level_act39side_st03

Two weeks later

This is the only intact salt ship left. The rest have taken damage, but there are plenty of salvageable parts.

These are the blueprints, along with notes on their operations. And here's a map of the Salt Flat.

I'll take everything! Think of the time we'll save if we can travel straight through the Salt Flat!

Name your price!

Here. Gold doblones only, no credit.

Deal!

Here you go. Is this enough?

Looks correct to me.

Well then, I'll be going! Have a good day, señores.

He didn't even hesitate... Did we ask for too little?

One second!

Er... is something the matter?

Javier catches up and climbs up the deck by rope.

I want to keep this helm wheel! How much? I'll pay you back.

The helm wheel, of all things? It's the most important part of the ship.

Well, if you really want it—

I'll part with it for this much.

Now now, don't give that look! We had a deal. It's <i>my</i> ship now, right?

We do honest business here. It's only a question of whether you think it's worth the price!

Never mind then...

How unfortunate. Well, I hope to do business with you again!

Sailors! Roll call!

Here's the cash from selling the salt ship. Everyone gets an equal share.

Do whatever you want with it.

Here's your share, Rus.

What?

Not sure <i>what</i> I wanna do with it.

Just make a choice. It's not hard.

...I wanted to leave Juana for stability. Then you turned out to be just as loco, so I figured we'd never have peace under you.

And now I'm in this town, looking at the folks here, all thin and gaunt, their eyes like dead fins... This what peace looks like?

And if I go anywhere else, how can I live a decent life when I've only ever been a pirate?

Go ahead and laugh, but I admire Teach. She's just a few years older, but she knows what she wants.

When I saw her make up her mind to go with Juana, even with all those injuries... I wouldn't have had the guts.

Well, forget me, what about you?

Probably go somewhere else, open a restaurant.

Well... if that's what you want. I'm just gonna finish this smoke and get going.

Who can say for sure where the future lies, right?

Javier watches as the white sail of the salt ship disappears in the distance, as does Rus's silhouette.

He puts his own share in his pocket, and walks down the road.

How much for this?

One silver piece.

What about this?

Same.

Hey, that's not half bad!

I'll have this, this, and this. Put 'em on my car, the one behind me.

Sure thing! Where are you heading, with all this stuff?

I just bought whatever I wanted. What's wrong with that?

Oh, nothing at all! Just tell me if you want anything else, and I'll load it up for you!

That's more like it.

Clothes, accessories, trinkets... Feels like I'm still missing something.

But what?

(Whisper) ...Yeah, crazy, right?

(Whisper) How was I supposed to know it'd turn out like that? Good heavens...

(Hey, that buckle on his belt looks pretty nice... and shiny...)

(Is it metal? Or gemstone? I want it...)

(I want it so bad...)

(Whisper) ...They found it on the road and decided to dig it up. Thought it might fetch a few coins...

(Whisper) They found a buyer? I can't believe it...

(They haven't noticed me. And it's right there...)

(Whisper) ...Can you believe they offered THAT much? Enough to set you up for life!

(Whisper) Is that why we're heading that way?

(Got it!)

(Whisper) Yeah... we'll make it big in Columbia...

(Make it big?)

Pascuala lets go, and the buckle falls back onto the man's belt.

What do you mean, make it big?

Whoa!

Were you eavesdropping?

Hehe.

I wouldn't have said anything if it were anyone else, but you two look pretty smart to me. A cut above the rest, you might say.

Which is why I mustered the courage to speak up.

Here's my fare. It's a long way to Columbia, so why don't you tell me more about it on the way?

Are we really going out to sea, señora?

Can't believe I lived to see the day...

Of course we are, Perlita. We're heading out to sea.

Incredible...

Juana brushes her windswept hair and looks behind her.

Now we really have nothing left, Isidro, but my mind is set.

Will you be coming with us?

Señora Juana...

Will you be my first mate?

Well. Alright then, captain, I'm ready to... huh?

It seems my old friend is a little grumpy... Let's see if we can cheer her up.

Hm...

Mm...

I suppose the new energy system is a bit much for a decades-old transmission core...

Hmm... Weedy already went back in her modified boat. Guess we'll have to fix it ourselves. What materials do we got?

Isidro, what's in that bulky bag you have there?

Things Elysium gave me. I'm not sure how helpful they'll be...

