1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:09,700 Speaker 1: [gentle music] 2 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: Everhouse. 3 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,860 Speaker 1: Prologue. SRO Central Mail Office. 4 00:00:58,340 --> 00:01:03,940 Speaker 1: The Sewing Room Outskirts Central Mail Office was barely controlled chaos. 5 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:10,460 Speaker 1: The operation had outgrown this three-room area a decade ago. Now it unofficially 6 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: stretched across 200 rooms. The rooms' official occupants had mostly 7 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 1: vacated. There were a few holdouts, though, people who ate breakfast and read books 8 00:01:22,060 --> 00:01:27,740 Speaker 1: while the business of mail was done around them. One old man continued, despite 9 00:01:27,820 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: every insistence from their people, to use the toilet of one of the mail receiving 10 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:38,460 Speaker 1: rooms. The room was officially allotted to him, after all. That could be fixed with 11 00:01:38,500 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: the stroke of a pen. The people of Inner House couldn't even be bothered to lift a 12 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: pen to help them, though. How hard was it to lift a pen? Well, things didn't 13 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: stop in the Outskirts just because of that. If there was a problem, they either 14 00:01:53,420 --> 00:01:59,380 Speaker 1: worked around it, or if they could, they flat out ignored it. Yes, things kept 15 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:04,580 Speaker 1: moving in the Outskirts, one way or another. It was wild here, but it was alive. 16 00:02:05,700 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: Ebenezer Credence pulled the next crate of letters off the stack and onto his desk. 17 00:02:10,900 --> 00:02:15,660 Speaker 1: The heavy crate thumped against the desk. Ebenezer prepared his mind for the mental 18 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,340 Speaker 1: load. You had to warm up for things like this. 19 00:02:20,340 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 1: Other people with similar-looking crates in their arms raced around through the 20 00:02:24,140 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: routing office. A look of fragile panic accompanied each of them. One slip-up and 21 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,580 Speaker 1: the mountain of mail they'd failed to deliver might come crashing down on them. 22 00:02:34,780 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: Ebenezer pulled the first letter out of the crate and examined it. It was written in 23 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: a beautiful flowing script. The envelope itself read, "From Maple Rooms, 24 00:02:45,580 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: Sitting Room District South, Courtyards. To Office of Outskirt 25 00:02:51,140 --> 00:02:55,500 Speaker 1: Protection, Governance District, The Emerald Halls." 26 00:02:55,540 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: [whistles] Must be an important letter. 27 00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:06,780 Speaker 1: Jonas sat down at the desk next to Ebenezer, shaking the room. The sound of his 28 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:11,740 Speaker 1: breathing pulled him away from the letter. "Another day in paradise, right?" 29 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:18,700 Speaker 1: "Yeah. Grace quit. You heard that, right?" "Of course I heard that. You could hear 30 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:23,220 Speaker 1: that a dozen rooms away. They wanted her to work the replenishment. I would have 31 00:03:23,300 --> 00:03:28,980 Speaker 1: quit, too." "When's that?" "Replenishment? Tomorrow, Eb. Maker's 32 00:03:29,180 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: hand, how many shifts have you worked?" His vision drifted to the hallway beside 33 00:03:34,820 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: him. The crates of mail were stacked so high that there was little room to walk 34 00:03:39,380 --> 00:03:44,660 Speaker 1: anymore. The tightening maze of crates only added to