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Anna stepped under the fierce glare of a guard to
be ushered into Lady Aloè's private apartments. The woman
gave her a gentle smile and offered tea.
“No, this is too important for chitchat.”
The woman nodded. “How important, dear?”
“The Project is going to destroy much of the
inner city. They need to get rid of my son. It may be,” Anna
said, hesitating, “that something far worse is coming.”
“How reliable--“
“Judge Harrison. As a baron, he's privy to
information coming into the Pennsylvania earldom.”
"A cruel and bitter man.”
“And frightened. He was caught trying to get to
Sue--“
“He was seen.” Aloè smiled. “And?”
“We brought him. I'm certain he'll have
much more information, if your son is interested.”
Smiling, Aloè nodded. “And you, dear. I feel
you've a need.”
Taking a deep breath, Anna said, “Warn
everyone. Get as many sheltered as you can, but it would be
better if they could leave. Get away from the coast. Warn the
people living near the lakes, as well.”
“Impossible.”
“Then they'll die.”
Aloe grimaced.
“What of Benny--“
“He'll die before he lets them take him. Sue
is nearly healed, and they had to run. Do you know where?”
With a small frown, Aloe closed her eyes. “He
loves motorcycles. We've a number of them. If he can get out
of the city, he can hide, somewhere.”
“That's being taken care of, but, yes, the
motorcycle.” Anna sighed. “Please, take precautions. I'm
taking my family north. Perhaps that will deter them for a few
days, but I've my doubts.”
Aloè said, “But, the man . . .Carl?”
With a wry smile, Anna sighed. “So long as the
twins are with him, he's normal.”
“You call that normal?” Aloè shivered, but
said, “Excuse me. I mean no--“
Anna chortled. “Lady Aloè, my longhouse is the
Gili Yu. For us, Carl and the twins are
normal.” She leaned forward. “Now, I've something for
you called the Black Clouds Prophecy. Yes, it's by
Washington, but Wovaka, Tecumseh, and dozens of others are all
there, as well, backing it. Armed with this and with what
Harrison knows, I think you'll find it best to follow my
advice.”
Staring at the table, Aloè gave a slow nod. She
glanced up.
“I am informed you've the sight.”
Anna shrugged. “Forewarned, is forearmed. The
Project rejects what I know because they reject the source in
favor of pipe dreams of glory.”
A calm smile was in Aloè's eyes. “Their
ascended master, the Feurer, made the same mistake.”
An awed Benny rolled an Uohali Red Sun out of the
back a delivery van.
“This be new type,” the driver told him.
“Refitted, man. Runs on the sun. Got no trackers on it, and
you both clean o' them nasties.” He glanced to the east and
choked.
“Lord. Looks like the city is burning.” Jets
screamed overhead to explode in midair. A small mushroom cloud
boiled up. A similar one came from the direction of New York
“Ama?” Sue stared to the north.
Tears ran down the driver's face. “She home by
now. Everybody gone from the city. The whole hood it cleared,
honey, o' them what respects Lord Penn and Miz Anna.”
Benny helped Sue on, then mounted before her. He
whistled at the night, and they fled down the ruins of route 202,
heading west. Heading to freedom.
Behind him, Two Swords bellowed with joy.
“Go, kid, go. Ride free.”
©2004 StoriesByEmail.com
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