The Crimson Labyrinth by Yusuke Kishi

Author:Yusuke Kishi [Kishi, Yusuke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vertical Inc.
Published: 2006-04-26T17:00:00+00:00

The next morning, after making a meal of nearby bush tucker, they decided to head straight for the sixth checkpoint. For one thing, at just over five kilometers, it was a relatively short journey, but they were also motivated by the fact that they had lost three days’ time during the heavy rain.

It was plain that nothing good could come of wasted time, and they wanted to make it to the seventh and last checkpoint as quickly as possible. Even if it didn’t mean crossing the finish line, it would be significant in that they would obtain information that much faster.

The sixth checkpoint was to the southeast of them, which meant that they had to backtrack. Lately, the routes had become highly convoluted. This was probably done to keep the players from reaching the borders of the Bungle Bungles, but it raised another fear in Fujiki: encounters with the other players. The only group Fujiki didn’t feel too threatened by was the Norota-Kato pair, but he didn’t want to come anywhere near the other two teams.

For that reason, it was more essential than ever to proceed with care. Whenever they emerged from the narrow canyons into a clearing, they put their ears to the ground and listened for footsteps. In addition, they made sure to peek out discreetly from behind the cliffs before fully emerging.

In the end, their almost-paranoid caution paid off. Fujiki peered around a cliff in an act that had become almost automatic and froze stiff.

“What is it?”

Fujiki gestured for her to be quiet. She seemed to understand immediately. She came up beside him without making a sound.

Silently, Fujiki pointed to the area beyond the cliff.

Not sixty or seventy meters away, two men stood. Their backs were turned to Fujiki and Ai, but judging from their height, it wasn’t the Seno-Funaoka pair. Both figures were rail-thin. Perhaps they hadn’t had much to eat. All of the teams must have had a hard time during the three days of rain.

Fujiki was seized by the urge to call out to them. If it was Naramoto and Tsurumi, Fumiko Abe should have been there with them. But she was nowhere to be seen. So it was more than likely to be Norota and Kato. This was the pair with whom they might potentially cooperate, at least temporarily.

But Fujiki’s partner was a woman. Fujiki felt a surprising amount of responsibility and pressure at the thought. If only he had a male partner that he could rely on in a fight.

Fujiki remembered the mood of the group just before they had set out with their individual teams. He didn’t trust all of them, but the feeling of being surrounded by peers was naturally comforting. Now, he profoundly missed that moment.

The two men seemed to be discussing something. They spoke in low, muffled voices, and Fujiki was unable to discern what they were talking about. But what was this? Despite their haggard appearance, their movements were lively, and they seemed quite energetic.

Then, one of them men happened to turn in Fujiki and Ai’s direction.

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