He was right. Don't panic. Calm down. Be of sound mind. He had to buy more time. Shion relented.
"Please don't use any violence on me."
"We won't, of course. As long as you co-operate with us."
"It wouldn't be any use to retaliate anyway, would it?"
"Is it your policy not to take useless action? There's a good lad, he knows what he's talking about. It's a waste, really."
"A waste? What is?"
"For you."
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
"You'll know in good time. You've always been smart and quick to understand, like you were four years ago."
Flanked by two Bureau officials, Shion climbed into the car. Above them was an expanse of clear, blue autumn sky. The sun was bright. The birds were chirping. A gentle breeze blew past them. Times of peace and tranquility they were.
The car glided forward.
"Nice weather today," commented Rashi from the passenger seat, without turning around. The official sitting on Shion's right side nodded in response. "It looks like we've been having more warmer days than usual lately."
Rashi turned to Shion and smiled.
"And yourself? Do you have a car?"
"No. I usually take my bike or walk."
"That's a good thing. Young people like you need to move their bodies more. By the way, what we're riding right now is a battery-operated car. Quite comfortable, don't you think?"
"Excellent I would think, if it wasn't for the situation I'm in right now," Shion replied sarcastically. In means of retaliation, it was the best he could muster. Rashi shrugged lightly.
"As I was saying, this car runs on fuel-cell batteries. Any idea how they work? We aren't too well-versed on the scientific side of things, I'm afraid."
"I don't know much either."
"What sort of things do you know about it?"
"Not much... I mean, I don't really have a lot of scientific knowledge."
The officials on both sides of him moved at once. He was grabbed firmly by the arms. Rashi's tone changed to that of an interrogator.
"Then just tell us what you do know."
"Like I said, what I know― it's all just general knowledge."
"Such as?"
The conversation was short, clipped and void of frivolity, but Shion felt a sort of strangling heaviness about it. He felt like someone was choking him slowly with a soft, damp piece of cloth. He felt nauseous.
"So... through electrolysis, alcohol is separated into oxygen and hydrogen, and by fusing them together again, energy is―"
"Energy is what?"
"Where are we going?" Shion asked suddenly. He rose, but was yanked back and shoved into his seat.
"Aren't we going to the Security Bureau? This isn't the way." The Bureau was located beside City Hall. From the Park Administration Office, one only had to cut through the park to get there. By car, it was a few minutes' distance. But the scenery out the window showed him the car was heading in the opposite direction.
