by Yuriko Taira
“Thanks, mate.” Shinkichi tucked the pistol, his katana and wakizashi in his waist belt.
Then, he went inside the house and returned with a long dagger in a delicate scabbard made of fine wood.
“Babe, your kaiken.” He handed me the dagger.
“Wow, this is too beautiful to be a killing weapon!” I exclaimed.
“It’s not for killing, but for defending your honour and dignity,” Shinkichi said.
“Understood!” I replied sincerely, looking up at him. “When did you buy it?”
“I didn’t buy it. It’s a gift from Mum.”
“Many thanks.” I put the kaiken in the inner pocket of my coat.
We left the Platov house at about 8.00 am, heading towards the city.
Blagoveshchensk was established as the capital city of the Amur region in 1858 by the Governor-General of Eastern Siberia, who moved Russian troops into the region, and succeeded in annexing the Chinese territory to the Russian Empire. The city was occupied by Japan during the Russian Civil War from 1917 to 1922 in support of the White Army against the advance of the Red Army.
The architecture of the city was a picture of Tsarist-era Russia with wide, straight streets parallel and perpendicular to each other; starting from the Amur River, or the Zeya River. Most of the city’s hotels, restaurants, and historical sites including a cathedral and local museum were located at Ulitsa Lenina, which ran parallel to the Amur River.
The utility stopped in front of a police station, and dropped off Natasha. It then went towards the north-west highway. The forest on both sides of the highway was completely covered by snow, like a white mountain range when seen from afar.
“This highway looks familiar,” Shinkichi said, looking out through the window.
“Mate, this is ш. Игнатьевское (BQS), the only highway to Ignatyevo Airport,” Mikhail said. “The forest on the left goes all the way to the bank of the Amur River. It has a narrow path, an alternative route from the airport to the city. The forest is thick, so it’s dark even during the day.”
He drove into the forest and stopped the utility by a large tree. All of them got out. Shinkichi and Sean cut a big branch off a tree, and tied both ends of the branch with a rope. Sean took one end of the rope and climbed up the tree. He put the rope over another big branch and threw it down. Shinkichi and Mikhail took the rope and pulled the branch up into the tree, then secured the rope to the trunk of the tree. They came back to the utility. Mikhail drove for about 30 metres and stopped by another large tree. The guys did the same to this tree. Then, Mikhail drove us out of the forest.
When we arrived at the Airport, it was almost 11.00 am. Mikhail parked the utility in a secluded spot with a clear view of the airport arrival hall. A few minutes later, Natasha arrived on a police motorbike, wearing police uniform.
Sitting inside the utility, Shinkichi and Sean studied the airport with binoculars. The watch on Shinkichi’s wrist was ticking, 11:30 and counting… Two black vans appeared in front of the airport arrival hall, followed by a GAZ Volga, an old Soviet car still being made in Russia, and two more black vans.
“Comrade, we’re up against an army.” Sean said, passing his binoculars to Mikhail.
“Are we going ahead as planned?” Mikhail asked.
“Yes, who dares wins.” Sean’s response was calm and determined.
“May I have a look?” Natasha took the binoculars from Mikhail. She surveyed the airport arrival hall for a few minutes and returned the binoculars to him.
“See you later, comrades.” She rode off.
Shinkichi had been keeping his eyes at the airport arrival hall through the binoculars. “Mate, Zheng got out of the Volga,” he said, without removing the binoculars from his eyes.
“Zheng!” I exclaimed, taking the binoculars from Shinkichi. I saw a man standing by the Volga, who was wearing dark glasses and a dark-coloured puffer jacket. Although his head was covered by a big fur hat, the tight face and lips told me that it was him.
Groups of people were coming out of the airport arrival hall. Among them, was a tall man wearing all black: cap, coat, face-mask and boots. He walked to Zheng and handed him a black rectangular box.
“Ah!” I could not believe my eyes, a green light blinked weakly inside the box. “The Jade Seal is inside the box,” I said in a trembling voice.
“Well done, kid. The game’s on.” Sean patted my shoulder gently.
I did not hear Sean, as my focus was on Zheng who got into the Volga with the box and the black vans. My mind was busy counting how many men could have hidden inside those black vehicles.
