I rode through the trees as fast as I could. I had received news that Petra was going to give birth soon. Commander Erwin understood, and I didn't waste any more time after telling him where I was going. Petra had gone to live with her aunt once the pregnancy started becoming obvious.
I went to visit her frequently and each time, her stomach grew larger. Now it was time for the baby to come. She wanted a boy and I wanted a girl.
When I finally arrived, the little boy had just been born. I got to hold his disgusting tiny body. Then he started screaming and Genta told me I wasn't holding him right. I quickly handed him back to his mother.
At the time, we were too busy to consider any names for him, so he was left unnamed. Only two years later was the expedition that killed Petr's mother.
He never knew her.
I was lucky. I did.
Or was he lucky because he didn't have the heartbreak?
Or were we both lucky and unlucky?
No matter which way you look at it, Petra stays dead.
***
We've stopped looking for Guiin. It's the third day. If she's dead, she's dead. It's a tragic loss. She could have helped the Scouting Legion a great deal. On the other hand, she could be alive and lost, just starving. Maybe she's about to find civilization or is even now a hundred yards away.
She'd better not be dead.
***
Hanji visits me more than usual. She plays with Ferret and acts as if she's trying to cheer me up because of Guiin.
At the end of the day, the Commander calls me to his office for an urgent private meeting.
I wonder what it's about.
So, what's it about?