{"id":1110,"date":"2012-03-02T00:00:04","date_gmt":"2012-03-02T05:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1110"},"modified":"2012-03-01T10:37:09","modified_gmt":"2012-03-01T15:37:09","slug":"autumn-chapter-four-06","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1110","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter Four – 06"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan shrugged slightly, going back to his carving.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIn any case, there\u2019s just\u2026things\u2026that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThings,\u201d Thom muttered, then scrubbed both hands over his face.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Do I want to know what these things are?\u00a0 <\/span>Do I want to have any inkling of what they might be?<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, I think I\u2019d rather have some of that be a surprise.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced at Matt, who nodded.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>As he began to shovel again, Matt asked, \u201cSo this Vammatar chick that worked you over and gave J.T. that black eye.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What kind of nasty would she usually bring in as backup?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEh?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, you said the <\/span>camazotzi<\/span><\/em> aren\u2019t exactly her style, right?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt heaved another shovelful of mixed dirt and clay to the side.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat would be?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLone gunman.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom stared at Phelan, brows knitting.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe usually works alone?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEither alone or with her sister.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Loviatar, mistress of the nine plagues.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy is that name familiar?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat does D&D have to do with this?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom asked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan laughed and shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNothing except names.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A few came from Finnish mythology.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Most folks don\u2019t think about the people of Finland having their own myths, but they did.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd their <\/span>mythology<\/span><\/em> is in part reality?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan nodded and tapped his nose with a fingertip.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou are correct, sir.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHuh.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo this mistress of the nine plagues chick.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Do we have to worry about her?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom watched Phelan carefully as the other man considered the question and finally shook his head.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI hope not,\u201d Phelan said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cVammatar\u2019s a force to be reckoned with, but her sister?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t know if we\u2019d pull through that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy\u2019s that?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt asked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan smiled wryly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI thought \u2018mistress of the nine plagues\u2019 would explain that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He stretched and leaned back a little, wincing slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHer purview is sickness.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Think about it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt grimaced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhysical arms we have a shot against\u2014or we will\u2014but sickness is sickness.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBingo,\u201d Phelan said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ve gone toe-to-toe with her once and that was enough.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced at Thom and held up a hand.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t ask.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not in any state of mind right now to tell you what happened.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom closed his mouth and nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 Either he\u2019s already got me figured out, or the curiosity was all over my face.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He wondered what had happened that last time Phelan had gone up against this purported mistress of plagues.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDoes it have something to do with what Vammatar said before Jay rushed her?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan winced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot quite,\u201d he said softly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWait, what?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt looked at both of them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe asked if Phelan was gathering another tribe to fight and die for him, one that could be easily discarded.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline gave Matt a weak little smile as she set a big basket down next to Phelan.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt gave Phelan a sharp look and the older man sighed quietly and shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s not like that, Matt.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo,\u201d Matt said slowly, gazing warily at him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI suppose not.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What did you say to her?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI didn\u2019t,\u201d Phelan said, staring at his hands.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJameson was on her before I could. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>She was mocking him for caring, for stepping up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s her way.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He sighed quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe\u2019s a force of <\/span>suffering<\/span><\/em>, after all.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced at Jacqueline.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI didn\u2019t realize you and Greg heard her say that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline shrugged as she sat down on the other side of the basket and pulled out a notebook and a pen.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know why not.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We were there, weren\u2019t we?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAye, you were.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He poked at the cloth over the basket\u2019s contents.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s in there?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHerbs and bandages.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I figured I\u2019d come up here and sit with you three and bundle them so I stop catching dirty looks from Leah.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom winced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe\u2019s upset?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA little.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She seems mostly okay about it, but I think she\u2019s seething underneath.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She might realize we\u2019re starting to be suspicious about her behavior.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline shook her head a little.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI can\u2019t tell whether it\u2019s understandable resentment or malice, though.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom frowned and straightened up slightly, looking beyond Phelan and Jacqueline toward where the work continued on their defensive walls.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He could see Leah at one end, working with Davon laying broken concrete and stones, Rory a few yards away with a yardstick measuring the height of their accomplishments.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAs long as she keeps doing what\u2019s asked,\u201d Thom said quietly, his voice trailing away at the end. <\/span>Then what?\u00a0 <\/span>What if she really is a threat?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What do we do then?<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat do we do if she doesn\u2019t, Thom?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt asked quietly, abandoning his shovel and following Thom\u2019s gaze.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat do we do then?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Thom said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI really don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe can\u2019t send her away,\u201d Jacqueline said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019d be tantamount to murder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She wouldn\u2019t have any resources, nowhere to go.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s not necessarily true.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I saw some signs of other communities while I was on my way up here.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Granted, I never got to investigate any of them, but there are other survivors.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe not that <\/span>close<\/span><\/em>, but not that <\/span>far<\/span><\/em>, either.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But would we be endangering those communities by pointing her in their direction, or just letting her loose on the world?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom shook his head slowly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere\u2019s no good options.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 Except to hope we\u2019re wrong, that it\u2019s all just coincidence.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A sick feeling in the pit of his stomach warned him that he very well could be wrong.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Phelan shrugged slightly, going back to his carving.\u00a0 \u201cIn any case, there\u2019s just\u2026things\u2026that\u2019s all.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThings,\u201d Thom muttered, then scrubbed both hands over his face.\u00a0 Do I want to know what these things are?\u00a0 Do I want to have … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,42,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-4-book-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-hU","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1110"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1112,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1110\/revisions\/1112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}