Chapter 5

Ireena

"Irene?", Rebecca asked tentatively.

With the same accent as Ismark and the other townsfolk the woman replied, "I am Ireena Kolyana. Please come in. It is not safe to stay out of doors for long these days."

Richard tried not to stare but he couldn't help himself. He didn't know how to answer the auburn-haired vixen before him. She scared the hell out of him. Kevin's eyes welled with barely contained tears while Ryan and Travis' jaws dropped to the floor.

"Irene? It's us.", Rebecca said. "Do you remember?"

"I'm sorry, do I know you?", Ireena replied.

"It's me. Becky! Remember?", Rebecca pleaded.

Ireena looked at Rebecca. "I, I'm sorry.", she said apologetically. "I don't remember."

Richard pointed to himself. "Rick...Ricky. We used to eat cookies together.", he said using her pet name for him, even though he hated it.

"We were friends back when we were little.", Rebecca continued. "We used to play together on the farm."

"Remember when we pantsed Rebecca down by the river?", Richard added, failing to mention the atomic wedgie that Becky had replied with, one that stopped Richard from wearing tightie-whities ever after.

Ireena took a few steps back from the group and shook her head. "I don't know you.", she said sadly. "I can't remember my years as a child. Kolyan took me in and raised me as his own. I don't know where I came from."

Rebecca sighed and frowned. "This must have been what Madame Eva meant by Irene being different.", she said sadly.

"I wish you had been right Becky.", Kevin replied, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.

Rebecca gave Kevin a confused look.

"That she would just be older.", Kevin added.

"Yeah.", Rebecca pouted. "This kinda sucks."

"Yes it does.", Kevin agreed.

"A ten on the scale of suckitude.", Richard concurred.

"Well maybe if we keep reminding her of stuff she'll remember.", Rebecca said hopefully.

"It's worth a shot.", Travis chimed in. "Even if it doesn't work, we can still help with her other problem."

"We can't take her home like this, so yeah.", Rebecca replied.

"Assuming we can even get home at all.", Ryan said, finally managing to break the spell that seeing Ireena had put him under.

Richard 's watch beeped. It was time for inhaler shot but he didn't feel like he needed it. He started to wonder if he'd been cured and thought of the gypsy fortune teller.

"Wait! I know.", Rebecca exclaimed and started rummaging through her purse.

Rebecca pulled out the picture of her and Irene when they were eight years old and showed it to her old friend. "See. That's you and that's me.", she said with a smile.

The young woman moved closer and took the photo from Rebecca. She was obviously in shock at the sight.

"It does look something like me, like I did when I was young.", Ireena said as Ismark looked over her shoulder.

"Indeed, there is a likeness.", Ismark added. He looked at Rebecca. "Who painted this? It's so lifelike."

"It's a picture.", Rebecca said, motioning like she was taking a picture of them. "We used a camera."

Ireena handed the photo back. "A what?", she asked.

"A camera.", Rebecca replied. "You know."

Richard nudged Rebecca. "They don't have photography.", Richard informed her. Then he turned to Ismark. "It is very good work.", Richard agreed.

"I'm sorry, I, I just can't remember.", Ireena said sympathetically.

Rebecca took the picture back dejectedly. "Maybe you'll start remembering when we get back home.", she replied.

"But this is my home.", Ireena protested.

Rebecca thought about that for a while, remembering that Ireena didn't have much left for her back in Kansas.

"Photography. It's a kind of magic.", Anthony said, trying to be helpful.

"Magic?", Ismark replied. "So you are sorcerers then? Perhaps you truly can aid us against the menace that assaults this village."

"No, we aren't sorcerers.", Anthony explained. "And it isn't really magic. Where we come from there is no magic, but a very advanced science compared to what you have. It seemed like the best way of labeling how the picture was made so that you wouldn't regard it as a painting."

Ismark stared at Anthony. He had no idea what the young man had just said.

"Remember, K.I.S.S.", Richard advised Anthony. "They don't have technology here like we do."

"Sorry, I'm not sure how to explain it.", Anthony said apologetically. "But it isn't really magic, that just seemed the best word to use."

"Well, nonetheless, any help you can provide would be appreciated.", Ismark answered.

Then Richard noted a rather unpleasant odor pervading the house. He started to gag and pulled his sleeve over his mouth. "AUGH! I can taste it!", he thought to himself in a panic.

