NARRATION:

Alright, time for another Chronicle. Chapter of the Chronicle, I suppose. I’m not sure which it is, actually, I think the whole thing is “The Chronicle”, actually. Not like anyone’s going to listen to this, unless something bad happens; most of the time when folks listen back to a Chronicle, it’s to learn what happened to a dead Caravan, or because the Caravan’s found itself in a situation and they want some historical wisdom. I guess that’s me: Historical Wisdom. Anyway, our visit to Quarryfield was completely unremarkable, as things in Quarryfield tend to be. Uhh. We dropped off some goods- cured meats, rice, some lumber. We picked up some rocks. No dead bodies. I, uhh… I really don’t know what more there is to say about it, but that’s my job so… I mean there was some gossip but that’s it. It was a good… “harvest”, but it always is, it’s just pulling rocks out of the ground- no, that’s reductive, hang on. Weather was fair, people seemed relatively content. Ah, that’ll do. Next destination is the local Brightrest. That’ll be straightforward enough, drop off bodies and supplies, check in with the Keeper’s family for any news or mail, and… Ah, shit, actually, this’ll be the first Brightrest that Melody’s seen. That’ll be… Oh, Light, we’re going to have to talk about her mother, I’d best brace myself. No idea what that’ll be like, for either of us. Maybe I should prepare something to say, I-

 

[Shouts from outside the wagon]

 

Herschel:

All hold! All wagons hold!

 

Arlo:
Shit, what now. 

 

[Arlo leaves the wagon, grabbing a lantern on the way.]

 

Arlo:
Hersh! What’s the matter?

 

Herschel:
Outrider’s spotted something on the Road up ahead. Big.

 

Arlo:
Shit. What is it?

 

Herschel:
She didn’t stick around to find out, came right back to stop the wagons. 

 

Arlo:
Good. Good call. Let’s keep people close for now, til we know what’s going on.

 

Herschel:
Yep. I’ll fetch some rifles, then you and me go and check out what it is?

Arlo:
Yeah. Hey, where’s Melody?

Melody:
I’m right here, Dad. Did he say there’s something in the road?

 

Arlo:
Yes. Stay with the wagons until we know what.

 

Melody:
What is it?

 

Arlo:
I just said I don’t know-

 

Melody:
Is it bandits?!

 

Arlo:
What- calm down now, what do you mean?

 

Melody:
I always heard that there’s Darkling Bandits on the Night Road, that travellers need to be wary or they’ll be robbed- or worse!

 

Arlo:
I’ve never seen any bandits on The Road, and I’ve travelled it all my life. 

 

Melody:
Well what is it then-

 

Arlo:
I said I don’t know. Go get back in the wagon and I’ll go find out, yeah?

 

Melody:
Okay…

 

Arlo:
Hersh! Let’s go. Everyone else… shit, I dunno, point your guns away from the wagons and look scary.

 

Herschel:
And don’t shoot us, for Light’s sake.

 

[Slow, even footsteps as the pair walk down the Road toward the obstruction. As they approach, the sound of heavy, huffing breathing and bestial lowing become audible]

 

Herschel:
Is that a… what do you call it…

Arlo:
Aulan? 

 

Herschel
Yeah, like what you put in a stew. 

 

Arlo:
Yeah, say it so it can hear you. It’s just standing there, what’s it doing? 

 

Herschel:
How should I know. You think it’s noticed us?

 

[The aulan growls.]

 

Arlo:
Yeah. I think so. Big bloody thing.

 

Herschel:
You think we can get it to move off the road? I don’t know how dangerous an aulan is.

 

Arlo:
I mean, maybe? I wouldn’t want to get close enough to try- maybe if we fire off a shot?

 

Herschel:
You think that’ll make it run away or toward us?

 

Arlo:
No clue. I think they’re usually pretty… passive? The ones I’ve seen in towns, they get herded around easy enough.

 

Herschel:
Yeah, by aulan herders.They have, like, this whistle they do? Makes the things do what they want. 

 

Arlo:
I think the herders train the aulans to do that? Be surprised if it’s instinct.

 

Melody:
We could ask Mister Worthy!

 

Herschel:
Bugger me!

 

Arlo:
Damn it, I told you to stay- get back to the wagons, now.

 

Melody:
He knows lots about aulans, and other livestock too!

 

Arlo:
He’s a provisioner, he’s not going to know how to herd a wild beast.

 

Melody:
He knows more than you.

 

Arlo:
That’s enough, let’s get you-

 

Herschel:
What’s that on the ground behind it?

