GENESIS - THE BEGINNING. Book 1

CHAPTER 24 ... Hadespeace

They stood over Adelia's grave then silently took their leave.

The Polrob unnoticed and more silent, hovered above them and sent a live feed throughout the Empire. Billions watched as the two woman turned sadly and walked away to collect their belongings. It was a time to mourn dead lovers and brothers. Dead mothers and fathers.

"Choose a flitter and wait for me," said Tobor.

"Why?" asked Katya.

"Because I have a plan. Choose one and park it close to the village." She looked up at the late afternoon sky. "I may be a while."

***

"Am I dead?"

"Yes."

"Who are you?"

"I am Vigrior."

"Are you God?"

"No. Though I could be classified as one."

"Is there more than one god?"

"Some like to believe so."

"I don't understand."

"It is of no matter. I have need of you."

"I don't understand."

"Pick up your sword and follow me."

Adelia Montgomery. Lately of the human race and now deceased, bent down and picked up her long sword where it lay on her stiff, dirt-covered corpse.

A wraith carrying a sword, rose unseen and unnoticed out of the earth to follow another.

***

"What's that? Asked Katya as Tobor stepped up the ramp carrying a pale with a dark red and thick looking substance. As the smell hit her, she gagged.

"Porcine blood."

"Are you insane? What the devil for? That stuff stinks." Katya moved away from the bucket with its heavy, cloying smell.

"Told you I have a plan. This is it. You are going to be the star attraction in a few days' time. Now then, let's get out of here and if the smell bothers you, switch on the air conditioning."

"I have been trying to do that but this piece of scrap doesn't seem to have one. Either that or its bust." She had been punching buttons but nothing seemed to be happening.

"Here, let me have a go."

The would be city of Hammer had cut its teeth. In a short while, people would will be flocking to this small village, telling any who would care to listen that their husband or sons had died there. Proudly they would describe how they stood up to the would-be Emperor and were it not for the dismembered arm or that sword laying sandwiched between two corpses with its sharp edged blade pointing upwards, things may have been slightly different today.

In time, a small, insignificant tombstone would be erected over the grave of Adelia Montgomery with the following inscription:

WE SUFFERED TOGETHER.

WE DIED TOGETHER.

I MISS YOU.

K.

The inhabitants never figured out who had erected the tombstone. One morning somebody noticed it was there and walked over to inspect it. The slip of paper weighted down by a clod of dirt caught the eye and the person picked it up and shook it clean. On it in neat handwriting that every one of the villagers swore they could not recognise, were written these words: