack."There's a juice stand right there. I'll treat you to something."Unable to give a clear reply, Max followed Doc unsteadily, like a sleepwalker.The juice stand, a few stores away, was filled with colorful fruits in the showcase of the front counter.The store specialized in freshly squeezed orders, 100% fruit juice with no syrups or other products.For a moment, Max tried to refuse, "I just ate Sundae," but he noticed his throat was empty, so decided to receive his treat.The waiter put the fruit into the squeezer and, with a practiced hand, almost simultaneously created two drinks, a kiwi juice, and a three-berry mix, and handed them to Doc and Max with an affable smile.We both sat down side by side in the nearest aisle seat.Max, who had been silent since left the card shop, though he had to say something, but couldn't say anything.Doc opened his mouth first."I just happened to see you. It was good."Max was still silent, but Doc continued to speak."The whale ecological research I mentioned before was decided next Saturday. I wanted to tell you that the day, I'll be absent from home"Instead of a reply, several empty coughs spilled out of Max's mouth."Are you okay?""Yeah... I got asthma...""Is that so? Then wasn't the cold drink good?""No, I'm fine."That was all he said, and the conversation was lost again.Also, Doc didn't say anything, he just watched the people passing by in the mall and sometimes Put his mouth on the edge of the cup.Max could not speak either and felt awkward, but for some reason, he also felt at ease being next to Doc.″I wonder he saw that...″Max thought so for a moment, but my mind put the brakes on and he tried not to think about it any further.At that time, a boy about 4 years old landed on his hands in front of them.The mother, who was right behind him, said, "You must walk properly!", Slapped the boy's head, pulled his arm, and forcibly lifted his body.Max's face, watching this incident, became stunned and turned blue.Seeing that, Doc realized what he had to do."I think I need to say hello to your mother once.""What?"This unexpected proposal upset Max.Max noticed it again, it would be bad that my mother to see this scene, Doc and me sitting together.Besides, Max has been cheating on his mother whom he has visited at Doc's house.It will be revealed.Thinking of the mother's anger, Max was worried that would not be able to visit Doc in the future.No, more than anything else, Doc have saw what I was doing at the card shop and he might report to her.Unable to refuse the suggestion, he told Doc where and when to meet his mother.And that time was 10 minutes later.As we started walking together to the entrance of the meeting place, Max's heart was beating faster than it had at the card store, faster than it had when Ned had stared at him, and Max felt like was going to faint and collapse.Naturally, the mother was skeptical when she saw the person who appeared.He explained to his mother that he was never a suspicious person and that Max has been visiting his house for the past two months.And, he presented his ID then told that he is a biologist and author of several books.″I knew Doc had watched it, he was going to report to my Mom.″Max's heart beats higher, It is nothing compared to running after a marathon in gym class.With a loud pulse beat in his ears, Max could hear nothing of their conversation or any bustle around them.I felt like I was a prisoner being put on the gallows. - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - + - - People tend to think that they are right and others are wrong and tend to blame others.I wish I could propose something from such a completely neutral point of view, neither justice nor evil, nor the other person being justice or evil.If I could talk to the other person after erasing all the hostility and rebellion in me.To accept whatever answer you get, even if it is not what you want.Just humbly leave the decision to the opponent.It is an ancient people's method."If you forbid your son from coming to my place, I will obey."If we knew that I am you and you are me, something new might have emerged and a new wind might begin to blow.Max's heartbeat had been going to calm down a little by little, It was his mother's words that he heard, albeit intermittently,"That town is conservative, so it may be wary of newcomers""But my son has asthma, and if he has a seizure on the ship, it will bother others""If so, the sea breeze has a positive effect on asthma."It was unusual for a modest Doc to actively propose something.But what on earth is he proposing?Max wasn't sure what Doc was saying to mother."She permitted me, how about you? Do you have any plans on Saturday?"Finally, my heart palpitations calmed down enough to hear the sounds around.Doc smiles at Max who was now able to speak."... what are you talking about...?""I told you a little bit earlier, it's a whale investigation. we will be on the ship."It took a while to understand what the story was about.Doc continued to ask Max, who had such a confused face."You're not up for it?"In response to an asking from Doc, Max yell "I'll go!", then nodded many times.It seems the neck is like a broken toy.What a day it really is!