estdeus_innobis | I predict a riot.

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I predict a riot.

“The silence often of pure innocence persuades when speaking fails.”
- Shakespeare

Monday lunchtime, near the sheriff's office, on Main Street

This has proved almost too easy. The clouds are rolling in, air heavy with the promise of rain, and I stand in my Danika body wearing an old coat with the collar turned up against the cold, jacket short enough to show a few inches of a tidy, worn work dress and a calflength of wool stocking. My shoes wear the signs of good, honest farm labour, and my blonde hair is frizzing round my face in the damp air. I look very distressed.

"Did - was there really a man arrested for... for beating on a girl?" I say to an old woman gossiping with her friend on the street. My fingers flutter together anxiously.

"Oh yes," she says, "it's a horrible thing. They think also he did in a girl as worked at - well, the brothel, my dear," she says, lowering her voice over that salacious detail, eyes gleaming with prurient interest. "They think he chopped her up."

"Oh," I say, and I faint very neatly to the ground. It's not long before I have half a dozen people round me - offering water, saying they will take me to the Dormouse, fussing with my coat collar to let me breathe.

"I should've said something," I say, and I burst into tears. That gets me sat down on a bench, an old woman's arm around my shoulders, and a very handsome young man crouched at my feet. "I should - "

"What is is, dear? Do you know something about what happened to those girls?"

I shake my head tightly.

"I know - I know - him," I say quietly. "He - We went out a couple of times, and he was - he was real nice to me, and -" The old woman gives me a handkerchief. "You know, I ain't really dated much," I say, shamefaced, "cos my momma's sick a bunch and I'm busy out on the farm, and he just - he was real nice, and when he -" I turn my face away, and I can feel the vibrating tension from the boy at my feet, his desire to be a hero. "He - I thought it was my fault," I say, and then there is a furious chatter rising from the little crowd, and the conversation spreads in ripples.

"Some carnie's been carving up our girls," one man says fiercely. And there is discussion of me and of Melania - ah, yes, that explains some of what I saw in her - and how we're hard working girls, salt of the earth girls, and who is this monster and why hasn't he been strung up? What the hell is wrong with this town that a murderer and molester can be caught redhanded and he's cosseted in jail? And did you hear that he attacked that nice Mrs Beddau (I wonder if at any other time Glass has been described as nice) when she went to visit him in prison? He should be put in the old stocks in town. People would show him how they felt, alright. They'd show him very clearly indeed.

I manage a brave, trembling smile for the boy at my feet, and he springs up, ready for something, anything, if it will make me look at him like that again. And I nestle in against the arm of the old woman as the crowd grows larger and voices grow louder, and I wait for the storm to break.

[OPEN]

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C'n see th'deputy steppin' out, hopefully t'calm'em down. But like's not'e's gonna hand Benedict over t'keep'em from burnin' th'jail down. I seen't b'fore. Th'yellin's really startin' now, anna rock hits th'wall a couple feet from th'dep'ty's head.

"Hey. Think he can talk them down?"

Th'Doc. Feel m'self gettin' right angry. They ain't gonna burn his home down if'n'ey get mad 'nough, are they? Hell naw, he's town now, ain't'e? S'ose other dirty carnies 'ey's worried 'bout. "No." I says, short 'n snappy. "I see yer redhead in'ere. Girl's cert'nly willin' t'go 'long wit' whoever yells th'loudest, ain't she?" An'is she pregnant? Oh, fer fuck's sake. "An'I see she's gettin' ready t'start slouchin' fer Bethlehem, too. Jesus fuck. Y'jes' gotta wind'er up 'n point'er 'n th'd'rection y'want'er t'go, huh?"

Snappin' 'bout'er makes me feel a bit better. Good distraction from wha's really goin'on. But can't hold. Fish a cig outta m'pocket 'n stick't 'tween m'lips. "Did Ben'dict act'ally do it? D'ya know?" Mebbe'e duz.

