The fields had been shorthanded for long enough. Sosa and Talon reluctantly left Kala with Halo and returned to tend them, though their furtive conversation took them to the quietest corner away from the other workers.

　　We don`t enter the forest for fear of disturbing and angering the ki,` he said, glancing around.

　　And so we don`t get eaten by bodaki.`

　　Well, that too.` He smoothed over a patch of disturbed soil with his foot. But now we know where Gris goes,` he looked around. The closest fielder was Rem who busied with his own hoe out of earshot. He must be disturbing the ki all the time. If we stopped him, not only would it be a distraction for the ki, but they would surely be thankful.`

　　And more likely to give back Halo.` Sosa paused, then she nodded, Ah, and Mmawe will be so happy to have Halo back, she won`t mind how we went about it.`

　　You`re a clever girl, you know that?` He leaned across and nudged her with his elbow. To answer your next question therefore, no, I`m not telling your mother.`

　　But what if they don`t give Halo back?`

　　They have to, Sosa, because I don`t know what else we can do.` They had been begging Ale-ki to intercede, but Halo only grew weaker as the ki dragged him deeper into his fever. But if I am wrong, at least we have justice for Halo against the man who&` he couldn`t finish the sentence, and we no longer have to fear him. We could be saving countless more people from being attacked or stolen from in the future.`

　　And we`re sure Gris isn`t ki?`

　　You walked right into him, Sosa. He`s just a man.`

　　Sosa examined it from all ways. What if& what about the fadi?`

　　There is no fadi. I trust your grammawe over Jode, even with an ambling mind. The Elders care about their position and influence more than anything, more than Halo. Jode might not have been lying about the fadi, but that doesn`t mean he isn`t well aware of what he`s doing. You`ll notice he often mentions things that are of relevance only when it`s convenient to him. If the record was destroyed I`d be willing to bet some,` he paused and looked around. Sosa knew he was trying not to say some chief , because you never knew whose ki was listening. someone wanted something forgotten.`

　　And starting a false fadi is one way to make sure no one asks any questions.` Sosa flicked another weed out with her hoe. I think we should get him, Pawe. Even if the ki don`t give Halo back, we have to try.` Tears sprang from nowhere, but she stepped away when her father reached out. I`m just so angry. Gris is still walking around out there while Halo is&` She wiped her eyes and stabbed the hoe into the soil. Even if the ki don`t care, I have to do something, I can`t just wait any more. And if I have to see him just walking around our market again like nothing happened&` Her hands rung the kelgrass stave. I`m in.`

　　As a father I want you home and safe, as a husband, when Kala finds out I let you come, she will kill me.` He raised a hand as Sosa started to interject, But, you have the ki of a warrior in you and I can`t think of anyone I`d want more by my side.` He squatted down to examine the earth. Besides if I stopped you, you`d only try to follow anyway, wouldn`t you?`

　　Sosa smiled.

　　But if anything happens to me out there,` Talon leaned close to whisper, tell your mother you stowed away. Being dead won`t be enough to save me.`

　　And what if anything happens to me?`

　　I`ll be living out there with Ego. And maybe Elder Jode too. I won`t be coming back.`

　　Sosa stifled her smirk. Rem wandered towards them. Hush,` she whispered.

　　Talon waved Rem over. It`s okay. Rem`s with us.`

　　You`ve already got people to&?`

　　He didn`t have to. After his speech to the Elders, there were no shortage of volunteers.` Rem gave them both a big grin. Don`t worry, we`ll keep him safe.`

　　The reassurance made the danger real, she wasn`t quick enough to keep the worry from her face.

　　There lots of us.` Talon lightly touched her shoulder. And you don`t have to&`

　　He was far smarter than she realised. He`d not only set the council to disarray but asked the whole village for help, without really saying a thing. I`m coming,` she said, cutting him off. So, how many of us are there?`

　　#

　　Rain struck the sheet covering the boat so loudly Sosa didn`t have to worry about making noise this early. She lifted it, and ushered Ego in beside the stash of weapons, supplies and tools, then retreated to wait for the others.

　　Korassi`s fisherfolk would soon come to catch the morning feed. The fisherwoman had moored this boat away from the rest as if for repair, but they would still need to be gone before they were seen.

　　Something clamped over Sosa`s mouth and she tried to scream, fingers, then nails clawing at the hand, but they were far stronger than hers. She twisted to kick and tried to bite the palm, until Devon`s face appeared in front of hers.

