Chapter 2.7
Stepping off the road into a copse of banana trees, Katashi parted his warrior’s wrap. It was a relatively cool fall morning and the steam rose briskly from his stream of urine. He felt much better as he closed the wrap back up, wondering if the unusually strong feeling was from expunging the last of the drug. Turning back onto the trail he headed in through the West Gate.
Katashi’s first inclination was to go straight to the master but he did not know who might be watching the approaches to the master’s home. For the same reason he could not go to his own dwelling and he sensed that if he were to have any chance of successfully conducting his mission then he must leave as soon as possible.
Making straight for a Zealot safe house near the West Gate, he went upstairs relieved to find both carrier pigeons still available. He wrote off a quick note to the master–facts only, no conjecture–and put it in the special carrying case. Attaching the case to the pigeons leg he went to the window.
Katashi opened the wooden shutters and as he released the bird he heard someone below him cry out, “There he is!”
Looking down, Katashi had enough time to wonder how anyone could have possibly known he would be here, glimpse two brown-haired youths, and reflexively duck back inside as an arrow stuck in the shutter where his head had been a minute before.
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