Got to say, I ain't happy to be coming to town today, but aftah I heard Benedict got stabbed by Glass Beddau (some townie bitch they said on the Lot, an' I said no, she's decent, but they ain't listening, and that's a bad sign) I thought I'd come in, see what's what. Glad I look a lot like a man today, hair thick on my chin, cos if town's in a mood to pick on someone I ain't the obvious choice, tall an' big with fat an' muscle.

Oh, this ain't good at all, I think as I come up on Main, an' I'm tempted to just turn around again because if Benedict did it, an' I happen to think it's likely he did, let 'em lynch him and leave the rest of us be. Though of course that ain't evah how it works. See Syl talking to the Doc an' I go on ovah.

"Hey," I say. "Think we in the shit now, friends."

Syl did not come to me, did not ask me to follow, which would have been fine as I was focused on the last touches of my talisman, my ward against Tez. But I have not been ignorant, have not been ignoring the feeling rising through the carnivale, & when they passed my trailer to head into town I felt it, the pull, strong through my gut. I had to follow. I placed my now-finished necklace, woven through with copper wire, under my shirt, place my dagger in my leather jacket, zip up & head out. The pendant, something between an ankh & a sword, is cool against my skin.

Benedict. I hardly know him, to be honest, just mostly what I've heard from others. Benefit of the doubt aside, I wonder at what evidence they have to hold & accuse him of so vile a crime. But as we get to town & feel the ripples, sharp & angry, goading, pushing- the balance here is being pushed to the breaking point.

It's not justice these people want. It's blood, plain & simple. Blood for blood, evidence be damned. And I doubt they'll be happy with just one man's blood, at this rate. I clench my jaw & keep my hands shoved in my pockets, dagger ready. I don't want to use it, but I will defend... myself? The carnies? The innocent? I scan the crowd as a rock flies & bangs the door. Who are the innocent here?

'fore th'Doc hazza chance t'answer, I see Nu comin' up from one side'n Silence from th'other. Right bloody glad t'see both ovvem. Good t'know y'ain't alone inna sit'ation like'is.

"Hey. Think we in the shit now, friends." Nu says, soundin' right gloomy. Silence, 's us'al, lives up t'er name. Over by th'sheriff's office th'rocks 'r startin' t'fly.

"Wonder if'n any ovvem know if'n'e did't 'r not," I says, low'n angry. "Wonder if'n any ovvem givva shit." Wonder what'ey'd'a thought if'n a bunch ovvus 'd come stormin' inta town d'mandin' t'string up th'shits who beat up Zann, 'r who tried t'burn down half th'lot. 'course, 'at ain't th'same, right?

An'en th'first shot rings out. Dep'ty bolts back'nside, looks like'e grabbed somebody wittim. "Christ," I says under m'breath. "Parta me thinks we oughta get gone 'fore'ey notice we's'ere." In my 'sper'ence, one carny's's good's 'nother t'a mob like'is. But th'other parta me ain't gonna leave onna th'fam'ly t'is if'n'ere's doubt'e's guilty.

I heard the noise 'n smelled the anger on the air, but bein' as I know folks ain't too happy with me I stayed workin' while Mr. White started securin' the shop. And just after I hear a shot 'n smell power-smoke Mr. Kincaid and that man as owns some 'a the orchards get Molly Kincaid 'n whatsisname's sister 'round the doors and tell Rob t'keep an eye on 'em.

Molly's right pissed, but lookin' out I can see some 'a the crowd and there's a bunch 'a folks watchin' 'em. Miss Kate's out there and I dunt see Tess, but they'll be alright. From what they're yellin' I'm more worried 'f Zann 'r one 'a her friends are 'round.

The big man 'n tall thin woman... The one looks like that Nu person and the other's Syl, Tess' sort 'a friend. I grab my bar and nip out quick, keepin' an eye on the crowd.

"Hey," I say. "We're keepin' safe in the bakery 'till this passes. I figure it'd be safer there fer you than our here on the street."

I don't have time to speculate to Benedict's innocence or guilt when the damn breaks and all hell breaks loose. A shot rings out and hits Deputy Hollow, but at least I know he can't be killed. Miao...

