Previous chapters: Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Finally! I had reached the gates of the city! My journey had been a long, arduous one but I had finally made it to my destination—Silicon Mountain! Beyond the gates I could see roads, buildings and vehicles. But even more exciting, I could see stories, personalities, laughter, remorse, anger and love—everything anime is and could be!
There was only one problem.

The gates to the city were closed! I could not pass through. I was so close and yet so far. I had overcome the Economic Barrier and the Language Barrier, but still, there was one last barrier blocking my way. There was no way to open these gates by myself for there was a lock and I didn't have the key. The gate was made of bars which made it all the more frustrating because I could see through to the other side, but couldn't go through to the other side. I stuck my arm between the bars of the gate through to the other side just to feel the air for I thought that even the air over there was sweeter than on my side.
I became depressed. I thought about the 1/5 scale goddess I had left on my desk and how I wouldn't be able to help free her. I thought about all the struggles I had already surpassed just to make it up to this point. Were they in vain? I thought about my destiny and wondered what it really was, if not this.
I didn't know what do, so I slumped down by the gate and just sat there and waited. I didn't know what I was waiting for or why, but I didn't feel like going back, so I just sat there.
The sun went down. I sat there. The moon came up. I sat there. The sun came up again. I still sat there. (I don't remember the moon going down, but I'm sure that I was still sitting there, possibly asleep. If not, then I must have been abducted by aliens for the purpose of horrible medical experiments and my memory erased.) I noticed a beautiful gleam coming from the mountain as the sun rose. It was so beautiful. I was afraid that if I stared at it too long, I would go blind.
Suddenly, I heard the rustle of someone approaching the gate!
I looked to see who was coming and I saw a heavily armored sentinel. I could not see his face, because a mask concealed it. He was a towering person covered in metal plate, which intimidated me greatly, and he carried a broad sword, which I am certain that I could not have lifted above my head. He moved slowly, but deliberately. Each step landed with a heavy crunch of metal.
The armored sentinel must have noticed me because I saw him hesitate at the gate as he cast his expressionless stare out toward me, but he didn't utter a word. Instead, he stood guard at the gate, which lay between my destiny and me.
I honestly didn't know what to do and for the first time on my journey, I actually felt scared. I was afraid to incur the wrath of this quiet giant, but at the same time, I didn't feel like leaving without trying to get through to the other side. So I approached the gate with the sentinel on the other side. As I crept up to the gate, I noticed that the sentinel was undaunted by my approach and continued to stand there motionless.
Spoke I, "Excuse me, but could you help a wanderer in need?"
Apparently, my words fell on deaf ears. He didn't even move a finger.
Continued I, "You see, I've come a long way and I'd like to pass through this gate. Can you let me through?"
Still, no reply.
Reasoned I, "I'm sure you're doing a fine job guarding this gate, but really, you have nothing to fear from me. I just simply want to pass through and be on my way. I promise not to give you any trouble. You see, I want to reach Silicon Mountain because I believe the answer to an unanswerable question waits for me there."
The sentinel seemed unmoved by my pleas. I felt less fear.
Provoked I, "You look like you might be an anime fan yourself with your quiet resolve and, dare I say, dashing good looks. I'm sure you're just the life of all the parties you go to. Have you ever wondered why anime isn't popular in the United States? I've taken on this quest in the name of mercy to save a goddess from a paralyzing fate! But also as a quest of self-discovery because I believe in destiny and the need to fulfill it."
"He cannot hear you!" cried a voice.
I was so startled I nearly jumped up and started running away! It is a good thing that all those years of watching anime had made me sedentary and therefore, incapable of running any great distance..
I looked to where I heard the voice and I saw the apparition of a person! He was an older man and he wore robes and some sort of strange hat. He wasn't nearly as tall as the sentinel and he didn't look nearly as intimidating, but he was transparent like a ghost.
Blurted I, "Who are you?"
Replied the apparition, "I am a mason—the builder of this wall. A very long time ago, I began building this wall. I lived for thousands of years so this wall stretches to eternity! I died many many years ago. But as a ghost, I continue to haunt this great barrier."
Not wishing to question the authority of a dead man, especially one that seemed not to have accepted death, I asked, "Why can't the sentinel hear me?"
Replied the mason, "He is a robot! He is not alive. He single-mindedly carries out his task of guarding the gate. He will not listen to reason. He will not give in to bribes! He cannot be persuaded to let you pass. Nay, even if you were dying, he would not open this gate for you. Several people have tried, but none have passed."
Then, the mason floated through the bars of the gate and started to float towards me!
I tried to run away, but, because of my aforementioned physical deficiency, I was unable to get far before the mason caught up with me.
Cried I, "Are you trying to scare me off!"
Suddenly, I heard the rustle of someone approaching the gate! Pleaded I, "Well, yes, I suppose if one was a ghost, one would have to be in the business of scaring helpless people, but I assure you, I am not worth your effort!"
"Why?" inquired the mason?
"Because I just want to pass and be on my way and never disturb you again!" explained I.
Retorted the mason, "But you can't pass! Remember? All that's left now is to scare you off like all the others who have come before you."
"But why not?" asked I.
Replied the mason, "Don't you know? The wall is a barrier. Specifically, it is a cultural barrier. You wouldn't be able to survive on the other side anyway. Things are too different over there."