The Tendos and their guests glanced around at each other. Where would they go? “That is a good question,” Ku Lon said dryly. “I know of a smuggler that uses a sailing ship, but the odds of him being at his home port by the time we get there are ... not good.”
Genma said, “I know of a monastery that is both isolated and fortified. They would probably take us in, we’ll have our own food and additional fighters would be welcome, but it is some distance away and unless we are lucky we’ll find ourselves running into refugees from other cities, out in the open.”
“We could fort up here in Tokyo,” Nabiki said. When everyone turned to look at her, she looked distinctly sick, but continued, “If we pick the right building, most people won’t know we’re there, and the inner city will empty out fairly quickly as everyone heads out looking for food. It’ll be ugly, but probably work.”
“No, Shampoo know what to do,” the purple-haired Amazon said firmly. “When Shampoo return to China after find Airen, Shampoo find cave that lead to other world.”
Ku Lon turned to her heir, eyes narrowing. “And why didn’t you mention this cave before?” she demanded, and Xian Pu shrugged.
“Cave not close to village, or Ranma, no time to explore world on other side, not important.”
Ku Lon sighed. Lady knows I love children, but teenagers can be wearying! “Child,” she said sternly, “just because something is not immediately useful doesn’t mean it isn’t important! What if you were back in the village right now? Where would we be?”
Xian Pu dropped her eyes and fidgeted in place. “Great-grandmother right, Shampoo sorry no tell.”
“No harm done this time,” Ku Lon said more softly, “but from now on tell me about these things. Now, the cave, where does it lead?”
“Shampoo no know,” Xian Pu replied, still looking at the floor. “Shampoo find while look for shelter from rain, go around bends, surprised by sunlight from opening. Go through, other world, turn around, go back.”
“Well, at least that you did right,” Ku Lon said. “Never explore a strange territory by yourself, especially when nobody knows where you are. Now, where is this cave?”
“In hill west of city,” Xian Pu said, “Shampoo can lead there.”
“Good,” Nabiki said, “We can pass by Akari’s farm on the way, pick up some animal transportation and some more fighters, maybe even Ryoga.”
“Now that is an excellent thought,” Ku Lon approved. “Very well, everyone get packing. Xian Pu, we’re going to discuss what little you saw of that other world.”
A stumbling Nodoka heard a shout of pleasure from ahead, and looked up from the ground in front her plodding feet to see in the noontime sunlight a turn in the tree-lined road, with Akane waving from the bend. “We’re here!” the dark-haired girl shouted, again breaking the unnatural silence. “Just another kilometer to Akari’s farm and we can rest!”
Nodoka looked around; at Genma and Soun carrying Akane’s two friends piggyback, the two girls exhausted almost to the point of collapse; Dr. Tofu half-carrying a staggering Kasumi; Ukyo and Konatsu walking with Nabiki between them, her arms across their shoulders and their arms around her waist. Finally, the red-haired woman looked to either side, at Mu Tse and Xian Pu striding along on each side of the group keeping an eye on the flanks, then to the rear where Ku Lon pogoed along and every few meters turning around to look back the way they’d come — by now, Ku Lon’s bouncing travel was distinctly shaky, but the old woman’s gaze seemed as sharp as ever. Then, Nodoka’s eyes rose to look back along the road behind them — nobody. Her shoulders slumped, and Ku Lon stopped beside her, looking up at Nodoka’s downturned gaze.
“There is no need to worry, not yet,” the ancient matriarch reassured Nodoka. “I don’t expect Ranma to catch up with us for hours yet. Even if he can’t find his friends, he would have looked as long as he could, and if he found them he’ll have been slowed down to his friends’ fastest speed. If he hasn’t arrived by the time we’re ready to leave, then I will worry.”
Nodoka smiled down at the smaller woman balanced on her staff, and nodded. “As you say, but I can’t help but worry. By now, things will be getting chaotic back in the city. And while there will be no one that can match Ranma’s skill, a lucky blow can undo the finest warrior.”
“True,” Ku Lon conceded, “but by now Ranma will be on his way. I doubt very much he found his friends in the chaos left by the fire that would have swept over their homes, so he will be coming at his best speed. Now, come, rest is up ahead.”