　　His strong hearther`s hands released her. I`m sorry I thought you were going to scream. I was hiding right behind you.`

　　And you thought it best to frighten the sap out of me?` Sosa tried to whisper in an angry voice. It wasn`t easy, so she punched him on the arm. It was like punching a tree.

　　What?` Devon put a hand to his ear. The rain. I can`t&` He grinned at her.

　　Sosa punched him in the chest to no greater effect.

　　Talon appeared Let`s go then, we`re all here.`

　　Korassi emerged from a hiding spot by the bank and loaded a set of oars into the boat. She was the eldest of their group. There was something reassuring about her worn, stern face and the way she had fastened her silver hair into a single severe braid down her back. Rem and his sister appeared with one last bag and a couple of bows, the short kind Arella used to pick off birds while sat high in the fruit trees.

　　They pushed the boat into the shallows and climbed in. Ego tried to sit up, but Sosa pushed him back until they were clear of the village. It would be difficult, not impossible, to explain why three fielders, a tree runner and a hearther were fishing with the chief angler just before dawn, but if anyone saw Ego&

　　Korassi directed the rowers, but the rain was too loud to risk shouting over and they settled for an awkward lurch upstream. Once above Highstream, Ego joined in and Korassi got them in a more stable rhythm.

　　Darktrees pressed in on both banks and Sosa uncovered the metal tipped spears Devon had made. They were just fishing spears but made a little sturdier. Dawn should have been spilling light over their journey, but it only grew darker the further they travelled. To make things worse, Sosa could sense movement on the riverbank. The oars lost coherence as the others realised they were being watched. The old angler yelled at them to keep time.

　　Something the size of a log splashed into the water behind them and Sosa strained see. All she could make out was the ripples it sent ahead. Whatever it was, it was gaining on the boat.

　　Arella nudged one of her bows to Sosa who sat rearmost. Maybe you can slow it down.`

　　It had been a while, but Sosa remembered how. She`d done a reasonable turn with Arella before choosing the fields as her vocation. a bow short enough to shoot from a tree, also meant short enough to shoot while kneeling in the boat. Sosa let an arrow fly, aiming just behind where she could see the water breaking. It landed with a splash. Too far. The second was closer, but clattered as if it had struck rock.

　　The thing kept coming.

　　Sosa squinted, wishing for more of dawn`s light, but only darkness gathered now. If the thing had a hard shell the arrows could not penetrate, maybe it had a face. Even if that was hard, nothing liked an arrow the face. She aimed low and loosed the next arrow. There was a shock of water as the thing bucked. Even though it broke the surface, she didn`t get a glimpse. It was as if the dark closed over it. Whatever injury or inconvenience she had caused the thing was enough and it broke its pursuit. Sosa switched bow for oar, waited until she was in time and pulled as hard as she could.

　　Something nudged the hull of the boat and Sosa froze. When something grabbed her oar, she screamed as it was yanked from her hand. She grabbed for it and ripped it free of whatever had tried to snag it. Perhaps it was the same as what had pulled her under when they were rescuing Halo.

　　There!` her father pointed and they steered the boat towards the bank where a disintegrated jetty remained. They rowed as close as they could and Korassi jumped into the water with a rope. Sosa wanted to call her back, still looking for the thing that had grabbed her oar, but it was the only way to tie off the moor lines. Korassi dragged the boat`s bow toward the bank, the rest only needing to risk ankle deep water. With a shudder, Sosa ran to the bank before anything hard and scaly wrapped itself around her leg. They were away from the darktrees here and back in the abandoned clearing. Nothing roamed the gloom or the water here. Only the ruins loomed at them out of the rain

　　The others stared around at the overgrown and half collapsed huts and wandered towards them.

　　We should help Ego set up here, before we go any further.` Sosa said. They had come to get Gris, but they had also come to set Ego up in a new life in the presumed safety of this clearing.

　　The boy is on his own. I came here to kill Gris.` Korassi walked past Sosa and she felt more like a little girl than she`d done in a long time.

　　It would not take long to build a roof,` she persisted. He could do the rest.` She stopped as Korassi`s words sank in. Did you say kill him?`

　　No, no,` Talon waved his hand. We`re not going to kill him. We`re taking him back. We will try him in front of the village.`

　　Devon sounded incredulous. After what he`s done?

　　Even tied up he could capsize the boat.` Korassi said. It`s too dangerous.`

　　This isn`t what we planned,` Talon said.

