Story: The Ninja of Health, XXXI

( Part XXX , Ramblings , XXXII )

It was a quiet journey back home to Toddlingham. The two ninjas of health were very contemplative as the miles flowed away beneath the wheels of their little car, with occasional small talk at picturesque bends in the minor roads. The Man was wondering about the lighthouse, and whatever its meaning might have been, while the Woman drove and tried to approach a working plan. One food break next to a fully grown wheat field saw a mild discussion on crop diversity, but the two's hearts weren't in it. Neither of them seemed to notice the crop circle in the field behind them as they drove up the hill and beyond.

Nearer to Toddlingham, the view became more eccentric, as the people thinned out. It was obvious that there were far too many of the locals around, underneath the picturesque blue sky. The clouds swirled across the sky, occasionally forming pretty shapes and designs. There was one nasty chaotic patch way over to the eastern side of town, which looked like a whirlpool that had had its direction of swirl reversed repeatedly. The Man, now driving, pointed it out.

"Yes. It's almost certainly where You Know Who is." She grimaced.

"And over here, underneath the twisty centre of the rest, is our dear abode." The car crunched to a halt on the gravelly drive. "Are you ready, dear lady?"

"Yes..." The Lady stared up at the clouds, then at the rock garden around their repurposed chapel. "I think I..."

"What?"

"Not yet. Ken first."

The two headed up to the door, and opened up their base. Within, two people sat on the mosaic floor, that mysterious indicator of their frames of mind. One was Ken, and one was the Oracle. The latter looked incredibly wan but intact, while the former was far paler than he had been when they left. Our protagonists looked on in wonder at their returned comrade, and at the complete absense of the coloured balls that had covered the floor previously.

The Woman turned to her companion, and pointed at their returned friend, a harbinger of hope. "He, good sir, is our lighthouse."

"Yes. Yes, he really is."

"And I have an idea." She got a kiss on the cheek for that comment.

More shall follow...