The next day, they got up early. They still had to cross the pond before trying to get the egg out of the anthill.
After giving it some thought, Shinji decided to take along the bottle with the clear fluid as well. If they would meet some water beetles along their way, they could always use the sleeping drug to defend themselves.
Ritsuko accompanied them to their leaf boat, then they said farewell. Shinji, Asuka and Misato climbed aboard and Asuka began paddling.
This time, they kept their distance from the floating sugar melon, as there could still be some ant boats there.
Without any further incident, they reached the other side of the pond and hurried to the anthill.
They peered out of a small weed thicket and looked at the enormous hill in front of them.
Shinji and Asuka were speechless... they had never seen the anthill from this close, and they had never thought that it would be THAT big... It was simply amazing how small insects like the ants were able to build something like this.
On top of the anthill, they could see some moving shapes... perhaps worker ants that were doing some maintenance.
The entrance was in front of them... unguarded.
'Of course,' Shinji thought. 'Every insect knows better than to enter an anthill just like this... there's no reason to guard it.'
Then they turned to their new friend. "Okay, Misato!" Asuka said. "Now it's your turn!"
Misato nodded and patted them on their carapaces, to tell them they shouldn't worry.
"Good luck!" Shinji whispered as the red ant walked towards the entrance.
After Misato vanished inside the dark tunnel, everything was quiet.
Now they had to wait...
That was the most annoying part of the plan... that they couldn't do anything to help Misato. And if they used the sleep drug now, Misato would be affected as well...
And while they knew it would take her long to get the egg and return without being caught, it was a pretty tense situation. Asuka calmed herself down by munching on a small leaf.
Finally... much, much later, it seemed to them... the red-striped egg appeared in the tunnel entrance of the hill.
"She did it!" Asuka whispered. She felt like cheering. "Come on, she won't be able to carry that heavy thing very fast..."
Quickly, the two of them ran towards the ant hill and congratulated Misato for her successful break-in. Together, the three of them carried the egg back towards the weed forest.
But when they had almost reached the security of the thicket, a shrill whistling sound came from the top of the anthill.
"Have we been detected?" Asuka asked in a panic.
"I don't know, but I don't plan to find out," Shinji replied. "Quick, follow me! I know a good place where we can stay."
And they ran as fast as their little feet could carry them, not even looking back once.
Some time later, they got the feeling that NERV hadn't able to catch up with them. Panting and wheezing, they tried to catch their breath. Afterwards, Shinji sighed. "In all my life... I swear, I won't do anything as dangerous as that... ever again."
Asuka hugged her two friends. "Thanks, both of you!" She looked at the egg lovingly. "Finally... my baby is back..."
The egg really was a beautiful sight. Shinji had to admit: He couldn't wait to find out just what kind of insect would hatch from that thing.
Also, he didn't think that it was a bad thing to take the egg with them... after all, no mother would have left the egg at the place where Asuka had found it. If they hadn't saved it in time, the ants would have fed it to their queen.
"Now, where's that special place of yours, Shinji?" Asuka asked.
"That way!" Shinji went ahead. "I had already thought about moving there, sooner or later... it's a big mulberry tree, standing at the edge of the pond. The view from the branches is fantastic... and there are several knotholes which make nice sleeping places. I can start gnawing a new corridor, and it will be the ideal place for your little baby to grow up."
----
Asuka had to admit, the tree really was a nice place. The mulberries that were growing from the tree were just ripe, and Misato was delighted... she just loved sweet fruits!
After inspecting the whole tree, they began settling down. Asuka put the striped egg into a big knothole and covered it with grass and leaves, so it would be warm. Misato was insisting on helping Asuka, and over the following days, she became something like a servant to Asuka. They were friends, sure... But Misato was ready to do anything for Asuka and the little egg.
Meanwhile, Shinji was busy gnawing a new tunnel. The wood of the mulberry tree wasn't half bad. He was glad he had his work to focus on, as Asuka couldn't hang out with him as she used to be... Caring for the little egg was hard work and kept her really busy.
Nevertheless, they had a really great time on their new domicile, and everything would have stayed the same, but one day, something happened that disturbed their happy 'family life'...
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Wed, 18 Oct 2006 13:18)
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