28 The Miracle Fell from the Sky (1/2)

When Sousuke came down the mountain, he could see the farmlands.

After creeping in, he extracted some engine oil from a decomposing tractor. He wanted gasoline, but the current economic crisis kept most tanks empty. The fact that this area still had a tractor at all indicated it was a prosperous region.

Holding the oil-filled, polyethylene tank, he ran to the farm's fallow land. His side throbbed, but it wasn't so bad that he couldn't endure it.

After dumping out the oil on the field, he checked his watch: Oh-three twenty-eight.

Here goes.

Taking the survival kit from his pocket, Sousuke procured a permanganic acid tablet that normally would be used for sterilizing.

But he crushed it, spread the powder on the oil, and let the mixture with a Zippo.

After a second, the oil ignited, and the flames slowly spread.

Sting, the recon satellite, took extremely high-resolution pictures.

On a clear day, it could easily read the headline on a newspaper. On a drizzly night like this, however, it would be difficult to distinguish Sousuke and friends from local soldiers.

That's why Sousuke used fire letters to spell out A67 ALIVE.

The A was for ”Angel,” Kaname's codename. The numbers were for ”Urzu Six” and ”Urzu 7,” Kurz and Sousuke, respectively. ”Alive” was self-explanatory, really.

Mindful not to leave footprints, Sousuke returned to Kurz and Kaname.

There was no need to indicate their location. If Sting saw those letters, it could follow Sousuke's fire-lit silhouette from space.

The oil fire probably would die in just a few minutes, and there was no guarantee that either allies or enemies would see it. It was, after all, a gamble.

....

When Sousuke returned, Kaname seemed relieved to see him. She tightly clutched her shirt across her chest, where it had been torn open somehow. Kurz appeared to be sleeping.

”How is he?”

”Unexpectedly well, I'd say. His type lives a long time.”

Unsure what that meant and how to respond, Sousuke took a seat on a tree root.

”Well? Will it work?”

”I don't know. It's a long shot, at best. I still think it would be easier for you to escape alone.”

”Too late now. I don't feel like reconsidering, anyway.”

”I know. I won't say it again.”

”Thanks.”

In the distance, helicopter rotors hacked at the sky. They didn't seem to be approaching-and ten seconds later, the sound faded.

Like a desolate maze with no exit, the dark woods were gloomy.

Kaname broke the silence. ”Hey, if ... if we get back okay, what are you going to do, Sagara?”

”Take on the next mission.”

”You mean you'll go off somewhere else? You won't go to school anymore?”

”Probably not. It was just a temporary assignment for me to be a student. It definitely would get in the way of other duties. I'll probably just disappear.”

”Oh ... ”

Sousuke's ears perked up as he heard footsteps.

They were much quicker and quieter than a human's. Wild breathing suggested it was some kind of animal-maybe a dog.

Then, from a distance, he also heard human footsteps: three, four people, maybe more.

Sousuke held his breath; meanwhile, the sound of twigs snapping underfoot grew closer. There was a frenzied howl.

”What's-”