Theater 3, chapter 7.3

Shades of Grey - Part Eight
The first 50 -60 foot was not that hard, even free climbing. He’d ditched a lot of kit, rolled his cape around his Bolt Pistol and slung it over his back, the shotgun and the heavy gear he’d hidden, didn’t fancy being blown off the face with his own gun ! The rock was some of the smoothest and featureless he’d attempted, he never had liked such sites, they were more suited to the monument mason than the climber and he hoped he wasn’t scaling his own sleep-stone. If this continued he’d string some cams as he had no intention of screwing this up, there was too much resting on it.

At least there was little in the way of loose material to worry about, the face seemed firm so far and there were some holds, you just had to search for them. From below he had scoped what looked like a vertical fissure above his current position which might make for easier going, for at its top the face became less acute and the surface had appeared rougher through the monocular.

The wind now was more noticeable, warm gusts flicked at every loose edge of kit sending them into flapping cacophony’s of sound like dying flies and above he could still make out from time to time the wheeling bird’s, preying that at least one of them would be a Y’dach, the key, if there was one, to his friend’s survival. From what he had seen so far, the creatures the Baron’s took to summoning would prove a very potent and deadly foe. If the merest scratch could lay low someone as strong and fit as Nathan, they would tear through the population of a City like Grey. Carolynn just prayed that that that strength, a constitution borne from years of life in the open, free in the wilds of Zalthar would prove up to fighting the malignancy for long enough. He took a moment to pause and assess his position, patting the top pocket of his tunic to reassure himself the paste was still there. Last dark, after he had made camp, he had foraged for Gum Bushes. 

An evergreen shrub that grew prolifically in most of the wild and forgotten places on Zalthar, the Herder’s used them for a number of purposes, but this dark he had just one in mind, the simplest use, the making of Gum. Back beneath his tarp with the burner on, he added strips of fresh bark peeled from a handful of twigs to a cup holding a bout thee thumbs of water and bought this to the boil. He then let the mixture reduce, slowly boiling off the water until he was left with a sticky paste, the “Gum” he needed to catch himself a Sliver Hawk without damaging the bird. A blob of this gum on the ledge where the Birds alighted to approach their nests was all it should take, if he remembered rightly.

The bark itself was stringy and strong and so often used for binding, in cycles gone it may have been used to attach spear tips, but now it was more likely to be encountered in doubling-up Bolter magazines or as part of improvised field dressings‘. all you needed to remember was to apply some clay or wet mud to the cut from where you took a branch and the shrub would heal and so be there the next time it was needed ! It was not much of a price to pay considering that in so many ways Zalthar itself gave them the tools they needed to fight off all comers. It had given them the toxin to kill the Tyranids, the lay of the land to stem the incursions of Chaos and it had given Carolynn his life that night in the storm when it slayed his assassin ! It also gave them life, through the great herds of Morac, clean water from its many springs and the materials to live at one in its vastness, all things that would be sorely needed to triumph against the darkness that he could feel coming.

Just above him now, Carolynn’s fingers found the fissure. About 1” wide it ran up to where the face eased and looked to make better going if he were to get to the height the Y’dach preferred for nesting. He followed the fissure, hand over hand and this time deployed cams every 30’ to make the descent a great deal easier once he had bagged his prize, for time was very much still the essence. Another 20 or so feet and the slope did begin to tip back from the vertical and when he was able to find a shallow ledge on which to rest a knee, he pulled out his monocular and scanned the cliff above. He could just make out a few smatterings of weathered guano, a clear indication of a roost or nest, but he needed to spot some fresher deposits if he were to find this cycles preferred location. Higher still and to his right, just where the face pushed back out from itself, where this over-hang began, he could see what looked like two or three parallel ledges. Little more than feint pencil lines from here, they were probably about 2” to 3” wide, just, and there, as he watched a bird flew in to one of them, beak full of insect wings by the look of it, food for a hungry chick ? Making as much haste as circumstances permitted, he strung himself a route across to where he had seen the bird alight, and as luck would have it, encountered two further nests on his way. The first was an untidy mess of twigs, partly collapsed and showing signs of a possible struggle the way the sides appeared pushed out from within. Predated ! The second was a text book nest, a semi-circular cup attached to the ledge with mud and cobwebbs, a tight basket of interwoven twigs, lined with moss and feathers and containing a plump-looking chick that had begun to develop feathers and was beginning to stretch fine wings, though these still retained the juvenile, “claw” at the ‘elbow’, a trait from earlier generations that obviously held sufficient advantages for it to be retained in early life, no-doubt making traversing a nest in such precipitous locations that bit safer. Hurriedly moving on, Carolynn found a second nest where the ‘smudges’ did indeed manifest as ledges. There were several when he climbed along further, but only two held chicks, and so these he gummed, before retreating back, giving the nests as wide a birth as he could to tempt the adults to return.

Lowering himself back down to the knee width ledge, Carolynn strung a crude sling to take his weight and settled back to wait, monocular at hand. To pass the time, he scanned the valley which was surprisingly wide and a good deal more fertile than it appeared from following the river. The frequent floods there from melt water scoured the ground, making the vegetation sparse and straggly, but away from the main channel, the plants grew thickly and were underlain with lush grasses, from a herders point of view an excellent spot and definitely one to keep in mind should they ever need to move Bronze Hearth. Beyond the valley, rose the Eastern spur of the Worldspine’s, and even from here he could make out even by light the orange glow on the base of the ugly smudge of yellow-brown smog that marked Grey, he could even still taste that places rancid air. Air that had been breathed too many times and laced with all the chemical waste the place pumped into the world by the tonne. Small wonder a creature spawned in such a place would be the toxic spawn of the God of Decay. Out there too was Jed and Nate and Martin’s children, had he made a mistake bringing them along ? There was suddenly a commotion above a flapping of wings and the cry of a bird in some distress. Unwinding his support, Carolynn was soon scaling the face along his pre-rigged pathway to the nests a nd stuck luky at the very first. Carefully bagging a female Y’dach, he slid along to the second nest just to clear away the gum as it had served its purpose. Un-rigging that end he returned to the first nest where he “milced” the female into a paper topped jar, before cleaning her feet and releasing her. He de-gummed that nest too, and was soon taking out cams in his return to the cleft and the descent to the valley below.

Of that descent and the ride through light and dark, he remembered little after, save the feeling of relief as the destrier’s, hot and panting for having been ridden harder than he would like, crested that final ridge and he could just make out the bluff beneath which nestled the old huts and within, his friends. All his friends he prayed. Although themselves sensing his purpose or merely the end of their journey, the destrier’s themselves seemed to find an additional reserve of energy and kicked hard into the last leg , so he was soon skirting the track towards the huts and the waiting form of Jed, standing taller than he remembered, and looking purposeful, gun in hand and every sign that the place was fully under his command. Then a discreet “thumbs-up“ told him all he needed to know, then he was dismounting even before his horse had stopped and flying under the canvass to find Nathan. His friend looked better than he had hoped, the subborn bastard was yet to bow down to the fever that still clearly ravaged his system.

