Harmony

Suria was silent as the two individuals approached. All four of them were. Here were yet more people who were lost and probably without memory. What was going on here? Why was everyone lost and afflicted by amnesia? What happened to cause it all, and when would it stop? Was there anyone around who can help them or were they going to keep seeing lost people without memory?

“I can’t deal with this.” Pixie was the first to speak.

She looked a bit distressed. Suria glanced an unspoken question at her. I hope you’re okay? Are the waves of peace with you or not? She received a response in her mind, in Pixie’s voice, that startled her.

Yes, the waves of peace are here. I’m still frustrated though. Or whatever it is I’m feeling.

Pixie appeared to be aware her thoughts had been read, but before she could voice this, Suria spoke instead, pretending she hadn’t just read her mind. “What’s the matter, sweetie?”

“I can’t deal with two more lost people. How many more will we get?”

“They will be our friends too, mina. I know it.” Arias’ reply was empathetic and timed perfectly. “Tell you what: Rocsi and I will welcome them and show them around. You and Suria can follow along. We know the village now.”

Rocsi picked up on Arias’ positivity. “Yes! We’ll do that. Don’t you worry about a thing, Pixie.”

“Thank you, both of you. That’s lovely.” Pixie was visibly relieved. She lowered her gaze slightly and retreated behind Suria, who was glad to offer her protection. The four of them were quiet for a moment, watching the approaching figures coming down the mountainside towards them. Suria turned around and studied Pixie some more. Pixie was staring at the approaching figures, with her anxiety visibly decreasing as she did so.

“Aw, they’re lovely. I mean – they look like they’ll be really nice! I’m going to enjoy meeting them I think.”

Arias’ dark brown eyes flashed at her change of attitude. “Yes you will, mina!”

Suria studied the man and the woman as they approached. They were both about the same height, because the woman quite a bit taller than average. She had long, dark hair, flowing in waves well past her shoulders. She was wearing a loose-fitting dress that was fluttering in the light breeze. The dress had long sleeves and reached just past her knees. It was striking in its colour scheme: a mix of reds, oranges and yellows that evoked an earthy pattern. To Suria, she was of Arabic ethnicity, from her appearance.

The man was dressed in black pants and a buttoned short-sleeve shirt with a combination of black and white swirling patterns, along with a royal blue collar. He had a solid build, with longish black hair tied up in a bun at the back. His appearance indicated that he was Polynesian. The man radiated gentleness in the way he walked. At the same time, his and the woman’s body language suggested they had no idea where they were. The whole scene was somehow positive and comforting, however, and Suria felt optimistic that they would be just as nice as Rocsi and Arias.

“Hola!” called out Arias as the man and the woman got closer. “Welcome to our village. I am sorry, but we do not live here. We are a bit lost and we are staying here until we can learn where we live.”

Suria glanced at Pixie as another unspoken thought passed between them: maybe the direct approach wasn’t ideal one, but who knows? Arias’ approach may yet turn out to be the right one.

“I know, I sound like I am crazy –” he tapped the side of his head with one finger and continued in a cheerful voice, “– when I welcome you here when we do not know where we are.”

The man replied as they bridged the gap and all shook hands. “Hello. We are lost too. Your description of your situation is all too depressingly real to us.” In only a few words, his gentle voice conveyed intelligence and kindness, mixed with a strength that easily absorbed what must have been disappointing news to him and his friend. Upon shaking his hand, Suria could feel his gentility and intelligence, so much so that she immediately felt drawn to him in a way she hadn’t to anyone else so far. He seemed deep and interesting already. Pixie might be right about them, but she hadn’t heard the woman yet.

She spoke next and could not keep the disappointment out of her voice, although she was clearly trying. “Hello! My name is Neca. This is Gimi. You say it as if it’s ‘Jimmy’ even though it is it spelled G-I-M-I, he tells me. We are glad to see there is someone here. But we are sorry –” she glanced at Gimi as if to ensure she was speaking for him, “– that you are lost too.” Nope, Pixie was right. They were both really nice, on first impressions. Neca had found compassion for their situation despite her own obvious feelings of disappointment. It was admirable, to say the least.

Rocsi replied, in a cheerful and compassionate tone. “Thanks so much Neca.. Nice to meet you both. Yeah, we are all lost, unfortunately. It’s becoming a bit of a mystery. None of us know where we are, and we have no memory either.”

Neca and Gimi appeared shocked that they weren’t the only ones with memory loss. Suria wasn’t the least bit surprised at this. She wanted to give them a hug, but it was too soon.

Rocsi continued. “I’m sorry for being so direct. It’s probably better to get the shock out of the way early and then move on. On the plus side, there are more of us now and we can all work together to solve this crazy situation.”

“Uh, Rocsi,” Arias teased, “you have not told them our names yet.”

