In a message dated 99-03-28 10:20:52 EST, you write:

<< >Maybe because ONLY a man or boy can gain this power?
 
 Even if that's so, there are plenty of men in the village. Even if none of
 them are good enough at the moment, I still feel that Colonge wouldn't be
 impatient enough to pass it on to a foreigner now. >>

I probably should have explained this a bit more clearly in the chapter (oh
well, that's what next chapters are for!).  
See, though it was touched on very, very, very briefly, Ranma is A chosen, one
of those that, during certain times and at certain places, the LIGHTNING is
drawn to.  Cologne, after studying the signs and the scrolls and what-have-you
had figured out that Ranma was one of those chosen.  
However, this bit of plot expository is cheap and a hack's excuse.  So until
next chapter of this story [which probably won't be out for a while], in which
I explain this a bit more, I remain . . .

-Murmur the Fallen