-Chasing the Wind-
                               By J. Austin Wilde
                               Fission Park Press




J. Austin Wilde, K.B.C.S.
Minister of Propaganda and
Super Critical Reactor Axe Man
Fission Park Press
jaustin@aloha.net




                                  Synopsis:



     Upon stumbling into the middle of a scientific investigation of 'magnetic 
disturbances', Ranma and Akane have their ki's thrown out of balance. 
This causes them to suffer from strange nightmares, and they cannot sleep 
without staying close to the other.
     Hiro Ohata, now working for the scientists, learns of their predicament 
and sends them on a trip to London, England to see if anything can be 
done to help. The scientists are treated to an inadvertent demonstration 
of Ranma's curse instead. 
     Ukyo, Nabiki, and Kuno are abducted by rivals of the scientists; a 
Russian team led by a Doctor Casimir. They are secreted out of Japan 
and taken to an unknown place. Ukyo is tortured and interrogated by 
Casimir's assistant Ivan Tarchenko. 
     Kuno breaks free from his bonds and goes berserk on his captors. He 
slaughters most of them and sends Tarchenko fleeing. Kuno and Nabiki 
then take the unconscious Ukyo and escape from the dacha where they 
were held.




                              Part Four:
                              Nocturnes



                             Chapter One



     Ranma smoothed a little more shaving cream on his face and looked 
into the mirror. He held the razor up to his face and drew it across the skin.
     Akane came into the bathroom and regarded him with a bemused smile.
     "Don't cut yourself," she advised.
     "Owww!!!" He cried. A little red welled up on his chin, staining the 
white foam.
     She laughed at him.
     He turned around and gave her a scowl.
     "You just _had_ to jinx me, didn't you!" He growled.
     She stuck her tongue out at him. "What makes you think you have 
anything to be shaving anyway?" She accused.
     He turned back to the mirror and dabbled at the cut with a cloth.
     "I have just enough of a beard to look bad if I don't shave it."
     "What's that? Three, four hairs?"
     He dabbled at the cut again, which began to sting as the foam touched 
it. "Look, if you don't have anything important to say, than just leave me 
the hell alone!"
     "Does it have to be important?" She asked coyly.
     He scowled again and brought the razor up to his face for another try.
     "Yes," he replied. He carefully moved the blade across his chin and 
throat.
     "Then never mind," she said, and left him to his business.
     He shook his head in frustration and then wiped away the remainder of 
the foam. He splashed a little of the aftershave Kasumi had packed for him 
into his hand. Then he slapped it against his face.
     "AAAAGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
     Akane popped her head back into the bathroom as he screwed up his 
face in agony and danced around with fists clenched tight.
     "I was going to warn you about that, but I guess it didn't seem very 
important." She told him, and then began laughing loudly at him. She 
ducked back behind the door frame as he threw his towel at her, and 
was gone.
     **Jeez! What the hell does she think she's doing barging in like that 
anyway? If I tried that on her she'd slap the snot out of me and call me a 
pervert or something!**
     The burning passed in a few moments, throbbing only where his face 
was cut. At least he had stopped bleeding. Upon closer inspection he 
found the cut wasn't very big.
     **I gotta do this for the rest of my life?** He thought glumly. **I'm 
lucky I didn't decapitate myself. Either that or I grow a decent beard some 
day and never shave again.**
     He stepped out of the bathroom and into his bedroom. Akane had left 
his door open, and he went to close it. He could hear her humming 
tunelessly in the room next to his. The faintest touch of perfume tickled his 
nose, and he sighed suddenly at the thought of her.
     **Man o' man, this isn't at all what I thought it'd be like...**
     He closed the door and changed into a smart looking white shirt and 
black trousers. Nabiki had found just the right shade of red for his bow tie 
and a sash to match. He set the sash in place and then started on the tie.
Unfortunately he had no idea how to tie the thing.
     He struggled with the cursed thing for a good twenty minutes before 
giving up.
     He put on a short black jacket cut bolero style and opened the door.
     **Maybe Akane knows how to tie it. Girls just seem to know these 
things.**
     He walked out into the hall. Akane was still humming to herself. He 
knocked at the door.
     "<Just a moment,>" Akane responded in English.
     "It's me," Ranma said. "Can I come in?"
     There was a long silence.
     "Hello?" He asked.
     The door opened. Akane was wearing one of the gowns she and 
Nabiki had found on the Ginza. It was cream and gold and oh so elegant. 
Her neckline was a little more daring than he would have expected from 
her, showing the slightest hint of cleavage. Her bare shoulders were 
accentuated by elbow length gloves. She had teased the hair about her 
ears into gorgeous little wisps of blue-black.
     He stopped short and just stared for a moment.
     Her eyes twinkled in a smile as she drank in his reaction to her.
     "What do you need?" She asked him cheerfully.
     "Uhhhhh...." He replied.
     She looked him over. **Everything seems all right...** She noticed 
what was wrong then as he continued to stare.
     "Who taught you how to tie that bow?" She asked.
     "Uhh? Oh yeah!" He said, starting back to reality. "Could you help me 
with this thing? I knew I should have settled for a clip-on, but Nabiki 
wouldn't stand for it."
     She clicked her tongue once and motioned for him to come inside.
     He did so, and she drew him in close. Her perfume was as intoxicating 
as her proximity. Her hands twisted at the bow, pulling and primping at it 
until it acceded to her demands.
     The hardest part for Ranma was keeping his eyes from her bosom. 
She tugged the bow tighter about his neck and he lifted his chin to the 
ceiling, flushing slightly as if he'd been caught in the act.
     "Keep your eyes level so I can get this straight," she told him. She paid 
no attention to his flush.
     He lowered his head a little and she tugged again in a different direction.
     "That's a little better, but whatever you did before has made it a little 
crooked," she said at length. She moved him back to arm's distance to get 
a more complete look at him.
     "You really look sharp Ranma," she declared proudly. "Crooked tie 
and all."
     "I feel like a penguin," he replied.
     "Never mind that," she said. She stepped back and twirled around for 
him. "What do you think of this?"
     "Be honest?" He asked.
     "Brutally, I can take it." She replied with a laugh.
     "You look all right," he said off-handedly in his best dead-pan voice. He 
was trying his best to sound bored.
     "What?! Just 'all right'?" She shot back in surprise. "I saw that look you 
gave me when I opened the door -you were _spellbound!_"
     He shook his head.
     "Then what was it?" She demanded.
     "Jet lag," he yawned.
     There was that characteristic snapping sound from inside her head.
     "Oooohhhh!!! RANMA YOU ARE SUCH A JERK!!!"
     She picked up a heavy upholstered chair. He bolted for the door.
     "Get back here and take your medicine!" She yelled furiously.
     "See you at dinner Akane!" He replied and ducked out of the room. 
"Vengeance is mine!" He cackled.
     Akane set the chair down with a thud. She smoothed out her dress and 
touched up her hair. A wicked grin creased her pretty face.
     "We shall see, Ranma Saotome. You still have to sleep tonight, and _I_ 
have to be there..."


     Ranma hadn't run far when Hiro Ohata came up the stairs to get them. 
He was wearing a black tuxedo with tails, black tie, sash, and carried a top 
hat. White gloves adorned his hands.
     "Where do you think you're going?" Hiro asked him.
     Ranma stopped short, and cast a quick glance over his shoulder to see 
if Akane was in pursuit. She wasn't, and he began to breathe easier.
     "Dinner, I thought." He replied. "Nice tux by the way."
     "Never mind that, where's Akane?"
     Ranma looked over his shoulder again. "Hopefully she's still in her 
room."
     "And you aren't with her?"
     "She's trying to drop a chair on my head!" Ranma exclaimed. "Would 
_you_ stick around?"
     "She's your fiancée, you're supposed to be with her," Hiro huffed. 
"Even if she _is_ trying to drop a chair on your head. You probably 
deserve it anyways!"
     Ranma threw up his hands. "Oh great, now you're on her side? 
Thanks a lot buddy!"
     Hiro caught him by the arm and started dragging him back to Akane's 
room. "This is for your own good, Saotome. Kiss and make up, and let's 
go. Tonight we dine by the banks of the Thames."
     "We aren't eating here?"
     "The Professor wants to dine out this evening. Tomorrow night we set 
out for our next, ah, 'boojib hunt'. Whatever that means."
     They stopped outside Akane's door.
     Hiro rapped lightly upon the heavy oak. "Akane-chan? Are you in 
there?"
     "Is that you Hiro?" Came the response.
     "In the flesh," Hiro said.
     "Is Ranma out there?"
     Hiro looked at him; he was busy shaking his head 'no'.
     "Yes he is," Hiro said with a smirk. "He has something he wants to 
tell you."
     "Why do you do this to me?" Ranma hissed.
     "Like I said, it's for your own good." Hiro hissed back.
     The door opened. Akane stepped out with a gracious smile for Hiro, 
and a malicious grin for Ranma.
     "Words fail to compare..." Hiro gasped as he beheld her.
     She curtsied for him and turned to Ranma.
     "Yes Ranma?"
     Ranma took a step back.
     "Uhhh... You, um, well..." He stumbled.
     She narrowed her eyes at him. "Yes...?"
     He worked at his bow tie nervously. "What I was gonna say was that 
you, well, you know, how you look and all..."
     "And how do I look?" She was eating this up, and it was all Hiro could 
do to keep from laughing.
     His voice lowered a bit. "You look beautiful."
     Akane leaned forward, cupping a hand to her ear. "What was that? I 
wasn't sure I heard that right."
     Ranma cleared his throat. "You look beautiful," he repeated a little 
louder.
     Her eyes sparkled. "You really mean it?"
     **Why do girls ask questions like that?**
     He found a little more of his voice. "Of course I mean it."
     She offered him her arm. He took hesitantly at first, then stepped up to 
her side when she didn't body slam him. She smiled warmly at him and all 
seemed forgiven.
     **Or was it? Akane can really hold a grudge.**
     Hiro popped his top hat atop his head, and squared it away. 
     "Much better," he declared of them. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it? 
You look like two lovers in springtime. So follow me my dears, the 
Professor awaits us below, and I must fetch the Rolls."
     He started down the stairs at a cheery gait. Ranma and Akane followed 
along behind.
     "I was just teasing you," she whispered to him. "It was a joke."
     "Tearing open my face with a razor wasn't very funny."
     "You act like you were mortally wounded or something. I can't even 
see where you did it."
     "That's because the aftershave closed it right up." He winced at the 
thought.
     "That was your own fault," she countered. "You should have known 
better."
     "I was a little distracted by someone."
     They reached the bottom of the stairs. Professor McFogg was standing 
in the foyer smoking his pipe and studying the sky outside the windows. 
He turned around when he heard them talking quietly.
     "<Ah, what a fine couple you make!>" He observed. "<It will only take 
Hiro a few moments to bring the car about. In the meantime, how are we 

