Chapter 17:
Red Line
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…
I see... a beautiful girl... she has medium, wavy hair...
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«Dango…»
I hear a distant voice... She's calling me... She can mind her own business, I'm here in sweet company...
…
«Dango, wake up!»
Wake up from what? The girl kicks me in the face, I wake up with a start.
«Huh?! What happened?»
The courtesy light illuminates the cockpit. I'm lying down, my legs are slightly raised by Beatrice, who looks at me with a tired and relieved expression. The air is thick with the smell of melted metal and burnt earth.
«G-Good thing you're awake.» Her voice is a little shaky.
«What happened?»
«After we crashed, you passed out. I took care of checking you and treating you. Once I was sure you were okay, I moved you and drove the vehicle out of the terrain.» Pierrot explains.
Why did he drive the vehicle out of the terrain?
«Thanks, Pierrot. How long was I out?»
«For 37 minutes. In case you were wondering, after penetrating the lion's core, it exploded, creating the crater we're in now and where the 0 Liwan had crashed, ending up almost buried.»
... Wizard.
«So we made it.» My voice trembles as I slowly get up.
The 0 Liwan, miraculously, is still intact. Around us, a sea of metal fragments shines in the dim light.
«Next time, before crashing into a giant mechanical beast while humming, warn us!» Pierrot snaps.
I seem to have made them more nervous than I intended.
«I hope there won't be a next time. I almost emptied my bowels.» I reply with a wry smile...
It didn't come out as well as I thought, unlike my poop. Ahahahaha!
Beatrice looks at me with watery eyes, full of tears. «I thought... I thought we were dead.» A mix of relief and anger shakes her voice. «D-Don't ever do that again!» Then she covers her face with her hands and bursts into tears.
I think I chose the wrong line of dialogue. I'm sorry I scared them so much. Anyway, it seems to have turned out for the best, but now I wonder if they're looking for us.
I need to pee, is there a place where they can't see me? It's difficult to see, everything is flat because of the explosion. Maybe behind that big panel. I hope it doesn't electrocute me. Or maybe it's still hot and I'll see my pee vaporize? I'd really like to find out. But will it hurt to inhale my own pee fumes? Why is Beatrice crying? Oh yeah! We have to leave.
«Get in the vehicle. If the explosion was as strong as Pierrot says, it's best to get away before the whole army comes here.»
As soon as they get in, I walk away.
I hear Pierrot calling me. «Dango, where are you going?»
«To pee behind there!»
As soon as I start emptying my bladder, I call back to them «Beatrice, you should do something too before we leave!»
I don't hear a response, did she get embarrassed? I don't really understand.
«You don't say those things to a girl, you jerk!» Pierrot replies.
«Boor who?!» I'll show it now! «Damn!» I'm getting a little agitated and some drops end up on my boots.
I go back to them, get in the vehicle and start driving again. The city is far away now, shrouded in a gray and green fog.
The forest stretches out in front of us, dark and impenetrable, marking the end of the valley. The journey is bumpy, Pierrot leans forward and touches something on the central panel, the vehicle rises slightly and makes the ride smoother.
Pierrot breaks the silence. «I can't believe the 0 Liwan survived. It was supposed to be Dango-proof, but this goes beyond expectations.»
Take it as a compliment.
«You did an incredible job, Pierrot. You saved us. Without you we wouldn't have had a chance.»
«But it's my fault that all this happened.»
«Don't say that. And even if it was, they could have asked instead of sending the whole city against us.»
A brief silence follows my words.
Beatrice asks in a faint voice, «Wha-What do we do now?»
«We'll move a few kilometers north, find a safe place to rest and think about our next move.»
They both nod silently.
After a few minutes, Beatrice falls asleep leaning against Pierrot. I remain alert, maintaining a constant pace so as not to attract attention.
I'm bored, I need to find a way to pass the time, I could try talking to Pierrot... hoping he's not asleep too.
«Pierrot, are you awake?»
«I never sleep.»
«Creepy... Anyway, what's that material you used for the coating?»
«Graphyne.»
«How did graphene withstand the impact? From what I know, vehicles equipped with heat-suits are coated in carbon.»
«You're confusing the terms. Graphene is stronger than carbon anyway. But the vehicles in what you call “heat-suits”, are coated in carbyne, or rather, linear acetylenic carbon, which is stronger than graphene.»
«So, how did we survive?»
«Our vehicle is coated in graphyne, a material that turns out to be stronger than graphene because of the many triple bonds, and also stronger than carbyne because of the greater number of chains connected to each other.»
«… Eh?»
«Our vehicle is indestructible.»
«Aaaaahhh… How did you get such a material?»
«I didn't get it. I created it.»
«Do you mean to tell me that you surpassed even the science of Muràn's laboratories?»
«Yes.»
«Great! Listen, could you re-upholster the weapons I have in the baggage compartment?»
«There shouldn't be any problem. I've also made improvements to my body, I've added various components, including medical ones that allowed me to monitor your physical condition and treat you after the explosion.»
«Great! Can you already work now?»
«No, I don't want to wake Beatrice, I'd rather wait if you don't mind.»
«No problem.»
We continue the journey in silence...
Only after three-quarters of an hour did I realize that I could turn on the music and put on something to keep me company.
After a couple of hours, we stop in a large enough area to rest. After camouflaging the vehicle with fallen leaves, snow and branches, Pierrot took care of creating a comfortable bed for him and Beatrice, since now he also has a function that allows him to be a heater or similar.
I would have liked to sleep with Bea too, but I didn't want to seem too invasive or inappropriate at this time. She's been through enough.
I simply settled in the hollow of a tree after failing to start a fire with the wet wood.
However, it's not so bad. For the first time, I can see the starry sky. There are no dark clouds or lights to prevent the stars from showing.
It's a magical sight, I'd like to see it all the time. Maybe we could build a house and live... in the forest... on the... mountains...
…
I hear a faint rustling, I wake up.
I remain motionless, trying to understand what it could be. From the metric, it seems to be bipedal, but it's not regular, it seems to limp. An animal? From the weight of the steps it seems like something small, like a baboon. Ahah, how funny their butts are. No, focus, what would a lame baboon be doing in the Alps? Did it come to guide me like a master?
It doesn't seem to be approaching, but it's not moving away either. I don't understand very well, it's better to stay hidden and wait.
A little over an hour passes. Every now and then I hear footsteps and other times they stop. But finally we are there. A strange white figure approaches Beatrice and Pierrot's feet.
She probably heard it, but not being in her field of vision she won't be able to do much. But I am, I can try to communicate with some signal, I hope it understands.
...
As soon as the strange creature gets close enough I give it the signal.
It jumps up, throwing the blanket to the right of the thing, Bea wakes up, screams, it runs to the left, approaches, I jump, I catch it with my coat and block it, Pierrot runs to my aid to hold it still.
«Please, stop!»
All three of us look at each other confused.
The creature has just spoken?
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