Ireena looked with concern at Richard. "Are you alright?", she asked.

Richard was surprised that an attractive woman had noticed him. "Y-yes. I'm...what's that smell?", he asked.

Ireena's expression fell into one of sadness. She seemed to struggle for the words to explain. She motioned for her new, old friends to follow.

"So, this Strahd guy is really a vampire?", Rebecca asked skeptically.

Ismark's mood darkened considerably. "Vampire? Well, my father believed it. I don't know if I do but he is evil, more evil than any normal man.", he said skeptically. "I had hoped that the holy artifact that Donovan had lent us would protect Ireena from the Count's intentions but it was stolen."

"Holy artifact?", Rebecca asked, holding back a smile. "That's what we used to call old Father O'Malley.", she thought to herself but decided not to say out loud.

Ireena glanced back briefly as Ismark mentioned his lack of conviction in Strahd's vampirism. She led the group further into the house and gestured glumly to an open door. Beyond the doorway was a well furnished drawing room. Laying in state were the remains of an elderly gentleman. He appeared to have been dead for several days. Ireena looked into the room but didn't enter. She was on the verge of tears.

"Ewww.", Rebecca said. "Ummm...", she began but didn't finish her thought.

"Mmmmpph!", Richard said nearly gagging. He didn't make it past the threshold of the room. He felt like it was about time for the bacon and bread to make a second appearance.

Anthony looked some combination of glum, at the sight, and green, at the smell.

Kevin quietly whispered a prayer while Ryan asked, "The late Burgomaster, I presume?"

Ismark placed a hand on Ireena's shoulder. "Yes.", he said softly.

"Why...", Rebecca started again.

"Because everyone in this town is a coward and a fool.", Ismark explained angrily.

Ismark's dark mood deepened. Ireena looked at the floor and whispered, "They're afraid of me."

"They won't let you bury him?", Rebecca whispered.

"I would do it myself but I dare not leave my sister alone and she dare not leave these walls lest Strahd's minions take her.", Ismark said sternly.

"Well, we could...", Rebecca said, looking around at the other faces in the room.

Kevin nodded. "Yes, we'll help you." He turned to Ireena, "But why would they be afraid of you?"

The young woman slowly reached up and drew back the collar of her blouse. Low on her neck were two puncture wounds.

"Oh...my...God.", Rebecca said slowly.

Richard took several steps back.

"They believe that I am tainted.", Ireena explained. "They fear that I am in his thrall, so they stay away."

"What a total perv.", Rebecca said, a little too loud.

Travis' face took on a determined expression. "We won't let him hurt you ever again.", he assured her.

Ireena tried to smile at Travis' sentiment. "Come, let's sit. I'll fetch something to drink.", she said heading to a sitting room across the hall.

Richard stared at the bites, fascinated. "I wonder if Becky thinks she's a Slayer?", he wondered.

"Okay, we need a plan.", Rebecca said.

"Yep, she does.", Richard answered himself.

Rebecca followed along, talking as she went. "We should get the townspeople together and go burn down his castle.", she said. "Like they did in Dracula."

Ismark took a seat and motioned for his guests to do the same. "They won't help us.", he said bitterly. "They're too concerned with saving their own skins."

"I thought that was Frankenstein.", Richard said to Rebecca.

"Whatever.", Rebecca replied. "Well is there anyone who would help?"

"Brother Donovan is the only person in the village that might help.", Ismark answered. "He's too old and frail for a direct confrontation with the beast, though. The townsfolk are cowed by Strahd and the gypsies have cut a deal of some sort with him."

"A deal?", Rebecca asked. "We met them last night. They seemed okay."

Ismark frowned. "Don't be fooled. They're only out for their own interests.", he said, seemingly speaking from experience. "If they were kind to you it was because it was of some benefit to them."

"I wouldn't be surprised if they brought us here on purpose.", Richard added.

"Dunno about that.", Anthony said. "But they claimed to be expecting us, which is pretty damned weird."

"Exactly!", Richard replied.

"We saw a fortune teller. Madame Eva.", Rebecca explained to Ismark. "She told us our fortunes."

Ireena returned with a tray of glasses and a crystal decanter of amber fluid. "The Vistani are a strange people.", she said quietly. "They are close to the land and know many of its secrets."

