Chapter 236 - "Landing" (in the island that serves as Enishi's fortress, Wu Hei Hsing and his four bodyguards walk towards Enishi, who's sitting on a couch, his hands on the sword that is almost plunged into the floor.) Hei Hsing: Boss! I've gotten news from the guards. There are two police ships approaching the island! I ask for your permission to open fire! Enishi: There's no need to. Hei Hsing: ! Enishi: Probably Battousai is in one of the ships. Let them into the bay. Hei Hsing: What are you talking about? The best strategy when the foe is coming from the water is to beat them up before they reach the ground! Enishi: Hei Hsing. (Enishi is less than pleased.) Do you want to fight me right now? Hei Hsing: .... I understand. I'll give up the bombarding. But after the end of your private affairs, boss, the organization will be mine. (turning around) I won't stay here doing nothing. I'll employ another strategy. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 236 - "Landing" ------------------------------------------------------- (the two steam ships from the police slowly approaches the island. The Kenshin-gumi are on the deck. Yahiko is eating rice balls (onigiri), Sano is yawning and Kenshin is silent, his eyes closed.) Misao: Weeeell, I don't know, but... this just doesn't give me much satisfaction. Megumi: What? Misao: No, just that the affairs happen far from me. Megumi: What's the problem? All is well that ends well. Misao(puffing): But... I don't like it. Megumi: You're so troublesome. Misao: And Himura. Kenshin: Huh? Misao: What happened to you? You're so damn calm! Kenshin (smiling slightly): It's not that I'm calm. I'm just doing my best to preserve my physical conditions, since my body hasn't healed completely yet. (suddenly a man whistles from the mast) Man: Officer Fujita, an island! We are approaching an island! Everybody: ! So that is the--! Kenshin: To be honest -- (everybody turns to Kenshin) To be honest, the only thing I can do now is to concentrate myself to the fight with Enishi. I have no spare forces left for other squirmishes... So, I'd like to ask all of you a favor before landing on the island. Lend me your strength. (Sano, Yahiko, Megumi, Aoshi and Misao look at Kenshin. Then, a sighing is heard.) Sano (grinning): Do you need to ask that? Yahiko (grinning): I've lent my strength to you for a long time. Megumi (smiling): Everybody has come here to lend you their strength. Misao (smiling): Or else we would have already gone back to Kyoto, isn't that so, Aoshi-sama? Aoshi (serious): I guess so. (Kenshin looks at them) Saitoh: What, are you still babbling? We'll land within a few moments. So get rea--- (a loud explosion shakes one of the ships. Kenshin and Saitoh are surprised.) Voice1: What happened?! Voice2: The larboard of the second ship has been damaged! It's making water! Voice3: It's not a bombarding! Voice4: There's something underneath the water...! (beneath the water surface, a wooden cage containing a dark sphere is tied with two ropes) Enishi: A "mine"... Hei Hsing: Yes. (with a lunette on his hand) People think that fireweapons come from the West, but their core, the gunpowder, is our people, the Chinese's invention! The "mine" had been already developed in the 16th century! I've spread out 200 of them in and alongside the bay. Those big ships won't make the land for sure. The only way left then is to come by small boats. (grinning) But that doesn't mean they'll be able to avoid all the mines! If they hit one, they'll be reduced to dust in a moment! (the scene shifts back to the ships. The Kenshingumi and Saitoh are in a small boat, Sano holding the only oar of the ship.) Policeman: Officer Fujita! Saitoh: I'm going first! You save the crew from the 2nd ship and then go in small boats! Sano: We will be dead if we hit one of those mines! Do we have to slow down?! Hey!? Misao: If we go on slowly, it'll already be night when we get to the shore! (drawing a kunai) Leave this to me! Like a bird diving from high above to get the fish! This technique will pierce the enemy who lies beneath the water! Oniwabanshuu-shiki Kunai-jutsu, Kansatsu Tobikunai, "Kawasemi no Hashi" ("Kingfisher's Bill") !! Yahiko: Hey, is it all right? One mistake and we'll be swimming to get to the shore! Megumi: Or perhaps we'll be crossing the river of death first. Misao (looking to the sea): There it is... distance of 62 meters, 30 degrees to the right... ... no, 32? Or 30? ... Aoshi: Distance of 61.5 meters, 29.7 degrees to the right. Instead of trying to see underneath the water, watch the movements of the waves in order to precise the distance. Go. Misao: Yes, sir! -- KANSATSU TOBIKUNAI, "KAWASEMI NO HASHI"!! -- (the kunai hits neatly the mine, making it explode.) Misao: On the bullseye! Great! See, Himura? I'll be the first to lend you strength! Kenshin (smiling): Yes, I leave it to you. Yahiko: Great! So--- Sano: --- we're going full speed!! (in the house, Hei Hsing looks puzzled as he watches several explosions on the water.) Hei Hsing: What's going on? Every mine in front of the boat is exploding... Enishi (grins): He's come... (the boat hits the sand as they land on the island.) Kenshingumi: GREAT!! LANDING COMPLETE!! (end of chapter 236) Any comments, please e-mail me. Serizawa Kamo serizawa@excite.com