The beginning of the end.
She says “it is, we are” or “Tao Su, So Su” (in Kargi language of Berul). Rich chant this 108 times everyday after bath. It’s known as shower of death ritual.
936 years, 293 days, 15 hours and 31 minutes. You would think that after spending such a long time on this planet, one would get used to the way things work — not FF. Berul is not a typical planet but it has its charm. Rows upon rows of trees cover vast lands with perfect weather all year round. Every particle of dust tells a story. Stories — that is one thing Berul never fails to surprise with. Millions of stories that keep getting forgotten but FF remembers.
It’s not that he never got to die, he did come close many times. This is not the first mutiny they are planning for the peacemaker. All of their heists and revolts have only led to more torture and loss. He remembers.
No one actually dies. They just forget. He remembers.
He prays to Goddess of life and God of Death daily, yet I guess he’s bound to stay around for longer. Berul, a place where not everyone gets to die; where death is craved more than love, is divided and always at war between rich and poor.
Recalling past, at the last hill of old mission street
Flip Finger pours his heart out to Kate Walker on how last time (some 91 years ago) he was this close to breaking in. Until the last guard of Gold Tomb raided his leg with an anchor shot. Not even advanced weapons, yet it caught his leg at the exact spot and reminded him of his past traumas. It was not the physical pain but the spiral into past memory in which he got lost for some 30 hours.
Memory unlocking has been a winning strategy of rich. They maintain the most rich database of events of poor. The weak give in on memory. You may be as much physically built or with any great armour.
Rich are objectively rich, poor are subjectively poor.
Goddess of Life covers everything in her threads (or sutras). She says “it is, we are” or “Tao Su, So Su” (in Kargi language of Berul). Rich chant this 108 times everyday after bath. It’s known as shower of death ritual. Chanting was brought into tradition by Champaca, who was the first person to figure out death. Though, he was 2nd to die after his father, this selfless act of knowing truth yet waiting for 14 days until he got over his father’s trauma. This pleased the Goddess of Life and she made Champaca (also FF’s elder brother) the God of Death; for he overcame what none could.
FF has experienced it all. He even fought with Champaca over their father’s death (in those 14 days), and took 3 years to get over the trauma (or that’s what he claims). We can still see that angst in his eyes and sleep patterns. FF tells everyone that the day he dies, he’ll eventually “Rest in Peace” with his father and his brother and is on that day curse will be lifted from all poor. Flip Finger flips, his eyes flicker every time at the this thought. He sleeps, dreams, lives, has even tried to bury himself near the tomb of his brother some 32 times by now. However hard he tries, he couldn’t.
One time everyone believed he was dead and at 5 hour 32 minutes he burst out like a mad man, he couldn’t control his breath beyond that. Whatever he did, he created more memory, attachment, which just deepens his sorrows. A “siege” is his last hope and planet’s first wakeup call on what’s the purpose of their life?! Man’s search for meaning for Berul. Another planet Earth has it almost every century (World war 2 in 20th century, covid pandemic in 21st century).