Richard was very happy that the fluid was amber, and not red. Ireena poured him a glass and he looked closely at it. He'd never drunk anything stronger than Mountain Dew, and certainly not alcoholic stuff. Richard cautiously lifted his glass and took a sniff. It smelled pretty good.

"Okay, so we'll go burn down the castle ourselves.", Rebecca said. "Maybe that's why we're here."

Ryan accepted a glass and took a sip. "So what do we do? Just walk up to the front door and knock?", he said a little too sarcastically.

Rebecca took a drink. "No, we get some torches and burn him out.", she replied.

"That sounds like an excellent way of pissing him off.", Ryan replied.

Travis gulped down the whiskey in one go while Kevin didn't touch his. Anthony enjoyed his drink slowly.

Richard took a gulp, trying to copy Travis's example. He got about half of it down and swallowed, then he coughed violently as it broiled its way down his esophagus. Ireena tried to suppress a smile at Richard's reaction. Richard looked around desperately for something to wipe his eyes with.

"V...very g...good!", Richard said coughing, and very hoarse, as if he was gargling acid. He cautiously sipped on his drink, decided that it tasted like Listerine, and simply held his glass in his lap.

Rebecca was annoyed by Ryan's attitude. "We have to let him know that he's fucking with the wrong people.", she said firmly.

Ismark was in quiet agreement with Rebecca's sentiment. Ireena's eyes went wide at her use of language.

"And we need to get some gear too.", Rebecca added. "Like silver and mirrors and stuff. And that holy thing."

Kevin whispered, "Shelter and guidance for the weary. This card tells of a symbol of light, feared by the wicked and soothing to innocent."

"Yeah, that thing.", Rebecca responded to Kevin. "Did Madame Eva say where it was?"

Kevin recited more of the fortune that he was told, "Search amid the ruins in a place of supplication, where the pure at heart commune."

"Like a church.", Rebecca said.

Ismark made a steeple with his hands. "There are two places that meet that description.", he spoke slowly. "Brother Donovan's church and familial chapel of Castle Ravenloft."

"Which one has ruins?", Rebecca asked anxiously.

"Not Donovan's temple.", Ismark replied. His voice lowered. "So that leaves only one place."

"How far is it?", Rebecca asked without any reservation.

"The Old Svalich road leads to the castle.", Ismark answered. "It's about two or three miles but the path leads high into the mountains. It would take several hours to reach it."

Richard was deep in thought. "Rebecca and Travis fit the arsonist profile.", he thought to himself. "But then I did download the home-made munitions books, and the Anarchist's Cookbook, and the CIA Dirty Tricks book, and the sniper manual."

Richard realized that he could make a bomb. "All I need is chicken crap and charcoal.", he thought. "Ew, but I'd have to touch the crap."

"So how about this.", Rebecca began. "First we bury the Burgomeister. Then we get some gear. Then we go to the chapel and get the holy thing. Then we burn down the castle."

"That sounds like a plan.", Travis grinned.

"You make it sound so easy.", Richard complained.

Ireena seemed surprised that her new friends would so readily help her. "I don't know what to say.", she confessed.

"You're our friend.", Rebecca replied. "Even though you don't remember us. And friends help each other out."

"Then I'm coming with you.", Ireena said.

"Okay.", Rebecca added with a smile.

Ismark erupted at almost the same time, "No you are not!", he shouted. "We may as well just tie a ribbon around your neck and hand you over to Strahd."

Ireena replied quickly, "I'll not just sit here like some invalid any longer, Ismark. This is going to end, one way or another."

"You should come along too.", Rebecca said to Ismark.

Ismark sighed and looked at Ireena. "There's no talking her out of something once she's set her mind to it.", he conceded. "If she goes, I will follow."

"Okay.", Rebecca said happily.

Richard wondered if he'd had enough of that amber fluid to affect his liver yet. Then he wondered if he'd had enough to make him drunk. Then we wondered how long would it take for him to notice, if he was. He'd never been drunk. He started feeling sleepy.

"Oh, where's, umm, the little girl's room?", Rebecca asked.

"The...?", Ireena wondered.

"Bathroom.", Rebecca said.

"Outhouse.", Anthony added.

"Potty!", Richard chimed in, "er...chamber pot."

