Episode 8 - Chapter 100

 They think me stupid. They think me a fool. They say I'm out of touch with the modern era.

Ha. Let them think that. Let them see me as some derelict grandpa, sitting in his rocker, half off his rocker, spittle dripping from chin. Let them chase after their shiny new things. The important things don't change, no matter how many gadgets they have.

Human nature. That don't change, whether you've got an app for that or you beat it with a stick, it is what it is. Selfish, greedy, venal. Oh, the odd individual comes along and makes them look noble, let's them think they're noble, but deep down there's a different truth.

The Forest. That don't change either. Doesn't have the power to reason, just acts on blind instinct.

They think I'd pursue my quarry with giant pens and sentient landscapes? How little they've learned. Distractions. All distractions. There's only one way to hunt anything. Find out where your quarry is going and get there first.

Episode 8 - Chapter 99

 Once again, Curly nods.

“Look,” Raven says firmly, “I don't care if we're being watched, in fact I've taken it for granted. Can you take me to the damned house or not?”

Curly nods again.

“Well can we please get on with it?” is Raven's response.

Curly takes him by the hand to lead him through the field. They walk like this for a few minutes, until a mound of rubble, the remains of a derelict building, come into view. Curly drags Raven into the centre of it to find one remaining wall on which he proceeds to outline a door with his finger.

Raven takes the hint, producing the chalk from his pocket to draw a door.

“It's that simple, is it?” he asks.

Curly shrugs in reply. Still holding his hand, Raven opens the door, picturing the desired destination in his mind. They step through, to find themselves looking at the home of Edward and Mary.

In front of it is a bent, crippled shadow of a man. “Oh Corvus,” it says, “You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?”

Episode 8 - Chapter 98

 Curly nods again, if anything even more enthusiastically.

“Okay,” Raven says in response, “The trees have ears.”

Curly shakes his head at that, a frown etched deep on his brow.

“They don't have ears?” Raven asks cautiously.

Curly cups both of his own ears then extends his arms full length, his fingers twitching slightly as he begins to turn.

“Everything is listening,” Raven says in reply, to which Curly nods, then points at his eyes.

“You mean we're being spied on right now?” Raven guesses.

Once more Curly nods, then points at his wrist, where he draws a circle with his finger.

“We're being spied on,” Raven continues, “All the time?”

Episode 8 - Chapter 97

 Curly nods enthusiastically in response to Raven's question.

“You do?” Raven asks, “Well do tell.”

Curly shakes his head, just as vigorously.

“You can't tell me?”

Curly shakes his head again.

“I see,” Raven says, “You wont tell me?”

Curly nods agreement.

“Because it will confuse Robert and Fiona when Larry and Mo say the same thing?”

The midget shakes his head again.

“Then for the love of the mountains why?”

Curly points to the woods in the distance.

“The trees?” Raven asks. “You wont tell me because of the trees.”

Curly nods once more, tugs at his ear, then nods again.

Raven scratches at his chin in confusion for a moment or two while Curly repeats his actions: pointing at the trees then tugging at his ear. Understanding, when it comes, is like a slap to Raven's face.

“You wont tell me,” he says, “Because the trees are listening?”

Episode 8 - Chapter 96

 Although he's gently bemused by Robert's words and gesture, Raven nonetheless responds in kind.

“Let's hope so,” he says, taking Robert's hand and shaking it firmly. “I've had enough of this place to last me several centuries.”

That last comment throws Robert for a moment. “Centuries...” he says to himself, then, as he turns away from Raven, “Of course.”

“Hmmm,” Raven ponders. “Look after yourself, lad,” he calls to Robert's back, “I'll see you at your parent's house.”

Robert raises his arm and waves, but doesn't turn or speak. Raven thinks he cuts quite a sad figure as he walks away, hand in hand with a midget.

“Right then,” Raven says to Curly, “Do you have any idea how I might find that house?”

Episode 8 - Chapter 95

 “So I'll just sit tight, shall I?” Robert asks, “Wait for you to find mum and dad's house and we can all get out of here.”

“You're sure this is the right place?” Raven inquires, “We don't have room for errors.”

“I am absolutely certain,” Robert tells him, “You take Curly with you, send word when the time's right. There's an old ruin somewhere hereabouts, you should be able get out through that.”

He looks around for a moment. “Come on Mo,” he says to the midget, “Let's find somewhere to sit while we wait.”

He's about to walk away when an odd notion taps his brow. Turning back to Raven he offers his hand. “Good luck old bird,” he says, “It's almost over now.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 94

 “Somewhere safe it is,” Raven says as he turns the door handle and steps through, dragging his companions behind him.

