{"id":1351,"date":"2012-08-10T00:00:33","date_gmt":"2012-08-10T04:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1351"},"modified":"2012-08-09T19:43:15","modified_gmt":"2012-08-09T23:43:15","slug":"winter-chapter-18-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1351","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 18 – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It took another three hours to get the first tower up, but by the time they were done, it seemed sturdy and stable enough\u2014at least for the time being.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The clouds above had thickened to a dark gray, though no fresh flakes had begun to fall and no snow-thunder threatened.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Just the dark gray of a threatening sky, with the clouds moving fast in the heavens under a strong wind that was much less noticeable on the ground.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Despite the tower\u2019s apparent stability, it was over Marin\u2019s objections that Thom was the first to scale the makeshift ladder up to the platform.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The wind up above the rooftops was a little stronger, but not enough to make the tower sway as ominously as he feared\u2014not as badly as it would under the gale-force winds of a West Michigan winter.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBe careful up there,\u201d Marin warned from below him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He grinned, though she couldn\u2019t see it.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI will be.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Pretty stable, though.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Want to come up?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHell no,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust be careful.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Do you see anything up there?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>His gaze swept over the rooftops, toward the ravine, then on toward the river and the ruins of M-45.<\/span>\u00a0 What\u2019s\u2026?\u00a0 <\/em><\/span>He squinted, trying to get a better look at what he thought he saw.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A curse dropped from his lips like rocks off a precipice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSend Angie and Tala below,\u201d he snapped.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe have incoming.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFuck me,\u201d J.T. said from below, even as Marin asked, \u201cHow many?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCan\u2019t tell,\u201d Thom said, leaning forward slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re still too far away.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDammit, Thom!<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Stop leaning over that rail and get down here before you give me a heart attack.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Rory, trade places.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHis eyes are better,\u201d Rory said, his grumble just barely carrying enough so Thom could hear him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t think she cares.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom hurried down from his perch and stepped aside so Rory could climb up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He gave Marin a quick squeeze.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019d say at least two dozen.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Hard to tell how they\u2019re traveling, but they\u2019re moving too slow for some not to be on foot\u2014unless they\u2019re hauling something damned heavy.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I hope they\u2019re not hauling anything heavy like some kind of cannon or heavy weapon.\u00a0 <\/span>Of course that would come to mind instead of, say, wagons full of wounded.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>J.T.\u2019s expression was grim as he shook his head slowly and then turned away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll talk to Carolyn and see if her little friends can give us a better idea of\u2014\u201c<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIron,\u201d Carolyn interrupted, her expression matching J.T.\u2019s.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re saying a lot of iron.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That probably means guns, or something worse.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her lips thinned and she glanced at J.T., then at Thom and Marin. \u201cI was coming to tell you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll grab the shotguns.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Someone going to go round up Paul and the sheep?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll go,\u201d Carolyn said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI think I know where they are.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ll tell Tala that something\u2019s coming on the way.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThanks,\u201d Marin said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBe careful, okay?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn shot her a wry smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAlways.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ve run into the <\/span>camazotzi<\/span><\/em> enough times for one lifetime.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Shivers shot up and down Thom\u2019s spine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The days were ticking away and every new threat that reared its head only made him feel <\/span>less<\/span><\/em> prepared for the resumption of hostilities with the Shadow Man\u2014<\/span>no, Cariocecus<\/span><\/em>\u2014that would come on the shortest day of the year.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe still don\u2019t know why,\u201d he murmured as Carolyn jogged away.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Marin gave him a quizzical look after giving a few last instructions to her brother, who\u2019d jogged in another direction to start rounding up their guns and swords\u2014hopefully, they wouldn\u2019t need any of them, but the swords most of all.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t know why what?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy he\u2019s coming after us,\u201d Thom said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Marin just blinked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. shook his head.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOne bloody problem at a goddamned time, Thom.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI have to tell Jac to get the kits ready.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His nose wrinkled and he glanced upwards.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow close, Rory?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStill about a mile out.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They haven\u2019t crossed the river yet.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019ll have a hell of a time coming across the broken bridge.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thank god for small blessings, right?\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe they\u2019ll turn back.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He didn\u2019t think it was likely, but they could hope.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s coming?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin asked, jogging up with Drew on her heels.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI saw Matt grabbing the guns.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAt least two dozen people,\u201d Thom said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHauling a wagon of something.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Loot, I think,\u201d Rory called from above.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re not looking very nice.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre we sure they\u2019re hostile?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin asked<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Marin grimaced and shook her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo, but can we take the risk that they\u2019re not?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We have to make sure we can defend ourselves.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If they fly a white flag or send someone forward for parley, that\u2019s one thing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What if they\u2019re showing up to take what we\u2019ve got?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Drew touched her shoulder.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re right, Kel,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe have to assume that they\u2019re hostile until they\u2019re proven not to be.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced up at the watchtower.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRory!<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You see any kids with them?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo dice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Can\u2019t tell if they\u2019ve got any women, either\u2014they\u2019re too far away.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Drew made a gesture as if to say, <\/span>see?<\/span><\/em> and shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou be ready to be diplomatic, Kel.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The rest of us will be ready in case they\u2019re not here to chat.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin muttered a few curses under her breath, then scrambled up the ladder to join Rory.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom\u2019s hand found Marin\u2019s and squeezed.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t like this,\u201d she murmured.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNone of us do,\u201d he murmured back.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut we\u2019re going to have to deal with it whether we like it or not.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019re not getting a vote.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre the walls strong enough?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I hope so.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re thick enough, anyway.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Hopefully they\u2019re high enough.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If they\u2019re not, we\u2019ll find out.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ll just have to face them in the gap.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 Someday we\u2019ll have some kind of gate\u2014someday after I figure out how to engineer it.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I hope I get the chance.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re at the bridge now,\u201d Rory said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSlowing down, but they\u2019re still coming.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Looks like they\u2019re sending a few across to figure out the best way to come across.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTime\u2019s running out,\u201d Thom said, then kissed Marin gently.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI need to help Matt.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll stay here with them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In case I don\u2019t get to say it before things maybe get bad\u2026I love you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He kissed her again and jogged away, trying to swallow his heart.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>This is bad.\u00a0 <\/span>This is really, really bad.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I hope all of us come out of this alive.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The sick feeling in the pit of his stomach told him that even if they all came out of it alive, they wouldn\u2019t escape unscathed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It took another three hours to get the first tower up, but by the time they were done, it seemed sturdy and stable enough\u2014at least for the time being.\u00a0 The clouds above had thickened to a dark gray, though … 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":[35,57,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-18","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-lN","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1351","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=1351"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1352,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1351\/revisions\/1352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}