“You just told them my name, Arias. Hey, I just told them yours!” She grinned at Neca and Gimi. “I’m Rocsi, as he said, and it’s Rocsi – “

“- with a ‘csi’ at the end and not an ‘xy’,” interrupted Suria.

“Oh, sweetie, how can you do that? You stole my line!” Rocsi laughed and pretended to be annoyed. She put one arm around Suria, as if to reign her in a bit, then released her. Suria was delighted at Rocsi’s tone, which considerably lightened the mood amongst them all. Neca and Gimi were more cheerful too as they watched the exchange. Suria was pleased that she could provide some of the humour to hopefully put them more at ease.

Rocsi continued her introductions. “This is Su-ri-a.” Her extended emphasis on each of the syllables of Suria’s name was spoken in a tone of pretend annoyance. “And this young woman over here is Pixie. She has been here in the village longer than all of us.”

“Oh really? How long, if you don’t mind me asking?” Gimi asked, addressing Pixie directly, in a polite tone. Suria was again impressed with his intelligence and inquisitiveness. She looked forward to a later time when she could talk to him alone and share stories. He was definitely a kindred spirit, or so it seemed.

Pixie answered him. “Six days. You guys woke up today?”

“Yes. Not quite at the same time and the same place. I found Neca sleeping next to the stream. I waited for a few minutes for her to wake up and then decided I would wake her anyway. She was great. She wasn’t scared or confused or anything.”

“He was such a gentleman,” Neca replied, smiling at him. “I might have been a help to him at a bad time, but he didn’t want to disturb me. When Gimi woke me I was surprised I wasn’t alone, for some reason.” Neca’s accent was indeed indicative of an Arabic country. So much so that Suria had to ask where she thought she was from.

“Neca? I’m guessing you and Gimi have a similar condition to all of us – one that we’ll need to solve fairly soon hopefully – in that you can’t remember who you are, but you know a particular country or place pretty well? Maybe a career or hobby too? Forgive me for being so direct. It’s a method we’ve been using to help figure out what has happened to us.”

“That’s okay, Suria, really. Now that you mention it....” Neca was silent for a moment before continuing. “I do know a lot about Egypt, mostly Alexandria. I travel a bit I think because I know other places too, like London and Paris. But I am sure I am Egyptian. I think I’m a painter too – I have good knowledge of artistic techniques, but I cannot remember where I have learned them. I find that frustrating.” Her brow furrowed in thought but she said nothing further. Suria was waiting for Gimi to speak. His accent and mannerisms had intrigued her, so she was curious to know his origin.

“I’m certain I’m a Kiwi, a New Zealander. I feel a strong connection to Aotearoa. That’s the Maori name for New Zealand. I have no memories either, but I believe I must be an anthropologist because I can recall lots of information about that profession. Neca and I were discussing careers on the way down the mountain. She paints, I do anthropology. We’re reasonably sure of this. But yeah, I’m a Kiwi. I when I think about New Zealand I get great joy. It’s so beautiful. I’d love to hear where you are all from? I gather from all of your voices that you’re from different parts of the world to us.”

“Holland,” replied Pixie. “Maybe I’m from The Hague, but I’m not sure. Like you, Gimi, I love my country.”

“The US of A. As if you couldn’t tell! Ann Arbor, Michigan, to be exact.”

“I am from Chile, amigo. Santiago. I love my country too.”

Suria was the last to speak. “I believe I am from Hong Kong. It’s the only way I can know so much about China yet speak English as well as I do. Are you hungry? Did you have any food with you? None of us did when we woke up.”

“No, we did not. And yes, we are hungry. What do you have here?” Neca seemed hopeful that there was something reasonable, as did Gimi, with neither of them aware of what the other four knew.

“Boy, have we got a surprise for you!” Rocsi’s response was typically upbeat. “Come with us!”

Gimi and Neca, already aware of Rocsi’s exuberance, were still amused at her tone. Suria felt the same, watching her bound playfully into the community centre. Arias followed, ushering Neca and Gimi through the door with a gentlemanly bow.

Rocsi continued in a playful manner through the gathering room, the others in tow. “Sorry for taking you straight past all of this interesting stuff in here, but according to Pixie this is a tradition for new arrivals at our village; going straight for the food. We’ll have plenty of time to look at everything after you have eaten.”

Gimi’s voice conveyed wonder at what he was seeing. “This place, this whole valley, is pretty special. I don’t think I would have seen anything like this in New Zealand. Hard to say, when I can’t remember anything. But surely not. It’s bloody amazing.”

As the other four starting moving towards the community centre, Suria took Pixie’s hand. She could feel Pixie’s gratitude at her touch and concern, her small fingers squeezing Suria’s hand in response. They talked for a moment, out of earshot of the other four. “Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, I guess I am. They are nice, just like I thought.” Pixie looked away, appearing to think of something else. Then: “Suria?”

