Ricky the Duck Chapter 25: The Final Goodbye

Ricky was one of the few wounded to receive long-term treatment at the Pete mansion; doctors came to check on him regularly until his wounds healed and no more bandages were needed. But he was still restricted from movement because doctors told him that he would have to wait until the feathers grew back before he could truly recover. Pat let him live here all the time, as did the other seriously injured patients; Pat started a shelter business overnight, and sometimes acted as a playmate, playing cards and chess with the wounded.

Liz recovered earlier than he did, and she visited him the day she left with her newly fitted prosthesis; they had a good conversation, including where the gang was going after the breakup. "We were invited by Pat himself. The three of us were still struggling with the plan, but now it seems that everything is settled." Liz said that she had always wanted to open a restaurant before; it was just that some things were her Uncontrollable. "Fortunately, I met Sasha and Moby, who have always been great companions; I'm sure they will be here with Pat in the future. And of course, Uli."

During the final weeks of his recuperation, the Eagles visited the Patt mansion to pick up their long-lost members of the nobles. Pat kept reassuring Ricky that Uli would fit in well. "He was born to be an eagle, you have to believe that."

"Sir, Mr. Uli is out-"

"It's okay, let him in! I'm getting better soon."

The attendant exited the guest room, and it didn't take long for Uli's head to get in through the crack of the door. "Are you packing your luggage?"

"Oh, not just luggage, but a whole bunch of stuff, all gifts. Vases, jewelry, gold coins, temple planting soil? All weird stuff." Ricky closed the last wooden box. "The squires have helped me sort out a lot, but there are still some things I want to do on my own."

"You just don't want to bother the attendants."

"Ha, maybe, I'm still not used to having animals around." Ricky locked the box with a large lock. "Completed."

"I'm sorry I came so late." Uli sat down on the edge of the bed. "I thought you were already asleep, but I didn't expect you to pack so much luggage."

"That's because I slept all day, until now." He came to the eagle and sat beside him. "But it's okay, it's over."

"Are you really leaving tomorrow?"

"It's expected to be so," Ricky said. "It doesn't seem like there's any delay, so, yes, I'll go to the boat early in the morning."

Uli nodded thoughtfully.

"I know you want me to stay longer," Ricky said.

"Um...a little bit."

Well, just one point, that's okay.

"What about you? How about Eagle's Nest Mountain?" They changed the subject.

"Are those blueberry cookies?" Uli pointed to a box of desserts on the nightstand. "Can I eat?"

"Of course, that was also given by other animals." Ricky took a piece from Uli. "From a lady, if I remember correctly."

Uli took a bite. "That's pretty cool. Eh—what did you just ask?"

"Eagle's Nest Mountain, what did you think of going there?"

"It's not bad, everyone treats me well."

Ricky waited for him to say a little more, but that seemed to be all there was to it. He looked at Uli. "What's the best way?"

"Um... everyone... greeted me, seemed to know me, or something. But..."

"but?"

"Oh, Liz and the others. They were with that baboon, I forgot—"

"Wayne."

"Yes, Wayne." Uli ate another cookie. "They came to visit at breakfast one day."

"Did they eat together too?"

"They have, but in another dining room."

"Then did you show them around your new home?"

"Oh...that's not it." Uli looked a little down. "I don't know how, I didn't even get a chance to talk to them...it's not that I don't want to!"

"I know."

"But...I don't quite understand what this situation is."

"They must want to be with you, too," Ricky reassured.

"Of course," Uli bowed his head. "It's just...I don't understand. The other eagles on the mountain seem to know what to do; they...they...forget it, I don't know what to say."

"It's okay, keep talking, we have one more night left."

"You don't even want to sleep?"

Ricky shook his head. He wanted to hear him finish.

Uli continued: "I don't know. The other eagles seem to know what to do, and every time I see them, they're on their way to doing something. Like a meeting, afternoon tea, guests...even It's playing ghosts in the air to catch people."

"Did you play together? The ghosts in the sky catch people."

"I tried, but...weird."

"Why?"

"They're weird. I played really seriously at first, but I realized they didn't catch me. I didn't want to catch them myself...I mean, I tried, but it got weirder this way." Uli played with the third cookie. "At least I've made some friends."

"That's great, get to know other eagles a lot; but don't worry, you can take your time." Ricky patted him on the back.

"But they're not like ordinary... ordinary friends, they're not like Liz and Moby."

Ricky raised an eyebrow. "What about Sasha?"

"Sasha, she was a bit of an asshole when I first met her. But not now." He shrugged. "I really don't know, maybe I'm too... too distant for them?"

"It's not your problem, Uli. It's not theirs. You just need a little more time together before they can really get to know—"

"It's not like that." Uli sighed. "It's not like this."

Ricky listened quietly.

"Ah... well, maybe that's the case, it's a matter of time."

"Then what did you think? I want to hear your first thoughts."

"At first..." Uli hesitated, but then gave up.

They leaned on each other and sat by the bedside for a little quiet time. Ricky knew that Uli was still worried about a lot of things, so why wasn't he?

Finally, the eagle spoke up. "I wish you could stay longer."

"I could sit here until morning."

"I mean—here, Pat's house. The City of Eternity."

"I know what you mean, I'm just joking." Ricky hooked his wings. "I wish I could stay with you longer, too," he said. "But I really can't help it, Uli."

