[The scene is the Arrivals Concourse of Birmingham International Airport. It is a cold Tuesday in December 2001, and a plane has recently arrived, bringing with it KAMI NO SHI and MAEVE / BARTENDER.]
[Kami: 5'5', slender, a bit top heavy. Silver/white chin length hair. Always wears a pair of vampire fang earrings and a gold necklace with the symbol for Visionary on it. She's very soft spoken, and she doesn't let her emotions show on her face most of the time. She stands like she expects someone to attack her at any moment. Her eyes tend to expess her emotions more than the rest of her face, and her body language appears to be very relaxed to someone who doesn't have a lot of martial arts training.]
[She tends to jump at loud noises, and keeps her sight on most of the time.]
[She'll be wearing a long sleaved Hello Kitty shirt and a heavy coat. Kami has an intense and abiding dislike for the cold.]
[Bartender1647/Maeve: 5'6'', slightly muscular. Kinky red hair usually worn in a braid that falls to mid back, green/gray eyes. She's a bit ill tempered and doesn't like supes of any kind, through she has a special dislike for werewolves, since she encountered a pair of them at her Imbuing. Kami can usually calm her down with a few soft words. She has a very bad poker face, showing her emotions in spite of herself.]
[She usually wears a necklace with the symbol for Judge, and has the symbol for Imbued tattooed on the left side of her neck.]
[She is wearing a white blouse and black vest, and a heavy coat.]
[They are in England looking for a moment's respite and shelter from KAMI's enemies. Aiding and abetting them are The Beaters - LIBRA, VAGABOND and VESTAL.]
[Libra: About 6'3", although these days he appears slightly shorter because he can never relax his shoulders enough. Weight, slightly lower than average. His trenchcoat and the grey business suit underneath hang off of his frame.]
[Brown hair with white showing at temples, long face, tapering chin, slight dimple on chin. Slate grey eyes. Once, he would have looked proud, haughty, arrogant, used to issuing commands and having them followed. Today, the eyes betray the inner psychological scars of someone who's hunted down the unspeakable almost for too long, now.]
[He may have Steel Nerves, but there's something about the trauma of losing a child, then many years later, being forced to confront that child again as one of the Enemy ...]
[Vestal: Six foot even, blonde, kindly face. Crow's feet around her blue eyes. Her body is whipcord lean from the hunt. Her eyes are empty, except when she is looking at Libra: then, her expression and her whole body posture changes. Only then is there any light in her eyes. It's been a long time since she had much of a shine in her face, since she, too, lost a child some time ago.]
[Vagabond: Five foot eight, stocky build. Square face, wide chin, faint scar across left cheek kept hidden by permanent five o'clock shadow. Wears a modern black business suit, yellow shirt, tie in dark blue and silver check pattern. Shiny shoes. Short black hair always looks slightly unruly.]
[Dark brown eyes filled with deep resignation: the losses he's seen in the hunt. This is his "putting on a brave face" expression. They only just spotted a bunch of Walking Dead on their way out of town this morning, and there was nothing they could do about it because the train carrying the rots was already underway.]
[Martin Lucas has been on the hunt for the longest time, and so far no matter how much he has thrown himself in front of the enemy, Something has refused to let him die.]
[Yet.]
[KAMI and MAEVE arrive at the Concourse, amid a large crowd of tourists.]
Kami: [Peers around the concourse, looking for Libra.]
Maeve: I'll go get our stuff.
Kami: [Teasing.] You mean your stuff, don't you?
Maeve: [Rolls her eyes and heads in the direction of baggage claim, clearly marked by a sign overhead.]
[Another location within the Arrivals Concourse. Awaiting the arrival of KAMI and MAEVE in the concourse are LIBRA and VESTAL.]
Libra: Where's Vagabond?
Vestal: Parking the car.
Libra: Libra: Got the sign?
Vestal: Yep. [Hands sign to Libra, who holds it aloft].
[KAMI's viewpoint, looking forwards across the concourse to where the Beaters are standing.]
Kami: [Continues to peer around the airport. She catches sight of a man holding up a sign, the symbol unmistakeable to her.]
Libra: [Looks around, sees somebody approaching himself and Vestal.]
Vestal: Look at her necklace, Libra. That's Word, for sure. She's one of us, if she's anybody.
Kami: [Stops just out of Libra's arms reach, and brushes some silvery hair out of her eyes.] Libra?
