Catholic Mission

[aine]

"I am happy to watch over the Admiral if you wish but otherwise I'll turn in, I may be Spanish but I can't stay up all night and be fresh for tomorrow."

[Cearlan]

I turn round to Elizabeth and says, "Elizabeth, without your invaluable aid tonight, I fear things would have turned out most differently, Thank you for your first rate assistance."

To the Professor I add; "Professor Echelstein, I have already misread the signs on one good friend whom you see lying here before you," I indicate the Admiral. "I will likely never be able to forgive myself for that," Leaning in close I say, "Santiago's wound is not severe but needs close monitoring, another friend, another thing I missed. Please let me quickly examine you so that I do not have three things on my conscience. That, for me, would be unbearable."

[Mr. Handy]

"You're quite welcome, Dr. Renwick," says Elisabeth with a weak grin. "Of course, without you, it would have been hopeless. I can help you with the professor if you need."

[aine]

Santiago bows briefly and leaves the medical staff to their work. He walks down to the dormitory where he is hoping to have a brief word with Tatsao before retiring for the two hours before dawn.

[Tabs]

Renwick examines Professor Eichelstein: the bone in his wrist is fractured. Pierrepont enters the infirmary, pushing an comfortable-looking armchair before him.

"It is my turn to sit with Admiral Kolchak," yawns Pierrepont.

Santiago surprises Tatsuo who is reclining on a bed, the sumo is scoffing ginger biscuits--crumbs cover the clean linen.

[aine]

Santiago stifles a smile and hunkers down next to the big Sumo. He nabs a biscuit and starts eating it. "I hope they do a good breakfast here soon. DId you get a chance to look at those papers?" He keeps his voice low so not to wake any sleepers.

[Tabs]

Tatsuo wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, reaching inside his robe with the other hand. "Señor, do not mention breakfast: do you have any idea how hungry I am?

"This first note is a telegram:

'Proceed Golden Pumpkin 1730 hours stop'

"this other one--a short letter--I have not read through carefully, but it seems to hold instructions regarding the sparing of certain lives. And this emblem"--Tatsuo shows Santiago the letterhead--"it is Chinese, not Japanese."

[Cearlan]

Medicine roll on Prof. Echelstein (1d100=80) 80/45 - Fail

As I take the Professor's hand and arm in my hands to examine them I sneeze violently, but had enough foresight to release his arm and cover my mouth before I could cause further damage to the wrist. "SorryProfessor, but it seems my little adventure in the fields has left it's mark on me. I have to tell you Professor, that it is broken. Although I can have another look in the morning, the best I can offer now is to splint it up for tonight. I can give you something to make it easier though if you want it though."

[Mr. Handy]

Elisabeth tries to help set the professor's wrist, but again her weariness makes it impossible to function. She stifles a yawn. "Sorry, I'm a bit rubbish," she says. "I won't be any good to anyone until I get some shuteye. Good night - er, morning, I suppose."

[aine]

"Chinese! Now why would a Chinese use Japanese soldiers, and how? And writing down the names to spare - not the other way round - strange and very callous. Maybe we can go through the names tomorrow, might give us a clue. Henry will enjoy this puzzle too." Santiago stands up,
"Get some sleep Tatsao, I'll see you at break...in a few hours." He subtly looks for the furthest empty bed from the big man, lies down and tries to get to sleep quickly, hoping Tatsao doesn't snore because if he does, it's going to be loud.

[Tabs]

Dr. Renwick attaches a splint to Eichelstein's wrist and puts his arm in a sling.

"Nothing for any pain, thank you," says Eichelstein. "Bedtime for me; and you, too, Doctor: you have a chill?" The Professor bows to Elisabeth, and leaves for the dormitory.

• ~

Elisabeth walks back to the parlour, down the passageway which leads to the Sacristy, then, she goes upstairs to the women's dormitory.

She quietly opens the door. Everyone is asleep: Mrs. Kolchak, snoring gently; Posie, tangled in the sheets; Mingzhu, lying straight, her mouth open slightly; Arashi, wearing her clothes still and looking frighteningly old. Elisabeth finds an empty bed under a window, it is opposite Mae; she sees the glint of Mae's eyes looking at her, but the young Chinese lady doesn't speak.