feeling?>"
     They had both taken short naps after their initial battery of tests. They 
had been given thorough physical exams, had blood drawn, provided urine 
samples, and answered thousands of questions from several doctors and 
psychologists. They were both worn a little thin.
     "<Oh we're fine,>" Akane answered for them.
     "<Splendid,>" McFogg said. "<I hope you both have hearty appetites 
for this evening.>"
     Akane turned her head to Ranma. "<Don't worry about him, he's a 
bottomless pit.>"
     Ranma rolled his eyes. "You should talk," he said quietly.
     Akane elbowed him in the ribs as McFogg looked away for a moment.
     The Silver Ghost rolled up into the driveway. McFogg opened the door 
for Akane and Ranma and then followed them out. A servant took a few 
instructions from McFogg as he left.
     Hiro was playing chauffeur. He opened the door of the Rolls Royce for 
them. Akane stepped in first, then Ranma and lastly McFogg. Hiro closed 
the door behind them and returned to his place behind the wheel.
     They drove for an hour through the countryside, eventually reaching 
the river Thames. A riverside Inn just outside of Windsor was their 
destination. The late spring sun still had an hour left before twilight when 
they left the car with the valet.
     Professor McFogg was apparently a regular at the Stratford Inn. They 
were whisked to an outside table that faced along the south bank of the 
Thames. A few boats were out upon the calm waters, enjoying the 
remaining sunshine even though the air had begun to chill with the 
quickening breeze.
     They enjoyed slices of apples and cheese with chilled glasses of 
Chardonnay. Akane discovered that she liked the cool crisp wine; having 
no taste for sake whatsoever. She drank down her glass and cajoled 
Ranma into drinking just a little himself.
     "Don't go getting drunk on me," Ranma warned her as he sipped from 
his glass.
     "Don't worry about me," she returned.
     "I just don't want to have to carry you out of here."
     McFogg lifted his glass to them.
     "<I know it's only been a day, but how do you like England?>" He 
asked them jovially.
     "<I'm having a good time,>" Akane replied as jovially. The wine was 
giving her new found energy. "<I thank you for bringing us! Aside from 
our little problem, it's almost like a vacation.>"
     McFogg's eyes gleamed for a minute. "<You like to travel, do you 
Akane?>"
     "<Well...This is really the first time I've ever been away on a vacation. 
There was this time I went to China, but I wouldn't exactly call it fun.>" 
**Something to do with being kidnapped, probably.**
     "<And you, Ranma?>" he asked.
     "<Touring around is kinda fun. It just depends on who you travel with 
I guess.>" **I don't recommend spending ten years of your life traveling 
with my old man.**
     McFogg tapped his hand on the table. "<I am glad you brought this up. 
I will be leaving tomorrow evening on the next leg of our little search. 
Fortunately the next predicted location isn't very far. Would you like 
to accompany me?>"
     Ranma cleared his throat. "<Um, would that affect the tests we're 
supposed to be taking?>"
     Akane nudged him under the table.
     "<We'd love to!>" She replied.
     Professor McFogg chuckled. "<It wouldn't affect the tests at all. Hiro 
can have you in Cambridge by nine o'clock tomorrow and have you back 
by tea. We won't leave until after supper.>"
     "<Then we accept.>" She looked at him sternly. "Right, Ranma?" 
     Ranma nodded and downed his glass of wine.
     "<Splendid!>" McFogg said, truly pleased.
     "<Maybe you two could stand in the middle of the next event and it'll 
cure you,>" Hiro suggested.
     "<Is that possible?>" Ranma asked.
     "<It is possible, but it's not something I could guarantee,>" McFogg 
replied.
     "<I'm willing to give it a shot.>" Ranma said.


     Their entrées came; hearty cuts of prime rib and simmered vegetables 
with brown rice. They enjoyed their meals with fresh baked bread and 
honeyed butter. They also drank another three bottles of wine between 
them. The concept of eating with silverware versus chopsticks took a little 
getting used to, but Ranma and Akane managed with polite tips from Hiro 
and the Professor.
     They were finishing supper as the last rays of the sun faded in the 
west. Ranma noticed that the skies weren't as sanguine as they were in 
Japan. The boats were all safely moored, and the lights of downtown 
London on the opposite bank now glittered on the darkening waters of 
the Thames.
     Well dressed late evening diners now filled every table and the place 
was alive with voices and the clinking of silverware on fine Dresden china. 
Waitresses lit large lamps set on wrought iron poles around the outside 
tables. The lamps burned a sweet lilac scented oil and filled the Stratford 
Inn with a cheery light.
     "<I like to take my supper here early,>" McFogg explained to them. 
"<That way I can smoke my pipe and enjoy the crowds.>"
     He puffed on his pipe to emphasize his point.
     Dessert came shortly thereafter; generous slabs of chocolate cake with 
ice cream. Ranma accepted that his training regimen was going straight to 
hell, and finished his portion with abandon. Akane didn't need any 
prompting either. Her cheeks were flushed with the wine and she was a 
little more effervescent than at the beginning of the meal.
     Ranma was a little buzzed himself. Only Hiro and the Professor 
seemed unfazed. He knew how much Hiro could drink from personal 
experience, and figured McFogg for a similar tolerance to wine. 
     He looked with a little concern for Akane. He had never seen her 
drunk before, and so what would come of it was anybody's guess. **I 
just hope she isn't a violent drunk.**
     As the coffee was served, Ranma looked about the Inn.
     Anazali was sitting at a table only two away from their own. She 
looked into his eyes with her own grey-green and winked at him. Her 
skin shone in that peculiar oil on water glow by the lamp light. Her 
pearlescent white silk evening gown only accented her peculiar 
complexion.
     He quickly returned his attention to his own table. Akane was carrying 
on an animated conversation with the Professor about the places he had 
been in his travels. Hiro was scanning the crowds as well, no doubt as part 
of his capacity as the Professor's bodyguard. Just once during the meal 
Ranma had caught sight of Hiro's Sig underneath the tuxedo jacket.
     He looked back to Anazali. She was still sitting there, drinking wine 
with an older gentleman and laughing at his jokes. She didn't look back 
at him.
     Hiro nudged him.
     "What's up?" He asked in a quiet voice.
     Ranma started for a second. "It's probably just the wine," he replied.
     "What is?" Hiro pressed.
     Ranma leaned his head in Anazali's direction.
     "That woman over there in the white gown."
     Hiro made a casual scan of the area and laughed as if Ranma had said 
something funny. Akane and McFogg paid him no mind and went on with 
their conversation.
     "I see her. She's pretty all right."
     "That's not what I mean," Ranma corrected. "I've seen her before."
     "Oh? When?"
     "On the plane from Los Angeles to London."
     Hiro clicked his tongue. "Interesting...You realize this is probably just 
a coincidence of course."
     "I don't know," Ranma said. He looked back at Anazali again, she was 
still paying attention to her escort. "There's something strange about her, 
and it's not just her weird skin either."
     Hiro was sipping water by this point, having set his wine glass down 
before dessert. "Oh yeah? Like what?"
     "It's nothing I can nail down. It's just a feeling I have."
     "Well don't go telling Clay anything like that, or he'll have you 
evaluated for psychic powers."
     "Huh?"
     "Well Mister Clay is our resident parapsychologist. He's a good 
scientist, always very thorough with his research I'm told, but he always 
puts the weirdest spin on anything we come across."
     "Like?"
     "Oh I dunno. Magic, ESP, ghosts and that kind of thing."
     Ranma gestured to himself. "What, you don't believe in that stuff? 
Look at me, I'm a perfect example of the magic curse in action."
     Hiro shrugged. "I guess you’re right. I still remember that day in boot 
camp when it first rained. I thought I was losing my mind when I saw you 
and Ryoga change."
     Akane looked over at them then.
     "What was that about Ryoga?" She asked.
     Ranma kicked Hiro in the shin beneath the table.
     "Oh ah, we were just talking old war stories," Hiro declared. Akane 
shrugged and went back to her conversation with the Professor.
     "Sorry," Hiro whispered. "I forgot that she doesn't know. Anyway, 
about Clay. He's a good guy and all, but because we have him on the 
team a few of our backers are getting edgy. They're worried he'll only 
bring discredit upon the whole project."
     Ranma looked back to Anazali's table. She wasn't there, but her 
escort was. He searched about for her.
     "Hey, are you listening to a word I've said?" Hiro asked.
     "I'm listening," Ranma replied. He saw her by the boat docks. The 
outside patio had a short flight of stairs that connected to a wooden quay. 
"There she is," he said at once.
     "Now what?" Hiro asked.
     "I'm going to go talk to her. Keep Akane's attention away from me for 
awhile."
     Hiro raised an eyebrow. "What for?"
     "She gets insanely jealous for no reason, and she's just a little drunk. 
Who knows what'll happen if she sees me talking to Ana."
     Akane sneezed.
     "<Bless you my dear,>" McFogg offered. "<Are you coming down with 
a chill?>"
     Akane looked at Ranma. He smiled for her benefit.
     "<No. I'm all right,>" she replied in slightly slurred English. She took a 
sip of water and asked McFogg to continue.
     "Ana, huh? You're on a first name basis?" Hiro asked in a whisper.
     "Just shut up about it and do as I ask," Ranma hissed. "I won't be 
long."
     "Yes Corporal Saotome," Hiro said with a smart-assed grin.
     Ranma excused himself under the pretense of visiting the restroom. He 
slipped out of sight in the crowds and worked his way around to the other 
side of the patio. From there he made his way to the quay.
     Anazali was standing there by the water's edge, watching the lights of 
the city against the Thames.
     "I was wondering when you would get around to visiting me," she said 
in Japanese with her back still to him.
     "What are you doing here?" He asked.
     "Why the same as you," she offered. She turned around to face him. 
"I'm simply enjoying a late dinner and the cool spring evening air."
     "You're not trying to follow me or something?"
     Anazali laughed softly, a sound rather pleasant to hear. "Paranoia 
doesn't become you, Ranma!" Her voice changed tone, becoming low 
and serious. "And if I was, do you think I would tell you?"
     He thought about her words for a moment before speaking. "Why 
did you leave me so suddenly when we were in the lounge?" He asked 
her. "Why couldn't I find you afterwards in the cabin?"
     "You must not have looked very hard," she countered. "Or maybe I 
didn't wish to be seen."
     Ranma wasn't buying this. "What do you want with me?"
     She laughed again. "Who said anything about wanting something with 
you?" She regarded him with her fiery grey-green eyes. "I admit you're a 
handsome fellow, but I do hold vows of betrothal as binding. And you 
have a very lovely fiancée!"
     "I didn't vow anything," Ranma replied, surprised at himself for being 
so uncomfortable with the idea.
     She cocked her head at him in surprise.
     "Oh? You do not love her?"
     "I never said that," he retorted.
     "Than you _do_ love her."
     "Yes."
     She reached out with her hand and touched his cheek. She moved with 
such a grace and fluidity that he was too surprised to react. Her fingers 
were warm against his flesh.
     "Than it amounts to the same thing," she said to him. "The truest love 
is trust, and what is trust but a vow never broken."
     She let him ponder her words a moment, withdrawing her hand to her 
side.
     "Your friends are getting ready to leave," she said to him. "Perhaps 
you should join them before they start looking for you."
     He turned to look back to the patio. Hiro was helping Akane to her feet, 
and the Professor was already standing.
     When he returned his gaze to Anazali she was gone. Vanished. There 
were two ways off the quay: into the water, or past him. He hadn't felt her 
slip by him, nor had he heard a splash.
     He looked around in confusion.
     **How the hell did she do that?**
     Anazali's whispered voice reached his ears. "You won't find a cure at 
Maes Howe, but you will be on the right path."
     He spun a full circle. The voice sounded so close she could have been 
leaning next to him. The quay was deserted save for him.
     He returned to the patio. Hiro was helping Akane, who was having a 
little trouble standing on her own. The Professor was chatting with an 
acquaintance while they waited.
     He took Akane from Hiro, who winked at him and started off to 
collect the car from the valet. The Professor broke away from his chat 
and suggested that they should make for the car. Ranma had no problems 
with that idea.
     Akane was a little giggly and off balance, not exactly what he was 
expecting out of her state, but better that than some belligerent shrew. He 
took her arm firmly in his and steadied her out of the Stratford, checking 
over his shoulder every now and then for a sign of Anazali. There was 
none.
     "Oh Ranma," she whispered breathily, so breathily he could smell the 
wine. "You're th' best."
     "And you're drunk," he retorted. "I warned you."
     "Thas' okay," she said with a giggle. "'Cause I luv ya anyway."
     She kissed him on the cheek and nearly fell over in the process.
     He steadied her as Hiro opened the door for them. The Professor 
chuckled something to Hiro, who chuckled in reply. Ranma set Akane 
inside the car and sat down beside her.
     "She seemed fine until she tried to stand up," Hiro remarked.
     "A good Cabernet Sauvignon will do that, Hiro." McFogg explained 
with another chuckle.
     Ranma failed to see the humor.
     **Oh man, I hope she doesn't get sick,** he thought as she lay her 
head in his lap.
     The Silver Ghost took them towards Aldershot, and home. The ride 
was quiet with Akane drowsing in Ranma's lap. Hiro and McFogg 
traded various anecdotes concerning intoxication, but soon fell to silence 
along the narrow winding road that led to the former airfield.
     They finally reached the estate just before midnight. Akane was a little 
more alert, and showed some sign of sobering up. She got out of the car 
without assistance, which made Ranma feel a little more at ease.
     The Professor bade them goodnight and took his leave of them.
     Hiro looked at the two. Akane seemed a little better. Ranma a lot 
worse.
     "I'll be going to bed now," Akane announced. She started walking 
across the foyer to the stairs.
     "You okay?" Ranma asked her.
     "I'm fine," Akane replied. "The wine just hit me a little faster than I 
thought it would. I'm okay now."
     "I'll be up in a minute," he said to her. He turned to Hiro. "I'm beat. A 
nice soft bed sounds pretty good right now."
     "And how. I have to get you two to Cambridge tomorrow morning."
     Ranma waved goodnight.
     "Hey Ranma?" Hiro asked.
     "Yeah?"
     "What happened with you and you-know-who?"
     "It's too weird to try and explain right now. I'll tell you in the morning."
     "I'll remind you if you don't," Hiro said with a grin. "Goodnight, 
Ranma."
     "Goodnight, Hiro."


