level_act27side_04_end

Oh, looks like you're all done sorting. Nice job.

Mr. Dolly! Shouldn't you keep an eye or two on your clones?

Do you know how much trouble they'll make for everyone, letting them run amok like this?

The fluffy creature stands by a container, its head stooped very low, seemingly conveying some apology to the person in front of it.

I told you, not all of them are me.

I did bring them here, true... but I'm only indirectly to blame here, right?

So... sorry?

Just saying sorry isn't going to fix this!

If their merchandise gets damaged, what are the shopkeepers going to do? Your clones are being nuisances! Can't you do anything to stop them?

I do actually have something... um, under normal circumstances, I could choose to 'Cry'.

'Cry'?

Like this. I face into whatever, the sea, the wasteland, and lift two hooves up like this, and then I yell: 'Heeeeeeeey! Where are you guys?! Come here quick!' Like that.

Adele, you're going to have to help me for that. I've Cried too many times, so sometimes they act like they haven't heard me.

So... we just have to call them over?

We need something to lure them too. Like, 'Ice cream here!' or 'We've got balloons and skateboards!' and stuff.

But remember, don't call them 'Little Black Sheep' or 'lambs'. They won't even know you mean them.

Dolly looks expectantly up at Adele.

Ahem...

Heeeeeey! Ice cream here!

Heeeeeeeey! We have balloons and skateboards! Come here quick!

What? Ice cream? Is it free?

Miss, is it true? I want strawberry!

Is there some kind of event? Are you giving out balloons?

Huh? No, um...

Adele turns, looking to point out the deed-doer. Dolly's jumped up onto the neighboring containers, running circles around them like a deflating balloon.

But the pedestrians just don't see it.

Uh-oh, something's happened.

You're gonna have to go get ice cream with them to fix this, and probably buy balloons too, and ramble the streets, and soak up the Siestan sun.

Tough one, huh? What a big coincidence that I know of a really good ice cream shop.

How about I lead the way?

...Mr. Dolly!

So this is how you corral visitors into your Volcano Museum? Buying ice cream for strangers? I think I like this!

Dearie, how about we spend the afternoon exploring the museum?

Perfect! Then after that we'll go for barbecue!

Let's go!

Er, thank you very much.

Adele sees the group off, and looks around, trying to find any trace of Dolly.

In the stream of pedestrians, Dolly has all but vanished already. All that's there is a lone Little Black Sheep, staring pointedly at a wallet 'turning' into bills in a wandering tourist's hands.

(What's it about to do?)

Right as the tourist and shopkeep are haggling, it leaps forth—

And in one chomp, makes off with the tourist's wallet.

(Huh?!)

//之后换成夏活战斗音乐

Where'd my wallet go?! Someone stole my wallet!

Huh? What kind is it? Dark or light?

Just now? But I didn't see anyone, did you?

(Oh, no, Mr. Dolly's not here either! I have to catch it, quick!)

The Little Black Sheep holding the wallet notices Adele, opens its mouth, and the wallet falls out—

Then with a kick of its hoof, it goes sailing through the air, and falls back down straight into its wool.

(Delighted trots)

Then it seems the wallet hits something with a 'bang', and a pebble full of holes shoots out from the Little Black Sheep's coat.

That's—the whistling rock!

The Little Black Sheep looks back, and before the rock lands, it kicks again with its hoof to send it flying straight back in.

And after all that, it sticks its tongue out at Adele with an impish expression, and turns to gallop down Fashion Street.

Hey! Wait up!

Give everyone their stuff back—

Errored three-dollar gold certs are rare collectibles here. They'll fetch a big price at the trade fair! Miss, are you sure you won't think about it? I've got a price I can give you!

The dealer gestures out a number.

Really? Could you take a look at this, then?

This is old Higashinese issue! I'll take it for <i>this</i> much!

And this?

A Gaulish copper livre—I'll take it too! Miss, what else have you got? Bring it all out!

Miss, <i>how much</i> did you bring? Last one, I swear, the very last one... I'll take one more, and then I'm going home!

Th—Then take a look at this! After this, I could afford a whole new device!

Ahhh, it's our own Sargonian mint... Let me see, we've got...

—Gavial!?!

Yep! Is that valuable?

Valuable? No! This is the end of our talk! I don't do ANY business with thin-tails! You take all of this back! I'm leaving!

The dealer grabs a handful of loose coinage and furiously shoves it into Snowsant's hands, attempting to leave.

Suddenly, <i>something</i> speeds by, knocking the coins right out of his grip.

Money rains gold and glittering to the high street pavement, and before Snowsant can yelp in surprise, a pink shadow follows right after, running into the distance.

Uh... uh, Eyjafjalla?

Sorry, Snowsant... I...!

Blargh! What the hell?!

Wait, my coins... I'm missing two!

D—Don't look at me!

Clink! The fluffy creature stashes the gleaming little roundlets into its own wool.

Mr. Eastman! I'm here to pick up my photocopies.

Right, right, all these fliers of yours. You really put your back in, printing this much just to advertise your bar.

298, 299... that's exactly right. Here's the fee!

I'm not taking money off you for <i>this.</i> I'll just say, next time I drop in at the White Volcano, mix me your house Oasis, heavy on the ground cardamom. Appreciate it.

Also, can you help change out my shop sign one minute?

Of course I can! Thank you!

—Ah, Mr. Enis!

Adele...?

What's the hurry?

Look out... Look out!

Before Enis can react, a giant force smacks straight into him. Sent airborne for an instant, he sees Siesta upside down, and paper scattering everywhere.

Oof... ow, ouch, ow... what just...

The Little Black Sheep snatches a flier in its mouth and resumes its straightaway gallop.

Ah, Mr. Enis! I—I'm sorry!

//暂定这个表情

Huh...?

Several stare as Adele shrinks into the horizon, giving chase to a 'flier blowing in the wind'.

*whistle* Times really are a-changing. Youngsters have such urgent schedules these days.

Weird, what knocked me over just now...? I've never seen anything as strange as this...

CRASHHH!

The Eastman Print Shop's sign falls down, and lands right where Enis was still standing a moment ago.

...Wurgh!

Where did it go...?

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!