Libra: [Smiles warmly, bows slightly.] That's me. Welcome to the UK, Kami. Hajim - er, hajimema - mashime -
Kami: [Very faint smile.] You can stick to English. I find it's usually a better idea to use the local language. You know, when in Rome ...
Vestal: Watch your handbag. [Wry grin.]
Libra: Kami no Shi ... this is Vestal.
Kami: [Very faint smile.] A pleasure to meet you. [Offers her hand.]
[Effect: Everybody's breath mists over and a harsh draft fills the area.]
Vestal: Pleased to meet you, too.
Kami: [Shivers.] What's the weather like out there?
Libra: Cold, foggy. It's also getting dark early.
Kami: [Lets out a sound that is almost a whine.] At least it's not snowing ... is it?
Libra: No, thank goodness. Nor is it likely to rain at the moment. But it's best we get to the car and underway now.
Kami: Just as soon as ... [Turns around, peering around the airport once again.] Ah! There she is. [Waves.] Maeve! Over here!
Libra: [Stops, takes out a mobile from his trenchcoat pocket: it had been vibrating silently. Incoming message.] Go on.
Vestal: [Turns to see where Kami is looking. Spots Bartender.]
Maeve: [A pile of luggage shambles over to the goup, which soon reforms into a red haired woman who huffs and puffs, laying the bags at Kami's feet.]
Vestal: This must be your friend, Libra. [Jostles his elbow.]
Libra: [Waves at the newcomer distractedly.]
Maeve: [Huffing.] Yeah, that would be me. Bartender. [Holds out hand while catching her bvreath.]
Libra: [Muttering into phone] No place to park, then. Okay, come round to the main entrance and wait for us in the pickup zone. We'll be right out. [Snaps the mobile shut, pockets it, looks over at Bartender. Smiles.] It's you. [Extends hand.]
Maeve: Yep, it's me. Nice to finally meet you face to face. [Wheezes a little.]
Kami: [Looks at the bags.] I told you to pack light.
Libra: [Shakes Maeve's hand] You look just the way I pictured you.
Maeve: Then why did you call me a guy when you e-mailed Kami?
Vestal: [Looks at Libra, who begins to blush furiously.]
Maeve: [Laughs.] It's cool. If some supe gets on the list and decides to track me down, he'll be looking for a guy.
Libra: [Smiles nervously.]
Vestal: [Laughs.]
Kami: [Picks up one of the bags Maeve had been carrying.] I say we get out of here. The sooner I can get some place *warm*, the better.
Maeve: [Looks for the other three bags to Kami, who shrugs.] I told you to pack light, and you said you could carry your own weight.
Libra: [Glances towards the entrance.] Very well, then I've got a friend waiting in the car outside. We'd better get on. Here. Let us help you.
Maeve: [Picks up the heaviest of the bags while Libra and Vestal grab the other two. Exeunt, shuffling, for the entrance.]
[Location: The pickup zone putside the airport. It is cold, and there is a car parked nearby. It is a black Espace people carrier. Inside the car is MARTIN / VAGABOND.]
Martin: [Waves to Libra.]
Libra: There! [Turns to KAMI and MAEVE.] I thought you'd want a bit of space for your luggage, so I brought the big car.
Kami: [A ghost of a smile flits across her face.] Thank you.
Libra: [Opens the back door, and reaches into the boot - what the English call the "trunk." MAEVE and KAMI shove their luggage in the back, aided by LIBRA and VESTAL.]
Libra: Here. A little more luggage for you. [Proffers two small parcels.]
Maeve: Mind if I ask what's inside?
Kami: Not to sound paranoid or anything ...
Libra: Go ahead. Open them. They won't bite.
Kami: [Stares at hers a moment, while Kami opens the other one.]
Vestal: We wanted to give you something to show you our hospitality.
[The Motorola cellphones are the latest make. Brand new, still in the manufacturer's plastic.]
Libra: Zeiss picked them out of the online catalogue. He is always a bit of an early adopter ... Hope they're all right. He says they aren't even on the UK market yet.
Kami: My thanks. These will certainly be useful. We had to leave most of our equipment with Ash.
Maeve: [Snorts.] I still say giving the kid access to the shit in your van is a bad idea.
Kami: [Rolls her eyes, ducks into the car.] We've been over this, koishii.
[Libra and Vestal glance at one another.]
Libra: Let's go. It'll be getting dark, soon.
[Maeve and Kami climb into the vehicle. Libra climbs in, settling into the passenger's side of the vehicle as Vagabond starts the engine. When everyone is ready, they set off for the exit road from Birmingham International.]
[The scene is within the Espace people carrier on the motorway en route to Solihull. KAMI and MAEVE are in the back seat with VESTAL, while LIBRA and VAGABOND sit in the front. VAGABOND is driving.]
Kami: [Looks out a window.] So, what kinds of supes do you all usually see around here?
Libra: In the cities, walking dead mostly. We also get bloodsuckers, though they don't hang around outside of London much. But they love the UK. Long, dark winters suit them to a T.
Kami: Just so long as there aren't any dogs. If I never have to see another one again ... [Glares at Maeve.]
Vestal: [Looks out the window at all the cars driving by. Already, the sky is dull grey, turning purple as the sodium lights come on and the cars begin putting on their headlights.] [Sounding distracted:] Dogs? We don't have all that many reports of dogs. [Glances at Vagabond.] Though Martin here says he saw an alien big cat near Chester, once.
Kami: [Arches an eyebrow.]
Maeve: [Rolls her eyes heavenwards.] Don't even think about it, darlin'.
Kami: [Expression of innocence.] What?
Kami: You know what. If you go up there, you'll probably try to make friends with it.
Libra: [Glances over at Kami's Hello Kitty shirt, and smiles to himself.] We've got a vampire near us. He keeps the peace round us nowadays. We sent in three of our people to stop him feeding on humanity, and somehow together they managed to stop him from killing again.
Kami: Hmm. [Expression darkens.]
Maeve: [Likewise. Lips tighten at the mention of the word vampire.]
Libra: We couldn't attack him directly. He had such a control over the local economy, the town's prosperity was a kind of dead man's switch ... bad pun, but you get the point. If we staked him, the town would have dried up economically within three months.
Kami: Yes ... I've noticed that the older ones seems to have their claws in such things. [Looks out the window, her face an utter blank.]
Vestal: [Glances across to Kami and Bartender, sees their faces, lays a hand on Libra's arm. Libra goes silent a moment.]
Libra: I hear that Destiny's Child are releasing a new album in January ...
Maeve: [Shudders.] I can't stand them. Totally insipid dolls made up for boys to have wet dreams about and for girl to kill themselves trying to emulate.
Kami: [Continues to stare out the window, her face darkening ever so slightly.]
Libra: [Opens his mouth, then closes it again.]
Vestal: [Soft murmur:] I guess you never managed to make it as far as the Diplomatic Corps in your early career, Greg.
Kami: [Unwraps her cell phone the rest of the way and dials in a number.] I have something I need to take care of very quickly.
Libra: Okay.
Kami: [Puts the phone to her ear and begins to talk very quickly in Japanese. The conversation lasts only a few minutes, and when she is done, Kami is smiling again.]
Libra: All right, Martin, take the next exit. We need to take the next road to Solihull.
Maeve: [to Kami:] What was that all about?
Kami: Just wearing away at Osaka's empire bit by bit.
[Exit vehicle, stage left.]
[The scene is the Motorway, some time later. The sky is now dark, and the Espace carrying LIBRA, VESTAL, KAMI, MAEVE and MARTIN is driving with its lights on.]
[The car slows down as the traffic ahead becomes dense. Everyone sits in the glare of someone's red and amber taillights a moment.]
Martin: Traffic's a problem here. [Turns on the traffic report on the local radio.]
Cheerful Announcer: We are getting reports along the Solihull road to Birmingham International Airport that the left hand carriageway has been partially blocked by a traffic accident. Police are advising motorists to reduce their speed to no more than thirty miles an hour. This will cause unavoidable tailbacks - [Martin switches off the radio in disgust.]
Kami: [Peers out the window, then closes her eyes.] Oh my.
Martin: We could do with you at the wheel here, Greg.
Libra: I could, but I still have one month to go before they lift the ban on my license. [Glances at the back.] I got caught driving my car at night with the lights off.
Maeve: [Nods in agreement.] Happened to me a little while back. Kami had to drive me till I got my license back. [Shudders.]
Kami: I am not that bad.
Maeve: You drive like an old woman!
Kami: Is it my fault that I believe in the traffic laws?
Vestal: [aside, to Libra:] Shall I call Relate?
Libra: [aside, to Vestal:] Shut up.
[KAMI and MAEVE glower at one another in the back for a time. Eventually, MAEVE averts her gaze.]
[The scene is the Motorway near the aforementioned traffic accident on the carriage leading towards Birmingham. The Espace carrying LIBRA, VESTAL, VAGABOND, KAMI and MAEVE is still caught in the tailback.]
[The traffic begins to surge forwards slightly. They all approach the site of the accident, just up ahead. It's a bad one. A truck and a car have had a bit of an altercation. The car came off second.]
[Angry warning lights flash up and down the road and the rubber neckers gawk as they pass, increasing the risk of further traffic accidents.]
[Libra and Vestal look at the wreckage. Then Libra turns to see Vagabond, who is in tears.]
Kami: [Has her eyes closed, and her lips are a thin line. She murmurs something to herself, and MAEVE puts her arm around KAMI's shoulders.]
Vestal: [Shivers in the back seat. She looks to Vagabond.] Pull over.
Vagabond: [Turns on the hazard lights, indicates left, turns off the road onto the hard shoulder not too close to the wreckage, just up ahead. Libra and Vestal look at one another, then turn to Martin.]
Libra: A Thing did this, didn't it?
Martin: [Nods.]
Kami: [Effect: Opens her eyes. Her eyes are obscured by a dark gleam.]
Libra: Everyone; sight on, if you're not sight on already.
Kami: [Nodds, her eyes once again on the wreckage.] If I can see it, I can probably find it again.
Libra: Okay. Get out and stick to the verge - the grass slope.
Kami: [Opens the door, zipping her jacket up to her neck.]
[Vestal is the first to exit the vehicle, going round to the boot and shoving some of the luggage aside to reveal a small steel tool case. Inside, she grabs a fresh steel spanner - a heavy duty monkey wrench. She hefts it in her hands.]
Vestal: This'll do.
Kami: [Opens up her bag and pulls out a crossbow and some quarrels and stakes.]
Libra: I won't even ask how you managed to get them through Customs. Don't worry. 'I will ask you no questions, and you will tell me no lies.' Let's go. [Looks at MAEVE.] You up for it?
Maeve: [Nods.] You got a crowbar I can use?
[VESTAL rummages around in toolbox. She moves to the doorway of the car, holding a crowbar.]
Vestal: Will this do? [Hands crowbar to MAEVE.]
Maeve: [Hefting the crowbar.] Yep.
Kami: [Effect: Holds up crowwbow quarrel, which begins to glow.]
Vagabond: Okay, everyone remember where we parked. [Gets out of the car, leaving the hazard indicator lights blinking.]
[Everyone leaves the vehicle and closes the doors. Vagabond puts on the central locking. Exeunt in direction of crash site.]
[Ahead is the crash site, where the truck and the car are locked in a final embrace, the crushed front end of the car wedged in underneath the huge articulated lorry. The doors to the car have been wrenched open.]
Kami: [Approaches the car, her sight active, looking for any traces of the thing that has caused this.]
Vestal: Jaws of life probably did this.
Kami: Any idea what kind of supe we're dealing with?
[Effect: There is a residual trace hovering over the vehicle; a sense of something being very wrong. The sense of wrongness is strongest around the doorframes, and there is a distinct impression that the hinges were not cut, as if by jaws of life, but somehow damaged by force ... from within.]
Kami: [Takes in the aura, and tries to find the trail that would lead her to the supe.]
Libra: [Leans into the driver's side, sniffing. He looks at the car seat, touches some sort of residue on the upholstery, brings it to his nose, winces at the smell of decay.]
Kami: [Resigned sigh. KAMI looks up.] What happened here?
[Silence, as if the Heralds look down upon Kami, saying "UH - UH - UH. THAT WOULD BE TELLING ..."]
Kami: Up yours. You want me to hunt, you have to help.
Libra: [Turns to Bartender, holding out trace residue on fingertip.] Second opinion here?
Maeve: [Sniffs the gunk.] Eeew. Rot.
Libra: Exactly. The dead walk. [Looks up along the road.] Which way, do you guess?
[There is a stiff breeze around Kami. THAT sort of breeze.]
THE HERALDS: NOBODY LIVING DRIVES DEATH'S CHARIOT.
Kami: [Scowls, getting a nose full of rotting flesh and a face full of cold air.] Oh, *that's* helpful. [Sniffs the air, then catches sight of something on the ground.] I think it went this way.
[The breeze blows very strongly towards Kami, smelling of rot. Perhaps it's coming from the direction of the rot ...]
[The residue on the ground indeed looks like the creature making it could well be upwind, somewhere along the hard shoulder. The trail of putrefied flesh confirms it.]
Kami: [Starts walking.] This way. [LIBRA, VESTAL, MAEVE and VAGABOND follow. Exeunt along the hard shoulder.]
[Scene: The hard shoulder of the motorway, close to the UNDEAD CREATURE.]
Maeve: [Looks at the trail, then at KAMI. Jogs to catch up with KAMI, who is seting a ground eating pace.]
Libra: [Glances ahead, sees MAEVE and KAMI. Turns to MARTIN.] I have an idea. [Stage whisper in VAGABOND's ear.]
[VAGABOND stays back. VESTAL and LIBRA race to catch up with KAMI and MAEVE.]
[The smell starts getting stronger. MAEVE forges on ahead, trying to catch up with KAMI.]
[LIBRA and VESTAL start to catch up, as the smell of decay gets stronger.]
[Up ahead, there is a looming shape on the hard shoulder.]
[A car goes by; the traffic jam has begun to clear, and vehicles are speeding up. The air is quite cold up ahead, and patches of fog are beginning to form in the darkness.]
Kami: [Stops, leveling her crossbow.]
THE HERALDS: [In Kami's ear:] DEATH WALKS.
[Effect: A car speeds by; its light catches on diseased, wormy flesh dressed in the remnants of a Marks and Spencer fleece jacket and very dirty denim jeans.]
Kami: [Puts her finger on the trigger of the crossbow and fires.]
[Effect: The quarrel strikes true, catching the CREATURE on the right shoulder. It stumbles, thrown by the impact, but rights itself. The quarrel has caused some damage; it has torn a chunk out of its flesh, which now lies on the ground before it. The quarrel itself remains embedded in the walking corpse, smouldering as it cools and shatters.]
Creature: [Turns, and KAMI can see its face and its front.]
[Effect: The impact with the truck has caused some considerable damage to its weathered visage. The flesh from its face is partly missing, almost gone. Just a grinning skull with missing teeth on the exposed side.]
Creature: [Gestures.]
Kami: [Grabs another quarrel from her bag, charging it up - Effect - and loading it.]
Kami: [Looks at the CREATURE's hands as it gestures, not moving, but not firing.]
[Effect: A blast of intensely freezing air crosses the distance between the dead thing and Kami, enveloping everyone. The air is cold enough that thick fog forms within it; cold enough that everyone can feel their extremities go numb as frostnip sets in.
[OOC: A point of bashing damage to Libra, Vestal, Kami and Bartender]. The cold air carries with it a stench of the deeper cold of the grave.]
Kami: [Jaw tightens.] [Aside, to herself:] If there's anything I hate more than rots, it's the cold. [Raises the bow and fires again.
[Effect: The flaming quarrel arches through the air. The visibility hampered by the fog, the quarrel grazes the shape as it shuffles towards them, doing no more than superficial damage to its unexposed jawline.]
[It closes to melee range in less time than it will take to reload.]
Kami: [Abandons the crossbow, her anger rising.]
[Effect: Waves of incredible heat channel down KAMI's arm. Flaming Sword appears in outstretched hand. KAMI raises is in a fighting stance.]
Vestal: [Steps forwards, monkey wrench raised in defiance.]
Maeve: [Steps forwards, crowbar hefted in her hands and ready to be swung.]
Creature: [Roars, comes after KAMI - the one who struck the first blow.]
[Vestal is closest, and she swings the monkey wrench. It catches the monster's right arm, shredding flesh and exposing bone underneath. The CREATURE strikes out with its other arm at KAMI.]
Kami: [Jumps back from the thing.]
[EFFECT: The CREATURE's attack catches KAMI's coat and shirt, tearing it open.]
[CLOSEUP: Bare midriff, Hello Kitty logo in shreds, three long scars on stomach.]
Kami: That was my favorite shirt!
Kami: [Effect: KAMI brings the sword down in an arch, slicing throught part of the rot's chest. Greenish - black ichor wells up from the thing, spattering her.]