　　Arella stroked her braids back. I don`t think he`s going to come willingly, Talon. We can try but I think we`re going to have to kill him.`

　　Sosa sighed, Jode`s words went through her head. She`d come out here for revenge, but now she stood in these dark ruins her priorities were clearer. She wanted Halo back and Ego safely out of the village, for his own sake and theirs. That meant dealing with Gris, removing him so he could no longer anger the forest ki. Killing did not feel right. It didn`t seem a sensible way to convince the ki to return her brother.

　　We will not kill him unless we have to.` Talon said. We will try to capture him, that`s our plan. Korassi, Devon, you`re the strongest people I know besides Roo.` It was a shame they didn`t know the Devon`s hearthmaster well enough to convince her to come, her muscle would have made formidable ballast. Sosa suspected Dorrel was larger but the giant woman had a child`s head on her shoulders. Arella and Korassi, you`re both good with knots. We don`t need to row to get home. If he puts any of us in danger, then, only then, we can kill him. Is that clear?`

　　Sosa smiled. Korassi was grey haired, her scarred and lined face hard and stern. The woman never smiled and was feared by all children in the village, while many never lost the fear into adulthood, but the old angler nodded as Talon spoke. He was in control. Sosa wanted to hug him, but felt it would ruin his moment. Obediently, they each took a spear. Sosa and Arella took the two bows and split the arrows. Arella slung her bow and a length of rope. Her father had the bronze spearhead tucked into his belt.

　　There was a little more light here, but only what soaked through the grey clouds. Provided the bodaki stayed in the trees as before, the only enemy here should be Gris. It didn`t stop them peering into the ruins as if something might jump out at them.

　　It would be a miserable existence, but Ego should be safe here. Provided he didn`t walk through the forest as Gris did, the ki should not have a problem with him living in the old ruins. They had brought supplies and tools enough to build a life here, if Ego knew what he was doing. Sosa worried for him, but pushed it away. It was up to him to figure this out. If he`d paid attention to what he had been taught& Besides, if they caught Gris, they would have their own worries. Korassi was right in a way, Ego was on his own.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

　　Do you know how to rebuild one of these?` she asked Ego nodding at the huts.

　　I - I can figure something out with all the tools you`ve brought me.`

　　Devon asked him what he knew about firing bricks and charring timber to waterproof it. Despite Korassi`s dismissive attitude, once the others realised they were giving the boy his last advice before leaving him alone for the rest of his life, they also chipped in. Ego looked terrified, presumably at the knowledge he lacked. Sosa thought she`d feel the same if she knew as little about everything as Ego seemed to.

　　We need to go.` Korassi sounded irritable. We need to find Gris, preferably before he finds us. I`d like to get on with it.`

　　Ego. You should stop here. Go back and unload the boat. We`ll need to leave fast if we come back with Gris, and you need to start work. You don`t need to be here for this part.` She wasn`t sure what she was protecting him from exactly, but it felt right to begin the separation.

　　Yeah, good luck,` said Devon. But one last thing. Try not to use the river while I`m bathing okay, you`re upstream of me remember.`

　　Ego actually laughed. It`s okay, I want to help you. There`ll be plenty of time for me to build roofs when you`ve gone home.

　　Her father took the boy`s shoulders. Thank you but you don`t have to. Sosa`s right.`

　　Ego shook his head. No. You`ve done so much for me.` He looked at Sosa sadly. I want to help get Gris. I want to help Halo.`

　　Sosa gave Ego a kiss on the cheek. Thank you.` He was probably helping Halo simply by leaving the village, but she didn`t tell him that.

　　The rain grew heavier. Rain was good, it fed their crops and filled the stream with water. For the first time in her life, Sosa wished it would stop. The heavier the rain the thicker the clouds and the darker everything got. The bodaki stuck to the darkest places, so what happened if it got too dark here? She scolded herself for the foolishness. They never came to the village at night, did they? What did they have to fear of an overcast day, no matter how grey it got? Surely it was the same here. The bodaki stuck to their dark trees and never came out.

　　Are we sure Gris lives here?` Devon asked as they paused and regrouped. I don`t see anything that`s not a ruin.`

　　We saw him just up ahead and materials for the raft we used to get Halo home had been recently cut. Someone lives here,` Sosa said. Keep looking.` The members of the expedition knew the secret of Halo`s return, and kept it. The huts stretched on and the group worked their way from one to the next, finding nothing within but shadow.

　　Look!` Sosa shouted over the noise of the rain, but winced at her own volume. Her father beckoned them close, and they ducked down.