     Needless to say, Ranma quickly caught up with Akane on the stairs. 
He helped her the rest of the way, and together they reached the third 
floor. Once again the old question remained.
     "Your room or mine?" He asked her.
     It took a moment for her to understand what he was asking.
     "We'll try my room again," she replied.
     He opened the door to her room. Starlight filtered through the window. 
The sky was clear and black, the moon not due to rise for another four 
hours. The meadow was still and dark beneath him.
     Akane began to remove her gown. Ranma decided he should probably 
step out onto the balcony for a few minutes and let her change. He opened 
the doors to the balcony and stepped outside. The breeze was cool but 
not uncomfortable. The fresh air swept away the last of his own fuzzy 
headedness that wine had brought upon him.
     He thought about Anazali and her cryptic parting words.
     **Maes Howe? What's Maes Howe? I won't find a cure there but I'll 
be on the path?**
     He was startled by Akane's hands closing around his chest from 
behind.
     "You should get out of these you know," she said quietly.
     She began to pull his jacket off. He slipped his arms out of the 
sleeves for her. She brought her hands around his neck and loosened 
his bow-tie. He pulled it the rest of the way off and she went to work 
at the buttons of his shirt. He slipped it off and let it fall to the floor.
     His heart began to pound in his chest as she unwrapped the sash 
from his waist. He turned around and she was standing there in a little 
white chemise. Her skin glowed in the starlight.
     He found himself taking her close to him. She ran a hand over his 
bare chest and nuzzled in against his neck. Her breasts were pressed 
firmly against him as she lifted her face to his.
     He kissed her lightly at first, then again more deeply. They circled 
their arms about each other as she opened her mouth for him. Breaths 
they stole when they could, and their hands roamed with abandon.
     Of course right before they could get any more serious than heavy 
kisses was when the Catalina PBY hurtled thirty feet over the McFogg 
estate; it's huge twin supercharged Pratt and Whitney radial engines 
howling hell-bent for leather. The whole mansion shook with the 
Catalina's passing. The amphibious aircraft wallowed into a shallow 
turn and flared out above the meadow runway for a landing.
     The mood was utterly shattered. Akane was fairly close to shaking 
with fright. Ranma was so frustrated he wanted to scream.
     By this point dogs were barking, people yelling, lights coming on, 
doors slamming and other sights and sounds of mass confusion as well. 
The loudest voice of them all however belonged to Professor Balthazar 
McFogg:


     "GODDAMN YOU HEIRONYMOUS DURANGO!!! WHEN I 
SAID MORNING I MEANT DAMN BLOODY DAYLIGHT!!!"



                              Chapter Two



     "How are you feeling, Ukyo?" Nabiki asked her.
     Ukyo shut her eyes against the sunlight again. "I ache everywhere," 
she said. "My skin feels like it's burning. My head feels like one of 
Kuno's split melons."
     She tried opening her eyes.
     "Oww! Everything's so bright."
     Nabiki placed a stream cooled rag over Ukyo's brow, what had 
once been her gag. She winced as the cloth touched her hypersensitive 
skin. Kuno kept silent watch over them, his sword held at low guard.
     "Where are we? How did we escape?" Ukyo asked.
     "I'm not sure," Nabiki began. "We might be in Russia."
     "Russia...?"
     Nabiki cast her eyes over to Kuno, who maintained his stoic vigilance.
     "Kuno snapped his handcuffs and fought them off with his sword." 
Nabiki explained. Fortunately Ukyo had been spared the grisly sight. 
"You've been unconscious for about five hours now, I think."
     Ukyo tried to open her eyes again, shading them with her hand.
     "Really? The last thing I remember is being locked in the attic. Owww... 
What did they do to us?"
     Nabiki wasn't sure how she should answer.
     "They drugged us pretty badly for the trip from Japan I guess. You 
must be extra sensitive to whatever they used on us."
     "Yeah, I've got a burn on my arm. I don't remember doing that at all...
You say Kuno snapped his handcuffs?"
     Nabiki nodded. "Yeah, it was pretty impressive."
     Ukyo scanned her surroundings with shaded eyes. They were hidden 
in a little copse of trees in a narrow valley. Green hills surrounded them. 
A little stream bubbled pleasantly close by.
     "So now what are we doing?" She asked.
     "For the moment we're running. I'm pretty sure that after our escape 
they will want us dead. We're going to head west for now, maybe we can 
find a town and get some help."
     "So they, whoever they are, are looking for us?"
     "If they aren't now, they will be. Kuno didn't exactly _frighten_ them 
off with his sword; and they'll probably want revenge."
     Ukyo looked at Kuno for a moment in surprise. The kendoist said 
nothing, merely stood there meditating upon something.
     "What do we have to fight back with, if we have to?"
     Nabiki gestured to Kuno. "We have his sword." She withdrew the 
little Marakov 7.65mm pistol she had found in the dacha. "And we have 
this. Unfortunately I don't have the slightest idea how to use it. I guess 
we could bluff if we have to."
     Kuno looked over to them, eyeing the pistol.
     "Nabiki Tendo, wherever did you find that?" He asked in surprise.
     "I found it lying on the floor," Nabiki replied.
     "May I see it?" Kuno asked.
     Nabiki handed him the pistol. "Sure thing Kuno-baby. You probably 
know more about guns than me."
     Kuno studied the pistol for a moment. After a moment he discovered 
the magazine release and dropped the clip into his hand. He pulled back 
the slide, ejecting a round in the process. The slide remained locked back. 
He checked the bore clear and sighted down the weapon's muzzle.
     "We have but one magazine for this?" He asked.
     Nabiki nodded her head. "I didn't want to spend any more time 
searching for another one."
     Kuno retrieved the ejected round from the ground. He brushed it off 
and studied it. It was a crude version of a hydra-shok hollowpoint.
     "Then it shall have to be sufficient," he said at length. "With the 
element of surprise favoring us I could prevail against opponents 
employing firearms. I do not think even I could do so again without 
such fortunes. This shall be our equalizer."
     He handed the pistol back to Nabiki.
     "Hey Kuno-baby, I already said I didn't know how to use this."
     "Than I shall instruct you in the ways of firearms," he replied.
     He took back the pistol and pointed out each operating component for 
her: magazine release, trigger, thumb safety, slide release, hammer. He 
squeezed the stray round back into the magazine. Then he slapped the 
magazine into the pistol.
     "The weapon is now loaded," he began. "But it is not ready to fire. 
First you must chamber a round into the breech."
     He placed her hands on his and released the slide. The pistol cycled 
with a well worn feeling.
     "To chamber a round with the slide in the ready position you must 
pull it back as far as it will go, then release it. This will chamber a round 
and move the hammer to the firing position. From this point all you must 
do is aim and squeeze the trigger."
     "If you say so. Now how do you unload it?"
     Kuno removed the magazine. "The magazine is no longer in the 
weapon, but it is still ready to fire with a round in the chamber. You 
must carefully pull the slide back to eject the round." He did so. "Check 
the bore clear like so." He showed her, and she peered down into the 
black empty bore.
     He handed her the pistol and made her cycle it several times unloaded 
to get a feel for it. Then he handed her the magazine and instructed her to 
load it, but not chamber a round.
     Nabiki did so. It wasn't as difficult as she thought it would be.
     "Not bad," Ukyo observed from the grass.
     "Keep the pistol loaded but not chambered," Kuno advised. "We must 
only use it when absolutely necessary. However when the time comes, 
you must chamber the round and hold the pistol like this."
     He put his hands out as if he were holding a pistol. Nabiki did the 
same with the Marakov.
     "Aim as if the pistol was the end of your finger. Point your weapon as 
if you were pointing your finger. Apply an even squeezing pressure on the 
trigger until the weapon discharges. The slide will kick back, so take care 
to keep the web of your thumb and forefinger low enough on the grip. 
When the slide moves forward, you are ready to fire again. If the slide 
locks back, you are out of ammunition."
     Nabiki practiced squeezing the trigger. "How many shots do I get?"
     "Nine," Kuno replied.
     "Guess I better make them count."
     Kuno pointed to his chest. "Aim for the center of the body. Place 
two shots into your target, no more."
     Nabiki frowned. "Couldn't I just bluff them?"
     "Absolutely not!" Kuno barked. Nabiki flinched at his outburst. His 
voice softened as he explained: "The moment you have drawn your 
weapon you have committed yourself to use it. Your enemies will assume 
you intend to shoot them whether you intend to or not. Therefore they 
will try to kill you at any opportunity. Thus you must kill them first."
     Nabiki looked down at the pistol in her hands. It seemed very cold 
and ugly to her.
     "I'm not sure I can do that," she said at length.
     Kuno rested a hand upon Nabiki's shoulder.
     "The way of a warrior is never easy, Nabiki Tendo. If you wish, I 
shall take up the pistol; though it would be foolish to halve the number 
of weapons we had at our disposal."
     Nabiki returned her gaze to the Marakov.
     "I'll keep it," she said grimly. "You'll do us more good swinging your 
sword."
     Kuno looked sternly into her eyes. "Do not hesitate when the time 
comes, Nabiki Tendo. To hesitate would mean your death, and that I 
do not desire a whit."
     She tried to smile for him. "Neither do I, Kuno-baby."
     Kuno seemed satisfied with her resolve. "We must make haste, for 
the foe will surely be searching for us now."
     Nabiki tucked the pistol into her jeans behind her back. She helped 
Ukyo to her feet, and they started off down the valley. Ukyo was still 
feeling nauseous, and her eyes were still very light sensitive. The way was 
slow for them.
     The narrow valley ended abruptly in a steep hillside as the sun neared 
the horizon. Nabiki estimated they had traveled about twenty kilometers 
that day, and it was either waste time backtracking or try to scale the 
slope. Ukyo and Kuno weren't fond of backtracking, as it would only put 
them closer to their pursuers.
     "Up the slope it is then," Nabiki said. She led the way.
     The climb was roughest on Ukyo, who was still weak and nauseous. 
Kuno steadied her as she climbed, seeming absolutely tireless. By the top 
of the hill he was supporting both Ukyo and Nabiki.
     The sun was just dipping behind a range of distant mountains in the 
west. Below them were more rolling hills and great expanses of forest. 
There were no signs of civilization; not a road, house, or anything to be 
seen.
     "I'd kill for a map right now," Nabiki said tiredly.
     "We shall find our way in time," Kuno offered. "For now let us seek 
shelter for the night and rest ourselves. Fair Ukyo wanes like the setting 
sun."
     Ukyo was bent double at the knees panting for breath.
     "Boy, whatever they gave me sure took the wind from my sails," she 
huffed in exhaustion. "Sorry about this."
     "It's not your fault Ukyo," Nabiki soothed. "Hey, it's all down hill from 
here."
     Ukyo flashed them both a 'V' with her fingers and started down the hill. 
Nabiki followed after her, and Kuno walked drag. He looked over his 
shoulder upon occasion to spot any pursuers. There was no sign.



