etime later, twisted in linens soaked with sour sweat, his head feeling as though it were about to split open and the realization that Allie was gone and nothing would br

he pitcher to his lips and drank deeply. After several gulps he set the pitcher down, fumbled the aspirin bottle open and tossed a couple down his throat. He then

g out for him. He sat up and drained the water pitcher, realizing as he did, that the water was not going to be enough. He was hungry. For the first time in a long time, he wa

felt like jelly and for a moment he doubted his ability to remain upright. He wondered if his skull would crack when he hit the floor, leaking his brains out and foiling

ered to his legs as

ll his traitorous stomach as well. At the door, Michael fumbled the banded wooden shield that served to keep predators

to commit one way or the other. At the sight of him, a younger man Michael vaguely recognized as one of the sailors from a patrol ship stood up. He had been sitti

water?” Michael asked, resenting that s

ult from Michael’s tone. He nodded, seemingly please

mile deepened and Michael shook his head at the sight of the dimp

mess tent before reporting in. He thought you might be h

shaking his head and taking a s

y empty belly. Gillie fell into step beside him and to Michael’s relief remained silent as they walked. He found him

rge crowd, hoping no familiar faces came into view. He was working very hard to focus only o

Haven has in place of

e mess tent was mostly empty. He would not be forced to socialize. A few tabl

hael asked as Gillie led

e of the mess tent. Most folks now have the capacity to cook at home. And many of the vender cart

ieved to know that his absence had caused no harm. A thought glimmered. “Councilor Calabrese?” he as

. “I mean the channels are open again, and the Council has arrived, but Haven is still under

rld had not only continued, it had ma

bring,” Gillie continued on eagerly. “I mea

.” Gillie looked confused as though Michael’s statement was so

ding next to the table holding a tray. She set the tray

hter strips either green or purple. Tonight the multicolored locks were braided and wrapped around her head like a coronet. Her deep aubergine colored caftan looked almost black in the shadows o

reeing with the towering c

ommander,” Consuelo said in

startled. “B

certain he comes to no harm from

d out of the tent. Consuelo slid into a seat across the table from him. She stared at Michael and

ommanded. “Y

order,” Michael said picking up his fork. He kn

ly concerned. “But he is young and will n

offered stew. He frowned at the taste. “Th

lied. “It is canned

away. He felt the tropical heat of Haven fade and the

he was told to officially forge

she was severely wounded and left to die. Through chance and an odd set of circumstances, he came across her, patched her wounds, at least the physical ones, and shared the onl

wledgement. “I suppose you are expe

one out and create a pain that seems unendurable.” Consuelo took a deep breath and Michael saw her eyes darken with memory. “I was away from home when my family was killed. I wished I died with

Michael told her, his voi

on the wind and hear the wracking sobs of Consuelo as she wrestled wit

eces and nephews from the Docking Facility during the evacuation, seeing them safe to Haven, keeping them out of the combat zone when the others would have merely ta

s head unwilling

than he was comfortable with. “It took quite a while for me to realize you were correct. You do not believe me now, although what I say is true.”

aching men “Commander McLaughlin. Mateo,”

k to the kitchen. Michael looked up from his bowl of canned

s shirt did in fact form a straight line. The Commander was looking towards the still swinging divide between the eating and cooking ar

ans and an old t-shirt. The one change was the messenger style bag that was currently slung over his shoulder. Michael could see long cylinders of rolled ma

o close to painful memories; Michael sq

Michael. “I would like to introduce Mateo Andresetti. He has

t,” Micha

” Mateo c

ded an explanation when the whole damn Patrol could probably tell him of Michael’s connection to the Calabrese Family. He was certain someone wo

needed.” McLaughlin walked away and Mateo set his messenger bag down on one end of the table, taking the once

e of course free to refuse the commission. I should warn you however, McLaughlin has decided to take an int

brought Michael to the Guild. He and his cousin Elena were as inseparable as Siamese twins. Brilliant and precocio

he past twenty years. He mixed human and alien technology like an artist mixed paints and came up with undeniable masterpieces. He looked diffe

ded I should live. He doesn’t seem the sort to give up at the first s

it,” Mateo said, the corner of his mouth quirking

at when dealing with any member of the Calabrese Family it was best to give short answers. They each had a

until you have finished e

is was more activity than he put himself through

eir buildings like giant gumdrops. The archaeologists are still studying them. In addition to the town and the remnants of the docks, we found a road.” Mateo paused and ran his hand thro

e, the depth of the road is a uniform twelve feet deep. It’s like who ever built the thing wanted to only build it once and have done with i

ive to sheer fantasy to be honest. While they throw around images and theori

ilt to go from town to sea,” he said, feeli

at was my thought too, but as it turns out our little town of Haven is

else is out there?” Michael a

nowhere only to find the remains of ancient roads where it seemed no people had ever been? He was a cartographe

mpleted, and that can only be done after the Matrovean threat is gone.” He sighed and shook his head. “Even th

ead out,” Michael replied,

e amenities, bathhouses, generators, schools, that sort of thing, are all in town. Eventually people will push too far out for commuting back to our central location to be feasible.

happens,” Michael replied, thinking Mate

bout fifty miles north of here. The Librarians have already agr

resence or absence caused no impact whatsoever. It meant that sooner or later McLaughlin w

ut managed to follow the various roads leading away from Haven to other ancient abandoned town sites.” He shook his head a

. Quite frankly he was surpri

This is the plan.” He patted his satchel. Michael’s eyes were drawn to the rolls

base camp. While you send the probes further along the road to gather more intel, a more permanent team will be dispatched to explore the town and the area fully. When they arrive, you will let them know what issues you found in both the road to town and the town itself. Once they are

he proposal intrigued him, he couldn’t deny it. His interest made him feel like a traitor. How could he go on when Allie was gone? He opened his mo

ddition, we are certain of at least three types of large cats in the area. Admittedly, we have only studied a relatively small area. I’m sure you will run into many other dangerous things. Getting k

ed to the messenger bag stuffed with paper. “Take tonight to look things over before you make your decision. You can l