They were still attempting to clean the dirt and mud off themselves in Halfway when the purple wall behind them disappeared.
Control in zone I38-2U has reached manageable threshold.
Dropping zone barrier.
Heinz let out a sigh of relief and abandoned his attempts to coax more water from the tap. So the other groups had stayed in the zone after looting the town.
About twenty minutes later, another two groups arrived to Halfway and the attempts to draw water out were restarted. Like Heinz’s group, they had come back to the ruins of the town drenched in mud. Mud that was starting to dry on Heinz and give off the smell of sulphur.
It was a surprisingly tension-free encounter with the other teams, which were from Innishannon. Their shared hatred of the mud was a bonding point. This became all the more important as time passed by and there was no sign of any clearing group.
“Could they be occupied with clearing another zone?” Heinz asked, starting to get antsy. He was hungry, tired and just wanted to get home. All this time waiting was only causing their duty timer to tick down.
“9E fell about two hours ago but that’s closer to Kinmore,” Phil replied, pacing back and forth himself.
“Maybe Innishannon doesn’t do clearings like Kinmore does,” Tara said. She was still tapping her foot against the ground. The rhythm hadn’t gotten on Heinz’s nerves yet but it was getting there.
“We already asked the other group that,” Louise said calmly. She was leaning back on a piece of rubble with her eyes closed. “Innishannon have a similar system to us. Let’s wait another fifteen minutes and then go for a look.”
Heinz sighed and stood up and walked towards one of the large piles of rubble. If he had to wait, he might as well do it productively. He had a bad hand but he wasn’t crippled. Halfway town was a mess and while Heinz doubted that anyone would be moving back in anytime soon, it would undoubtedly still serve as a stopover and rest point for people travelling to Cork.
In the end, it was only after another ten minutes that someone arrived from Innishannon. The single arrival was a runner sent ahead to take stock of the situation before reporting back.
The clearing convoy had been delayed by issues reaching the zone. As with Heinz’s van, there was no passage for vehicles through the road full of abandoned and crashed cars. Most of the Reclaimer portion of the convoy were walking towards them now. Others stayed back to lift and push vehicles out of the way for the convoy supplies to get through. A few cars had doubled back to attempt side roads but it was unlikely that they would be any better.
A doctor arrived ahead of the main force of the convoy with enough clean water and supplies to look at the group’s wounds. They winced at the sight of Heinz’s hand. It had stopped bleeding during the wait and was now a mess of scabs and hardened.. whatever Tara’s augment made. The doctor washed any lingering mud away and rebandaged the hand but it was clear they were out of their depth. At the end his hand felt like it was stuffed in a giant mitten but the padding at least helped ease any aches.
When all the Reclaimers had reached Halfway, everyone was split up into five teams of fifty people or ten groups and assigned a corner of the zone. Each group moved in from the corners at once to drive any remaining swarm into the centre. It was an interesting method but Heinz couldn’t say if it was better than Kinmore’s way. He definitely felt safe in a larger team but it left a lot of area open. 250 people wasn't enough to fully circumference a zone five kilometres across.
They ran the way back to his van, which was thankfully undisturbed by the ongoing efforts to move vehicles away from the road. From there it was a short drive spent trying to rub as little of the mud off the seats as possible and avoid pressing too hard on the wheel with his right hand. He wasn’t successful. His hand hurt. The van was going to stink tomorrow.
The stop in Innishannon was less awkward than he thought it would be. He pulled over. Louise and Shane hopped out and grabbed their bags. There was a quick goodbye and Phil, Tara and himself were off again. For how smoothly it went, he might not have noticed the change. But there was one. Another shift in the group dynamics.
There wasn’t much conversation for the rest of the trip. All of their thoughts were with Louise and Shane. Heinz didn’t regret leaving them alone. They were smart, they wouldn’t do anything risky with just the two of them. And they didn’t even ask him to join. He didn’t regret it. At least.. At least he didn’t think he did.
The ever growing sound of movement and people talking disturbed Heinz from a reluctant meditation. The marina was growing busy, thankfully not with screams or fear, but busy.
Heinz wanted to know why.
With a groan he stood up, gently so as not to send Rennziege rocking, and made his way up to the cockpit. It was about time he went to find someone anyway. A light rain was falling outside, further wetting his already damp hair from a dip in the water. The strong wind billowed his baggy t-shirt and shorts. It wasn’t nice weather, so why were so many people standing out in the rain talking.
“Hey,” Heinz called across to the man exiting Guillaume’s boat opposite his.
The man stiffened. He turned quickly to face Heinz, heavy jacket flaring. His jaw quivered. “Yes?”
“Do you know what’s going on?” Heinz asked, gesturing at the groups of people standing around the marina.
