Whisper Gatherers Read Online Free PDF Page B

not. The leader of the group walked up the steps and onto the stage. Sheriff Fychan held up his hands in front of his chest to warn the tall slim male, to advance no further. The ‘dult smacked his mitts away. He turned to the quaking crowd.
    “Calm yourselves. Do not be so a-feared. We come in peace. We come because of rumours.”
    Nad.
    “Word has filtered through to our nomadic ears that the dead and lost ones have risen.”
    Double nad.
    “That these troubled spirits have come to warn us of things to come. Things most wretched and horrible. We must listen to them. Mend our ways. If not, then all upon this land-starved planet will perish once and for all. If that is so, then a saviour must rise to save folk. That hagio, or saint, will free us from despair and deprivation. That saviour is here.”
    Triple nad.
    The Praisebee/Carnie disciples fell to their knees and banged their heads upon the hard, stone floor, saying as one, “Praisebee Cheesus. Praisebee Cheesus.” Blood from their temple wounds splattered just about everywhere. Cityfolk gasped with terror and disgust at their pristine, clean space being tainted by their red disease-ridden fluids. Santy used this distraction to rush past the guards and join me.
    Hrypa started the screaming and near all joined in. Except for myself, Santy Breanna and Greatgrangran, who was still asleep. Santy grabbed my wrist and pulled me through the standing audience. She nodded to Meilyr, who shook Greatgran Amranwen until she woke. He helped her rise and pushed her through the shrieking folk that stood before their chairs. The main Praisebee lifted his arms to the ceiling. Something heavy fell through the skylight in the roof.
    The head-pounding Cheesus/Carnie nuts, put their hands under their robes and drew out facemasks. They pressed them over their noses and mouth, then joined their leader on the stage. I was baffled by their action until I saw the grey vapour spread around the room. The screaming stopped. Coughing started.
    Gas bombs.

Chapter Five  
    The Truth About Ghosties

    My eyes streamed with stinging water and my lungs near burst for lack of fresh air. When I did suck in a lungful, I hacked and wheezed. After a few secs, the smoke dispersed. I saw a sea of hands and legs as folk attempted to crawl to the nearest exit. Above the choking sounds, the voice of the main Praisebee could be heard going on about that Baby huffin’ Cheesus, how he died for our sins and such stuff. I would have shouted back something along the lines of, “Yeah he sounds like a great ‘dult all right, but how long ago was he alive? Oh, and what about the old-old saying, ‘Practice what you preach.’” I think your Cheesus would be very upset with your behaviour here, don’t you?” But all I did was spit up gunge.
    “And the Lord said unto his children, ‘Let those without sin cast the first stone.’ His mighty words humbled those around him and made them think twice before accusing others of things they may well have done themselves. That is what we must do, since we are all His children. Soon to become hungry. Hungry for the taste of that which has been denied us for too long. We need more than grain for sustenance. We need flesh.”
    His ranting became even less coherent as he continued to blast out his version of all things Christian and the desire for meat. The other devotees wailed and slapped their thighs. Then looked to the ceiling with a look of ecstatic joy upon their pale faces. I sat back on my heels, wiped my face on the sleeve of my tunic before twitching violently as a Steriwipe was pressed against my neck. I turned. Greatgrangran was on her knees holding said cloth. Her face was screwed up and tears streaked down her wrinkled face. She coughed a few times then said, “Here, use the thing to cool down the inflammation around your eyes Andrea.”
    “Ta,” I said, took the wipe from her and held it against my closed lids. It did indeed reduce the itchiness. I was able