How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

"Walter?"

At that, Raleigh carefully took the wine glass from my hand, brought it to his own lips, and then said, taking something out of his pocket:

"Do you remember this knife?"

It was a shoe knife. Before I could answer, the sudden aching sensation in my body made it difficult to continue speaking.

In a way, it was a knife my body remembered.

"...Is it the knife that stabbed me?"

At those words, Raleigh nodded and said:

"And the knife that almost stabbed me. Do you remember?"

Step.

Taking one step closer, he showed me the shoe knife and said:

"You are the benefactor of my life."

==

He had many names.

The name given at birth and baptism was Walter Raleigh. A glorious name inherited from his ancestors.

The nickname received from the Queen as her lover was Water. A name obtained because she couldn't pronounce the 'l' in Walter well.

Speaking of titles, "sir" had been attached to his name at one point, but now he had gained a splendid new title as a proper territorial nobleman: Baron of Roanoke.

There were also many other nicknames that countless people called him, filled with respect or contempt. A few years ago, after preventing the Black Death in London, he even received the excessive nickname of 'Saint.'

However, there was a name more important to him than all those honorable, miscellaneous, humble, and noble names.

"People, too generously, call me an 'Apostle.'"

Apostle.

One who is sent to spread the Lord's word.

He cherished and valued that name the most.

That name was not given by parents or lovers. It was not given by lords or the common people.

"You saved me, and you gave me a mission."

That name was received from the one who saved him and reshaped his soul.

"You protected me from countless blades."

Raleigh spoke softly, listening to the sound of waves around. Fortunately, only the two of them were there. The sun cast long shadows on them as it shone its final light from the west.

"I am a person saved by you. I live with a debt to you that I can never repay."

"..."

To those words, Nemo only showed a smile that was somewhat enigmatic. Then Raleigh said:

"That's why I must speak. I cannot understand. Why do you endure such great pain to save people? I am still confused, unable to understand that 'simple arithmetic.' Why do you endure such pain? Why... why do you struggle so?"

Raleigh had seen.

When he took out the shoe knife, He slightly curled His body as if in pain. For a very brief moment, He lost balance and staggered.

Beneath His detached face, the pains He had endured were stacked up, eating away at Him.

Putting the shoe knife deep into his pocket, he said:

"No one living in this fallen world will be able to understand the 'simple arithmetic' that Mr. Nemo spoke of. No, even if people like Noah, Daniel, and Job were to be reborn and live on this earth, I wonder if they could understand it."

Suddenly, his speech, which had seemed calm and measured, changed as if he were speaking passionately. Yet even as Raleigh spoke with excitement, He maintained His composure.

And He was about to open His mouth. At that, Raleigh brought his index finger to His lips and spoke again:

"...But I know what you're going to say."

"Do you?"

"Yes, of course. That simple arithmetic... humans can never understand it. Because it's not meant to be known and understood."

At those words, Nemo's lips turned up slightly. Gaining confidence, Raleigh added:

"It was not something to be solved by knowing and understanding, but something to be felt. It was something that could reveal and illuminate the answer through the most primal and noble light shining in a person's heart. ...Am I right?"

Silence.

And a smile.

Yes. He was right.

The teacher says he was right.

Clutching his overwhelming heart, Raleigh continued, almost reciting:

"People... say that you can do such things because you are an angel, that you show us such lofty appearance because you are the messenger of the great Lord. No. Those are nonsensical words of foolish people. In fact, everything you do, we too can do. We too can be as noble as you. Although we cannot have immortal bodies like you, although we cannot see the future, humans can be as noble as you."

Then Nemo, raising his finger to the sky, added one sentence:

"...For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven."

Mark 12:25.

"Indeed... that is so."

Raleigh bowed his head and answered Him.

"We all can be as sublime as you."

"Very well. If you know that..."

"But because we do not act so, you suffer."

At those words, His smile diminished slightly.

Raleigh slowly knelt on one knee and said:

"Because humans act vilely, because humans do not reveal the nobility within themselves, you suffer."

"...I am fine."

"I am not fine. Those who follow you are pained by your suffering."

"..."

"...However, how dare I, how dare I whom you saved, ask you not to suffer? How dare I ask you not to save people? So..."

Their eyes meet.

Some flame burns from the souls of the two people.

"...Just allow me to reduce your pain."

Nemo extended His hand.

"Just... let me act together at your side."

Then Raleigh grabbed that hand.

"So that people may become as noble as you."

All my allegiance.

All my passion.

My lifetime.

To you.

Ah, you have truly come as a model for humanity.

You are truly the messenger of the Lord.

Thus Raleigh offered a prayer.

He engraved that prayer in his heart once more.

==

The chiefs of the Lenape tribe gathered to hold a meeting.

"...Now, everyone here has received their own rank and become part of that 'Virginia Community.'"

"That's right... How could it be otherwise?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

It was because they faced a problem difficult to solve within a single village or clan.

They did not gather in the large village they always used as a meeting place.

Similarly, they did not go to the newly constructed coastal synagogue.

The place they headed was on a certain road.

A place where ashes remained even after being swept away by the storm.

They gathered there, each pitching a tent and talking.

"According to the testimony of many people, His sprint began from here."

As someone puffed on tobacco and spoke, others nodded and muttered together:

"Then... let's set up a milestone from here. We need to pave the road anyway to move gifts by cart."

"From here to the coast? That's not an easy distance."

"Indeed. That's why we need to build a road."

"..."

"..."

190 kilometers.

Yes. It was not an easy distance.

Someone ran that not-so-easy distance day and night.

Thus, dozens, hundreds of people survived.

Someone spoke again. If we set up milestones from here, how about establishing places to stay along the way for those pulling carts to rest?

Someone else answered. That's a good idea. Then the speed at which gifts are exchanged would also increase.

Someone added. This road is not just for gifts to pass. It's a place where certain memories that we should engrave as long as we live on this land pass through. Those who commit deviations here will be severely punished in the name of the entire tribe.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Someone clapped and said. At the end of this road is the sanctuary of the 'Master' whom He serves, so how about we all walk there once? Perhaps to see the road-building work.

A moment of silence.

One by one, the chiefs stood up.

And after several discussions, the chiefs each led their light and heavy bodies and began walking toward the southern coast.

Following the path where a man had walked covered in blood.