Chapter Two

Free Fall

After the initial quake, aftershocks registering between 9.6 and 9.8 continued for days. Cities fell. The Mississippi River, the Chattahoochee River, and the Alabama River filled with ocean water, widening to swallow massive tracts of land. Millions perished while hampered rescue efforts stretched into weeks. Reconstruction took years, and the cost in credits depleted federal reserves. What was left of Georgia and Florida merged and was renamed Longshore. Sandersville became the new capital.

Ch 2 P.1. The Straw Bed

Marle's thoughts reeled as consciousness returned. His senses kicked in even before he peeked cautiously from one eye. He could feel himself prone on something hard; his free right hand touched something scratchy. He sensed pressure and heard creaking. Where am I, he silently asked himself. He lifted a single eyelid and looked up into the face of an older woman.

The woman wore a woolen dress with a stained cotton apron over it. Her hair was kept under a cotton cap. Eyes wide and mischievous, the woman smiled, exposing stained teeth. And the smell! Both of Marle's eyes sprang wide open. The woman had a knee on the edge of a straw bed. She lifted her dress as a heavy leg fell on the other side of Marle's body.

“Oh, hell no!” said Marle in alarm.

Marle pushed the woman off, and she fell against a mud wall. Marle quickly rolled from the bed, clutching and closing his robe. As he stood, his head hit a low wooden beam with a solid thump. He backed into hanging objects as he turned to look around the small, dark room. He was confused.

The old woman spoke with a smile as she stood from the bed. “Care ye not for a woman, luv?” asked the woman as she approached. “Corky Margaret's got what ye need.”

“Where the hell am I?” demanded Marle. “If I get a flea, I'll be really pissed.”

“Tell Margaret thy name, luv,” said the woman, standing before a fireplace with a pot on a hook and a fire underneath. “We've time to acquaint before the man returns.”

Marle was repulsed. He still hadn't worked out why he was not on the observatory. “Listen to me, old woman. I'm Doctor Marle Linden. Where am I? Where's Hera?”

The woman gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. She stepped forward, and Marle took an urgent step back. “Margaret has heard of Hera. Are ye Merlin? Truly?”

Marle looked around for a door; he wanted desperately to flee. His head was spinning. He was no longer on the Tin Can. Had he died and gone to hell? A thin light issued between uneven slats of wood. Marle hoped it was the door as he turned and groped for a handle. On a table by the door sat his wizard cap; he donned his cap in confused anger as he pushed through the door, hoping for fresh air, but outside was worse. He could smell pigs.

Marle turned in circles in an open, muddy yard. A fence of loosely placed tree limbs barely contained two pigs in their sty. There was a well, and beyond the house was a muddy road that snaked into a heavily wooded area. Suddenly, Marle knew fear. He was not where he should be. It was as if reality had dropped out from under him and dumped him into a bizarre and smelly nightmare. Marle could hear voices coming from the woods.

The nasty woman followed Marle outside, and a ragged man in gray wool trousers ran into the yard. He stopped short, staring in surprise at Marle. Men on horses arrived next. Marle counted five men, somewhat better dressed than the old woman and her husband. One of them was particularly well-dressed, having puffed sleeves and a frilled collar. What caught Marle's eye were the wicked pikes the men carried.

“See! See!' Yelled the ragged man. “I said true. There be a wizard.”

The old woman turned to the men on horses. She said, “Ye see Merlin stand before ye. He calls for Hera.”

The well-dressed man on horseback spoke without emotion or concern, but his voice fairly dripped with authority. “Detain the wizard,” said he. “Bind him well.”

The four armed men jumped from their horses and approached with both caution and menace. Marle couldn't believe what was happening. He saw it with his own eyes, but he couldn't believe it. This was, hands down, the worst Birthday ever.

“Stop!” yelled Marle. “I can explain.

Marle threw his hands up in a protective gesture as he backed away from the pikes. His heart racing, Marle saw a long staff appear in his right hand. Before he blacked out, the men fell down.