the hum of anxiety around them. 35 00:03:44,660 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: "A couple. [sighs] I'll catch the next replenishment." But 36 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: Jonas was already in his own world. He'd pulled his own letters out of a crate and 37 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:59,660 Speaker 1: started haphazardly sorting them into slots, only slowing to actually read the 38 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:05,220 Speaker 1: destinations when somebody wandered by their desks. Hopefully none of those letters 39 00:04:05,260 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: were important. Ebenezer looked down at the letter in his hands again. It was a 40 00:04:11,100 --> 00:04:15,900 Speaker 1: shame about that pretty handwriting. This was as far as that letter would go in the 41 00:04:15,940 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: envelope they'd used. Nothing reached The Emerald Halls without his supervisor's 42 00:04:20,820 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: personal stamp. It would get vetted like that through two more routing offices. So 43 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: naturally, he tore it open and read the contents. "To the 44 00:04:32,660 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: bureaucrat ignoring our letters. It has been six months since my first letter, and 45 00:04:38,460 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: you still haven't responded. We're desperate. Is anyone even reading these? 46 00:04:44,540 --> 00:04:50,100 Speaker 1: If you are, know this: 65 people still live here. That's 47 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 1: 65 people's blood on your hands. Whoever you are, please send 48 00:04:56,700 --> 00:05:02,140 Speaker 1: help. Lightslingers. We need lightslingers. The infection is out of 49 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 1: control. We have the children barricaded at night. The Sprawl are starting to 50 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: walk." "Hey, Eb." Ebenezer looked up from his letter. Jonas was 51 00:05:14,180 --> 00:05:20,060 Speaker 1: pointing at a pen on the ground. "Hey, can you get that for me?" Ebenezer bent 52 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: over and picked up the pen, then went back to reading his letter. "The Sprawl are 53 00:05:26,220 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 1: starting to walk. Nothing bigger than an end table, yet. We can't solve this 54 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:37,300 Speaker 1: with perimeter lamps. They eat the damn lamps. That's what kind of infestation we're 55 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:43,180 Speaker 1: talking about here. It's not just the Maple Rooms either. Every neighborhood around 56 00:05:43,220 --> 00:05:49,180 Speaker 1: here is overwhelmed. Last week, we got more lamps. We don't need more lamps. We 57 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:55,100 Speaker 1: need lightslingers. Nothing else will help. If you even pretend to care about the 58 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: Courtyards, you'll send help. Marcy Felt Chair." 59 00:06:01,392 --> 00:06:06,272 Speaker 1: Ebenezer set the letter down and scratched his chin. This letter wasn't going 60 00:06:06,332 --> 00:06:11,792 Speaker 1: anywhere. It wasn't even stamped by a local mail office. By all rights, he should 61 00:06:11,812 --> 00:06:13,612 Speaker 1: throw it straight into the trash can. 62 00:06:15,192 --> 00:06:19,352 Speaker 1: Then Heather walked by and handed each routing clerk a little card of their work 63 00:06:19,452 --> 00:06:24,572 Speaker 1: schedule on it. Ebenezer originally had tomorrow off. Looked like that plan had 64 00:06:24,652 --> 00:06:29,852 Speaker 1: changed. Crushed beneath the ever-growing mountain of mail from the Outskirts, 65 00:06:30,492 --> 00:06:35,952 Speaker 1: just like everything else. Next to him, Jonas pounded his desk 66 00:06:36,032 --> 00:06:41,852 Speaker 1: furiously. "Replenishment. Eb, they've got me working replenishment now." "The 67 00:06:41,932 --> 00:06:47,392 Speaker 1: food'll still be there when you get off." "It's not about the food. It's about the 68 00:06:47,472 --> 00:06:53,352 Speaker 1: principle of it. Don't you get that?" "You just wanna read all day." "And 69 00:06:53,392 --> 00:06:58,492 Speaker 1: what's wrong