Глава 13

Notice

1) Residents must comply with all regulations previously announced by the Military Commission

2) Must comply with all work safety regulations. No time off allowed whatsoever

3) Leaving your place of residence after 7 PM is strictly forbidden

4) Mourning Mayor West in any manner is forbidden

Acting Mayor of Brentwood

Freda West

I still don't have the seed.

Can we still have those flowers ready by next year's harvest festival?

I don't want my family's traditions to die in my hands...

Come in.

Good morning, Magdelene, *Burp*—

Were you drunk last night?

Hehe, Old Henk and I... had a teeny tiny taste of the Mayor's leftover booze.

I'll let you in on a little secret, Mr. West had more than just fine wine brewing for the celebration! *hic*—

—He was hiding a whole cannon behind our backs! The last time I saw one of those, it was the harvest when we were ten!

I'll definitely invite you to a dance during the gun salute at next year's festival, Magdelene!

You're still really drunk, you know that?

I just hope that the flash powder hasn't gotten wet, with all the barrels it was stored alongside.

It'll only be a few more days. Once we're finished with that bloody thing the devils are having us build, they'll leave us alone.

Then, when the time comes for next year's harvest festival, we'll get to celebrate the return of our normal lives all night long—

Hm—When did you start hanging clocks in the greenhouse?

It's a long time past the time everyone's supposed to gather to head to work. Are you skiving off work today?

They won't notice a single man missing.

I'm getting ready to head there. I know there's a back alley behind your greenhouse that leads straight to the work site.

Strange, though. Them devils don't often loiter around here...

The door's over there... I'll head there right now!

See you! *hic*—

Wait, Will! Don't open that door!

Watch out!

Oww—Magdelene, did a flower pot crack my skull open?

Nothing happened...

*sigh*, you're still drunk. The door outside is that way. I'll take you to the work site.

Right, I gotta remember to bring a bouquet to mourn Mr. West. It's a shame he didn't get to taste the wine he was brewing...

You didn't see the notice they put up today?

What notice? *hic*—

Never mind. Take this flower.

Brentwood has visibly deteriorated over the last few years.

Although Mayor West racked his brains to try to turn things around, his ideas all yielded little results. Though caravans once visited in droves, none of them are willing to visit this forgotten town any more.

Everyone has been suffocating thanks to the ever-approaching war and the worsening situation in Londinium.

Two weeks ago, all of us gathered at the top of the town hall tower and saw a Catastrophe cloud rising into the sky in Londinium's direction.

Mayor West hesitated for half a day, and gave up on sending a team to Londinium to find out what happened. There were only the rumors that 'war has broken out.'

It was only when the Sarkaz came that the town regained its former 'vigor.' They hired all of us with food.

Everyone scrambled to line up for work day after day, and gave everything their all in exchange of the limited food there is. We're all very industrious. In a few short weeks, the thing that they had us build is already starting to take shape.

With the promise of survival dangling in front of us, we strained to forget how Mr. West died.

If there's no one working the farms anymore...

Then what is the harvest festival that everyone is so looking forward to actually celebrating?

Will, they're coming this way. Wake up!

Dammit, Will... I told you not to drink so much!

Sir, this man broke the rules. I'll be taking him to confinement to reflect on what he's done.

Looks like you enjoy the power we've granted you, Feline.

I... I just don't want anyone to break the rules we agreed on.

Hmph, I can tell you're trying to protect him. Childish tricks.

You'd best remember how your unlucky father died.

His Highness is willing to overlook your disrespectful attitude before. That alone is your greatest reward.

What we need now are honest workers. It's that simple.

I... It won't happen again, sir. I swear!

That's right. Your legs should be shaking.

Don't worry. You'll live. If you were dead, I'd have to find a *Sarkaz profanity* to do your job.

I'll keep an eye on him. I promise there will be no delays.

Better not be. I don't care who picks up his slack, as long as one of you does.

Not you.

Now get back to your posts. I don't want the boss to chew me out.

Scram.

Magdelene, please. Let me take care of him. He'll sober up in confinement.

I'm sober! I wouldn't dare fall behind on the schedule they set.

Wait till you can stand before you act tough. If you pass out at the work site, I won't be able to save you.

*sigh*... I shouldn't have given you the keys to the warehouse yesterday.

Are these flowers... for me?

Hah, of course not.

I got them to mourn Mr. West.

You didn't see the notice I put out today?

He had too much to drink yesterday, so...

Sorry, Freda... I was only going to have a little sip—

—but that bastard Tom started spouting nonsense. He says you're a haughty traitor riding the devils' coattails!

We're managing to get by these days only because you kowtowed to the devils.

Old Henk and I were proper pissed off. We challenged the bastard to some drinking games, but we got careless and didn't stop, *hic*—

What they think doesn't matter.

Never mind. Give me the flowers. Let me thank you in my father's place.

Maybe we could hold a ceremony for Mr. West in the warehouse he was secretly making his preparations in.

The Sarkaz rarely go there.

Thanks, Magdelene.

My guess is that you got the flowers. He's not smart enough.

But you should go back. I just heard... a group of outsiders appeared in the village a few days ago. Not the dukes' army, but they are armed.

The Sarkaz are afraid someone in town could help them. They'll start today's search ahead of schedule.

So early?

What is she running that fast for? Is she in a rush?

For your own good, I suggest you stop bothering her so much.

She has her own troubles to take care of. Now go. Sober up in confinement. *sigh*...

My men saw you go to the work site, <i>Gardener.</i>

Do not exhaust my trust in you.

How can I get rid of him?

I hope he hasn't found anything.

You hung up the clock I gave you.

Very good. That'll help you to remember your work hours and not to leave your post.

He's got mud on his hands.

Did he turn my daisies' soil?

I didn't give my subordinates permission to muck around with your greenhouse—

Hmph, you might as well just search out in the open. No need to be so cautious about me.

Or are you trying to look for these?