Chapter 23: Cast Away
15.09.05
Hi, Master Giovanni!
Um, this is Max and Mariam. We're still following old Johnny and his army. Well, so far they just talked and talked. And it didn't make much sense: all they ever discuss is their uniform and equipment. Nothing at all about their strategies. We've been using Kenny's flying camera thing so we've got images of the weapons too, if you are interested. By the way, I think they'll be giving each soldier a drop of that potion of immortality.
Anyway, Mariam insisted on taking down notes on their weapons and stuff.
Uniform: blue marine with a golden eagle on the back
Weapons: - machine gun
pocket knife
grenade
short twin guns
So far, that's all we've got. Oh yeah, Ray Kon had disappeared from the meetings. Maybe old Kenny can track him down.
Max and Mariam
16.09.05
To Master Giovanni,
I am currently getting closer to one of Ming Ming's bodyguards, Garland. I went to his apartment yesterday. He just talked to me about how he got the job and how boring it was but tat he didn't have a choice.
But this morning, I sneaked into Ming Ming's cloakroom (maybe you have heard of her concert) and I found her address book. There is Boris' phone number on it. Then she came in but I hid myself in the clothes ranks just in time. She was with her bodyguards. They were talking about Lee Chow having caught a ninja. I fear very much for Prima.
Please, give me news if possible.
Salima
16.09.05
Dear Master,
This is Mariam and Max again. You must be please to hear this. Johnny met with Boris and they said that the day they are going to attack is on election day! Meaning in a month! Can you stop all this in a month? Master, I think we can use the video tape to show what treachery they are brewing but the thing about the stealth, we still need proves.
Have you heard from the others?
Mariam, Max
Giovanni took off his reading glasses when he had finished reading the ninjas' e-mails. He rubbed his tired eyes and tried to assimilate all the information received. Election day. Really, Boris is daring! the master thought, to choose such an important day for himself. But why?
He was particularly worried about Prima and Tala though. They hadn't written for quite a while. Tala hadn't written at all, in fact. On her last e-mail, Prima talked about this unloading the cargos thing. Maybe… God, maybe Prima's the one who is captured. What am I going to do? Nothing, you're just an old limp now. The kids don't need you.
"Master, are you okay?"
Giovanni turned to meet the bespectacled nerd. He seemed more cheerful these past days though he couldn't imagine why since they were in the middle of a crises.
"Yes, thank you, Kenny," the master answered, getting off one of the chairs around the round table.
"Do you care for coffee?"
"No thanks. Has Dizzi found-?"
Suddenly a loud beep interrupted his question. Both Giovanni and Kenny turned to the origin of the sound. The computer screen was switched on and the number 10 appeared on it then going to 9.
"What on earth-?"
"Auto-destruction in 5 seconds," Dizzi said.
"Uh-oh."
"4… 3…2…1…"
The master caught Kenny and his laptop under his armpit and rushed to the door behind the tapestry.
"0"
They rolled out of the headquarters as the inside exploded into flames.
"Merda! We're uncovered!" Giovanni realized with horror.
Prima began to stir. Her eyes opened slowly. She could only make a blur of what surrounded her. It seemed to be a cave… a loud clattering noise from the outside prevented her from going back to sleep. But also the sound of a fire cackling. Prima sat up. She found that she was only in her underwear.
"Merda! What have you done to me, figlio de la puta?" she shouted at the figure by the fire.
Kai Hiwatari merely raised his eyes one second at her then resumed roasting something on a stick.
"You're awake," he said emotionlessly.
"Answer me!"
Prima felt more rage throbbing inside her than anxiety or fear. She couldn't believe that the guy had touched her. She was feeling so disgusted…
"I've saved you and since you were wet to the bones, I took your clothes off for you," he said, not looking at her but at the roasting meat. "I haven't touched the unnecessary parts. You must be hungry."
Prima stared at the stick he was handing her before realizing how hungry she was. She took it and started gnawing at the chicken like a man starved for 3 days. Kai ate slowly and carefully not taking heed of her. It kind of made her uncomfortable to see her enemy so well mannered and that she was so barbaric. She diverted her gaze at the cave's mouth instead. Rain was pouring outside. She could see trees and the river simmering behind it.
"How long have I been here?"
"A day and two nights."
"Why haven't you killed me yet?"
"It's not my orders."
There was a long silence after that. Then, finishing the meat, Prima felt thirsty. She looked around the cave then found a canteen thrush right under her nose. She looked up to meet the fiery crimson eyes of her enemy. They reminded her so much of someone but she couldn't think of who…
"Drink."
Prima took it from him and washed down the peppery taste of the roasted chicken.
"Can I have my clothes?" she asked.
Kai turned and went deeper into the cave, turning his back to her. Prima leapt up, grabbed a rock and hit his head with it. He fell unconscious. Prima sprinted over him and found her clothes. She put them on hastily and ran out into the rain.
"Shit!"
She didn't know where she was going but she started to run as fast as she could. Her wounds didn't make it easier. Eventually she had to take a rest. Her legs were covered with mud to the knees. She crawled under a tree hoping for shelter but sprinkles of rain still caught her. At least she was free. Now she must find a way to return to New York. Or at least contact Uncle Giovanni.
At last, she found a plan. She was going to penetrate into Wind Storm's resort to e-mail to the villa then she could hide in one of the mountains waiting for help to arrive. But would it work? Whatever, it was the only one she had in mind. Prima got up despite of the pain on her leg and tried to find the way out of the forest.
After a long walk in the rain and mud, she found the place where the river fell into a waterfall. The grounds were very slippery there but she had to get across. She chose a place where the water was shallow and with the help of a stick began to cross. The current was very violent and the rain made the rocks so slippery that she nearly fell at every step. When she got to the middle of the river, the stick she was holding for support gave way and she fell on the hard rock. Before she could react, the current was taking her down to the waterfall.
Her heart was throbbing like mad as she tried to catch a rock to hold on but her hands slipped and down the waterfall she fell. Fortunately there was a branch hanging out of the waterfall. Prima caught it in time before crashing into the pool of rocks below. She was taking long heaves of breath. Water from both the rain and the waterfall was blinding her but she decided not to die. She swung herself and caught a rocking rising out of the waterfall and began to climb upwards which was very hard work, since she was going against the current. But at last, she saw the head of the cliff. With too much joy and temerity, she reached out for a sharp rock and cut herself. She yelped and let go in pain. A hand reached out and caught her wrist. She looked up to see Kai, holding her arm with one hand and roots with the other. He pulled her up and she prepared herself to be killed for sure. But instead her pulled harder on her wrist and hissed hatefully, "Never do that again.The forest is wild, you won't be able to escape without killing yourself"
Before Prima could reply, Kai took out a pair of handcuffs and put one around her wrist and the other on his.
"Now, don't do anything stupid," he said.
She spat at him.
He glared at her in pure anger. His free hand was trembling.
"Come on, hit me!" Prima defied him.
"I don't hurt women," he muttered, arousing her anger.
"Oh yeah? Well, if you think I'm scared of you-."
"Shut up."
Prima had her mouth opened. She knew that she couldn't do anything because she was his prisoner and that was why she felt empty rage filling her.
Kai took her back to the cave. Now they were both drenched so they had to sit together by the fire. Prima could feel her guard's sweat tickling down his arm and his even breath despite all the walking. She felt uncomfortable to be so near to the man she loathed. Then a sudden thought occurred her. It put fear into her heart.
"Wait, if we're stuck like this, how are we going to sleep?" she asked, her heart beating frightfully.
Kai turned to her.
"On our backs," he answered.
"You mean, together."
Kai shrugged.
"Side by side, yes."
Prima leapt up forgetting that she as chained to him, making her fall back down.
"Where is the key?" she asked.
"In my pocket."
"Free me," she commanded. "I promise that I'll be good. But in no way am I going to sleep with you."
Kai just stared at her without moving. She looked down at his pocket. He felt her gaze on it, so he took the key out and said, "Don't even think about it," and was about to put it in the chain across his neck when Prima pushed his head backwards and caught the key in his fingers. However Kai was clutching it so tightly she couldn't take it. He was struggling on the floor as she tried to pull it away from him. The key suddenly slipped and fell into the fire.
"A pincer, quick!" Prima exclaimed.
Kai tried to go to his bag but Prima forgot to get up to so he fell over her and they rolled across the ground.
"Get off me!" she yelled.
He pulled himself and her up and walked quickly to take the pincer from his bag but Prima was stuck to him and he couldn't manage his hands normally. When at last they got the pincer the key was gone.
"Right, so now we're stuck forever," Kai said, annoyed.
Prima felt like dying.
"Well, if it wasn't for you who had such a brilliant idea of tying us together in the first place, we won't be here," she argued.
"If you haven't run away, I wouldn't have to do it," he said quietly.
"Do you think I want to remain a prisoner?"
"It's better than risking one's life in the rain."
"Shut up!"
Kai grew silent. Not because he was listening to her but because he was observing his bag. Prima turned her attention to it too.
"What is it?"
"It's wet."
"So? You went into the rain with it."
"I have my portable radio in it. I won't be able to contact the others."
"Oh, so you mean they don't know where we are?"
"No. So we have to go to them ourselves."
Prima crossed her arms.
"If you think, I'm going to let myself be taken qui-."
"Do you think you've got the choice?"
Kai pulled at the handcuff, urging Prima to lose balance.
"Fine, but I'm not sleeping with you!"
This time he didn't bother to answer and walked back to the fire. Prima had to go with him despite herself.