with that? I'd love to read all day." "Then pick up a letter and get to 70 00:06:58,572 --> 00:07:04,372 Speaker 1: work." "No. No, I'm done with this." With effort, 71 00:07:04,852 --> 00:07:09,952 Speaker 1: Jonas got up and started to walk away. He started to walk down the narrow hallway to 72 00:07:09,992 --> 00:07:15,932 Speaker 1: their left, then realizing he wouldn't fit, began to turn around. Then a grin 73 00:07:16,152 --> 00:07:22,072 Speaker 1: spread across his face. "Oh, no." He turned back around and 74 00:07:22,292 --> 00:07:28,112 Speaker 1: pushed his way down the hallway lined with crates of mail, holding one arm out and 75 00:07:28,292 --> 00:07:34,012 Speaker 1: knocking down the towers of boxes as he passed. "Oh, no, no, no, no." 76 00:07:35,012 --> 00:07:40,572 Speaker 1: The mountain came crashing down, and Jonas kept walking. Eventually, the 77 00:07:40,652 --> 00:07:44,912 Speaker 1: cascade of mail grew too thick, and the big man was left flailing in the river of 78 00:07:44,972 --> 00:07:50,132 Speaker 1: boxes and letters. People rushed out with hands on their heads. Tears were already 79 00:07:50,192 --> 00:07:54,532 Speaker 1: flowing. Someone started screaming at Jonas, hitting him with a rolled up piece of 80 00:07:54,592 --> 00:07:59,772 Speaker 1: paper. It was their supervisor, Maryanne. The man squirmed around on the ground, 81 00:07:59,952 --> 00:08:05,612 Speaker 1: unable to extract himself from the mess, shielding his face. And Ebenezer just 82 00:08:05,732 --> 00:08:11,512 Speaker 1: stood there, watching it all in shock. It would take them a month to clean that up. 83 00:08:12,192 --> 00:08:16,212 Speaker 1: Forget about cleaning it up. It would take three more months to organize it all 84 00:08:16,272 --> 00:08:22,192 Speaker 1: again. Nothing was going out until they finished. Then he glanced down at 85 00:08:22,232 --> 00:08:26,972 Speaker 1: the letter on his desk. Maryanne continued to swat at the helpless Jonas with her 86 00:08:27,032 --> 00:08:32,412 Speaker 1: paper club. Her office was left open, though. The supervisor's stamp would be in the 87 00:08:32,492 --> 00:08:38,412 Speaker 1: top desk drawer. Ebenezer supposed that one more letter might make it out, 88 00:08:39,132 --> 00:08:44,492 Speaker 1: if he hurried. While everyone was distracted, he readdressed and sealed the letter, 89 00:08:44,852 --> 00:08:48,972 Speaker 1: stamping it with the supervisor's stamp and a few other stamps that looked pretty 90 00:08:49,032 --> 00:08:54,212 Speaker 1: important. Ebenezer personally dropped the letter into the mail runner's bag before 91 00:08:54,252 --> 00:09:00,212 Speaker 1: returning to his desk. Jonas had finally made it out. In his wake, only a 92 00:09:00,292 --> 00:09:05,312 Speaker 1: few mail workers with stunned looks on their face stood on the now literal mountain 93 00:09:05,352 --> 00:09:10,272 Speaker 1: of mail, picking up letters and putting them back into crates, one at a time, 94 00:09:10,732 --> 00:09:15,892 Speaker 1: without much zeal. Ebenezer sat down and picked up another letter out of his crate 95 00:09:16,312 --> 00:09:22,112 Speaker 1: and got back to work. Things kept moving in the Outskirts, one way or another. 96 00:09:22,112 --> 00:09:35,532 Speaker 1: [gentle music] 97 00:09:35,592 --> 00:09:40,592 Speaker 1: Chapter One: Maple Rooms, Population 65. 98 00:09:43,292 --> 00:09:48,052 Speaker 1: Marcy reached out to grab Trent. She missed the grab, but he stopped anyway, took 99 00:09:48,112 --> 00:09:53,972 Speaker 1: off his hat, and squinted at her. "Let someone else join the patrol tonight. You've 100 00:09:54,032 --> 00:09:59,632 Speaker 1: done more than your fair share. Elias could stand to lose a few more rooms. You're 101 00:09:59,692 --> 00:10:05,592 Speaker 1: doing the man a favor." "I know that, Marce, but you know I can't turn my back on a 102 00:10:05,652 --> 00:10:10,212 Speaker 1: neighbor." "You can when that neighbor is Elias." 