Chapter 6
Ready to Go
Lin and Ae were ready to leave. As instructed, they met Yubaba at the main entrance, where she had a few last-minute instructions. Ae chose the wardrobes they would wear the next few days. For departure--and Yubaba's anticipated approval--she chose a conservative dark blue pantsuit for herself and a pink and white dress outfit for Lin. As it was yet the beginning of the school year in the Human World--and the weather there promised to be cool in the evenings--she brought clothing to dress warmly.
Ae Was quite satisifed with her own appearance. She hated the "office lady" look, and everything about her loudly proclaimed independence from that lifestyle. Lin could have passed for a public school student. She even wore a Landsel, a small backpack for elementary school children. Lin hated the look. She didn't like the trappings of femininity--or even wearing shoes of any kind. The backpack, however, was cool. She put both of her books, two pencils, several sheets of genkou youshi, and three precious pieces of blackened newt wrapped in leaves into the landsel.
Yubaba was predictably approving. "You both look very nice today." Ae smiled that her "inspection getup" passed the muster. Lin didn't seem very happy as she cast a protesting look toward her companion. The three started walking toward the terminal building while Yubaba continued, "Doctor Kitamura knows you're coming. He will be waiting for you as you leave the portal in Tsuchiura and will drive you directly to his clinic in Tsukuba. Here is the referral paperwork, reservations at the Hyatt Tsukuba, and twenty thousand Yen for meals and sundries."
"What about our return, Yubaba? When..."
"If you wish to return by tomorrow's class, be at the portal at exactly nine tomorrow morning according to..." Yubaba pulled an odd pocket watch from what apeared to be thin air. "...this watch. It indicates our time here. Time in the Human World flows differently and independently, so don't mess with any settings."
Lin examined the watch and put it into her bag. If it weren't for the twenty-four-hour faceplate design, it appeared to be a conventional analog watch--and accurate as best she could tell.
Yubaba added, "Make sure the doctor returns you to the portal by that time. I will see to the rest."
Lin approached Yubaba and asked in a near-whisper, "Yubaba-sama?"
"Yes, Ae"
"In my class. My students. Aren't they all snails?"
"Most are snails, but there are some slugs."
"What about Pei-chan?"
"She's a slug."
"That little liar," Ae whispered to herself, smiling. Lin's fox-like hearing was only hampered by the shape of her human ears, so she overheard the conversation--and the whisper. She felt warmly satisfied, but knew she had to be more judicious with her sarcasm in the future.
In a few minutes, the trio reached the Terminal building. Yubaba accompanied them inside to the proper tunnel entrance. "You will start into this tunnel at 1625, or 4:25 PM, and proceed directly to the entrance. You should see the doctor's car from the tunnel entrance. It will be a white 1989 Subaru Justy." Yubaba then touched Ae's forehead and an image of the doctor and his car appeared. "Well, Ae, we still have about five minutes. Do you have any questions?"
Ae half-jokingly thought of asking what a doctor was doing driving THAT, but opted for a more practical query. "Yubaba-sama, why must we enter the tunnel at a specific time?"
"I only have six tunnels, and they serve several hundred locations in Japan and international places. They are on a fixed schedule, and the gods know what time they must cross. One of my tunnels--that one to our right--is reserved to return guests from whatever spot they entered. Another--the one at the end--is reserved for international destinations. That leaves other four quite busy opening from place to place on a regular rotating basis."
"Wow. A separate tunnel for International destinations. May I ask why?"
"It's by agreement. I have human connections at various government offices throughout Japan. They know my situation and what I do. Visitors from International locations may only return to the international portal unless they carry a transit permit stamped by both my sister and myself. I am technically a Point of Entry into Japan." Yubaba seemed pretty proud about that. "By the way," she added with her eyes narrowing a bit for effect, "the government asked be to build four portals..."
Ae interrupted, "Let me guess." trying best to imitate Yubaba's look, "You have one portal on each of the four disputed Northern Islands the Russians have been holding since the War--and they're not connected to the International Tunnel."
"Atari!" (Bingo) Yubaba knew why she liked this young human. "We don't get much traffic, but they are there."
After a few minutes of idle conversation growing idler, Ae examined the watch. "It's time. We'd better get going. We'll see you here tomorrow at nine."
"Ae-san, if you see, hear, or smell anything passing the other direction, it's likely a visiting spirit from the Tsuchiura area. Be sure to offer appropriate greetings."
It that, Ae and Lin entered the tunnel for what would turn out to be a very eventful trip.