“Oh.” The man blinked, a weight lifting off his shoulders. “They’ve found the arsonist. There’s a town meeting in an hour.”
“Right,” Heinz replied, thoughts racing. He gave the man an absent thanks and disappeared back inside Rennziege to get his stuff. It looks like he was visiting Rosa first.
Rosa was unsurprisingly gone when he got to the outdoor education centre. A quick ask around sent him in one direction. The sports clubs. Heinz left the outdoor education centre and began to jog. It wasn’t likely that Rosa would need backup, not in the centre of town, but it wouldn’t hurt to check.
His anxiety rose when he reached the GAA club. The building was surrounded by a swarm of people in red bibs. Most were hurrying back and forth, busy at work, but some were pointedly watching all approaches to the building. They stopped anyone who wanted to come close. Others further in were limiting entry to the building itself. Guards.
Heinz may have dismissed Rosa’s worries when Mary took the blame for the initial Reclaimer deaths and was removed from the council, but they had stuck in his mind. Aisling and Rosa had been at odds during the pub meeting but only at odds. There hadn’t been any sign of a… coup? There still weren’t many signs but… Heinz had to make sure.
The first few red shirts were easy to get past. Heinz waved his injured hand around and spouted some crap about a report of the zone past Kinmore. The guards at the door were more trouble.
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“Sorry, the club is locked down at the moment. You’ll have to make your report at the harbour office or the rugby club,” The guard said before going back to blowing on his hands and rubbing them to keep warm. He was tall, taller than Heinz even after all the thresholds, and heavyset, with a rugby player’s build but even that bulk couldn’t protect against the cold for long.
Heinz grimaced. No easy entry for him then. He changed his tack. “I’m here to see Rosa. I was told she’s here.”
The guard blinked at Heinz before straightening and letting his cold hands fall to his side. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but the club is on lockdown at the moment. No entry, no exceptions.”
“And what about exit?” Heinz asked. “My friend is inside and I want to make sure that she’s alright.”
The guard’s brow furrowed further. He set his stance. “There’s no entry. I’m sure your friend will come out when they’re ready.”
Heinz took a deep breath. Shit. He couldn’t abandon Rosa. Heinz took a step forward, into the personal space of the guard. “I’m going to walk past you now. Please don’t make this difficult.”
Heinz felt like crap. But he would push his way in if he needed to. He wouldn’t throw a punch, but brute strength had a force of its own.
The guard scowled at him and shoved at Heinz’s left shoulder. His left shoulder, Heinz noted. Not the shoulder of his wounded hand. The guard didn’t shout out for help either.
Heinz felt the impact but remotely. He didn’t move. Put simply, this man had nothing on the Swarm. He wasn’t a threat.
Heinz stepped forward again.
Pushed back by their hand still on Heinz’s shoulder, the guard stumbled backwards.
“There’s no need to cause a fuss,” Heinz said quietly. “I just need to make sure my friend’s alright.”
The guard pushed at his shoulder again, scowl yielding to uncertainty. Heinz didn’t shift. Uncertainty turned to fear. He opened his mouth and Heinz prepared to run inside. He’d have a few minutes as the guards sorted themselves out of the confusion.
“Heinz?”
The unfamiliar voice stopped both the guard and Heinz’s actions. The guard looked over Heinz’s shoulder and his face relaxed. Heinz had to shrug the guard's hand off his shoulder before he could turn.
A man stood there, also in a red bib. Brown hair, average height and skinny. He looked to be around Heinz’s age if not a year or two older. His face was worn.
Heinz didn’t recognise him. “Hello?”
“What brings you here? I haven’t seen any of you around, only Louise but… Oh.” The man leaned to the side around Heinz. “Hi Simon. I’m next on shift.”
“You know this guy Tom?” The guard, Simon asked.
“Tom?” Heinz questioned, eyes wide. Tom the rugby player who didn’t turn up for reclamation duty? Tom who had been younger than him and bulky?
“Yeah,” Tom said, answering both questions at once. He clarified Simon’s first before turning to Heinz. “He was in my reclamation group. And yeah. I guess you haven’t seen me since then.” Tom gestured at himself and let out a pained chuckle. “It turns out that System hangover hurts.”
“Christ,” Heinz whispered. Tom looked like he’d been in the wars.
“Even if you know Tom, I can’t let you in.” Simon said, ending that train of thought.
“Why are you here Heinz? We’re in lockdown at the moment,” Tom asked.
“I’m here to see Rosa.”
“The head of the outies?”
Heinz nodded his head hesitantly after a moment. He hadn't heard of that nickname before.
Tom hummed before looking at Simon. “Would you mind going in and checking if he can go in? I know you’ve had a long day already but at least it’s warm inside?”