“Hi Joe, I’ll explain later, now I need you to get some water heating on the fire, let it boil thoroughly OK ?“
“Sure Car, good to have you back.“ and with that he was off.
“Hi.“ giggled Mariah.
“Where’d you go ?”
Came Jed’s somewhat sullen voice from the entrance.
“To get this”, answered Carolynn, holding up the phial of Y’dach Milc,”It is the one thing I could get to in time that had any chance of saving him, I will tell you all about it later, it is something you too need to know of, part of a lot of things you now need to know, just as I did when I came to the Lead Lands, but for now, I need to prepare it, you OK to hold watch a bit longer ?”
“Course.” was Jed’s clipped reply, and he was gone.
“Mariah, you OK to go take care of the horses ? They need a good watering and something to eat, then a good rub down. You alright with that ?”
“Sure”, came her giggled reply, and she too was off.
“Soon have you fixed” he said to Nathan, wiping a damp cloth across his brow, “I remembered the Y’dach old friend, even made that climb we spoke about !” There was no sign he heard, but that didn’t deter Carolynn from telling his friend all about the valley of the Sliver Hawks.
“It’s ready Car” exclaimed Joseph, returning with a bowl of still bubbling water cupped in his cloth bound hands.
“Thanks Joe, you want to stand it down for me, we need to let it cool some, but I wont need it all, so pour some off for me into this mug, then take some Tea from my pack and fix a brew would you ?”
“Of your Tea !” came the mock reply of disgust.
“Get out of here, and thanks Joe.”

Once the water had cooled, Carolynn took the phial of Milc and emptied 8 drops into the water.
“Come on my friend, no idea what this tastes like, but if you were right, it’ll do you the power of good” said Carolynn as he helped Nathan drink.
That same dark, as they sat around the small fire, banked and hot to keep out the alpine chill, Nathan’s fever broke and a little while after he opened his eyes. Over the rest of that dark, after two more cups of Milc, he again found his voice.
“Hi”, was his first word, as if he knew he’d been away, so to save him forming questions, Carolynn and Jed filled him in on events back to the rain and the dark and the “man who attacked them, for there were still small sensibilities at large. Once Joseph and Mariah had seen Nathan was getting better, it was off too bed for them for Kell willing, the next light would be the start of their return to Bronze Hearth and a long light.

Once they were settled, Carolynn gave Jed and Nathan the full account, the Daemon’s attacking and his ride to Lope-Fang Crag’s to look for the Y’dach. It was chance too, for them to explain to Jed that the Lore was deeper than he knew, but that his time to learn was at hand. They spoke too of the remainder of the journey, for none were certain how Nathan would manage. He certainly felt better, but the fever was strong and had hit him hard, physically he was still quite weak, and as they could not realistically split the party, they would need somewhere to hold up for a few days. And so it was that as the next light broke, the five of them were already well on the way home to Bronze Hearth, with Nathan flat out on a frame of wood, made into a towed stretcher of sorts with one of the canvas’s, behind the strongest of the destrier’s roped to Jed’s horse that he shared with Mariah. Up front as he knew the way via Lope-Fang valley, went Carolynn with Joseph, glad they had a route off the main tracks for a while, for he doubted they’d hold off any sustained attacks whilst down one man.

That dark, having to rely on Bolt Pistols so as not to obliterate their prey, Carolynn and Jed went hunting. They had set camp, still half a light from the valley and Nathan said he was well enough to sit propped up with a shotgun and look scary. Half a dark bagged them three “Vemin”* and Joseph and Mariah, both of whom had instantly taken to fishing, between them landed enough for breakfast and a few spare to dry over that darks fire.

*Vemin - An indigenous Mammal, similar to the Hare of Terra, but larger throughout. A common game animal on Zalthar, often reaching plague numbers after short snows.

By the third dark, the way was clear for Jed to ride on ahead, and by light he was back with help from Bronze Hearth. By that dark they were all back, and for Carolynn and the now walking Nathan, albeit with a stick for now, next light they were in front of the Council of 7. Ben and Alice, ever there for the two of them took in Joseph and Mariah for them, both parties seeming thrilled with the idea.

That left the two of them with time to think, for the meeting with the Council would have repercussions far beyond Bronze Hearth, beyond the Lead Lands.

End of Part Eight

Next…. The Council of 7 ! Who will stand against the Chaos loose on Zalthar once more ?

Mk

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Theater 3, chapter 7.2

Shades of Grey - Part Six

Come dark they pulled clear of the track to camp and the who bunks where question suddenly became apparent. They should have realised dark would be the hardest, but neither Carolynn or Jed had had any children and although Nathan had been a father, and an absent one at that, it was so long ago he’d forgotten. The problem was eventually solved by Jed and Nathan taking the watches and Carolynn having both Joseph and Mariah for what would prove to be a long and sleepless dark for him, for after a few understandable tears, one of Nathan’s “song‘s” and a story from “uncle Jed”, both children were out for the duration.
“The sleep of the just !” Carolynn was sure that’s why some adults got so angry with children, it was envy, a jealous envy of the innocence, of the yet unbroken promise that everything would be alright because someone told you it would and you had yet no reason to disbelieve. But it was that which was the inherent vulnerability, for they possessed the cruellest thing that could be stolen !
As he sat at the opening of the canvas gazing out into the dark Mountains, Carolynn tried to recall such a time in his own life, a time when he believed it would all be alright and try as he might, he could think of none. There had only ever been one person just in who’s company he had found anything remotely like such peace, but she was gone now, and he had never found anything like it since !

It was quiet here, refreshingly so after Grey, for the City always seemed to have something to say both by dark and by light. Out here though, almost every sound was cautious, measured and had a very real purpose or was not made at all. Drifting in countless thoughts, the dark passed him by, neither asleep nor truly awake, until stirred into action by the coming light and the emergence of a horizon far to the East. Then as the Mountains swallowed their shadow’s, a new light was upon them and the smell of Jed’s cooking had the children wide awake and giggling at the novelty of eating outdoors food cooked with a fire, when all food came in ready to heat and eat sachet’s for the most part. It was more than enough to have them dressed and up, running to find Jed and see for themselves what he was up to and what it was that smelled so good. Carolynn watched them until they reached Jed, then focussed on re-packing their gear and folding away the canvas for today’s leg of their journey. By the time he got it all tied away, both of them were lying on their backs deep in conversation as to who would burst first with the amount they’d eaten !

“Morning all” he called, getting a hi from Nathan, a grunt from Jed and silence from the children who were still wrapped in their bursting debate ! He grabbed a few bits to eat in passing, carrying on through camp to check the destriers before this lights journey.
With the snow not so very distant, Zalthar’s Sun was low in the early light sky, the road was clear and they made good progress till it began once more to fade, but were still making slower going as the destrier’s responded naturally to the additional weight by pacing themselves accordingly. Therefore as the light was coming to a close, they were still higher in the Worldspine’s than he would have liked, an so it was with greater care that he searched for a suitable spot to camp for the dark.
He found one relatively quickly, a side trail from a bend in the main track, which rose steeply until the gradient became too severe, then it turned and snaked along the steep contours, doubling back upon itself as it climbed. It ended in a wide ledge at the foot of a sheer cliff where there stood the ruins of two, possibly three old shacks, the fourth side of each of which was the cliff itself.
“This will do nicely.” Remarked Nathan, “How do you find these places Carolynn ?”
“I just look for what shouldn’t be there,” he replied, “then follow it !”
“Very good, like its that easy.”
“Tell you what, you try next time and see for yourself how it goes and I guarantee you’ll be surprised ! Right, down everybody, Mariah and Joe, you can do the horses this time, make sure they all eat and have something to drink, then come get me and I’ll show you how to do the harnesses.“ The other’s set about their tasks like clockwork, gear unpacked, canvasses up, fire lit and whilst Jed got some food on the go, Nathan watched the main track in both directions for a while, satisfying himself that they had not been obviously followed. By the time Carolynn caught up with Mariah and Joseph, the horses had been fed and watered and they were giving them a rub-down as they had been taught.
“Very good you two.” praised Carolynn, “diner’s almost ready, so wash-up and come get some !” He didn’t have to repeat himself.

Nathan was suddenly next to him, “You got a moment ?” at which he excused himself and he two of them walked a way off from the fire and the eagerly waiting diners.
“Saw someone cross the track, about three mile back, and by the angle I’d say they’re headed this way !”
“Just one ?”
“Yeah, I think so, but I’d only just turned East as I’d been looking West for a good two, three before so I don‘t know.”
“Well for now safest to assume there was more than one headed this way, come on, we have some new recruits to brief.”
Back at the fire, Joseph and Mariah were inhaling dinner and were not far off finished. Carolynn waited for them to put their bowl’s down, before to Nathan ‘s amazement,
explaining to the two of them that they were possibly being followed just as he would have done to himself or Jed ? What was even more strange was the children’s reaction, for they seemed to know exactly what he was saying and what was expected of them. Carolynn had spoken long with Martin about how he approached the harshness of life in Grey with kids and he had told him that he just gave it to them straight. His philosophy was always tell them the truth, just not all of the truth unless necessary ! And Carolynn had seen no reason to interfere with his wishes.
They set up canvass in the Western most and structurally soundest ruin, one that retained most of it’s four walls and part of its roof. Watch and corral for the destrier’s was in the middle ruin, as that to the East was little more than an outline of mud-bricks now. 1^st watch was Nathan and Carolynn got to spend another night with the two children, who he knew were going to find it difficult. Before bedding down, he left them with Jed for a while and undertook a brief survey of their home for th night.
They were fortunate with their location indeed as the broad ledge held virtually no cover along its entire length save the ruins they occupied. It had been quarried at some time and most of the loose material they left underfoot seemed to have some suppressive effect on plants, which were short and straggly and discoloured where they grew at all. He pulled out his monocular and studied the track to the East for some time, moving the field of vision along the verges too, but there was no signs of life and so satisfied there was nothing to see, he set off back to the ruins.

Then from behind him came the sound like displaced gravel and he spun, shotgun raised dropping to one knee, only to face an open expanse of ledge. Cautiously, he sidled over to the edge and looked down the way they had come and again, nothing ! Confident of what he had heard and that stones rarely displace themselves, he pursued the sound, moving at a crouch closer to the lip of the ledge, peering down into the deepening shadow’s as dark fell, yet still there was no sign of anyone or anything out there. Slowly he began to retrace his steps, back towards the ruins remaining crouched, shotgun with it’s solid slug/HE load-out poised, the safety off. As he got closer, Nathan saw him and advanced out to meet him.
“What gives ?“ he whispered, also peering out into the gloom yet seeing nothing.
“I think we may have company, about 70 yards out and very light on their feet.“ replied Carolynn jabbing toward the suspected location with his gun barrel.
“Lets back-up.” Slowly they began to retreat toward the ruins, keeping their gaze to the East. Reaching the second ruin, Nathan slipped inside to warn Jed and check upon their charges as Carolynn took up position in the now empty door recess. From within he heard Nathan whispering and then the sound of Jed’s shotgun cocking as he slid a shell into the chamber. An automated “clunk, clunk, clunk” heralded the cycling of the auto-loader of Nathan’s grenade launcher too, this would not be an easy kill for someone that was certain !A moment later,Nathan re-appered at the doorway and he and Carolyn cautiously advanced across to the Easternmost ruins broken wall’s, still unable to make out any opposition. The dark was silent, and that was not right for starters.
“There should be birds still out at this time,” whispered Nathan in a a hushed tone, ”but there‘s nothing, no sounds whatsoever and that means someone or something has them spooked. “
“Could be us ?” said Carolynn ?”
“We might be scary to those in the know, but last I heard that weren’t birds,” chuckled Nathan despite himself. Then, away in the distance, a lope-cat howled, a hollow, desperate howl. More guttural than either of them remembered , then fell abruptly silent. This was followed by another, then a 3^rd until soon there were some half dozen of them out in the dark, crying to the new moon that bobbed in and out of thickening high cloud. Further off, thunder rumbled and moments later an electric blue flash lit the whole horizon, the sky darkened, and almost imperceptibly to start, the first drops of rain fell. Carolynn and Nathan pulled up the hoods on their capes, and whilst Carolynn held their post, Nathan slipped back, returning with a sheet of heavy canvas and ties which they hastily hung from the ruin and lashed against the rising wind as the rain came on harder and the last vestiges of light vanished. Soon there was a steady patter as each peered out his end of the bivouac, a fresh clap of thunder resonating from the cliff at their backs behind , staring out into the down pour, looking for a sign they were or were not in danger. The rumbling above and constant drumming of rain made it almost impossible to hear anything out there, and equally hard to see. Lights would make them to easy a target and a fire was now out of the question. Carolynn sent Nathan back to look in on Jed and the children and they ran a cord from the bivvy to the tent for Jed to pull if need be, as shouting would be next to useless.

“All’s well !” he informed him on his return, the children liked the rain and weren’t afraid of the storm, Jed gave them the furs and they are Yeti’s now or something.
“Well you might as well get and hour or so Nate, doubt we’ll see much till this lets off a fair bit, I’ll wake you when it does !”
“Fair enough, no point us both being tired.” with which he pulled his cape tight up around his shoulders, rested his head on his pack and closed his eyes, then within moments he was out for the count.

“Not long since I was doing this last.” Thought Carolynn, recalling the passage in the High Valley, metallic beetles, the incessant rain and a slumbering Jed that time. It had been a dark just like this, the rain coming down in sheet’s, soaking everything, flashes of intense blue light and the booming in the peaks as though a great battle was being fought high-up in the cloud shrouded summits ! He looked out on each flash hoping something would be given away by the electric strobe of the lightening, but pt was to no avail ! One thing was certain, they would be here for the duration and whatever was out there would be only too aware of that too and for now, it seemed as though it suited it’s purpose to wait, he hoped !
It felt good to be dry in the wet, the rain now beat a hard rhythm on the tarp, his spine shivered and he could feel something else, out there, in the dark. It felt heavy, but not “wrong” or bad. Lightning flashed again, and suddenly there was someone, something standing at his side.
“Nate !“, he swung the shotgun, and pulled up sharp, for it was now sitting next to him, legs crossed and holding his stare. Nathan had not moved, as though he’d never spoken out, he… “

“Carolyn isn’t it ?“
He was still pointing the shotgun, but felt no urge to fire and the air held the ozone chemical freshness of rain, that unmistakeable smell that followed a storm, and as he sat opposite a figure in the rain he had never met, he felt he had known them, “For, for..”
“Ever ? Not quite, but a long time yes. I will tell you more later but for now hear this. “You“, with which the figure reached out with it‘s arm gesturing the canvas too, “All of you are being hunted by those called forth by the Baron‘s. There are two of his servants and they come !”

