Searching For Andromeda

Walking with the task force along with the president stole some glances. It was definitive how people eyed them with keen interest, some with judgment masked in sweet smiles. Ephraim could tell because he was trained to be an observer. He eyed Esmeralda, who was walking with her head bowed down, perceptibly awkward and uncomfortable. She was biting her lip as she walked—and reactions like these befitted these individuals; it was a sign of weakness. A sign of intimidation.

They arrived shortly in a place where you could see in movies with Victorian settings. They were now in the mezzanine, and below them was a vast s.p.a.ce filled with food, people wearing gowns and tuxedos talking and interacting, and waiters strolling handing out champagne flutes. It was certainly a banquet; a multi-course meal was served to a large number of people. Ephraim knows that banquets are held for a variety of reasons, from wedding celebrations to corporate events. Banquet staff serves food and beverages to those in attendance. It was his first time attending one.

"Now, my guests." Says the President, loud enough to call for everyone"s attention. The chatters died down as their attention shifted to the President, who was standing above them like a king. Ephraim and his task force have been on his side—and this felt familiar for Ephraim for some reason.

"I thank you all for attending tonight"s party," he says. "For the commemoration of the most talented people, we have who dedicate themselves to the path to discovery."—a pause, and then he faces the task force, his eyes set on Ephraim—"I can only express my deep regard with this little banquet."

The president gets the champagne flute from the butler"s tray. He raises the gla.s.s, and then flashed a smile.

"To the task force!" He exclaims while raising the champagne flute.

"To the task force!"

**

Peru is a country in South America; home to a section of the Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city high in the Andes mountains. The region around Machu Picchu, including the Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, and colonial city of Cusco, is rich in archaeological sites. On Peru"s arid Pacific coast is Lima, the capital, with a preserved colonial center and important collections of pre-Columbian art.

Peru is the third-largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina. It is made up of a variety of landscapes, from mountains and beaches to deserts and rain forests. Most people live along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, where the capital, Lima, is located. Along Peru"s west coast is a narrow strip of desert 1,555 miles (2,500 kilometers) long. The second highest mountain range in the world runs through Peru. These peaks, called the Andes, are towering and dismal that the ancient Inca people thought they were G.o.ds.

Ancient people, called the Chimú and the Nasca, first inhabited this region thousands of years ago. The coastal desert makes up only about 10 percent of Peru, but it is home to more than half of all Peruvians. The world"s largest rain forest, the Amazon, covers nearly half of Peru. Called the selva in Spanish, this enormous wilderness, which also covers half of Brazil, is home to plants and animals that do not live anywhere else on Earth.

Peru is a country with prevalent historical sites. The earliest inhabitants arrived there about 15,000 years ago. Societies emerged on the west coast more than 5,000 years ago and began to spread inland. These included the Chavín, the Moche, and the Nasca. One of the most important Peruvian cultures was the Inca, who lived in Peru around 600 years ago. Their capital, Cusco, is still a major city today. The Inca also built Machu Picchu, a famous and mysterious ancient city in the Andes. They thrived for centuries before being conquered by the Spanish in 1532.

Because it has so many different ecosystems, Peru is home to a wider variety of plants and animals than most other countries on Earth. For many reasons, Peruvians have not had as much of an impact on their natural world as many other countries, and much of these ecosystems have been undisturbed. Peru is also one of the richest countries in the world in terms of natural resources. Gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, and iron are found across the country, and there are reserves of oil and natural gas. Peru"s mountains support special types of gra.s.ses and plants, which provide food for mammals like llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. One plant that grows in the Andes, the puya raimondi, grows for a hundred years before blooming.

In short, Peru is one of the places Archeologists can thrive. It is by far rich in resources as well as in culture and history. It was one of the countries Ephraim wanted to visit after his supposed project in an excavation site in Cairo, Egypt. However, as people say, there are things we cannot control and things cannot always go according to one"s plan. He had a hard time believing things like that due to the fact that he was a man driven by scientific lore; Ephraim refused to be governed by these vague tell-tales, proses, and ambiguous counsels.

"We"re going to miss you, Raim,"

"Mom . . ."

Ephraim"s mother sobbed on the phone. "I still can"t believe it . . . you"re going to the mountains? What about bears . . .? Snakes?"

"I"m trained in animal handling, mother." Ephraim hushes his mother over the phone. "I"ll be okay. Trust me,"

Ephraim"s mother was someone who had wild dealings with him for choosing archeology over medicine. His mother, Joana Dakota Hughes, was a woman of firm standing. She was once a teacher in history, but she wasn"t given the opportunity to teach for long when she had Ephraim shortly after graduation. Ever since then she became a full-time housewife when her OB had said that she cannot have a child anymore due to her PCOS.