                             *       *      *



     Ivan Mikhailyvich Tarchenko returned to the dacha after Kuno, 
Nabiki, and Ukyo had fled. The sights within were beyond even his grim 
expectations. After stepping gingerly through the carnage (especially the 
bloody mess that was Anatole), he discovered Dmitri wailing upstairs with 
two broken collarbones, and he found Fyodor unconscious on the floor. 
He left Fyodor to look after Dmitri until he could send help for them. In 
the meantime he had other concerns. Like finding his three captives and 
killing them. The vehicles were all disabled, and the phone line was cut. 
He would have to go on foot. 
     He tried thinking back to that moment when they'd escaped him. He 
was certain that he'd seen the man still wearing the bracelets of his 
handcuffs as he attacked with his sword. That meant he had broken the 
chain from behind his back.
     **Clearly I underestimated them,** he observed grimly. **That is 
not a mistake I will make twice.**
     He reached the airfield after a good walk through the woods. 
     At the airfield he dispatched a team of four men, heavily armed, to 
take a helicopter and search for the three fugitives. There wasn't much 
fuel to spare for the helicopter, but he felt the expediture was necessary. 
The team's instructions were clear: find the fugitives and kill them. 
Return with their remains.
     He made a few phone calls as well. The local authorities were alerted 
to three foreign nationals of Japanese origin, who were engaged in acts 
of espionage against the Ukraine. The three were to be considered armed 
and extremely dangerous. A call went to nearby Odessa to alert the 
maritime patrols, what were once part of the KGB directorate, and thus 
loyal to him. They would keep the three from escaping by boat across 
the Black Sea into Turkey or perhaps Romania.
     The last call he made to Doctor Casimir, who was in St. Petersburg 
working on a corrected solution for their model.
     "Ah Vanya, how is Odessa?" Casimir asked cordially.
     "Odessa is the same as always, Doctor."
     "You must have interesting news to be calling me in St. Petersburg," 
Casimir observed.
     "Yes Doctor. I may have a very good lead on McFogg's activities."
     There was a pause.
     "Go on," Casimir said finally.
     "Professor McFogg may have two Wayfinders in his company."
     "What?!"
     "Yes Doctor, two Wayfinders. They inadvertently exposed two youths 
to the nexus flux as it opened."
     "So the next event _was_ Tokyo..." Casimir said quietly. "Go on 
about these Wayfinders, Vanya."
     "The two appeared fine upon initial examination, however I 
discovered that they began experiencing precognitive dream states, and 
that their essences had been altered by exposure. They are now co-
dependent upon each other for continued well being. Does this sound 
familiar Doctor?"
     There was another long pause.
     "Doctor?" Ivan asked again.
     "Yes Vanya, you know it does. Those are exactly the conditions my 
father described when he coined the term Wayfinder in 1905."
     "The Revolution of 1905, as I recall." Tarchenko added.
     "Those were unfortunate times," Casimir replied. "I am only too glad 
to have been born after them. 1905 of course was when my father 
convinced Nicholas to fund the first search."
     "Yes, Doctor. I am well aware of that."
     "Well don't keep me in suspense Vanya, where are these two?"
     "In London. With Professor McFogg at his estate I'm told. They 
seem to think he can 'cure' them of their condition."
     "Nonsense," Casimir spat. "Balthazar can no more do that than he 
can raise the dead. No, I think I know what he plans to do with them... 
He plans to use them to find the end of this merry chase. The Heart of 
the World."
     "Yes, Doctor. I am inclined to agree. Shall I increase the surveillance 
upon McFogg's team?"
     "Yes of course. But don't do anything rash, Vanya. I know you are 
eager to solve this puzzle, but we must proceed cautiously. We are 
dealing with forces beyond our feeble imaginations."
     "I understand perfectly Doctor. Good day to you, sir."
     "Good day, Vanya."
     Ivan Tarchenko hung up the phone and smiled to himself.
     **Such caution is for weak-willed fools, Doctor. The Heart of the 
World cannot be gained by timid action. The Wayfinders are the key, 
and they must serve me if they are to be of any use. Now if only I can 
tidy up this business Fyodor has left me...**



                               *       *      *



     " 'Oh for a muse of fire!' "Kuno cried after their latest failure to get 
any of their kindling to burn.
     Nabiki threw up her hands in disgust. A child of the city she was, and 
such primitive skills were anathema to her.
     "I could have sworn I had a lighter in my purse," she said in 
frustration. "They must have taken it when they searched our things."
     Ukyo was feeling a little better, but not much. She huddled next to 
Kuno in the waning twilight. Her green eyes caught the glints of light 
from the sparks they showered upon the pile of twigs.
     "Hey guys, I know a fire would be great; but couldn't someone use 
the light and smoke to find us?" She asked at length. "Besides, it's not 
really that cold. It is the end of spring after all."
     Kuno pondered this.
     "Fair Ukyo is correct," he affirmed. "To risk a fire so close to our 
point of flight would be most perilous."
     Nabiki remembered the helicopter that had prowled around above 
them earlier. They were pretty sure what the helicopter was up to, and 
it served to reinforce the idea that the Russians weren't going to allow 
them to just slip away. The machine gun hanging out the door was a 
dead giveaway on that issue. 
     "I guess you're right," she concluded. "If it gets too cold we'll just 
have to get a little more friendly."
     They sat there in silence for awhile. The last fragile light of day was 
spent, and darkness came quickly to the woods. Nocturnal animals began 
stirring to life around them. Sounds that would have been ignored in 
daylight now became penetrating to the very soul of fear. 
     "I could sure use something to eat," Nabiki declared. Speaking at least 
dispelled the immediate fears she felt.
     The other two reluctantly agreed. They had plenty of water, having 
found another stream of cool clean water, but none of them had eaten 
for about two days. Now that they had nothing to do but think, their 
stomachs reminded them of their empty status.
     "How far do you think we have to travel until we're safe?" Ukyo 
asked.
     Nabiki shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe if we could find some sign 
of civilization we could find out where we are. If we're in western 
Russia we could hope to reach Poland maybe. If we're in eastern 
Russia than we're probably walking the wrong way. All I know is that 
we can't give ourselves up. They want us dead now."
     "We cannot persist for long without victuals," Kuno said. "In the 
morning we should make every effort to find something edible. Perhaps 
Ceres will smile upon us and grant us her bounty."
     Ukyo and Nabiki agreed. They didn't have much experience in 
identifying edible plants, but they also didn't have much choice. Unless 
they got lucky tomorrow and found a village or town, they would have to 
survive on their own in the wilderness.
     Ukyo yawned wearily and curled up her knees to her chest to sleep. 
She lay her head upon Kuno's shoulder and closed her eyes. Kuno said 
nothing, but settled in a more comfortable position of seated repose.
     Nabiki decided to stay awake for awhile. She didn't like the sounds 
of the woods, and if she wasn't expecting the Russians to pounce upon 
them, it was a bear or panther or something equally fierce. She paced 
nervously for twenty minutes with Kuno watching her idly. Ukyo was 
by now asleep, her deep even breaths a comfort to Nabiki, who 
continued to worry about the okonomiyaki chef's health.
     "Nabiki Tendo, you must conserve your strength. The morrow will 
be upon us soon enough, and it is thence that we must expend ourselves." 
Kuno said calmly to her as she paced a deeper rut in the ground cover.
     She narrowed an eye at him. He bade her join him with his hand.
     "Come sit with me Nabiki Tendo. Without adequate shelter I fear 
that even this fair spring evening may turn bitter."
     Nabiki decided he might be right. In any event she didn't have much 
nervous energy left to her. She brushed away a spot on the ground next 
to him and sat down.
     "Fair Ukyo sleeps, and so must you. I shall maintain the watch for 
awhile." He said to her.
     Nabiki looked him in the eyes, which were two bright points set 
against the darkness of his brow. Starlight and her slowly adjusting 
nightvision revealed the high points on his handsome face, which was 
stern and stoic.
     "Why does she have to be 'Fair Ukyo' while I'm simply 'Nabiki 
Tendo'? What's the matter, I'm not 'fair' enough for you?"
     Kuno closed his eyes for a moment. "I did not mean to offend," he 
apologized. "I deem Ukyo 'fair' because she is possessed of not only of 
lovely frame and countenance but innocence as well. I find you lovely to 
behold but more worldly."
     She wasn't sure if she should take his words as compliment or insult. 
But knowing Kuno the way she did, for as long as she had, she decided 
he meant no ill by it.
     "I'm not as 'worldly' as you might think, Kuno-baby," she replied 
sadly.
     "Again, I did not mean to offend." He offered. He examined the cold 
gleam of his sword in the starlight. "Put these thoughts out of your mind 
for awhile and rest. I shall wake you when I cannot continue."
     She yawned in agreement, and curled up her legs to her chest as Ukyo 
had done. Unlike Ukyo, she kept a little distance apart from him. Without 
a word, Kuno put his arm about her and drew her close. She smiled to 
herself then, and lay her head upon his shoulder.