103 00:10:11,692 --> 00:10:17,552 Speaker 1: Elias had the allotment for almost 300 rooms. It made up more than half of 104 00:10:17,612 --> 00:10:23,112 Speaker 1: tonight's patrol route. A dozen of those rooms were larders. Never mind that most of 105 00:10:23,151 --> 00:10:27,692 Speaker 1: them were cobbed over at the moment. That wasn't anyone's fault, and it certainly 106 00:10:27,732 --> 00:10:33,092 Speaker 1: wasn't their problem. Trent placed one hand on her growing belly and flashed those 107 00:10:33,132 --> 00:10:38,472 Speaker 1: brilliant white teeth. Marcy fought her own smile. This man was 108 00:10:38,552 --> 00:10:43,652 Speaker 1: insufferable. He was going to get his way. Somehow, he always did. 109 00:10:44,512 --> 00:10:49,572 Speaker 1: And rot him. He always managed to make it look like the right thing to do, too. 110 00:10:50,512 --> 00:10:56,312 Speaker 1: Trent Murdoch stepped closer and pulled Marcy into a gentle hug. "I keep my 111 00:10:56,372 --> 00:11:02,372 Speaker 1: promises, which is why I'm going." "You promised me a Maker's pie 112 00:11:02,452 --> 00:11:08,272 Speaker 1: tomorrow. Can't get it if you're dead." "One magic pie by tomorrow 113 00:11:08,352 --> 00:11:13,012 Speaker 1: morning. Nothing in all of Everhouse could stop me. I promise." 114 00:11:14,952 --> 00:11:20,272 Speaker 1: The pie was not actually magic. It was a silly tradition, but tradition 115 00:11:20,332 --> 00:11:25,992 Speaker 1: nonetheless. There was nothing special about it, an old wives' tale. It was no more 116 00:11:26,092 --> 00:11:31,212 Speaker 1: special than any other food that appeared in the replenishment. But Grace had eaten 117 00:11:31,272 --> 00:11:36,652 Speaker 1: that pie and gone straight into labor the next evening. Maker knew she wanted to be 118 00:11:36,712 --> 00:11:41,552 Speaker 1: done with this pregnancy, so he'd better go find that pie, and he'd better not do 119 00:11:41,592 --> 00:11:46,892 Speaker 1: anything stupid in the meantime. Trent had a tendency to find trouble and 120 00:11:46,932 --> 00:11:51,852 Speaker 1: deliberately place himself in the center of it. There were reasons they lived in the 121 00:11:51,892 --> 00:11:57,772 Speaker 1: middle of nowhere. Some of that trouble had followed Trent home. Their little family 122 00:11:57,892 --> 00:12:03,632 Speaker 1: was still whole, though, for now. What would she do out here, 123 00:12:04,512 --> 00:12:09,832 Speaker 1: all alone? Well, it didn't matter. He just needed to come back. 124 00:12:09,832 --> 00:12:15,632 Speaker 1: "But seriously, be careful. You're more important than Elias 125 00:12:15,732 --> 00:12:21,652 Speaker 1: losing a few more rooms." She kissed him, and then her fool of a husband finally 126 00:12:21,712 --> 00:12:27,472 Speaker 1: left. [door closing] Trent closed the door to their bedroom, 127 00:12:27,952 --> 00:12:32,132 Speaker 1: leaving Marcy alone. He wiggled the doorknob just to make sure it was actually 128 00:12:32,192 --> 00:12:37,892 Speaker 1: closed. It wasn't locked. A person could just turn the knob to open it, but it 129 00:12:37,952 --> 00:12:42,392 Speaker 1: wasn't people he was worried about. [door creaking] Trent checked the door again, 130 00:12:42,712 --> 00:12:47,792 Speaker 1: shaking it in the frame. It was solid. You could always tell which doors the maker 131 00:12:47,832 --> 00:12:51,432 Speaker 1: had placed themself. They had a permanence to them. 132 00:12:51,432 --> 00:12:57,292 Speaker 1: [footsteps] Trent moved from room to room, closing doors as he went, 133 00:12:57,372 --> 00:13:01,932 Speaker 1: until he got to the outermost door of their allotment. The front door was painted a 134 00:13:01,992 --> 00:13:07,752 Speaker 1: cerulean blue, Marcy's choice. He wanted an amber color to mark their rooms, but 135 00:13:07,832 --> 00:13:13,672 Speaker 1: marriage was all about compromise, so he'd been told. Funny how he was always the 136 00:13:13,752 --> 00:13:15,992 Speaker 1: one to compromise on matters of the home. 137 00:13:17,572 --> 00:13:22,372 Speaker 1: It wasn't because he didn't have an opinion on colors or furniture or art. 138 00:13:23,652 --> 00:13:28,812 Speaker 1: It was because it was not really a compromise at all. Trent Murdock already had 139 00:13:28,892 --> 00:13:34,092 Speaker 1: everything he needed, his own little corner of Everhouse and a wonderful, 140 00:13:34,812 --> 00:13:40,372 Speaker 1: patient, kind-hearted wife, and soon a baby. 141 00:13:42,052 --> 00:13:45,792 Speaker 1: He checked the cerulean front door again. [door creaking] It didn't matter that it 142 00:13:45,832 --> 00:13:51,312 Speaker 1: was cerulean and not amber. It only mattered that it was theirs. Trent looked down 143 00:13:51,372 --> 00:13:56,432 Speaker 1: the long hallway. It was dotted here and there with unpainted doors, signifying that 144 00:13:56,512 --> 00:14:02,232 Speaker 1: no person lived there. Those rooms didn't belong to Trent and Marcy. All 23 145 00:14:02,292 --> 00:14:07,632 Speaker 1: rooms in their allotment were behind this blue door. One way in, one way out. 