Joana had lost another son (Ephraim"s twin) because of another disease. Ephraim"s twin was a baby who died several minutes after birth. They said he was the one to cry the loudest, and Ephraim was one with the faintest breaths. He was told that his twin brother was a boy whose face was similar to him except his twin looked bigger in comparison—but to their surprise, Ephraim"s twin died after howling and crying loudly after he was laid on his mother"s arm; it was Ephraim who was expected to arrive at death"s door due to his faint breaths, and unresponsiveness. Joana repeatedly told Ephraim how Ignacio died on her arm, and Ephraim was on another, seemingly getting livelier until his faint breaths became loud fits of sobs and cries. He was told Ignacio was born holding Ephraim"s hand, and maybe (they said) he had protected Ephraim from the disease and sacrificed his life for his baby brother to survive. To honor his twin brother, Joana and Manuel named the surviving twin as Ephraim Ignacio.

These preceding events made Joana an overly doting mother; even with Ephraim"s decision to what degree he would take was a huge issue to Joana. From what he would like to spend his time was an issue to Joana. To his interests to the most insignificant thing was an issue to her. This includes his chosen path. She wanted him to be a doctor, but Ephraim didn"t want to be stuck in a hospital dealing with sick people. He wasn"t good with people in the first place.

"I like Archeology," he says at the dinner table once.

"You will take BS Nursing as a premedical course," his mother replies, "and take the exam for medicine."

"No."

"Yes," Joana says sternly. "You will be a doctor, Ephraim."

"I would not be a doctor," Ephraim says equally stern. "I will never be a doctor,"

"You will be a doctor!" Joana stressed the last word. "I already asked our relatives for the starting fee. I know you could get a scholarship, Ephraim. I know of your capabilities because I am your mother. You can easily go to med school!"

"I don"t want to go to med school, even if you want me to," Ephraim says. "I"m not taking BS Nursing."

"The University of High East, UHE, a private inst.i.tution—just offered you the opportunity to take it!" Joana exclaims. "Not everyone can get that offer, Ephraim! Use your head!"

"I am perfectly capable of using my head, Mom." Ephraim calmly says. "But please consider this as well. UHE did not just offer me BS Nursing but also BS Archeology,"

"Nonsense!" Joana says, "You will be taking BS Nursing. You will be a doctor. Do you understand that, Ephraim?"

"How many times do I have to say this, Mom?" Ephraim states. "I would never be a doctor."

"But—but look at your cousin Timothy! He"s close to getting that MD now. He"s a resident doctor in San Francisco already. Learn from him. He"s helping people. He"s discovering things. Isn"t that what you want, Raim?"

"That"s right, Mom," Ephraim exclaims. "I want to discover things. I want to help people understand the past and how the world came to be."

"Th-then it"s the same, Raim! It"s just that med is better for you." Joana appeases, evoking a smile. "They"re the same. You love discovering stuff, right? Then the med school is for you."

Ephraim chuckles. "Mom. I told you before. I won"t be a doctor."

Joana snaps, and slams her fists to the table.

"Why don"t you understand me, stupid child?! Med school will enable you to discover things AND help people. Whilst Archeology will make you find some stupid junk, and for what, Ephraim? To be displayed in a museum? A museum n.o.body even cares of?"

And at this point, the teenage Ephraim wanted to snap at his mother. He forced a smile.

"Mom. Finding relics of historical significance isn"t junk. You know this yourself. Your major was history."

"History was a waste of time," Joana exclaims. "And I don"t want you to waste your time too to chase for an insignificant dream. Being an archeologist is nothing compared to being a doctor, Ephraim."

"It"s useless comparing, Mom," Ephraim exclaims. "They"re two different jobs. Why do you even bother to compare?"

"It"s because I care for you, Raim. I know you"re a smart child. I don"t want you wasting your talent over something as trivial as archeology."

"You don"t understand me."

"Ephraim, I am your mother. I"m the one who understands you best!"

"Joana."

"Manuel!"

Ephraim"s face grew stoic as his father slowly sauntered towards the dining room. Their eyes met—blue eyes to green ones. His father matched his curls, yet his father"s hair was black.

"What are you two talking about?" Manuel Hughes asks as he sits down, with Joana serving him food.

"Your son here refuses to become a doctor!"

"A doctor?"

"Yes! I believe, with Raim"s wits and capabilities, he would be an exceptional one,"

"Do you want that, Ignacio?"

"Do not call me Ignacio." Says Ephraim. "I don"t want to study medicine. I will fund my own studies if you won"t support me."

"Hah." His father snorted. "What of your dorm, allowance, and all?"

"I don"t care," Ephraim exclaims. "I"ll study archeology whether you like it or not. And I"ll get a job if you won"t fund it."

"Very well," Manuel says.

Ephraim stood up and exited the dining room. His mother was still bantering and complaining, yet nothing sank to his mind but his father calling him THAT name. It felt like an insult to him.

**

"Ephraim . . . I"ll miss you. Call me every hour or so, okay?"

"Mom, it"s not like I"m going somewhere too far. I"ll come back sooner than you realize."

"Please come back soon," his mother murmurs. "I"ll miss you, my baby."

"I"ll miss you too, Mom."