　　A building loomed out of the gloom, much larger than anything else here. It reminded her of the council building back home but with more solid, flat roofs. It also looked a little more grand, with some worn patterns just discernable carved into the walls either side of the doorway and even a row of decorative pillars lining the front. There was a small raised section like a viewing platform, though what it was designed for viewing wasn`t clear.

　　Areas of bare earth had been cleared in rectangles and rotations of crops grew in lines. Storage sheds dotted the area, pitchers and jugs lined up, a cooking pit to one side and lines of delicate herbs grew in small pots mounted against the wall. Tubers lay piled under an open sided storage roof, while bulbs were strung together in bunches to dry. Coils of vine rope hung from hooks. Cut timber lay neatly piled ready for use on the fires. Fruit trees had been cultivated in a grove, their colours shone in the grey light. It was the first colour she`d seen since boarding the boat.

　　They`re in lines,` Sosa whispered.

　　Yeah. Very neat.` Devon agreed.

　　No, you don`t understand. It takes quite a while to grow a banefruit tree to that height. These must have been planted a while ago.`

　　Hundred years or more,` her father said. When they hit that height they either stop, or die.`

　　You`re saying that was planted over a hundred years ago?` Devon asked. If this is Gris, then there must be a family out here. Your grammawe might have been right.`

　　Didn`t Grammawe say she was warned about Gris when she was a little girl?` Sosa asked.

　　Talon nodded, We thought his father, perhaps?`

　　At least the boy doesn`t have to worry about starting crops off,` Korassi said. With Gris gone, he can move right in.`

　　What if there`s still a family?` Sosa asked.

　　Oh, come on. There`s no way there`s a family living out here&` Arella said.

　　Gris was born to someone, why not now?` Talon said.

　　Where would he find a wife?` Arella asked.

　　Maybe he stole one?` Korassi suggested, though I don`t remember anyone going missing in my lifetime. And no women have been exiled in forever.`

　　Maybe he grew one.` Rem suggested. Arella flicked him on the arm with the back of her open hand.

　　It doesn`t matter.` Korassi had lost patience. We deal with Gris and if there`s a family, we bring them home to the village, or leave them here if they won`t come. Some company for Ego.`

　　Movement by the large house made.

　　Get down.` Sosa dragged Ego to the floor. It`s Gris,` she whispered. They hid behind the waist-high wall of a crumbling hut. The rain still covered their noise, but she didn`t dare talk.

　　Arella waved for them to stay hidden and reached for a handful of mud to wipe across her cheekbones, shoulders and chest where any light might shine from her wet skin. She eased slowly up above the wall and peered towards the hut. The others waited, sitting in the mud themselves, feeling only the rain gathering and running in rivulets down their skin.

　　Finally the tree runner lowered herself. It`s okay. He hasn`t seen us. He appears to be leaving.`

　　If he comes this way,` Talon whispered, indicating the doorway, hide in there.`

　　I`ll watch. Don`t move unless I tell you.` They waited tensely, but she never signalled.

　　Sosa`s earlier excitement faded to fear. Why was she so afraid of this one man when they had so many people with them? Devon, her father and Rem were strong, hard working men. Korassi had a wiry strength that had tempered well despite her advancing years and Arella was a fast and dangerous hunter. Sosa had nothing to fear.

　　Nothing.

　　Ego squeezed her hand and she squeezed back, glad of the reassurance.

　　He`s gone.` Arella said finally, squatting back down beside them.

　　Where?` Rem asked.

　　Into the darktrees.` Arella shook her head. he followed a path, but& he`s mad.`

　　He doesn`t fear the bodaki.` Sosa said. They were right to be afraid of him.

　　Talon looked thoughtful. Okay, perfect. We wait inside and set up an ambush.`

　　Arella nodded. I don`t see any sign of anyone else down there.`

　　We`ll be careful just the same.`

　　They crept into the house, but it was empty. No family awaited the thief`s return. A neat, comfortable looking cot lay on the floor. Spotless cooking pots were arranged in size order. The stolen purple-dyed cloth lay folded on a workbench. Everything in the room was functional, laid out neatly and well maintained.

　　At least he looks after the things he steals, Sosa thought.

　　She moved the lid off some clay vat. It looked like juice squeezed from fruits, but smelled more pungent. Sosa wrinkled her nose and let the lid drop back.

