Death, as could be expected, had an excellent eye for Art. It smeared two less respectable works with its bandaged hands but stepped away to admire the water colours Erles so prized.

Erles Lundquist Nygaard was nothing, if not a tough negotiator. If Death had come to choose a painting, so be it. All that remained was the price.

'I'm not letting that one go for under three grand.' Erles said, generously.

The bandaged thing made a whistling sound. 'Worrrrtthhhh ittttt' it said.

Erles had to agree. He stepped out from behind the counter and walked over to stand beside the thing, admiring the picture. 'Larry is quite a lush but what wonderful feeling he has. If I could have lifted his profile, he would have been called a modern master.' Erles sighed and looked around his gallery. 'I have been so blessed here. So many of them, such exquisite beauty.'

Death was nodding. 'Shhhhculpture?' It asked.

'Ah,' said Erles, nodding. 'You heard about my other genius. I'm afraid the last large piece of hers I had is long gone. I suppose you saw the Art Journal article?'

The thing nodded. Erles winked at It. 'I thought you might. It just so happens that I keep a few of her smaller items in my personal collection. Would you care to see them?'

The thing smiled through ragged flesh and Erles couldn't help but smile in return. Erles turned around and led the way to the store room. He unlocked the door, opening up a well of darkness that strobed into packing crates and plinths where new art was unpacked and displayed. Erles switched on another bank of lights and walked over to the three plinths he had setup in homage to Charlie. He picked up a single silver loop. 'She made this for me. Just for me.' He placed it gently back down on the plinth and sighed once more. 'Now I suppose it is my time.'

The thing walked towards the plinths and reached for one of the organic seeming pieces of metal. It almost slid through the flesh of its ruined hands.

'Heavier than you expected, isn't it? I always thought she weighted the hollow moulds, but all of her work is from single pieces. It's quite uncanny.' Erles mused.

The flesh was dropping from the things fingers and it gently lowered the piece. 'Byuttttfllll' it whispered, turning the item over and over in his hands and traversing it with an eye fresh and alone in its socket, unclad by the protective tissue. Erles regarded the leaking fluids and started to consider that perhaps Death was overdoing the gore. At least he was not holding a scythe. That would have been simply too passé.

A tinkling of the front door bell drew Erles attention. 'Oh, I hope you'll excuse me for a moment. I might as well make one last sale.' He said sadly and left Death to drip over the Plinths.

A tallish man in a vulgar attempt at a suit was leaning up against his nice clean white walls. He didn't seem to notice the puddles from Death's footprints. 'Probably only I can see them' Erles thought to himself. Vicky was dashing towards him, all white faced.

'Vicki my dear, what ever is the matter?' he said, quickening his pace. They clasped hands in a scene reminiscent of a renaissance painting. Erles thought that he made a silly Romeo.

'Erles! The farm burned down, they're not there, they...'

Erles smiled and in an uncommon gesture, pulled her close enough to hug.

'I know, I know.' He soothed, leading her over to the couch. 'Your mother is fine, Phil is fine, in fact, they're both in rude health. The sole victim was your grandma's porch.' He said, drawing her down to sit with him. 'Oh. And the kitchen. And I almost forgot, some poor fellow who was passing-by got burned.'

Vicki twitched like a rabbit slowly starting to calm. 'Mom and Dad are all right?'

Erles beamed at her. She was quite an attractive young thing, but darker than Charlie. Not as prone to freckles. If not for that silliness with God, Erles could see her gracing a catwalk. He was very pleased to allay her fears about Charlie, and as for himself, well, that didn't matter in the least. He had finally achieved something.

'Yes dear, I can personally vouch for their wholeness. They were staying at my place for a few days, but I think Phil has arranged accommodation whilst they repair the house. It's all going to be just fine. Your mother's about to receive a tremendous lift in her prices!' he said, smiling. Vicki looked into his face, peering as far inside him as she could to check for truth, but it was Erles. His honesty was displayed in the number of times people found him rude. Vicki beamed back at him. 'Praise the lord.' She said.

Erles smiled. 'Yes. Quite. Er, if you don't mind me asking, who's your friend?'

Vicki turned to look at Rogers, standing, waiting. 'Oh.' She said. 'He gave me a lift from the house. We're transmitting from a local community hall at the moment, because we've had some problems with…' Vicki trailed away, looking at the strange ragged marks on the floor.

'Erles.' She said, pointing. 'What are those?'

Erles turned his head to follow her. 'Oh. You can see it? Hmm. Well, it appears Death has come for me dear. My time is up, you see.'