“Yeah?”

“What’s going on?” Pixie wasn’t definitive with her question, but Suria fully got the intent of her words.

“You mean, why are we all in the same situation?”

“Yes, that, but I’m also mystified as to why we are from all these different countries.”

“I don’t understand that either, or the missing memories thing for all of us. If I come up with anything, I’ll let you know. But I’ve got nothing. Nothing so far.” She gave Pixie a look of regret, but Pixie was staring at the ground, deep in thought.

They were walking slowly now, and the other four had left them behind. Neca had briefly turned as she went through the door, as if checking where they were. Suria gave her a reassuring look.

“I’m trying to think of how we could all have gotten here, wherever we are.” Pixie’s voice was uncertain, but not anxious.

Suria suddenly had an idea. “Did we volunteer for some sort of experiment in memory loss, where they wiped our memory somehow and dropped us off in random locations to see if we could survive? I say that, because I believe I might be a psychologist. I’ve been thinking that for the last day or two.”

“A conference?” Pixie sounded like she believed that notion as much as anything. “That’s quite possible. In fact, it’s not bad. You’re a psychologist? I believe that too. You’re a good listener.”

Suria took Pixie’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Thanks, young lady. I think it could be an experiment or something, because Rocsi and Arias woke up in an area I walked through. I never saw them. They weren’t there when I went past. I’m pretty sure Gimi and Neca were between your awakening spot and the village. You didn’t see them either. It appears that we were all strategically dropped off by somebody. It seems controlled and planned, as if by design.”

“I like that idea!” Pixie’s demeanour had suddenly brightened.

“Think about it. If it’s an experiment, it means someone is running it, right?” Suria was liking her own train of thought. It was working.

Pixie was getting it, too. Her tone lowered and became tinged with hope. “Then that means maybe they have been watching us somehow, and soon the experiment will be over, and they’ll give us back our memories?” Pixie was more enthusiastic than Suria had seen her in the five days since they had met. “That’s by far the best theory either of us have come up with. Let’s tell the others!”

“Wait.” Suria stopped walking when they reached the kitchen door. She let go of Pixie’s hand. “Perhaps not. Well, at least not now. Gimi and Neca just got here. Let’s let them get used to being here first, then we can bring it up in conversation.”

“Okay!” Pixie’s animated response was almost a whisper, as if she’d unravelled the conspiracy this time.

They walked into the kitchen and joined the others, both giggling with amusement at the stunned expressions on Gimi and Neca’s faces at what the food machine had created for them.

Arias was speaking with wonder in his voice. “…as far as we know, these machines make the food in special way. It is incredible, amigos. Would you have drinks too? They make very nice drinks.”

“Sure. Just water, please.” Neca was still staring at her dinner. “This is …. This is… I have no words.”

Suria raised an inquisitive eyebrow upon glancing at her plate. To her it was a curious mix of rice and macaroni, with some bean-like topping she didn’t recognise. Steam was rising from it. This appeared to intrigue Neca as much as anything.

“What is it, Neca?” Gimi asked.

“It is koshari. I know it as a comfort food in Egypt. It is an appropriate dish to have right now.”

“I can understand that. It’s why I picked fish ’n’ chips. We all need comfort food at times of stress.” Gimi didn’t seem stressed, though.

Suria, although sensitive that they must want to eat, was curious at this exchange. There might be a point of difference between these two and the rest of them. “Just wondering, if I may ask… are you guys okay?”

Gimi thought for a moment before responding. “Well, yeah, we are. When I say ‘stress’ I mean that this is a strange situation I find myself in. I am here with some very nice people, and you are being good to me, but it’s all so unfamiliar. I see this plate of fish ’n’ chips, with a side salad even, and it’s something I recognise on a deep level. It looks great. But, yeah, I won’t deny that at times I have been worried. It never lasts for long, though. Neca and I talked about it on the way down the mountain. One moment we feel bad, then the next, we’re okay. The bad thoughts disappear almost as soon as they come.” Neca nodded in agreement.

“We’ve experienced that too. All of us. It’s one of many unfathomable things about our situation.” At these words from Suria there was a momentary conversational pause within the group.

Rocsi broke it, keen to have her second dinner meal from the machine. “Anyways. Let’s eat?”

They all sat down in the dining area and began enjoying their meals. The conversation was strangely quiet while they ate. It continued to be subdued during their tour of the community centre, where Pixie and Suria showed them the cleaning robots, apologising to Rocsi and Arias for forgetting to do this the day before. On entering the arts and music room, Neca almost squealed when she saw the easels and paints.

“Oh! Painting! You can paint here! I don’t know why I’m so excited. I want to do some landscapes. Tell me, what is the view like outside in daytime? I have not seen this side of the mountain.” It was now dark outside other than the patio lighting at the front of the centre.

