Times of Tribulation
Black Cotton

Bliss Nadine Lovejoy came trotting down the stairs and stopped up short in the lobby, looking back and forth. "Asche?" she called out, walking aimlessly across the floor.

"Mirandahh is currently outside of the hospital," the Elliot 7 system politely informed Bliss.

"Front or back, Elliot?"

"She is at the front of the building."

Bliss turned for the front door, calling out "Ohhhh Asche, olly-olly-oxen-free."



Penance loped down the hallway from her containment room into the lobby of the Hospital. Her wiry body still wore marks of old stew, blood, dirt, and grime as much as did the leather strap outfit and spiked iron collar that served as her clothing. Pausing just inside the lobby, she peered across the room until her big, blue eyes met Asher's gaze.

Asher stood just a few feet away from the main lobby desk. He looked up from the items he'd been reviewing on the monitors. Quickly averting his eyes to the floor, one of his hands slowly dipped into a pack at his side, hidden within his burnoose. "Perhaps this will work," he muttered, removing a piece of dried melon. He'd encountered her before and she'd tried only to attack him.

Penance stayed crouched. Her clawed hands she placed between her bare, clawed feet, and kept her eyes on Asher.

Finding some cloth to set down on the ground, Asher arranged the dired melon. He muttered, "I can find more cloth if I need to." Eyes still averted, Asher backed away until the melon was equidistant between them. Looking more directly at Penance, he motioned towards the melon. Then he backed away completely, moving around the desk to sit at a table out of direct view where he could keep watching her discretely.

Picking up the scent of the melon, Penance edged towards it. With the tip of one claw, she dragged the cloth and melon closer. She examined it carefully, keeping an eye on where Asher had disappeared behind the desk, until with a sudden motion she snagged the melon and stuffed it in her mouth. Her crimson cheeks puffed out from the full load of dried melon pieces.

From where he was seated, Asher thought he could hear Penance eating, but wasn't sure. He sat still, quietly watching the room, straining to hear.

Penance crept to the corner of the desk. She peeked around, and started to take a step towards Asher; but then stopped and dropped into a crouch. Seeing that he didn't move, she turned, hesitated, then bolted toward the front door.

Asher watched a moment, blinking behind his goggles. Making as if to stand and follow, he paused a moment longer and decided to wait.




"Camera man?" Quentari queried.

"Yes, Quentari?" the Elliot7 system replied in its computer-generated, mild-affable voice.

"How long have I been here?"

"Almost a week now, Quentari."

"Wow," Quentari smiled at the walls. "Dr. Larkinn said that I might be able to get outside of this room today."

"That is good to hear, Quentari," Elliot7, with characteristic simulated response, returned. The computer accessed Quentari's file. "As long as you promise to stop hitting people."

Scooting across the floor of his room to the padded wall, Quentari leaned his weight against it and pushed, slowly forcing his way up. When he reached about halfway up the wall, the door to his room opened, admitting Dr. Larkinn and two large orderlies. Quentari gained his feet, looked at the chair Dr. Larkinn carried with him.

"Ah, Quent, it's so good to see you're up," Dr. Larkinn motioned to the two men behind him, who took up position just behind him as he sat on the chair. "Well, Quent, it's been a week now."

"Yes, yes it has," Quent agreed quickly. "Can I go now?"

"Well, actually Quent, I want to try something," Dr. Larkin admitted, motioning to the orderlies behind him. "You know Bill and Samm."

"Yes," Quent agreed. "How you guys doin'?"

The orderlies gave him their usual monosyllabic grunt.

"I'm going to let you out for today, Quent," Dr. Larkinn explained. "But under Samm and Bill's direct supervision. You will return to your room later tonight, unless you misbehave."

"Really?" Quent asked. "Can I take the coat off?"

"Tell you what," Dr. Larkinn smiled clinically after a moment's thought. "If you behave well enough for a while, Samm and Bill will take it off."

Leading the trio to the front of the Psychiatric Ward, Dr. Larkin motioned for Quent to go ahead. "Now, be good," he warned.

"I will," Quent agreed, immediately running off, ahead of the orderlies. "C'mon guys!" he called out to them. "I wanna play!"

The two larger men gravitated behind Quent, who tripped over his own feet and landed square on his face with a thud.

"Slow down, buddy, we don't want you to get hurt," Samm said. He and Bill patiently helped Quent back to his feet.

"Okay," Quent agreed simply. "Uh, Bill, Samm, do you guys know where any of the doctors are? I wanna play."