“Well then,” he continues, as they all step into a sunny meadow, “What have we here?”

“This is it,” Robert says excitedly, recognizing the field immediately. “This is the meadow where I came in!”

“Or it's the collective memory of it,” Curly and Mo assert.

Robert looks round, turns round, taking in the full panorama. “No,” he tells them, “This is the memory prison, or whatever it was called. This is my exit point.”

“How can you be so certain?” Curly and Mo want to know.

“Look around,” Robert gestures at the fields around them. “We're the only ones here.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 93

 “Are you sure about this?” Raven asks, but Robert's not listening. He steps forward, dragging bird and midgets behind him, absolutely certain he is doing the right thing.

His conviction is rewarded when foot meets solid ground, a ledge sloping gently down the side of this newly arrived mountain.

“Have you still got that chalk?” he asks Raven as they both put midgets on the ground.

Raven reaches into his pocket to produce said chalk.

“Then get us a door drawn, double quick,” Robert commands. “If our giant can sit up, it might stand up. I for one wouldn't want to be in the neighbourhood were that to happen.”

Raven quickly draws a door. “Where do you want to go?” he asks.

“Anywhere but here,” Robert replies, “And can we try for somewhere safe?”

Episode 8 - Chapter 92

 For the first time in a long while, Robert is suddenly certain about what he needs to do.

“Quickly,” he commands Raven, “Grab Mo.”

He positions Curly on his chest, using his left arm to hold the midget tight. “Get a good grip,” he says to the little man, “Don't let go, whatever happens.”

With his right hand Robert pushes at the rear window above him, straining until it leaves its frame. He climbs up through the gap to stand upright on the rear bumper.

“Come on,” he says to Raven, reaching down to offer him a hand, “We haven't got all day.”

Raven takes his hand, clutching Mo to his hip. Robert pulls them up until they're standing side by side on the rear of the plummeting vehicle.

“On three, we jump,” he says, “Ready? Three!”

Episode 8 - Chapter 91

 Back in the car, and Robert is unsure that you could actually describe their activity as driving. The giant has almost sat up straight by now, so while they are racing down its' chest, the term “falling” might just be nearer the mark. He thinks he should be screaming but can't quite muster enough of a breath to make that happen. Not that screaming would achieve anything other than making him feel a little better about their situation.

“We believe,” Curly and Mo say together, “That the time may have come for our journey to continue on foot.”

“You don't say,” Raven replies, “And how do you suggest we do that? Gravity is still out there and it's not our friend.”

“We'll just have to jump,” Robert tells him, “If we go together we'll be okay.”

“You can't be sure of that,” Raven says.

“Actually,” Robert says, grabbing Curly from the front seat, “Yes I can. Get hold of Mo, we're out of here.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 90

 “What do you do the rest of the time?” I asked Oak.

“I'm sorry,” he replied, “I'm not sure I understand your question. What rest of the time.”

“When you're not running around, serving the Forest,” I said, “Keeping this precious balance of yours, What do you do then?”

“What do I do?” Oak pondered, a curious frown danced across his forehead. “I think you may have misunderstood...well, what we agents are, what our nature is.”

“Oh yes?” I inquired, “How's that then.”

“This,” he said, extending his arms, “This body, it does not exist unless I am serving the Forest. I am not some random tree made flesh. I am Oak, I am every tree of that genus, and I am none of them. When I am not here I am forests, breathing the seasons. I simply am.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 89

 “Just in time for what?” Fiona asks as a sudden shroud of wariness settles around her shoulders.

“Something of an altercation, I do believe,” the Author replies, a shiver of excitement seemingly possessing his spine.

“I don't want any trouble,” Fiona insists, “I just want to go home.”

“No, no. No trouble,” the Author insists, “Just a mild diversion to pass the time while the other two visitors to the Warp find their exits.”

“Just so long as we're clear on that,” she insists. “Why did I have to leave Larry down there?”

A darkness descends over the Author as he tells her “I may align myself with that preening fool when matters suggest it's expedient, but I will not permit his minions observe my daily dalliances.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 88

 “He's not a pet,” Fiona tells the diminutive messenger, “And he doesn't need tying up anywhere.” She turns to face Larry. “Sorry,” she says, “Looks like you'll have to hang around here for a bit. Try not to get into any trouble while I'm gone.”

Larry nods his agreement, then wanders over to a random stack of books and sits, hands folded in his lap.