146 00:14:08,372 --> 00:14:09,572 Speaker 1: That was how he liked it. 147 00:14:11,092 --> 00:14:17,012 Speaker 1: Some people, like Elias, thought more rooms was always better. Trent thought 148 00:14:17,052 --> 00:14:21,612 Speaker 1: the value of an allotment was not in how many rooms it had, but how many rooms were 149 00:14:21,652 --> 00:14:26,232 Speaker 1: between you and everyone else. [footsteps] It was a 10-minute walk to their nearest 150 00:14:26,312 --> 00:14:31,452 Speaker 1: neighbor, and that felt just right to him. The hallway outside their allotment was 151 00:14:31,552 --> 00:14:37,392 Speaker 1: lit up like a courtyard bonfire. Lanterns hung above every doorway. Not the 152 00:14:37,492 --> 00:14:43,332 Speaker 1: giant gloom banes, but still pretty big. Trent started making his 153 00:14:43,372 --> 00:14:48,932 Speaker 1: way to the meetup point. He ran his hand along the hallway as he walked. He admired 154 00:14:48,972 --> 00:14:53,632 Speaker 1: the smooth maple paneling for which the maple rooms had been named. There had been 155 00:14:53,752 --> 00:14:57,752 Speaker 1: 1,000 outskirt neighborhoods they could have settled, but the description of this 156 00:14:57,812 --> 00:15:03,332 Speaker 1: place and its ubiquitous paneling in a newspaper ad had won him over. He still 157 00:15:03,392 --> 00:15:09,132 Speaker 1: remembered the ad. "Like being replenished every time I step outside my 158 00:15:09,192 --> 00:15:14,672 Speaker 1: front door. I feel free here." It hadn't felt like that 159 00:15:14,732 --> 00:15:20,432 Speaker 1: lately. Trent looked at each hanging lantern as he passed. [door creaking] He had to 160 00:15:20,492 --> 00:15:25,072 Speaker 1: fight the urge not to check their oil levels, to make sure the doors beneath them 161 00:15:25,112 --> 00:15:30,912 Speaker 1: were closed tight. He had to fight that terrible fear of leaving Marcy alone, so 162 00:15:31,012 --> 00:15:36,232 Speaker 1: far away from anyone. Isolation had its downsides. 163 00:15:37,732 --> 00:15:43,132 Speaker 1: Trent followed the cerulean line painted on the floor. The path lines were mostly 164 00:15:43,172 --> 00:15:47,932 Speaker 1: for children and guests to find their way around the new neighborhood. Not that 165 00:15:47,972 --> 00:15:53,452 Speaker 1: they'd had a guest in a long time, but Trent often found himself using them just to 166 00:15:53,512 --> 00:15:58,772 Speaker 1: free up his mind to wander. As he walked, a thin yellow line joined the cerulean 167 00:15:58,852 --> 00:16:03,572 Speaker 1: line at an intersection. His nearest neighbors, the Iron Basins, lived in that 168 00:16:03,612 --> 00:16:07,692 Speaker 1: direction. If you followed the line, it would take you straight to their front door. 169 00:16:07,692 --> 00:16:11,612 Speaker 1: [door creaking] At the next intersection, three more lines of color joined the 170 00:16:11,692 --> 00:16:17,152 Speaker 1: others. He kept following the rainbow of path lines until he reached a door leading 171 00:16:17,212 --> 00:16:22,631 Speaker 1: to the neighborhood's central courtyard, the patrol meeting place. He stepped out 172 00:16:22,712 --> 00:16:27,691 Speaker 1: into the night air and lifted his head to bask in it. The smell of withering plants 173 00:16:27,732 --> 00:16:33,212 Speaker 1: hit his nose. They would pop back up to life in tomorrow's replenishment, though. He 174 00:16:33,312 --> 00:16:37,812 Speaker 1: loved that potent, fragrant smell right after a replenishment. 175 00:16:39,512 --> 00:16:43,892 Speaker 1: Trent looked around. Central Courtyard was the largest and most impressive in the 176 00:16:43,972 --> 00:16:48,932 Speaker 1: area. Elias had actually tried to include this in his allotment, but fortunately, 177 00:16:48,992 --> 00:16:53,172 Speaker 1: the government had made the right call for once and made this a common space 178 00:16:53,232 --> 00:16:59,012 Speaker 1: instead. There were three tiers of manicured gardens connected by winding stone 179 00:16:59,092 --> 00:17:04,492 Speaker 1: paths dotted by cozy little seating areas. A large brass bell stood on wooden 180 00:17:04,552 --> 00:17:08,372 Speaker 1: supports in the middle of the courtyard. [door creaking] It was totally dark. 181 00:17:09,052 --> 00:17:13,232 Speaker 1: Besides the faint burbling of a water fixture, it was silent as well. 182 00:17:14,372 --> 00:17:19,892 Speaker 1: So was he going on patrol solo? That seemed like 183 00:17:19,972 --> 00:17:25,952 Speaker 1: exactly the kind of thing Marcy had warned