 

Arlo:
Eh? Oh, I see it. What is that…

Herschel:
It’s like the aulan’s put itself between us and whatever it’s got there.

 

Melody:
Oh, is it a baby aulan? They’re so cute-

 

Herschel:
Shit.

 

Arlo:
Melody, go back to the wagons and send Mister Worthy out here, would you?

 

Melody:
But you said-

 

Arlo:
I know what I said, just- please. We need his help.

 

Melody:
Okay!

 

[Melody rushes off. Arlo and Herschel let out weary sighs.]

 

Arlo:
I think she’s right.

 

Herschel:

She’s a smart girl.

 

Arlo:
Yeah. So it’s guarding a calf, then. I bet that complicates things.

 

Herschel:
I don’t think it’s moving.

 

Arlo:
Yeah, shit. You think this is it’s mother? 

 

Herschel:
You wanna get close enough to check for a dick, be my guest. 

 

Arlo:
So we’ve got a huge, grieving animal, with huge, pointy horns, standing directly in our path, between us and its dead offspring. 

 

Herschel:
Side of the Road is flat enough, we might be able to take the wagons around? Might think we’re trying to get behind it, get it’s calf, though.

 

Arlo:
Hopefully Worthy knows more than we do. 

 

Herschel:
Why would he know anything about herding aulans? I think his experience is mostly after they’re dead- and I don’t mean in a way that’ll help with the dead calf. 

 

Arlo:
I dunno, you pick stuff up here and there. He talks to the herders more than I do, so he probably knows more about herding. 

 

Herschel:
Yeah righto. So what have you picked up hobnobbing with the high and mighty?

 

Arlo:
I dunno, what have you picked up rolling about with rent boys? Aside from venereal disease, I mean?

 

Herschel:
Fuck me, what’s got you in a mood, wow.

 

Arlo:
Too far, was it? Fine, sorry. 

 

Herschel:
Yes, very sincere I’m sure.

 

Arlo:
What’s got me in a mood- we’re looking at it.

 

Herschel:
It’s just an aulan.

 

Arlo:
It’s a huge, wild animal, who’s planted itself in our path and doesn’t seem likely to move.

 

Herschel:
Yeah, and we’re working on it. Right?

Arlo:
Yeah. Yeah, sorry, I just… haven’t been sleeping well, and with Melody… I mean, she just walked right up behind us, with the beast right there, I… it got me on edge. Sorry.

 

Herschel:
Alright, fine. I suppose this is the first bump in the Road since you took charge, too. Lot of pressure.

 

Arlo:
Be a lot less pressure if people would stop saying I was in charge.

 

Herschel:
Better stop taking charge, then.

 

Arlo:
Hmmph.

 

Herschel:

And I don’t have venereal disease, for your information. [Beat] Bess gave me a tonic.

 

[Arlo snorts, then laughs, and for a moment the pair laugh together and the situation is forgotten. Then, from a little ways off, a voice.]

 

Worthy:
Having a right old laugh out here, are we!
 

Arlo:

Ah, Worthy! Good. And… Melody, I believe I told you to “send” Mister Worthy out here, not to bring him.

 

Melody:
I didn’t want him to get lost in the dark!

 

Worthy:
Do I seem like the sort of bastard who’d get lost walking a straight line? 

 

Herschel:
Answer the man, Mel.

 

Melody:
Uhhh….

 

Worthy:
Never mind, I don’t think I want to know. Now, what can I do for- Oh my, that sure is a big one, isn’t it!

 

Arlo:
Yeah, we were hoping… Uhh, that you might know more about them than we do.

 

Worthy:
Yeah, she’s a beauty. Probably at least half a ton. If I broke her down she’d likely take up half a wagon all on her own!

 

[Melody gasps a little]

 

Arlo:
Yes, that’s- that’s interesting, Worthy, but we were more hoping you’d know how to… shoo one off?

 

Worthy:
Well, I mean- you pick up a thing here or there, talking to folks at the pens, but I mostly deal with them after they’re already dead of course, I don’t- [Beat] Oh dear.

 

Herschel:
What?

 

Arlo:
What is it?

 

Worthy:
Is that a calf it’s standing by, there?

 

Arlo:
Yeah, looks like it.

 

Worthy:
Ah. Now, see, here’s where it gets complicated.

 

Herschel:
Great.

 

Worthy:
Aulans are good parents, very loyal, protective as you can see. Thing is, that protectiveness don’t go away when the kid dies. So folk who keep aulans have to be extra vigilant around calving season, because if a predator gets the calf they’re likely to lose the mother too.