“Righty ho,” Fiona says to the messenger, “Take me to your leader.”

“Come this way,” the messenger leads her through the Market via a series of alleys and ginnels, several flights of steps, both up and down. Eventually she finds herself at the top of the Market's central scroll, looking out at the wondrous panorama below.

“Finally,” says the Author as she arrives, “And just in time.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 87

 “Well if there's nothing I can do to help,” Fiona says to Larry, “I'd better see what this little fellow wants. But please, have your other selves do everything they can to keep my husband alive. Now then,” she turns to the miniature messenger, “What was it you wanted?”

“My lord,” the little man begins, “The Author of the Market, bids you...”

“Yes, yes,” Fiona interrupts, “Save the flowery rigmarole, what does he want?”

“Why, your assistance, of course,” the messenger replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

“We believe,” Larry says, “That the time may have come for our journey to continue on foot.”

“Your dwarf can stay here,” the messenger tells Fiona, “He'll be quite safe, and you wont be gone long so he shouldn't get too anxious.”

“Can't he just come with us?” Fiona asks.

“Regrettably, no,” the small chap replies, “My master was very specific, no pets of any kind. You can tie him to those railings over there.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 86

 “As I was saying,” the miniature messenger insists to Fiona, “The Author of the Market sends his good wishes and hopes you will join him in adjudicating a recent dispute.”

“So not an earthquake then?” Fiona ignores him, questioning Larry instead.

Larry shakes his head in reply. “Not their right mind,” he says, “More likely their primitive mind.”

“Are they in danger?” she asks, to which Larry shrugs.

“The Author...” the messenger begins again.

“Yes I know,” Fiona snaps at him, “One moment, if you please.” Turning back to Larry she asks “Is there anything I can do to help them?”

“There are many legends of giants sleeping under various mountains,” Larry replies, once again shaking his head. “The more pertinent question is what woke it up?”

Episode 8 - Chapter 85

 Fiona turns round, irked at being tugged at in such a way, but there's nobody behind her. It's not until she hears a throat being cleared that she looks down to see a miniature man. Not a dwarf or a midget, you understand, this man is perfectly proportioned, he just happens to be roughly eighteen inches tall.

“Yes?” she asks, “Can I help you?”

The small man starts to pull a scroll from his pocket, a feat which takes quite some time as the scroll turns out to be almost as wide as he is tall. He clears his throat once more then begins to read.

“The Author of the Market bids you welcome this day,” the little chap intones, “And preys your indulgence to accompany him as adjudicant in a minor trifling.”

“That is something we can all agree on,” Larry says suddenly.

“A moment, if you don't mind,” Fiona says to the emissary, turning to her companion. “Is my husband caught up in an earthquake?”

“They believe they have been driving across an incumbent goliath,” Larry replies, “Which is now waking from its' slumbers.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 84

 As Fiona and Larry finally enter the Market, a fanfare seemingly heralds their arrival. Passers by stop and look at them, some even bow, while others smile quietly to themselves.

“It seems to come from everywhere,” Larry says, “As if we are already encircled by, well, whatever it is.”

“It's only a few horns,” Fiona tells him, “Nothing to get too worked up about. I actually think it's quite delightful.”

“It would appear,” he replies tersely, “That we have found ourselves in the middle of an earthquake.”

“Earthquake?” she asks, before the realisation hits home. “Oh, earthquake? Really? That's not good, is it?”

At that moment Fiona feels a light tugging at the back of her jacket.

Episode 8 - Chapter 83

 Fiona and Larry walk silently, hand in hand, toward the Market of Fictions. She can already begin to make out some of its more distinctive features. Not just the central scroll, towering above the enormous tomes and gargantuan books that make up its structures. She's beginning to see some of the larger wares on offer: the ridiculous fruit and vegetables, idiosyncratic vehicles and most of all, the clientèle. A smile slowly makes its way to her face as she realises how happy she is to be returning. Not just that she's going back to the Warp, to the house of her in-laws and the strange goings on, but that she's returning via the Market itself.

“Come on Larry,” she says, picking up her pace, “Let's see if we can find some mischief before I have to go.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 82

 No sooner has Larry finished shaking his head when he says “We are afraid that will not be possible.”

“What wont be possible?” Fiona asks before realizing, “You're talking to Robert and Raven, aren't you?”

“Terms and conditions,” he replies, “That is correct, m'lady. We are attempting to explain to your husband that he may not take over as the driver of this vehicle. The current owner was very insistent on this matter, only we may drive.”