him not to do. A door opened across the 184 00:17:26,012 --> 00:17:31,812 Speaker 1: courtyard. Lantern light cast a red-orange semicircle on the dark stone. A man with 185 00:17:31,872 --> 00:17:36,932 Speaker 1: thick spectacles peeked out, glanced up at the open dark sky, and then ducked back 186 00:17:36,972 --> 00:17:42,912 Speaker 1: into the room quickly. Murdock smiled to himself and started walking. He knew 187 00:17:42,952 --> 00:17:47,872 Speaker 1: the man, and he could do worse for a patrol partner. Eh, could do better too, 188 00:17:48,092 --> 00:17:52,352 Speaker 1: actually. He pulled open the door, and the spectacled man scrambled backwards, 189 00:17:52,572 --> 00:17:56,852 Speaker 1: nearly dropping his lantern on the ground. "Maker's jewels, Trent. 190 00:17:58,632 --> 00:17:59,352 Speaker 1: You scared me." 191 00:18:01,152 --> 00:18:07,072 Speaker 1: Frederick Tilemaster, Freddy to people who knew him, squinted up at Trent, 192 00:18:07,292 --> 00:18:12,412 Speaker 1: then looked around. "No one else? There were 10 of us on the patrol schedule." 193 00:18:13,676 --> 00:18:18,176 Speaker 1: Trent just slapped him jovially on the back. "Then that means we'll do the work of 194 00:18:18,236 --> 00:18:23,536 Speaker 1: 10 and give 'em a hard time tomorrow, right, Freddy?" "Oh, that's gonna take all 195 00:18:23,596 --> 00:18:29,016 Speaker 1: night." "Well, I guess we could split up and do it in half the time." 196 00:18:29,056 --> 00:18:34,896 Speaker 1: "Yeah, right. It's already late. I guess the two of us will have to do." 197 00:18:36,636 --> 00:18:41,436 Speaker 1: Freddy waited for Trent to lead the way. Trent just smiled and tipped his hat, 198 00:18:41,516 --> 00:18:47,036 Speaker 1: though. Freddy had to know he wouldn't go first. Trent sometimes did 199 00:18:47,096 --> 00:18:52,756 Speaker 1: things he didn't bother to explain to others. "Never be the first into a room, 200 00:18:52,956 --> 00:18:58,616 Speaker 1: and always be the last out," he remembered his father saying. His father had been 201 00:18:58,676 --> 00:19:04,336 Speaker 1: part of the last generation of wanderers, and there was a knowledge there. And while 202 00:19:04,416 --> 00:19:09,076 Speaker 1: Trent had spent most of his life in the very civilized parts of Everhouse, he had 203 00:19:09,136 --> 00:19:14,296 Speaker 1: inherited his father's cautious nature. It had given him a code to live by. 204 00:19:15,116 --> 00:19:19,516 Speaker 1: It wasn't his cleverness or his bravery that kept Marcy and him alive way out here, 205 00:19:20,116 --> 00:19:25,736 Speaker 1: and soon their baby. It was diligence, the willingness to do the critical 206 00:19:26,096 --> 00:19:31,756 Speaker 1: but mundane and frankly boring work that made life in the outskirts possible, 207 00:19:32,736 --> 00:19:38,416 Speaker 1: like participating in a neighborhood patrol, a joyous community affair in civilized 208 00:19:38,476 --> 00:19:44,476 Speaker 1: parts, little more than a gossipy tour of allotments. Out here in the outskirts, 209 00:19:44,556 --> 00:19:49,756 Speaker 1: though, the tradition meant something, at least if you didn't want your feet eaten 210 00:19:49,876 --> 00:19:50,936 Speaker 1: off in your sleep. 211 00:19:52,516 --> 00:19:58,216 Speaker 1: With any luck, it would be a quiet night for patrol. They followed the dotted gray 212 00:19:58,316 --> 00:20:03,376 Speaker 1: path line out of the central courtyard and down a hallway in the direction of the 213 00:20:03,416 --> 00:20:08,256 Speaker 1: neighborhood limits. Normally, a larger patrol party could just split up and cover 214 00:20:08,296 --> 00:20:13,836 Speaker 1: the entire perimeter in a few hours. When they got to the end of the dotted line, it 215 00:20:13,996 --> 00:20:19,276 Speaker 1: split off in two directions, two dark hallways reaching into the abyss of 216 00:20:19,356 --> 00:20:25,336 Speaker 1: Everhouse. "What do you think? Counterclockwise?" "Sure. Hope you 217 00:20:25,376 --> 00:20:27,516 Speaker 1: brought coffee, though. It's gonna be a late night." 