Play@YSDC

"I don't think those are fireflies..." says Elisabeth, squinting at the torches. She leaps to her feet and helps Mingzhu stand. "Electric torches, more like. We have to leave now."

"By God!" exclaims Professor Pavlov, squinting myopically toward the water mill.

"Do you think they're coming for us?" asks Posie of Elisabeth.

Mrs. Kolchak, with Mae's help, lift Mingzhu on to her feet. Li shakes Shaosu and points back at the danger, he urges in Chinese:

"Come on! Show us the way."

"I'm sure they're looking for us," says Elisabeth, taking Posie's hand, "but I don't think they know where we've gone yet. They probably think we're still at the mill. Some of us are..."

"Boom" followed by a terrific explosion.

"Vladimir!" cries Mrs. Kolchak with abandon.

Shaosu steps away from the pagoda to continue across the paddy fields. The little China man is muttering prayers to his gods and wishing the "Lǎowài" would disappear.

"We must go now," Elisabeth says to Mrs. Kolchak. "Your husband's courage was to buy you and the rest of us time to get far away. If we make it to safety, then it counts for something."

There is a second "BOOM," Mrs. Kolchak looks at Elisabeth with renewed hope, but the sound is followed by the crack of a rifle shot, and the woman chokes back a sob.

"I wonder if Otto is still alive?" says Professor Pavlov speculatively.

"Hoi!" shouts Shaosu, pointing to the Catholic Mission, which is revealed by moonlight that shines through parted clouds.

"Oh, thank God!" says Elisabeth, relief washing over her. "Come on, let's get inside. It's wet and freezing out here!" Holding Posie's hand, she follows Shaosu to the mission.

The entrance to the Catholic Mission is inside a brick portico which has an oak door with studs and iron bands, to keep out bandits and unbelievers. At head height is a shutter covered by a grill and a heavy door knocker.

Elisabeth approaches the front door, grips the knocker, and knocks loudly on the door.