Episode 6 - Chapter 68

“Wont let them do what?” I asked her. “You don't know what they're going to do.”

“You heard what he said,” she replied, “Prepare for evacuation. Why would they want us to evacuate?” She walked over to Robert's unconscious body and gently stroked his forehead.

“Maybe there's some other kind of operative,” I suggested, “Something we're not supposed to see. That could be one reason.”

“Don't be so naïve,” she told me, almost contemptuously, giving me another one of her looks. “They're going to do something horrible, we both know it. Well I wont let them. Robert and Fiona will be back with Raven soon, he'll know what do do.”

Episode 6 - Chapter 67

We hoisted Oak onto the dinning chair, Edward grunting as we did.

“What...?” He groaned, “What do you think you're doing?”

I snatched the line from the table where Edward had dumped it and quickly tied Oak's left hand to the back leg of the chair.

“Say something Mary,” my husband demanded, but I was busy and didn't reply. I ran the cord behind the chair to secure his right hand. Once his arms were tied, I secured his legs to the chair's front legs, first right, then left. It was only when I knew that he was held fast that I could face my husband's disapproval.

“I wont let them do it,” I said to him, “I just wont.”

Episode 6 - Chapter 66

I know my wife, when she's in that frame of mind, arguing is pointless. I resolved to do as I was told and hoped reason might prevail later. I hurried to the utility room by the back door and retrieved the washing line. By the time I'd got back to the living room, Mary had dragged a dinning chair through. Oak groaned, but still hadn't moved.

“Help me get him in the chair,” she ordered.

I grabbed Oak under his left shoulder while Mary took his right. “What do you...” I started to say, but her look shut me up.

“Just give me a hand will you,” was all she would say.

Episode 6 - Chapter 65

 You have to understand, I didn't know I was going to strike him until I'd already struck him.

“Mary!” Edward exclaimed, “What the blazes?”

I was too shocked by what I'd just done to answer. I just stood there, looking from rolling pin to Oak's body sprawled across the floor and back again. I didn't understand what I'd just done, so I kept looking from one to the other in bafflement.

He groaned, which brought my senses back to life.

“Go and get the washing line,” I said to my husband.

“What?” he asked. “Have you lost your senses?”

“Don't argue with me,” I commanded, “Just go and get it. We have to tie him up.”

Episode 6 - Chapter 64

 “Swift?” I asked, “But not very pleasant, I take it?”

“They respect the sanctity of life,” Oak replied, “In so far as they can.”

“So what happens now?” I had to ask, though I didn't want to know the answer.

“I have been told,” he said, “To prepare for an evacuation and await further instruction. To that end I will draw your son and his wife back to the Warp, and we will all get ready to leave.”

“How will you wake them?” I asked.

“There is a chant that human consciousness is drawn to. I simply have to whisper it in their ears.

“I can't let you do that,” Mary said, behind us. I heard a fleshy crack and Oak slumped to the ground beside me.

Episode 6 - Chapter 63

 As soon as he'd said the words “I'm sorry...” I knew. I just knew. Somebody else was in charge now, and that they wouldn't be too bothered about us. I just knew I had to do something to buy us more time, so that Robert could find Fiona and Raven. I knew that if we could just get Raven back, then he'd be able to sort it all out.

My husband was asking about this council thing as I stood up and quickly left the room. I went straight into the kitchen to find something that might help. In all honesty I didn't know what I was looking for, but I had to take some sort of action. I looked around the place wildly, trying to take it all in when my eyes found the rolling pin.

Episode 6 - Chapter 62

 “The Council of what?” I asked.

“Elements,” Oak replied.

Mary's face had taken on a very serious look. Quietly, she stood up and left the room. Oak's eyes followed her out of the door.

“What is the Council of Elements?” I asked.

“It is the ultimate Authority,” Oak told me. “It was the Council that first understood what kind of danger the Weave posed. The formation of the Forest was their response.”

“I'll assume their involvement is not good news,” I said.

“It is certainly unusual,” he replied. “I know of only a handful of occasions when they've concerned themselves with the Warp itself.”

“And when they do?” I asked, looking at the map rather than see his face when he answered.

He looked at the map with me. “There is usually a swift resolution.”