Carolynn blinked splashed rain from his eyes, and reached out to wake Nathan, for there was that smell… With a ripping slash, the side of the canvas was torn open and the pouring rain drove in.
“Nathan !” he yelled and at the same time catching sight of a vague outline off to his right, Carolynn fired. The object staggered, then rose and came on again, blending in and out of focus in the sheets of rain. He stepped back, cycled the next round to check it was HEAP and fired again. This time the top of the form burst apart, stinking, vile fluids and rotten tissue splattering the two of them, as Nathan had just reached his side.
Then a second figured barrelled out of the dark, clawed arms flailing and caught Nathan off guard, sending him staggering back, blood spreading across his cape from some unseen wound. Carolynn spun and swung with the “assassin’s sword” he had hidden about him for Grey. It bit briefly, the mono-filament blade opening up the apparition from mid back to neck, staggering it’s momentum and causing it to turn to face its tormenter.
As he recognised the face he felt his knee’s weaken, for it was one of the Baron’s Daemons. Although it had staggered under his first onslaught it was not deterred and swung a hideously malformed and long clawed arm at him, which he instinctively raised his sword to block. As the Daemons clawed paw struck the blade it was severed cleanly from its host, but the monofilament did nothing to impede the momentum and it smashed into his midriff, knocking him clean off his feet, showering him in filth and sending him sprawling in the mud and rain

Dragged from cover by the shots and seeing both his friends prone and some distance from their foe, Jed fired on semi-automatic, the first slug stopping the Daemon cold, the next HEAP round almost vaporising it where it stood in a fountain of vitriol and lumps of rotten flesh..
Shouldering the shotgun, he grabbed the prone Nathan, seeing Carolynn already trying to regain his feet, and part carried, part dragged him over to the shack and under the canvass with Joseph’s help. He tore back his cape and his shirt till he could see the wound, an ugly ragged cut across Nathan’s sternum and collar bone that was bleeding profusely.
“Grab the first aid kit from… thanks, Mariah ?” The young girl handed him the box, and he unwound a bandage and a gauze pad, first shaking anti-septic powder over the wound before pressing the pad down hard to stem the bleeding.
“Let me,” it was Joseph again, “I must press hard and keep pressing yes ? I have had to do this for my Dad, twice. How do you think my sister knew to go for the 1^st Aid kit, being in charge of a pub and drunk men was part of the job Dad says.”
“Well you hold on tight, I’ll see if Carolynn’s OK, won’t be long I promise.”

Jed found Carolynn checking the 1^st corpse, making sure that even in it’s ruined state, the thing presented no further risk
“What in Kell’s name is that, I, euuc, euuc, eruuuch” and with that Jed lost his diner at the sight of the Daemon’s pulverised remains and the stench, cloying and foul even when diluted by the persistent rain
“How’s Nate ?”
“Euu, s, s.ssorry bout that” Jed spat, “Sorry. He’s cut quite bad, Joseph’s got a pad clamped on the wound.”
“Joseph ?”
“Calm down, he’s fine. Those two kid’s were great, reckon they’ve seen more trauma than me ! They know exactly what was going on. Anyway, I need you to see him and I’ll hold out here for the time being, see if I can’t get the bivvy back up.” Jed finished, looking at the collapsed canvas.
“I’ll take that, thanks’ Joseph.” said Carolynn, taking the pad from over Nathan’s wound and taking a quick peak at the wound beneath. It was not as deep as he’d feared, but was jagged and the skin around it looked red and swollen. It did not look good.

Whilst Jed stood guard, Carolynn made good the Canvass, reassuring Joseph and M , both of whom he kept away from the nightmarish forms of the Daemon’s that had attacked them, by involving them in the re-building and caring for the rapidly deteriorating Nathan, who had now developed a high fever and was wracked by delirious , sweat drenched dreams. Soon they had managed to re-rig the canvas to keep out the continuous deluge of rain, and in the half of the shack that retained it’s roof and a hearth, Carolynn put pay to caution and had banked up a hot fire, so as to generate as little smoke as possible, to at least dry a few things with which Nathan could be made more comfortable. Having made good their shelter, Carolynn managed to get Joseph and M to rest for a while, giving him time to get a better look at Nathans wound.
The skin around the cut was puffy and had begun to turn an unhealthy greenish grey, with early signs of necrotic tissue on the ragged edges where the Daemon‘s claw had ripped the skin. And then there was the smell, it reminded him of that dark down in the bowel’s of the smelting hall and the ceremony too the Dark Gods ! They needed to get Nathan to an Apothecary, and fast, but the incessant drumming on the canvas and occasional distant rumble said that wasn’t happening anytime soon 

 End of Part 6

 

Mk 
 

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Theater 3, chapter 7.1

Yep, you got what you asked for! More from Mark!

Season Three, Chapter Seven 
Shades of Grey - Part Five "Tell them what ?” came a voice from behind Nathan at the top of the stairs. It was Jed. Carolynn looked at Nathan, his face a plea of what to do next. Jed however was not in a patient mood, they had clearly crossed some line with him that he was not best pleased about. “So, do we tell our friend’s WHAT exactly ?” he repeated, but more firmly this time, an edge to his voice. Jed’s tone clearly crossed a line with Carolynn, for eyes afire, he rounded on him !
 "Let me get this straight before it goes any further. Are you questioning my judgement, based upon you hearing my indecision as to whether or not I mention something to our hosts, the importance or the lack of, you have absolutely no idea about ?”
All the confidence and bravado visibly drained from Jed and pale faced he sat, rather upon the low wall that bordered Martin‘s roof, harder than he‘d probably intended. “When, I suppose that I…what I meant was,….if they are our friends, shouldn’t’t we,. not….try….no. No, I’m sorry alright !” Jed turned his face away, unable to look at the two of them, Carolynn in particular. He could not quite remember the last time he had heard that tone in Carolynn’s voice, but someone had died soon after. He remembered that, for it had been the very first time he had seen a dead person."Carolynn !” broached Nathan, with a look that said “Kell man, that was a bit harsh“, but Carolynn was having none of it, and turning to Jed said,

"Nathan and I have a few things to discuss, we will meet you downstairs. Shortly !” And with that terse remark, Jed was summarily dismissed.
When he’d gone Nathan, clearly less than happy with how thing’s had been dealt with, turned to him. “Was that really necessary to speak to him like that ?”
“You’d prefer I do it when the shell’s are flying and people are dying and he chooses that moment to question your or my integrity ? I gave him the benefit of the doubt for this trip, after the way he handled himself in the passage in the Mountains, and because I saw the man he was becoming. Today I saw the boy he was, a boy who has no place doing what we do ! There will be a time and a place to talk with Martin and it isn’t here or now. “
“You maybe right, but your people skills suck.” Nathan laughed, infectiously and the grim resolve Carolynn had been carrying for longer than he thought snapped, as his face broke into a grin, then he too was laughing.
“You are right as well I will apologise, didn’t realise how strung out I was. Thanks’ Nate for once again being my social compass, I do so easily lose my way. All those years looking after number one I suppose.”
“You don’t have to remind me, you gave my Bella and me a run for our money when we took you in. Poor woman had that many sleepless darks she swore she’d become nocturnal !” at which there was more laughter with a good deep sound, the sound of shared friendship. Carolynn flopped down with a deep sigh against the rail of the balcony, Nathan doing likewise. After a few moments to appreciate the slightly more pleasant night air, Nathan pulling back from his deeper thoughts said what they both were thinking
“We really need some time to think, so how about we give ourselves until after the Trades. I’m betting they still need time and the Trades going smoothly will give them that and get all the delegates out of Grey and out of their way“
“It also gives us a very strong hand at the negotiations.” Carolynn remarked as the pieces of what Nathan had said fell into place and a scheme germinated !
“What we need to do is ….” and so it was they plotted away the last of the quiet Dark, on the roof of the Inn with the remaining half bottle of Sallowclh to ease their conspiracy.“
As the light broke, they called down to breakfast and ate well to soak up the last of the Sallowclh, along with a few glasses of Martins cure-all, which as well as washing out the taste of Grey’s air, they were assured was good also for hangovers !
Grey used standard Terra time, so it was by 10 GST (Grey Standard Time), Nathan and Carolynn had found their place at the Trade-Talk and business commenced. The deal they sealed for Bronze Hearth was a good one, certainly better than folk back home would expect, but the two of them did not exploit their advantage of their hosts being pressed for time to the degree they could have, believing it unwise to attract to much attention. The Trade Hall’s proximity to the smelting hall also did not make staying around a welcome prospect besides, they also had other far more pressing matters to discuss before their departure from this City but even so they were not back at the inn until gone 22.30 GST

