And off we go, on with the story…
Day 27: ‘But Marcus wouldn’t know that and might think the safe house my primary residence.’
‘But Marcus wouldn’t know that and might think the safe house my primary residence.’ Anna didn’t know if she was just trying to think positively, but she hoped that they thought the small safe house was all she could afford. ‘If they did then they would watch that for my return.’ She walked on. ‘Maybe.’
It was a slim hope that they wouldn’t find her actual apartment. Even though she wanted to return, she took everything that actually meant something to her when she left, so it would not be the end of the world if they did. ‘But it would be nice if they didn’t. So we monitor.’
Anna tried to let her thoughts go, realizing that they were going in circles. She would either go back or she wouldn’t. She would monitor, but be unable to change anything. ‘I just need them not to come after me here.’
Trying to call the matter settled, Anna turned her thoughts to the lost archives and the city where they were located. Once, there were fields surrounding most of the walled cities and they were worked by those who tended the plants in the field and then returned to the city at night. Then new ways of farming took shape. Plants could be grown in controlled environments in doors. The conditions could be maintained so that each type of plant received optimum nutrition. Since the environment was closed the weather could be controlled and seasons artificially created so that plants could be grown and harvested year round. Given that it was a closed environment, there was little need for pesticides as there were no pests in the controlled space. Less water was needed as whatever water the plants didn’t use was collected, purified and recycled. There were no agricultural pollutants going into the worlds water system and less water used reduced the water shortages.
In her studies she learned that like her experimental use of ingredients for her spell craft, the change in farming became a necessity as well. The old ways could not be supported any more so new ways were found. It was in this time that the city and the archives were lost. Disease, drought and famine all hit, one catastrophe following closely on the heels of the others. Graveton was built in an area where even good years kept the residents on their toes. Each year they were balanced, their surplus minimum and usually only enough to get them through one bad year without the support from the other cities.
A decade of bad years all in a row left no breathing room. The city’s population dwindled. Most were too weak to survive the final plague and it’s initial arrival took out many of those that remained. Every time it looked like the sickness was retreating, it circled break bringing another wave of disease and death. Then came the final disaster.
Ten til Midnight 