“Do you mean we’re going to starve?” a woman asked.
Roz couldn’t pinpoint whose voice it was. Since she couldn’t see who spoke, she kept her eyes trained on her father. She was just as eager as everyone else to hear what he was about to reveal.
“The short answer to your question, Emma, is I don’t know. The longer answer includes me detailing what’s going on with the crops and the fields.”
“Tell us what you know!” Hansen requested.
Her father nodded and cleared his throat again. Shifting feet, he clasped his hands behind his back. The rest of his team came up to him and spread out to his left and right.
“My team and I have found the soil is not only eroding and causing difficulty in maintain the plants, but it is showing black sludge. It’s wet without being watered.”
“What does that mean? You can still plant things, right?” another woman asked.
Another farmer, Elijah spoke, “We’ve been tilling the area, but the ground has remained wet. There’s almost an oozing quality to the dirt. Certain parts are not affected yet, but it’s creeping across the field.”
“We’re very concerned about the parts which have already been tainted. They won’t grow anything in those areas. The parts, as Elijah said, of natural soil are being overtaken. We can’t find the source of the sludge soil,” Winston added.
“What will we do if it spreads across the entire planting fields?” Logan, a builder for the community, asked.
“We’ll need to check the soil in the entire area. We wanted your permission to check your yards and the community areas to see if we can find any other places to plant our crops. If the other areas are having the same problem, we may not have too many years of good crop soil left,” Winston explained.
“Winston?” Captain Ralph interrupted as the community turned toward one another and began talking.
Roz picked up on pieces of her neighbor’s conversation. Their fear was prominent as they discussed the lack of food and dying of starvation. She saw her father listening to Captain Ralph and nodding.
Nina wrapped her arm through Roz’s and said, “This is worse than I thought.”
Nodding, Roz watched as Captain Madison put a hand in the air and called for silence.
“We realize your concerns,” he stated, “but we can’t address all of them at this time. What we can say is this is another reason our attack of the castle has to happen. Even if there isn’t a beast, there might be resources inside the castle to explain what has happened to our community and how to fix it.”
“What if we can’t fix it?” a voice called out.
“How long do we have?”
“Will it be a couple of years or less?”
“How far spread is this black sludge?”
“Is it the soil?”
“How will our plan to go to the castle help?”
Voices shouted all over the room even as side conversations continued. Roz held her breath, and Nina put her hands over her ears. Both stood waiting for answers.
“Please, please,” Captain Ralph admonished.
The crowd fell silent again, but the tense atmosphere had people changing feet, crossing their arms, and taking large breaths.
“We are investigating the soil each day. The rate of growth of the black sludge has been a mile long since last summer,” Winston took over the conversation again, and Roz watched her father.
“It’s growing quickly,” one audience member asserted.
“Quick enough,” her father replied. “We feel it has something to do with the black sun. It seems to be getting darker. It could be damaging the soil in some way. Another consideration is the soil itself. We’ve tried to analyze it, but our results aren’t bringing back any answers.”
Elijah picked up the conversation, “The data we have doesn’t support any of the known soil minerals we’re used to seeing. Whatever is inside this black sludge is eating the nutrients needed to sustain growth of plants, particularly vegetables and fruits.”
Owen, another farmer, added, “It’s why we need to check soil samples from around the town. If we can find better soil, we may have a chance of continuing to plant and harvest good crops. However, it could also help us detect other areas of concern.”
“You asked how our plan to go to the castle could help,” Captain Ralph began, “and I can tell you that finding answers there is another reason for us to carry through with our plan.”
“Are you saying the castle could have information regarding the soil?” Logan questioned.
“Could it include information about the sickness?” another asked.
Captain Madison took a step forward. “Yes, we believe there is a library there which might give us the answers we need. There’s a chance it could provide a solution to the soil crisis or information about the sun or how to heal those with the sickness. If anything, it’s worth a try.”
“The beast and the curse aren’t the main reason?” Roz heard Ev ask.
Nina caught her eye and shrugged her shoulders when she heard her brother’s voice.
“It is the main reason, Everett. However, we are going in there to find anything to help us. If that’s books on what’s going on in this world, we will look for it. I know it’s been a while since anyone has seen or heard the beast, but we have to know, once and for all, what we are up against.”
People nodded around the room. Voices of agreement murmured across the crowd. Roz observed the room again and tried to see where Leuthar could be. She couldn’t spot his tall frame anywhere and wondered if he hadn’t come after all.
“You can check my yard,” Logan called out.
“Mine too!”
“And mine!”
“Check everything!”
Voices around the room called out and agreed to have their soil checked as well.
“Thank you!” her father said, as he and the others stepped back and to the right.
Captain Ralph, Captain Madison, Captain Murphy, and Captain Starsky took center once more. Waiting until the crowd quieted down again, they held a private conversation at the front. Next, Captain Ralph walked to the edge of the crowd and held up his hand. Everyone fell silent.
“This is why it’s important for us to move along with our plans. We are going to finish detailing the extent of our plan tomorrow night. We know you all are eager to practice, but we are having you take tonight off.”