218 00:20:29,136 --> 00:20:33,976 Speaker 1: "Coffee? I wish. I haven't had coffee in months. It's always gone from the one 219 00:20:34,036 --> 00:20:39,596 Speaker 1: pantry I go to." "Shame. I know where the good stuff is." "Wait, 220 00:20:39,816 --> 00:20:45,776 Speaker 1: seriously? Tell me." [laughs] "Give up my secret spot? I don't 221 00:20:45,836 --> 00:20:51,436 Speaker 1: think so." "Is it that powdered stuff?" "No, sir. Whole 222 00:20:51,496 --> 00:20:57,096 Speaker 1: bean. Guatemalan." "What does that mean?" "No 223 00:20:57,216 --> 00:21:03,136 Speaker 1: idea, but it tastes divine." Trent tipped his hat back, letting it fall 224 00:21:03,196 --> 00:21:07,256 Speaker 1: off his head and be caught by the string around his neck. There was no reason to 225 00:21:07,296 --> 00:21:12,136 Speaker 1: wear a hat at night, but it seemed wrong not to have one. It was courtyards, after 226 00:21:12,196 --> 00:21:18,136 Speaker 1: all. It was practically uniform out here. He took a sip of water from his canteen 227 00:21:18,196 --> 00:21:23,576 Speaker 1: and listened to the yawning creaks of Everhouse around him. "I'll trade you for it." 228 00:21:23,596 --> 00:21:29,276 Speaker 1: "Hmm, another gathering spot?" "No, no, not information. Something 229 00:21:29,356 --> 00:21:30,316 Speaker 1: way cooler." 230 00:21:32,236 --> 00:21:36,756 Speaker 1: They both squatted down, and Freddy looked around to make sure no one was watching. 231 00:21:37,496 --> 00:21:42,456 Speaker 1: Trent couldn't help but crack a smile. He was always showing off some new piece of 232 00:21:42,496 --> 00:21:47,236 Speaker 1: his collection to anyone who'd listen. It was always some incredible prize to 233 00:21:47,296 --> 00:21:52,176 Speaker 1: Freddy, but just junk to everyone else. Between him and Phil, there was enough junk 234 00:21:52,236 --> 00:21:58,096 Speaker 1: to fill 100 rooms, maybe more. "I think we're alone." Freddy pulled the pack off his 235 00:21:58,136 --> 00:22:04,116 Speaker 1: shoulders and rummaged around inside. Then he pulled out something heavy, metal, and 236 00:22:04,196 --> 00:22:10,056 Speaker 1: wrapped in cloth. He set it down with a clunk on the wooden floor. Trent let 237 00:22:10,096 --> 00:22:14,616 Speaker 1: his hand hover over the thing for a second, then he pulled the handkerchief back, 238 00:22:14,876 --> 00:22:20,516 Speaker 1: and his jaw dropped. A long silver gun with cherry paneling on the 239 00:22:20,576 --> 00:22:25,856 Speaker 1: grip. Intricate etchings along the barrel spelled out one of the codes, 240 00:22:26,756 --> 00:22:32,636 Speaker 1: the lightslinger's codes. The etchings on this one read, "Hope for 241 00:22:32,696 --> 00:22:33,656 Speaker 1: the hopeless." 242 00:22:35,236 --> 00:22:40,776 Speaker 1: It was beautiful and terrible. Trent 243 00:22:40,856 --> 00:22:45,596 Speaker 1: exhaled slowly, reverently. "Frederick 244 00:22:45,716 --> 00:22:51,396 Speaker 1: Dialmaster." "Yeah?" "They could kill you for touching 245 00:22:51,456 --> 00:22:57,316 Speaker 1: this, for stealing it." "What? No way. It doesn't even work. No one even knows 246 00:22:57,396 --> 00:23:03,256 Speaker 1: it's here." "Where'd you get it?" "I traded for it, just like I'm 247 00:23:03,316 --> 00:23:09,216 Speaker 1: doing now." "There's no way I'm trading for that." "Come on, it's a piece of 248 00:23:09,296 --> 00:23:15,096 Speaker 1: history, even if it doesn't work." "I know what they are, and I know 249 00:23:15,156 --> 00:23:18,536 Speaker 1: what Innerhouse does to people who shouldn't have one." 250 00:23:20,236 --> 00:23:24,456 Speaker 1: Freddy just shrugged and wrapped up the big silver gun and put it back in his bag. 251 00:23:25,356 --> 00:23:31,116 Speaker 1: Trent put away his canteen and put the hat back on his head. "Now, you don't share 252 00:23:31,176 --> 00:23:35,836 Speaker 1: this, you hear? But check the top cupboards in the blue sitting room next to the 253 00:23:35,896 --> 00:23:41,856 Speaker 1: central courtyard. There's two tins of Guatemalan in there." "Seriously?" 254 00:23:42,456 --> 00:23:45,516 Speaker 1: "Eh, the best-kept secrets are hidden in plain sight, aren't they?" 255 00:23:47,036 --> 00:23:51,836 Speaker 1: Freddy pulled his pack on, adjusted his spectacles, and smiled. "Thanks, Trent. 256 00:23:52,116 --> 00:23:57,096 Speaker 1: You're telling me for free?" "No, there's a price." "Yeah? What's that?" 257 00:23:58,176 --> 00:24:03,756 Speaker 1: "You're gonna get rid of that thing." "The light revolver? It's an artifact." 258 00:24:03,756 --> 00:24:08,136 Speaker 1: "It's bad news. Trash it and forget about it." " 259 00:24:08,136 --> 00:24:13,076 Speaker 1: [sighs] Fine. It's not like it works anyway." 