Samm dusted Quent off. "Well, it's spring cleaning ay, so I'd assume they're outside."

Quent's smile was immediate. "Yeah! Let's go outside then," and started down the hall at a slower pace.

Looking dubiously down the staircase to the lobby, Quent turned back to Bill and Samm. "Um, could you guys help me?"

Samm and Bill lifted him up by the arms and carried him into the lobby, setting him back on his feet. Quent walked directly to the front doors and smashed his face against the window, peering outside at the Asche, Bliss, and the stranger next to his large vorr'ykk. "I wanna go outside!" Quent turned to the orderlies.

Samm looked at bill. "Well, I don't see the harm as long as you promise not to run off."

"Promise!" Quent agreed at once, loudly.

The orderlies lifted him up by the arms and carried him out onto the landing of the front steps.





Asche pushed the broom down the hot, broken sidewalk, building a pile of soot and ash and debris. She paused but a moment to lean on the broom and wipe the sweat from her brow before continuing with her task. Despite the waning day, heat still lingered in the air, trapped between the broken buildings that once was the hospital complex. The whisking of the broom set a steady, dry cadence. A quick glance around showed her an orderly was using a rigged leaf blower to scour the walls of the hospital while a nurse carried boxes of unrecognizable junk.

Taking a deep breath, Asche gave the pile a critical eye, then leaned her broom against the steps and grabbed a shallow pan, the bottom of which was merely mesh. Loading the pan with some of the loose debris from the pile, she began to sift it into a plastic box. When the dirt sifted through, she picked through the disintegrating concrete for the few things worth saving. Tucking a nail, a tiny spring, and the remnants of an eyebrow pencil into a little sack, Asche refilled the sifting pan and began again.

Though incapable of carrying a tune, Asche hummed to herself while she worked, nodding to the others who passed by, making her pile bigger. The steady shaking of the sifting pan had replaced the whisking of her broom, and likewise took its pause as Asche regarded the second accumulation of debris, this time without treasure. Scooping another section of debris, she continued stoically.

Riding a vorr'ykk down the dusty street, a big man's fiery red eyes regarded the hospital from under the black brim of his cowboy hat. Upon seeing the figure stooped over a plastic box, sifting through debris, he reined in to slow down his mount.

"Ohhhh Asche, olly-olly-oxen-free," preceded Bliss out the front door of the hospital.

Asche looked up from her work at Bliss, then the stranger on his lizard-like mount, then wordlessly put another handful of debris in her pan.

"Hello to you too, Asche," Bliss quipped.

The big man patted the scaled neck of his vorr'ykk, then slid down to dismount, tying the lizard up to some debris. Looking up and down the streets, he removed his hat and wiped some sweat from his forehead. Replacing the hat, he checked his saddlebags, then nodded with a slight grin.

"Yeah, hey Bliss," Asche coughed up some dust, watching the rider out of the corner of her eye. A glitter in her sifter reclaims her attention and she inspects one of several metal pins that lay on the mesh.

"Great," Asche exclaimed. "Pull up a sifter, Bliss. Gimme a hand. "

"Uhm," Bliss began. "I brought in some fiber optic cable to aid in th repair of Elliot's video system." She sat down next to Asche.

"Yeah?" Asche spared a moment from her find to look at her. "Know how to install it?"

"Yup. Long as I can scrounge the right kind of connectors and some very fine sandpaper."

Asche dropped the pins into her sack, then slid another make-shift sifter to Bliss before nodding to the man on the street and his mount. "How much for the animal?"

"Sandpaper?" She looked aside to Bliss, waiting for the man to reply. "They still make that somewhere?"

"Scournging, Asche, scrounging," Bliss chuckled. "What do you think people pay me to do? I find things, among a few other jobs."

"Well if you can find sand sandpaper, hell I'll put you on retainer," Asche snorted.

"I found the cable didn't I?" Bliss asked, then lifted a brow and the sifter. "Am I looking for anything in particular here?"

"I find more of this than anything," Asche hefted a little pebble.

"Ahhh," Bliss nodded, sifting through the dirt before asking casually. "Has there been any sign of that Church fellow? What was his name, Boydd maybe?"

Asche shook her pan. "Boyle, yeah. He came lookin' for you last week, I think. Had some muscle with him. I'd be careful."

"That doesn't sound very good," Bliss sighed, frowned, and dumped some bits of metal in Asche's bin.

