Friday, September 2, 2005

Running To Stand Still: The hidden ones
*episode 7*

An hour later, Miroku goes forth from the cage. He feels much better. But he has the worst hangover of his life; and that’s saying something. Kouu, Kaze, and Kousetsu are guarding/escorting him. He sees Yamaneko leaving a large house; she walks to him. “Leave us.” she tells the guards. Turning in the obvious expectation that she will be followed; Yamaneko walks off. When they have cleared the others, she says, “Before the tests continue, you should see what prize awaits you. This village would be your home; and a fine one too. We’re self-sufficient: we grow our own food, make our tools and clothing. We buy metals from feudal lords; but never openly.” Miroku’s eye is drawn to a young girl sitting by herself. He says, “That is the first young child I’ve seen. One of my predecessor’s last?” Yamaneko shakes her head, “No, the last father died 8 years ago; Ko is 4. She is of this village; but not of our flesh. It must have occurred to you that we do not only bear female offspring.” Miroku says, “Indeed it had.” She continues, “It is the way of the world that many families will gladly accept a boy child, if they can have none of their own. It is also the way of the world that many girl children are simply killed at birth; so as to allow for more sons. We have arrangements with a number of villages; they give these children to us; and, when there is a father, we give our boys to them.” Nodding Miroku says, “So that child, Ko, has no companions her own age?” Yamaneko says, “No, but even if we had a father, she would have been alone. Such children are ostracized by the others.” Miroku says, “That’s terrible.” The ninja says, “Is it? Such children become strong warriors; the pain forges them into hard steel. I should know; I am not of the flesh.” The two progress in silence until they reach the woods at the village’s edge. Yamaneko leads Miroku into the shelter of the forest. “Quickly,” she says, “Go; I do not want to see you killed! No patrols will pass that way for some time!” Miroku says, “My friends, what will happen to them if I leave?” Yamaneko says, “They will be put to death; but you cannot save them. Go now before we are discovered!” After a slight pause, Miroku says, “I will not abandon them; let us return to the village and begin the tests.” Smiling smugly, Yamaneko says, “They have already begun; and you have past this one. If you had gone, I would have killed you. We are not a people driven by honor, but the father must have some principles. As you say, let us return now.”
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