[Cearlan]

I sit down opposite the old Professor and speak quietly to him, "I'll admit that I could certainly do with a few hours shut-eye Professor, and please, it's Henry. I think we have been through enough together to dispense with some of the formality at least. Are you sure you don't want something to take the edge off a bit, if you turn over on it in the night it could be painful, though I doubt that you would cause any more damage, I have made the splint as secure as I could. Try and keep your arm elevated if you can."

"Thank you again Elizabeth, You really were a tower of strength for me tonight, I don't think I could have done half as much as I did without your aid." I usher her through the door and watch her as she goes to the Sacristy and smile at myself ... 'She is bone weary - such a brave, brave girl!' I think to myself.

I follow the old man towards the door of the men's dormitory and am surprised how stooped his shoulders are ... 'surely they were not like this earlier tonight, but then again, we have been through one hell of a lot this night.' Tatsuo is on the cot nearest the door and Santiago diagonally opposite him facing the wall, with the others spread around the room in a haphazard fashion. I hesitate letting the Professor find a cot he prefers before finding an empty cot for myself. I loosen off my clothing and flop dejectedly onto the cot's hard surface.

Curling up into a foetal ball I try to get some sleep but images of my cutting random limbs off my friends invade my dreams, at least I pray that they are dreams, all the while I am cackling shrilly as I cut mercilessly through bone and muscle. Behind it all is the disapproving eyes of Admiral Vladimir Kolchak and his lady wife ... I don't even know her name and I am going to have to tell her the terrible news in the morning. I hug my knees tighter and try to stifle a sob as tears spring unbidden to my eyes and start to run onto my pillow.

[Mr. Handy]

Elisabeth doesn't so much get into bed as collapse on top of it. She curls up, wrapping the sheets around her, looking over at Mae with a faint smile.

[Tabs]

The tinkling of a small bell.



"Gentlemen, it is late in the morning." Father Pierrepont pulls at the window drapes; sunlight streams into the dormitory.

• ~

"Wake now, Blossom," whispers Mrs. Quan in Chinese, gently shaking Elisabeth. Posie leaps on top of her:



"Sleepy!"

[Mr. Handy]

Elisabeth groggily sits up and greets Posie with a hug and a giggle."So am I, dear," she says. "Though I can use more sleep, right now I'm just glad we're alive and in one piece. Shall we go see about some breakfast?"

[aine]

Santiago turns over into the light and blinks sleepily, he is aching all over, especially his shoulder. "Is this what it's like to get old?" He wonders. He creaks out of bed, pads past the others who are slowly waking and heads to the bathroom/bucket/outside tap to freshen up. After some cold water and stretching he feels much better and walks almost with a bounce in his stride to find breakfast.

[Tabs]

"Ye-es! I'm hungry--I hope they have marmalade? . . . And croissants! French people always eat them for breakfast," says Posie excitedly, informing Elisabeth about the eating habits of the Gallic race.

"Your daddy: do you think he'll like me?"

• ~

In the courtyard outside--

Santiago pulls on the hand pump beside the well and fills a cistern; he washes and dunks his head in the cold water. Li opens the mission's front door and calls to the Spaniard:



"Sir! Can you help fill these buckets? The housekeeper demands water!"

[aine]

Santiago drapes his washed shirt over a wall to dry. He takes the buckets off Li with a grin, "A feisty housekeeper as always no doubt!" and sets about pumping water up for each one. When they are all full, he lifts one in each hand and follows Li to deliver them indoors.

[Mr. Handy]

"Oh, he's absolutely going to adore you!" Elisabeth tells Posie, dragging herself out of bed and taking the girl's hand. "You'll remind him of me when I was your age. I love croissants and marmalade too. Oh, and French toast!"

[Tabs]

The long table in the reception room is surrounded by an assortment of chairs and a pew--taken from the mission hall. Mrs. Quan, with Mae's help, is setting the crockery for breakfast. Tatsuo is the first to be seated, expectantly gripping a knife; Father Anselm pulls up an armchair, throwing disapproving glances at the fat sumo. Standing are Professors Pavlov and Eichelstein, holding a jovial conversation, arms round each other; Samuel Grey, by himself, intently reading his letter to the British Ambassador; Father Pierrepont escorting Chee Mingzhu to a chair--"Your feet are sore? Please, allow me."



"Thank you," says Mingzhu.