Chapter 9
Iroh and Piandao were almost down to the city when they spotted Atsuko waving her arms frantically.
"They've taken him!" she was screaming.
"Who?" said Iroh, although the answer was obvious.
"What do you mean 'who'! You know good and well who!"
"How long ago?" asked Piandao.
"I...I'm not sure."
"What?"
"You mean the giant metal contraption and the sudden disappearance of the guy right next to you didn't quite stick in your memory well enough?" shouted Piandao.
"I...was asleep. We both were, and when I woke up..." she couldn't continue.
Iroh sighed.
"The tracks lead out of town. Our innkeeper has already checked us out of the room and has offered us two ostrich horses for our journey. We are to meet him in about a half-hour at the edge of the woods. These tracks are too small for the local coal cars. These travel long distances. If we're lucky, we will catch up to him before they reach..." Iroh refrained from finishing as well. Everyone knew where they were eventually taking Gi Fong.
"OK then, well, we should be moving on," agreed Piandao.
Atsuko arose wiping her eyes. She nodded her approval of the decision and the three began to make their way hastily back to the inn.
"Woah!" Iroh whispered, "Look inside."
Piandao and Atsuko joined Iroh at the window.
They watched as the innkeeper served tea to several soldiers.
"Thanks for the tea," one said.
"It is a pleasure to serve such hard-working soldiers," the inn-keeper replied.
Atsuko gasped, only to be quickly shushed by Piandao.
"Listen!" he told her.
They both peered back into the window.
"We got reports of some fugitives staying here. Had any of the criminal type here lately?"
"Why yes, as a matter of fact I did. When I heard that the coup was happening, I made sure to oust them from my inn as quickly as possible. I knew you would be here soon looking for them, so I convinced them that I was on their side and that I would supply them with money and transportation to their destination."
Atsuko pulled Piandao back down.
"I thought you said this guy was on our side."
"He is. Watch."
Atsuko peered through the window again, this time focusing on the man. He kept looking at something off to the side, and then she realized that he had known that Iroh was at the window the whole time. He was covering for them!
"Where have you arranged the meeting at?"
"They are meeting me in an hour down by the docks."
"And where did you say they were heading?"
"New Ozai. Something about freeing the city from tyrant rule or some other nonsense."
"Thank you very much for your help. The Fire Nation appreciates your cooperation."
Finally, the soldiers got up and excused themselves from the inn. When they were sure that they were gone, the three reentered the inn.
"Thank goodness they didn't spot you!" exclaimed the inn-keeper.
"Thank goodness we stumbled upon your inn," said Iroh.
"The only way I know to fight this war is to trip the Fire Nation up as much as I can. They know that a lot of fugitives like my inn because of the seclusion, so they come here a lot trying to find the whereabouts of some of them. And when they do, I always do my best to send them in the complete opposite direction."
"Well, we better get going. How about those horses?" said Piandao.
"Oh yes, I'll take you there now."
By morning, the three were safely out of the town and on their way to the stronghold. When they came upon the next small town, Iroh insisted that they make another stop. Piandao and Atsuko could not quite put their finger on it, but for some reason, Iroh had become convinced that the small town was a perfect place for lunch.
"It's full of history! And, I know exactly where to get the best bean curd puffs in town!"
The two could only shrug as they entered the city gates.
They walked around for a little bit before they came upon the city square. There was a cute little hut with a green roof in the center, but even better, there was a magnificent statue placed under it.
All three gasped when they saw the statue up close.
It was none other than the volcano that loomed over the city, with a larger than life Avatar Aang assuming a victorious stance complete with his foot directly on top of the volcano.
"Iroh?" said a voice from behind.