 

Melody:
Oh no…

 

Worthy:
Yeah, what happens usually is the mother will just stand right by the dead calf, even after it’s gone cold, won’t let anyone come near. Thing is, the mother won’t leave even for food or drink. It’s as though they’re just waiting for the wee one to wake up, and they never do.

 

Arlo:
So what do the herders do?

 

Worthy:
[Mimics the sound of a gun]

 

Melody:

[Gasps]

 

Herschel:
Brutal.

 

Worthy:
It’s a sad business. Can really cut into the supply if a pox goes among the young’uns, you can lose twice as many as the sickness takes. 

 

Arlo:
Well. That’s sad, but at least it settles things. Melody, this time I mean it- go back to the wagons. I’ll take care of the poor thing.

 

Melody:
But-

 

Worthy:
Woah now, not so quick!

 

Arlo:
What.

 

Worthy:
She’s a big thing, thick hide. Shooting her from here will only get her riled up, and I wouldn’t get any closer than this.

 

Herschel:
You said herders shoot them.

 

Worthy:
Aye, they also raise them from calves. They’re not pets but they trust the herder enough for him to get the barrel right up to the sweet spot behind the ear. 

 

Arlo:

Lovely. Alright, so what do we do about a wild one?

 

Worthy:
[Blows air through his lips]

 

Herschel:

We could just wait?

 

Arlo:
Seriously.

 

Worthy:
It should only take a few days at most. Some might already have passed before we got here. 

 

Herschel:
Exactly, then when it’s too tired to gore us, we could drag it off the Road. Might even get some steaks out of this whole mess.

 

Arlo:
You want us to just sit in the wagons and wait for an animal to die of thirst?

 

Herschel:

What’s your solution?

 

Melody:
We could ask Bess if she knows a way to put the aulan to sleep!

 

Arlo:
How do you mean?

 

Melody:
She’s got herbs and potions, maybe she knows one strong enough for an aulan!

 

Worthy:
Well, sometimes when in calving season they’ll mix some things to calm them down into the feed. So they can check how the calf’s developing and so on.

 

Arlo:
Well… It’s probably a better idea than just waiting for the thing to die.

 

Worthy:
Aye. Especially if the thing who killed the calf is still around.

 

Arlo:
…that what?

 

Herschel:
What are you talking about.

 

Worthy:
Well it’s hard to tell from here, but there looks to be some ichor on the ground there. The calf wasn’t torn apart or nothing, so I wager the poor thing’s probably gotten a nip on the heel from something that kills slow.

 

Arlo:
Alright, we’re going back to the wagons. Now.

 

Melody:
Is there a Darkling here?

 

Arlo:
Let’s just move. 

 

[They move back toward the wagons]

 

Arlo:
Worthy, what… predates on an aulan?

 

Worthy:
Well, not too much- they’re big things, of course. In this part of the world… Maybe a Karras Drake?

 

Arlo:
They’re poisonous, right?
 

Worthy:
Yes, they-

Melody:
Venomous.

 

Worthy:
Right you are. But what they are most of all is patient. They’re big things, though not as big as an aulan, and they’d never want to take a full-grown one in a stand-up fight. So what they do is bite the calf, and the calf will die over the course of the next few days. The mother and the calf will be left behind by the rest of the herd, and the Karras Drake will sit and wait for the mother to die of exhaustion standing by the dead calf. Then they move in for a big old meal.

 

Melody:
That’s horrible!
 

Worthy:
That’s nature, I’m afraid. Worst part is- a full-grown aulan is bigger than any Karras Drake, what they basically do is vomit up their own stomach and pull the beast in through-

 

Arlo:
Worthy, you’ve been a big help, truly. Now I want you to head down toward the back of the caravan and let people know to light some extra lanterns and be on the lookout for anything in the grass. 

 

Worthy:
A Drake’s cowardly, I wouldn’t think we need to worry about it biting anyone.

 

Arlo:
From what you just said I’m more worried about it biting one of our animals.

 

Worthy:
Ah. Right you are. 

 

Arlo:
Good man. Hersh, same to you. Go make sure everyone knows to be on the lookout. Guns loaded.

 

Herschel:
Yep, on it. 

 

Melody:
What about me?

 

Arlo:
You… Okay, fine, let’s go see Old Bess. 

 

Melody:
Okay! Do you think she’ll be able to help the aulan?

 

Arlo:
Oh, sweetie, I… I know it’s not what you want to hear, but no. 