Upon their return, they were offered dinner and with the younger children in bed, they sat down to eat with Martin, Hannah and Jed and talked of their relative days. The PDF had called at “The Gallery” earlier, in a rouse of questioning everyone about last darks riots and the arson that took place. What they actually did was to out stay their welcome, drink as many free drinks as possible and get rowdy and abusive, scaring off the only 2 paying customers he’d had all light. Martin said such things were becoming too frequent and not just for him, it was the experience of many of the local retailers to have PDF Troopers turn up and help themselves to merchandise. The worst thing you could do then, as some found to their cost, was to complain, for this attracted severe retaliation in the form of damage to themselves and their premises and a marked increase in future payments. Martin had avoided this so far, but it had cost him a small fortune in free drink’s ! Again the Sallowclh came out and tales began to flow, with Martin telling them how before becoming an Inn keeper he was a metal worker by trade and it was these skill’s that had first got him work here in Grey. The plan had been to take the place on so he could work the metal shops by light, then help his Gloria, his wife in the Inn come dark until the Inn began to pay its way. Gloria’s illness and sudden death had put pay to all that though and he’d been managing the “The Gallery” ever since he first came here. Now he just wanted out, the place had overgrown itself and it was going to get a whole lot worse before it got any better. 
Carolynn told of how he remembered City life, how it had been almost 60 cycles now since he had left behind the stench of the rotting Hives, and not once had he wished to return. Life in the Ceramite Cites could be harsh, but the air was clear and the dangers too, tending not to be the kind that stabbed you in the back or smothered you in your sleep. Jed had happier tales of a life in Bronze Hearth, open to the elements yet free of the smog and smell of too many people into small a space.
After a few more rounds of Sallowclh, sensing the time was as right as it would ever be, Carolynnand Nathan told of what they knew about the Baron’s plan’s and their development, taking Martin and Hannah to the roof so they could see for themselves the work that was underway. The remainder of the meal passed in virtual silence. Hannah eventually excused herself and left the Courtyard where they were seated, following which Jed announced he was tired and was going to turn in, and hurried after her. 
“Any idea’s gentlemen, would be greatly appreciated, for I’m all out !“ said Martin, with a little mania in the giggle that followed the remark, as he poured himself another , the other two declining a refill by politely sitting a hand over their glasses.
“Here’s to the Baron’s, “ Martin rose unsteadily, raising his glass, arm fully outstretched to the heavens, “Who as they are not part of the solution, must be part of the problem !“
“I’ll drink to that,” said Carolynn, raising his glass too.
“Seconded !” replied Nathan, doing likewise.
“The Baron’s,” toasted Martin, “May they rot in a hell of their own choosing !“
a sentiment echoed by his two companion’s.
Carolynn glanced at Nathan, who nodded in acknowledgment.
“Alright to get some caffeine on Martin.” said Carolynn, “We have a long day tomorrow.”
“Of course my friends, be my guest, but you are, aren’t you, my guests !”, Martin laughed hollowly at his own pun and the air of maudlin upon him was thick and heavy.
“You had any offers on this place even ?” asked Nathan, whilst Carolynn could be heard clunking about in the kitchen .
“One !” Martin scoffed, but it was way too little.
“What about renting the place ?”
“Wouldn’t give me sufficient capital to get somewhere to go. Even with another job on the side and Hannah earning I couldn’t afford somewhere to go too !”
Carolynn returned with three mugs and put them down on the table, “Have a little Martin, the herbs I’ve added will take the edge off !”“Thanks‘. I’m sorry, I’m not good company when I‘ve sunk a few.”
“Get that down you,” said Nathan, “we need you sober.”
“Why ?” he asked.
“Because we have an proposition for you.”
Sipping their caffeine, Carolynn and Nathan explained.
In Bronze Hearth, Old Man Orsan, one of the village Elder’s was bedridden and so living with his son and daughter-in-law and had been for some time, being unlikely he‘d return home. In short, his “pod ” was empty. If Martin could rent out “The Gallery”, he could rent the old man’s place and still have a few Rad Bonds* spare. 

“Part one, getting you all a house.” summed up Nathan.
 *Rad Bonds - Local Space Sector currency and the most stable form of plastic-money on Zalthar and its neighbouring Planets.

They went on, suggesting to Martin he set himself up as the “metal-smith” to Bronze Hearth, he had the skill’s and as they had not had one for some time, all their work had to go to Ridge or Blue Slide,* both of which were a light and a darks journey at the least.

*Ridge and Blue Side, the nearest two Cities to Bronze Hearth.
Blue Side is a permanent City, carved into the softer rocks of the Aspine’s, a smaller range of Mountains than runs off the Worldspine Range about 40 miles to the south-West of Bronze Hearth. Set in a steep-sided valley, the City rises almost vertically up a long single South-facing cliff accessible only via climb-ways and a series of elevators.

Ridge is Bronze Hearths closest neighbouring Ceramite City during the High Grazing, lying some 50 miles North in a “V” shaped valley that cuts into Mount Lamina, 7^th highest Peak in the Worldspine Mountains at 26, 752 ft.

They also explained to Martin there was the Caravan work, they often needed repairs and provisions to sell were always top of their list. Plus there was other passing trade and the fishers when the snows came and they went to the low grazing valley’s. If that was not steady enough, they explained he could always find a high herder shift or two.  

“Part two, helping find employment !” said Nathan.

Nathan explained that Carolynn and he would be leaving on the light and the herd would leave at the end of the cycle for the low grazing. They would help him set up shop and as for Hannah, she could get work easily and the younger kids could go to the school during the snows and there were odd jobs around the herd in high grazing. They would also be a lot safer there than in Grey with it approaching melt-down.
“We know it’s a lot to think about, and we will help all we can. I think you would like Bronze Hearth, I know the kids would. And we get a metal-smith out of it, means no more sharpening my own tools again !” Carolynn laughed and slapped Martin’s shoulder, but the mans face seemed miles away.
“The people are a good crowd,“ added Nathan, “You would be an object of curiosity for a while, till something new comes along, then you are straight back to old news I’m afraid !“
“You’re right, it’s a lot to take in”, said Martin, “but we all know the clock here’s ticking and I’m not stuck with choices really am I. We have about a week, maybe two before those fortifications are complete, which ties in with the Trades being completed. Face it, Grey’s not a place you visit is it, it’s a place you come to cos you have too, so once the Trades are gone, there’ll be no more outside interference and the Baron’s will then do as they please. With the snow’s only just over a cycle off, no-one will be that anxious to leave so..”
“So ?” asked Carolynn.
“So you’ve got yourselves a metal-smith, provided the kid’s don’t have a problem !”