"Why? I mean, yes, why."

"I can't stay here, Uli, I don't belong here. We did it, we made it to the Eternal City; now I must go back. I'm a flower farmer, Uli, I'm a duck flower farmer in the green prairie. The city is not my home."

"I can also be an eagle in the green grassland."

Ricky immediately burst into tears. "Oh, you will always be the eagle of the green grassland, and you will always be my little eagle." He hugged Uli. "Even though you've grown...a little big, I can't hold you anymore."

Uli in turn wrapped his wings around Ricky. "It's okay, I just... can't help but ask, I don't really have to... I really want to force you to stay. I just... I don't know, I don't think I can do it."

"Can't do anything?"

"Be a good eagle, noble eagle." He sighed. "I mean, the heir. I'm worried I won't be a good heir. I can't do a lot of things, a lot."

Ricky doesn't know how to help him either, because that's what he's worried about. He could only continue to hold him.

"I think that's why the other eagles don't want to… feel at a distance from me," Uli said. "I'm an eagle who just came out of the way, without any political training, without any . . . in common. But they want Call me your lord and salute when you see me. I don't like it, and they don't like it."

Uli wiped his eyes, and Ricky realized that he was also crying.

"I'm sorry, but you have to leave and listen to my whining."

"Not at all, I like hearing you talk," Ricky said. "Especially before I'm leaving."

They let go of each other's arms. They quietly settled the whole box of blueberry cookies; Uli found that there were not only blueberry flavors, but other fruits, much to his delight.

knock! knock!

"Mr. Ricky?"

"What's wrong?"

"The convoy is already seated outside, and the luggage is in place; oh, except for the remaining boxes, we'll take care of it for you later, you just have to go to the door. Everything will be ready for you."

"Oh...Thank you, thank you very much. But...is it already morning?"

Although the squires had arranged for him, Ricky felt that it was normal to carry a cloth bag with him; the new cloth bag was sent to him by Pat.

"Ricky, we'll miss you!" Moby yelled from the crowd, with Liz and Sasha waving their hands.

You said what I wanted to say , and Ricky gave them a smile back.

"Please—" The door opened.

Ricky turned around one last time and hugged Uli one last time. "I know you will too," he said to the eagle, "because so can I."

"right."

Ricky felt he needed to say something, something wise or something; but he knew he wasn't that kind of duck. "When you go back to the mountain, remember to go to bed and get up early every day, like a farmer."

"I'll definitely get up earlier than you. I'll try my best."

Ricky climbed into the car.

"Ready to tell me." Mr. Ma, who was pulling the cart, said.

Ricky wasn't sure if he was ready, he waited a long time to get his mood together; "U... Uli,"

"What's wrong?"

He swallowed. "No." He wiped the blur from his eyes with a handkerchief. "I just want to say that if you want to come back to the green grassland in the future, you must send a letter to notify me first; this way... so that I can prepare a big meal in time."

Uli burst into tears. "Okay, of course. Remember to prepare more dried radishes and oatmeal, I don't think I will be able to eat them in the mountains later."

Ricky nodded. He looked at the eagle and felt that he saw him again at the moment he was born; that fragile, immature, yet perfect little life. In his mind, he is still the same.

"Break by." Ricky took a long time to say.

"Break by." Uli was also.

"Is it alright?" Mr. Ma asked.

"Yes," he replied.

The carriage took him out of the city, but it was the same city gate that he entered. He kept the curtains open during the process, wanting one last look at this haunted city. Ricky got off at the dock, and so did Pat.

"I think this is the last goodbye." Boar walked slowly towards him. They came across a time when the clouds and mist were a little lighter, and they were able to enjoy the rare beauty of the plain.

"Hopefully this isn't our last goodbye."

"I hope so. Please bless me to live longer."

To be honest, Ricky didn't expect him to be older than Howard the Duck when we first met.

"Oh, that's right." Pat thought of something, and he ran back to his carriage and took out a letter from it. "Do me one last favor, give this to Howard, and help me condolences to him by the way."

"Of course, it's fine if you want me to send ten."

"Remember to give those seeds to him, and let him include them in his plant illustration. Those are the latest discoveries and new species in our academia, and the academic information on the green grasslands should also keep pace with the times. Some spice seeds, You can also plant them, if your soil is suitable for them."

Ricky agreed and thanked him so much.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Ricky; it's my honor to meet another duck in my lifetime." Pat left behind a group of attendants and guards who wanted to accompany Ricky, and left in a carriage.

Ricky boarded the ship after the supplies were all located. They followed the current and drove downstream.

But just a few minutes after sailing, Ricky thought of one thing. "Excuse me, change the itinerary. Can you stop at the left bank? I'm going to see a friend."

"That's right, okay." The fleet captain thought. "How many guards do you need?"

"Probably not."

"No, no, we have to keep you safe, that's our job."

Ricky was very grateful.

After disembarking, he thanked the crew again. Surrounded by guards, leaning on the compass, he walked into the depths of the mist; every step he took, he listened carefully to any movement.

"What are we listening for?" After a few hours into the plain, the captain of the guard began to wonder.

"Shh." Ricky stopped, checking the compass. "This is it."

The sound of the majestic footsteps of the cattle came from the east.