Ramblings of a Crowe

Summary III

Pg's 51-73

Geo starts off by complaining about the upcoming trip to find the Ogawas and decides to pay a visit to the old man who gave the boys some meat the previous day. Geo finds the sickly old man sitting in the sun, watching over some shriveled up saplings. Old man Hide (Hee-day) tells Geo that nothing will grow and that the ground is dead. He tells him at one time, the young trees would grow tall and big, but that's not likely to happen again soon. Geo listens to the man babble on about the dates and the emporer, and thanks him for the meat. He builds Hide a small tent from debris laying about, and as he's leaving, Hide tells him to search Shinjuku for a way underground. Geo is a bit startled, but thanks the old man anyway and runs off to find the others.

Back at base, the other three boys are talking amongst each other. Agi is sharing some gossip he heard about Geo being "feminine" in his youth, but Batsu can't believe it. Agi tells Batsu that Geo was a real beauty and Batsu whines that he wished he could see. Geo busts in the door, worried because no one answered the radio when he called and only catches the end of the converstation. He's excited about seeing a beautiful girl and asks where they all saw her. The other three turn and tell him what they were talking about. Geo gets super pissed and starts to leave them all behind, while Zatto tells Agi he really made Geo mad this time and Agi says it was just a bunch of gossip. Agi apologizes to Geo, and Geo tells him if he pulls that crap again, he'll kick his ass...hard. He then tells everyone that they're leaving and to follow him...Batsu is the only person brave enough to question him, but Geo's foul mood even quiets him for a brief while.

As the boys trek through the desert, Batsu complains to Geo that he didn't remember their last trip being so hard. Geo reminds him that it was, and that now they know more about surviving in the heat with little food or water. Agi and Zatto aren't faring so well, and when Agi trips over a human skeleton, he flips out. He freaks even more when Batsu marches up and tears the skeletons clothes off then starts taking the belongings. Geo tells Batsu to knock it off and leave the dead guy alone, but Batsu explains that the man is dead and there is no use in wasting good supplies. He intimidates Agi into agreeing with him and Geo gets ticked off. Batsu then turns his aggression on Geo, and starts ridiculing him about his concious and morals. Geo keeps his cool until Batsu calls him "Missy" and he takes Batsu aside (roughly) and tells him he doesn't want to hear anymore references to the "Chuusei" (people with no gender) issue. Batsu smirks at him and makes a snide joke about not knowing what Geo is talking about, which just completely sets Geo off. A full out brawl starts between the two and the fists and insults fly. Agi and Zatto decided to sit it out, but then they hear a helicopter and somehow manage to get the other two to stop fighting and hide. After the helicopter leaves, Agi tells them to finish it up and Zatto scolds them for not picking a better place or time to fight. Badly batter and bleeding, Batsu and Geo say the know that, but it can't be helped.

Inside Admiral Batsu's train, a group of militants break in demanding that Won Min is handed over to them. The gaurds are confused, wondering if it's the US military or terrorist, but the quickly try to get Admiral Batsu to the back car for saftey. Julia, who was with him, sees an opening in the confusion and makes a run for it, with the Admiral yelling her name after her.

Back at headquarters, the Admiral is having a converstation about the next drug shipment. He says he wants it canceled and it's best to lay low for a while. Eddie Stewart then shows up, offering his apologies. The Admiral isn't happy about the situation and tells Stewart that he wants more guards and that all insurgents should be dealt with a harsh sentence. If they have to start killing them, so be it. He also tells Stewart he want's Juila found in 3 days. The Admiral isn't happy about Julia running away.

Stewart listens and Admiral Batsu ponders Julia's punishment. A disturbing converstaion about the Admirals homeland begins and Stewart begins to get ill from listening to the sociopaths rantings. Outside the office, Stewart thinks to himself what a savage the Admiral is, and inside, the Admiral laughs at Stewarts quick retreat.

Meanwhile, Julia is still running, but makes a wrong turn into the home of some local thugs. Since women are a rarity, Julia is a treat for them and the snatch her up quickly, then prepare to gang rape her. Julia manages to get a knife out of one of the man's pocket and then stabs him in the neck. She flees as he and his friends are stunned and confused, but it doesn't take long for them to come after her. Julia hides for a bit, thinking over the worlds they said to her...She seems most distraught over being compared to a woman and a slave. It's like she doesn't understand what they were saying to her. As one of the men closes in on her hiding spot, he stumbles on a pile of long hair. We then see Julia, minus her long tresses, running off into the desert alone.

Next time: Geo makes an exciting discovery and the boys learn that the eye is not always right. Lt. Minerva goes through some of Geo's dad's medical history and research papers (Geo's dad was a doctor, remember) and finds out some interesting and disturbing information. Julia is finding out the desert isn't the best place to be all alone and unprepared....

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As I think I've said before, Book 2 is a bit slow. Things really don't pick up until the end, action wise, but there's a lot of important information in between. I just get the biggest kick out of the boys. Batsu is my favorite. He seems like such a jerk, but out of all of the boys, I feel the worst for him. As you already know, he's grand-dad isn't the most loving family member in the world...but there's more to the story (No, I won't spoil it). Despite his tough, nonchaulaunt attitude, he's actually very intellegent as well as very needy. My second favorite character won't show up until Book 3. Geo comes in third, and only loses points because he whines so much and is such a goody goody...but pay attention to him, because later, there will be some drastic changes in his attitude and morals. His story and Batsu's makes my heart wrench...

Zero is truely a story based on mystery, but it's also incredibly sad. I can't imagine what it would be like to grow up in a world wraught with disease, death, and little to no moral sense of humanity. When I read it, I often find myself wondering why they even bother trying to live, but the boys hope of something better reminds me that giving up just because things are tough is cowerdly. Yeah, that sounded sappy, but keep reading and you'll see what I mean. I apologize again for crappy scans, some bad translating, and my lateness....but I am one person, who is still learning Japanese on their own, with a nine year old son, full time job, and other things to do as well. I'm not sure when the next update will be, probably in a couple weeks, but if I'm ambitous or bored of my new PS2, it could be as soon as next weekend!

Thanks again everyone! Take care!

Posted by Zoso at September 26, 2004 11:26 PM