 

Melody:
But-

Arlo:
Right now- always, really- we have to think about ourselves first. As a caravan. There’s nothing we can do to help that thing- the aulan. And every moment we’re all sitting here, we’re putting ourselves at greater risk of the Karras Drake, or something worse, taking a shot at us.
 

Melody:
…Okay.

 

Arlo:
I know, sweetie, it’s not fair. And it’s sad. But the best we can do is to just… yeah.

Melody:
Let’s just go see Bess.

 

Arlo:
That’s my girl, she’ll-

 

Magritte:
Mister Harker!

 

Arlo:
Light preserve me. Professor, I’m a little busy-

 

Magritte:
Your man Worthy came by, shouting about some kind of beast, I wanted to ask some questions.

 

Arlo:
Melody, maybe you should go on ahead, let’s not waste any time. 

 

Magritte:
I hardly think my work is a waste of time-

 

Arlo:
I didn’t mean it was.

 

Magritte:
Then what did you mean?

 

Arlo:
…Melody, just run on ahead and tell Bess, okay?

Melody:
Yes, dad.

 

Arlo:
Professor. You have my attention.

 

Magritte:
I understand that there is a situation developing involving a creature. Could you elucidate? 

 

Arlo:
…What?

 

Magritte:
Could you explain the situation?

 

Arlo:
Why?

 

Magritte:
For my research, of course-

 

Arlo:
Oh for- Perhaps later, professor, but it’s actually a serious situation? Not an… experiment, or whatever it is you do. 

 

Magritte:

Oh. Are… Are we in danger?

 

Arlo:
Honestly, I’m not sure, which is why our best bet is to just do what we can to get out of here before we find out. 

 

Magritte:
Oh my. I don’t suppose there’s time for me to gather some samples?

 

Arlo:
If you hurry, you can pick up all the aulan scat you want. Although there may be a monster waiting just off the road to poison anyone foolish enough to try.

 

Magritte:

[Automatically] Envenomate.

 

Arlo:
What?

Magritte:
Nothing. Never mind.

 

Arlo:
Honestly, I think it would be best if you just got back in your wagon and-

 

Melody:
Dad!

 

Arlo:
What, what is it? Are you okay?

 

Melody:
Of course I am! Here, Bess said this should make the aulan fall asleep. 

 

Arlo:
That was… quick.

 

Melody:
She said she already had some tonic prepared. She did say that you’ll have to wait a while for more, though, which is silly because it’s not as though we’ll be finding more aulans blocking the way!

 

Arlo:
Right, she was… Wait, she told you that? How-

 

Melody:
Yes! She said this will do the trick, we just have to make sure the aulan drinks the whole thing, it’s a big animal so it needs a big dose.

 

Arlo:
I don’t think that will work, the beast is far too upset for that. Worthy said she likely isn’t eating or drinking at all, and I wouldn’t want to get close enough to feed it to her.

 

Melody:
Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t-

 

Arlo:
That’s okay, we’ll just have to think of something else.

 

Magritte:
Perhaps we could aerosolize it.

 

Arlo:
Sure. And feel free to explain what that means. 

 

Magritte:
Rather than having the beast drink the… formula that your witch has put together, we could convert it to a vapour or gas which the creature would then breathe in. 

 

Arlo:
Would that work?

 

Magritte:
Well, it depends entirely on the nature of the, ah, formula which the witch provides-

 

Melody:
Her name is Bess.

 

Magritte:
Yes, Bess. If it is a formula which can be inhaled, as well as imbibed, it ought to work just fine. The creature’s size will require that it inhale the formula for some time, however, and it may not last terribly long.

 

Arlo:
Well my understanding is that the aulan isn’t likely to do anything other than stand in one place, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Here, you head over to Old Bess’s caravan and see what you can do about helping make the tonic a… what did you call it?

 

Magritte:
…Aerosol. Must I work with the- with Bess?

 

Melody:
What’s wrong with Bess?

Magritte:
Well, it’s just that she… that is to say… [beat] I will head right over. 

 

Arlo:
Good man. Melody, you’ve been a big help. Now please, head back to our wagon now. 

 

Melody:
But-

Arlo:
I know, it’s not fair. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now, and it would honestly help a lot if I didn’t have to worry about you getting nipped on the ankle by a Karras Drake, okay?

 

Melody:
…Okay, if that would be helping you.

 

Arlo:
It would, really. Thank you. 

 

[They go their separate ways. Arlo heads further down line, until he finds Herschel.]

 

Arlo:
How’s it looking out there?

 

Herschel:
Think we’ve spotted the Drake. 

 

Arlo:
Where, show me.