Simon eyed him and then Heinz. “You sure you’re good here?”
Tom nodded. Simon clicked his tongue and walked inside the club, leaving the two of them outside.
“Thanks,” Heinz offered.
Tom snorted. “I’m guessing what I interrupted was you barging in anyway. I figure this way doesn’t leave Simon and I sprawled on the ground.”
Heinz gave him a weak, embarrassed smile. “Sorry.”
Tom shrugged and moved closer to the doors to take advantage of the shelter from the rain. “How’s the hand?”
Heinz fledged it and winced. “Shredded. Imagine a bad case of road rash.”
“And the neck?” Tom said with a sympathetic grimace.
Heinz slapped at his neck in fear, only to relax as he felt the smooth surface. It was only his augment. He’d never actually peeled the scales off.
“Augment. They’re temporary. I hope,” He muttered the last bit.
“And the others? They’re fine too?”
Heinz nodded. “A lot of scars but everyones fine.”
Tom nodded and went back to watching the movement of people. There was a minute of silence before Tom spoke again.
“I've been thinking about it and I can’t quite figure out which of us made the right decision.”
Heinz didn’t really have anything to say to that. They stood in silence until Simon came to collect him.
Simon led him through the club until he came to a double set of doors, then with what Heinz expected was meant to be an unfriendly clap on the back, left him.
At this point, Heinz had pretty much abandoned his thoughts of this being a coup or of Rosa being captured. The sound of Rosa arguing coming through the doors cinched that.
Two faces turned to him as he pushed the doors open. Aisling didn’t pause in her speech, continuing to discuss whatever it was until she realised that she’d lost Rosa’s attention.
“Rosa!” Aisling chided.
“Yes, yes. Talking points. Don’t mention names. I got it. I need to start heading over to the western meeting about now anyway." Rosa stood. "Similar time tomorrow? Let me know when you get back from your duty.” Once she had received a reluctant nod in answer from Aisling, Rosa turned to Heinz and gestured at the door. “Let’s go.”
They met Lorcan, the second council member from the pub, on the way out. He was, Heinz expected, about to gather Aisling and shadow her to the town meeting as Heinz was doing to Rosa.
Once they were out of ear shot from the clubhouse, Rosa burst in snorts. She jabbed Heinz’s side.
“Did you try to storm in? That red bib ran inside like the devil was chasing him.” Rosa giggled again. “He didn’t even speak out loud, just whispered in Aisling’s ear. She looked so frustrated I thought she was going to have an aneurysm.”
“I was worried!” Heinz protested. “Everyone said you were at the clubs but they didn’t know why. Then I get there and the place is locked down.”
At this Rosa sighed and some of the humour fell from her face. Only for a second. Then she jabbed him in the side again, wincing when it was her fingers that bore the brunt of the attack.
“Couldn’t you at least have worn that new armour I got you if you were going to break the door down? Getting rescued by someone wearing shorts and a tent is embarrassing. How am I meant to make Nico jealous with this?”
Heinz started to walk faster.
“Fine!” Rosa called out, put upon as she was quickly left behind. “I’ll stop. I just needed a bit of a release. It’s been a long day and I don’t mean dealing with the council.”
Heinz slowed. “People are saying the arsonist was caught.”
Rosa caught up and nodded, face grim again. “Yeah. It’s been a day. Aisling and I were just setting the story straight.”
“Any.. anyone I know?”
Rosa shook her head then hesitated. “Not well anyway. But-” She paused and sighed again. “It was a kid. Nearly not but still a kid. It’s complicated some things but made the speeches easier. That’s why the club’s locked down. They’re keeping her there for now.”
“Shit,” Heinz said with a curse. “Do you know why? Why they burned down the-”
“No, yes. They didn’t say but we have a few guesses.” Rosa hemmed. She waved her hand at the sky. “There was the obvious stressor and then what the system did to them when they were made to give up- They were angry at just about everything and everyone.”
Heinz thought that over for a few seconds before he remembered his more immediate concern. The town meeting. “Are you worried about the town’s response?”
Rosa shook her head. “The people who were really angry have already tried to get into the club.” She gave Heinz a look at that. “The immediate victims have already been briefed. I think people will mostly be relieved. We have enough to think about without worrying about the walls burning down around us.”
Heinz gave her a concerned look, not fully believing that. Rosa’s smile brightened and that concern turned to worry for himself.
“Besides, I have this great tent to hide behind!”
The town meeting was exactly as Rosa predicted. Tense and full of a lot of shouting and anger but no one stormed the stage or threw anything. People were upset and furious at the arsonist, even if they were a kid but not enough to throw a punch.
Heinz didn’t get to do much else that night before collapsing into bed on Rennziege. He had another early morning ahead of him.