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1242, Day Two

Trask sighed again, wondering not for the first time why he was trying to help these people who seemed to be too ignorant to even recognize help. "The Emperor works in mysterious ways," he thought. Then aloud he said, "Slot me into whatever watch schedule you like."

Tyyr wrote:1242

Phebia ignored Trask's bitching. "We need to take shifts, driving and keeping a look out. Four hours on, four off, should do the trick," she said. "I'll volunteer for the first shift. I think our priestess has already volunteered for the second."

1242, day 2

" Huh?" Haxta glanced up from the emergency rations she had been none too enthuastically inspecting, look over at Phebia. " Oh, sure..." She glanced at her chrono. " Nearly a quarter till 1300. I'll take over for you at 1645?"

Enrick laughed at Trask and Phebia. "You know! You two are like this old married couple I know back home. The tough women, the grumpy men, its a perfect fit. Now you guys just need to age a bit and you're golden!" Enrick had tried to stay serious but failed and broke out into laughter yet again.

1243, Day Two - Trask looked, puzzled, at Enrick. "I just said I'll take any watch," he said carefully.

1243 Day Two:

Upon closer inspection of the drivers station the party finds a map folded on the dashboard, simple to the extreme it has Pilgram's Road marked out in blue ink with scattered topographical references and the odd spot for a rest break jotted down.

Firing up the engine there is a cloud of blue smoke from the exhaust and the tang of burning promethium fills the air, the vehicle accelerates slowly but steadly and it's not long before you find yourselves headed down the clearly marked road and out of the settlement. A kilometre down the road it turns from compacted dirt to a softer composition and the road becomes little more then two ruts, with frequent wash boarding, dips and bumps. The ride is not exactly comfortable but it is certainly better then walking and you figure stopping at the first marked site might not be a bad idea.

1243 Day 2

"So....who's got the map?"

"There's a single road from here to the Cathedral and nothing else. I don't think we'll get lost."

Mikey wrote:1243, Day Two - Trask looked, puzzled, at Enrick. "I just said I'll take any watch," he said carefully.

"Then take second."

Phebia held on as the half-track accelerated. She braced herself against the sides of cargo compartment and started to scan the surrounding area, staying alert for any trouble.

Enrick sank down into the seat as far as it would allow him. The front row built for three was just enough room for the driver and Enrick. "Fine, you guys watch and wake me up if you need anything dead." Moments past and Enrick was asleep. His helmet bouncing against the metal frame.

1243 Day 2

"Hang on, there's a map here." Marco called out to the others after rummaging around the driver's compartment for a moment. He studied it for a moment to locate the quickest route out of the city, then started the half-track's engine and moved the heavy vehicle out onto the road.

"Right. Let's get moving."

1301, Day Two

As Karibi throttled the half-track down the pathetic excuse for a road, Trask lay against the gunwale of the troop bay in the back, mumbling his almost voiceless stream of litanies and prayers. His eyes constantly glared all around, and he finally half-stood silently and closed his eyes in concentration for a moment. He opened his eyes, but stared silently into the wilds around them. "There," Milo said to nobody in particular, indicating some scrub trees and slate-like outcroppings. He became thoughtful for a moment, then said, "Those shale-crows - the black birds with no eyes. They can sense us, and they're following us."

1301, day 2

" How many?" Haxta asked, looking up from where she'd half fallen asleep in the corner.

1302

"Following us?" Phebia asked suspiciously. "Are they doing it naturally or is someone directing them?"

1303

"Whichever it is, I don't like it." Marco called out over the noise of the engine. "Even if it's natural someone could easily track us by just watching the damn things. Hang on." Karibi twisted the steering wheel, bringing them to the side of the road and then slowed to a halt.

"Pahr, care for a little target practice?"

1303

Phebia shook her head and muttered, "We're on a one lane road that goes to exactly one place, a five year old juvie could track us. Better yet just read a map and know precisely where we're going."

1303

"A map won't tell them how fast we're moving. Or how long it'll take us to get there. Or what sort of progress we're making. Better safe than sorry."

Tyyr wrote:1302

"Following us?" Phebia asked suspiciously. "Are they doing it naturally or is someone directing them?"

Trask glowered, still casting his gaze out of the back of the transport. "Not natural, I think." He narrowed his gaze and concentrated before adding, "There's warp-taint around them, but nobody else is around."