Chapter 12: Only a Rat
The next morning brought forth the same old routine. My grey slop was shoved through the flap, having the same horrid taste which I had never gotten used to. Then, within a few minutes after I finished it and put my tray back out, the two men came to take me to Rou once more.
Again, we walked in silence, dragging my chains behind me like a tail, back to the lab room with the machine. There he was, as usual, standing by his table, waiting for me to be properly strapped in. The two men were acting rather odd today, because they were watching is a lot more closely than they usually did.
Rou seemed to be back to normal today because he wore a friendly smile that comforted me despite my unwavering despair. He did, however, act a bit out of character, walking stiffly around and making sideways glances at the two guards. Regardless, he still treated me with care. It was true, I realized, that although he was running these tests, he had truly been my only friend in this place. As odd as it was to admit, I was actually happy to see his face.
Just like all the other times, he ran his tests on me, making me hear Shizen beg me for help and taking his notes. By this time, I had learned to block her words. I had given up on being a Windtalker, thinking that if I did so, it would help ease my suffering.
When Rou was nearing the final stages of his testing, he clicked his pen and placed it and his clipboard on top of his desk. Then he walked over to my side. I didn't mind it this time, after our previous encounter, I felt like I could trust him. Something in my gut told me that he was just as surprised as he looked at the news I had gave him. His reaction seemed genuine, and even though I had placed some of the blame on him for all this time, I felt like he harbored some form of concern for me.
"Munsuta," he began in a hushed voice, edging closer, fearful of the guards, "I don't know how much longer they will allow me to run these tests. What you told me yesterday shocked me beyond belief." He paused and pretended to adjust one of the wires of my helmet. "When I went to one of my superiors to ask about that day, they changed the subject and evaded my questions. None of the three of us were ever told about any of this, and that the honest truth."
One of the guards glared at Rou for a few moments, making him pretend to adjust he equipment again before he looked away. I simply sat in my chair, trying to process his words without looking too suspicious. Rou leaned in even closer, practically whispering into my ear, "I never meant any harm to come if you or your people, my colleagues and I were only there to do research. We had heard of the Goddess of the forest through legends and myths, but I never imagined actually meeting Her. Yes, the idea to take Her with us was my idea, however I had nothing to do with the massacre of your people."
Again, he played around with the machinery and pretended to adjust a few knobs. "I have gathered enough information to stop any further testing. This is not as good of news as you would think though…" He paused and leaned in closer still, his hot breath tickling my neck as he continued, "I have heard that they are planning to 'throw you away' once I've finished my research."
Those last words hit me hard. 'Throw me away'? What does that mean? Whatever it was, it surely wasn't something good. "I don't want your life to be tossed away like garbage, like the countless lives of your people. I like and respect you and do not wish any harm to fall upon you. This is why I have decided to tell you this, Munsuta."
"There is a pipeline that runs under this lab that leads to the old sewage drainage system from decades before. On my signal, before the guards come to collect you, I want you to run as fast as you can to that vent under there," he said as he pointed to a tiny square in the wall underneath one of the side lab tables. "I suppose it is to your advantage that they have only been feeding you that porridge all this time because you are the perfect size for it."
"Remember when we were teaching each other our languages and you taught me the names of the animals?" I nodded slowly, staring unblinkingly at him. I had only just realized what was happening… All those times he had pretended to fix my straps, he had been loosening them. The guards were walking towards us to take me back, when suddenly Rou jumped up in mock surprise and shouted, "Oh my! I almost forgot!" And leaned back over to whisper to me for the last time:
"What was the name of the small, furry creature that could squeeze through small spaces unnoticed called? I think that only one of those could pull this off, if you catch my meaning." He winked as he straightened back up. All of my restraints were loose enough that I could slip my arms and legs out with ease. I was still confused though… What signal? And why the sudden talk about animal words?
I had failed to understand until he uttered his next words out loud: "Only a rat can scurry away untouched, isn't that right, Nezumi?"