Chapter 324: Don't you lie!
"Who taught the damned ghouls how to backfill?" The tunnel that led to the crypts had been filled with layers of stone and earth. Not a barrier to workers with high STR and the Dig skill, but annoying. The ghouls came out of the ground from small crevices and crypts constantly. It was suspicious that they had filled an exit in.
Rolly noticed a lot of boot tracks around the hole. "It's almost as if someone came out here and threatened to wipe them out every night."
Layla looked at Billy, who was ignoring her. "Yeah, I'm sure no one did that! Ok, how are we getting in? Dig a new tunnel or look in the crypts for a hole they use?"
Ozzy had taken a few steps into Hungrytown and was sniffing the air.
Rolly stood next to him, doing the same. "I smell coffee."
The Butcher started walking. "I feel like a cup of joe; let's go explore some. If it's a trap, I don't care. I had coffee in Wolfsburg, and it was good, but this smells better." He neglected to mention the bags of beans he had hidden in his bag. Some things were too precious to mention around the Baron. Moving through Hungrytown was slow; the ground was uneven and filled with open graves, broken headstones of stone or wood, and crypts that choked off the open space. Squirmie flew overhead, and Rolly jumped easily from crypt to crypt, pointing out a path as they moved toward the scent. The ghouls were wary, staying back and not attacking.
Their numbers had been thinned considerably by Billy's wrath, and they were cowardly creatures that preferred to attack in overwhelming numbers. They didn't like this group of living creatures, not at all. Seven of them moved through their domain, and all of them had the taint of Butchery. The Baron and Baroness were known to them and hated. The two predators' reputations were fierce; they hunted the Beast Woods and the menagerie and killed any ghoul that wandered into those areas. Two others were less fearsome until the undead got close and saw the radiance and fire. Worst of all was the Butcher. Even Bone Gnawer feared him. The Ghoul Lord had returned but was weak. The Butcher had returned and was stronger. So while the packs of ghouls slowly gathered, none pressed for the attack. They slithered away and warned those below that more dark ones would be needed to keep their hold on Hungrytown.
After half -hour of walking, the scenery changed. They were near the city's edge, where jumbled stone walls formed a perimeter. High on the walls and built against them were rotting stone mansions, tall and thin with empty windows and broken walls. They were separate from the little town below them. A wooden palisade of old planks ran around the town, separating a corner of the city from the endless graveyards. Two wooden gates were open, a muddy track running between them. Inside was a collection of ramshackle buildings that mimicked the mansions above them. Tall and thin, they averaged four stories tall, often reached by ladders and rickety bridges strung between them. The main difference between the brooding gothic mansions and the village made of sticks was apparent at a glance; the village was alive. Lanterns were lit along the main road and on the porches, every house seemed to have. Children played in the dirt, kicking a ball of rags around. Thin women showing too many ribs gathered up their children and took them back to the safety of their homes. The adults lined up in front of their houses holding pitchforks, torches, and rusty knives. Here and there, they saw an axe or sword, but for the most part, these people were poorly armed and scared. Yet the gate was open, and no one moved against the group as they entered. From deep inside, the sound of music could be heard; the twang of a banjo and the thump of a washtub. The smell of brewed coffee was everywhere.
Billy looked around. "Tough crowd."
Layla yelled out, "Anyone know where we can get a cup of coffee?" No one answered. One man, older than the rest, missing a leg, spat on the ground and made a rude gesture at her. The Baroness scowled and turned around. "Let's go kill ghouls, and maybe when I'm done, I'll come back here."
Ben looked at the people. He was amazed that anyone lived here at all. But one thing was obvious. "They're hungry. What do you have in your bag, Ozzy?"
The Butcher checked, "Four large sides of bacon, but one of those is really hot; I don't want to kill folks. Call it three sides of bacon, a half-barrel of sausage, and three hellpig hams. That trip to the empire cleaned me out."
"That'll do. You start pulling it out; I'll warm up the crowd." Ben strode into the center of the street and began to speak in a voice that carried to all the houses nearby. "Greetings! My friends and I came by for a visit and brought some food. How shall we do this? Start up a bonfire, or can some of you help us heat things up?" No one moved at first, and then a woman from a nearby house came forward.
"Are you giving or selling? And if it's free, what strings are hanging off of it?"
Ben nodded and put his hand on his chest. "On my honor, this food is a gift with nothing expected and no strings attached, other than you make sure it is divided fairly."
The one-legged man stumbled forward on his crutch. "Elvira, you don't take nothing from the Baron. Nothing. He doesn't care about us, never has."
Billy was a little putout. "Yeah, what about killing several hundred ghouls? Is that nothing? I'd think you'd appreciate me doing that and coming here to kill more."
A shadow fell across the town like a dark cloud stole the light, and when it passed a moment later, a woman stood in the middle of the street, a dozen steps from Ben and Ozzy. She was old, with a lined face that had seen countless years. She leaned on a walking stick made from a branch of sassafras. Her dress looked like homespun cloth, grey and functional. Her voice was strong and hit Billy and Layla like a whip, making them flinch.
"Don't you lie to these folks, William of ACME! Don't you lie. Go lie to your woman or lie to yourself. But you can't lie to me; I see right through you. You didn't kill those vermin for us; you killed them and will hunt more because you hate them. Bone Gnawer scared you and hurt your pride. He threatened your authority, and for that, you want his kind wiped out. Well and good, I have no use for the dead that crawl and hunt my children. But you will not claim a favor from us for what you did for your own pride. I won't have it!"
Billy and Layla were rooted to the spot, unable to move. Layla whispered to him, "Bloody hell! That is one scary old woman."
"Damn right. I wonder if she'd consider working for ACME?"
"I worry that we may be working for her. I don't think she has much respect for our positions."
"No, no, she doesn't. And I'm ok with that right now."
Suzette stepped forward. "No one likes ghouls, ma'am. But I don't like seeing hungry kids. Can we at least offer you the food we've brought?
The woman smiled at her. "Of course, you can, child. None of you four is pure as the driven snow, but who is? Treat my people fairly, leave deceit at the gate, and we'll get along fine. Bring that food along to my kitchen. I have some things we can add to it and then put it all on the table for these hungry children."
She turned to Ozzy and raised an eyebrow. "And what took you so long to come to visit? You aren't so big that I can't take you over my knee if I choose. Next time I invite you over for morning coffee, don't take so long." His three friends were treated to the sight of Ozzy having nothing to say. He finally recovered and said, "Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am."
She nodded. "Toss it on the wind and forget about it. I forgive you. Now let's go cook. I can see that all of you know how. Food on the table and then coffee and some talk." Then all nodded.
People came forward to help carry the food in much better spirits. The old woman turned to Billy and Layla. "Your choice. You can leave, or you can come to dinner. But you aren't coming as Baron and Baroness; you've done nothing good for this town in an age and caused much pain. No Baron, Baroness, or anyone who hurt my children will be allowed in my gate. If William and Layla want to come, leave your egos at the door, and tell no lies."
They both nodded, dumped weapons, shields, and fancy cloaks into Ozzy's bag, and joined the group. She looked at them and nodded again. "Oh, and you'll be doing the dishes. I hope those lilly white hands can stand a little lye soap."
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