With Chihori’s help, Hinata somehow managed to get over the railing of the eleventh deck. Ahead of him he saw Mayuka, weeping on the ground, and Mito hugging her tightly.
Hinata undid the carabiner on the safety rope around his waist and stepped down, then rushed over to Kobayashi.
“Mr. Kobayashi…”
“I’m so glad you’re all right, Hinata! I was worried sick…”
Hinata clung to him. Kobayashi’s hand felt warm and reassuring as it rubbed his back. It was at this point that Hinata finally felt safe. They weren’t going to be sleeping with the fishes after all!
“Oh, that’s a relief,” exhaled Chihori, the last one up the ladder. “We looked all over for you when you didn’t come back after lunch. One of the guests who saw you save Kotarou noticed you head into the elevator with Reo… But when I didn’t hear anything from the cabin, I was ready to give up. Now where’s Chris?”
Oh no, it’s too early to be relieved! Hinata dashed away from Kobayashi’s side and grabbed Chihori’s arm.
“Chihori, you have to arrest them! Chris…they’re taking Chris away!!”
She looked at him earnestly and rubbed his arm. “He’s with them, huh? I’ve made what arrangements I can. I don’t know how much they’ll be able to do, but it’s all I could think of… For now, let’s hurry down to the lobby!”
It seemed to take forever for the elevator to reach the third deck. The door had barely opened when Hinata shot through the crack and ran toward the gangway.
The lobby was full of people waiting to get off the ship to sightsee in Vladivostok.
“Chris!” he yelled, pushing through all the passengers, trying to get to the front of the crowd. The door to the outside was already open, and he could see the large silhouette of the captain in front of it.
The big man heard Hinata’s voice and glared in the boy’s direction, then gave some instructions to a crew member standing off to the side. The crewman hurried over to Hinata and grabbed his arm.
“Sorry, but you’re not allowed off the ship,” he said. “You’re a special passenger without a passport.”
Hinata struggled to free his arm and shouted, “Let me go! I have to speak to the captain! Give back my dog…!”
“The captain is about to disembark to help guide the passengers. You’ll need to wait here until he returns.”
“If I wait, they’ll take Chris away!”
Next to the captain stood Helen, disguised as Touko. Akane was there, too. Soga was at their side. When he noticed Hinata, he anxiously urged the captain to do something. The captain just smiled and shook his head, as if to say, “No need to worry; it’ll be fine…”
“Argh!” Hinata shouted.
There was a signal from off the ship, and the captain raised his hand in a merry gesture, then began to walk arm in arm with Touko. Akane and Soga followed them down the gangway. Behind them was a crew member with a heavy-looking dog carrier awkwardly slung over his shoulder.
Is Chris in there?
“Chriiiis!”
“Come on, calm down,” said the crew member holding Hinata’s arm. His grip tightened.
But then Chihori’s hand shot out and grabbed the man’s.
“I’m sorry, but that passenger is under my care,” she said. “I’ll handle this.”
The crew member looked skeptical. “The captain was very clear that I’m supposed to stop him from leaving the ship…”
“Don’t worry; I’ll take responsibility for him,” she stated firmly, then whispered into Hinata’s ear, “Come this way!”
She dragged him down the gangway, but then pushed him onto a narrow deck to one side of the gate. This was where he’d stepped out to get some fresh air when they first boarded and he got overwhelmed.
“Hinata, look there!” said Mayuka, who was already waiting on the side deck. She pointed over the railing. Mito and Kobayashi were there, too, silently watching. Hinata grabbed the railing and stared down at the wharf.
✦ ✦ ✦
Hinata ran toward the gangway.
“Chris…”
The guests leaving the ship had all gone, and the lobby was quiet.
“Chriiiiis!”
The silhouette of the crew member with the dog carrier appeared at the gate. Hinata practically tumbled across the floor toward him and wrenched the case away from the winded man.
The carrier was very heavy, and he carefully set it down on the carpet, then opened the top. Inside the carrier, Chris was lying on his side.
“Ch-Chris…?”
Hinata reached in, fearing the worst, and touched the dog’s fur.
Oh… He’s warm…
Tears flooded Hinata’s eyes.
I’m so glad… He’s alive. Chris’s white tummy was slowly rising and falling.
“Chris…?” said Kobayashi from above Hinata’s head. Hinata looked up with a start and saw that Kobayashi was crying, too. “Thank goodness. Thank goodness…”
Hinata clung to Kobayashi’s legs and wailed.