"Ah, there is a chamber pot in the guest quarters and an outhouse to the rear of the manor.", Ireena said.

Rebecca nodded and excused herself. Along the way she ducked into the other room and quickly examined the body to see if she could figure out the cause of death. She found no obvious injuries on the body and, most importantly, no bite marks. She snuck back to the group.

Richard was getting drunk. He suddenly understood why a lampshade on the head would be considered amusing. Then he wondered where a lampshade might be acquired in his vicinity.

"Okay, let's go. We're burning daylight.", Rebecca announced.

Ireena nodded with a smile and rushed off to gather her things.

"Burning...hemorrhoid...Becky's a pain in the ass.", Richard joked to himself, snorting out loud in laughter.

"There is a general store across from the inn where you can purchase supplies.", Ismark said. "We will meet you in front of there shortly."

"Oh, Ismark.", Rebecca asked on her way out. "How did the Burgomeister die?"

The man looked over at the room that contained his dead father. "Three days ago his heart just gave out.", Ismark said solemnly. "His body couldn't take the stress of trying to keep this community together anymore."

"That's too bad.", Rebecca said contritely. "I'm sorry."

"I, I saw this T-shirt once in Key West.", Richard said, his voice slightly slurred. "'I got Duval Faced on Shit Street'."

No one laughed. Richard sensed that people were being serious and shut up. He looked around for a lampshade and didn't find one. Then he considered that part of the problem was that lamps hadn't been invented yet.

Ismark showed his guests to the door and bid them safety. Walking back to the town center the group could hardly see anything due to the cloying fog. Loud and mournful sobbing echoed from the walls of the surrounding buildings. As they arrived in front of the general store they were able to determine that the weeping was coming from a road leading on to the south.

"That sounds like crying.", Richard stated the obvious.

"Should we investigate?", Rebecca asked as her eyes lit up a little. She seemed to be enjoying all that was going on. "I did some investigating back at Irene's place.", she said looking smug. "I say that we investigate."

Anthony was curious as to Rebecca's smugness. "Yeah, find anything interesting?", he asked.

"Well...no.", Rebecca replied, but added quickly. "But that's a good thing."

Ryan rolled his eyes.

"This is like, you know, a mystery.", Rebecca said with a hushed voice. "And we don't know who we can trust."

The weeping sound was coming from a home down a narrow road. Richard pointed towards it and soon they were standing before it.

Kevin looked up the boarded up house. "I'm sure the people here have no shortage of reasons to cry.", he said.

Rebecca frowned. "C'mon. It'll be fun.", she said. "And you can console them."

Travis shifted his weight. "We've probably got some time before they'll meet us at the store.", the large man said. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Ryan took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. "What happens in cheesy horror flicks whenever someone asks that?", he said.

"Somebody dies.", Rebecca said in a cheesy voice. "Woooooo, wooooo."

"I don't see a film crew, therefore we'll be fine", Anthony said humorously.

"We can all leave Ryan here alone in the street. Nothing is going to happen to him, right?", Rebecca said with a chuckle.

Ryan folded his arms across his chest and gave Rebecca a foul look. Rebecca stuck her tongue out at Ryan.

Anthony walked up to the door and knocked loudly. "Hello?", he called out.

The sobbing continued. It was a woman's voice. Occasionally words could be heard, though Anthony couldn't make out what was said except for a name spoken in heart wrenching tones 'Gertruda'. No one answered the door.

Anthony knocked again. "We mean you no harm.", he said. "We'd like to help if we can."

The woman inside didn't seem to take any notice of Anthony's calls. Her crying continued.

"We should leave.", Rebecca said.

Anthony contemplated just breaking in, very briefly, then turned away from the door and nodded at Rebecca's suggestion. "Yeah, guess so", he said finally.

"Maybe there's nobody home.", Richard said, then thought about it a moment too late.

Travis lightly thunked Richard on the head.

"Ow, cutitout!", Richard yelped.

"I just thought that maybe it's a TV on too loud, is all.", Richard explained. "But then I remembered that there's no TV anymore and I'm missing 'Voyager'."

"No more booze for you.", Travis sighed.

Richard wished he had his PDA so that he could bring it out and use the self-defense e-book to kick Travis' ass. "Whaddya mean? I'm always like this, aren't I? I'm not drunk.", Richard said in his defense. "Am I?"

