The streets were dark when he stumbled from the brush. His immediate response was to start banging on the door of the first house for help. He started towards one to do just that when he noticed something. Looking down over the row of houses on the lane, he saw none of them were lit. Old mountain lodges, whitewashed, with dark wooden upper floors and tall eaves. He thought they might be cultural houses, or tourist stays and blundered on through the streets.

His socks sloshed with every step, his feet hurt and his body was overexerted. "Shit…" he mumbled, repeatedly. Still nothing but interference on the transceiver. Tall, orange-bricked manors with picket-fences and exotic gardens lined what looked to be Garden's upper class boulevard. The manors, as well as the lawns surrounding them were shockingly splendid, yet suffused with the quaintness that gives villages their special charm. But there would be no help here either. All the grand windows with their intricate framework designs were likewise dim. Round street lamps glowed warmly, but the houses were deserted. What the hell had happened while he was gone? A series of tragic possibilities spun through Alec's mind.

He stopped to try and gather his thoughts, but he was still too dazed. He became aware of his head, which was hurting keenly. Feeling around the back of his skull, there was a wound. His fingers came back a little bloody. It reminded him of the crushing embrace the Graveler had given him and counted himself lucky. His chest too, was darkening into a bruise beneath his partially torn shirt. The air was getting crisp and his own hot breath hovered before him. The wet clothes did not help his situation.

He sat down on the sidewalk, exhausted, and buried his face in his hands, emptying his mind. Imagining himself alone in the universe, without burden. It took a while. When he looked up, nothing had changed but he felt better. Finally, it occurred to him that there was something else he should be looking for. He wasn't sure until he spotted a street clock. It finally hit him.

It was well past twenty-one. He had asked Samanthe to set up a town-wide gathering at the local auditorium to take place in the evening. There was little doubt that if Samanthe had believed it was the best course of action, she had done as he'd asked.

He was late to the gathering he himself had set up. Forcing himself to stand, he attempted a run, but began to stumble soon after. Where was he even going? He hardly knew where he was, never mind finding the auditorium. Snatching his phone, he checked the map, but it was outdated and locations were sadly unmarked save for an XY coordinate system. The transceiver function picked up only static. Samanthe was unreachable.

Shivering in his wet clothes, he began to feel hopeless. Between the dark roofs of Garden, a purple light flickered in the sky. They were far enough for it to look like a single dot, but Alec knew it was a platoon on its way. Time was running out. There was no avoiding Death now. He walked on, refusing to give up out of sheer stubbornness. It struck him that he recognized the street he was on - to his right was the Cormacs' home. Their windows too, were dark. As he turned the corner, there at last was his saving grace.

"Late to the gathering, I take it?" It was the old doc with the same snarky voice. He was grateful for it now.

He walked into the light and sat down on the bench next to her, sopping wet. She was unperturbed. Calming guitar music played faintly from the phone she'd set on the bench next to her. "Unforseen circumstances are common in my line of work. I take it you voted against the proposal this time around as well." Flies darted around the lamplight.

"I abstained. It's no wonder you're hurt. you're a brazen man and that in itself is not always a virtue." She pierced him with her gaze. "I'm Clara, by the by."

"I need to get to that auditorium. It's urgent," he blurted, but Clara didn't respond. "I'm going to need help."

"I've no doubt. Won't you look ahead for a minute?" Her voice was patient, but firm. He obeyed her and saw the view for the first time. He'd sat with the doctor on this very bench just hours ago, but failed to see the sight before him. The ground sloped down ahead of them. Over the roofs a pretty picture of night presented itself. A gravel road snaked down the hill, accompanied on each side by quaint mountain houses. At the bottom was an old row of buildings he judged to be the main street. Beyond it an open auditorium, flared with limelight. The open air carried murmurs from the sitting crowd straight to his ears.

"I have to hurry," he said, wincing as he got up.

Her arm blocked him. "Wait. Let me see that bruise."

"We don't have much time, lady. Your town is in deep in it," sounding comically serious to himself.

"Catch your breath. We're a patient people."

He relented and opened his shirt. While she checked him over, he stared at the auditorium - which seemed to double as a football field, perhaps a concert venue - trying to count the rows of people. There were indeed at least two hundred and fifty people present. A majority of the town was accounted for, making Samanthe as good as her word.