 

Herschel:
Over there.

 

Arlo:
[Beat] I don’t see anything.

 

Herschel:
Be a bit of a crap ambush predator if you could.

 

Arlo:
Are you messing with me?

Herschel:
Honestly I think I’m messing with myself. Getting jumpy. I did see… something, though. How big is a Drake, anyway?

 

Arlo:
Big enough that it’d rather eat a whole aulan than just a calf.

 

Herschel:
And the aulan is bigger than the horses. Great. Love it.

 

Arlo:
We’re a little ways away from the aulan, would have thought it would stay closer.

 

Herschel:
Maybe it’s keeping its distance because it knows the beast will drop dead on its own eventually. Just has to be patient. Or…

 

Arlo:
Or it’s taken a liking to the horses, or the mules. 

 

Herschel:
Or.

 

Arlo:
Yeah. Keep those guns ready. 

 

Herschel:
Always do.

 

Arlo:
Good man. Holler if you need me.

 

Herschel:
Yep.

 

[Arlo returns to his wagon. He knocks briefly before entering.]

 

Arlo:
You okay, buddy?

 

Melody:
Yeah…

 

Arlo:
[Closes the door]

You sure?

 

Melody:
I just… Why can’t we help the aulan? We could take it with us, to the next town! We had aulans in my town, they were really sweet-

 

Arlo:
This isn’t one of those aulans, though sweetie. It’s wild. And as well as that, it’s… distressed. And that’s not its fault, but that makes it dangerous.

 

Melody:
But we’re just… we’re going to make it go to sleep, and then leave it for the monster!

 

Arlo:
Yes. 

 

Melody:
Why?

Arlo:
Because that’s what’s best for us. As a Caravan. Out here in the Night… we have to be our own number one priority.

 

Melody:
What if we… got rid of the drake, before we left? So it wouldn’t eat the aulan? Herschel could use his gun-

 

Arlo:
And why do we get to decide that the drake dying is better than the aulan, just because the drake needs to eat? And besides, the aulan… it’s not going to leave its calf’s side. Even if the drake wasn’t here, the damage is done.

 

Melody:
But-

 

Arlo:
Mel, I know. I know, it’s not fair. It’s not fair at all. But-

 

Melody:
But life isn’t fair. I know.

 

Arlo:
Well… no. Life isn’t fair. You know… Yeah. But that doesn’t mean that it’s all awful. It just means that we have to… make the best of what we have. And what we have is each other. The Caravan.

 

Melody:
I wish that…

 

Arlo:
I know. I know. We all do, sometimes. Not… the specifics, but we all wish for things that… aren’t… possible. That things could be better, or… yeah.

 

Melody:
Why can’t we try, though?

 

Arlo:
It’s like I said, we can’t risk the-

 

Melody:
Yeah, you can’t risk the Caravan. But… its eyes are so sad. It’s like it’s blaming us for what happened to its baby, or like it’s asking us to help. It’s not… it’s not fair. 

 

Arlo:

No, it isn’t. [A lingering pause] You know, I remember a thing that they used to say- or that some people believe in, maybe. That aulans are… a little bit psychic. 

 

Melody:
They can see the future?

 

Arlo:
No, not- not that one, there’s a different word maybe. It was that they can read minds, just a little. So they knew when you had bad intentions, or good ones, and that was why they let their herders see to them in ways that are uncomfortable, trimming their hooves and so on. So maybe… Maybe this aulan will understand that we’re not trying to hurt it. It’ll sense our intentions and not… blame us.

Melody:
If that was true, you’d be trying to help it. It would let you.

 

Arlo:
…Okay. Sorry. Let’s just… I should head back outside. [He opens the door] I love you. [No response] Okay. [He leaves the wagon, and closes the door. Sighs.] 

 

Magritte:
Arlo! There you are, I-

 

Arlo:
Professor, you had better be coming to tell me you have the sedative figured out, Light help me. 

 

Magritte:
I… yes? That is precisely correct, yes.

 

Arlo:
You have the sedative for the aulan ready?

 

Magritte:
Yes. It wasn’t exactly easy to work with the w- with Bess, but her supplies and equipment are surprisingly ample-

 

Arlo:
Give it here. 

 

Magritte:
Well… Here, be careful. As you can see, the sedative is currently dissociated into two separate jars. When the time comes, put one jar on the ground and swiftly- but gently- pour the other into it. It will begin to emit fumes immediately, so hold your breath and retreat to a safe distance.

 

Arlo:
Does it matter which one I pour into which?

 

Magritte:
No. Why would it?