                                Chapter Three



     Ranma awoke to find that Akane was already up and about. He 
could hear her humming in the bathroom, and the sounds of water 
splashing in the tub. He had a sour stomach and dry mouth and 
guessed it was the wine.
     **I didn't think I drank that much,** he thought sourly. **I didn't 
feel drunk.**
     He threw off the sheets and sat up in bed. His clothes lay in a pile on 
the floor next to the open balcony window. The morning breeze was cool 
and moist. A haze of fog greyed the sky.
     Akane splashed some more water in the tub, and she broke into a song. 
It was one from that Zard album she was listening to on the plane ride, he 
was certain.
     He rubbed at his aching head. **I'm glad _she_ doesn't get hangovers. 
What does she have to be so happy about anyway?**
     His thoughts drifted back to last night. How she had come on to him 
in the darkness, how close they had come to spending a night far more 
intimate than intended. **Before the damn airplane buzzed the house 
and ruined everything!** He sighed regretfully. **Blame it on the wine, 
'cause I don't think she would have done that sober.**
     Akane had taken a walk by herself after that. He had resigned 
himself to sleeping alone for at least a little while, waking only when 
she settled in next to him. Without so much as a 'good-night' she had 
gone to sleep. 
     He got out of bed and gathered up his clothes by the balcony. He 
took a look outside. Sure enough the very plane he had damned sat 
out on the meadow, shrouded in gloom. It looked like a vintage 
propeller driven seaplane, for as much as he knew about such things.
     He let himself out of Akane's room, almost stepping into Hiro as 
he shut the door behind him.
     "Oh ho!" Hiro cried. "There you are. I had a suspicion you were 
in there."
     "Of course I was," Ranma countered defensively. "If I don't the 
nightmares return. Weren't you paying attention yesterday?"
     Hiro flashed him a 'V' with his fingers. "Suuuure. Whatever you 
say Saotome, I know it's none of my business anyway."
     Ranma scratched his head. "What time is it?"
     Hiro consulted his watch. "Half past nine."
     "We're late!" Ranma cried. "We're supposed to be somewhere 
right now!"
     Hiro waved him off. "Not to worry. The Professor says we can 
send you to Cambridge some other time. I'm here to tell you that brunch 
will be served downstairs in the solarium in an hour, and I hope you 
like German pancakes."
     Ranma scratched his head again. "Where's the solarium?" **What's 
a solarium?**
     "It's on the first floor, take a left at the bottom of the stairs, and 
go all the way down. It's a big room with a lots of skylights and big 
windows. You can't miss it."
     Ranma nodded in understanding. "Okay, so what's a German 
pancake?"
     "You'll find out soon enough," Hiro countered. "Any more questions?"
     "Yeah, if we aren't going to Cambridge today, what are we doing?"
     "Chasing the wind my friend."
     "What?"
     "We're going to Maes Howe tonight for the next event. It's a megalithic 
site in Scotland, dates back to pre-Roman Celtic times. Clay, Ferguson, 
Ames, and some of the others are already there setting up."
     **Maes Howe...Anazali knew where we would be going. Does that 
mean she'll be there watching?**
     "Great, so how are we getting there?" Ranma asked.
     Hiro cracked a grin. "Remember our rude awakening last night?"
     Ranma affected a grimace as he recalled. "Yeah..."
     "Well it's sitting out on the meadow," Hiro finished. "See you at brunch. 
Are you going to tell Akane or should I?"
     "I'll do it," Ranma answered. "I think I'm going to work out for a half 
hour or so. I need to clear my head."
     "Don't be too late," Hiro advised. He walked down the hallway.
     "Don't worry about me," Ranma called back to him. Hiro waved a hand 
over his shoulder and continued down the hall.
     Ranma decided he should fill Akane in on the change in plans. He 
knocked briefly on the door and let himself in. She was standing by the 
window wearing a yellow bathrobe and drying her hair with a towel.
     "Hey Akane," he began.
     She turned around to face him. "What is it, Ranma?"
     "There's been a little change in plans. We're kinda staying here for the 
day."
     She nodded once. "That's what I figured. We did sleep in a little late."
     "Oh yeah, we're having 'brunch' in an hour. In the solarium. You know 
where that is?"
     She murmured in the affirmative as she finished drying her hair. She 
reached for a brush that sat on a dresser with the towel still draped over 
her head.
     Ranma decided that he should go. He said as much and turned for the 
door.
     "Ranma?" She asked haltingly.
     He stopped short of the door. "Yeah?"
     She pulled the towel from her head, revealing the slightly damp locks of 
blue-black hair that fell over her eyes. She brushed her bangs aside and 
regarded him with an apologetic look.
     "I'm sorry about last night," she said.
     Ranma scratched the back of his neck. "What's there to be sorry for?" 
He returned with a weak smile.
     "You know, for the way I acted last night."
     "Well, it's, you know...You had a little too much to drink, that's all... I 
understand." **Are you sorry for making a scene at the Inn or are you 
sorry for what happened between us? Arrrgh, I wish I knew what you 
were thinking about!**
     "You do?" She replied.
     "I think so." **Maybe I don't.**
     "Okay. Well, I'm going to get changed now," she hinted for him.
     He took the hint. "Okay, see you at this 'brunch' or whatever." He 
closed the door behind him.
     Akane brushed out her hair and thought.
     **I really am sorry Ranma. I guess I just got cold feet. It's nothing 
against you...Oohhh, why couldn't I have told him that instead? Now he 
thinks I'm apologizing for getting drunk and making an ass of myself!**
     Her eye caught a bit of color on the floor. She looked down to find his 
bow tie lying there on the freshly waxed wood. **I really blew it last 
night...** She thought as she picked up the scrap of red silk. **If only 
that airplane hadn't scared me out of my wits!**
     She set the bow tie down upon the dresser and looked out across the 
fog bound meadow. The sun was trying to burn its way through the mist, 
and she found a little inspiration in that. **With a little luck maybe I'll get 
through to him,** she thought suddenly. **There's always tonight.**


     Ranma cursed himself once again. Away from Akane for only twenty 
minutes and already he had lost his focus. He couldn't keep his breathing 
regular, couldn't keep his balance, couldn't even complete his forms 
properly. 
     "How am I supposed to stay in training like this?" He asked himself 
aloud. "All that I know how to do is fight, and now I can't even do that!"
     He was covered in a sheen of sweat but knew it was all just wasted 
effort. He wiped away the salty drops from his brow with a towel and sat 
down on the hardwood floor of the Professor's small gym. As he sat and 
thought about his condition, Hiro appeared at the door.
     "I thought you were working out," Hiro said.
     "I was trying to," Ranma replied. "But I'm hopeless."
     "Maybe you should train with Akane. At least then your ki would be 
balanced."
     He thought about that a moment. Sure Akane was not even close to 
being his equal in martial arts, but at this point what else could he do?
     "I guess we could try it together," he admitted. "I can't see how it 
would hurt."
     Hiro walked up to him. "I'm here to remind you to tell me about what 
happened last night between you and that mystery woman, so spill it."
     Ranma took a deep breath before he spoke.
     "It's weird. Really weird. I think she's following me."
     "How so? I mean, besides showing up at the same restaurant as you."
     "She knew about Maes Howe before I did. Even mentioned it by name."
     Hiro raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh yeah?"
     "Yeah. And she seems to know about my condition. She told me I 
wouldn't find a cure at Maes Howe, but that I would be on the right path. 
-She told me that after she disappeared into thin air."
     "Excuse me?"
     "You heard me right. She vanished into thin air. There was no way off 
that quay but past me, and somehow she just disappeared." He thought 
back to last night and the darkened quay.
     **Happosai can pull stunts like that, does that mean Anazali knows 
martial arts?**
     Hiro gave that some thought. "Well... After being around you for 
awhile I think nothing really surprises me anymore." He snapped his fingers 
as an idea popped into his head. "I think you're a Weird Magnet."
     "A what?"
     "Clay's got a scientific sounding term for it, but that's essentially what 
you are. Weird things just happen around you. Things like transforming 
into a girl when you get wet, having a friend who turns into a pig, that 
crazy pig-tail of yours that can't be cut without making your hair grow out 
of control, throwing ki blasts around like a game of catch -you get the idea. 
Now a vanishing woman? No, I'm not all that surprised. My next question 
is, what's her game?"
     "I wish I knew. I have a feeling she'll be waiting for us at Maes Howe 
though."
     "You're probably right. Maybe we should tell the others about this."
     "No. Let's keep this quiet for now, I don't think we could do anything 
about it anyway."
     Hiro gave him a puzzled look. "Okay, so what's _your_ game?"
     "Just trust me on this," Ranma replied.
     Hiro shrugged his shoulders. "Sure thing Saotome. Just remember who's 
got your back."
     Ranma offered him his hand. "Thanks Hiro."
     Hiro pulled him to his feet. "No problem."


     They were a little late for brunch, but McFogg didn't make an issue of it. 
Akane, Katy Price, and some man in his early thirties were with him at the 
table. Akane was wearing a cheery summer dress. Katy was clad in a 
conservative tan suit coat and calf length skirt. The man was wearing a 
leather bomber jacket and a black beret set rakishly on his head.
     "<Ah, here they are now,>" McFogg announced as Hiro and Ranma 
entered the solarium. 
     "<Lost track of time,>" Ranma apologized. He had taken a quick 
shower and changed into his Chinese clothes.
     McFogg gestured to the man in the bomber jacket. "<You haven't 
formally met, but I believe you heard him come in last night. This is 
Heironymous Durango. Heironymous, this is Ranma Saotome.>"
     **This is the jerk that buzzed the house?** Ranma fumed to himself.
     "<How's it going?>" Durango greeted him.
     "<Just fine,>" Ranma managed as politely as he could.
     "<Please forgive Mister Durango's flippantness if you could please, 
Ranma. His thoroughly American lack of sensibilities sometimes wears thin, 
but he is of Sterling character.>" McFogg said to him.
     Durango gulped down a cup of coffee. "<Sorry about the fly-by, but 
trying to put Bettie's Dare down on dry land in the middle of the night is a 
real pain in the ass. You have to come in low and slow and there ain't much 
room for error.>"
     "<So what were you doing coming in at night?>" Ranma asked, a slight 
edge of hostility in his voice.
     Durango poured himself another cup of coffee from a silver pot. "<Had 
to beat the weather getting here. There was a big storm front moving across 
the Channel, and I had to get in ahead of it.>"
     Katy gave him a dry look. "<And will we be able to 'beat the weather' 
getting out of here tonight?>"
     Durango ate half a croissant in one bite. "<Depends on whether or not 
this goddamn fog burns off any time soon. My gear's not quite up to snuff 
to be trying IFR. But don't you worry, I'll get you to Scotland. It's just 
that the ride might be a little rough.>"
     **Wonderful...** Ranma thought glumly.