Vicki blinked, looking squarely at him. 'Erles?' she said gently. 'Are you all right?'

Erles nodded. 'Absolutely. Other than my unfulfilled gastronomic desires, my one hope had always been to uncover a Great Talent, and my dear, in your mother I found one. It makes me profoundly happy, so you see, I half expected this.'

Vicki shook her head. 'Erles, what are you talking about?'

'Death my dear.' Erles replied happily. 'He's waiting for me.'

Vicki got up from the couch and started to follow the trail.

'I'd rather you didn't. It's private.' Erles cautioned. Vicki looked up through the open door and into the rear room. Someone was moving around in there. 'I need to find Mom, I just…'

Erles got up from the couch and took her hands again, standing between her and the doorway. 'It's OK Vicki, really it is. Everything is going to be fine. Charlie's fine, truly. I will get her to call you.' Erles smiled at her. Vicki relaxed as soon as he took her hands again.

'I didn't know about the fire, we were away, she must think I don't care, I…'

Erles kissed her on the cheek. 'Don't be silly. Now be a dear and run along whilst I serve my VIP customer.'

Vicki gave him a sad smile and turned around. Rogers looked up at her as she passed.

'Can you give me a lift back to the community hall?' she asked quietly. 'I really should be getting back there.'

'Sure, no problems. Did you find your mom?' Rogers said, following her out.

'No.' Vicki replied. 'But Erles says she's ok, so I guess I can wait until she contacts me. It's not always…easy…with her.'

'Right!' said Rogers happily. 'So let's get to this community hall!'

-

Erles watch them depart, smiling. When he turned around, he saw Death had come to stand in the doorway.

'Scccharrrrliee' It wheezed.

Erles shook his head. 'I'm surprised at you. That's her daughter.' Erles scratched his head. 'I'm starting to have my doubts about this whole affair.' He thought to himself. To Death he said 'Would you excuse me a moment?'

Death nodded its acquiescence and Erles withdrew around the corner. He flipped out his phone and dialled a number.

'Hello, Sergeant? Yes. This is he. I have a rather unusual problem and I was wondering if you could drop by. Oh anytime is fine, but the next 10 seconds or so would be ideal.' Erles hung up the phone and walked back out to Death. 'I don't suppose I could offer you a glass of something whilst you make your selection?'

---

The truck swerved violently to the right and tore up the dirt at the side of the road. Phil pulled to a halt and jumped out of the car. He inspected the damage to the front of the truck. He was shaking, white.

Charlie was pulling the seatbelt out of her abdomen and wincing as she felt the bruise.

The police cruiser pulled up sharply behind them. Luka jumped out, shutting his phone. John Redman threw Cassie's supporting hand away and ran, despite the pain.

A brown carcass was lying at the side of the road, where the impact had thrown it.

'Wild dog' Phil muttered as John Redman ran up to him. 'I tried to miss it, but I clipped it on the right.'

John ran over to the creature. Its side was stove in, the ribs broken. It was whimpering.

'Don't touch it! It may still bite!' Cassie yelled to him, running down to stand over him as John dropped to his haunches, pains forgotten. The dog winked at him. John smiled.

'Didn't expect to see me, didja?' coyote said, its mouth frothing with bubbles of saliva and blood.

-

Luka ran up to where Phil stood, examining the front of the truck. 'Anybody hurt?'

Phil shook his head. 'Just the dog.' He grimaced. 'Poor goddam thing.'

Charlie was getting pout of the truck, rubbing her bruised parts.

'Charlie.' Luka called to her. 'Your friend Erles was on the phone.'

'Erles?'

'I get the feeling it was his idea of a 911 call.'

Charlie's face shifted subtly. Some darker brooding presence settled over her and Luka felt the earth heave with him. Her eyes grew starry. 'We can't drive this thing.' Phil said, interrupting.

Charlie swung her gaze towards him, then seemed to settle back into herself, the darkness receding. Luka found he was sweating and that his hand had moved of its own accord to hover over the butt of the gun. Phil was looking at him. He motioned with his eyes and Luka quickly pulled his hand away.

'We go in the cruiser.'

-

Coyote coughed more blood. 'You're a good kid Redman. A real peach. We coulda used a few more of you back in the day. This whole country would still run wild with your like. I miss the buffalo too ya know.'

John put a palm down on the matted fur. 'Don't get maudlin on me, old man. I can get you to a hospital; we can get you fixed up.' He said somewhat lamely.

