~
Children played amongst the rubble of the wide avenue leading to central station. They hung from gutted floors and exposed beams, na?ve and fearless, much as she and Montgomery had been when they were kids. The children of the station ran wild as banshees along the desolate avenues surrounding the tracks.
The mid afternoon canopy of soft eggshell blue held the radiating hologram sun and a few billowing clouds, a layer of frost covering the landscape, sparkling like fine crystal dust. Recorded birdsong played from old speakers, at times discordantly, forgotten in the rubble of fallen buildings. The station up ahead pulsed with the same frenetic energy as the central districts of Landgraevan, audible from blocks away.
"The residents are yelling. I can hear them from here," Montgomery said.
"I wonder what they're going to do?" she asked.
"Hide in the tunnels, like they did last time," he replied.
"Landgraevan purged most of them from the tunnel last time, flushing them out like rats," Isobel reminded.
"I guess they'll have to go deeper. God help them. Half of them never reemerged from the tunnels last time."
"Probably killed off by marauders," she offered.
"No one knows. That's why the residents are angry now, raising their voices, protesting their certain death. Admiral Vin has his hands full."
The exterior grounds to the station were crowded. Children played on the lion effigies, riding them like steeds into battle, as the sound of yelling reverberated from the concourse entrance.
Isobel kept Ash close as she and Montgomery squeezed past the crowds into the lobby. Finding a vacant spot by the fountain they climbed onto the wide, flat edge, allowing them a clear view of Admiral Vin addressing the agitated station residents from the balcony overhead. His hands were grasped around the frozen brass guard rail, his mustache tips protruding sharply. To the Admiral's left stood one of the resident Elders, Elder Bardo, and to his right stood a stunning woman with vibrant red hair. The woman caught Isobel staring at her and nodded slightly, a small smile on her lips.
The residents rumbled with anger, some bordering on belligerence. "We wont fight any more of Dareas Evanders wars, Admiral Vin!" one man bellowed, a wave of agreement rising from the crowd.
"We're not sending our daughters to fight this bloody war!" another man yelled and the room roared in agreement.
"There must be someplace other than the tunnels to go to," a burly old woman cried.
Admiral Vin held up his hands, prompting them to calm down. "Residents of the station, I understand your concern, but there is nowhere else to go. Only deeper into the tunnels. Most of you have friends and family that didn't emerge from those same tunnels when the war ended last time, and now you must return to face the ghosts of your lost loved ones in order to save your own lives."
Some sobbed lightly, bemoaning their loss, others groaned with the recent memory, while others shuffled about, uneasy at the thought of the past repeating itself.
Admiral Vin twirled his mustache tips, looking out over his people with a stern, worried expression. "There are only two options, and neither are without serious risk. You may retreat to the tunnels, or you may fight Landgraevan's war. Either way, there will be a war to fight."
"And if we decided to fight against Dareas, will you lead us, Admiral Vin?" a heated young man inquired to a small chorus of approval.
"Fight them with what?" another man asked.
"We have no weapons. Our chances are better in the tunnels," a woman stated, and held the suckling babe at her breast a bit tighter.
"We cannot fight Dareas Evander. For now, I ask that those who plan to retreat into the tunnels start organizing. I want to know where every person plans to be. We will set up camps and place sentries to protect the tunnels. We will need lighting and provisions and food. Women and children will follow after the strongest men clear the way." Admiral Vin turned to Elder Bardo, exchanged a few words, then turned to the woman. He whispered something to her, and she nodded as Elder Bardo stepped forward to speak.
Elder Bardo wrapped a crooked hand around the balcony rail and the chunky cinnabar worry beads he held clinked sharply on the cold metal. There was a sacred air about this blind man, who, along with his two brothers, was considered a holy man in a way that bordered on sanctity. His mane of white hair contributed to his deistic aura, as did his opaque white eyes. "My brothers and I will not be joining you in the tunnels," he offered, turning his milky eyes on Isobel. "We will remain here and send you news and provisions as necessary."
Isobel pulled away from his sudden, unflinching, blind regard.
"I will be assigning positions to each of you, but I ask that you go home for now, gather provision: food, water, lanterns and flashlights, any and all you can find. We do not know how long you will be in the tunnels so gather your covers and quilts and anything else you may need for the comfort of your babes. Then await further word."
Admiral Vin came forward again and, in haste, interjected. "Before you leave, a moment of your time. I have more news to share. It has come to my attention that I must leave Landgraevan for a while." He ran a hand through his long black hair, looking out over the residents with concern.
The concourse went silent, amplifying the sound of the gurgling fountain. Then the people roared, looking about in confusion, not knowing if they heard right.
"But, Admiral Vin, you've never left us before," an elderly man croaked. A rumble of agreement swept over the crowd.
"I wouldn't leave if it weren't imperative, Barnaby, old man, but I leave you in good hands. I leave you in the care of our esteemed Elder Bardo. I will return to you as soon as circumstance permits. Until then," he finished and bowed to the people before turning to Elder Bardo and the woman.
Chapter Seven