“I'm sure he was,” she says, “But that doesn't really have anything to do with me. Maybe all three of you should be quiet for a while.”

Larry nods solemnly. “As you wish, m'lady,” he says, then falls quiet.

Episode 8 - Chapter 81

 Fiona gently kisses her husband's cheek. “I'll see you two back at the house,” she says to him and Raven, before she turns to face the market. She stoops to grab Larry's hand then sets off walking, feeling relieved that she's out of that vehicle.

“That thing gave me the jitters,” she says to herself.

“Clutch,” Larry shouts in reply, giving her a start.

“I'm...” Before she can speak he shouts again.

“Accelerator!”

“I don't understand,” she replies.

“Gear!” he shouts.

“What gear?” She stops, turns to face him. “You're really making no sense at all.”

“Accelerator!...Gear!....Accelerator!....Gear!”

“Hang on,” she says, as the penny begins to drop. “You're not talking to me, are you?”

“Accelerator!...Gear!” he shouts, shaking his head vigorously. “Accelerator!....Gear!”

Episode 8 - Chapter 80

 “It seems to me,” my husband began, “That there's a lot of waiting around in this game. And a lot more not knowing what the blazes is going on.”

“Believe me when I tell you,” Oak replied sternly, “That this is no game. Maintaining the balance between the Warp and the Weave is a very serious matter. So serious, in fact, that the wrong action could be far more disastrous than mere inaction.”

“Oh I get that,” Edward told him, “But you must find it very frustrating, hanging around, waiting, feeling like you've been left in the dark.”

“Edward, my dear fellow,” Oak smiled, “You should not presume to think I am like you. By which I mean your species. I am old, older than I think you can truly comprehend. Your entire lives are lived in the equivalent of a blink of my eye. Patience, waiting, these are not such bad things.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 79

 “Who in their right mind imagined this?” Robert demands as the landscape around them rolls with the gargantuan's awakening.

“Not their right mind,” Curly and Mo reply, “More likely their primitive mind.”

The ground behind them continues to rise inexorably. What Robert had first thought was a forest starts to reveal itself as a beard of some sort. Beyond that, a hillock might well turn out to be a nose.

“Can we go any faster?” Raven demands of the midgets, “Or do we just wait for gravity to lend a hand?”

“Primitive?” Robert asks

“There are many legends of giants sleeping under various mountains,” Curly and Mo say in unison, “The more pertinent question is what woke it up?”

“Not a major factor for me right now,” Raven replies, “Not as much as staying in one piece.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 78

 “What?” Robert demands. “That's not possible. There's no way anything could be that big. And how long would it have had to be asleep for trees to grow on it?”

There's another roar, but this one's less ferocious, almost plaintive. At the same time, the ground ahead of the car begins to rise.

“Can you please remember where you are lad?” Raven says in reply. “It's woken up, now it's going to sit up.” He turns to Curly. “Unless this wonder car can manage a vertical road, you better get us out of here.”

“That is something we can all agree on,” Curly turns the wheel while Mo works the pedals. “They believe they have been driving across an incumbent goliath,” they say, “Which is now waking from its' slumbers.”

“I'm never going to get the hang of this place,” bemoans Robert, mainly to himself.

Episode 8 - Chapter 77

 Robert is still reeling from the sight of a hill growing right before his eyes, when another does exactly the same thing.

“What's happening?” he asks. All around the car, in every direction, the landscape is moving, shifting, growing. The car itself is being rocked and buffeted by all the turbulence.

“It would appear,” the midgets say together, “That we have found ourselves in the middle of an earthquake.”

To their left, a chunk of field is raising itself off the ground, bending and turning as it passes overhead. Robert's not sure, but he thinks he can make out the shape of a hand.

“This is no earthquake,” Raven says, as the bending field spreads finger like digits to brush across the fields ahead of them. “This is something waking up.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 76

 It rips across the sky, louder than the harshest thunder, more ferocious than a pride of rabid lions. Something is out there, the roar lets them know, and it's coming for them.

“Does that feel better?” Raven asks Robert, “Are you happy now that there's danger abroad?”

“I didn't say I wanted danger,” Robert replies, “But you have to admit something felt wrong.”

“I'll admit no such thing,” Raven spits, turning to Curly. “Can we tell where that's coming from?”

The roar comes again, and if anything it's louder than the first, and hungrier.

“It seems to come from everywhere,” Curly and Mo say, “As if we are already encircled by, well, whatever it is.”

Robert, looking here and there with panic, gasps when he sees a hill in the distance suddenly double in height.