Asche finally turned back to the man next to his vorr'ykk and called out "Hey you! You deaf?"

"Hmm?" the man turned to face Asche. "Sorry."

"Yeah," Asche humphed. "I asked what you wanted for the animal."

The man's smile bore no humor. "Sorry, I can't sell Fangg. I have some other things you might be interested in, however."

"Yeah? Whatcha got?"

"Gasoline," the big man said simply, with the connotation that was all he had to say.

Asche's sifter stopped moving, her eyes on the man full now. "Grade?"

"Grade A, lady," the rider looked down at Asche. "Processed by the workers of Menlixx. Fresh out of the oil spout."

Asche glanced at Bliss. "Menlixx, he says..."

Turning to flip open the saddle bag closest to him, the big man pulled out a five gallon gas can. "I have ten gallon total with me. 'Can always get more if you wish."

Penance materialized in the doorway, glanced around until she saw Asche, then loped a bound and launched herself through the air at the uniformed woman. Asche looked up to see Penance land short and bolt immediately to the side, away from Bliss and the newcomer. Without skipping a beat, Asche waved her hand for the man to hand over his can for inspection.

"Looks like your charge has found you, Asche," Bliss chuckled.

The man handed his can over to Asche, raising an eyebrow at Penance' curious behavior, but focused on the business at hand. "You can check it if you want. Not hurting my pride any."

Asche unscrewed the can and spoke conspiratorially. "I can't believe she's outside, Bliss."

"And going for a bit of a run at that," Bliss watched as Penance loped down the street, away from them all.

"What I wanted her to do in the first place," Asche mumbled, watching Penance, then took a cautious look inside the can, followed by an equally cautious whiff. "Whatcha think?" she asked, handing the can to Bliss.

Bliss sniffed at the contents, then said appreciatively "I could use some of that for my machine..."

"I can get you some," the big man said without a pause.

"One deal at a time," Bliss winked, returning to her work and dropping a few more items into Asche's collection bin.

"The price?" Asche asked, returning her attention to the man after peering down the street after Penance. She shifted the sifting pan in her lap.

After a quick smile to Bliss, the man confessed to Asche, "I need a doctor."

Penance, coming to a halt at the faraway end of the hospital, crouched by the corner and looked back at the three people. Shivering, she appeared to be trying to hide, clearly fearful at being outside like this.

Asche motioned for Penny to come back. "Medicine comes real cheap here. No need to trade gas for it," Asche squinted up at him. "You sick?"

The man shook his head. "I need a field doctor."

"Gimme the details," Asche responded.

Still crouched in fear at the end of the building, Penance darted her gaze all around her, flinching at everything.

"I was leading a caravan here from Menlixx when some guys on bikes decided they wanted our materials," the man explained.

Bliss, who'd looked to the end of the building to watch Penance, looked back at the big man. "I didn't know the place was still standing," she said softly.

"So they attacked," the man continued. "We did all we could, and eventually ran them off, but we have many wounded. Our vorr'ykks were all killed, which is why I had to come along without a wagon full of injured."

The front doors to the hospital pushed open. Orderlies Samm and Bill appeared, carrying Quent between them.

"Hi!" Quent yelled down from his perch, wiggling around trying to wave despite his straight jacket.

The two orderlies descended the stairs, Samm looked over at Asche whose gaze washed over Quent. She frowned only a little and nodded at the crazy man.

"Sorry to bring him out here like this, Dr. Asche," Samm apologized. "But Dr. Larkinn thought'd be a good idea for him to get out for the day." He and Bill set Quent down to the side. Quent sat down cross-legged.

"S'alright Samm, just keep an eye on him," Asche nodded, then her frown deepened and her attention returned to the gas merchant. "How far out are they?" she asked, standing up. The sifting pan she'd had in her lap skittered across the dirt.

"Sure thing, doc," Samm confirmed. "He won't be getting' far in that thing."

Quent began to hum to himself as Bliss stood up and dumped the last of the tiny items into Asche's bin.

"I've gotta go, Asche," Bliss said, heading for her bike. "I'll come back and see if I can install some of that cable later tonight."

The big gas merchant glanced at Bliss, watching her prepare to depart, and waited to answer Asche.

"Thanks, Bliss," Asche nodded to the girl. "Be safe."

"Bye Bliss," Quent interrupted his humming. "Don't kill your boys!"

"Bye, Quent" Bliss waved to him. "Don't plan on doing that ever."