Creature: [Effect: Takes a step back, gore fountaining out of the wound, pouring down its tattered clothing.]
Maeve: [Flanks the CREATURE and brings the crowbar down, intending to strike its head.]
[Effect: The crowbar misses the head, but catches the shoulder, shattering it. The right arm dangles useless. The crowbar embeds in the flesh. MAEVE struggles to release the crowbar.]
Creature: [Effect: Struggles against MAEVE's grip on the crowbar. Breaks free; the crowbar and the remains of the quarrel lodged in its rotting body. Turns, kicks MAEVE, sending her flying into the road.]
Creature: [Effect: The rot brushes Vestal and Maeve aside, lunges forwards toward Kami as if their efforts were nothing ...]
Libra: Freeze, you bastard ... [glares at CREATURE.]
[Effect: Burden of Justice Effect (golden glow) plays around Libra's eyes.]
[Effect: CREATURE is caught in a flash of same golden glow, freezes, immobile.]
Kami: [Glares at the rot.] [Says something rude in Japanese under her breath.] [Brings the flaming sword down.]
[Effect: Sword lands on CREATURE's head, cleaving it in two.]
Kami: [Slashes again, diagonally across CREATURE.]
[Effect: Fiery Sword slashes across CREATURE, splitting its torso nearly in two and spraying a shower of greenish black ichor all over KAMI, MAEVE and VESTAL.]
[Effect: CREATURE falls, stricken, to the ground.]
Kami: [Goes over to VESTAL and MAEVE as LIBRA approaches them. Look of relief on everyone's face.]
Creature: [Effect: A bony, dead hand twitches, turns palm down, pushes. CREATURE roars as it lurches back to its feet, its head split, its body intact but its spirit still driven by murderous rage.]
All: Stare at the rotting horror with wide eyed, fearful expressions.
[Effect: Bright light spills over them all.]
Vestal: Get down! [Dives, slams into MAEVE and KAMI, spilling everybody onto the verge.]
Libra: [Dives for the verge.]
[Effect: very loud car horn.]
[Effect: The people carrier careens by ALL, narrowly missing everybody, and slams headlong into the CREATURE, bouncing it over the roof and into the road.]
Kami: [From verge:] I hate rots I hate rots I hate rots!
[Cut to: Espace screeches to a halt on the hard shoulder.]
[Cut to:]
Kami: [Stands up.]
[Cut to Effect:]
Creature: [In road:] Gets up. It is in a horrible state.
[Cut to:]
[KAMI stands on hard shoulder, facing CREATURE, which is standing in the carriageway of the motorway. POV is from behind KAMI, left of view, facing CREATURE at right of picture. CREATURE begins to gesture again ...]
[Effect: More bright light, from right. A deafening honk. A loud screech - this time, of air brakes.]
[Effect: Truck slams into the rot, sending bits and pieces flying everywhere.]
[Cut to: Effect from behind truck, as the vehicle brakes too late to avoid the CREATURE. Smoke trails from the tires of the truck from behind. The impact is not seen, but bits of the CREATURE spray out from the area of the front of the truck like a water melon struck by a sledge hammer.]
[Cut to: ALL getting showered in gore and ichor.]
Kami: [Looks down at her front, where a large bit of rotting flesh has hit her square in the chest.]
Libra: [Picks himself up off the verge, looks over at ALL.] Are you all right?
Maeve: [Scrambles to her feet, runs to KAMI's side.] Darlin'? You okay?
Cut to: Worm's eye view shot of the road, close to a piece of flesh from the dead thing, very suggestively shaped. Effect: Piece of flesh still moving.]
[Effect: Boot appears from above, steps down hard on the flesh. Hard.]
[Cut to: View of the boot from above, grinding at the splattered flesh as if to extinguish a cigarette end. Pan up to see a gore - stained VESTAL.]
Kami: [Looks at the piece of dead organic matter as it slides off her.] I HATE ROTS! [Begins combing her fingers through her gore caked hair.]
Libra: [Looks at the trenchcoat, then discards it.] Plenty more where that came from.
Kami: [Kami puts it on, cursing quietly as she walks towards the car and MARTIN.] You alright?
Martin: [Looks at the front of the car.] Shit. Three hundred quid, not including labour. [Glances up, sees KAMI.] Oh, hi. Thanks, Kami. Are you all right?