“Babe, are you okay?” Shinkichi took the binoculars off my hands, which were shaking uncontrollably.
“It… it’s a suicide mission. We… may be totally out… outnumbered if those black vans are full…” Realised that Shinkichi had been right about this mission from the start, I broke down in tears.
Shinkichi held me tightly in his arms. “Babe, don’t cry. We’ll get the Jade Seal back for you, I promise.”
Mikhail started the engine and his utility rolled smoothly out of the parking bay, then speeded up onto the highway.
A road-block had been set up on the BQS about 10 minutes’ drive from the airport. Natasha stood in the middle of the road, controlling traffic into Blagoveshchensk city. She directed our utility into the forest path.
The tall, and thick trees blocked the sun light. It was like dawn in the forest. Mikhail stopped the vehicle at a shallow spot a few metres away from the path near two big trees. The guys took the rifles and ammunition out of the utility, then gathered some tree branches and covered the vehicle.
“Mates, we need to attack quickly, take the Jade Seal quickly, and run quickly.” Sean commended.
“Yes, sir.” Shinkichi and Mikhail saluted Sean.
Shinkichi took off my fur hat, put a mask over my head; and pulled it down to cover my entire face, showing only my eyes. He, Sean and Mikhail also put on masks.
He pulled me down to the ground. “Babe, you must stay down and hide yourself.”
“はい。” I lay down on the ground.
CHAPTER 16
Sean and Mikhail went behind the two large trees that they visited earlier, each held a dagger in their hands.
A convoy of black vehicles appeared. The first van drove past us, and the second van, then the Volga appeared.
“Cut!” Sean yelled.
One big branch fell in front of the Volga and the other fell about 30 metres behind it.
Pang, pang; two bullets flew into the tyres of the Volga. The car collapsed.
Pang, pang, pang, pang; muzzle flashes from the Volga broke the darkness of the forest.
Pang, pang, pang, pang; Sean, Mikhail and Shinkichi responded to the attack with rounds of bullets flying out of their rifles. They ducked, running to the Volga.
Pang, pang, pang, pang; this time, the muzzle flashes were from one of the black vans following the Volga, which was blocked from going forward by the big branch on the forest path.
“Mate, go to get the Jade Seal. Mikhail and I will cover you!” Sean said to Shinkichi loudly.
“はい。” Shinkichi responded, lying down on the ground and rolling to the rear wheel of the Volga. He stopped and lying down still there.
The guns from the Volga went quiet and the rear door opened a gap. Shinkichi raised his hand from the ground, grabbed the door handle and pulled it with force. A man fell out of the car.
Pang, pang; Shinkichi shot him twice.
Pang, pang, pang; a few bullets flew out of the Volga, and just missed Shinkichi’s head.
“ばか。” he yelled. Pang, pang, pang, pang; he shot a round of bullets into the Volga through the open door, but no one fired back at him this time.
Shinkichi rose from the ground, and ducked inside. There was no one in the car except the driver, who was shot in the head, and appeared to be dead. The black rectangular box dropped open on the floor. A green light blinked
weakly under the front seat. Shinkichi picked up the Jade Seal and put it into his pocket.
Sean and Mikhail barricaded themselves behind the tree branch, shooting at the men from the black vans, to stop them from moving towards the Volga.
Zheng’s head popped up from the other side of the Volga.
Pang, pang; I fired two shots at him.
Shinkichi was alarmed. He stayed low inside the Volga; then suddenly and forcefully, he kicked open the other near door.
Pang, pang, pang, pang; bullets flew out of the Volga, and Zheng fell to the ground.
Shinkichi withdrew himself from the Volga, and ran to support his mates. Mikhail had been injured in the right shoulder. Shinkichi quickly applied a bandage to his wound.
A man in black jumped over the tree branch. Shinkichi’s katana flew out of his scabbard. With a flash of lightning, the blade decapitated the man, who dropped to the ground like a falling tree; and another man in black fell…
I can’t stay hiding, while my friends are being slaughtered. I ducked out of the leaves and ran towards Shinkichi. Bullets were hissing over my head from behind. I dived into the snow; and looked back, a pale-faced man was shooting at me from behind the tree branch in front of the Volga.
