puzzle

But if your mission's to extract me from here—read that right, didn't I? Then I've other plans, sorry.

Billy can come with you.

Why do you think those devils are specifically letting a school still open its doors?

Because children make the best hostages. And pulling them all out of here is beyond my power.

Pass this on to the Duke of Caster if you would: The Sarkaz still don't know who I am; I'm just an ordinary engineer to them, and I've not flipped sides. I'm just choosing to stay.

If your orders are to silence me if you can't extract me, odds are I won't stand for that either—I've spent too long stewing here as is!

Calm down. There's no need for us to come to blows in the enemy's quarters. Think about Billy—

Pssh. Let me look: what are you, twenty? Thirty? I've been plying this trade much longer than you. You may as well be reading me Verbal Manipulation for Dummies.

In fact, none of your 'branch's' methods are safe from me. Extending the extraction plans to Billy is stretching your charity to the limit. You can't afford greater faff than that, not with your standing.

You think you know how it turns out for the spies they catch. I <i>know</i> I know. So I'm not going to be asking too much of you.

Leave it for now. We talk about this any longer and they'll start wondering.

...One thing, actually, because I'm curious. Billy won't open up to me why he left the safe zone that time, and that's not like him. He's always been the kind who likes to mind the rules.

We were in the middle of practicing how to leave markers. I'm a subpar teacher; the most I can do is impart on them what I know best.

...That explains it. He's taken to you. He's a piece of cake to you, relatively speaking, isn't he? One glance and you could tell your target was a boy in need of validation—just give it to him, and he'd latch right on.

I don't mean to pick bones with the job you do, I just want to tell you, the last thing my son is is troublemaking. He only wanted to try tailing the real enemy, make himself seem useful to you, leave a lasting impression on you.

Do you plan to follow me forever, Billy? You're free to practice leaving markers on your own.

...I was wondering if you need helping out, Mr. Conrad. My dad always says I'm good with helping out.

No rush, you can ask me again once you're more practiced.

Mr. Conrad, can you maybe not go after all; could you forget about quitting? Can you—can you stay with us, all the time?

I won't leave you before my work is done.

Leave the blockade, go on. Your job's done.

Please, stick to the evacuation as planned. People will be there to pick you up. As for your son...

There are some things a father can't do that a teacher can.

Reporting in, safe zone exit is all clear.

Good. Now, get into two lines side-by-side, and hold hands with the person next to you. The two in front, keep close to me, and don't move one step away.

We're opting for a route with no lights, no human activity, and no chance the Sarkaz would take it themselves.

We'll be crossing the Sarkaz encampment, but they won't notice us. You've all done tremendously well in my class, after all. Nobody will hear your footsteps.

Finally, there's a hole in their net that we'll slip the blockade through, until the enemy siege is behind us.

Do you remember how to count?

Absolute focus, watch my feet. Every ten steps, count up one—count it in my head.

Once we've counted to a thousand, we've made it.

Then we're off.

One... two... three... four...

Fifty-one... fifty-two... fifty-three...

Two-hundred-and... thirty-three... two-hundred-and... thirty-four... two-hundred-and... thirty-five...

(Ungh!)

(Stop.)

Nothing happens. No one notices the noise here.

(Can you get up? Should I carry you?)

(I'm fine.)

(Back onward.)

Five-hundred-and... sixty-seven... five-hundred-and... sixty-eight... five-hundred-and... sixty-nine...

While weaving over wreckage, they lose their footing in a foul rubbish tip, sending startled musbeasts scattering in all directions. They don't let their lips open a peep, however, not daring to make a sound.

What was that noise? I heard some kind of stunt over there!

(Shh.)

*Sarkaz profanity*! It's musbeasts! The hell did this many come from?!

This is why I friggin' warned you about leaving your trash in the camp! I had ONE good pair of pants and goddamn musbeasts gnawed a hole in it!

(Go.)

*huff*... *huff*...

(We're far enough now; it's relatively deserted out here. You can let out your breath a little, but we still can't afford to relax.)

(Let's see how many we are. Line up, everyone.)

(Are all of you doing alright?)

(Laura can't walk anymore.)

(It's freezing, Mr. Conrad.)

(I want to go home... I miss Mum and Dad...)

(How far is it? Is it much longer?)

(Not far now. Just be brave.)

(Alright. Let's go.)

(Mr. Conrad, can we sing a song while we walk? We've been walking forever, some of us are losing it.)

(We can't.)

(But we're dying.)

(Just a little longer.)

(...Then can we hold onto your hands, Mr. Conrad?)

(...Very well, then.)

(There's a little bell on my little matchbox—ring-a-ling-a-ling, and a beep-beep-boo—)

(...Shh.)

(See, no one can hear us when we're this quiet, and we can walk for miles more.)

(Off to the fair in my little matchbox—ring-a-ling-a-ling and a beep-beep-boo—)

(Park my little matchbox full in the boot—what have you got there, can I take a look?—ring-a-ling-a-ling and a beep-beep-boo—)

The schoolchildren's song works a strange magic in the midst of the night. As more and more students join in, a few hums and mumbles turn into a whole chorus of hushes.

(Steady as she goes—it's like pea soup—ring-a-ling-a-ling and a beep-beep-boo—)

(Hee-hee... ha-ha-ha...)

(Mr. Conrad, you know, the tune is really smashing for this song, it's like ba-bang, ba-bang! It's really sad you don't get to hear. I could start singing it out loud any moment—)

(...Once you're safe, you'll have the chance. Then you can sing it as loud as you want.)

Mission target, and twenty children, delivered.

...Fischer, you could give me ten tries with my eyes closed and I'd still never guess you would fly in the face of reason like this.

Once I'd run the calculations and ruled out what risks I could, this was the optimum choice, and all their guardians gave permission. I also left their guardians to organize any follow-up action on their own, because I am no longer involved.

And you don't get to be. I have your next assignment right here.

All particulars regarding Ian Conrad have been dealt with in the proper manner. Mission complete.

Now, I'll be getting my head-start. I leave the tying-up to you.

Mr. Conrad! Mr. Conrad, where are you? We can sing that song for you now!

I know how it goes after that. Once you left, a resistance movement erupted inside the blockade.

Which drove out the Sarkaz, but it's still very, very hard to call it a success. We can't ignore the sacrifices we made...

But when all hell broke loose, at least the damage here was as little as it could've been.

Still, I couldn't help noticing when you said twenty children were led to safety—is there a reason I'm only counting...

Look out there! The leaf pile outside the window, I'm not seeing things, right? I was staring off at it just before and now the shape's all different!

You can see the shape of the wind in the autumn leaves. You've got very sharp eyes to notice the way they fall.

No, it's him! I knew he'd come back!

The students spring to their feet one after another, half of them squeezing through the door, half choosing to climb straight through the window.

Bugger... I got all worked up for nothing, he's not anywhere here...

I can't find any other markers. You're joking me... was I really seeing things?

Oh, fudge, the wind! Now there's definitely no marker...

He promised not to quit, didn't he? He promised!

...He's not the only one to abandon us.

*sigh*...

...Wait, you lot, look where the leaves were, that's those three stones he demonstrated with once!

MR. CONRAD—MR. CONRAD? Did he just come by and then do a runner again?

♪There's a little bell on my little matchbox... ♪Ring-a-ling-a-ling and a beep-beep-boo...

Oi, what are you up to, Billy?

♪Off to the fair in my little matchbox~ ♪Ring-a-ling-a-ling and a beep-beep-boo...