Eighty-Four. Richard's Relic

The figures represented by white chalk had many forms, some holding hands with children, others encircled by the colorful blotches of food-related graffiti.

Such childlike graffiti covered the walls everywhere, except for the spots too high for the children to reach. It was less a marking of territory by the species known as human younglings, and more a display of their innate optimism.

Walking into the sewer for several meters, a second figure emerged.

It was a little boy in loose, dirty clothes and a newsboy cap, resembling a young scout.

He was Little Jimmy, the same boy from Richard's letter who licked rocks by the seaside.

"He's a friend of Brother Richard; he's come to bring us food," the little girl went forward to inform him. Little Jimmy was delighted, yet regretful that he had to stay guard and couldn't accompany the gentleman to their "camp."