"Those bruises are going to be with you for a while, but nothing's broken, at least. Come." She stood. "My house is on the way. I'll lend you some clothes."

Five minutes later they were downhill, by her house. The old doctor went inside returned with a neatly folded stack of clothes. Mountaineering boots, a flannel shirt, hunting jacket and hard jeans. "My late Jason used to wear this when he and his boys went huntin' in the forests. Used to be plenty of game around."

The clothes were on the tight side, but they worked. "Thanks, doc."

"I told you, call me Clara. That's the way it is in Garden."

As they neared the venue, she told him about the village which turned out to be valuable info. "You should know about the headman, Buck. You might have seen his house on Babylon Street – that's where the rich folk live. He is the last of the Garden family to reside in the village."

"The village is named after his family."

"Yes. The Gardens go back more than a century. Ol' Buck's great granddady founded the quarry just north of town."

Alec gave a start at that. "I've been there."

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised, but I think I shouldn't be. If you've been there, you must've seen the rock there's unstable. It's a mineral hotbed, supposedly, but there were bad quakes some 20 years back and it's no longer fit for anything."

Alec thought of the yawning hole in the middle of the mining site. He regretted remembering it. It disturbed him and he couldn't place why.

"The Garden estate's still got money. Buck himself owns most of the land around town, but young folk are leaving. I've got two grandsons myself, both of them down the river in Balder. You must have passed it."

"Yeah," it was where he'd picked up Golem at the Ranger Outpost. His heart gave a pang. It was the last time he'd ever pick Golem up.

"Buck's four daughters are there too. Since his Alenna passed away, he's lived in that mansion all by his lonesome. Look at me ramble. I really am an old blabbermouth now," She was looking at the stars as they spoke. The auditorium was in sight now.

"I see. Can you tell me anything about the designated Ranger?"

"Ah, you must mean Herb. Jason and him used to hit up the same tavern back in the day. He's an… interesting man. To be accurate, he's one smart bastard. Honestly, I don't know what to think of him half the time. But good, very competent, not like his lousy apprentice. He was there, leading the men when the beasts attacked us in the night. Next morning, he took off right away to signal help. We're in quite the pickle, alright. We didn't even think you could make a difference after yesterday."

She faced him, as if expecting him to rebut her, but he kept silent. He noted her change of attitude toward him. She must have accepted him as the hope her village needed. He was, after all wearing her dead husband's clothes.

"All we got now is that Berk," she went on. "He's not such a good leader, so Samanthe took his place in organizing patrols around town."

"From what I've seen, she's an important person."

"That's one way of putting it. She's got an eye for business. Owns most all of it in town. Buck trusts her. He lets her lead the council and organize the town."

"She from around here?"

"Yes. Her daddy owned some farms around the countryside, but they went belly-up. After she took over the household, she sold out the land and bought property in town. She just about revitalized Garden, making up a new store and The Hutt on main street. It's a bar with an inn upstairs. Whatever you're planning to do here, she's going to be the one who can make it happen."

He stopped dead in his tracks. They were almost there now. An anxiety had taken hold in his gut. He felt like a choir boy who'd forgotten all his lines before a performance. "I don't know about a plan. I've been to the PDA nesting site. It's bad. We're knee-deep in shit, doc. You were right, there's not much I could have done myself."

Clara's eyes went hard again.

Alec raised a hand. "See that blinking purple light in the sky? It's a helicopter, the head of a formation. I told you about the Death Squad earlier. Your old ranger must have been successful about calling them, because they're almost here. That may or may not have been a good thing he did, but it doesn't matter now. Either way, this town is going to end up the site of a massacre. All that's left is to break the news." He went to the auditorium gates where a group of smokers sat around the entrance, watching their arrival.

"Mr. Alec." She spoke from behind, having paused. "Don't give up on Garden."

"Lady, you don't understand."

"What I understand," she said harshly, "is what you told me earlier. You told me you weren't going to let another tragedy go down on your watch. I've lived my whole life here. If this town were to go up in flames, there would be nothing more for me to live for. What you told me back on that bench was a promise you had made to yourself. Are you going to break your promise now, Mr. Alec?"

Alec took a deep breath. He wanted to turn around and say something, but words didn't matter anymore.

"Thanks for the clothes," he said and dived through the entrance.