Dawn on the 3^rd light in Grey was the same sickly and pallid affair with the senses, Carolynn and Nathan having sat up most of the dark again talking, for the longest time with Martin, but also between themselves, running over again when and how they could help Martin. They had not foreseen however, how this might play out.
They were down for breakfast early, Nathan with a fold of Rad Bonds to settle their bill. The family were already up, and judging by the strange look on their faces, Martin had already discussed thing’s with his children
“Did you hear, we are to have a new life where you live.” Smiled Joseph, a warm smile matched by that of his younger sister.
“Thank you for offering us this,” said Hannah, “I know Dad’s been trying to get us out for some time, but we had nowhere to go !”
“Guess it’s a hit then Martin,” said Nathan, “Sounds like everyone’s in agreement, you will be in touch soon as the rental’s arranged I take it ?”
“Actually, I have a bigger favour to ask,” said Martin, and all of a sudden, the room seemed deathly quiet.
“I would like you to take Joseph and Mariah with you today !”
“OKaay - “ said Carolynn, “You….”
“Sure I’m sure, and so are they. I think our time-table of one to two weeks was, optimistic to say the least !” Throwing down a hard copy of the local news onto the table as he spoke. Carolynn picked it up. On the front page the headline read “Protesters killed during “Slum-clearance“ programme.” Some 40+ “protesters”
Had been gunned down complaining about one of the “dead-zone‘s” being bulldozed through their homes, as was their right. The PDF allege they were fired on first, but no fire-arms could later be found amongst the dead. Over 100 more were wounded, as apparently something somewhere went wrong, leading to a Heavy Weapon Remote being turned on the crowd for less than 2 seconds. Less than 2 seconds for a chain gun was a lifetime, or in this case, 40+ lifetimes !
“OK, better get them ready, they’ll need good thick clothes, especially long pants as we’ll be riding, and I don’t want them getting grazed legs now ! Journey’s 2 days, but we’ll need food for 3, and plenty of that magic potion of yours t…”
Martin placed all the items Carolynn had rattled off on the table, and when the kids stood up, it was clear both were dressed for the occasion. Nathan and Jed smiled as Carolynn nodded his approval.
“Right then, Jed, Nate, grab your kit, Nathan and I will take one of you each and Jed will distribute your kit about his horse, you OK with that ?”
“Yes Mr Carolynn”, snapped Joseph “Can I ride with y…”
“That’s Carolynn to many and Car to my friend’s of which I thought you were one ? And yes, long as Nathan doesn’t mind, you can ride with me for now.”

It took what felt like an age with the arranging and rearranging of kit and supplies and small children, but eventually the goodbyes and see-you-soon’s had all been said and they began on foot, the hoses picking their way slowly up through the meandering streets and levels that lead up the cliff face that was Grey. By midlight, they had reached the top, and were now able to ride through the smog bound lunar landscape of the suburbs, putting appreciated distance between them and this shite-hole.
“What’s your house like Carol..Car ?” asked Joseph, the first of a hundred more questions about Bronze Hearth and “his” Mountains you’d expect from one as young and bursting with curiosity.
“This is gonna be one long journey.” Carolynn thought to himself !

End of Part 5

Mk 

Theatre 3, chapter 7

Season Three, Chapter Seven 

Shades of Grey - Part Four
Back on the roof, Nathan hastily replaced the panel they accessed the shaft through before the two of them, discarding the last two screws and then they were up, running zigzagged at a crouch back to the edge where the funicular cars left the smelting plant. As soon as the next empty wagon cleared the concrete lip, they jumped, the entire thing rocking so unsteadily as they landed it felt like it was about to part company with the cable. They ducked down beneath its riveted sides, trying to remain unseen, for there was no sign that their presence had been detected and they were anxious it should remain so.
“U 22/23 !”, Carolynn chanced a quick note of the stage number and crouched back into the wagon, They got on at 16, for he remembered the strange configuration of spars beneath the bridge from which the number hung and where this escapade had begun. He was as confident as he could be that those same spars would be accessible for a jump clear on the way back up and so would need to be ready by U 16/23 then. What was less certain was whether they could do so unseen by anyone, especially the PDF, for there was no way if they were caught in the wagon even Carolynn could talk his way out ! Sorry officer, my mate slipped and fell and I was helping him out just wouldn’t cut it,
“U 20/23 ! ”, Carolynn patted his holster to ensure the snap was shut, just heightened anxiety given what they had found and at the prospect of what they now needed to do, even without this jump. It was also the first time he had seen Nathan like that. His solid friend, never phased by the shite happening around them, calm, logical ! Kell, he’d almost been in bits, not good. It would be like losing his right arm in the field, and as friends went he didn’t even want to contemplate it

“They’re quite gentle really, unless you do something like threaten their calves, but I learnt how to behave around them from Nathan right since I was little and Carolynn has shown me stuff too. He can sort of talk to them somehow, I know that sounds daft, but some of the low herders, the ones that work in with them can move so as to calm them if they get spooked and they know these songs that can even stop them from stampeding !” Jed was telling Hannah about life with the herd, with those of the Lead Lands, and she was fascinated. Her father had locked up a while back, things out in the streets were deteriorating still further and a couple of buildings were burning. The night air was full of smoke, mixing to a soup with the smog, punctuated now and then by the scream of sirens as a second tender, flanked by several PDF vehicles arrived. The first had foolishly come unaccompanied and been driven off, its crew injured by home-made promethium bombs, rocks and a couple of slugs from black market firearms. The PDF responded with baton rounds at first, then live firing from their “Marksmen” on roof-tops or custom built VTOL’s with sponson mounted “sniper seats” ! Shops had shut, windows were being boarded-up and most of the good folk of down town Grey imposed their own voluntary curfew, so it was all too easy to see why the pastoral life of a Herder might seem so attractive, yet Hannah seemed genuinely captivated. Jed told her the tales from his part of the World Spines, of High Valley, of Bright River Falls and as she found it so entrancing, he had to tell her the tale of the Shadowfin’s twice !
“You will be able to swim with them ?” she questioned in awe.
“Well I will have to see, but that’s what the fishing-folk hope will happen now the river is cleaner. They say they used to help them by herding the fish into the shallows, right into their nets.”
“It’s hard here to remember even clean air !” she sighed, everything is so filthy and polluted and they have cleared the woods and forests for miles around to burn in the mines and for furl for the smelting ovens where they cast the lead into blocks to sell”
“Can I get you another drink Sir.. I’m sorry, another drink Jed, and Hannah, how about you ?”
“Sure !” said Jed, “Thanks, I will be back in a moment, I’d just like to go to the roof for a moment if that’s OK, see if I can catch sight of my friends as they should be done with the sight-seeing by now.”
"I’ll take you,” said Hannah, come on it‘s this way.”

