act18d3

Even if you knew, what then?

I do not know. Sheetmetal, what you say, I do not know any of. I do not understand.

Where is the furthest we have traveled, in the past?

The westernmost of the west. A long time ago. In those days, we were, no taller than this. We could still, collect food in the town.

Borderline. We do not often, say this word. We have seen, this city's, edge.

That was you, Sheetmetal, not we.

At that time, I was dizzy with hunger.

You said, you wanted to go further still. You wanted, to push your luck.

It was to try my luck.

Hmph. You never could, make any sense. The priest gave you such years of teaching. You never could learn.

Heh-heh, Sheetmetal, you make. Sense of me.

You said so, at that time too.

You have always trusted me. You let me take the can you kept. I traveled another day.

And then you came back.

Yes, I came back.

You ate nothing, for several days after. I thought, you wanted to starve yourself to death.

I thought of it. But what meaning, would starving myself have?

After all, we will all perish come not too long.

You are giving me a shock. You said this back then too. I do not know what you are talking about.

Afterward... the priest came. It was only when he came, that I felt a change. We all changed.

The priest, has a good life. He says we can have one. What he says is true.

It is true. Because... it is the truth. He let us see it.

Because of the priest, I survived. We all survived. That is, very good.

That line, no one can cross.

Is that line, the seawater line?

All lines. Just like the traps Woodframe makes. They stop, even outsiders.

We cannot exit either. That is for the best.

Sheetmetal... your leg, is going to meet the water!

Water... yes. I shall not cross.

Even if I crossed over... crossed over, there may well be nothing there at all.

Phew... Sheetmetal, you finally stopped walking. You scared me just now.

Do not be like that, asking so many questions. You are like Woodframe, when you always ask. She was always strange. The priest said too that something is wrong about her, did he not?

Questioning... cannot help us.

Only answers have any meaning.

You impress me so, Sheetmetal. You are the only one who remembers, the priest's words as strongly.

Look, she has not stopped walking along the shore.

Sheetmetal, where are you going? Are you going to follow too? No, that is not right, we may not, and cannot follow her!

Even I know, we cannot defeat her. We have no way to drive her out.

She cannot return now.

That... That is a very good thing for us.

I want the big case she has. There is surely much to eat inside.

The case is not here. She took it.

There is only this... this, she placed it on the rocks. I do not know what this is.

She is always holding it. It should be something good, no?

May I... May I try a bite, Sheetmetal? I am so very hungry.

(Plink-plunk)

What—What is this? I have never heard a sound like this before.

(Plink-plunk, plink-plunk)

Stop it quickly, Sheetmetal, this sound is making my stomach and teeth shake without end. If you are fond of holding it then hold it. I am going back after all.

No meaning. This also has no meaning.

This useless thing. It should be left on the ground. To rot.

The whole way, I thought it was somebody else following me.

You—You returned! How were you able? Nobody who goes to, the shore at this time, will return.

You want to enter the sea.

I'm just taking a walk around the area.

Is there anything in the sea?

There's nothing at all.

That cannot be.

You have turned stranger and stranger, Sheetmetal. You are still asking these questions I do not understand. Did we not come here to block her?

Now she is heading back. We may go back.

You saw it. You know.

Sheetmetal, you are shaking. Have you become ill?

Don't come near.

And what if I do? Will you beat us so we are lying on the floor, like before?

There is something in the sea, correct?

Don't move.

Aaaaagh—

Drywall!

This stone... her movements, are truly fast.

Was that a sound from my mouth? Sheetmetal, I made a sound. My heart is beating wild. Have I become ill too?

I believe, your head will explode with a bang. Just like a shell smashed open, there will be something shining bright white inside.

Will I die then?

We will know the next time we try. What has fallen apart now is something else. I have never seen a thing like this before.

Why can it... still move?!

Run. Head back to the city. Quickly.

—Remember to leave my harp here.

Ah, you're back! I was just about to go find you.

How come you've got sand stuck to you... did you go to the shore?

Yes.

I told you not to go! But you just don't listen.

Hurry, come inside with me, it's warm.

No need.

Fine. This is for you! I found something to eat. I gave those clothes I half-sewed to Uncle Fireplace, and took some things from his. He's got quite a lot of food left, so he shouldn't mind it.

It'll be forever before winter comes. If I just work at it a little more, I'm sure I'll find materials to use.

This shellmeat...

Just what is it you're eating?

Ow! It hurts when you grab me like that... you're much too strong!

What is it you're eating...?

We—We pick them off the coast!

There is no food in the sea here. Nothing to harvest whatsoever. This part of the ocean is silent.

I told you, if you went to the shore today, of course there'd be nothing to eat.

The time has to come...

What time?

One-hundred...

One-hundred!

Oh, no! I hadn't even paid attention to the count. We're already at a hundred, then.

As if receiving some sort of signal, each 'busied' person scattered all across the street assembles together.

From all their mouths the same number comes, as they surround a pot, one after another remove something identical thing from it, and then silently leave.

That pot.

Weren't you asking me where all the food came from?