　　A collection of small objects caught her eye. They were wood carved and polished to a shine; the only thing she could see that was decorative. She picked one up. It was a bird, perched on a branch such that the relief could stand up freely. Others were creatures but not ones with which Sosa was familiar. Perhaps these were bodaki? She had no idea what they really looked like.

　　Arella was beside her. Do you think he stole these too?`

　　Who from?` Sosa asked. No one in the village has time to make these.`

　　Who`s that, do you think?` Arella handed her a figure, as tall as her hand was long. It was a woman.

　　In the carving she looked something more than beautiful. She looked strong in a way Sosa wanted to feel. She wondered if the beauty in the figurine`s face came from the woman herself or what the whittler saw.

　　Maybe it used to be his wife?` Sosa suggested, though there was no sign of things belonging to more than one person.

　　Or just someone he dreams about when he`s lonely.` Korassi sneered over Sosa`s shoulder. Come on, find places you can hide, both of you. And anything else you might be able to use as a weapon. And hide anything he could use against us.`

　　Arella climbed the ladder that led to the high roof platform to watch for Gris`s return. Sosa felt a little sorry for her up there in the rain, but it was something they were all used to. The rest searched, but found nothing more dangerous than tools. Sosa dug out some arrows and gave them to Ego.

　　You can use these with the bows over there. They`re fine for birds.`

　　Ego smiled then laughed, Only if they sit still for a long time. I never learned to shoot.`

　　She looked at him puzzled. In our village we learn to do nearly everything when we`re children. We take a turn learning nearly every job in the village. With all these tools, you could rebuild the village if you knew how.` She looked at him, worried.

　　I`ll figure out what I need, don`t worry about me.` They sat down, near their hiding places to wait for Arella`s signal. Why do you need to know how to do so much, anyway?`

　　Well father is a fielder, so I learned to tend all sorts of crops, and that`s a big job so it`s probably all I`ll do, but who knows? Maybe the crops fail one year and we have to live on fish. I`ll need to help with that, or rebuilding huts after a bad stormy season. I`ll be chronicler one day, but I`ll still work the fields as well. That`s about the only job all kids don`t do because you need to learn to write and it isn`t worth teaching so many people something they don`t need. Grammawe didn`t have a daughter of her own, so she taught Mmawe after my parents married.

　　Ego nodded. My village is a lot bigger than yours. I suppose it is easier for people to stick to one thing. Looks like yours used to be bigger, though` he nodded through the doorway at the ruins outside. What happened?`

　　We didn`t know this was here. There was a fire a long time ago, maybe that`s what happened.`

　　And you all just, forgot?`

　　Sosa shrugged again. Maybe. There some old made up legends that children tell to each other, but we don`t really have much time to pass on stories.`

　　Ego still looked confused. And it`s not in your record?`

　　That burned too, but I suppose it must be. We`re not allowed to read it anyway.`

　　Ego put on a deliberate smug look for a moment. Any of us can read if we want to learn. At least thats something we do that better than you.`

　　Sosa scoffed. Yeah, right. And what use is that to anyone?`

　　Surely your mmawe could look though? As chronicler.`

　　No, only the Elders can look.`

　　Wow. Something bad must have happened, not just a little fire.`

　　Elder Jode said it was punishment for messing around with one of Gris` ancestors.`

　　Smells like a lie to hide something else to me. Must have been something big. A war, or something.`

　　Sosa laughed. A war? With who?` she playfully shoved him. There`s no one out here, silly. We only just found out about you.`

　　I don`t know. Gris, maybe?`

　　Rem joined them, his eyes regularly shooting back to the ladder where his sister had gone to the watch platform. Never heard of Gris trying to kill anyone before,` he said, Not until poor Halo, anyway.` Rem picked up one of the carved figurines. What do you suppose will happen when he comes back?`

　　Sosa realised Rem was directing that at her. It felt strange to be asked questions like an adult. She was still used to be talked at like Korassi did, but the angler was probably like that with everyone.

　　I don`t know.` she said. I hope he just sees he`s outnumbered and agrees to come quietly.`

　　But what if he has the same thoughts we did?` Rem asked, talking nearly to himself. What if he realises that the only punishment would be execution? We can`t exile him, can we? Would you go quietly?`

　　Sosa shivered despite the thick humid air. Let`s not give him time to think about it.`

　　Talon and Korassi were quietly surveying the stores and sheds outside. They returned dripping, wiping the water off at the door before they came in. Korassi stripped off her skirt, shook it and sat down with it splayed beside her on the floor. Ego shuffled uncomfortably.