When they reached the tunnel exit, the car was parked near the tunnel and the doctor was standing next to it--exactly like the image Yubaba left in Ae's head. They stepped out into the human world. Lin headed immediately toward the doctor and examined his facial features. She seemed dismayed. "Ae-sensei, is the doctor a human?"
"Yes he is, Lin."
"But he's exactly like you. You're not an orangutan?"
"No, Lin, I'm human."
Then a broad grin appeared on Lin's face. "Talk about 'little liars,' indeed!"
It never occurred to Ae that she was the first human Lin had ever seen. She will then and forever think of orangutans when she thinks of humans. She knew she had to be far more judicious in her use of facts when first presented to impressionable minds--especially if she wanted to remain a teacher at the bathhouse.
Ae removed the watch and examined it. It was 1626, or 4:26 PM, but the second hand was moving very slowly.
The doctor approached the two new entrants. "Ae and Lin, correct?"
The two bowed and smiled. "My name is Ae and this is Lin."
"I am Isamu Kitamura, a professor at Tsukuba University, specializing in child development." He turned to Lin, "Lin-san, it is a pleasure to meet you. Yubaba hires me to make sure her children are happy and healthy. Today is your turn." The doctor knew Lin was very intelligent and would have extremely sharp ears. He then turned to Ae. "Ae-san, how is your English?"
After a few seconds of sentence assembly, she replied, "I Study, uh, Sebun...no...Six Year school."
The doctor's English came easier, "Good. We sometime use, OK?" He then reverted to Japanese. "I'll take you to your hotel first. I wish I could afford it. It's very expensive. Remember, your names are Ae and Lin Sekiguchi. You are sisters and are here for treatment at the University clinic--in case anybody asks."
Lin looked at the Subaru. "Kitamura-sensei, what is this?"
"This is an automobile, Lin-san. We ride in it to go to places too far to walk."
Lin liked the sound of 'Lin-san.' It somehow made her feel more grown up than the normal 'Lin-chan' she heard all the time. "Wow! There are places too far to walk?"
The doctor promised, "On the way to the hotel, I'll get you a few picture books about the world." In English, the doctor asked Ae, "What year reading grade?"
Ae replied, "Faasto." (First)
The three got into the tiny car. The doctor started it up, giving Lin a bit of a fright. "Don't worry, Lin-san, it makes bad sounds and leaves a funny smell behind, but it really is a useful tool." He backed his car into the grass and turned toward the direction he came from. Lin's adventure had just begun...
Ready to Go
Lin and Ae were ready to leave. As instructed, they met Yubaba at the main entrance, where she had a few last-minute instructions. Ae chose the wardrobes they would wear the next few days. For departure--and Yubaba's anticipated approval--she chose a conservative dark blue pantsuit for herself and a pink and white dress outfit for Lin. As it was yet the beginning of the school year in the Human World--and the weather there promised to be cool in the evenings--she brought clothing to dress warmly.
Ae Was quite satisifed with her own appearance. She hated the "office lady" look, and everything about her loudly proclaimed independence from that lifestyle. Lin could have passed for a public school student. She even wore a Landsel, a small backpack for elementary school children. Lin hated the look. She didn't like the trappings of femininity--or even wearing shoes of any kind. The backpack, however, was cool. She put both of her books, two pencils, several sheets of genkou youshi, and three precious pieces of blackened newt wrapped in leaves into the landsel.
Yubaba was predictably approving. "You both look very nice today." Ae smiled that her "inspection getup" passed the muster. Lin didn't seem very happy as she cast a protesting look toward her companion. The three started walking toward the terminal building while Yubaba continued, "Doctor Kitamura knows you're coming. He will be waiting for you as you leave the portal in Tsuchiura and will drive you directly to his clinic in Tsukuba. Here is the referral paperwork, reservations at the Hyatt Tsukuba, and twenty thousand Yen for meals and sundries."
"What about our return, Yubaba? When..."
"If you wish to return by tomorrow's class, be at the portal at exactly nine tomorrow morning according to..." Yubaba pulled an odd pocket watch from what apeared to be thin air. "...this watch. It indicates our time here. Time in the Human World flows differently and independently, so don't mess with any settings."
Lin examined the watch and put it into her bag. If it weren't for the twenty-four-hour faceplate design, it appeared to be a conventional analog watch--and accurate as best she could tell.
Yubaba added, "Make sure the doctor returns you to the portal by that time. I will see to the rest."
Lin approached Yubaba and asked in a near-whisper, "Yubaba-sama?"
"Yes, Ae"
"In my class. My students. Aren't they all snails?"
"Most are snails, but there are some slugs."
"What about Pei-chan?"
"She's a slug."