                               *       *       *



     Nabiki woke up to the first rays of sunlight through the trees that played 
along her face. She was curled up with Ukyo, who shivered in her sleep. 
Kuno wasn't around.
     She rubbed at her cold limbs. Kuno had been right about a bitter night. 
She woke Ukyo gently, and the okonomiyaki chef stirred with a sneeze.
     "Bless you," Nabiki offered.
     "I could sure use it," Ukyo replied. She looked around to the wakening 
woods that surrounded them.
     "I was hoping this would all be a bad dream and I'd wake up in my bed. 
Guess it wasn't though."
     Nabiki rose unsteadily to her feet. She was weary and weak with hunger 
on this their third day since their abduction. She could only imagine how 
Ukyo was feeling.
     "Where's Kuno?" Ukyo asked.
     "I don't know," Nabiki answered. "He was gone when I woke up."
     "You don't think something might have happened to him, do you?"
     "No, he can take care of himself."
     Ukyo stood up. She stretched out her sore and chilled limbs with a 
gasp of discomfort. All at once she realized that she needed to go to the 
bathroom.
     Nabiki read the look; she had to go too. "I guess we just find a little 
spot behind some trees."
     When they had finished, they waited for Kuno's return. The kendoist 
came back after twenty minutes. He held a small clump of berries in his 
hands.
     "Breakfast is served m'ladies," he said to them.
     "Are they safe?" Ukyo asked.
     Nabiki didn't care. She took a few and popped them in her mouth.
     "Mmmmmm....Delicious."
     Ukyo didn't need any more proof. She ate a few herself and nearly 
melted with delight.
     "I thought I might whet thy appetites with these that I might persuade 
you to join me in a walk. There are several clumps of bushes laden with 
such sweet treasures nearby." Kuno said to them.
     "Lead on Kuno-baby!" Nabiki cried.
     They followed him along what appeared to be a thin wandering trail. 
After some time the trail through the trees and thick underbrush opened 
up into a little clearing. They could see the purple berries hanging from 
several bushes.
     The berries were all fat and sweet with juice. Nabiki and Ukyo began 
picking them off the branches and eating them as fast as they could. Kuno 
however observed some restraint.
     "Take care that you do not make yourselves ill. We have had nothing to 
eat in several days, and our stomachs are not prepared to go from famine 
to feast." He advised.
     Nabiki gave him a purple-stained grin. "Kuno-baby, you are a life 
saver!"
     "It was merely chance that led me here, yet I take it as a sign of the 
gods' good fortune smiling upon us." Kuno replied.
     "Maybe we can find a town today," Ukyo remarked.
     "Perhaps, but we must not tarry here overlong. I overheard the sounds 
of that accursed helicopter while you slept."
     "Then let's gather up some of these berries to take with us and get 
going," Nabiki suggested.
     They picked enough berries to fill Nabiki's purse and paid a visit to the 
stream they had found yesterday for one last drink of water before they 
started walking. Their spirits were higher with the fruit's sugar coursing 
through their veins, and they forgot their aches for awhile. By noon they 
had reached the edge of the woods and the first of another range of hills.
     The sun shone hot upon them as they left the shelter of the trees. Kuno 
fairly sweltered in his kendoist's gi, but remained as stoic and silent as he 
usually did. Ukyo was starting to lag behind a little. She insisted that she 
was all right, but it was obvious that the effects of the Russians' drugs 
continued to exact a heavy toll upon her.
     They stopped beneath a copse of trees to rest. Kuno kept watch while 
Nabiki looked after Ukyo. She was feverish and her pulse was fast and 
thready.
     "Lie still for awhile Ukyo. We'll rest here for an hour or so." Nabiki told 
her.
     Ukyo nodded gratefully. "Sorry Nabiki. I'm trying my best, but it's like 
I'm drained of all my energy... I feel a little woozy."
     She swooned, and Nabiki gasped in panic.
     "Ukyo!"
     Ukyo tried to sit up. "I'm okay. I'm fine." She insisted.
     "No you're not!" Nabiki countered. "Lie down and rest. I'll be right here 
for you."
     Ukyo smiled weakly and laid her head down upon the sweet smelling 
grass.
     Kuno offered a brief glance of concern for her before returning his 
attentions to the horizon.
     "We may have to continue sooner than desired," he announced.
     "Ukyo's in no shape to be walking right now," Nabiki returned.
     "We may have no choice," Kuno said calmly. "Mine eyes do see a party 
of men well armed on the far range of hills. They have our spoor, and will 
run us down if we tarry."
     Nabiki squinted her eyes at the hills in question. A line of black dots 
moved down the slope.
     "You can see them from here?" she asked in amazement.
     "I can but see only the dark spots of men 'gainst the bright of the hills."
     "Then how do you know who they are, or even if they're armed?"
     "As one trained in the arts of modern war I recognize the movements of 
men thus trained. If they be trained for war then it follows that they be 
armed for it as well. They form a skirmish line to keep all traces of our trail 
before them."
     "How long until they catch up with us?"
     Kuno thought a moment. "If their path is sure they may do so even by 
sundown. If they lose the way or tarry at our campsite we may have but a 
few more hours grace beyond."
     Nabiki looked down to Ukyo. She was fitfully asleep, her breaths 
coming swift and shallow.
     "I think she's really sick, Kuno. She can't travel on her own."
     Kuno nodded sagely. "Than I shall carry her if I must."
     He stooped to take Ukyo up into his arms, and then set her carefully 
over his shoulders. She murmured something incoherent and draped an arm 
about his neck. Without another word he began walking back towards the 
woods.
     "Hey, where are you going? You're headed right for them!" Nabiki 
protested.
     "If we attempt to cross these naked hills we would be spotted as surely 
as we have found our pursuers," he said in reply. "Therefore we must enter 
the woods and skirt its boundaries until we may find a path more 
concealing."
     Nabiki grudgingly followed him back into the forest. They kept to the 
trees for several hours before finding a narrow ravine that led them west 
again. 
     Nabiki was amazed at Kuno's stamina. He maintained the hard pace 
even while bearing the encumbrance of Ukyo.
     "Maybe you should set Ukyo down and rest a few minutes," she had 
said to him once.
     His reply had taken her aback.
     "I shall take my rest when this misadventure has reached its conclusion. 
Not before. If I am slain by the end of this, so be it, for I shall take my rest 
in the grave."
     His tone had been so serious that she hadn't mentioned it again. She 
only wished he would save his own strength as he had admonished them 
to do. She felt they would need his sword arm again before this was 
through.



