He hurriedly got to his feet and switched on the equipment and instruments one by one. Then, a piercing alarm rang in his ears.
His face had gone deathly pale.
Just as Suika had said, the Catastrophe had already formed. The odds were no longer fifty percent—it was now certain to happen.
The only thing left to consider was when the Catastrophe would strike.
"No, I have to notify the village. We need to evacuate immediately. Right now."
The old man got to his feet and rushed down the mountain, leaving even the instruments behind because he understood perfectly well that time was life.
With the Catastrophe liable to erupt at any moment, every extra second spent here meant more danger for the village.
"Hey, old man, slow down! Watch your step!
And what about this stuff?"
Seeing the old man still refusing to slow down despite the darkness, Suika gave him a rare warning.
"Please watch over the things for me. If it gets dangerous, just leave them... Human lives matter most."
The old man's voice was strong and vigorous, and he moved like a nimble monkey. He did not look remotely like someone already in his seventies.
"Then I'll stay here for the night..." Suika picked up the Ibuki Gourd, looked toward the ink-black sky in the distance, raised her cup, and gave it a light shake.
George entered the village and went straight to the large bell at its entrance, then swung his fist and struck it.
The dull toll of the bell rang through the entire village beneath the bright moon and sparse stars.
When the old village chief and his son arrived, they saw George sitting beside the bell. His heaving chest showed that he was nearly out of strength.
"George, what kind of madness