"Oh God what the hell are you doing???" I call out and take a few steps forward when Jack grabs here and pulls her back inside. Wanda starts to surge forward, heedless of the crowd and the possible danger, and I am about to go join her when Reed loses her goddamn mind. I should go try and talk some sense into her, but in a mob mentality, the only uncommon thing is sense.

I rake a hand through my hair as Johnny comes running over.

"We're keepin' safe in the bakery 'till this passes. I figure it'd be safer there fer you than our here on the street."

I look over the melee' then back to Nu' and Syl. "This is a shit situation, damned if we do, damn if we don't." I say grimly.

"Wonder if'n any ovvem givva shit."

"Doubt it," I say, "though like I told you all, I wouldn't be surprised if he did it, ayuh. Man's got a meanness to him."

Then the bakah boy comes out.

"We're keepin' safe in the bakery 'till this passes. I figure it'd be safer there fer you than our here on the street."

"Decent of you, ayuh," I say, cos it is. Ain't no reason for townies to help us out."

"This is a shit situation, damned if we do, damn if we don't."

Nod at the Doc.

"Ayuh," I say. "Things get real bad," I add, quietly, turning my face from the boy, "I can have a little word with the rivah." Don't want to go flooding Main Street, but if the crowd turns towards the carnival, I'll do what I need to do. "Should we go in, sweet?" I say to Syl. "Ain't much we can do out heah, an' I ain't goin' to try to get Benedict, not against that crowd."

Nu is being the voice of reason, and I am inclined to agree that getting out of sight might be the best thing when I hear it over the roar of the crowd.

"Lucien! I can't get to her!"

My head swivels and I see her dear friends trying to pull her to safety. I think Jamie just got decked for his trouble. Oh Wanda, at least you tried.

"Go, get to safety, I have to find another way in..." I say, then take off in a run to circle around the back.

The crowd roars & surges like a living thing, an animal maddened by the scent of blood. Whatever started this, it's gonna be damned hard to stop now. A young man offers the bakery & Nu agrees & he mentions having word with the river. I want to join at first but- but there's something else I need to-

"Go, get to safety, I have to find another way in..." the doctor, Lucian says, before rushing off towards the sheriff's office. Crap. I give a quick look to Syl & Nu before running after him. He'll need my help, I think. A conflagration like this will only gt worse.

Round up beside the doctor & give him a nod. "Need a hand?"

It takes a few minutes to skirt around the mob, and I have to circle a few buildings to do so, as to not attract unwanted attention. The only thing I have going for me is that the mob is so focused they are only trying to break in the front and have neglected the back for the moment.

"Need a hand?" I look over to see ... Silence (yeah, Silence) besides me. "Not sure." I answer truthfully, rubbing the back of my neck. "There's a woman stuck in there... old injuries make it impossible for her to run. i want to get in and get her to safety, but..." Look around. "Don't want to give them a way in at the same time."

Rode behind the tavern and through the backyards instead of taking Silk like I'd have usually. Once I stopped focusing on the people in front of me, or the wards I could hear the crowd screaming and yelling. The thump of things hitting the building is not comforting.

Slow Sarge down to a walk and head into the backyard. At first all I see is people looking to break into the back of my building- then I realize one of them is Lucien. Hopefully he has some sense.
"There's a woman stuck in there... old injuries make it impossible for her to run. i want to get in and get her to safety, but... Don't want to give them a way in at the same time."

Drop off of Sarge and run over to them, "I assume that the door is barred already. If one of you can give me a boost I can pop the window and get you in."

Lucien explains about why he's trying to get in & I'm looking over the back. Door, probably locked or barred. Window's are high, but reachable with help. Plus there's something... a glimmer about the place. A ward? That complicates things some.