                                 Chapter Four



     Bettie's Dare was a Convair Catalina PBY-5A; a World War II era 
amphibious aircraft. She was painted in an old war era Navy scheme of 
low visibility greys and blues. Emblazoned on the nose was a likeness of 
50's pin-up queen Bettie Page clad in scanty leather and lace, and daring 
the observer on with a saucy wiggle of her finger. The name 'Bettie's Dare' 
was painted in gold script beneath her likeness. 
     Heironymous Durango was making his pre-flight inspection when 
McFogg, Hiro, Ranma, Akane, and Katy Price approached. The pilot 
slammed shut an access hatch and secured it with a flick of his wrist. He 
grinned wildly for them and gestured to the plane.
     "<Hey Professor, how do you like Bettie's new paint scheme?>" He 
asked McFogg.
     The Professor gave the plane a brief inspection. "<She almost looks 
respectable,>" he commented.
     "<She'd be mighty upset to hear you say that,>" Durango sniffed. 
"<Especially after I went to the trouble of getting Olivia herself to paint 
Bettie up on the nose.>" He gestured proudly to the artist's signature 
beneath the artwork.
     "<Can we please be going on our way Mister Durango?>" Katy huffed. 
"<It would be nice to get there in time for the event.>"
     Durango made a face at her. He knocked the back of his hand twice on 
the hatch and it spilled open. A thin and gangly man peered out from the 
portal with a toothy smile.
     "<Yeah man?>" He asked in a taut voice.
     Durango shooed him inside. "<Come on D-Day, make a hole for the 
passengers. They're getting restless.>"
     "<Sure man,>" D-Day replied in that quick and taut voice. He stepped 
aside for Durango, who pulled the party's luggage up into the plane. When 
he got hold of Katy's bag he made a show of how heavy it was.
     "<We may need to ditch some weight to get off the ground. I'll keep this 
by the door just in case," he said to her.
     Katy ignored him and stepped by without a word.
     Akane stepped up the boarding ladder next. Durango shifted gears and 
was now the epitome of graciousness. He took her hand at the door and led 
her aboard.
     "<Watch your head Miss,>" he advised politely.
     Akane stepped inside to the main cabin. It was smaller than she had 
hoped, but not as cramped as she had feared. Three rows of two seats 
occupied the rear of the compartment. In the forward end was a small 
living area and two hammocks stowed along the starboard bulkhead. A 
small ladder led up to the flight deck. The bulkheads were covered with 
Catalina and war-era memorabilia; everything from photos of PBYs and 
their aircrews to pilots' caps, a flight jacket festooned with patches, and 
various unit insignias. 
     Hiro came up behind her. He slapped Durango a 'high five' as he 
boarded, and the two exchanged knowing grins. He showed Akane to a 
seat as she stared in wonder about the cabin.
     Professor McFogg came next and took a seat beside Katy. He had a 
late edition of the Times folded under his arm, and he began to read it in 
silence.
     Ranma stepped up the ladder last of all. Durango secured the hatch 
behind him. He looked around for a minute as Akane had done.
     "<Hey Saotome,>" Durango called as he clambered forward. "<You 
and your little lady are welcome up on the flight deck for takeoff. This is 
your first time aboard and all.>"
     Ranma didn't seem thrilled. He looked back to where Akane sat. She 
couldn't have been more excited.
     He looked back to Durango. "<We will be right up,>" he replied. 
     Akane was already out of her seat and taking his arm. "Thank you 
Ranma," she said softly to him. "I know how you don't like flying, so I 
really appreciate this."
     "It's not the flying that bothers me," he countered. "It's landing and 
taking off."
     They climbed up to the flight deck. The cockpit was mostly as it was 
in the heyday of the Catalina PBY, except for several modern 
conveniences like the Pulse-Doppler weather radar, solid state radio 
navigation equipment, and GPS system hard mounted in various free 
spaces. The multipaned canopy was large and covered the entire cockpit. 
A large portable stereo system hung from the aft bulkhead.
     D-Day was at the Engineer's station checking his gages. He tapped 
at them occasionally when they didn't indicate what was expected. Once 
satisfied, he licked the tip of his grease pencil and scratched a check mark 
on a well worn laminated checklist.
     Durango sat in the Pilot's chair reviewing his own checklists. The 
instrument lights flicked on as he thumbed several circuit breakers at his 
side. The radio squawked in a perturbed British accent at someone.
     "<Tower's a little restless tonight,>" Durango noted.
     "<Yup,>" D-Day agreed.
     Ranma and Akane watched them for a few minutes as they completed 
their checks.
     "<Have a seat,>" Durango offered them. He showed them the Co-Pilot's 
chair. "<D-Day doesn't need it just yet.>"
     "<Nope,>" D-Day confirmed.
     Ranma let Akane take the seat, preferring to stand. She sat down in the 
well worn chair and gazed across the vast array of dials, meters, levers, and 
switches. There was a small pin-up girl photo taped to the console, but she 
didn't make an issue of it.
     Durango flipped another series of rocker switches. D-Day called out 
various groups of numbers in response. Satisfied, Durango pulled out a 
knob on the console and moved a lever forward on the divider panel 
between the Pilot and Co-Pilot stations.
     "<Clear!>" He called out of the side window to the men outside.
     One gave him a 'thumbs up'.
     "<Contact!>" He cried. He threw a switch.
     There was a brief hum, followed by a low whine as the port prop 
began to turn. The port engine coughed once, twice, then roared to life 
above them with a cloud of heavy smoke and flame from the exhaust 
pipes. Akane jumped as the R-1830 supercharged radial piston engine 
backfired.
     "<Damn fuel additives,>" Durango muttered.
     "<Oil pressure coming up. Fuel pressure good. Voltage steady.>" 
D-Day called from the Engineer's station.
     Durango checked the brakes locked and cycled the prop pitch. The 
plane seemed to pull towards the left but in reality did not move. He 
feathered the prop, and the tension ceased.
     D-Day checked his gages. "<Number two temps have stabilized. I'm 
putting number two generator on the bus.>" He twisted a few knobs and 
closed a large circuit breaker at his feet. The lights flickered again and a 
bell rang for a second as an alarm came in and out
     "<Ready to start Number One?>" He called to D-Day. He set his 
choke, mixture, and throttle positions for number one engine.
     The noise was almost too much for Ranma to understand a word he 
said. Durango secured his open cockpit window, and it abated a little. 
D-Day checked his gages and nodded.
     "<Clear! Contact!>" Durango called.
     The lights dimmed a little as the starboard engine spluttered and then 
roared to life. Akane jumped again, though the smile of excitement on her 
face belied any real concern.
     "<Oil pressure coming up. Fuel pressure good. Voltage steady.>" 
D-Day called.
     "<Cycling number one,>" Durango announced. He adjusted the 
starboard prop's pitch, then feathered it back.
     "<Number one temps stable. Placing number one generator on the 
bus.>" D-Day declared. He placed the generator on the bus with a throw 
of the circuit breaker.
     The Catalina's engine noise was now a steady thrum over their heads. 
Durango picked up an apple green headset and dialed his radio to the 
Heathrow ATC frequency. He set one headphone against his ear for a 
minute, listening to the tower chatter.
     When he had a clear moment he placed the microphone close to his 
mouth and talked with the tower for a few minutes. He seemed to be 
having a hard time with them. 
     "<Is there a problem?>" Akane asked innocently.
     Durango stopped arguing with the tower. He removed his headphones 
and smiled graciously for her benefit.
     "<Not at all. The tower seems to have misplaced the flight plan that I 
forgot to file this morning.>"
     Akane blinked twice. "<Oh.>"
     "<Not a problem,>" Durango continued. "<I don't need a flight plan for 
VFR.>"
     "<Only if the tower buys it,>" D-Day mentioned.
     "<Stop encouraging me D-Day,>" Durango muttered.
     McFogg's voice called from aft and below. "<Is there a problem 
Durango?>"
     "<Not at all Professor, the tower's just giving me clearance now!>" 
Durango called back. 
     **Clearance?** Ranma certainly didn't see the headphones anywhere 
near Durango’s head at the moment, so who did he get clearance from?
     "<You might want to take a seat there at the navigator's station,>" 
Durango said to him. "<Buckle up everybody!>"
     Akane started to get out of her seat. Durango motioned for her to buckle 
up where she was.
     "<I need D-Day where he is for this more than I need him there. Enjoy 
the ride.>" He said to her as he flipped a series of switches. "<And now to 
kill the Mode 3 IFF transponder and the altimeter squawk.>"
     Ranma sat down at the navigator's station and buckled his lap belt. He 
could feel the power of the engines as Durango throttled up. There was a 
jolt as the pilot released the brakes.
     "<Time to get this baby off the ground!>" He announced. "<Ready 
D-Day?>"
     "<I'm ready, me bairns are ready; shove off!>"
     Durango lit the landing floods. He cranked the flaps down to full, and 
adjusted his mixture for takeoff. Next he adjusted prop pitch, and the 
blades began digging into the air. The PBY began rolling along the meadow.
     "<I'd be happier trying this on the water. Bettie's amphibious, but she 
doesn't like dry land.>"
     "<I think we need some mood music,>" D-Day called out.
     **Mood music?** Ranma thought in confusion.
     "<I do too. What about you Akane?>" Durango asked her.
     Akane nodded happily. "<Sure!>"
     D-day leaned over Ranma to pick out a cassette from a case. He popped 
the cassette inside the portable stereo box and cranked the volume. Next he 
stabbed the 'play' button and took his seat.
     Bettie's Dare began rolling faster and faster down the meadow runway. 
>From the stereo speakers came a crackle of static, and then the sounds of 
Black Sabbath's "Supernaut" issued forth.
     "<This is 'mood music'?>" Ranma asked, looking at the empty case for 
Black Sabbath Volume 4.
     Durango spared him a brief look over his shoulder. "<You were 
expecting the Glenn Miller Orchestra?>"
     Bettie's Dare clawed its way aloft with a roar of engines, just clearing 
the line of trees that marked the end of the field. The PBY climbed to three 
hundred feet. Durango pushed the nose over into a shallow turn and 
throttled the engines back just a notch. He held the yoke steady with one 
hand and gestured to Akane to crank the flaps back up
     She did as she was instructed and began cranking the flaps up. Durango 
told her to stop and to lock them in place. She did so, thrilling to be 
involved if only in a little way. She also noticed that they were awfully low 
to the ground.
     She got Durango's attention and pointed to the ground.
     "<Not to worry; we're just trying to stay under Heathrow's radar,>" he 
replied. "<If D-Day will be so kind as to get out the charts, we still have to 
find our low road to Scotland.>"
     "<On it,> D-Day replied. He consulted several charts by flashlight.
     Akane looked back to Ranma and smiled in delight. Ranma was too 
busy white-knuckling his seat to reciprocate. 
     Professor McFogg's head appeared at the top of the ladder.
     "<I say Heironymous, aren't we flying a bit low? I looked out the 
window to find myself nearly level with a windmill.>"
     "<We're gonna keep it under 500 feet for a little while, Professor. At 
least 'till we clear Heathrow's control area.>"
     The Professor seemed to understand what Durango was getting at. 
"<Very well, but do steer clear of populated areas. The noise and all, you 
understand.>"
     "<No problemo,>" Durango replied.
     McFogg's head dipped below.
     "<How's everything looking there, D-Day?>" The pilot called behind 
him.
     "<A-OK. Fuel consumption's gonna be greater than planned 'cause 
we're staying low, but I estimate a good four hour reserve.>"
     Durango checked his own calculated fuel ladder. "<That sounds about 
right... I'm gonna need you to get the EW rig warmed up.>"
     D-Day pulled a d-ring binder down from a locker. "<Yeah, I guess we 
could use the practice.>"
     He opened the binder and ran his thin fingers down the laminated pages. 
Leaning over Ranma at the navigator's station, he energized the Electronic 
Warfare rig; a small box of electronics about the size of microwave oven. 
The oscilloscope display came to life, flashing various waveforms in a test 
pattern. He adjusted several knobs and let the thing sit for a minute.
     "<EW ready,>" he called. He placed a set of headphones on and began 
to listen. Several patterns appeared on the oscilloscope display. A second 
display on the unit looked like some kind of radar, and three green 
diamonds with numbers inside them flashed to life around the center.
     "<India band search radar, signal strength two, bearing 0-1-3 true. I'd 
say that was Heathrow control. Also getting Lima band altitude radar, 
signal strength one, also bearing 0-1-3 true. Last contact is some kind of 
airborne sea-search radar, high amplitude, probably an RAF Nimrod, 
bearing 2-5-7 true.>"
     Durango motioned for Akane to hand him a chart. With one hand on 
the yoke he checked the bearings D-Day had called versus the actual 
positions of radio-navigation and air traffic control radar stations.
     "<We're gonna hide from every radar we can for awhile. It's good 
practice for when we need to go places we're not wanted.>" He told 
Akane. 
     Akane nodded, but she wasn't quite sure she understood.
     D-Day offered the headphones to Ranma, who took them out of 
curiosity. He listened intently to the warble and whistle and trill of various 
radar and radio emissions.
     "<What am I listening for?>" He asked D-Day.
     "<The warbling sound is a sea-search radar from an airborne 
surveillance plane; a Nimrod belonging to the RAF. The steady whistle is 
an altitude radar at Heathrow, the low sweeping tones are Heathrow's 
air-search radar.>"
     "<I'm listening to what radar sounds like?>"
     "<Sort of. I can adjust frequency sensitivity to listen to other things too. 
Check this out:>"
     He dialed a knob around. Ranma's eyes lit up.
     "<It sounds like people talking.>"
     "<It _is_ people talking. You're listening in on a cellular phone 
conversation. Remember that the next time you use one.>"
     He set the headphones back to the various radar signals.
     "<Where did you learn all this stuff?>" Akane asked. She had stepped 
out of her seat to see what Ranma and D-Day were doing. Ranma set the 
headphones on her ears so she could listen as well.
     "<The Air Force!>" Durango and D-Day replied. "<We used to fly 
'Varks’ together.>"



