Jump was grateful for the extra time in Kinikolu that the Jungle Jumpers had granted them. Most eliminated marbles had returned home hastily, either knowing they were due or hoping they were due their invitations to M1, but the Jungle Jumpers had many reasons to doubt their hopes of return, and that meant they could have an extra week to themself. Right now, they were scouting out the island’s tallest, most robust trees for a round of low-stakes bungee jumping. Sometimes, extended offseasons had their perks.
Halfway up their next conquest, a domineering coastal redwood overlooking flagging ocean tides, their focus was interrupted by movement dancing across the edge of their vision. It was not particularly unusual for something besides them to be around; Kinikolu was as rich in wildlife and nature as Lewara. But most wild animals were too skittish to go anywhere near an unfamiliar marble. And it was unlikely to be another marble, Jump rationalized, as they’d only gotten to this particular stretch of the coast through a difficult stretch of jungle terrain, and only told a select few marbles about it. Rojo Uno, who was long gone, Shelly, ditto, and –
“Oh! There it is.”
Diego. Jump watched the cats-eye marble waltz out of the overgrowth with a certain amusement. They were about to call out from above when they realized that Diego themself wasn’t alone, either – Rezzy was following behind them.
“It’s beautiful,” Rezzy replied, gaze cast over the waves. Neither of them had noticed Jump, naturally camouflaged amongst the leaves. “No wonder Jump said to keep it secret.”
Oh, come on, Jump thought.
They came to a stop together on the sand, facing the ocean. Beneath a velveteen sunset, foamy waves brushed up against the white sand. Neither of them spoke. Clearly, they hadn’t planned for company and Jump considered calling it quits for the evening – if only they could get down and leave silently.
Rezzy spoke first between them. “I’m going to miss you,” they said, in the sort of way that already made it sound like they were barely holding back tears. As passively guilty as their foray into espionage made them feel, Jump had never heard Rezzy be anywhere near sincere before. They couldn’t help but wonder what Rezzy might sound like if they did break down crying.
“I know,” Diego replied in the affirmative. “I’m sorry.”
“You weren’t supposed to go so soon,” protested Rezzy, petulance masking a real hurt. “I can’t stay here without you! This stupid place – these idiots – it’s hell if you’re not here.”
Jump side-eyed the resplendence of the setting sun. If this is Rezzy’s hell, I’d love to see their heaven, they thought. Apparently, Diego felt similarly, nudging Rezzy gently towards the view.
“I wanted to share the final race with you,” protested Rezzy. “I wanted you to win.”
Diego’s expression became firmer. “Don’t you dare throw this away just because I’m gone.”
Like a scolded child, Rezzy pouted but seemed to agree silently, giving up their protests and letting Diego launch into a monologue.
“I wanted to win too! I don’t think anyone came here not caring if they won. But if I could go back to when I was considering that invitation and tell myself I’d only get eleventh, I would’ve still said yes. So I refuse to feel sorry for myself.”
Rezzy squirmed. “It’s just unfair. It’s completely unfair, the entire stupid thing. You deserved it! And you saved me for no reason when you should have been trying to get ahead!”
Diego shrugged. “Sure, it’s unfair. Even if me and Jump pooled our successes, we probably couldn’t even hope to touch someone like you or Mandarin. That’s not fair. But life metes out its hands without thinking about who deserves it or doesn’t.”
So they haven’t forgotten me yet, Jump thought.
“I freed you for the same reason I freed you back then – because I want to be fair, even if the world isn’t,” they said. “And if I’m going to go out, I want to do it having stuck to my principles.”
It was strange for Jump to hear their thoughts echoed so eloquently by someone else (save for the Rezzy ones, which was probably a Diego thing). Better to be right than successful. But perhaps it shouldn’t be so strange, they thought. It was hard to deny that the Stars and the Jumpers often played the same role. Never meeting with great failure or great success, failing to qualify but escaping relegation, fighting every day to keep competing not for the success or wealth it brought them (or didn’t) but for the love of the sport. And that was without mentioning the similarities between Lewara and Isle Hyu. Diego probably understood that just as well as they did, even if they did deserve a stern talking-to about keeping secrets.
Diego’s case made and Rezzy’s protests exhausted, the two on the beach were serene and quiet. It was the sort of fond, private scene worthy of a painting. Crashing waves obfuscated what might be the sound of Rezzy’s tears, as if the island itself was guarding the moment.
“Don’t give up, Rez. I’m always with you.”
Jump shut their ears. Maybe they really didn’t need to know what someone else’s loss sounded like.
Credits
- Writer: Millim
- Editor: Stynth
- Artist: Piney
- Reference: Marble Survival 100: Races 71-77 Compilation | Jelle’s Marble Runs
- Release: 21/07/2024
Project Marblearth 