Smoke filled his nostrils. Smelled like Garden was a smoking town. His hand pawed his front pocket for the little red box, but patted empty cloth. The box had sunk down to the bottom of river Avard, then a gang of Graveler spilled on top. He was wearing a new shirt now. It was flannel. The jacket was comfortable and so were the boots.

At least I look the part now, he thought, scanning the restless crowd which silenced momentarily as he crossed the field to the portable stage that faced the audience.

Samanthe was addressing the disquieted people, shouting to be heard. Behind her was a row of elders perched on folding chairs. At their head was a big man in a striped brown suit, standing out like shit in the grass.

"I must ask for silence again! I know we're all disquieted and nervous. But we need to stay focused." Her Altaria swooped over the crowd, crying out in assistance. The auditorium obeyed, albeit reluctantly. People were worried and it was not difficult to imagine why. There was a pause as Alec mounted the stage. The heavy man in brown lifted his haunches with energy that betrayed his bulk and shook his hand. "Buck," he said simply.

Alec squeezed firmly as could at that moment. "I'm-"

"The Exterminator, yes," said a neatly-combed man next to Buck.

"You must be the Council, then," said Alec.

"Now, we are." It was Clara. She had come up on stage after Alec and sat on the remaining chair. There was around a dozen folk on the council, all of them seniors.

"I expect there's a reason for your tardiness," said the fart next to Buck.

"Knot that tongue, Casp," said Clara sharply and he did.

Buck cleared his throat. "What that matters is we're all here now. Though I'm afraid introductions will have to wait."

Samanthe glanced back and caught eyes with Alec. The stadium limelights were on. She looked like a singer on stage without a mic. She smiled.

"Now, I'd like to introduce a certain Exterminator who apologizes sincerely for his tardiness. From the looks of him, he's had a hard day, so I'll ask that you respectfully listen to what he has to say. Mr. Alec will propose a plan of action based on what he has seen. The fate of this town depends on him, as it does on this meeting." She withdrew and gave him a nod, then crouched next to Buck who whispered in her ear.

Alec sighed and stepped over.

"Thank you," he said. The auditorium was now completely settled. He let the silence stretch, mostly because he hadn't even decided what he was going to say. It occurred to him an introduction might be pertinent. "My name is Winston Alec. I've been a professional Pest Regulator for over five years. As stated by the woman before me -" Alec realized he did not know how to address her "- I apologize for arriving here so late. I realize you all must be on the edges of your seats. Your home has, after all, been cut away from the world and is in a lot of danger." He spotted the Cormac mother in the crowd. She waved shyly. He found another familiar face too, Berk, giving a disapproving scowl. "I'm here on the payroll of your village council. I was called here about three days ago when the situation had not yet been so dire. I have been the only person who has managed to get inside the village since, as our dear host put it to me, "all hell broke loose"."

"Thank you, Mr. Alec." Said Samanthe. "Now, I'd like to do things in order so we don't get ahead of ourselves. I'll ask you to fulfill the first part of our contract here publicly and lay out your findings. We've all been nervous these past few days, fretting over what the hell is going on. I'm sure everybody here would appreciate to hear a professional opinion."

It seemed a pointless thing now, explaining things as they were. He should be telling all these people to prepare for evacuation. Nothing else would make a difference.

He opened his mouth, then froze. A crazy idea bubbled its way up. Crazy dangerous to be sure, maybe flat out insane. Sometimes, one required drastic measures.

Alec decided to lie.

"The PDAs – Potential Danger Animals – attacking Garden are Graveler. Large, hulking beasts with skins of rock. That much you've known. I imagine some of you have already seen them for yourselves. Nasty pieces of work. They've blocked this town from the outside by boarding up access roads and the antenna, along with the landlines. So far, nobody has come to investigate, or at least nobody has managed to break through. Nobody but me, that is. As far as the world is concerned, we are isolated."

As he finished his sentence, the audience burst into unrest. The final word must have triggered some fear within. Suddenly, all of them wanted to know something. To be reassured, or have their hopes crushed as soon as possible, so the waiting could stop.

A tramping of boot resonated the hollow stage. "Mr Exterminator. Alec. I have a question." The voice was loud. The village people quieted when they saw who it belonged to. Alec turned around and saw it was the neat councilmember, Casp. "And I think everybody will want to hear this. Just how many of these goddamn things are crawling out there?"

The question rang out, and a sharp nothingness followed. The two men's eyes met and stayed, hard and unmoving. So far, everything Alec had told them was true. But in order for today's events to have a chance of playing out in his favor, he had to rig the game.