                              *       *       *



     They arrived on Orkney Island shortly after midnight. Durango set 
Bettie's Dare down upon a loch, happy to have his seaplane in the water. 
D-Day readied an inflatable zodiac boat from a locker under the deck 
and with Ranma's help set it up with a small outboard motor.
     On the shore Ferguson called to them and waved a green chemlight over 
his head. D-Day took Ranma, Akane, Hiro, McFogg, and Katy Price 
ashore in the zodiac. The water was still and black as they crossed it. Their 
outboard was the only sound to be heard.
     Ranma looked out across the water to the land. Tall dark hills framed a 
star filled sky. There were only a few wisps of silvery cirrus clouds high in 
the sky. The only time he ever saw so many stars was when he and his 
father went on training trips in the mountains. He felt a great weight of 
antiquity over the place, such that he had never felt in Japan.
     Maes Howe was the largest hill, a flattened cone of darkness that the 
starry sky faintly backlit. Ranma knew immediately where it was, though 
he didn't know why.
     "Is that where we're going?" Akane asked him quietly. She pointed at 
Maes Howe.
     "I think so," Ranma replied.
     Ferguson took off his boots and stepped into the icy waters of the loch 
to pull the boat ashore. He made a few disparaging comments about how 
cold the water was, and any ideas Ranma had about getting out to help 
were dispelled. D-Day secured the outboard motor.
     Once they were safely (and dryly) ashore, Ferguson led them to the 
camp. Six large four-man tents were standing around a raised pavilion. 
The harsh glow of propane lanterns lit the pavilion, the tents were all dark. 
Three Range Rovers were parked close by. Ranma noted the satellite 
receiver/transmitters and the small generator which ran quietly beside 
them. Runs of black power and instrumentation cables snaked along the 
grassy ground. A few voices could be heard from the camp, but mostly 
it was as quiet as it had been on the loch.
     Ranma noted the Ferguson's box standing quietly a short distance from 
the camp. It's tinny shrill was barely audible if you knew what to look for. 
Farther down was another box, and he guessed there were more scattered 
throughout the place.
     Clay was in the camp sitting at a fold up table drinking tea. Two 
researchers were playing cards while another monitored a display. He 
waved for them and gestured to the large thermos of hot water.
     "<Welcome!>" he greeted. "<Warm yourselves with a spot of tea.>"
     "<Where is everyone?>" The Professor asked.
     "<Ames and a few of the others went into town to visit the local pub. 
They should be back soon,>" Ferguson supplied.
     "<As long as they aren't trying to drive out in this wilderness drunk,>" 
McFogg admonished.
     "<West went with them,>" Clay said. West didn't drink apparently.
     "<Anything to report?>" McFogg asked.
     Ferguson consulted his notebook. "<We established the baselines today, 
no abnormal variances noted. All of our sensors are in place. Clay thinks 
he's localized the nexus, it's inside the site -no surprise there I guess.>"
     "<A magistrate was out here this afternoon inquiring about our permits,>" 
Clay added. "<He also warned us about local druid cult activity. It's getting 
to be that time of year again.>"
     "<The summer solstice is weeks away,>" McFogg said dismissively. 
"<Besides they all go to Stonehenge anyway. And this place was for 
observing the Winter Solstice in any event.>"
     "<Maybe they know something we don't,>" Hiro said.
     "<Possible, given the circumstances.>" McFogg admitted.
     Hiro led Ranma and Akane to their tent while the others conferred.
     "You two get your own tent; lucky you, huh?" He joked.
     They didn't give him any satisfaction with a response.
     "Well anyway, here's where you'll sleep. Ferguson said something about 
a chemical toilet on the other side of the camp in case you need to go in the 
middle of the night. There should be some sleeping bags and foam 
mattresses ready for you."
     He opened the flap and looked inside.
     "Yep," he observed.
     "They don't mind if we take a walk do they?" Akane asked.
     "No reason why you can't," Hiro answered her. "Just take a chemlight 
or two and watch your step. If I know Ferguson, he's got cable runs all 
over the place out there. Wouldn't want you to trip and get hurt."
     "Thanks Hiro," Akane said kindly.
     Hiro bowed for her. "Any time Akane-chan. You kids have fun, but 
remember that these guys like to get an early start on the day. Breakfast 
will probably be a little after dawn. Good night!"
     "Good night Hiro," Ranma and Akane said in unison.
     Hiro walked back to the pavilion. Ranma placed their small bags in the 
tent and looked at Akane questioningly.
     "What's up?" He asked her.
     "I just wanted to go up to that hill. I don't know why really."
     "That's funny, I kind of did too."
     "Then let's go!" Akane cried.
     Ranma pulled on his camouflage jacket. "First things first. It's getting a 
little cold out here, and I'm sure there'll be a good wind blowing on top of 
that hill. Did you bring anything warm to wear?"
     “Such concern!” Akane cried. She reached down into her bag. "I 
brought a sweater." She put it on and snugged the sleeves down to her 
wrists.
     They took a few chemlights from a box sitting on the table in the 
pavilion as Hiro suggested. McFogg, Clay, Ferguson, Hiro, and Katy were 
engaged in a complex conversation the particulars of Ranma and Akane 
could only guess at. Hiro winked at them as they left.
     Ranma took the first chemlight and snapped it. He shook it vigorously, 
and it began to glow with a red light. He held it in his right hand as Akane 
took his left in hers.
     They walked across the meadow and up the gradually increasing slope 
of Maes Howe. The dark cone of a hill loomed before them. The night 
was very quiet with the camp in the distance. Akane looked back once to 
see the tiny lights of the lanterns and the great shadows of people moving 
inside the pavilion.
     "What is this place?" She asked Ranma. "Why is it so important?"
     Ranma tried to remember what he learned earlier that day.
     "I asked Hiro about it, and he found me some books. He had to read 
them for me, 'cause I don't read English very well, and there were some 
really strange words in them. Maes Howe is a little weird. Apparently 
people thought it was some kind of 'barrow mound'."
     "What's that?"
     "It's a man-made hill they raise over graves. The book said that the 
people who lived here buried their dead in them after a war. They would 
put the weapons and armor of the dead in the mound as well as other 
things they thought the fallen would need in the afterlife."
     "This is a grave?" Akane asked hesitantly.
     "That's the weird part. This is a man-made hill, but they never found 
any graves."
     "This is a man-made hill? It's huge!"
     "Yup. They took big blocks of soil and stacked them up. Eventually 
the rains and wind smoothed out the mound and grass and trees grew on 
it."
     "How old is this place?"
     "The book said almost five thousand years."
     They stopped short at a length of chain-link fence above a low wall of 
hard packed earth that ringed the hill. By the ruddy glow of the chemlight 
they tried to read the sign posted upon the fence.
     "I'm not sure, but I'll bet it says 'keep out'," Ranma said evenly.
     "Now what?"
     Ranma easily cleared the short fence.
     "I'm not gonna let this thing stop me from getting a look."
     He thrust out his hands and gracefully lifted her over the fence. He set 
her upon the grassy slope and started up the hill. Akane was taken along 
with him by the hand.
     "Should we be doing this?" Akane asked him.
     "Don't worry. I'm pretty sure the Professor has a permit to be here, 
and even if he doesn't, who's gonna catch us at this time of night?" He 
gestured around to the dark countryside. "There isn't anyone but us 
around for kilometers anyway."
     They came across a great stone that rose up on the slope of the hill. By 
the glow of the chemlight they could barely make out faded carvings nearly 
obliterated by the passage of centuries. It must have weighed several tons 
and was utterly alien on the otherwise gentle grassy slope.
     They looked at the stone for awhile and contemplated it's antiquity. 
Without much light to see by however, they soon lost interest and 
continued on. Akane voiced the desire to look at it again in the morning 
sunlight.
     Near the top of the hill they found a chain link gate that covered an 
opening into Maes Howe. Another sign, well abused by graffiti, gave a 
similar 'keep out' message. The gate was unlocked, and hung slightly ajar. 
A Ferguson' s box kept its tinny vigil upon the opening.
     "Wanna go inside?" Ranma asked her.
     Akane clutched at his arm. "Not just yet," she replied.
     "What's the matter, you scared?" He teased.
     "Maybe a little," she replied hesitantly. "This place is eery. I don't care 
if they didn't find any skeletons here, it still feels like a graveyard."
     "Well now what?" He asked.
     She tugged at his arm. "Maybe we should climb the rest of the way up 
and watch the stars."
     He followed her lead with a murmur of approval. Truth be known he 
wasn't ready to go inside just yet either. **But not because I'm afraid,** he 
told himself. **It just doesn't feel like the right time to be going in there.**
     Another Ferguson's box sat at the very acme of the hill.
     At the top of Maes Howe Akane sat down upon the grass and lifted her 
face to the sky. Stars filled the heavens, more than she had ever seen living 
in Nerima her whole life. The Milky Way was a bright band of light that 
spanned the sky like a bridge. 
     "It's so beautiful," she whispered. The glorious night had dispelled her 
earlier fears.
     Ranma sat down beside her. The breeze was chilly, but he found it 
invigorating.
     "You cold?" He asked her after a bit.
     "No, I'm all right," Akane answered, still watching the sky for 
constellations she might recognize. Then she snuggled in closer to him with 
a grin. "On second thought, maybe I could use a little close company."
     He put his arm around her waist and drew her in close to his side. 


     Katy and Hiro had turned in to their respective tents to sleep. Ferguson 
had decided to take a walk. D-Day went back to Bettie's Dare in the zodiac. 
That left Clay and Professor McFogg to continue the evening's discussion.
     "It's amazing, isn't it?" Clay asked.
     "What is?" McFogg asked in reply.
     "Those two kids; finding them like that."
     "I hadn't expected anything like this, if that's what you mean." McFogg 
said, taking a puff on his pipe.
     "They fit André's profile well enough," Clay observed.
     "We shall see tomorrow," McFogg countered. "That is if Maes Howe 
doesn't surprise us as Nerima did."
     "They're up on the hill right now," Clay said. "Suppose they aren't just 
guides but a catalyst?"
     "André never mentioned something like that in his writings," McFogg 
said dismissively.
     "What writings could be recovered after the October Revolution that is. 
What he could salvage. Who knows, old Casimir may be holding on to 
some of his father's works."
     McFogg shook his head. "André kept nothing for himself, it was too 
dangerous for him. His relations with Czar Nicholas cast a great shadow 
over him. André had to bide his time during Lenin's theological purges, 
and so Grigory learned this lesson well."
     "So Lenin didn't know?"
     "He knew a little about the Czar's project, and that it was related to the 
event of 1908, but I doubt he ever understood it's significance. He was too 
busy trying to hold power within his own camp as well as stamp out the 
White Russians and the surviving Aristocracy to care about some 
boondoggle in the Siberian wastes."
     "I'm curious Professor, when did Grigory come to be involved with his 
father's work then?"
     "Just before World War II. André had already passed away, and he 
was working as an assistant to a theoretical physicist. We met in Stockholm 
during a lecture on atomic mass defect and it's relationship to the periodic 
table of elements."
     Clay laughed. "It's seems like you just came from that lecture, Professor."
     "It doesn't seem that long ago to me, though it's been over fifty years. I 
was just a boy then with my father. André had sent my father his notes 
during the October Revolution, and Grigory wondered if he could get them 
returned. My father had long since copied them in the hopes of continuing 
the work, and so he agreed."
     "Grigory took them back even though his father had abandoned them 
for fear of his life?"
     "Times were different for Grigory than they were for his father. The 
paranormal and the occult were finding acceptance under Stalin's rule as 
closet alternatives to Lenin's atheism. Stalin himself maintained a secret 
interest in the occult. If not for Stalin's fetish for the occult, Grigory would 
have been sent to the gulag long before I met him."
     Clay nodded and poured himself another cup of tea. "Hmmmm...It's 
rather peculiar to be walking in the footsteps of history, don't you think?"
     "We walk in the footsteps of history every day," McFogg remarked.
     Clay clicked his tongue in reproach. "Than it's rather peculiar to be 
walking in the footsteps of such a _peculiar_ history."
     McFogg cast his eyes to Maes Howe, and left Clay's statement 
unanswered.
     "I hoped that like Diomedes and André's expedition, one our party 
would become the Wayfinder. I did not expect outsiders. Ranma and 
Akane are fine young souls, but I fear this may be too much for them."
     "Ranma seems a perfect choice, given his exposure to magical 
phenomena."
     "Perhaps, but whether or not this qualifies him is yet to be seen. I 
would like to find that they are not the Wayfinders, but in my heart I 
fear that they are."
     "Why is that, Professor?"
     McFogg looked away from the hill, and back to Clay.
     "Because the last Wayfinder was killed by the Event of 1908."



                                End of Part Four






Author’s Notes:

     1) The Consolidated-Vultee (Convair) Catalina PBY-5 and 6 model 
seaplanes served the U.S. and its allies during World War II and in the 
decade following the end of the war. Catalinas served as scouts, anti-
submarine planes, transports, and search and rescue planes for downed 
aircrew. It was a Catalina that found the Japanese fleet during the decisive 
Battle of Midway. Catalinas also proved their worth in the Battle of the 
Aleutian Islands of Alaska. They could operate in the freezing temperatures 
that grounded other planes, and required no runways or developed airbases 
for their operations.
     Over 1800 Catalinas were built, and of these, almost 900 of them 
were designated 5A or 6As -making them ‘amphibians’, or capable of 
landing on the ground as well as the water. The Catalina could seat over 
a dozen crew and passengers comfortably. It was powered by two 
supercharged Pratt and Whitney R-1830 radial piston engines which 
generated a combined 2200 HP. The Catalina achieved a top speed of 220 
MPH and had a phenomenal 2500 mile range. They frequently carried two
flight crews for long voyages.
     The majority of Catalinas retained only two .50 caliber Browning 
machine guns for armament during the war. Aircraft assigned to anti-
submarine operations carried depth bombs, conventional air dropped 
bombs, and by the end of the war carried primitive passive acoustic-homing 
torpedoes.
     My technical specs on the Catalina come from the 1946 edition of 
JANE’s All the World’s Military Aircraft. (In case anyone’s curious.)
     2) Heironymous forgot to file a flight plan with Heathrow. By VFR he 
means ‘Visual Flight Rules’. Technically all he needs to fly VFR is to 
inform Heathrow ATC of his departure and arrival points and his ETA. 
(Permission to enter Heathrow’s controlled airspace would also be nice.) 
VFR only applies within specific visibility guidelines, however.
     3) Deciding that he would rather get going than argue with the Tower, 
Heironymous takes off. By securing his Mode 3 IFF transponder he can 
fly low under Heathrow’s effective radar coverage and avoid detection.
(By keeping the transponder active he appears as a blip with identifying 
alphanumerics next to it on the ATC screens whether Heathrow’s radar 
can see him or not! The same goes for the altimeter squawk.) 
     To assist him in avoiding Heathrow’s air search radar, he has D-Day 
use their EW rig to detect and evaluate the various radar signals. Think of 
the EW (Electronics Warfare) rig as a superwhamodyne fuzz buster. And 
yes you _can_ listen in on cellular phone conversations with such devices! 
(Big Brother Is Watching)
     By comparing bearings and signal strengths, a skilled operator can plot 
a course to take the aircraft around effective radar range or to ‘thread’ 
overlapping areas of coverage at the point where both radars are at their 
weakest. D-Day learned these skills in the Air Force as a co-pilot/
bombardier on a FB-111 ‘Aardvark’ supersonic fighter-bomber.
     4) Maes Howe. More will be explained in the narrative of Part Five.


Free The Nukes!