Master Keaton OVA

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China

Kalihman of the Desert

Just look at you, Keaton. What were you thinking?

Coming out to the desert dressed like that.

Yeah, it sure is hot.

I see why the Uygurs call this the " Taklimakan Desert."

The insurance appraisal of all these artifacts is important.

I wish Lloyd's would consider that when selecting their people.

Excuse me. . .

Wh-What do you want?

While I was in London. . .

. . . I just happened to get my hands on this artifact.

It looks like it's from this area.

Do you have any idea what it is?

Never mind that now!

We're running out of time!

Just keep your nose to yourself and get to work.

Pardon me. . .

I'm Takakura's assistant, Yamamoto.

Why don't I take you around and show you the site?

Uh, thanks a lot.

Damn.

I don't think Professor Takakura cares for that Keaton guy.

Word is they once had a serious disagreement. . .

. . .over the interpretation of patterns on some artifact.

That explains it.

He's a college lecturer and an insurance investigator.

Whatever the case, he certainly is a strange man.

I hear you've been finding many things.

Yes.

In ancient times a wondrous oasis nation flourished here.

What about that wall?

It doesn't look as old as everything else.

Yes.

They estimate it may be from the 1 6th century.

Then that would mean the ruins of the oasis would be. . .

Buried under this wall by those who built over top of them more recently.

Sheik!

Allow me to introduce you.

This man is the Sheik of the Uygurs.

Known as wise man Abdullah Karim Muhammad.

Sheik.

The Sheik says that you are the only one. . . .

. . . in the excavation team that understands Muslim customs.

Because that man allowed us on this land. . .

. . .this whole excavation was made possible.

The Sheik's reached the age of one hundred.

In all our dealings with him he's been a gentleman. . .

. . . but it's a different story with his son and successor.

Is there some problem?

Yes.

Wh-What are you doing?!

Many scorpions hide behind the rocks.

Be careful.

His name's Abdullah Abbas. He's the problem son.

They say he showed great courage in the Freedom Movement.

But he doesn't take well to our coming into Uygur territory.

No. He despises us. Completely.

We have no choice but to break through it.

But that wall is considered important to the Uygurs. . .

Neither the Sheik nor his son have officially said anything.

Think about it, Professor Collins.

The Chinese government has given us only one week to wrap this up.

In that time we have the opportunity to uncover. . .

. . . ruins that may show the arrival of Hellenistic culture to the East.

Do you really want to stop now?

Um. . .

What importance does that wall have for the Uygurs?

We're not really sure.

Perhaps they think we're heathens.

Not even the Sheik will tell us.

Professor Keaton could talk to him.

He made a good impression on the Sheik.

Perhaps he can get the Sheik to tell him something.

Yamamoto, you should know better. . .

What do you say, Professor Keaton?

But, Professor Collins. . . !

We can afford to wait a little longer until we know more.

So, Keaton, would you be willing to do this for us?

Sure.

The Sheik has asked me to tell you. . .

... the reason why the Uygur people. . .

. . . have remained on this land for centuries.

It is because it is said to be the Holy Ground. . .

. . .of the legendary hero Sadiq.

"One day, I heard the voice of Allah."

"He gave me a command. . ."

". . .to learn the history of our ancestors."

"That is why I decided to cooperate with your people."

"And now we have finally discovered it."

Does it pertain to that wall?

There's no way.

There's no guarantee the Chinese government. . . .

. . .will give us permission to dig here again.

The Uygurs didn't spot us coming, did they?

N-No, sir.

That wall is a monument that marks the hallowed grave of Sadiq. . .

. . .a man who fought courageously on these desert sands 1 000 years ago.

The indentation in the center of the wall is a holy sign.

Allah's prophet has always led us to the truth.

Did that make sense to you, Mr. Keaton?

Not really.

But I guess it means there are many sacred places on Earth. . .

. . .that outsiders should never go to.

Yes.

The underlayer can be reached by digging laterally. . .

. . .without breaking the wall.

Even if it takes more time.

You apply for an extension from the Chinese government and. . .

Wh-What do you think is happening?

They wouldn't . . . !

Professor Keaton!

Wait!

Stop it!

Tell them to stop, Professor.

No. It's too late for that.

But. . .

Who cares whether or not it comes down?

The wall has no historical significance whatsoever.

It's the Sheik. . .

And now do you see what they were up to, Father?

Look at these foreigners destroy our most sacred history.

Father!

My father. . .

My father is dead.

Remove their gags and undo their bindings.

Th-The Chinese government will have something to say about this!

You will pay for what you've done to my father.

Don't worry.

We won't harm you.

We're just leaving you here.

This desert will judge you. . .

. . .for the crime that you've committed.

The sun rises in two hours.

They have only four hours left to live.

That man in the business suit might survive the longest.

What?

You don't mean the one who looked so out-of-place?

The material in the suit is resistant to the sun's rays. . .

. . .and will help against direct sunlight.

If he's aware of that. . .

. . .then there's more to him than meets the eye.

There's no need for us to be afraid.

If we keep heading south. . .

. . .we should reach the Southern Road.

I think you're right.

Once the sun's up. . .

. . .we'll all be dead in two hours.

That's absolutely ridiculous.

The intense rays beating down in this desert. . .

. . .will draw out all the water from our bodies in no time.

"Taklimakan."

In the Uygur language. . .

. . . It means, " the desert where one goes in, but does not come out."

My men are conducting a thorough search around the village.

But so far there's no sign of them.

There was a terrible sandstorm last night.

Perhaps they ventured outside the campsite and got trapped.

I'm in mourning for my father, so there's little I can do right now.

But I will help in any way possible.

Well?

Have you recovered their bodies?

Uh, those men are still alive.

What?

They dug a hole in the sand.

It's aligned in an east-west direction to block most of the sun.