Well, open it up and we'll find out.

Isidro opens his backpack, and the contents spill out.

Juana and Teach lean forward and examine them.

Vitamins? Certainly useful at sea.

And so are the radio equipment and waterproof boots...

These tools... they'll come in handy with the repairs.

Looks like we owe him one. None of these things would be easy to find out here.

I'm taking these two. Might be able to fix the problem.

By the look on your face, I take it you didn't know? Did he hand you all this on the day we said goodbye?

No... we didn't say goodbye that day.

He's been giving me things from time to time since a while ago. I just stuffed everything into a bag.

He knew.

Even before I did.

Of course he knew. He's your best buddy, isn't he?

Fixed it!

We ready then? We can set sail?

Hey ho—

We're sailin'! We're sailin'!

Let's go, captain. It's time to set a course.

Isidro takes the spyglass from Juana.

Grains of salt stir upon the Flat like white waves, but he soon turns his eyes from that false sea to the sky on the horizon, to that one little streak of bright blue.

Standing on the bow by himself, he reaches out with his arm, and waits for the whirling light upon it to point the way.

He stands on the street, putting his palms together. The last speck of stardust has disappeared, and darkness takes over once again.

The fireworks is over? Is it time to go?

Let's go. Time to go home.

Hmph...

The onlookers disperse. The crowd that had gathered because of him have left him again.

Receiving no answer from him, Juana steps forward, with Teach following behind her on the front deck.

One by one, the sailors gather, trying to see what their new captain is seeing.

A crowd forms around Isidro. Those who have fallen behind have to strain their necks and force their way through.

What is it, captain? What do you see?

Have you found which way to go?

Which way is the sea? Are we sailing in the right direction?

Isidro does not answer. His entire attention is focused upon his arm.

Why's it spinning?

How long does this take? Where're we going?

Ah... where will we go from here?

Patience, patience. Our captain will tell us the answer.

Now...

Which way do we go?

At his question, the light on his arm converges, pointing towards the horizon, straight and firm.

He longs to sail towards the boundless ocean together with his friends. Thus, the Corazonix points out the direction for him.

Sailors cheer, rum is spilled—

Over yonder!

The sea!

All eyes are upon Isidro.

Give the order, captain.

The sailors already have ropes in hand. Juana's hand is on the helm, waiting for his command.

Isidro takes a deep breath and takes in the eager eyes gazing upon him, filled with hopes and expectations, burdens that he is no longer afraid to bear.

He feels the wind of the Salt Flat. His shoulders are light.

Ahoy, sailors!

Anchors aweigh, hoist the sails—

—We sail out to sea!

To sea—

Hey—Ho—!♪

Anchors aweigh, hoist the sails♪

High winds roar, our clothes a-tore♪

Rain drowns our drunken haze, and lights our hearts ablaze♪

Ready, ho! Sail forth! A thousand ships break port!♪

I will wrestle the waves! I will sail the winds! I will fence the lightning—

I want to find the treasures buried at the bottom of the sea! All that shiny gold!

You know... I've been thinking... we all came together because we want to go out to sea...

So would we split up again if we have different ideas?

You're thinking that far ahead, chaval?

Whatever the future holds, we're together now, and we're going out to sea!

So stop thinking too much and grab that rope!

Got some rum for you, Captain Isidro! Say something!

Isidro stands atop the bow. He can feel the air grow moist. It is an exciting feeling.

Into the distance.

...Mmph...

...Mmph... mmph...

What's that familiar sound?

...Mmph...

Mreep!

Nene?!

Nene! You're alive!

(Eagerly licks Juana's cheeks)

Aww...

Are you coming out to sea with us?

(Bounces around excitedly)

Oh, my sweet baby!

A trail of blood leads from the steam to the depths of the boundless Salt Flat.

A cold tongue tastes the blood in the mouth. Broken limbs keep crawling, driven by a powerful desire that lives on without its master.

A short distance away, an appendage breaks through the salt layer, wiggling towards a sunlight it has not seen for many years. Then, a second, a third...

It is another powerful desire without a master, compelling the light-emitting organ to reach for the sun, as though trying to gain the sun's light.

All he wants is to live on. All it wants is to live on.

By whatever means. In whatever form.

The broken parts of Man and Seaborn struggle, wiggle, hungrily devouring each other.

They will walk this land in perpetuity.