“U 17/23 ! You ready Nate ? We‘ve got to go at 15/23!”
“As I’ll ever be,” said Nate, “You could count us down my friend, lessen the shock !” he joked.
“Remember it’s a jump and grab, the bridge has several spars across the track, all only about one and a half meters above us, so don’t jump to hard or you’ll hit one and the closer we can get to the back of the bridge, the less chance we’ll be seen !” The wagon clunked over the next set of rails that had not been laid that evenly. “Probably hard to find anyone with experience in such archaic transport this day and age.” thought Nathan to himself. It was certainly the first one he had ever seen in all his years in the mountains !
“U 16/23“, whispered Carolynn, “time to get ready for that jump!”
The funicular ground an creaked its way up at what now seemed a maddeningly slow pace, gears grinding as cogs’ so worn they should have been replaced struggled to gain traction on one another, when slowly the outline of the bridge began to materialise. Carolynn could not see anyone from where he stood, but then the bridge blocked most of their line of sight and even if they did spot someone, it was not as if there was much they could do about it anyhow, for they had no choice but to take the jump.
“U 15/23, let‘s go !”
Carolynn and Nathan launched themselves into the air, arms outstretched, hands grasping for the cast iron spars beneath the bridge, praying that it shielded them from prying eyes on the road above. Carolynn’s hands grabbed a section of cold iron work and closed around it, clinging on for dear life. Swinging his legs sideways, he was able to pull himself up until he sat cleanly upon the cross-member, immediately turning to see that much to his relief, Nathan was completing a similar manoeuvre. Climbing up through the spars, Carolynn was eventually in a position to swing out and steal a glance at the road, which by the luck of Kell, appeared to be empty both ways. Not wanting to pass-up this chance, he signalled to Nathan the way seemed clear and they both scrambled the last few feet up the bridges wrought iron scroll work and dropped down as nonchalantly as possible onto the road.
Carolynn had just straightened up and as Nathan, was about to walk off in the direction of the inn when a voice challenged them from in the smog at the far end of the bridge.
“Freeze you two !”
Carolynn did not quite halt but slowed to an almost imperceptible pace, gently attempting to turn, as he heard the gun chamber a round and stopped. “Stay where you are and don’t move !”
There was the sound of the same hard-soled boots on tarmac as Nathan had heard on the roof of the smelting plant down below and he guessed they were uniform, standard issue, making this one PDF too. Standard Autogun too then, capable of a burst tight enough to fell them both even if the person on the other end wasn’t particularly good, so not much “wiggle-room” then, great !
“PDF shut this bridge and the road back to the Centre, why are you here ?” exclaimed a rough voice. “
That was good “ thought Carolynn, “for if he was asking that, he’d not seen them climb up from below.”
“We’re not from Grey” he answered, his Herder accent almost imperceptible at times now thick and rural “My friend and I were trying to find the inn where we were staying and seem to have got ourselves lost !”
“You maybe lost, but you aint deaf and there are patrol’s both ends turning people back from here, how’d you miss them ?”
The footsteps behind Nathan were getting closer as the Trooper crossed to their side of the bridge,
“You must have passed one of them, why did they let you through then eh ? I don’t think you could have passed them, in which case what have you been up to ?“
“I think there was some trouble, that’s why we left. Maybe they were dealing with those causing the disturbance, we saw…”
“Bollocks ! There was any agro down the East End they would have alerted me, told me to stop any that as tried to make a run for it, which is a more likely reason for you being here !”
Nathan could sense the Trooper just to his rear right, smell the alcohol on his breath and the sweat and smoke of his clothes, hear the slight breathlessness of someone not it the peak of fitness and the faint slur to his speech.
“Better and better“, thought Nathan, probably unfit, maybe carrying a few extra pounds and he‘s had a few glasses of Sallowclh to boot.*

*Sallowclh - pronounced sal - ok. An ancient and traditional strong spirit drink, brewed from fermented Snowberries, Morac milk and a secret plant extract that allows the successful blending of the two. Without this extract, you get a really, really bad alcoholic drink that is actually poisonous in large quantities, known as Sank.

“Kneel down arsehole !” he bellowed at Nathan, who felt the spray of spittle against his neck just before the Trooper kicked him savagely in the back of his right knee so he dropped to the floor hard.
“And stay down. You ! You come here.” he yelled at Carolynn. “And quick about it, I aint got all dark !” Carolynn did as he was told and turned and hurried over to where Nathan knelt in front of the Trooper, who was looking a little unsteady now, his gun shaking ever so slightly in his hands as he waved it about precariously.
“Oh that’s great,” though Carolynn, “Get through all that only to be shot accidentally by some pissed PDF bully boy,” for in the 12 paces it took him to get there, Carolynn arrived at a similar conclusion as to the state of their new friend as Nathan had. “Over the limit and over weight, that’s handy.” he thought to himself, making sure he presented himself as awkwardly as possible to the man as he reached him..
“You, on your knees too ! The Trooper yelled, showering Carolynn this time
“Yes Sir !” he toadied, dropping smartly to his knees, pretending to almost unbalance as he did so, which made the Trooper scoff at his clumsiness, and as he reached eye level with Nathan, for a moment he could have sworn he saw his friend wink ?
“Now you two sacks of shite, I wanna know when you came here, where you’re staying and exactly what you think you are doing littering the streets of my City ! And if I think, just for one moment, you are not being straight with me, if I think you‘re jerking me around, you are gonna find your sorry arses in a whole world of hurt, capiche !”
“ Yes Sir !” Carolynn and Nathan responded, and sensing he had these two out-of-towners beat, the trooper went for the cuffs on his belt. He dropped his eyes for just a moment, but that’s all it took Carolynn to grab the end of his Autogun and rotate it 180° until the muzzle contacted the Trooper’s midriff and his finger having located the trigger, fire it twice. With two muffled ”chumph” sounds the rounds blasted two fist sized holes in the Troopers middle, collapsing him across Carolynn as he stood into the Trooper’s fall, barrelling him sideways in a rugby tackle toward the side rail of the bridge. The wrought iron fret-work scroll’s slowed him briefly, but then the Trooper was gone, spiralling away into the dark, his tumbling form swallowed by the smog long before it’s inevitable convergence with the roof of the smelting hall far below !
“Phew.“ Carolynn gasped from the adrenaline spike rather than the exertion of the whole thing.
“Come on Nate, time to make ourselves very scarce I think !” and the two turned for the Centre, Carolynn briefly inspecting the front of his cape for any signs of the altercation with the Trooper, though in the dark, smog draped street he could see no obvious marks nor traces of blood. They needed to get as far from here as possible and off the streets though, to avoid getting drawn into this any further by the Authorities for there would be some trace. He had worked with death enough to know that no kill is ever clean, there is always a little tell tale evidence passed on. They walked as brusquely as they dare, for to run, here at this time of the dark would be little short of a confession to some deviancy, unless you were being pursued by someone. By now he guessed they were little more than 2 or 3 levels over from the “Gallery”, the name he now remembered, of Joseph’s father’s inn. His thoughts strayed to Jed, what would they tell the lad ? Knowing things was about to become a liability and he was not a practiced liar.
“Time enough with us two,” he mused, “and that’ll all change !” He afforded himself a quick glance at Nathan and straight way slowed them down, for if he too looked that purposeful then guilty was not a that much of a long shot for anyone else who cared to take note of the two outsiders who “Went that way officer.” The buildings about them reared up and the alley’s narrowed, too far up-hill, those about the central plaza were more evenly spaced, so they hung left, Nathan then noticing one of the self-aggrandising bas relief’s that stood several meters high and a as a tribute to ready money. It had probably looked grander in its day, for the chemical soup that passed for air here had begun to dissolve the layers at a rate that in a few more cycles would have the carving look like a map of the lower World Spine Mountains and the seemingly random peaks and troughs of nature.
“This way”, Nathan took them sharply left, then into a street that rose at a silly angle to the right and they were then in front of two substantial corrugated iron clad gates that were beginning to swing open.