"That little liar," Ae whispered to herself, smiling. Lin's fox-like hearing was only hampered by the shape of her human ears, so she overheard the conversation--and the whisper. She felt warmly satisfied, but knew she had to be more judicious with her sarcasm in the future.
In a few minutes, the trio reached the Terminal building. Yubaba accompanied them inside to the proper tunnel entrance. "You will start into this tunnel at 1625, or 4:25 PM, and proceed directly to the entrance. You should see the doctor's car from the tunnel entrance. It will be a white 1989 Subaru Justy." Yubaba then touched Ae's forehead and an image of the doctor and his car appeared. "Well, Ae, we still have about five minutes. Do you have any questions?"
Ae half-jokingly thought of asking what a doctor was doing driving THAT, but opted for a more practical query. "Yubaba-sama, why must we enter the tunnel at a specific time?"
"I only have six tunnels, and they serve several hundred locations in Japan and international places. They are on a fixed schedule, and the gods know what time they must cross. One of my tunnels--that one to our right--is reserved to return guests from whatever spot they entered. Another--the one at the end--is reserved for international destinations. That leaves other four quite busy opening from place to place on a regular rotating basis."
"Wow. A separate tunnel for International destinations. May I ask why?"
"It's by agreement. I have human connections at various government offices throughout Japan. They know my situation and what I do. Visitors from International locations may only return to the international portal unless they carry a transit permit stamped by both my sister and myself. I am technically a Point of Entry into Japan." Yubaba seemed pretty proud about that. "By the way," she added with her eyes narrowing a bit for effect, "the government asked be to build four portals..."
Ae interrupted, "Let me guess." trying best to imitate Yubaba's look, "You have one portal on each of the four disputed Northern Islands the Russians have been holding since the War--and they're not connected to the International Tunnel."
"Atari!" (Bingo) Yubaba knew why she liked this young human. "We don't get much traffic, but they are there."
After a few minutes of idle conversation growing idler, Ae examined the watch. "It's time. We'd better get going. We'll see you here tomorrow at nine."
"Ae-san, if you see, hear, or smell anything passing the other direction, it's likely a visiting spirit from the Tsuchiura area. Be sure to offer appropriate greetings."
It that, Ae and Lin entered the tunnel for what would turn out to be a very eventful trip.
When they reached the tunnel exit, the car was parked near the tunnel and the doctor was standing next to it--exactly like the image Yubaba left in Ae's head. They stepped out into the human world. Lin headed immediately toward the doctor and examined his facial features. She seemed dismayed. "Ae-sensei, is the doctor a human?"
"Yes he is, Lin."
"But he's exactly like you. You're not an orangutan?"
"No, Lin, I'm human."
Then a broad grin appeared on Lin's face. "Talk about 'little liars,' indeed!"
It never occurred to Ae that she was the first human Lin had ever seen. She will then and forever think of orangutans when she thinks of humans. She knew she had to be far more judicious in her use of facts when first presented to impressionable minds--especially if she wanted to remain a teacher at the bathhouse.
Ae removed the watch and examined it. It was 1626, or 4:26 PM, but the second hand was moving very slowly.
The doctor approached the two new entrants. "Ae and Lin, correct?"
The two bowed and smiled. "My name is Ae and this is Lin."
"I am Isamu Kitamura, a professor at Tsukuba University, specializing in child development." He turned to Lin, "Lin-san, it is a pleasure to meet you. Yubaba hires me to make sure her children are happy and healthy. Today is your turn." The doctor knew Lin was very intelligent and would have extremely sharp ears. He then turned to Ae. "Ae-san, how is your English?"
After a few seconds of sentence assembly, she replied, "I Study, uh, Sebun...no...Six Year school."
The doctor's English came easier, "Good. We sometime use, OK?" He then reverted to Japanese. "I'll take you to your hotel first. I wish I could afford it. It's very expensive. Remember, your names are Ae and Lin Sekiguchi. You are sisters and are here for treatment at the University clinic--in case anybody asks."
Lin looked at the Subaru. "Kitamura-sensei, what is this?"
"This is an automobile, Lin-san. We ride in it to go to places too far to walk."
Lin liked the sound of 'Lin-san.' It somehow made her feel more grown up than the normal 'Lin-chan' she heard all the time. "Wow! There are places too far to walk?"
The doctor promised, "On the way to the hotel, I'll get you a few picture books about the world." In English, the doctor asked Ae, "What year reading grade?"
Ae replied, "Faasto." (First)
The three got into the tiny car. The doctor started it up, giving Lin a bit of a fright. "Don't worry, Lin-san, it makes bad sounds and leaves a funny smell behind, but it really is a useful tool." He backed his car into the grass and turned toward the direction he came from. Lin's adventure had just begun...