"Getting in might be tricky," I tell him, trying to study the ward quickly. I don't want to deconstruct it if I don't have to, but-

"I assume that the door is barred already." I turn to see a tall, red-headed woman running up to us, & my senses pick it up immediately. She matches the ward! "If one of you can give me a boost I can pop the window and get you in." I look to Lucian & nod. "Not a problem," I say, crouching below one of the windows, hands at the ready. "Keep an eye out," I tell him, wondering if he's armed at all.

"I assume that the door is barred already. If one of you can give me a boost I can pop the window and get you in."

I whirl around and I don't think I have ever been more glad to see Mab than I am right now. "Honestly, didn't try. Didn't want to give easy access. Miao's in there. Just want to get her to safety first." I explain, wanting to move faster than this.

Silence and I exchange a look and nod. She crouches down and I turn to keep an eye out. "So far, so good but we should move quick. Get me in next, then you if you want to join the fun." I say dryly to Silence as she hoists Mab up.

Don't know the person with him, but all I hear is Miao's in there, as I hop right up onto the hand stirrup and bang on the window. Feel a tang of power from the new person, but I certainly don't have time to ask right now- file it away for later. Hit the frame in the sweet spot and slide the window up. Reach hands in and haul myself in.

"JACK! JACK! Who's been hit?! Where's Miao!?" start yelling as I turn to help haul Lucien inside, "Chester! You are here?" I could use his information-gathering talents right now.

Jesus fucking Christ onna surfboard, 's ev'rybody innis town lost'eir minds? Mob's gone t'clawin' fer blood now, heavin' rocks 'n beatin' 'gainst th'door'n howlin' like demons from hell. 'm jes' tryin' t'think ovvour choices when a boy speaks up. Di'n't even bloody notice'im 'til'e started talkin'. "Hey. We're keepin' safe in the bakery 'till this passes. I figure it'd be safer there fer you than our here on the street."

Well, mebbe not ev'rybody'n town. Nu's inclined t'take'im up onnis offer, an' she turns t'me. "Should we go in, sweet Ain't much we can do out heah, an' I ain't goin' to try to get Benedict, not against that crowd." Also says she c'n speak t'th'river, if'n thin's get real bad.

"I got m'own ideas, if'n thin's go'at route," I says back t'er, real quiet. Pretty sure'at boost I got'd lend 'tself t'some int'restin' d'fenses. But only if'n't came t'at.

"Meantime, though, 'm thinkin' yer right." I sigh. Ain't no way we c'n get t'Ben'dict now, an' I ain't willin' t'die nor bring th'town down on th'Lot azza whole tryin'. Ben'dict, if'n yer innocent, 'm sorry. If y'ain't, damn ya fer bringin'is on allovus. "Lead th'way," I says t'th'boy.

I relax some when the witch agrees t'come with me. Maybe Rob's got Molly calmed down some, though I wouldn't bet money on it.

"Back this way," I tell them as dint go off t'the sheriff's. "Mr. White's keepin' things calm in the bakery, and no one's goin' t'have a go at his place."

My nose stings like scentin' a lightnin' strike, and I hear Tess' voice ring out even over the crowd. I look over.

"Oh, shit." I ain't too popular in town right now, but I've got my bar and if I go I might be able t'get Tess 'n Kate t'the Store.

"Just tell Rob I sent you," I tell them and I start runnin'.

'm 'bout ready t'fuck bein' brave an' jes' hide 'til'is whole thin' blows over, an' set t'followin' th'kid. "Back this way. Mr. White's keepin' things calm in the bakery, and no one's goin' t'have a go at his place."

Sounds rights good t'me. But'en m'head whips 'round azzi hear Tess' voice roar over th'crowd, an' th'kid freezes, nostrils flarin' like a horse's. "Oh, shit." 'e says, "Just tell Rob I sent you," an'e takes off.

...di'n'Tess tell me one time she had brothers?

Fuck. Jesus bloody Christ, I gotta be the biggest moron....yell over m'shoulder t'Nu, "Get t'th'bak'ry; I'll be'ere soon!" And start runnin' after th'kid.

Edited 2010-08-27 13:29 (UTC)

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I predict a riot.

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