Patchwork Universe

John Angelis · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 6:52 am Post subject:

John waved aside the question. "I've never met your daughter, but her location and safety are of the greatest importance to me. Not least because working out where *she* is might help me work out where *I* am."

"Now.. you crossed the barrier, and your husband could see you. I couldn't. Further, he reacted as if you'd spoken to him, but I didn't hear you."

By this stage John was musing pretty much to himself in the face of hostile glares.

"So perhaps the fog bank is there to only certain people. Indeed, it seems as if Lady Violetta is the only inhabitant of the area who can see it... Perhaps only one person per patch can see these fog banks... but why her? Why me?"

It was clear that patience had all but worn out. John decided to advance the experiment.

"It's clear that the fog bank is something that only affects me, of people here. So, you ought to see something unusual if I step through."

John stepped forward into the fog bank...

John Angelis · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 7:10 am Post subject:

...John emerged from the fog bank. Judging from the position of the sun, and the location of the house, he was a few hundred metres south of where he entered the Underground, and traversing the Underground had taken about an hour. Under no immediate threat, he stowed his revolver, and headed back to where he left the party...

John Angelis · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 7:13 am Post subject:

...as he walked along the road, he spotted the brass sign, a sign that was strangely reminiscent of the stickers on the underground maps...

He approached the point where he'd left the patch originally.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 5:34 pm Post subject:

.. to find that as far as he could tell, the Earl and his wife were gone. Standing in the place in the wood where he'd conducred the experiment, he was struck with a feeling of deja-vu as he became aware once more that the woods were being searched. This time, however, the search seemed to be somewhat more organised and urgent.

John Angelis · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 6:57 pm Post subject:

Staying very close to the patch boundary in case a sharp exit was needed, Angelis awaited discovery.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 9:35 pm Post subject:

It did not take long before a stout farmhand arrived. He was carrying a length of sturdy branch in his hand, and when he spotted John he shouted out. "Over here. 'e's over here."

Crouching down low, and with an unfriendly look upon his face the laboured advanced upon Angelis. "Stay where ye are now, and let's 'ave none of yer vanishing acts, I've got me eye on you and you ain't gettin' away this time. Now you can come back to the 'all nice an' quiet, or ye can make it 'ard on yerself. Can't say I cares much for the Lady, mad as a bleedin' March 'are, she is, but any man as 'arms a woman 'll get no better 'n 'e deserves from me, so I don't much mind if we 'as a little scrap, see." He waved the cudgel at John. "Like as not y'll 'ang anyway, but these is civilised times, an' y'll get a trial, although the judge 'll not be too kindly disposed to ye I'll warrant." The laborer laughed in genuine amusement, although it was not entirely clear what at.

From around the woods there came the sounds of others approaching, alerted by the labourer's call. John knew that things could well get nasty if he did or said the wrong thing now. The farmhand, sweat glistening in his strawlike hair, halted his advance just outside of arm's reach and watched John warily, alert for trouble.

John Angelis · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 10:41 pm Post subject:

"Tell the old fool and his wife that I'll look out for his daughter and send her home if I see her. Though god knows, I can see why she'd leave," sneered Angelis.

He stepped sideways into the mists.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 6:11 pm Post subject:

Some time later, the somewhat shaken labourer was brought before the Earl.

"Mr. John Jones, milord," announced the butler, leading the farmworker into the Green Room, where Jones fearfully tried to stay as far away from anything as he could, lest he dirty the Squire's property. As if today's events were not bad enough already. he had to face the lord of the mannor, and the Earl was clearly not in a good mood.

"Well, Jones. I'm told you let him escape. What've you to say about that."

"Beggin' yer pardon, yer lordship, but I was right in front of 'im an' 'e just vanished right before me eyes. I swear it's God's own truth for I'd never dare lie t'the likes of yerself." Jones was pale, and visibly shaking, all trace of the crafty cockiness he'd displayed in front of Angelis was now completely absent. "'E must've been a witch, yer lordship. There's no other way 'e could've done it."

The Earl's snarl was full of contempt. "Don't be absurd man - there's no such thing as witches. I told you he could move fast. He wouldn't have escaped me in the first place if he wasn't. I may be getting on in years, but I can still put up a good fight when the need arises. He must've tricked you or somethign."

Jones just shook his head mutely - he didn't want to risk angering the Earl further. But he had a message to deliver. "'E said ... something berfore 'e left."

The Earl frowned. "Well, don't be coy, Jones. There aren't any ladies present."

Jones wasn't quite sure what coy meant, but the Earl was waiting for an answer. "'E said 'e send Lady Violetta 'ome if he saw 'er." Probably best to leave out the tone of the message.

Thoughtfully, the Earl drummed his fingers on the side of his chair. "So he's still protesting his innocence, is he? Well, it may even be true, although certainly he knows more than he's letting on. Since we can't find him, I suppose we'll just have to hope he's telling the truth. You can go, Jones."

"Thank'ee, yer Lordship." Jones made a hasty retreat - there was a bottle of cider he intended to become very familiar with as soon as he could get back home. The Earl remained in his chair, silent, impassive.

Finally he spoke, almost inaudibly. "Oh, Letty, whereever you are, I hope no harm has come to you."