260 00:24:14,436 --> 00:24:19,016 Speaker 1: They started their patrol and made small talk about their favorite gathering spots, 261 00:24:19,756 --> 00:24:25,646 Speaker 1: following the path line of the neighborhood limits. They had standard, if slightly 262 00:24:25,706 --> 00:24:31,426 Speaker 1: more robust, defenses. Each room with more than one exit was fitted with a giant 263 00:24:31,506 --> 00:24:37,406 Speaker 1: gloom bane, huge oil lanterns that stood sentry against the sprawl. They were 264 00:24:37,426 --> 00:24:42,806 Speaker 1: their best and only defense. These lanterns were what made life 265 00:24:42,866 --> 00:24:45,506 Speaker 1: possible at the edge of the civilized world. 266 00:24:47,386 --> 00:24:53,326 Speaker 1: For 30 minutes they walked, their conversation low, smelling the air, looking 267 00:24:53,386 --> 00:24:58,746 Speaker 1: down dark hallways and into empty rooms. And then their 268 00:24:58,806 --> 00:25:04,466 Speaker 1: conversation died when they found a large, dark room. 269 00:25:06,266 --> 00:25:11,086 Speaker 1: The two of them stood at the doorway, staring into the black, then shared a 270 00:25:11,126 --> 00:25:16,646 Speaker 1: concerned look. Trent took the small oil lantern off Freddy's pack and lit it with a 271 00:25:16,706 --> 00:25:21,766 Speaker 1: match, then lifted the light into the room. The gloom bane in the center of the room 272 00:25:21,806 --> 00:25:27,345 Speaker 1: was on its side, a large pool of dark liquid spread across the floor next to it. 273 00:25:28,406 --> 00:25:33,886 Speaker 1: It's just a little darkness, Trent. Nothing to be afraid of. Just a little darkness. 274 00:25:34,586 --> 00:25:39,806 Speaker 1: He set his jaw and stepped into the room. It wasn't that large, with only three 275 00:25:39,906 --> 00:25:45,726 Speaker 1: exits. Sloppy black X's had been painted across two of the doors. The gray 276 00:25:45,846 --> 00:25:50,286 Speaker 1: line marking the Maple Room neighborhood limits ran under one of those crossed-out 277 00:25:50,366 --> 00:25:50,766 Speaker 1: doors. 278 00:25:52,386 --> 00:25:58,126 Speaker 1: The night had been going so well, too. Trent looked at the turned-over 279 00:25:58,166 --> 00:26:02,606 Speaker 1: gloom bane, careful not to bring his lit lantern too close to the spreading pool of 280 00:26:02,686 --> 00:26:08,346 Speaker 1: oil that gushed out of it. He found the mortal wound on the thing, a long, serrated 281 00:26:08,406 --> 00:26:14,126 Speaker 1: gash in the oil well. They were lucky it hadn't caught fire. He shuddered. He 282 00:26:14,186 --> 00:26:19,426 Speaker 1: imagined the Maple Rooms burning. His dreams, his life, 283 00:26:20,026 --> 00:26:25,946 Speaker 1: his family, up in flames. He shook the dark vision 284 00:26:26,006 --> 00:26:31,046 Speaker 1: and shot a forced grin at Freddy. Come on, best not to linger here. 285 00:26:31,826 --> 00:26:37,646 Speaker 1: Freddy nodded slowly, shock creeping onto his face. The man was shaking. 286 00:26:38,426 --> 00:26:43,666 Speaker 1: He was staring at the broken gloom bane, probably running through the short list of 287 00:26:43,746 --> 00:26:48,426 Speaker 1: things that could knock that over. Nothing on that list was good. 288 00:26:49,626 --> 00:26:53,626 Speaker 1: Don't think too much, Freddy. It's not good for anything except a rough night's 289 00:26:53,686 --> 00:26:59,326 Speaker 1: sleep. Yeah, you're right. It could have been anything. 290 00:27:01,586 --> 00:27:06,966 Speaker 1: Trent turned away so the other man couldn't see his face, couldn't see the terror 291 00:27:07,046 --> 00:27:12,586 Speaker 1: fighting its way onto his expression. This was a small part of something 292 00:27:12,646 --> 00:27:18,406 Speaker 1: bigger. He just knew it. He had a sense for trouble. Trent looked at the 293 00:27:18,466 --> 00:27:24,186 Speaker 1: crossed-out doors marking the northeastern exclusion zone, the place they'd trapped 294 00:27:24,286 --> 00:27:29,986 Speaker 1: a growing infestation. A hungry, intelligent, growing 295 00:27:30,066 --> 00:27:36,006 Speaker 1: infestation. Unless some lightslinger showed up, it was only a matter of time 296 00:27:36,066 --> 00:27:41,726 Speaker 1: until the sprawl finally claimed the rest of the neighborhood. Eating 297 00:27:41,866 --> 00:27:47,606 Speaker 1: everything inside. Everyone inside. Trent Murdock stared 298 00:27:47,686 --> 00:27:52,686 Speaker 1: deep into the flame of his lantern, thinking dark, difficult thoughts. 299 00:27:53,626 --> 00:27:59,586 Speaker 1: Thoughts of wildfire in the Maple Rooms. And whether he was prepared to 300 00:27:59,646 --> 00:28:05,586 Speaker 1: burn it all, if it came to that. Not so deep down, he knew he 301 00:28:05,646 --> 00:28:10,766 Speaker 1: would. He was that kind of man. And it terrified him.