Nodoka nodded, and started to turn to resume to plodding walk up the road, only to freeze as she caught a hint of motion back along their path. Straining her eyes, her heart leaped to see an oh-so-familiar red-headed girl jogging up the road behind them
Akari glanced around at the friends, acquaintances and strangers collapsed around her farmhouse’s family room, the women curled up on what futons were available, the men simply lying on the floor, then turned her eyes back to the black-haired boy doing his best not to nod off and the diminutive ancient woman beside him. Akari clutched more tightly at the large teenage boy wearing a yellow bandanna sitting beside her, and Ryoga put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
“You’re sure about this?” Ryoga asked, and Ranma nodded.
“Yeah, it was startin’ even before I found out that Daisuke and Hiroshi got caught in a collapsin’ building tryin’ ta rescue people. And on my way outa the city ... I saw people lootin’ stores, fightin’ over the food an’ water there ... I did what I could, but I had to keep moving, couldn’t stay ...” His voice trailed off, his face drawn, and Akari straightened.
“Of course, you couldn’t stay,” she said, “you have family and friends that have to come first.” Turning to Ku Lon, she asked, “What do we need to do?”
“We know a way out, a place that should be safe, or at least safer,” Ku Lon said. “You are welcome to join us, but whatever you do you can’t stay here. We pushed hard to get here as far ahead of the wave of starving refugees that will be headed this way soon, but they won’t be that far behind us. Nabiki tells me that you actually have pigs large enough to ride?”
Akari nodded, then looked around. “But only a few are actually trained to accept riders — certainly not enough for everyone here.”
Ku Lon nodded thoughtfully. “If there are enough for the civilians — are they large enough to carrying a couple people each?” At Akari’s nod, Ku Lon continued, “Say, three mounts?”
Akari again nodded agreement. “Yes, that I can provide. But what about the rest? I can’t just abandon them!”
Ku Lon regretfully shook her head. “You can open the gates, let them out, and those that follow us and keep up we can take with us, but that is all.” Then, more softly, Ku Lon added, “I wouldn’t worry about your pigs, girl. As large as you say they are, I doubt even hunger-crazed mobs will be able to bring them down. And soon after those hunger-crazed mobs get this far the pigs will have all the food they need — pigs will eat almost anything.”
Akari stared at the old woman for a moment, then turned a greenish pale and bolted for the door to the yard, and the three still awake heard her retching on the lawn. Ryoga stared after his love with a confused look on his face, then turned to Ranma and Ku Lon.
“What the ol’ ghoul means,” Ranma said harshly, “is that soon there’ll be plenty a’ dead bodies fer the pigs ta eat.” Sighing, Ranma stood up, swaying in place. “Come on, Ryoga, let me lead ya ta Akari.” A now pale Ryoga nodded, and Ranma grabbed the Lost Boy by the upper arm and walked him out into the yard.
Moments later he returned alone, and Ku Lon nodded to the couch they’d been sitting on. “Get some sleep, Ranma,” she ordered. “Once Akari’s recovered I’ll help her and Ryoga put together what they need to bring.”
“An’ what about you?” Ranma asked. “You’ve been awake as long as I have, and yer a lot older.” Then he yelped as Ku Lon’s cane bounced off his head.
“Respect for your elders, child!” Ku Lon stated firmly, then added, “I can sleep on one of the pigs once we start moving again. Get some sleep,” she repeated, nodding toward the couch, and Ranma smothered a large yawn and nodded. Laying down, he stretched out and was asleep within seconds.
Akane sighed as she stepped up next to her fiancé, and the two looked out from the cave entrance to the massive pillars of smoke from a burning Tokyo rising to the east, other, smaller pillars marking the locations of other urban centers. After a time, she put her arm around his waist. “There’s nothing you could do for those refugees, you know.” Then, when no response came she shook him by the arm. “You do know that, right?”
Ranma’s stone-faced expression didn’t change, but after a time he nodded. “Yeah, I know. But ...” His voice died away and he shrugged, and Akane nodded. The trip up to the cave had gone much easier with Akari’s pigs for the less fit party members to ride on, but that didn’t mean it had been easy, especially their encounters with other refugees. The Neriman party may have outrun the Tokyo refugee wave, but Tokyo wasn’t the only urban center around, only the largest. The few attacks had been easily beaten off, but having to refuse to help those that begged for it, especially those with children ... Akane buried her face in Ranma’s shoulder, and he gently embraced her.
For a time they simply stood there, then Ranma took a deep breath and reluctantly released his fiancée. “Come on, Akane, let’s get back to the others. Dinner should be about done, and Cologne will expect us to clean up, seein’ how we skipped out on helpin’ cook it.” Akane wiped her eyes and nodded, and the two turned back toward the tunnel that led to their new home.
The tunnel leads:
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(Posted Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:13)
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