Exurbia: A Novel About Caterpillars (An Infinite Triptych Book 1) Read Free

can’t make assumptions. It could mean anything.’ 
    The crone began to turn the statement over in her mind. Eternal, of all things. Gnesha, what wickedness is idling on our horizon, and just what are we to do when it arrives?

2
    “Who is the chrysalis? Who is the worm? Who gets eternity? Who gets the urn?”
    - Traditional Old Erde Pergrin hymn
     
     
    Fortmann and the Zdrastian -
     
    Moonless. Fortmann led the way, the Zdrastian keeping in close second and dragging his dog by a tight leash. The dog had tissue paper secured about its paws with elastic bands, the Zdrastian referring to the thing always as Mr. Covert Woof. Fortmann put up a hand to say wait and bent to a crouch.
    ‘What do you see?’ whispered the Zdrastian.
    Fortmann shook his head.
    The grass was high and wild in places. Plovda, they could be hiding anywhere. Fortmann pointed then to Mr. Covert Woof. 
    What? the Zdrastian mouthed. Fortmann pulled the lead from the man’s hand.
    ‘We let the animal go first,’ he whispered. ‘They probably won’t touch him. He’s just a dog.’
    ‘They will!’ said the Zdrastian and went to take the lead back. ‘They will! They will!’
    ‘They’re looking for people, not pets. Let the dog go first. If something happens to him I’ll buy you a new one when we get back.’
    Mr. Covert Woof laid down in grass and licked at his paws.
    ‘He is precious!’ said the Zdrastian. ‘Very precious!’
    Fortmann scanned the dark, then leaned in close.
    ‘Do you know what they are?’ he said. ‘The gungovs?’
    The Zdrastian shook his head slowly.
    ‘Monsters. Now we can walk out there and get torn to pieces by one of those things or we can let the dog lure them out. Or, alternatively, we can go back to the Chapterhouse and tell the entire congregation how you’d much rather endanger two human lives because of a dog.’ 
    The Zdrastian cocked his head and eyed Mr. Covert Woof mournfully. They should not be separated in a fashion like this. It had not been part of the plan.
    ‘I think you’re lying,’ said the Zdrastian. ‘I think the gungovs are no more than machines.’
    ‘Does it matter? They’ll hack us up just the same.’ 
    Fortmann began to uncouple the leash from Mr. Covert Woof’s collar. There was no need to wait for permission, the Zdrastian didn’t try to interfere. The dog climbed to its feet and scrutinised Fortmann’s face in the dark. Fortmann patted it a few times and rubbed its ear.
    ‘Us or the dog.’
    ‘You planned this all along,’ said the Zdrastian. It would not do well to contradict the head of the order - a seer, no less - but involving the dog stirred a sudden impertinence in him. Fortmann said nothing and pointed then into the wild grass ahead, into the great w’liaks and the pines, and the dog set off without hesitation. The tail was visible for a few seconds and then that too disappeared, the grass heads jiving occasionally in the animal’s wake. Both of the men remained still. The green tulleys sung from their invisible niches in the trees. The Zdrastian began to mentally recite a prayer his mother had sung him once when he had been heavy with fever as a child: Though I know the world may be set in its way, and time be too big to hold, alter this day in the most peaceful direction . 
    Two springer spaniel ears emerged suddenly from the thickets, bounding back towards them. Oh thank you. Oh thank you thank you thank you .
    ‘See?’ said Fortmann, speaking at a reasonable volume now. ‘The little thing's fine.’ 
    They stood and squinted into the dark ahead, the Zdrastian clipping the dog back onto the lead and ruffling his fur. Fortmann shouldered his apparat pack and took a tentative step forward. The grass cracked under his boot. The night freeze was coming in already.
    ‘We’ll be quick,’ said the Zdrastian. ‘We’ll be very very quick, won’t we?’
    ‘Very quick,’ agreed Fortmann and led them both into the dark. 
    The tomb was in sight now, a