 

Arlo:
I dunno, just seems like… it would be that way, I guess. Okay. Hersh!

 

Herschel:
Yep, I’m here. 

 

Arlo:
I’ll get as close as feels safe, then let the breeze carry the fumes the rest of the way. 

 

Herschel:
[Licks a finger, holds it to the breeze]

Hmm, you’ll have to be standing off the side of the Road, to the south. 

 

Arlo:
Yeah, couldn’t have been westward could it, would have saved some trouble. At least it won’t carry back to the Caravan.

 

Herschel:
Yeah. And only fifty percent odds you’ll be on the same side of the road as the Karras Drake!

 

Arlo:
Wow, look at you knowing about percentages. You pick that up at a card table?

 

Herschel:
I mean… Yeah.

 

Arlo:
Hm. Fair enough.

 

Magritte:
Yes… Well, if you don’t need me any longer…

 

Arlo:
Yes, thank you again Professor. Just one thing- what will happen if I do accidentally get a lungful of this stuff?

 

Magritte:
Well… You’ll likely lose consciousness. And faster than the aulan, too.

 

Arlo:
Of course.

Magritte:
And that particular compound has been known to cause… ah, hallucinations.

 

Arlo:
Oh. Well that’s no worry at all. Head to your wagon, now. 

 

Herschel:
Watch your step.

 

Magritte:
Yes… thank you…

 

[Herschel and Arlo head back to the front of the Caravan.]

 

Herschel:
Well. Good luck.

 

Arlo:
Yeah, thanks. Get a couple of the horses unhooked while I’m out there, we’ll lash them to the beast and have them pull it off the road.

 

Herschel:
Yep, good call.

 

Arlo:
But keep your eye on things. And the gun ready, in case the aulan comes this way.

 

Herschel:
Yeah yeah. Anything else, while I’m at it? Cup of tea?

 

Arlo:
Just try not to shoot me.

 

Herschel:
Ah, shit, you know I’m no good at multitasking. Here, gimme your lantern.

 

Arlo:
Eh?

Herschel:
Don’t wanna spook the aulan, hey?

 

Arlo:
Ah, Light, you’ve got a point. 

 

Herschel:
You’ll be fine. I’ll be right over here.

 

Arlo:
Gee thanks, Uncle Hersh. Alright, let’s do this. 

 

[The soft crunching of gravel under foot transitions to grass as Arlo heads off towards the aulan. For a moment we hear nothing else but Arlo’s breathing. Then…]

 

OUTSIDER:
Ah, there you are. Been avoiding me? [Beat] I’d missed our little night-time chats, one sided as they may be. You’ve been sleeping with a nightlight- how cute. Took your time figuring that one out, although even from outside I can sense that your sleep remains… restless. Funny, really… you’ve lived in the darkness all your life, but for the first time you fear it- and for what? Because you encountered something you don’t understand? Arlo… That’s a little childish of you, isn’t it? I do hope the nightlight isn’t keeping your daughter awake… 

 

Arlo:
You don’t fucking speak about her.

 

OUTSIDER:
Ahh! You can hear me, I was beginning to worry- well, not really. I knew you could hear me- you have this… expression on your face, when you’re focusing all your energy on not hearing me. Such a waste, I’m a very good conversationalist, really! Hmm… where was I- ha! I just complimented my oratory, and here I am losing the thread- oh yes, of course. Your daughter. Melody- a beautiful name. Her mother picked it, of course, not as though you were in the picture. There’s an irony to it, isn’t there: you spent all your years in the dark, she in the light, but now she is kept awake by the candle you use to keep me at bay.

 

Arlo:
You’re. Not. Real.

 

OUTSIDER:
You know I am. Let’s not bother with that line of thinking, Arlo. 

 

[Arlo’s footsteps stop. The aulan’s breathing can be heard nearby. A clinking sound as he puts down the jars.]

 

OUTSIDER:
Hmm. A beautiful beast. I do hope Melody forgives you for killing it- worse than killing it, really.

 

Arlo:
You are a figment of my imagination. I know you are.

OUTSIDER:
Oh? You know it, so certain. And how do you know anything about me?

 

Arlo:
Because I only started hearing you back in Prosperous. You “know” things about Mel that only I would know, so that means you know the things I know. So that means you’re just… my imagination.

 

OUTSIDER:
Oh, it means all that, does it? For absolute certain? There’s no other explanation?

 

Arlo:
No.

