Chapter 5

Roger

I waited for them all that day and into the next, sitting in the cockpit of my plane. But after Yuri and the others went up to the Vessel, they did not return; moreover the machine itself vanished without a trace. If my understanding was correct, it was moving back in time, to some unknown horizon where Kato intends to make his stand. I hope Yuri and the others can stop him. Of course, if they don't, would I know the difference?

I thought about that for long minutes, then let the thought run away. Of course I would! I am older than Kato or his memories after all. I waited past the setting of the sun then started up the jet's engines and headed for Inugami Village. It was only a few minutes away by plane and I landed beyond the Forest of Wind and made my way quickly... well as quickly as I can to the village. The beautiful Saki was waiting at the Shrine of Sukune, her eyes scanning the dark waters of the mystic pool. I felt for her, kneeling there on the cold, cold stones, her hands pressed into the sharp rocks, her eyes peering so intently. I, who am both scientist and priest, can understand the workings of the universe better than I can the workings of a mother's heart. Yet her heart I understood; and I felt saddened. I joined her at the water's edge, sitting just out of a puddle of water, and waited with her through the night.

Morning came and went and after a while I left her, still kneeling at the water's edge. I could no longer stand her silent pain and I knew my prayers would not be answered there. I wandered the village for a while, stopping to hear tales told proudly of the Inugami Clan and their fighting spirit. Not a man, woman nor child there believed that Kurando would not return. They had faith. Saki had faith. I – I don't know what I had. I felt empty inside, as if a part of me had finally shriveled and died. Had I, by not destroying the Émigré, brought about this tragedy? Had I listened to Yuri that day long ago, would the Vessel of Yamato have ever risen?

I had no answers. And by late afternoon, I had taken the lonely path back through the woods to my jet and flown home to Wales. I would wait for Yuri there. He'd come back there, if he came back at all. I prayed to God he'd come home safe. But even as I parked the jet in the hangar below, I felt my hands growing chill, and a wind blew in from somewhere chilling me to the bones. I felt suddenly very old. And over supper that night I knew that I would look for him tomorrow and the next day. I would look for him the way I had looked for Jovis and the answer to the mystery of Sapientes Gladio. And I would find him, one way or the other.