Kami: I'll live. Even though I smell like the dead. Have I mentioned how much I hate rots?
Martin: [Laughs.] I think I heard that from somewhere.
Kami: [Looking back at the others.] Everyone else okay?
[Cut to: Libra and Vestal are helping Maeve between them. Libra nods quietly.]
[Vestal goes over to the boot of the car, opens it, pulls out a pile of Asda shopping bags and stuffs her soiled coat into it.]
Vestal: First incinerator we get to, this goes into it. Christ, we all need a shower in bleach to get rid of the stench.
Kami: Y'know, I've discovered that Suave makes the best shampoo for getting rot stink out of hair.
Libra: [Piles more Asda bags inside the car, on the seats.]
Vestal: [Looks at Kami.] H'mm. Must be an American brand. Got any of it in your luggage?
Kami: Of course. I never go anywhere without it, these days.
Libra: [Looks at Maeve.] What do you think happened back there?
Maeve: [Shrugs.]
Vestal: Here comes the trucker.
[Cut to: The truck has just stopped a hundred yards down the road. The driver is just getting to them, puffing and panting, his breath misting in the cold air.]
Kami: [Begins trying to get the worst of the rot bits off her clothes.]
Trucker: [Arrives, takes in the scene, the people on the hard shoulder covered with gristle and muck.] Christ, I thought there was ... I mean, there was a ... I saw it - someone on the ... the ... [He looks over at the smear on the road.]
Maeve: [Eyes narrow as she sees something in the driver's face.]
[Effect: There is something about the guy's eyes. They're normal, but constricted into tiny pinpricks. There are beads of sweat on his forehead, but they are nothing to do with exertion or fear.]
Maeve: You're wasted. There was nothing on the road but us, we had a little car trouble. You nearly ran us over!
Trucker: [Flinches - he couldn't be more than twenty two, twenty three. But it's quite clear he's on something. And it looks like he can quite clearly see what it is he has run over. He is on the verge of freaking out.]
Libra: [Steps in front of TRUCKER, looking stern, taking instant charge.] So you're not going to tell anybody what you saw, now, are you? Because, you see, if you admit you're taking speed while on a run, that'll be it for your career, won't it? How do you think the Dispatch Office are going to react if you tell them you saw a dead thing attacking people? Eh?
Kami: [Closes her eyes.] I suggest you get off the road for a while, before you actually hurt someone. Then we can all forget this happened, alright?
Trucker: [The young man turns very white. He looks at the people, shoves his wallet into Libra's hand and makes a run for it back to the truck.]
Kami: [Watches the man go, her expression cool.] If he hurts anyone, he's a dead man.
Maeve: Darlin'...
Libra: [Starts counting money coolly.] Probably. Martin, take what you need to pay for the Espace. The rest goes to charity. [Looks at Kami and Maeve.] He's a human being. We're not vigilantes. The only thing we can do here is make an anonymous call to the authorities, see if they can actually pull their fingers out for a change.
Kami: [Continues to look at the truck as it departs.] Sometimes I wonder if anyone's worth fighting for.
Maeve: [Puts an arm around Kami's shoulder and sighs.] Let it go, darlin'. There's nothing you can do now.
Libra: Gwyn and whats-her-name in Solihull. They're nice people. They're an example of what people are worth fighting for. [Gestures to the car.] Come on. It's dark, and Solihull's not far now.
Maeve: [To Kami:] Yeah, lets go. No offence, darlin', but you need a bath. [Gives Kami a playful shove towrds the car.]
[ALL re - enter the car.]
[After a few tries, the Espace engine turns over. Exeunt the car, with its passengers, on their way to Solihull.]
[Scene is inside the people carrier, with ALL aboard.]
Libra: [Leans back to face Kami and Maeve, as they drive through the cold with all the windows down.] Like I said, welcome to England. I hope you like your stay here.
Kami: Well, so far, it's been ... eventful. [Picks rot bits out of her hair.]
Vagabond: Wait till you see what's in Birmingham.
[Cut to: Scene above the road, as the Espace passes under the camera viewpoint and heads towarda a sign reading "BIRMINGHAM" and "SOLIHULL" above a junction to the left. Behind them, their wake causes loose papers to fly about. One of those papers is the sign LIBRA used in the airport. It flies towards the camera, fills the screen and all goes black.]
By: Fiat Knox
Copyright © Fiat Knox, 2001