My Ninja Girl 4 by Gideon Caldwell (latest novels to read .TXT) 📕

“Actually, I don’t know where you were going…” Micah pressed himself out of bed and placed his feet on the ground. He stood, and smiled as his grandmother launched into another diatribe about the Hermetics which ended with her changing the subject to Bunni.

“She has to agree with me. The Plains Dweller is clever. I like her; she sort of reminds me of myself.”

“She is also hesitant about it, right.”

“I knew it! I always knew she was one to be trusted, such a nice girl, and that butt on her! I only wish mine had been that perky back in my golden years. Or are these my golden years? Why would anyone call the years leading up to their death golden? We’re doomed as a society, if you ask me. Anyway, just be safe, and if any of those fucking Hermetics losers even flinch in your direction, shoot them dead or have one of the girls stab them. I really should be there, you know. It sounds like you could use my support.”

“Does it?”

“Of course, it does. Choro is saying something to me. Hold on. Oh? Oh, that’s right. It looks like Youseg’s slaves, I mean attendants, have prepared breakfast. There had better be some meat in there this time. Is there meat? No? What kind of monastery is this? The monks and nuns eat meat back in Neo-Hokkaido. Do I look like a rabbit to you? No, I’m not trying to be offensive, I’m asking you a serious question, Choro. Come here and help me up. You put me in this soft chair, and now I can’t get out of it. I sure would like to take a nap here later. I know it’s your room, you could go somewhere else. Did you ever think about that? What the hell are you doing in here all day anyway?”

Micah placed his hand on the front of his helmet, as if he were about to massage his temples. “I’m still here,” he finally told his grandmother.

“What, sweetie? I know you’re still there. I just wanted you to hear some of the bullshit I have to deal with over in the rabbit neck-of-the-woods, even though I more or less like the place. As long as they take me out and that one guy comes back ready to massage my puppies. Are they taking me out today?” she asked Choro. Micah heard something akin to a confirmation. “Good. I guess I’ll behave in exchange. Well, listen, sweetie, as much as I want to stick around and chat, I’m being force-fed over here like they’re planning to have me for supper a couple days from now. The jokes on them—I’ll be salty and bitter in the end, believe me when I say that. Hopefully, they’ll have dessert this time around. The prudes. Okay, I guess I’ll get off the horn. Be safe today, and remember what I told you.”

“What’s that?”

“Shoot them in the nuts. Ha!”

Once Choro said goodbye, and assured Micah that he would be in constant communication with him throughout the morning, Micah removed his helmet. He joined Bunni, Yuri, Liza, and Ahmey in one of the underground dining halls, Soraya serving a dish she had gotten up extra early in the morning to bake. All were in workout clothing aside from the young nun, Ahmey looking pristine as always, a glow about her as she quietly enjoyed the meal.

From there, it was showtime, Bunni and Soraya departing once they were geared up.

“We’ll be in touch,” Bunni said as she tapped the side of her bucket.

And with that, they were gone.

The next couple of hours were excruciating for Micah, and he couldn’t help but worry about the two of them, even though they gave brief updates every twenty minutes or so. He found himself pacing, having a mindless conversation with Bobi about the history of Neo-Hokkaidan ceramics just to distract himself, eventually settling on watching Yuri go through a few practice stances with Liza.

They needed the Hermetics. Micah knew this, but being asked to meet them in public, especially after what happened yesterday, was something that tilted from risky to stupid. And he couldn’t help but overanalyze this as he waited for their cue to leave, which came about forty minutes before the meeting was set to take place.

Geared up, Liza, Micah and Yuri left the shrine, Ahmey walking them to the gate and wishing them luck, the young nun wearing a helmet for the first time since their arrival.

Even though he had been outside last night, it had been dark, Micah a bit surprised at how bright it was now, especially having spent most of his time underground. He felt like holding Yuri’s hand, but he knew that this would look suspicious, especially with their monk and nun disguises. So he simply walked between the two women as they headed toward Uyanga’s restaurant row, all the pedestrians now in masks.

While Neo-Hokkaido was technically in lockdown, the floating districts operated differently than the ground districts did. It felt less oppressive here. Gone were the drones buzzing around and issuing fines to those not self-quarantining. Missing as well were the barrage of red lights flashing on buildings, shuttered businesses, and constant monk patrols. It was like a different society up here, one Micah had yet to experience, considering he had always followed the orders in Thunderhama. Yet he had heard that things were different higher up, and this turned out to be overwhelmingly true.

Strange to see it play out in real time, Micah thought.

Both Bobi and Choro checked in, letting Micah know that they were viewing his feed. He simply gave them an affirmation and continued on his journey, around a fountain and to a long street with outside seating on the other end, to the floating district’s restaurant row. People were seated at some of the tables enjoying breakfast