A Machine Called Earth
Chapter 2- Uninvited Change

Three weekslater.

“Hector,Hector! Hurry up and wake up, the mayor has ordered a town meeting, something terribleis happening.... HECTOR!” His sister shouted in his ear, as she bashed him inthe head with a pillow.

“Ok, I’m up,what’s all the noise about?” Said Hector, as he struggled to keep his eyesopen. “Is there another protest?”

“Just comeoutside, and get dressed.” She said, as she gave him the once over with hereyes, looking disapprovingly. Hector wondered if this was another one of herpranks. His sister delighted in the act of tricking him.

“Wellsomething terrible better be happening,” muttered Hector, “I was enjoying mynap.” However this was a lie. He hadn't had a peaceful night’s sleep for sometime.

Hector gotup, and looked out the bedroom window of his second story terrace, which he andhis younger sister, Jane lived. “Such a grey day, hardly a day worth leavingthe house.” He said.

“You saythat every day.” Jane butted in. Hector turned towards her with a dark stare,which said she had out-stayed her welcome in his room. But before too long,they got their things together, and headed towards the old, rundown town hall.

They rushedthrough the damp cobblestone streets, weaving through the hordes of slow movingtownsfolk, and winding in and out of streets and alleyways and narrowside-streets. The town hall stood in the center of town like a giant monument, itshigh walls and wide pillars the last reminder of the royal roots of Tammerville’sinception. “Attention all citizens, Report to the town hall as soon aspossible.” Buzzed the loud speaker at an almost ear-bleedingly distortedtone.

Soeventually every Tom, Dick and Harry, man and his dog, and every woman andchild packed into the under capacity hall like sardines in a can.

Consideringthe great size of the town hall, Tammerville had become quite over populated.There had been an influx of refugees from up north. They came from the grandcity of Syre. Much of the city was ruined during the Great War.

Hector hadno problem with the Syrien refugees, but the same can’t be said for the majorityof the people of Tammerville.

“I wonderwhat this is about.” Said one man. “Probably another tax raise.” Said another.However, Hector remembered his chat with the Mayor a couple of weeks ago, andfelt an anxious quiver in his heart.

MayorJohnston, a plump yet upper-class, sluggard of a man, approached the microphone.He stood there a while as the noise left the hall. In a trembling tone, he saidthrough the graying whiskers of his obscenely long mustache, “It seems we havean epidemic on our hands.” These words had chilled the hearts of everyone inthe hall. “As you all know, there has been dark clouds looming to the south,over the mountains for some time now. But, things are changing, we have lostcontact with River-ton, our key trading associates to the south-east.

We have notheard from them for some time now, and we are beginning to suspect, that it hassomething to do with the southern clouds. Also we have had increased reports tothe missing persons unit. But that’s not all. Bring out James.”

Just thenthey brought out a man. He was in shackles and walked out with a timid stanceas though afraid of the bright lights that shone onstage. All the crowd gaspedin astonishment, Hector included. He, barely looked human. He looked like somethingfrom a storybook, between a werewolf and something even more sinister. His bodywas covered with large boils and anomalies wherever there weren't patches ofbeast-like fur. Not to mention the dark black stain around his mouth and on hishands, which Hector could only assume was the blood of the saw mill’ssupervisor. The hall began to fill with noise, people began whispering to eachother, “What is this sorcery? How can this be?”

As they wereall grossly horrified. “That’s what we get for letting all those refugees inour town.” Said one man, hardly a believable argument.

MayorJohnston returned to the podium. “As you can clearly see, there is something nodoubt disturbing going on, and it’s not just this man, it’s beginning to happenall over town. Doctor Leighbrook, the Alderman Street physician has reported amyriad of patients who share these same symptoms.”

Silencereturned to the hall as everyone strived to take in what was being said.

“Do notworry citizens, we have everything under control. We have our best mindsworking together to replace a cure, there is no reason to panic. However, any volunteerswho care to help will be greatly welcome.”

As themeeting finished, everyone began leaving the hall, and returning to their day,not that they could really enjoy the rest of their day, after hearing thedisturbing news. All the townsfolk knew that this was not something that theMayor and his connections could ever workout. The mayor was far from renown atdealing with troubling circumstances. It was common knowledge that the mayorcouldn’t even work out simple matters, and the people of Tammerville blame himpersonally for the decline of its economy, social morale and living standardssince the retirement of the much loved Mayor Copperbottle.

However,they knew that Hector was one of the last remaining trained guards. Trainedsince the tender age of twelve. A Blackcoat. An expert in solving murders, catchingcriminals, a specialist arms-man and swordsman. Though Hector had only been aBlackcoat for about four years before it was disbanded, and was only a sub-parswordsman with little experience catching killers. But he did receive a medalor two during his service, and he had the best teacher that could be conjured, makingwhat he actually learnt in those four years, more like that of ten years.

So it wasn’tlong after Hector returned to his home, and went back to his comfortable, welcomingbed, when a group of townsfolk came knocking on his door, well more likebashing at his door.

They criedout “You must not stay, you must go away, you must not return, until you havebroken this curse, that we’re falling down into!”

Hector heardthe plea, but was irritated that the whole mob of townsfolk, about fifty ofthem in total, all adults, would call on a boy who was in that grey areabetween child and man to save them. Surely there was one man in the town withthe hide to step up, but no, there were none.