"About three miles from here," the gas merchant finally answered Asche, watching Bliss slide on to her bike and zipp off down the street.

"Which direction?" Asche asked.

"West," the big man answered. "Fangg can be there in about fifteen minutes."

Asche nodded and did some mental calculations. "We can get there quicker."

"Can I come?" Quent asked, looking up at the big man.

The man looked down at Quent doubtfully. "You a doctor?"

"Yes, yes I am," Quent smiled. "The name's Doctor, uh, Quentari."

The gas merchant's red eyes narrowed. "For some reason I doubt that."

"I'd shake your hand," Quent continued unconcerned. "But I'm a bit tied up at the moment."

Samm leaned down and spoke quietly to Quent. "I think blatant lying counds as misbehaving, buddy."

"Oh, sorry," Quent smiled back at the orderly as the big gas merchant turned away, loosed the vorr'ykk and prepared to re-mount.

A huumunn and his Syrynykk companion approached the Hospital from a side street, slowing to survey the crowd gathered at the front doors. Asche nodded at them. "Evening, Asche," The huumunn, Lexxon Birch Berikk, greeted her.

Penance, shying further away from the enlarging crowd, glanced around herself and wandered off into the streets and alley, unable to say even goodbye as she left another home.

"Lex, you got anything to do tonight?" Asche turned a circle as she peered about.

"Well," Lex answered. "Besides my usual trading, no. Not really." His Syrynykk companion glanced around, tongue sniffing at the surrounding air.

"Wanna go on a trip?" Asche asked, moving fast now to the bays. "Give me a hand?"

"Of course," Lex agreed. "What had you in mind?"

"Great," Asche nodded towards the gas merchant. "See that guy with the vorr'ykk? Stick with him. I'll be right back."

"As long as he keeps the pace below a gallop," Lex grinned.

"We'll be riding in an ambulance," Asche said over her shoulder.

"Oh," Lex said dubiously. "You mean that thing runs? Amazing."

Asche looked proudly at the ambulance. "One of 'em does, yeah." She disappeared behind the ambulance to prepare it.

"I shall remain here, Shann'dakk," the Syrynykk's yellow eyes regarded the ambulance with some trepidation.

Quent smiled at everyone and turned to Samm and Bill. "I'm being good, can I take the jacket off now?"

Samm looked at bill. "Well, maybe," he nodded. Bill smiled and moved to Quent to take off the jacket.

Finally free of the jacket, Quent stood and hugged Samm. "Thanks buddy," and ran towards the ambulance bay with the orderlies in tow.

Asher emerged from the hospital, looking around at the small gathering. "Lex!" he called out, seeing a familiar face.

"Ah, hello," Lex responded, turning around and trying to place Asher's name with his face.

"Hello," Asher shrugged in an embarrassed manner. "I'm Asher. I traded with you a week or two back?"

"Ahh yes," Lex remembered. "The coil of whire. It has been put to good use. Thank you."

"I'm glad to hear it," Asher smiled, adjusting his goggles. "Would you be interested in further trade this evening? I have a really interesting piece of junk.

"Yes, I would," Lex shrugged his rucksack from his shoulders. "After I have finished helping Asche with her mission." On cue the ambulance's engine turned over and began to rev, drawing Quent like a magnet.

Lex handed his pack to his Syrynykk companion. "Chukka, stay here until I return. Watch the trade goods."

Chukka stared at the noisy machine growling from the hospital bay. "Yessss, Shann'dakk."

"Mission?" Asher asked, looking into the bay as well. "What mission?"

"Where's your jacket?" Asche demanded, looking out the window at Quent before scowling at the orderlies.

"Samm and Bill took it off," Quent explained, smiling. "Larkinn said they could if I was good. I promised I wouldn't hurt anyone anymore. I even bet on myself in the pool."

"Didn't you promise before?" Asche asked pointedly.

"Doc?" Quent said plaintively. "Can I tell you something?"

"Yeah, Quent, but hurry."

"I'm sorry I tried to kill that guy that tried to steal mommy from me." Quent hung his head and walked away, confused, to climb up the stairs.

"You think she's your mom?" Asche asked, stunned enough to ask even though the deranged man had departed. She gunned the engine ostensibly to check it, to cover herself.

"You are of Malenn'drraa," the big gas merchant stated, regarding Lex and Chukka with his red eyes.

"Yessss, Shann'dakk," Chukka replied without taking his gaze from the growling ambulance. "True."