"I can give you a drunk test.", Rebecca spoke up.

Richard was suspicious. "How?", he asked.

"Here.", Rebecca said flipping Richard the bird. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Behind every bird is a pile of shit!", Richard shot back.

"Well, *I* don't smell like shit.", Rebecca countered.

"Irene used to say you and I squabble like siblings.", Richard replied, becoming serious and thoughtful all of the sudden.

"Yeah.", Rebecca sighed. "Things changed when she left. I wish that she could remember us."

"It's been a long time.", Ryan added. "She's lived a completely new life here."

"Maybe she likes it better here.", Rebecca said. "Maybe that's why she doesn't remember. She doesn't want to."

Kevin looked around at the gloomy, fog shrouded street and then raised an eyebrow towards Rebecca.

Rebecca caught his meaning. "It's full of adventure.", she explained. "It's like we're living in a storybook."

Ryan thought of Grimm's Fairy Tales. "Somehow that doesn't put my mind at ease, Rebecca.", he said.

"So you'd rather just watch it on TV?", Rebecca replied.

"Yes, much.", Anthony interjected.

"C'mon. This is our chance to be heroes!", Rebecca said exasperated.

Travis hefted the shotgun to his shoulder. "I think Becky's on to something.", he said. "We're here. We might as well make the best of what's around."

"That's all fine until somebody gets eaten by a troll.", Ryan muttered as they walked towards the general store.


The youths walked into the store and looked around. To one side they found an assortment of dry goods, such as flour, cheese and dried meats. On mounts and pegs on one wall there was an assortment of weapons such as swords, clubs and bows. There were also various utilitarian items such as rope, candles, and clothing. Behind the counter was a bored looking middle aged man. He glanced up at the new arrivals as they entered but didn't speak.

Rebecca walked over to the weapons and pulled out a few arrows. "Wooden stakes.", she mused.

"We'll need flour, especially, guys.", Richard said. "But we have to be careful about rock chips and…bugs."

Anthony headed for the weapons, looking for daggers and knives.

"Which movie was that where the guy was using a bow and arrow against vampires?", Rebecca whispered to Anthony.

Anthony couldn't remember. Rebecca picked up a bow and some arrows and looked around for mirrors. Anthony found several knives of various designs. Some were little more than shanks of metal with a wrapped leather grip, others were of finer make. He picked up a few of the less expensive but good quality knives.

"Too bad we don't have a Bag of Holding!", Richard whispered to Ryan.

"I just hope we have enough money for whatever we might need.", Ryan answered.

"Yeah.", Richard answered.

"You know, they had a documentary on the 'Lord of the Rings' DVD's.", Richard said, thinking out loud. "They described how the swords and stuff were made. And why didn't anyone ever salvage the truck wreck? Maybe they just never came across it, I suppose, but that's worth a fortune here! If we need money we could go and strip the truck, and sell the metal to a smithy. Or trade for things we need, like stakes."

Ryan picked up a bundle of garlic. "Couldn't hurt.", he replied.

"Doesn't silver affect them? Is that anything evil, or just werewolves?", Richard wondered.

"Depends on who's telling the story, I guess.", Ryan replied.

Rebecca couldn't find any mirrors. She looked around for something reflective but could only find a few showy, expensive looking knives and swords. She picked up one of the showy swords and tried to see if she could see everyone's reflections in it. She couldn't. Rebecca frowned and put the sword away. Then she went up to the counter and set the bow and arrows down on it.

The man at the counter looked at Rebecca. "You buy it?", he asked. "Or your friends just keep making my things dirty with touching all day?"

Rebecca pursed her lips. "Got any mirrors?", she asked.

The man shouted back in the local language to the person roaming the stock room. Another man shouted something back.

The man at the counter shrugged. "Don't have any.", he said.

"Okay, any place in town have them?", Rebecca asked stubbornly.

"Only store still open is mine.", the man replied.

"Okay, so like, why doesn't anyone sell any mirrors?", Rebecca asked, thinking that she was being sly.

"Expensive.", the man said. Then he thought for a moment and added without humor, "And many ugly people here."

Rebecca smiled wide. Then she turned back to the others. "You guys done?", she asked.