 

OUTSIDER:
But just because I’m in your head- if that’s what I am- that doesn’t mean that I was born there. Could I not be some thing that found you in the Night outside Prosperous, and now lives inside your mind? Or at least can speak into it? Is that not a reasonable explanation?

 

Arlo:
Either way, I need to concentrate now, so real or not- Piss. Off. 

 

OUTSIDER:
Very well, I would hate for our little chats to come to an end because you ran afoul of some wild beast. I will point out though, that you have made a poor assumption about our first encounter.

 

Arlo:
Is that so?

 

OUTSIDER:
Quite, yes! You act as though, when we met outside of Prosperous, that was the instant at which I was born, that that was the beginning of my history. And so, the only way I could know of things that happened before that point would be if I’d stolen them from your mind. Is it not just- or even more- plausible… that I know about dear Melody… because I’ve been keeping an eye on her for quite some time? 

 

Arlo:
What?

 

OUTSIDER:
That I am not merely something you happened upon by chance outside of Prosperous… But rather something that was there because I had been following your little Caravan all the way from your daughter’s home town?

 

Arlo:
The fuck are you talking about? [Silence] Hey! [The aulan grunts with warning.] Light… Screw it.

 

[Arlo pours the components of the potion together, then sprints away as the concoction instantly begins to hiss and spit. The aulan screams, but does not follow Arlo, and after a few moments we are back at the Caravan as Arlo pants and coughs.]

 

Herschel:
You all good?

 

Arlo:
Yeah, just- that shit Bess and Magritte made, catches in the back of your throat even if you don’t get the full dose. How’s the aulan?

 

Herschel:

Already looking unsteady. Reckon it’ll be falling any- Yep, there it goes.

 

Arlo:
Okay. Give it a minute to make sure it’s really down, and for the fumes to go away.

 

Herschel:
Yep, yep. You catch your breath, I’ll grab some folks to help me out.

 

Arlo:
Good.

 

Herschel:
Hey, uhh… You alright?

Arlo:
Yeah, just catching my breath. I’m good.

 

Herschel:
No, I mean… I could hear you talking out there.

 

Arlo:
Oh yeah?

 

Herschel:

Yeah. Couldn’t make out what you said, but… you know, it’s quiet.

 

Arlo:
Was just… repeating the Professor’s instructions. Didn’t wanna get them wrong. 

 

Herschel:
Yeah… Okay, sure.

 

Arlo:
You… you didn’t hear another voice, did you?

 

Herschel:
What?

Arlo:
You just heard me, not someone else, right?

 

Herschel:
No, I just heard… you… You said you were talking to yourself-

 

Arlo:
Yeah man, I’m fucking with you. Go get someone to help you with the horses, I’m fine.

 

Herschel:
[Laughs, but awkwardly. It’s not really a laugh.] 

Sure. Yeah, you… got me. Back in a mo. 

 

NARRATION:

After that… Well, Hersh and some of the others moved the aulan off the road. And its calf… The horses did most of the work, shouldn’t give Hersh too much credit. I sat in the wagon with Melody as the Caravan rolled past the aulan. She didn’t say anything, so I didn’t either. Maybe… Maybe I shouldn’t have been in there. I worry she thought I went back to the cabin to keep an eye on her, make sure she didn’t go to the aulan. It might have done her good to see the thing fade off in the distance behind the wagons, maybe even to see the Karras Drake move in for the kill. Or maybe I’m just being… That kind of parent, who wants their kids to toughen up. And maybe she needs that. But she’s pretty tough already… I dunno. I just worry that now, that poor aulan’s gonna be alive forever in her head. Stuck in that moment, where we delivered it into the jaws of the thing that killed its kid, because that was what was easiest for us. An open wound. 

 

We’re at the Brightrest now. Fucking timing, yeah, let’s keep thinking about death. People are mostly out stretching their legs, paying their respects, or helping out with delivering the new residents. Melody’s out, not sure what she’s up to. She left the wagon just before we reached the Light- she likes to see the transition happen. Makes sense, it’s still pretty new for her. I used to, as well, when I was young. The magic wore off after a while of course. It’s nice that she still likes it. I hope she doesn’t lose that… uhh, sense of wonder, I guess. It’s her first time in a Brightrest. That’s gotta be a bit rough, even if it isn’t the one that… the one with her mother in it. That was back the other direction from her home town, another Caravan took her away before we arrived. I’ll go out and see how Mel’s doing in a sec. Just wanted to get this done while she’s out. Wouldn’t be good if she was in here while I talked about all this, wouldn’t feel right to ask her to leave, so… Yeah. 

