{"id":997,"date":"2012-01-04T00:00:06","date_gmt":"2012-01-04T05:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=997"},"modified":"2011-12-22T13:49:36","modified_gmt":"2011-12-22T18:49:36","slug":"autumn-chapter-1-01","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=997","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 1 – 01"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt stared at the metal laid out on his makeshift anvil, frowning at it slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He could hear Thom cursing about something back on the construction site.<\/span>\u00a0 Probably something going wrong with his plans,<\/em><\/span> Matt thought with a wry smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Either that or he tripped over something.\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019d be a yelp, though, not swearing.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>At least the pipework was done for now.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019d laid the last of the metal heating conduits yesterday.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Old-fashioned radiant heat, Professor Doyle had said with a grin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019d make sleeping on the floors more attractive.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>After nearly four and a half weeks, they\u2019d grown increasingly used to that.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>At least now they were starting to have walls around them rather than just the tent, though most of them still slept there for the time being, and all of them still ate there, clustered around the fire.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Twenty-some survivors against the wild, changed world.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you trying to bend it like a spoon?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt jumped, startled, then glared at Phelan.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Too damn quiet.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Where did you come from?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He jerked a thumb back over his shoulder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWith Greg, planting holly along the back edge of the settlement.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Wandered back when Brandon showed up to relieve me.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The settlement.\u00a0 <\/span>Is that what we\u2019re calling it now?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I guess it\u2019s better than camp.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd you came here?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan cocked his head to one side, then shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSeemed like a good idea at the time.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He pointed at the iron laid out on the anvil.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s all this for?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If you try to cold-hammer that, it\u2019s not going to be pleasant, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt stared at him for a moment, eyes narrowing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat do you know about forging?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Do I tell him I want to find a way to make us some kind of weapons, so we\u2019re ready in case those things come back?\u00a0 <\/span>Something iron, not steel?<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced back toward where he\u2019d leaned J.T.\u2019s claymore against a pile of boxes and other supplies.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That was beyond his capabilities\u2014right now, anyway.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan followed his gaze and smiled briefly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI might know a thing or two,\u201d he said lightly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You know, Marin might have the patience for that, but I really don\u2019t right now.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>The image of his sister flying through the air, thrown by something Matt could only perceive if he didn\u2019t try to look at it straight-on, was still fresh in his mind, still froze his heart inside his chest.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCut the bullshit, Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Do you know something about forging and blacksmithing, or not?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Because if you don\u2019t, I\u2019ve got a lot of experimenting to do.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The red-head winced, rocking back against his heels.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSorry,\u201d he mumbled.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His voice took on an almost distant quality, though his tone was serious and firm.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know quite a bit.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Used to be one in another lifetime.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019ll need a forge, something enclosed so we can get things good and hot.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>In time, a better anvil than this.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He rapped a knuckle against the one that stood between them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt\u2019s nose wrinkled again.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tell me something I didn\u2019t know, Phelan.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTechnique is more easily shown than described.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan nodded to the metal on the anvil.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTools, or weapons?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBoth,\u201d Matt said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan kept right on staring at him, almost looking through him, and Matt sighed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAll right.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Weapons first.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I just keep seeing my sister getting hurt\u2014keep seeing that fight over and over again.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He set his jaw.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe can\u2019t rely on the birdshot forever, because at some point we\u2019re going to run out and have a hard time making more.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Besides, the scatter\u2019s dangerous if we\u2019re shooting into melee.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We need something hand-to-hand, something for when they\u2019re close.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced down at the iron on the anvil and shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou said that the iron or steel would be good.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not sure I\u2019m ready for steel, but we\u2019ve got the scrap iron to work with.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan scratched the back of his neck, where his tattoo lay. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>He\u2019d cropped his hair short within days of his arrival here, revealing intricate green and silver knotwork inked there.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The only one who hadn\u2019t seemed surprised to see it was Marin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That was par for the course as far as Matt was concerned.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWorking with the scrap\u2019s going to be a bitch,\u201d he warned.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt snorted.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou act like we\u2019ll have something <\/span>else<\/span><\/em> to work with.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPoint taken.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan sighed, meeting his gaze head-on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re sure about this?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m going to do it with or without your help.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Does that answer your question?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A faint smile tugged at the corner of Phelan\u2019s mouth.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPretty much.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Come on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s see if we can find some bricks and concrete.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Then we\u2019ll figure out a good place to put up your forge.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>They left Matt\u2019s makeshift workspace and checked on their supplies.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There were still a few bags of concrete that hadn\u2019t gotten wet or otherwise damaged in one of the tents.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan grumbled and fretted as he looked over the array of bricks they had available, but he did it in his native tongue so Matt could only catch snatches\u2014and those snatches were mostly curses, since apparently cursing in English was a more exquisite expression of his displeasure than in Erse or whatever Phelan\u2019s native tongue actually was.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt just crossed his arms and waited, frowning.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre we going to be able to do it or not?\u201d he asked after about ten minutes of impatience.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo we need to go cannibalize something to make it work?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe,\u201d Phelan said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere was an art program here, right?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe we can take apart the kilns.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt grimaced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The truck didn\u2019t really work anymore, and it\u2019d be a long haul with heavy pieces of the kiln from Calder all the way over here.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He nodded anyway.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019ll be a bitch, though.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan looked at him innocently.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBecause the kilns are at the far end of campus,\u201d Matt said, still grimacing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf we\u2019re lucky, the building\u2019s still standing.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 If we\u2019re unlucky, the whole thing\u2019s collapsed into the ravine.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He studied him for a moment, then shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEh.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ll sort it out.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Everyone here knows how to get there, right?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ll just have to have a look when we go to do the hallowing.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He says that like it\u2019s of no consequence.\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019d swear he lives in a dream-world half the time.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt made a face but nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Right.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan clapped him on the shoulder and gave him a devil-may-care grin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCheer up, <\/span>dearth\u00e1ir<\/span><\/em>.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Hate to see your face freeze like that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt glared at him and Phelan laughed.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCome on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s find a place for your forge.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Where there\u2019s a will, there\u2019s a way.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019ve got the will.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ll find the way.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt stared at the metal laid out on his makeshift anvil, frowning at it slightly.\u00a0 He could hear Thom cursing about something back on the construction site.\u00a0 Probably something going wrong with his plans, Matt thought with a wry … 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":[38,35,37,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-book-2-chapter-01","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-g5","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997","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=997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":998,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997\/revisions\/998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}