Station, стр. 34
"Thanks, Glen. I'll do that." Hadder took the restof his drink down in a gulp and stood. He took another moment toenjoy the ambiance of Cranesman. "You know, I really likethis Bar. I've missed places like this. And the conversations thatthey bring."
"Thanks, I had it built myself. I modeled it after aplace that was special to me in the Before."
"You can have Bars built? How?"
"You gotta petition Mister Rott. A simple form,really. But it was a lot easier back in the day when there was openland everywhere. I had this built away from everything else, my ownselfish sanctuary. Now there's six other Bars within five minutes.Just as well, I ain't running from anything anymore."
"Well, I'm glad you got it made, regardless of thereasons."
Glen stood and shook Hadder's hand, a firm thingthat reminded Hadder of a life almost buried. "You're welcome atCranesman anytime. I know it's empty now, but this is moreof a Solay Bar. I was just waiting for you to rise to make sure youwere okay."
Hadder nodded his sincere appreciation and walked tothe entrance. At the door, he stopped and turned back to Glen. Heraised his finger to the ceiling. "Lo-fi hip hop?"
Glen smiled. "I died. But I ain't dead. This old dogkeeps up with the times."
Hadder laughed as he turned back and exited. Walkingout into the deep Haela, Hadder smiled. He had met plenty ofresidents that he liked, but Hadder finally met someone he couldrelate to.
Hadder followed Glen's instructions and took thesmall path to the left, staying straight as it cut through lushgardens and split off to either side. Hadder rediscovered Haelaplant and animal life as he walked, soaking in the animated leaves,glowing insects, and multi-colored creatures of Station'snight.
Before long, true to Glen's word, Hadder left thelife-filled gardens behind and stood on the bank of a large riverthat cut through the city like a scythe. The river was severalhundred feet across, and its currents moved swiftly. As Hadderapproached the water's edge, he discovered the real magic of theriver. Below its surface, ropes of prismatic light danced andswirled, exposing the river's frightening depth. The Lethe'sexpanse gave off a gentle indigo light, bathing its banks in aglossy shine that created a calming atmosphere.
Looking down the bank, Hadder noticed that bencheshad been placed every fifty feet or so. He took one, spotting asilhouetted figure on the other nearest seat. Leaning forward,Hadder stared deep into the churning waters, watching the swirlingcolors dance and pulse. Within a few short minutes, Hadder'sheartbeat had aligned with the Lethe's vibration, and Hadder fellinto a trance.
His mind followed the twisting chromatic ropesbeneath the surface and dove deep, passing blue-glowing lanternfish and stingrays whose barbed tails left trails of colorcrisscrossing the water. Down the river, Hadder's mind leaped,pulled by the current and driven by his own desire to lose himself.Hadder closed his eyes but still saw everything, the ropes of lightsoaring past his body and turning on a dime to strike his chest,entering powerfully and warming his heart. Hadder sucked in air ashe felt the Lethe's energy flowing into his soul, repairing some ofthe damage caused by Inferno and Jackie Crone.
Hadder relinquished all control to the Lethe as itdrove him deeper, farther, faster, only to return him to his seaton the bench sometime later. Feeling reinvigorated, Hadder openedhis eyes and almost jumped out of his chair, startled to findsomeone standing in front of him.
She laughed softly, honeysuckle on a summer breeze."I'm so sorry to have frightened you." Hadder looked around, foundthat the bench closest to him was now empty. She continued, "Weseem to be the only ones out here. Do you mind if I join you?"
Hadder weakly motioned towards the empty seat. Asshe sat, the light from the Lethe kissed her face and gave Hadder aview of true beauty. The woman had long silver-blonde hair pulledback into a loose ponytail and cognac eyes that made Hadder want tobuild a home where they would live their shared days out inhappiness. As Hadder's mind raced with something witty to say, thewoman simply sat in silence, looking into the enchanted water.After some time, Hadder gave up on his creative writing assignmentand simply relished sitting quietly with the mysterious woman.
Several minutes later, she finally broke thesilence. "You trying to forget?"
"What do you mean?"
"The is the Lethe River, where you can supposedlyforget that which hurts you. A lot of residents come here when theBefore starts seeping back into their lives. They stare and stare.And stare. Let their minds go blank and wash away unwantedmemories. It takes them downstream and out of the city. Then theyget up with a clean slate and go back to their lives of diversion.Is that what you're doing here?"
"I don't really know what I'm doing here. But Idon't think that's it. I like staring into the river. And while theidea of stripping away those memories that hurt so much soundsnice, I don't think that's what I want." The words poured out ofHadder, aimed at a woman he didn't know, but with whom he wanted toshare everything. "Those memories hurt so much because of howessential they are to who I am. Do they often bring me sadness?Yes. Hell, they brought me to this city, didn't they? But aftermonths of burying them, I see now that they also bring me joy thatno short-term fix can provide. No matter how drunk I am or hot sheis." The woman laughed at this. "No, I think I need to keep them,cradle them. Somehow make them a part of me without allowing themto destroy me. I failed at this in the Before. I'd like to tryagain here. But I don't know how."
The woman stayed silent for a long time, digestingHadder's monologue. Instead of responding to Hadder's existentialcontemplations, she sat, sharing the musical