“Ibin Gan?” I exclaimed. “He’s part of the theft, too!”
Pang, pang, pang; I fired back at him.
Ibin disappeared behind the tree branch. However, when I looked again, he was at the back of the Volga, aiming his pistol at Shinkichi.
“Shinkichi!” I cried out and launched at him.
Pang, pang, pang; I felt something hit my back. I trembled and fell on the ground before reaching Shinkichi.
Mikhail picked up his rifle and started shooting at Ibin.
“Babe…” With one knee on the ground, Shinkichi held me against his chest. “Why did you come out of hiding? Didn’t I tell you to stay down?” he cried.
Blood soaked through my face-mask. Shinkichi gently removed the bloody mask, took off his own mask and pressed it against the wound on my forehead to stop it from bleeding, but blood from my back soaked through my coat and stained his clothes.
“Ah, you bastard!” Sean yelled. He was also wounded.
The two black vans that went ahead had now turned back. We were surrounded by about 20 gunmen, pointing their automatic machine guns at us in an execution style.
“Drop your weapons!” the gangsters yelled.
Sean and Mikhail slowly put down their rifles, and raised their hands above their heads.
“Hand over the Jade Seal and the girl!” It was Ibin’s voice.
A green light shone brightly in Shinkichi’s coat pocket.
“Jade Seal!” I whispered and reached out for it.
Shinkichi took the Jade Seal out of his pocket and put it in my hand. He held my hand into his, holding the Jade Seal with me, tears falling down his cheeks.
“Jade Seal… save… us…” I whispered to the Jade Seal, passing out in Shinkichi’s arms.
“Babe, stay with me… babe…” Shinkichi’s cry echoed through the forest, tearing the hearts of his mates into pieces. Sean bit his lip to force his tears back and Mikhail wept.
The green light in our hands shone brighter and brighter, and swirled around us, forming a green light dome.
“Japanese devil, put down your swords, and hand over the Jade Seal and the girl now!” Ibin yelled.
He waited for a second, then ordered his gang to shoot us. Pang, pang, pang, pang, the gangsters’ bullets hit the green light dome, bounced off its surface, and fell to the snow-covered ground. Shinkichi and his mates watched the phenomenon with their mouths open…
The Jade Seal was melting into my hand. I felt an abnormal energy burning inside me. The bullets in my back was pushed out of my body, and the wound on my forehead healed. I stood up, fit and strong.
“Babe… you’re alive!” Shinkichi looked up at me, over-joyed.
As if they were woken up by Shinkichi’s cry, Sean and Mikhail quickly picked up their rifles, squatting down; and ready to fight again.
Outside the green light dome, Ibin yelled, “fire!’’
The gangsters opened fire at us again. The muzzle flashes from their guns were deflected by the green light dome, like fireworks displaying their magic moment.
“Jade Seal, I command you to turn back their bullets,” I said, putting my hands on the wall of the green light dome as another round of bullets hit it. The bullets turned and fired back at the gangsters, the whole group screamed and fell to the ground.
I smiled with satisfaction, withdrew my hands from the dome; and went over to Sean and Mikhail. “Sean-san and Mikhail-san, may I heal your wounds,” I asked.
They put down their rifles, sitting down on the ground slowly as if they did not believe what I had said.
I put my hands on their wounds. Flashes of green light came out of my palms and extracted the bullets from their bodies. Blood was pouring out of their wounds at the same time. They bit their lips to suppress the pain. I placed my hands over their wounds, and flashes of green light healed them within seconds.
Shinkichi sat on the ground, watching and murmuring, “this is the powers of the Jade Seal…”
Sean looked down at his chest, poking his own flesh with two fingers. “Was I wounded before?” he asked.
“Yes, you were; and me, too,” Mikhail said, pulling a blood-stained bandage off his shoulder. “Thank you very much, madam.”
“You’re welcome.”
I waved to the green light dome. It exploded. The green light was so bright that Shinkichi and his mates put their arms up to cover their faces, shutting their eyes tightly.