“Guys, guy’s, sorry about the gates, but its been mad here tonight ! There were riots down the street and then scores of …” the Eldest daughter moved the babbling Jed aside.
“Let me get your friends something to freshen them, enough of the questioning for now !” Hannah prised the two of them from the attentions of a relieved Jed and sat them down at one of the courtyard tables, whilst Jed turned his attention to helping Martin close-up again, rolling the massive gates back and dropping their wood block latches firmly in place. Hannah handed them each a glass of the same clear drink as they had upon their arrival and it was just as cleansing and equally appreciated.
“Some Sallowclh !” proposed Nathan, which took Carolynn by surprise, but remembering Jed’s enthusiastic curiosity at such times and the need now more than usual for “normality“, he saw where he was going with this, so added, “Bring the bottle, it is after all our 1^st night in Grey !”
Martin disappeared for a moment, hurriedly reappearing with a slightly dusty bottle and was soon charging glasses. “Don’t forget yourself Martin“, Nathan added, “And for your eldest ?” the later a polite question as ever with him.
“To our new friend’s, said Carolynn, raising his glass to Martin, “and your family for saving us in this City !”, which made Joseph blush and hurry away to do ‘something’, whilst waiting for his excitement to subside.
Soon in an atmosphere so relaxed it was hard to connect the goings on at the smelting hall and the dead Trooper with the same dark for Carolynn. Joseph and his younger sister had retired and the rest were sat in a group, discussing Martins business opportunities or the lack thereof in a very animated way, having put more than a dent in a second bottle of Sallowclh. Carolynn had laid of the liquor as he felt to tense and appreciated and had the whole train of today’s events on permanent loop in his head, looking for any mistakes, which he appreciated was not helping himself or anyone. So, as he did at times like this, he slipped away, taking the stairs two at a time until he was on the roof with it’s panoramic views of Grey.

What were they going to do, go to Lord Samuel ? And what would he do, send in the PDF ? Hardly a plan, the Inquisition ? It was not until after, until he’d had a chance to reflect upon it all that he realised just what that could mean to the people of Grey, Kell the people of Zalthar, because there was no telling where the Inquisition would stop, or even if the Inquisition would stop. They were not renowned for their moderation and as this would be the 2^nd time they would have been called here, they would not go easy on folk. Their displeasure would be made only too clear. 
Looking to the East, it seemed that the PDF still had the area of the bridge and the levels leading to and through the district locked down, with Heavy Weapon Remotes and their crew’s deployed at all the major intersections Carolynn could see. They were formidable pieces of kit these remotely operated vehicles, they were tracked with heavily armoured chassis and often had a twin chain gun or heavy bolter load out. Whilst they would be sitting ducks in an open war, they excelled in urban pacification, their bulk and soulless cybernetic menace, often enhanced by painted-on teeth and eyes was usually enough to deter all but the most fool hardy rioters. Here in Grey they sat dominating the junctions of roads and levels, stabiliser’s deployed to support their armoured bulk with the ferocious recoil of their weaponry, whilst their crews sat in the comparative safety of an adjacent building directing their every move.

Then it suddenly struck Carolynn what was happening, shapes began to form across the cityscape, linking what at first had appeared to be random locations. There was a ring, all though he could not determine all the positions along its length it was big and as he looked he could make out more and more elements, way more than just security measures for the Trades ! In some places, whole gangs of labourers were out in force along with a lot of Heavy Plant, diggers and dozers, even one or two anti-grav lifters hauling plasti-crete could be seen in the little “diorama’s” formed by the Arc lights. Illuminated industrious “bubbles” in the dark ! Seemed though the Baron’s were aware of their unpopularity after all, for down town Grey was becoming “Fortress-Grey“ at an alarming rate. In some places, whole swathes of shanty‘s had been raised, to create twenty, some thirty yard wide “dead-zones“ for free fire, dotted with steel spikes strung with razor wire! They were probably soon to be mined with hundreds of those little anti-personnel spring mines,* if they had not done so already on the QT.

*Spring Mines - Often small, spring launched air-blast anti-personnel weapons. Cheap and effective, they have left horrendous legacies of indiscriminate carnage and mutilation on millions of Planets for thousands of Years, often long after hostilities had ceased.

The Baron’s were clearly preparing to hold on to what they’d got, no matter what the cost. A fortified Palace, deals with the Dark-Gods, as Carolynn could see it, the only thing they were short were Soldiers. Sure there were these “PDF” types about, but from what Nathan and he had seen so far they were not Lord Samuel’s PDF, they fell well short of that bar, these were just hired Goon’s in PDF uniforms and would not be much use against an enemy that fired back. They were fine for shake-downs and as pseudo-police at times of civil unrest, but against an organised revolt, or intervention from the Governor and the “Real PDF” or the Guard Unit’s of the Inquisition, even with Fortress-Grey and it’s minefields, their Heavy Weapon Remotes and Sniper VTOL’s, they would be as much use as a chocolate fire-guard ! What was clear, packed like sardines in their flimsy shanty‘s, the civilian population of Grey would be massacred, caught like “Human shields” between the Baron’s Feudal Levy and whomever was sent to bring them back in-line, they would stand little chance. Getting out would not be an option either, for the Baron’s would not willingly let folk go and forsake their protection and even if they did, where would they go to? Many were dispossessed, having little beyond what they had invested in Grey itself, and with the snows soon to wrap the World Spines in their icy grasp, just wandering off and trusting in providence was not an option. In the valley’s the temperature often dipped to - 10° C or lower, up here in the Mountains it sometimes got to - 30° C which with no cover would be lethal. No, the people of Grey were not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.

What Carolynn could not understand, was that if he and Nathan had found these Cultists so relatively easily, all be it with a little bit of luck, and spotted the growing defensive perimeter, how come the Imperial Authorities seemed so blissfully unawares ? They were infamous for poking their noses in everywhere, a finger in every pie. The Inquisition would not have deemed Zalthar free from Chaos, then packed up shop and left, that much was certain. They would leave an Agent or ten, ticked away, waiting for someone somewhere to screw-up and they’d be right back, righteous indignation glowing, torches and pitchforks ready to hand out to the mob so they could go and hunt them a heretic ! So where were they then ? Why was Grey not crawling with Imperial Spies or disciples of the Officio Assassinorum ready to pop a cap in the first Baron that forgot to praise the Emperor after a particularly satisfying dump ?
Something was either very wrong, or he was missing something desperately obvious and he did not find either appealing. What to do, what to do ?
“Come on oh smart mind, come on, if your so smart, you figure things out, its what you do, have always done so don’t fail me now !” He was walking in tight little circles, oblivious to his surroundings, when…..
“Penny for them ?” Carolynn sun at the sound of Nathan’s voice.
“You are letting down our hosts my friend. What is it up here that has you so totally captivated that light is almost upon us and yet you stand alone, as if all the troubles of the world were yours and yours alone ?”
“I, I am sorry. Look !” Carolynn took Nathans arm and turned him towards the site of the construction of the nearest redoubt. “They are preparing for War, a long and bloody one from what we have seen. What should we do Nathan ? Who do we tell of what we have seen, do we tell our friend’s first. Do we tell Martin and his Family ?”

End of Part Four

Mk 

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