The Devil's Dreams, Chapter Five

[RocEter]

Thom steps back from the sheriff and the light. "Wouldn't stand to close Sheriff, wouldn't want to suffer the same fate as myself." He says. "Yes will that's the problem isn't it Sheriff? The old man would rather let his only heir die in those caves then offer himself up to save him and another innocent. Noble indeed.." He tells her.

"We could always make him." He jests and smiles behind his kerchief. "I suppose your law says that ain't the proper way now is it? No, I don't think it is.."

[ewancummins]

The sheriff stares hard at Thom. She isn't smiling.

''Make him...you mean force him? If you attack Ferenc Delapore, I will arrest you."

[RocEter]

"I wouldn't expect anything less." He says to her and starts to chuckle which ends in coughing. "Though as you can clearly see I am in no condition to attack any one. You should know Sheriff there are other ways to make a man do what needs to be done besides violence."

"Now before we decide on what we should do, we should decide what we are going to do with those of us that are extremely ill. Sheriff you think you can secure a safe warm place, with clean water, and food? Perhaps section off a part of the guest house?"

[ewancummins]

"I wouldn't expect anything less." He says to her and starts to chuckle which ends in coughing. "Though as you can clearly see I am in no condition to attack any one. You should know Sheriff there are other ways to make a man do what needs to be done besides violence."

"Now before we decide on what we should do, we should decide what we are going to do with those of us that are extremely ill. Sheriff you think you can secure a safe warm place, with clean water, and food? Perhaps section off a part of the guest house?"

''If you can walk, I'm sure you can make it to the guest house. I can't ask anyone else to carry you. You're free to use that horse-''
She indicates the horse over which Dorgio's limp form is slung.
''-for moving the sick. Stay away from healthy folks if you can help it. I'll make sure there is fuel, food, and water for you in the guesthouse. It's going to be empty of guests really soon."

[RocEter]

"I can walk." He assures her. "Best to be off then. I will handle Dorgio, if some one can carry Everline. Thank you for your kindness Sheriff, just make sure you and others get of harms way." Thom says then moves over to the horse.

He will guide the horse back to the guest house and find a place for Dorgio, himself and Everline to rest. Then set about other errands.

[ewancummins]

While Thom moves Dorgio to the guesthouse, Everline recovers from her swoon. The girl is lucid now, and can speak and move freely. She looks ill, though.

Benn and Alain feel ill. They grow a little weaker with each passing minute.

The sheriff withdraws into the house, after telling Benn and Alain-

''My boys are upstairs, keeping an eye on Ferenc. They have orders from me not to let anyone bother him. He's the master here, and no one has shown why he ought to be treated like a criminal- even if things around here are strange. This estate is his property, and you all are here by his will. Don't push things too far. I'd really hate to come back here and waste time handling trouble that none of us need. Besides, I don't think you poor souls have much time left..."

[Adam]

"Your sympathy is extraordinarily helpful," Benn can't keep the scathing tone from his voice. "I shall be certain to remember you fondly as I'm choking to death on the purple spores expanding to fill my throat and Gauderic and the Weathermay girl vanish forever while Ferenc Delapore sips tea in his room and does nothing."

Not honoring the sheriff's likely outrage with his attention, Benn turns away immediately and begins escorting his party to the offered quarters. When they are free from her earshot, Benn looks amongst the group members. "If there's evidence that Ferenc did something to deserve this, we don't have time or the ability to find it. If we're going to do something to Ferenc, we have to do it soon. Are we resolved to take him by force of arms if necessary? I have a wife, and a newborn son. I have no interest in dying for this old man's sins."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Sod..." Everline moans as she struggles to her feet, pushing away anyone who tries to support her. "Ugh. I can walk. Did - did I actually talk to you, Sheriff? To Rotwang? I have... I have to collect the... something from Rotwang. Before we go. I have to go. I have to go down. Are... Are there any wizards among the guests you're evacuating? Or priests?"

[ewancummins]

"Sod..." Everline moans as she struggles to her feet, pushing away anyone who tries to support her. "Ugh. I can walk. Did - did I actually talk to you, Sheriff? To Rotwang? I have... I have to collect the... something from Rotwang. Before we go. I have to go. I have to go down. Are... Are there any wizards among the guests you're evacuating? Or priests?"

Everline speaks- but the sheriff, in a bad temper after Benn's scolding, has already departed the scene.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Sheriff!" Everline shouts, and she tries to run after the older woman. "Please wait - Sheriff, I -- Aaaghh!"

Everline's shriek is precipitated by her tripping over her own feet. She drags herself up again soon enough, but it was a beautifully loud noise she made...

[ewancummins]

If the sheriff heard Everline, she hasn't yet responded. The back door remains closed and there is no light coming through the crack in the jamb.


Presently, a man's voice calls out-
''You'd better step carefully, young lady, or you may break your neck."

The skinny, egg-headed figure of Doctor Rotwang ambles into view, having come round a hedge to your left. With him is his colleague, the portly and bespectacled Professor Toddlestone (Everline has seen the fellow before, though she might not recall his name) Both men are wearing white cheesecloth masks. Rowtang is dressed in long oilskin boots and drab woolen clothing. Toddlestone's clothes are rumbled and mismatched, as if the man had dressed in a hurry.

Something short and lumpy trundles along in the gloaming, coming up behind the two sages.

Rotwang says-
''I brought the fungoid with us, as per your request, dear girl. Shall we have a look in those caverns, now?"

The old man's eyes sparkle with interest. He brushes a stray gray lock away from his wrinkled brow.

[Ail]

After Eustace found some relief from the disease, he quickened to the side of the others and tried to give them some relief of the symptoms. He does not directly talk to the sheriff, but what he infers from the others' reactions, he develops a growing aversion to the woman in charge.

When the few that remain walking decide to try going down again, he says


"I can no longer help much here. I'm going with you."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"I'll welcome your help, gentlemen," Everline tells the two scholars. "But ye have to be aware: we might all die down there."

She lets this sink in, then continues: "If come ye will, though, I welcome ye. Many thanks for bringing our unique friend here." She gestures briefly towards the fungus. "Afore we go, one question: be there any wizards or priests among the people being evacuated?"

[ewancummins]

Rotwang answers-

''Wizards? No, none. Priests- yes, there is an Ezran priest. Do you need to make a confession? ''

[Lord Skybolt]

"No we need a priest to cure or delay the disease that has infected us . That is why we need the priest ."Alain says in reply .