A sequel to my book "Caught".
These stories continue the plot around the main couple, offer a deeper understanding of the setting and tell you more about the main and secondary characters.
English translation of my book "Před bitvou".
Fortunately, Shira had the foresight not to leave all his equipment and supplies on the boat, but to hide some of them in a safe place off the coast. So we hadn't lost everything.
I almost cried with relief when he handed me some dry clothes and I was finally able to get out of my wet rags. He changed as well and pulled his beloved katana out of its hiding place. I was glad it hadn't ended up at the bottom of the sea, because Shira hadn't taken it on his suicide mission on the ship.
I felt better after changing, although I was still cold from the unplanned bath in the icy sea.
The surroundings seemed bleak and deserted, apart from the tree-covered hills we only came across the remains of a centuries-old road and, further on, a stream where we replenished our water supply. We had some food, but it wouldn't last us the entire journey and we would have to stop at some settlement.
In fact, I would have been lost without my guide. If Shira hadn't shown me a map of the island and explained everything to me, I wouldn't even have known where we were.)*
)*See the map:
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Shira had no trouble finding his way around and knew the area perfectly, even though it had been more than a decade since he had left the North Island.
"We're not that far from the village you grew up in," I pondered as I looked at the map. "We could go there and..."
"No," he interrupted. "We'd be taking an unnecessary detour, we're going straight south. Straight to the camp. There are some villages along the way where we can resupply if we need to."
I was puzzled by how firmly he rejected my suggestion, but I didn't want to pry when we had other things to worry about. For the first time, though, it occurred to me that returning to his homeland might not be entirely pleasant for him.
The dawn was coming, but there was no sun in the gloomy sky. Clouds were moving across the horizon and an unpleasantly cold wind was blowing.
Apparently I would have to warm up by walking, although the idea of a strenuous hike did not appeal to me at all. I felt tired and a moment's rest would do me good. And from the way Shira looked, he needed a break too.
But my companion insisted that we had to get to the hills as soon as possible. He probably assumed that Satoshi and his murderous friends would follow us. And he didn't want to make it any easier for them.
"Shall we go?" He asked as we both got dressed, armed and packed our remaining supplies.
I stepped closer and looked at him, "I haven't told you how much I appreciate that you came and saved me. And risking your life for me."
A smile broke his otherwise serious face, "Always for you."
My fingers brushed aside the unruly strand that had fallen across his face. I noticed that his hair was cut short and cropped on the right side.