"We need flour, water skins, and other food. And water, and something to start a fire with.", Richard said. He called out to the clerk. "Do you have a fire-starter? Flint?" Without waiting for an answer he continued. "We can use the machete blade to strike sparks from the flint...I think I can remember how to make kindling sticks and a shelter."

Ryan dropped the garlic on the counter. Kevin carried over six heavy leather cloaks. Anthony took several of the better daggers over to the counter. The clerk rummaged around under the counter and brought out a few chunks of flint. Richard pulled out his machete and tried striking some sparks. Sparks flew. The flint was real. Richard thanked the clerk.

The front door opened and two people entered. Ismark was clad in leather and chain armor. Behind him, Ireena kept her cloak pulled closed and her hood down.

The clerk looked over the merchandise. "Two hundred for everything.", he said with a hint of a smile.

Ismark scowled, "That's robbery, Bildrath."

Bildrath shrugged, "Where else you gonna buy, eh?"

"If my father were here he'd...", Ismark began.

The store owner cut him off. "Well, he's not. He's dead and it looks like you're planning to go and join him.", Bildrath replied angrily.

The young man's eyes flared with rage and he moved to draw his sword but felt a delicate touch on his hand. Ireena whispered softly to him and he calmed somewhat. She pulled two pouches from her belt and placed them on the counter.

Bildrath opened the pouches and sifted through the contents. Seemingly satisfied, he took the gold and said, "Will there be anything else?"

Rebecca frowned at Bildrath, grabbed her bow and arrows, and headed for the door. Ismark helped gather the gear while Ireena followed Rebecca outside.

"Hey, you made it!", Rebecca said to her old friend.

"I can't just sit around in that house anymore.", Ireena replied.

"Yeah, especially with no TV.", Rebecca said.

"Teevee?", Ireena wondered.

"Like the radio, only with pictures.", Rebecca said rather cluelessly.

Ireena looked at her quite confused.

"Okay, forget it.", Rebecca said. "Oh, do you know someone named Gertruda?"

Ireena pulled back her hood. "Yes, Mary's daughter. Such a poor child. Her mother kept her locked up at home all the time. Gertruda ran away from home a few days ago." She gestured at the claw marks on the buildings. "Everyone fears, expects, the worst."

"We heard Mary crying on our way here.", Rebecca replied. "We went to knock on the door but she didn't answer."

"Ismark says that villagers have taken to calling her 'Mad Mary'. She doesn't respond to anyone or anything." Ireena's expression was filled with sympathy.

"Do you think that the vampire got her.", Rebecca whispered.

Ireena's hand strayed to her collar. "There are many dangers here.", she replied.

Rebecca pulled Irene close. "How did it happen?", she whispered.

Ireena shuddered at the memory of her attack. "I was by the river near sunset. I shouldn't have been there so late but everything was so beautiful, peaceful.", she began. "I was being watched, I could feel eyes upon me. I was afraid and I started to run. The setting sun fell behind the mountains and he came from nowhere. Before I realized what was happening I was in his arms. They were so strong but cold, like someone who had stayed out too long in winter."

Ireena got a lump in her throat. She swallowed it and continued, "I knew that I should try to struggle and escape but I couldn't move. His fingers grazed my cheek and he whispered 'Tatyana'. I looked into his eyes. The were like two pools of the darkest black. It felt like I was falling into them. He bent down and..."

"Tatyana?", Richard said.

"Sshhh.", Rebecca shushed him.

Ireena closed her eyes and trembled. "I woke up at home with only his mark as proof of what happened.", she said, shaking off the haunting feelings.

"What...a...perv.", Rebecca said slowly.

"A what?", Ireena asked.

"A pervert.", Rebecca replied. "A guy who gets off on doing weird things."

Richard couldn't resist the urge to glance around to see if anyone was looking at him. Travis was glancing in his direction.

"What?", Richard said to Travis.

"Oh, nothing.", Travis smiled. He asked Rebecca, "So, what was our plan again?"

"Elf porn isn't perverted.", Richard said in a sotto voice.

"Look, we're going to get him.", Rebecca assured Irene. Then she turned to Travis. "I think that we were going to bury the Burgomeister and then head to the castle. But maybe we should just go to the castle right now. So that we get back before it's too late."

"We are burning daylight.", Kevin added.

"Good. Then let's go!", Rebecca said cheerfully.