“Very special,” replied Arias. “The mountains are so beautiful. Everything is green. The river is so pretty. You say you are painter?”

“Yes. I am sure of it. I have no memory of doing it, but I know about art. Painting, drawing, even a bit of sculpture. But mostly painting. I will be so happy to see the view tomorrow.”

“You will get to do that, for sure, sweetie. I am sure you will can paint whatever you want!” Despite her words, Rocsi’s tone was a little hesitant, as if she shouldn’t be using an affectionate approach with Neca so soon. Neca wasn’t thinking of this, because she immediately enveloped Rocsi in an enthusiastic hug. Rocsi appeared genuinely surprised, her eyes widening.

“Oh, thank you, thank you. I cannot wait! But...we must search for things, yes?” Neca partially released Rocsi, still holding her shoulders at arm’s length. Suria observed a moment where they locked eyes, as if realising something about each other. Was it possible they were friends too, like she might be, with Pixie?

Rocsi was answering Neca. “If you mean go for a few walks to try to find evidence, then yes, but I am sure you can paint something tomorrow if you want, right everyone?” She received nods in response from everyone. Suria enjoyed the unity of purpose that was steadily building between them.

“Oh, I am so pleased! I don’t know why. Sorry for being emotional, Rocsi.” She released her, her eyes still sparkling at the prospect of doing something she clearly loved.

“That is perfectly okay!” Rocsi was genuinely touched by the sudden strengthening of her bond with Neca and was more confident in her familiar and friendly tone. “We can do hugs any time you want.”

Gimi was observing the whole exchange, his eyes shining. “I feel so at ease already. You are such nice people. I will enjoy getting to know you more.”

“We like you too,” said Arias, speaking with a tone that also conveyed his ease and comfort with his new companions. “I am sure we will be best friends in no time. But now, it is getting late, and we need to find a place for you to sleep.”

They ended up in Pixie and Suria’s house, where they had some snacks and continued discussing their collective dilemma. Despite brief periods of animated discussion, the atmosphere between them all was still quite solemn. Why this was so? Was it because these two new additions were more reserved?

Not at all, judging by Neca’s reaction to the potential of doing some art, and by Gimi’s keen interest in resolving their collective situation. Yes, they were different from Rocsi and Arias in terms of their personality, but they had no trouble talking. There was an air of foreboding starting to descend over them all, and it was becoming increasingly obvious what had caused it.

This situation they had all found themselves in had not occurred by chance.

It was highly unusual for everyone to have amnesia at the same time. For all of them to have lost their memory and be from different parts of the world was just too contrived. The experiment idea was the only explanation that seemed feasible to Suria. After some further discussion on their experiences, and swapping descriptions of their awakening points, it really began to seem coordinated to Suria. It was obvious now. It was time to bring up the experiment theory.

“There’s clearly something strange going on here,” interjected Suria. “We all had the same awakening experience. Our memory loss is the pretty much identical, with some variations here and there. None of us had anything with us when we woke up. None of us were injured in any way to cause the memory. Someone is doing this to us in a deliberate, coordinated way.”

“What do you mean, deliberate?” Rocsi asked, after a brief pause.

“Well, Pixie and I think that we might have been part of some sort of group experiment that we all signed up for.”

“Why would we do that?” Gimi was genuinely mystified, as if he would be crazy to do such a thing.

Suria continued. “We think we know why. We all have no memory, other than names and knowledge, which we are using to make a guess about where we come from. We all speak English, and that is from some countries where English is not widely spoken, if my knowledge bank is not failing me.”

“No, that is true, Suria.” replied Arias. “You are saying that we have come from these places, but we all work or live somewhere where English is spoken, and we are part of an experiment? You mean… we are volunteers?” Arias was thoughtful at this.

“Sounds feasible to me,” replied Gimi. He’d warmed to the idea quickly. This was a good sign. “Here’s another thing. I reckon I work at a university. University of Waikato in Hamilton, I think. If that is true, then it’s possible I volunteered for some this experiment, if indeed this is what it is.”

“University of Michigan for me, so yeah, it’s possible I did too,” said Rocsi.

“Maybe not all of us work at universities, but maybe we do. Or we know someone who does, and we volunteered that way. Who can say?” Pixie was speaking animatedly at the way their idea was being received. “And you know what it means if we were part of an experiment? It means the experimenters must be out there somewhere, ready to end the experiment, and then give us our memories back. What do you think?”

For a moment, there was complete silence in Pixie and Suria’s dining room, as they all collectively reflected on the possibility of an end to their amnesia. Just as Pixie was about to speak again, Suria heard voices. Multiple voices.

They were getting louder, implying they were approaching the house.

The whole atmosphere changed. The villagers stared at each other in shock at the timing of their experiment theory discussion, and the arrival of what was probably the researchers in charge of the experiment.

Suria was for the first time a little angry. Their explanations had better be good.