'Don't touch it, it might have rabies!' Cassie warned.

Coyote gurgled again. 'Sharp one that. Owl said she was a hottie'

John snickered. 'I knew you guys talked. Can I help?'

Coyote coughed once more, the light in its eyes leaching out. 'No John Redman. For this body, it is time to die. I just thought I'd take my share of its suffering. We must help them to pass into the next world. You must learn this medicine. Draw closer, for I would sing to you.'

Cassie watched as John Redman lowered his head until it touched the dogs' snout. She heard a whining sound that seemed to sweep up and down, as if two tunes were merged into it, one she could only faintly hear.

'Cassie, we gotta go. Emergency. You stay with Phil and John and we'll meet you at the...' Luka yelled from the door of the cruiser. Charlie was already strapping herself gingerly into the front seat.

'No.' John Redman said, standing up. 'I am coming with you. Cassie will be ok with Phil. You'll look after her, right?'

Phil looked at them and nodded. 'We'll follow as soon as I can bend this hub out.'

John clasped Cassie by the shoulders. 'I'd be grateful if you'd take that body to the vet, let them dispose of it properly.' Cassie nodded uncertainly. 'Um. Sure.'

He let her go, then rethought it, grabbed her and kissed her.

The cruiser's lights started to flash and Luka barked at him to hurry.

Cassie watched them speed away and then looked over at the dead dog.

'You can move that.' She suggested to Phil.

'Why me?' he complained.

Cassie smiled. 'I just had my nails done,' she said facetiously.

Phil shook his head with a wry grin.

Cassie walked over to the back of the truck and went in search of a shovel. 'Come on, I have to make my hippie boyfriend proud.'

---

'Boy you've have to see it to believe it Chuck!' the Reporter grinned. 'It's like Woodstock all over again!'

The host laughed. 'Bit before my time, Frank. Where's the breakdown?'

The helicopter camera operator panned over the streams of traffic on the highway. 'No breakdown Chuck, just seems like everyone's got the idea to take a drive today. I'd avoid any highway south of...'

---

People found their way into the community. Someone had the foresight to start directing the cars to park in the fields. They lined up neatly, one beside the other, with no Marshall to direct them, just a general sense of cooperation.

The Reverend looked down the hill at the swell of people gathering. 'Oh my' he said. 'I had no idea so many people felt this way. How marvellous.' He clapped Ronny on the shoulder. 'That boy JJ has done more for raising Christian awareness than anything I have ever seen. It's a miracle.'

Ronny looked over the wave of people moving up the hill. 'Yeah. He said sourly. 'A miracle. Don't forget Vicki's made this all happen'

James was waiting for them as they returned to the hall.

'These people friends of yours?' he asked, without joy.

Ronny shook his head. 'I haven't got the foggiest Pal.'

James frowned. 'There's an awful lot of them. We can't let them all in here you know, we'd be overflowing.'

'All are welcome' said a quiet voice and Ronny realised it was their erstwhile hitchhiker, freshly shaved and wearing a simple, dark old fashioned black vest and trousers. 'I knew there was a reason for our meeting. I knew it.'

The Reverend beamed. 'Bless you Daniel. But we should try to put a little order into our miracles. He helps those who help themselves...' he counselled.

Daniel nodded. 'Yes Reverend. You're right. James, can you send some men to start finding those people a place to setup. We can dig a latrine at the side of the field and start having them sits around the hall. Keep a thoroughfare down the centre for access and make sure we can get vehicles in and out of here if we need to. There reverend, will that do?' The reverend nodded. 'Admirably. Meanwhile, we had best be preparing to entertain these folks. Speaking of Vicki, where is our producer?'

Ronny shook his head. 'I don't know Reverend.'

'She went with Aaron to visit her mother.' James answered with a nod, departing to see his assigned tasks.

'Ah.' said the Reverend. 'Yes, poor Charlie has had quite a rough time of it. I'm sure she would be glad to see her.'

Daniel stepped forward and seized the Reverends arm. 'Did you say Charlie?'

The Reverend nodded uncertainly yes. 'Yes, she's a local artist. Her farm caught fire last week...'

Daniels grip on his arm began to hurt and the Reverend made a pained face. Daniel looked down and released his grip. 'I'm sorry Reverend. I...'

"Do you know her?'

Daniel took a moment to respond. 'Yes. I knew her a long time ago.'

'Of course you did. Everyone knows everyone in these parts!' the Reverend said with a smile, rubbing his arm. Ronny watched the exchange with a feeling of unease. Something tickled him at the back of his mind, a thought he couldn't pin down.