Disappointed cries echoed all over the room.
“Did you know they were going to cancel?” Roz asked Nina.
Her friend shook her head. “No, Ev never mentioned anything about it.”
“Tomorrow night, we are going to walk through our plan. We will also practice it. Get some good sleep this evening and be prepared to meet here at 1500,” Captain Madison told them.
“Wait! We have to go to school?” Roz recognized a fellow student, Sebastian, call out.
“Yes,” Captain Ralph said.
Groans filled the air, and a few adults chuckled. Roz felt as if the tense air had lifted.
“We’ll see you all tomorrow. Enjoy your evening,” Captain Madison said, and the meeting closed.
People broke off into groups to talk or wander out of the building. Several women and men walked up front to talk to one of the captains or the farmers.
Roz grabbed Nina’s hand and dragged her to the front. They inched in as close as they could to her father. Waiting for him to notice them, Roz surveyed those still in the training facility for Leuthar. She didn’t see him.
“Did Leuthar not come?” Nina asked beside her, catching her room check.
“I don’t know. Maybe he already left?”
“Roz, do you think your father and the others are right about the soil?” Nina asked as they waited.
“Which part?”
“The part where it could be helping to cause the sickness?”
Swallowing, Roz turned to Nina and bit her lip. “I don’t know, Nina. I’m sure they’re confused as well and look
ing for answers. Trust me. If there are any answers in that castle. I will find them.”
Nina nodded, and Roz grasped her hand tighter.
“Hey,” Ev’s voice came from behind them.
Jumping, Roz yanked on Nina’s hand. Her friend let out a squeak, and both looked at each other before turning around.
“Ev, don’t do that.” Nina smacked his arm.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you two. How’d you like the meeting?”
“It was informative,” Roz told him.
Nina shrugged.
Ev crossed his arms, and said, “We have a lot of responsibility resting on us. Do you two think you’re up for the challenge?”
“I was born ready,” Roz stated.
“Of course,” Nina said.
“Good. I can’t have either of you wigging out on us. Our teams aren’t large as it is. Captain Ralph wants to enact the scheme tomorrow night during practice. He’s going to announce his leads as well.”
“Let me guess,” Roz spoke drily, “you’ll be one of them?”
Ev nodded. “As far as I know, that’s what Captain Madison has alluded to, and it’s fine by me. I’m ready to take this beast out.”
“Do you know who the other leads are going to be?” Nina asked.
“No,” Ev shook his head. “I can say who I think, but you can’t take it as fact.”
“What do you mean?” Roz questioned. “You either know, or you don’t.”
Hand raking through his hair, Roz watched as pieces stood on end. He shrugged and looked around the room.
“Do you?”
“I have my suspicions,” he teased.
“Who?”
“You,” he bluntly told her.
“What?” Roz shook her head. “That isn’t a good idea.”
Taking a step closer, Ev lowered his voice, and said, “The captains think it’s a great idea. If I had to speculate which of the other six they’d pick, without knowing, I’d say Julian, Natalie, Lincoln, Brooklyn, Mila, and Levi would be them.”
“Wait, what about Leuthar?” Roz felt a spark of panic inside her chest.
“Leuthar? Roz, he’s in the middle of the pack. The top ten include the people I mentioned, me, you, and a couple others. None of those people are your brother. He hasn’t made the cut.”
“No, no, no, no, no,” Roz breathed. “They can’t make me a leader and not him. Ev, talk to the captain. All of them.”
“What for? You’ve earned this right. You can’t say no because of your brother. It isn’t your fault or his. He isn’t want they’re looking for, but you are.”
“No! Tell them to pick anyone else. I mean it, Ev. Anyone else but me. Choose one of the others you mentioned.”
“It’s not up to me Roz. The names have already been picked.”
“Then help unpick me. I need you to do this one favor for me, Ev. I will never ask for another one, but please, tell Captain Ralph not to pick me.”
“Roz, you aren’t listening. The names have already been decided.”
“Ev, I thought you said you didn’t know who they were,” Nina interjected. A frown on her face, she added, “Are you lying?”
“No,” he shook his head. “I just know they have picked the names. It makes sense they’d be the top contenders in class, and I happen to know Roz is one of them. I’m great at deductions.” He shrugged.
Roz shook her head. This could set Leuthar off. She wouldn’t be able to protect him then.
“Ev, tell them no.”
“I can’t. Tell them yourself if you don’t want the job.”
“I can’t!” she hissed.
“Why?”
Roz just shook her head. Catching Nina’s eye, she silently pleaded with her friend not to say anything.
“You know Leuthar gets jealous, Ev,” she tried to help.
“Too bad. We all have struggles.”
“You’re not being very sympathetic,” Nina groused.
Shrugging, Ev nodded toward the doorway. “I’m heading home. Nina, let’s go.”
“Can I go with Roz?”
“No. We have to check in on mom and dad.”