He recalled the rolling tide of living rock. The yawning abyss strewn with boulders. He saw Golem rolling down the hill broken and dying. Nobody could have seen it but him. "The truth is…" It was painful to say. The results of this one lie could bring down mountains on their asses. He looked behind, saw Clara nod at him. She smiled. The truth is, there are far too many of them. Close to two hundred. I came here with one bastard of a fierce Golem to bring them under control. Hours ago, it was crushed under their thousand legs while we investigated. I managed to herd some dozens straight into the river to drown, but I doubt it even dented their numbers. It's only a question of time till they start running into buildings, knocking them down like dominoes. Run if you can. Take your kids, take the clothes you're wearing, leave the rest and run, run, run!

That's what he wanted to say. Should have said. That was the truth. Instead, he breathed in deep and said this:

"There are at least two nesting sites of Graveler within range. How many there are exactly is impossible to say, as they are scattered around the forests. My current estimates range in the dozens, which is a high, but manageable number. Until I deal with them, all of you need to hunker down in your houses, lay up sandbags, make up barriers of furniture on your roads and lawns. There is a catch, however-"

Just as Alec was about to explain the deal, a voice rang out in the audience. It belonged to a scraggly scarecrow of a woman. She began to scream. "Liar, liar, pants on fire. I seen 'em! I seen 'em in the forests. There was at least a hundred of them I saw up over on Coneing Ridge! They was like a living rock slide, flattening down the trees!"

It was the cry of a shrill madwoman, but it struck a chord with the terrified village folk of Garden. As soon as the woman broke through their thin veneer of confidence, panic erupted in the auditorium. People burst out screaming, or laughing. Some began, more sensibly, to try and voice their concerns, but were overwhelmed by the cacophony. There was a stirring and folk began to move, to stand up from their seats. This was bad. Alec may have been caught in a lie. Under normal circumstances, it would have been his word against one old crazy lady, but normal circumstances these were not. These people felt true fear. Their homes were being invaded. Their hopes relied on a man they couldn't trust. He almost laughed. They would have been lucky if the Graveler numbered only one hundred.

"Excuse me."

There was a mighty clearing of the throat that quelled the air. The next moment it was so quiet Alec could hear a Murkrow squawk. Behind him, the headman had risen his heavy body from his seat, wiping his brow with a handkerchief.

"I'm sure we're all quite panicked. I too, am scared, and believe me." The headman paused for it to set in. "Like many here, I have spent my whole life among these idyllic forests and rocky ridges. But many here will be too young to remember a time when we have faced crisis before. We persevered, even as we lost almost half of our comrades. Tonight, we are faced with another crisis. We shall hear the Exterminator, who I am to understand has quite a bit of renown to his name. There has been talk of escape from Garden, even among the council. To that, I've only one thing to say. I will not leave this town, even if it means my death." And he sat back down with a plop.

A deathly silence stretched the open space. Samanthe gave Alec a look that meant say something. But he could not. Standing tall in front of an entire village, their anger and their hopes balanced on his shoulder, he had not an honest scrap of hope to give them. But there was still the catch.

He clapped his hands together, trying to give off false confidence. "I ask you all to look up in the sky," thrusting his finger skyward. Their gazes followed his hand and he heard whispers as they all spotted the flickering purple dots, which were beginning to resolve into separate entities.

"This is something that has never before been seen in these skies. It is an omen of death. Your main Ranger, the one you call Herb, has been successful in contacting the Ranger Union. They have sent a response team. An efficient, quick, professional team that specializes in destruction. They will evacuate you to the best of their abilities, then they will turn on the flame and this town is done. Nothing but one big, bloody pile of ash."

He waited a moment, gauging their reactions. No panic this time, just silent fear and desperation.

"Some of you may have already seen the results of their work on hushed up internet sources, but I'd wager most of you will have only heard rumors. This is not something the government wants blared from all imaginable speakers. So for now, you will have to trust me. I have a plan. I'm bringing something in. A weapon more ravenous, more horrible, more deadly than all the Graveler in the world. I will bring them to heel, then I will scatter them. But I have to do it before these purple bastards get the go-ahead to trigger their fires."

The scared voice of a young man shot up from the crowd. "But what do you expect us to do?"

Alec stared at the lot of them hard. "You have to stall them."