act27side

It's like hide-and-seek!

Mr. Dolly, this isn't the time to play around! If we don't catch the Little Black Sheep soon, more people are going to lose their things!

No-no-no, they aren't going to lose anything, they're just borrowing it for a little fun. They'll give it all back.

Actually, why do YOU never play with children your age? Are you just going to keep yourself shut in a lab, even on a summer like this?

Mr. Dolly, I'm not a child anymore, and studying Mount Siesta is a VERY important job which I <i>shouldn't be distracted from.</i>

But right now, finding these Little Black Sheep is more important so we can stop them causing a ruckus!

I know how lonely children work. I know how many love using 'I'm busy with work' as an excuse.

This shop looks empty, but the Little Black Sheep just...

Er... who are you?

Excuse me, I... I lost my pet, it ran off! I think I saw it enter this coffee shop just now...

Adele blabbers as she lifts her head, and sees 'Mockingbird Café' in pretty type across the shop door.

This cafe went out of business a year ago. The door's always locked.

But I definitely saw it wriggle inside just now, straight through...

What kind of pet did you lose...?

A... um, a beckbeast.

Ah, nono! Don't you associate my clones with those <i>animals</i>...

Okay... a beckbeast.

Costa feels around in his pocket and pulls out a key, which he inserts, twists, and with a few ancient-sounding creaks, the door yawns open.

It's dark inside. All the blinds are down, repelling much of the sunlight from entering.

The air stirs with dust, and a yesteryear aroma of coffee.

Is your beckbeast in here?

Ngh, I don't think it is...

I'm so sorry! Sorry to bother you...

That's fine, I was just here to pick up a few things anyway.

The property deed should be right... no, not there...

Sir, are you the owner of this cafe?

Not any more, I won't be. This shop, and all the shops on this street, are due to be demolished soon.

I'm so sorry...

Don't be. The demolition isn't news to anyone here... *hisses* Not in this cupboard either...

Sir, what does it look like, the thing you're looking for? I can help you, maybe?

It's a red binder...

Ungh, it really is dark...

Girl, are you sure you can see anything in here?

Wuh!

The place closed ages ago. Might be tricky to get the lights on.

It's fine if we can't find it, I'm not in that big of a rush. Carry on searching for your pet, I'll... I'll keep an eye out for you.

Come on, girl! There's no clones of mine here and no whatever you're looking for! Off to the next location!

It's all pitch-black... I can't see a thing. Nothing like when I went surfing in Siesta before!

So, what does it look like?

Er, it's a pink and white... beckbeast, carrying a volcanic rock on it, the kind that whistles in the wind.

That whistles in the wind... is it <i>named</i> 'whistling rock'?

Eh? Yes, it is. How do you know?

Costa continues rummaging. He pulls open a dust-caked cupboard, out of which falls a vintage guitar, smashing straight onto his knee.

Plinnnng!

Ah! Sir, are you alright?

The sound of the guitar's impact rings in the air, a lingering acoustic hum, as if someone was playing on it.

—They sound just like that when blown across, those stones. Like you could perform music on them.

Urgh, I'm getting sidetracked.

Mrroah, the romance. Whistling rocks are like guitars? How did I never think of that?

Is your pet carrying one of those? That's an odd luxury. If I remember right, it's fairly uncommon...

It took it all by itself...

You're going to humiliate me. Don't tell people my clones are kleptomaniacs.

Okay, if I see it, I'll get in touch with you. How should I go about doing that...?

Oh, thank you! Please contact the Volcano Museum if you can; I'm one of the staff there. My name's Adele.

With another mysterious bump, all the old odds and ends in the cupboard slump into a landslide across the floor, burying the guitar beneath.

Dammit...

Sir, are you sure you don't need help? It seems like you're...

Not in that good of a... mood...

A book falls into Adele's view. Under the light from outside, she parses its title clearly.

The Atlas of Terra's Volcanoes? Are you interested in volcanology, too?

No, I'm... well, no, it's not as if I hate it.

Er, I mean, this isn't my book.

Let's get outside for now.

You work at the Volcano Museum? Do you know a... Keller?

I know Professor Keller. Are you friends?

She used to be a... regular here, I guess.

One summer, she suddenly left Siesta, together with two Leithanians. I never got in touch with her after that...

How's she been? She's... doing alright the museum, right?

Right, Professor Keller's been occupied with survey prep for Mount Siesta, and the museum's still under improvement. She's very busy.

She and you both work at the museum?

Hm? Professor Keller is its curator.

Curator... now, that's something.

Well, um... if you can, please return this book to Kell... to the curator for me.

Where am I? Where am I? Find me if you can ♪

Take the flowers in, maybe behind them's where I am ♪

The little black sheep frolics about, before stopping by a streetlamp.

Bang!

The Little Black Sheep leaps into the air, and before Adele's eyes, vanishes like a cloud blown away in the breeze.

With a ring and a clatter, a pebble, two coins, a sheet of paper and a wallet all fall on the ground.

Hide-and-seek ♪

Mr. Dolly!

Not me!

But you didn't spend all of today cooped up inside the museum. You went out for a walk, you ate ice cream, you bought balloons. The sun's fine, the people are wonderful, and you've made a new friend, haven't you?

That's the stuff of life!

What is the seed you're <i>after?</i> Is this rock a seed?

You need to look slowly, take your time! The sun tomorrow's just as fine!

Where am I? Where am I? Find me if you can ♪

Is it one of these coins? Or what's on this poster...? 'Letter of Intent for Relocation'?

Is a coffee bean the seed, Mr. Dolly?

Take the flowers in, maybe behind them's where I am ♪

Bang!