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Chapter 396: Es River Cruise

Folks working among reeds, four people riding a boat so narrow it makes you wonder if it’s safe at all.

The only place with verdure were the area surrounding the banks of Es River, and the ochre colored dessert stretched beyond it.

「It’s a relief that we can still proceed as planned. 」
「Did something happen? 」
Butler said with a smile, so I asked him.

「The river’s water receded earlier, which is quite the rare occurrence in this season. 」
「The residents here said that River Es was moving. 」
「… 」
Butler and Ash’s explanation made me avert my eyes.

「A donkey is pulling the boat! 」
I turned my gaze towards where the kids are when I heard Vak’s yell.

Vak’s right, the donkey walked on the shore while pulling the end of a rope tied to a boat, which carried lots of luggages and the person steering it. Two folks and a donkey were going upstream.

「They usually use donkeys when going upstream. Although narrow areas of the river do have faster currents, it’s more convenient to do it this way since you can pull from both sides of the riverbank. 」
Hauron explained to the excited kiddos.

Oh, I didn’t know that ー I unwittingly strained my ears to hear more.

「Ah, the horsey is taking a bath. 」
Now it’s Tina’s turn to point.

Uhm, it’s more like the horse and the people are plunging straight into the water rather than taking a bath. That must be a cart horse that worked hard for the entire day today, huh?

River Es’s dark waters are so still it looks like a mirror reflecting the greenery on its banks. Come to think of it, I wanted to experience river rafting during the sakura season. The cherry blossoms and the reflection of the flowers on the water must be quite a sight to see. Oh, and what was it again, hana ikada?* I wanted to see that up close.

Ah, but I’m pretty sure I would have been satisfied just by simply walking along the riverbank. I can tell that I’ve become light-footed ever since coming to this place. My wallet is also lighter — no, it’s heavier so I’m taking that cruise, I guess.
The boat we are on is relatively big, albeit long and narrow. Both the bow and the stern are curved upwards, and a shade has been set up near the stern so that guests can rest underneath it.

As usual, servants stationed themselves on both sides of the boat and were fanning us. They were fully clad unlike those in the inn so it’s all good.

Khan and the others were drinking under the shade. Shiva also left the kids to Hauron and was enjoying a drink too, although her gaze was still focused on her children. Dinosso spent most of the time staring at his wife.

The boat set off while it was still bright, probably so guests can enjoy the sunset and the view of the sky changing colors as twilight approaches? At any rate, it seems we’ll have to save enjoying the scenery for later, so let’s explore the boat first.

「This boat can probably go to sea too. 」
Retze touched the rope running along the middle of the boat from the bow to stern.

I rarely see this type of boat, but then, most of the boats I can think of are Japanese fishing boats, black or white sailing vessels with their funnels painted crimson — if it’s made of wood, then either a simple sailing boat or those river “taxis” popular back in the Edo period.

「Really? 」
「Yeah, seas can be calm or rough depending on the waves. Boats this size can be problematic out there because of the waves, but this rope here seems to help work it out. 」
Retze seemed to know a lot about boats too.

I can’t find the connection between this rope and reducing the damage from the waves, though. I’d probably understand if we tested it out, but we’re on a river right now.

「If you wind this rope with that stick, the tension can lift both ends of the boat. 」
「Eh, it can do that sort of work!? 」
Seriously!?

I mean, it seems like he noticed that I didn’t have a clue how it worked!

「Well, it’s just random trivia, but my gut is telling me that this boat can cope in case we’re attacked by monsters and the guys doing the steering end up panicking. 」
It’s a relief for a timid guy like me, you know ー Retze shrugged.

By the time Retze and I finished checking out the structure and how the lumber patching was done, the sun had started to set, dyeing the desert in crimson.

The horizon dividing the desert and sky started to fuse, the trees and palm trees on the river bank became black silhouettes against the orange backdrop of the sky and water surface.

The sun set further, with only the orange hues left in its wake. The desert slowly became black, swallowing the trees and vegetation in its darkness.

「It was so brief yet so breathtaking. 」
「Yup. 」
Ash and I leaned on the railings and sipped our wine side by side as we quietly watched the scenery fade into black.

Perhaps this is what they call being comfortable together in silence… It would be nice if Ash felt the same.

Ah, but Dean and Chris are being far more boisterous than the kids right behind us, though. They’ve been drinking nonstop since they boarded the boat, so they’re pretty much out of it by now.

The boatmen started to light up the boats by hanging fishing lanterns that looked like iron cages that housed fire. A little while after, splashes different from the sound made the boat as it moved forward resounded.

「What’s that sound? 」
「Maybe fish are jumping out? 」
Ash was right, we saw a flash of white belly as a fish jumped near the lantern.

「I see. Then that light must be from the fishing boat over there, huh? 」
The red light illuminated the silhouette of what seemed to be a reed boat.

Time flew leisurely, as if what happened during the daytime was nothing but a dream.