Thousands of sparkling green stars were falling onto me. The Jade Seal reappeared, standing in the bright green light, tall and big like a human. The green stars embraced my whole body; and an invisible force sucked me into the Jade Seal; then it shrank to its original size: ten centimetres tall, three centre metres wide and deep. The light and stars vanished. Darkness returned to the forest.
Shinkichi and his mates blinked their eyes. Eventually, they could see again.
“Babe? Babe…?” Shinkichi looked around, calling me.
“I’m here, Shinkichi-san.” I pushed the walls of the Jade Seal from inside and it rolled to his feet, but Shinkichi did not notice it.
The sun pierced the dense leaves of the trees and brought light into the forest.
“Babe, where are you?” Shinkichi stood up, calling out for me.
“Kid, where are you?” Sean stood up, calling out for me.
“Madam, where are you?” Mikhail stood up, calling out for me.
“Guys, I’m here. Shinkichi-san, get me out of here, please!” I stamped on Shinkichi’s foot as hard as I could.
“Ouch…” Shinkichi sat down on the ground, holding his toe in pain. He looked around, and saw the Jade Seal.
“ばか (stupid) Jade Seal, why did you fall on my toe?” Shinkichi yelled at the Jade Seal, then picked it up and put it into his coat pocket.
He knelt on the ground, brushing away the snow with his hands, hoping to find me under the snow. Sean and Mikhail followed him, brushing away the snow on the ground to search for me. After a few minutes, Sean stood up, dusting the snow off his hands.
“Mate, she’s gone. We must leave before the police get here. Mikhail, no prisoners, please,” Sean commanded.
“Yes, sir.” Mikhail stood up; and walked around the bodies, adding a few shots here and there as he went.
Shinkichi did not give up, but continued brushing away the snow on the ground with his hands.
Sean pulled him up. “Mate, she isn’t here anymore. We must leave before the police get here.”
He dragged him to the utility, pushed him into the back seat and locked the doors. Then, he went to help Mikhail to collect their guns, masks and anything else that belonged to them. They put all the stuff into the utility, and Mikhail drove them home in silence.
Natasha ran out of the house
to greet them. Mr and Mrs Platov were not far behind her.
“Mikhail, did you get the Jade Seal back? Where is Yuuko?” she asked, looking inside the vehicle.
“She isn’t with us anymore,” Mikhail said tearfully.
Splash, the basket of lettuce fell out of Mrs Platov’s hands, onto the ground. Mr Platov held her steady.
“No, that’s not true. I’m here!” I kicked Shinkichi’s stomach from inside his coat pocket.
“Ouch… even the Jade Seal is angry at me for losing her.” Shinkichi sobbed.
“Mates, we didn’t find her body so she must be alive… somewhere,” Sean said, making an effort to lift up his mates’ spirits.
“Yes, I’m alive! Please help me to get out of here!” I hit the walls of the Jade Seal, but Shinkichi could not hear or see me.
The guys went inside the house, hid their weapons; and put their coats, masks and used bandage into a fireplace. Mikhail lid a fire. They watched it burning everything to ashes.
Natasha prepared a late lunch for them. Sean and Mikhail ate in silence. Shinkichi did not touch his food. He sat there like a stone for a few minutes, then went into his bedroom. Hours had passed but he did not come back to the dining table.
Natasha warmed up Shinkichi’s lunch. “I’ll take it to him,” she said.
“No, please let me do it.” Sean took the plate of food from Natasha, and went to Shinkichi’s room.
The light was on but no sign of life inside.
“Mate, may I come in?” There was no response. Sean pushed the door. It was unlocked. He went in.
Shinkichi was lying down in bed, holding the Jade Seal to his chest and his eyes fixed to the ceiling.
Sean put the plate of food on a bedside table. “Mate, have your lunch.”
“She vanished without a trace…” Shinkichi said tearfully.
“Mate, she may have gone somewhere. Trust me, your love will give her the strength to live on and find her way back to you… Now, have your lunch, you haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.” Sean sat down in a chair next to the bed.
“Shinkichi-san, I’ve not gone anywhere. I’m sitting on your chest. Please eat some food and get me out of here!” I said from inside the Jade Seal.