Seeing the slump of Nina’s shoulders, Roz swallowed back the retort she’d been forming. Ev could anger her quite easily, but she didn’t want to hurt her friend. Nina had endeavored to help her, and she was already keeping Roz’s secret.
“Bye, Nina. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Keep me updated.”
Roz knew what she meant and nodded. They hugged, and Nina walked away with Ev. Turning back, she found her father waiting for her.
By his side was Leuthar, and from the look on his face, she wondered if he had heard any of Ev’s conversation.
Forcing a smile, she said, “There you are, Leuthar. I wondered if you’d make it.”
He nodded.
“Let’s head home. Do you think you could make a salad for us tonight?” her father said.
Leuthar shrugged and was quiet on their walk home. He allowed himself to be led and followed along. His arms hung at his sides, and his eyes kept downcast.
His attitude didn’t project anger, but Roz wondered if he’d heard what Ev had told her and was exhibiting sadness. The slump of his shoulders and refusal to meet her eyes worried her.
She and her father exchanged a glance, and she shrugged. He bumped her shoulder and smiled. Roz gave him a half-smile and looked back at Leuthar.
“It sounds as if you two will have a big day tomorrow,” her father spoke.
“We have a lot to find. A possible imaginary beast, evidence of a curse, and a library. I hope we find everything we need,” Roz replied.
“Do you think you’re up to the challenge, Leuthar,” he asked.
“Yeah,” he breathed.
To Roz, this answer was a victory. She smiled at her father.
“I’m sure you’re going to have a lot to do tomorrow, Leuthar. Captain Ralph and the others have seen how hard you work and all the progress you’ve made.”
Leuthar let out a grunt.
“I still think Captain will have an important task for you. Perhaps you’ll oversee the team searching for the library? That would be huge! I bet the beast doesn’t want anyone to find it. Especially if it will give us secrets and solutions.”
“Maybe,” he muttered.
“Well, it would be a huge task, and I know he’ll need all the men he can get.”
“I suppose,” he said.
When they entered their house, Leuthar told them goodnight and walked to his room.
“He seems disappointed about something,” her father commented.
Roz nodded, and said, “He may have overheard Ev tell me something. I think it might have upset him.”
“What did Ev tell you?” Her father rested against the doorway leading from the kitchen.
Roz locked the door and leaned against it. Crossing her arms, she told him, “Ev mentioned that Captain Ralph may give me a lead position. I told him I didn’t want it.”
Straightening, her father crossed the room and hugged her. “Roz, that’s a big deal! You would make a great lead, and I’m not just saying that because I’m your father. Why would Leuthar be upset about…”
Seeing her father was connecting the dots, she nodded again. “Yeah, he won’t be happy if I’m giving a leadership position, and he isn’t even considered. Ev mentioned he wasn’t even in the top ten possibilities, from what he knew anyway. If Leuthar heard that, he will be very disappointed.”
“Let’s not jump to conclusions. He may have just had a hard day. We all did. The council meeting went well, but there’s still the issue of trying to find stable soil or getting information from the castle.”
Roz rolled her shoulders back and patted her hand on the countertop. Heading back to the doorway, her father paced back and forth.
“We’ll see what happens tomorrow. Leuthar reacted normally tonight, even if he’s disappointed, and that’s a good sign.”
“You’
re right, dad. I told you he didn’t have the sickness.”
Hand resting against the wall, her father shrugged. “We’ll see, Roz. I’m going to bed now. Get some sleep yourself. Tomorrow is a big day.”
“I know. I will,” she said.
Exchanging a hug, she watched as he went down the hallway and to his room. Waiting, she sat in a chair and contemplated what had happened this evening.
Father just doesn’t understand. I can’t let the curse take Leuthar away from me as well. I’m going to find a way to stop all of this. I will find the cure.
Thinking, her stomach gave a grumble. They’d been provided food at the meeting everyone wouldn’t have to worry about going home and finding food. However, she’d been nervous and eaten sparingly. Standing and checking the cabinets, Roz tried to find something to eat, but their shelves looked a little bare, and she didn’t want to make anything.
Turning, she left the kitchen and flicked the light off as she went. Looking back down the hallway, Roz listened. She didn’t hear any sounds. Deciding to go to bed herself, she made her way down the hall.
Outside Leuthar's door, she paused and pressed her ear close to the door. Soft snores echoed from inside, and she smiled. Rubbing her fingers against the door, she moved on and entered her own room.
She put her chair beneath the door and stood staring at it. She’d never told her father about the weird experience a few nights ago when Leuthar came home. It was something she’d never admit.
Sighing, she got ready for bed and turned out her light. She climbed beneath the covers and angled her body, so she could watch the door.
I can’t let Leuthar lose his battle to the sickness. I’m his only defense, and I won’t let them lock him up. I know he’ll be fine in the morning. He will be normal.
Roz could only hope she was right.
8
“We will have four lines of defense and four lines of offense,” Captain Ralph told them. “Defense one will enter the back of the castle with offense one. Defense and offense two will take the castle from the right. Defense and offense three will do the same on the left. Defense and offense four will be with me leading from the front.”
The Four Tales Page 27