This was atown that had no problem letting a twelve year old become one of the cityguard. In fact it was encouraged, for the Blackcoats were an institution createdby Tammerville after the Great War. Tammerville was not the size of Syre andcould not sustain a large force of protectors and law keepers. But theBlackcoats, named after their uniform, prided themselves on quality overquantity. One fully trained Blackcoat guard, was equal to five of any other.But it was after Hector’s father died, as one of the Captains of the cityguard, that Hector had no choice but join the Blackcoats himself, even thoughhe was at the young age of twelve. Being twelve was not the issue, the issuewas that Hector’s father wished his family to have a safe and comfortable life,far away from the perils the Blackcoats endured.

But, asHector looked down at the people from his bedroom window, he felt a wave ofcompassion sweep over him. Even though the city guard had disbanded, he stillfelt as though it was his duty to help the town. Though in all honesty, he justwished for adventure. For after the Blackcoats dissolved Hector was left to replacework in medial tasks such as factory off-hands and store assistants. Nothinglike what he was trained for.

Hector cameto his bedroom window and decided to address the crowd, accepting their quest.“Ok, I’ll go.” He said. However they just looked around at each other,wondering what he had said. For Hector was not good at projecting his voice. Sohe yelled out once more, as loud as he could. “OK!” He then assisted his voicewith a thumbs-up gesture. And at that they cheered.

So theyreadied an old fishing boat with supplies. A young man, a friend of Hector’s,approached him giving him a pistol. Charlie was his name, he was about a yearolder than Hector, and they were both guards together. The pistol was quite awell-made, and beautifully crafted weapon. It was made of pressed oak, with twohardened steel barrels, for twice the firing power. It also had handcrafted goldeninlays on the handle. No doubt the work of master weapon-smith Jacob.

“Did youmake this Charlie?” Hector asked, wondering if Charlie had reached the skilllevel of his uncle and master.

“No. Mycraftsmanship is not up to par with uncle’s standard. But one day, I hope tocreate such weapons.” Charlie replied.

Along withHector’s supplies, which included, about enough food and water for a month, wasnone other than a good old, trusty cutlass. A little bit worse for ware, butstill rather sharp. ‘Probably been lying aroundin someone’s basement for years.’ Thought Hector. On the boat as well, wasa backpack designed lantern contraption, with a wind-up generator. ‘It must have been designed by Bartholomew, theengineer.’ Hector thought again, for Bartholomew was quite amazing with hishands, and Hector always regarded the things he would build and invent to be ina class of their own.

So Hectorgot onto what was going to be his home for the next couple of weeks, and gotready to set sail, to replace a solution. Someone in the crowd asked, “What isyour plan?”

Hector thought to himself, ‘I don’t know.’ He stumbled at thequestion, and was thoroughly overwhelmed by the crowd, Hector didn’t really knowwhat to say, and he knew they would not hear him. Charlie, who was still standingby Hector, saw that he was in need, and addressed the crowd on Hector’s behalf.He said, “Hector will sail to River-ton, from there he shall investigate what’sgoing on. Then if needed he shall travel south, beyond our borders, to wherethe mysterious clouds are. Now get lost, and give him some space!”

Hectorturned to Charlie and gave him a thankful smile. Charlie and Hector had beenfriends since before they could remember. Charlie knew very well that Hectoroften became tongue twisted.

When therewas a quiet moment, Hector asked Charlie, “Have you heard any news fromValimir? I haven’t heard from him in some time. He used to drop by quiteregularly, but in the last couple months, I haven’t seen him.”

“I can’t sayI have. It has been some time since I have seen him. Longer in fact than Iimagine since you last saw him. I did hear, that he was living outside of town.But as you know, it’s hard replaceing reliable rumors in this town. If I do see him,I’ll be sure to tell him of your journey. I’d come with you, if it weren't formy leg. I’d just slow you down. You’ll have to climb those mountains for theboth of us.”

Hectorsmiled. “I know. If it weren't for your limp, I’d have no choice but bring youwith me.” Hector said. “And thanks for your kind words.”

They saidtheir farewells and wished him luck, and Hector went on his way completely unsureand unprepared of what awaited him.

Hectorbecame rather excited to leave town, he was quite looking forward to theadventure that awaited. Tammerville was quite a charming place to live. With itscentral park, backing onto the primary school, the bustling market place,chockers with the freshest produce, the majestic rail yard and station, and therolling fields of the western farm-land surrounded by the great and mysteriousWestwood forest. It was truly a peaceful town, and in late summer, which itwas, quite beautiful. But Hector longed for adventure.

Hector’schildhood was dominated by his uncontrollable imagination. He was always onsome sort of adventure, slaying hordes of beasts, exploring vast caverns andcrevasses, rushing through landscapes on horseback. However, reality is never asinteresting as your imagination. So Hector always wanted to go on a realadventure.

And now washis chance. But perhaps this journey will change his view on reality.

Well, the very thing which I doubted its existence, has shown itselfto be real. And now it’s up to me to investigate. It’s funny how as I risked mylife for this town in the past, instead of being rewarded, I was singled out toinvestigate this new threat, to risk my life once more. But I hardly know whatthey expect from me, I cannot do anything any different from any other, exceptperhaps shoot straight. But I am excited to leave, and replace whatever is instore in the future.