THE MENDER
“You’ve returned! But how can this be? They said there were no survivors after the attack on New Kar. Come in, of course! Come and sit by the fire. You look terrible.”
“Thanks, I…I guess I just got lucky.”
“That’s an understatement. We’ve heard reports that the islands offshore were nearly wiped clean by the battle. I can’t imagine what happened to the city itself.”
“It was bad–worst thing I’ve seen–although the forces of Lord Kalmah put up a good fight, even in his absence. I was in the central fortress when the armies of the…the–”
“–They are called the Brotherhood, I think. The Turaga says that the Great Spirit has turned his back on the Lords of Order, and so now the Brotherhood will carry out his will.”
“I believe it. I mean, they came up every street–those shrieking creatures with their staffs. They must serve the…Brotherhood…as well. The soldiers stood no chance, really. Some of them even surrendered, but it didn’t matter to those things.”
“Best not think about it–the important thing is that you’re safe! How did you get out of the city? You must tell me; what an adventure, I’m sure.”
“It was! Well, to start with, I was…um…I was looking out from the walltops, and there was a huge noise and smoke in the city. The ground shook, and I ran down the steps. I think the fortress must have been struck by some power, and it collapsed all at once, and I thought I was dead. And then…and then…”
“…and then what?”
“Well, then things are a bit murky. I was alone, I think. It was night by that time. I remember stars. I was hurt badly–my arm and my side, but…but I’m not hurt now.”
“Oh, are you sure you were hurt? You look good as new to me.”
“I thought I was…It’s the strangest thing. I must’ve been delirious, my mind was wandering or something, but…Say, do you remember some of the legends of New Kar?”
“Which ones? There are so many. You’ve sat by the Amaja more times than I have.”
“I mean the ones about the Founding, back at the very start. It used to be Old Kar, right? And it was named for the being who lived there in the Before Time: Kar, the Mender.”
“Oh, I do remember that one–it’s a dark tale, my friend. Did you know that ‘Kar’ is just a shortening of…ahem…His name? The Turaga hereabouts won’t even say it. I think it’s a bit silly. Sometimes you stub your foot and just have to shout 'to Karzahni with it!’, I say.”
“Yes…yes, I know.”
“But anyways, what were you saying?”
“I was saying…maybe you’ll think it’s silly then, after all…”
“No, no! Don’t say that! I’m just glad you’ve come back–we were all so worried. Tell me your tale.”
“Alright then, as I was lying there injured…or maybe not injured… looking at the stars, there was someone else there with me.”
“So you weren’t alone then? Was it another survivor?”
“Not quite…So, in the old legends, you know they say that Kar the Mender lost his way amongst the islands one day and never returned to his duty, right? But sometimes, when there is an earthquake, or a battle–something where people are hurt–they say he arrives, and …helps them. You remember that part too?”
“Can’t say I’ve heard that bit of the story. Maybe you’re mixing it up with the one about the, uh, Wandering Toa–the Air-Toa, you know?”
“No, it’s not that one, I’m sure. There were some veterans of the first War of Order who would tell stories sometimes. One of them had been left for dead on a battlefield of the Barraki, but as he was trying to crawl through the muck, he saw a figure in the distance. He said it was a giant–a titan with eyes like globes, stooping over the corpses, picking up bodies.”
“And did this titan help him out?”
“No, I guess not. He survived the battle, but maybe it was just an old soldier’s tale…”
“Well, tell me the rest: What did you see?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to say. There was…it was…He was there, in the ruins of the city.”
“A giant, like the soldier said?”
“Oh, bigger than a building. I sat up and he was right there, stooping over me. I thought his eyes were great stars at first, looking down on me. He picked me up like I was nothing, and set me on my feet. He plugged my arm back into its socket, and snapped my ribs back in place, though I screamed–”
“–I thought you weren’t injured.”
“I…wait…no I was injured. I was! It was…I can’t describe it.”
“Hm.”
“After that, he just stared at me for a while. I couldn’t…I couldn’t move at all, under those eyes.”
“It was just you and this being?”
“Yes, just us.”
“And then he let you go?”
“Well…I suppose so.”
“You walked out of the city, right? And came back here, to safety.”
“I don’t think…I don’t know.”
“You must have! How else?”
“Yes, I…walked…”
“Well anyways, I’m so glad. We missed you, and the Turaga will be overjoyed to have another set of hands to help with the work.”
“Where–”
“–The Brotherhood is making some new rules, you see, and we have to make sure the village is up to code.”
“I’m…glad to help, but why–”
“–What a day you’ve had! But it’s all behind you now. Would you like to rest?”
“I’m tired, yes. I’m tired and it…hurts.”
“Oh dear, I didn’t realize the time. There’s no time to rest actually. The Turaga wants everyone to assemble at the–”
“Why are you doing this.”
“Why…I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
“Tell me why you are doing this. It hurts.”
“It doesn’t hurt anymore–you said so yourself.”
“I do hurt. It isn’t…it wasn’t done right. He didn’t do it…right.”
“Don’t say that. It was done right. And anyways, who are you to question it? The Turaga says–”
“I hurt. My arm and my side. Please stop. Let me go.”
“You are just a little Matoran. You should not speak out of turn.”
“My arm still isn’t right, and I can’t breathe well. You need to–”
“–I need to do nothing.”
“Your eyes…they are too bright. They burn my eyes. I want to look away.”
“How ungrateful. Why should I do anything for you…any of you. You’re all wretches. I do my best work, and no thanks at all.”
“Let me go. I am the last survivor of New Kar. I must tell them what happened. Surely–”
“New Kar? What a fantasy. There is no such thing. You Matoran make up such wonderful futures for yourselves in your small heads.”
“No…such thing? Ah…it hurts.”
“Stop that. It doesn’t hurt. It’s fine.”
“It…doesn’t hurt. I have to go–”
“No, you are here now. You always have been. You have nowhere to go but here.”
“Your eyes…they burn me.”
“Oh my, are your eyes bothering you?”
“Yes, yes, they are.”
“Ah, how terrible. But you are fortunate: mending eyes is a specialty of mine.”
“Please, what can be done?”
“You are broken, little Matoran. What a shame. The whole world is broken. Every fiber and sinew of it, every wasted rock and stone, every cursed breath of wind, ah…I can barely stand it.”
“Please.”
“Every dead star-rise and every pointless shift of the gray tide…”
“Oh, please.”
“Broken from the start, useless from the start. By the Great Beings, it should all be put to rest–”
“–Please, I am broken.”
“Oh, of course you are. But don’t worry–not for long. Now, stand still, and let’s try this again…”
Please
I am broken
“–and try not to scream so much this time. It distracts me.”
Please
I am broken
Mend me