　　Well you`re well stocked, young man,` Talon said.

　　I`m what?` Ego`s eyes grew wide for a moment, then he relaxed. Oh, I see.`

　　Gris has got tools I don`t know what to do with. There is plenty of food stored and plenty growing as well as provision to grow more.` He sat beside Sosa. When Gris comes, you make sure you`re the last to come out,` he told her. And just bring the bow. I don`t want you getting close to him, okay?`

　　Sosa nodded. Her muscles were tight and shaking and she had to force them to unwind. Ego looked worried too. He had more than just the coming battle to think about. His whole life afterwards was about to become hard and lonely. She slid an arm around his shoulders, as much for herself as for him.

　　They lapsed into silence. Sosa trembled, but it was not all fear. Worryingly, she felt a grain of excitement growing above the fear. She had been excited to return to the ruins, intrigued by the idea of being here as much as the thought of leaving the village, something that had never been a possibility before.

　　Maybe when this was over, she would be able to come back, via boat so as not to disturb the ki of the forest, and visit Ego. The thought gave her a thrill, thoughit wasn`t the prospect of seeing Ego.

　　Rem drummed his fingers on the figurine of the woman. Where`s Devon?`

　　He`s in the storage shed near the door, so he can come in behind Gris and block the doorway.` Korassi said.

　　Rem nodded and put the carved figurine down, knocking over the others and tried to catch them. Sosa caught his hands. I got these, go check on Arella. She`ll tell you off, though, just so you know.`

　　Rem nodded. It wasn`t worry for his sibling that made his hands shake. He climbed the ladder through the hatch in the roof. Her father paced near the door, peering out.

　　How long before Gris returned?

　　Korassi strapped on a dry skirt of Gris` and joined Sosa`s father at the door. It can`t be more than midday.`

　　I was thinking the same thing,` he said.

　　Confused, Sosa looked out. It`s getting dark.` The shiver returned, and she reached out to adjust the bow and spear she had placed nearby. It`s too dark for just storm clouds. Have we been here all day?` The light was fading far faster and deeper than the dusk.

　　No, Sosa realised. It wasn`t the light that was fading, it was the dark that was thickening.

　　The shadows in the trees were flowing out into the ruined village. It was too black to be fog. It was a strange absence.

　　It moved in clouds that dissipated as they hit the lightest parts, as if it struggled to exist even in the dim light, but as more rolled in, the light retreated further and further until their building was surrounded by a thick and choking night.

　　Arella! Rem!` Korassi shouted up the ladder to the roof. What do you see?` No one called down. Korassi turned back to the door to watch as the darkness came closer. Ale-ki save us.` The shiver that had rooted in Sosa`s spine grew out across her skin. Korassi moved slowly away from the door. Never in her life had Sosa felt cold, but she felt it now.

　　I`m starting to think this was a mistake,` Korassi whispered. Her previously reassuring stern face now framed wide eyes as the angler edged backwards. The dark was closing in on all sides, the dim light no longer enough to hold it back.

　　The constant commotion that filled every moment of Sosa`s life was also growing louder. The bodaki were shrieking in excitement.

　　It`s midday, it`s light, it can`t, it can`t&` Korassi muttered.

　　The dark didn`t care. It flowed between the ruined huts now, winding around the walls and obliterating them from sight.

　　Arella! Rem!` Talon shouted. I don`t care what you see, just get down here!`

　　The ladder jolted violently as if something had hit it. Rem half climbed, half fell and landed at the bottom. He lay shaking, one leg still tangled in the ladder, and made no attempt to stand. It`s the dark,` he said, his voice hoarse like he`d inhaled smoke, it`s coming from the trees. It`s coming in the day.`

　　Talon knelt beside Rem who stared right through him at the ladder. Talon held the ladder steady and shouted up. Arella! Down here, now!`

　　The ladder lurched again. Talon jumped back with a yell as it bounced and nearly caught him in the face. Something metallic fell from his belt and clattered across the floor towards Sosa. It was the spearhead.

　　Arella?` Talon shouted towards the roof.

　　Like her brother, Arella didn`t climb but fell through the hole and hit the floor hard.

　　Something long and wet trailed after her and landed in a splatter on top of her, her brother and Talon. Rem stared down at his hands which were red, but in the darkening light it appeared wet and black. Arella?` he asked, looking at her.

　　Talon screamed. Arella`s only response was to twist upwards from the middle in a long death spasm as more of her insides poured out onto the floor.