---

The Director awoke to see a smiling face hovering above her. It was Felipe. 'How are you Aunt Kathy?' Felipe enquired. 'Are you much better now?'

The Director sat up, or at least tried to. 'Felipe. How did you…?'

Steve softly ahemmed from across the room. Kathy sat upright with Felipe's help and mustered her best baleful glare.

'You!' she managed to say.

'Kathy, don't be too hard on him.' said another voice. Kathy spun as quickly as she was able in her weakened state to see a silver haired man in sunglasses sitting in the other chair across from the bed. 'Jim?'

The blind man stood up and felt along the bed until he could take her hand. 'You gave us quite a scare. If not for Felipe here, I'm afraid things would have become a great deal less pleasant.'

Kathy smiled at Felipe. 'They shot me. How did you…oh.' She said, thinking it through. 'Thank you Felipe.'

Felipe gave her a hug and she cried out in pain. He quickly jumped backwards. 'Sorry, sorry.' He said over and over.

The director smiled. ''Sokay Felipe. I just don't think I'm all the way healed yet.' She turned back towards Steve, who was looking at the floor.

'Leave him be Kathy, we have other things to talk about.' The blind man looked at Felipe. 'Felipe, can you please wait outside, I have some things to discuss with your Aunt that are private.'

Felipe gratefully nodded and excused himself. Steve stood up to leave as well.

'Oh no Mr.' the director said sharply. 'You stay right here and tell me what the hell was going through your mind?'

Steve blinked but ceased his egress and pulled his chair up closer. Jim sat on the edge of her bed.

'What's the sitrep?' Kathy said, overly formally.

Steve grimaced. 'The institute's gone. They took out the whole place.'

Kathy inhaled sharply.

'Greg's dead' Steve said, looking back at the floor.

Kathy issued a stream of invective formidable in its range and scope, calling down various plagues upon the ill begotten spawn of goats.

Jim smiled. 'That's my girl. Still cursing like a drill sergeant. Now before you turn the air anymore blue, you should know I have had a most interesting call. From Jeffrey.'

Steve's ears pricked up. 'I thought he was sent to the boondocks somewhere.'

Jim turned to him and winked with his sightless eyes. 'Yes, most amusing I thought. Nonetheless, he has been returned to the play. He called me from a military airfield quite close to here. He's got our people.'

Kathy immediately started to struggle to free herself from the restraints of the IV.

Jim layed his hand on her, nodding for Steve to do so as well.

'No you don't. You sit this one out Kathy. I only came because the boys demanded it. Jeffrey just wants out of the situation. Something about civil rights. Who would have guessed he is a constitutionalist at heart? Our people are in the hands of the US air force. In any case, he was calling about a different problem.'

'What?' demanded Steve.

'He lost Rainbird.'

Steve laughed. Kathy gave him an evil eye and Steve quickly hid his mirth.

'He'll be hunting her down.'

Jim nodded. 'Yes. Yes he will.'

'You pulled me out of there before I made contact.' Steve complained bitterly. 'I'd still be on station and monitoring.' He stopped. 'Ah crap.'

Kathy looked at Jim, somehow he knew to turn back to her and exchange a glance.

'What aren't you telling me?' Steve said, looking at the two of them. 'We need to get people on station now. They could snatch her up.'

Kathy and Jim shared another silent moment of communication. 'No' she said finally. 'We leave her alone.'

Steve shook his head, standing back from the bed and pacing back and forth. 'What about Rainbird?'

'Things will take care of themselves Steve. Have a little faith.'

Steve looked at the two of them in amazement. 'Sure, fine. We'll just let Zombie Geronimo kill a few more people. That fits right in with the do no harm thing, doesn't it?'

'We are going on station Steve. All of us, except Kathy here. We're just going to observe.'

Steve came close to them. 'What about the Daughter?'

Jim sighed. 'There, we have a problem. I wish I could think of a way to resolve it…humanely.'

Steve blinked. 'What?'

Jim leant in to Kathy. 'It travelled down the line.' He whispered. 'Sooner or later, someone will claim her. The others in Jeffrey's old camp will reform and they'll home in on this like vultures. They have your data'

Kathy felt for Jims hand and held it.

'But they don't have Greg's predictions. There's still time' she urged.

'We face the lesser of two evils. There may not be a good outcome in this instance.' Jim said quietly.

Steve let it sink in. 'So I guess I'm the shooter then.' he muttered.