About her lips there played a smile of almost scorn,
"My friend," she gently said, "you have not heard me mourn;
When you my kindred's lives, MY lost life, can restore,
Then may I weep and sue,--but never, friend, before!"
-Emily Bronte
"The Prisoner"

So. Where are we going? Fordo and the girl were making their way quickly through the small wood outside of the Centre. Above them, the moonless sky cast down its feeble starlight and passed unbeknownst to the persons below.

Moscoe knows you've escaped. They'll be looking for you by now.

That still doesn't answer my question. He ducked under a protruding branch.

Her eyes rolled. Our ride is on the edge of town, about five kilometres from here. We'll have to walk to it. Giz tells me he left it in the parking lot of the Buddhist temple.

Who's Giz?

His name's Guiness actually. A friend of mine. We'd better move out of the area tonight. Once the sun gets up, we're easy to spot.

Travelling only by nightfall, eh?

Mostly, yes. Lucky for us there en't a moon tonight.

Fordo had long ago mastered the art of noiseless walking; following a stint of hobbit-obsession, to be precise. Therefore, walking in the woods was quite simple for him. Thus he was quite surprised at how masterful this girl was at the same procedure. Her movements were somewhat cat-like in their delicate power and she walked as though she housed some added balance taht others did not. This fascinated him.

What's your name, lady?

Hiroko. Hiroko Pocky. Didn't I tell you that?

No. He mulled this over a bit. Sounds foreign.

You're one to talk. This couldn't be argued against. My family's Japanese. Dad got transfered right before I was born. Some company re-establishment shite.

Fun stuff.

Not really. The walked on for a while. What of yours?

No idea. Far as I know, we've been here since Will I. He paused. Well, not *here* here. In the country....

Fair enough. They walked across an overturned log that served for a bridge across the small creek that passed through. There's a safehouse just outside this wood. We'll rest there tonight. As she announced this, the wood began to thin out and Fordo saw a glimpse of a farmhouse in the distance.

What do you mean, safehouse? Now out in the open country, their pace quickened towards the building that sat at the other side of their current, barren field.

For the C.U.P.

What cup?

The C.U.P.! It's a phonography.

For what?

The Coalition for United Prosperity. It's Basil's organisation.

Government?

Free lance. Although, She laughed. He has managed some funding from the crown.

What's it do?

Nothing, really. Liz is just a figure head-

I know what the *crown* does, he replied hotly. I mean the...Coalition or whatever.

That? Long story. I'll tell you when it's safer to do so.

We're talking in our heads. It's not like we'll be overheard or anything.

You'd be surprised.

They neared the house and ran up to the front door. Hiroko knocked quickly while Fordo studied their surroundings for any observers. Slowly the door opened and the woman on the other side saw a face impossible to forget. Still, Mr. Baker had insisted on asking.

"I"m sorry, miss. We ran out of sugar."

"No matter. I've diabetes. Got any flour?"

She smiled and opened the door all the way, letting in the kids on her porch. She locked the door tight behind them and headed for the stairs. "He called at dinner and told me to be expecting company. Honestly, I can't say I was expecting you, Hiro."

"I was in the neighbourhood."

The woman smiled again. "There's a room in the loft for you and the fire's going. The kettle's on; I hop you like Grey. Surely you're freezing from running so far." She turned to Fordo. "Hello, dear. I'm Rosie Green." She put out her hand.

"Fordo Summers." He shook it.

"I know." Fordo's eyebrow raised slightly. "Anything you need, just let me know."

Mrs. Green led them up the stairs and to a ladder. "You're right up here for tonight. Warm up and I'll bring your tea soon as it's finished. Sorry we haven't more room. I daresay that's Mr. Green's fault."

Hiroko hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Rosie."

"There, there," she replied, patting her on the back. "Least I can do. Good night's rest, some warm breakfast, you'll be back together in no time."

They climbed up the ladder to the loft she had spoken of. A small fire in a little iron stove burned brightly and a large, lumpy mattress with a pillow at each end sat before it. There was a small wooden bench about a foot high near the railing and towards the back sat old and broken furniture. The Greens used this space for storage and to get away from the rest of the house occassionally.

"One bed," stated Fordo calmly.

"What's your point?" His companion's voice had a slight edge to it that he hardly noticed.

"Just observing." He found a corner, set down his bag and pulled off his coat, tossing them there. Hiroko threw her own jacket beside it before sitting on the mattress and pulling off her shoes and socks.

A soft thumping was heard on the ladder as Mrs. Green carried a tray up one-handed and climbed up with the other. Fordo ran over to assist. "Thank you, love." He set their tea on the little bench as their hostess came fully into the room. "I hope that helps warm you up a bit. Make yourselves right at home. I know it's not much..."

"It's lovely, Miss Rosie," Hiroko cut in.

"Thank you. Well, at least there's a roof, as I always say. I'll have breakfast ready for you tomorrow morning and Mr. Green can run you into town after."

"We can walk-"

"He's insisted!" she shook off. "Once that man's set on something, you can't stop 'im. Besides, I wouldn't have you out in this more'n neccessary. Good night, children. Sleep well." She headed toward the ladder. "Oh! Could one of you pull this up after I'm down? If Moscoe comes... well, you understand."

"Thanks, Mrs. Green." She headed down the ladder and back to the kitchen. Fordo went to the ladder and pulled it up into the loft, setting it against the wall where his own articles lay.

"She's a dear woman, isn't she?" Hiroko asked.

"Yes." He smiled. "Reminds me of Mum." He turned to the bed and joined the girl. She handed him a mug of Earl Grey which he took greatfully. The fire crackled merrily and cast odd shadows on the floor behind them.

"You seem quiet, Fordo Summers." She gulped her tea.

"I 'aven't found anythiong to say."

"Really?"

His shoulders came up, then down again. "I guess I've spent so much time alone, I don't really know what people talk about anymore."

"Fair enough."

So they didn't talk for a while. They simply sat and drank their tea and Fordo found that right then, nothing really needed to be said.

After a time, they set their cups back on the bench and prepared to sleep. Hiroko let down her hair from their chopsticks and pulled off her pants (to reveal boxer shorts) and the glove-sleeves. She crawled under the blankets and snuggled into the pillow. Fordo pulled off his cry T, leaving on his Ashitaka sleeves*, and kicked off his trainers. Hiroko, ashamed of it as she was, noted the apparent firmness of his torso and chest. Fearful she was staring, she quickly turned away and fully layed upon her pillow. He crawled in the opposite end and flopped down.

"Good night, Fordo Summers." A voice came from somewhere near his feet.

"G'night."

He lay awake for a time, watching the strange shadows cast across the ceiling and pondering the day's events. Soon Morpheus overtook him and Fordo Summers slept.

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*For those of you who are unfortunately uninformed and thus confused by the meaning of Ashitaka sleeves, go to the following site (http://membres.lycos.fr/mononoke/images/ashitatara.jpg) and look for the only boy in it. His sleeves. Those are the things. They are glorious.

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Kirily Wood.