 

The Light is peeking in through some gaps in the walls. Never used to be something I’d really notice too much, that difference between the Night and the Light. The magic wore off. But now that there’s something out there in the Night that’s following me- us- I should feel safer here. But I don’t. It’s out there waiting for us to leave, and we have to leave, so… Won’t need the nightlights while we’re here, at least. That’s all I’ve figured out about it, so far. It doesn’t like the light. I guess it was telling the truth when it said it isn’t inside my head, but that doesn’t make me feel much better. Unless I’m crazy, and then of course it would be inside my head and I wouldn’t even know it. I feel like the Professor would have some ways to find out more, some… “science” to understand this. But I’m not… I don’t know how. And I can’t ask for help, because the last thing Melody needs is any notion that she can’t trust me- that I’m not always gonna be here to help. It’s been hard enough getting used to each other, used to her being around, it’s only been a season and a half. We’re both just doing our best. We all are.

 

[He stops the recording and leaves the wagon. He walks a little while, calling out to some others as he goes. Nearby, Sacha warms up her voice.]

 

Sacha:
Hello, sleepyhead! Thought you weren’t going to come out!

 

Arlo:
Hello, Sacha. Just doing the Chronicle for a bit. 

 

Sacha:
Ohh. You know, I think I’d be a pretty good Chronicler, if you want an apprentice!

 

Arlo:
Sacha, I’ve had the gig for less than a Season. I’m not thinking of retiring quite yet.

 

Sacha:
Oh! Fair enough.

 

Arlo:
Also, there’s a reason Zoran picked me over you, you know.

 

Sacha:
Yeah, he told me. I’d make the story too fun!

 

Arlo:
That’s certainly one way to say you’d make shit up. You seen Mel?

 

Sacha:
Oh! Yes, she’s gone walking up thataway! Looked thoughtful. Big frown.

 

Arlo:
Hmm. Thanks. You going to be singing for the interred, then?

 

Sacha:
Yep! Feels like a nice thing to do, since their loved ones can’t be here to watch. I know they already said goodbye, but it feels like the departed appreciate it.

 

Arlo:
I’m sure they do. Back soon.

 

Sacha:
Bye!

 

[Arlo continues walking. It’s peaceful here. Some birdsong. He comes to a stop, once again. Waits.]

 

Melody:
It’s nice here.

 

Arlo:
It is, isn’t it. 

 

[A pause. Then Melody begins to cry softly.]

 

Arlo:
Hey… Hey, it’s okay, kiddo. It’s okay, I’m here. 

 

Melody:
I’m sorry…

 

Arlo:
No, it’s, uhh, it’s okay, let it out…

 

[After a few seconds, Melody sniffles.]

 

Melody:
Sorry.

 

Arlo:
It’s fine. You okay?

 

Melody:
Yeah. I just… it’s silly, I know mum isn’t here, but I was just wandering around looking at all the graves, and I just…It felt like, eventually one would say her name…

 

Arlo:
It’s not silly.

 

Melody:
Yes it is! I know she isn’t here. I just couldn’t stop thinking about her, and how…

 

Arlo:
What?

Melody:
I’ve never actually seen her grave.

 

Arlo:
Oh. Right, of course. 

 

Melody:
The last time I saw her was when another Caravan passed through town. And they were going the opposite way to our Caravan, so we won’t even reach the Brightrest` Mum is in for another three seasons at least.

 

Arlo:
She’ll be… She’ll still be there, when we get there, sweetie. I know it’s hard, waiting, but she’s not going anywhere.

 

Melody:

[Sniffles] I know. She’s dead. I know she’s not going anywhere.

 

Arlo:
Right. I was just trying to… yeah. 

 

[They sit in silence for a few more seconds.]

 

Melody:
What was she like?

 

Arlo:
What?

Melody:
What was Mum like?

 

Arlo:
You… I mean, you knew her better than I did. Knew her your whole life.

 

Melody:
It’s different. She was my Mum, I want to know what she was like with other people.

 

Arlo:
Uhh…

 

Melody:
What?

 

Arlo:
Ugh. This is maybe one of those things you’re supposed to… lie about. As a parent.

 

Melody:
What do you mean?

 

Arlo:
Mel, I didn’t… I didn’t know your Mum.

 

Melody:
What? But… how could-

 

Arlo:
No, don’t get me wrong, I mean… we met, obviously. Of course we… But we didn’t really know each other. It was just… I was passing through with the Caravan, and I met your mother. And then a year later, we came back through town… and I met you.

 

Melody:
Did you love her?

 

Arlo:
Sweetie… I don’t know. We didn’t know each other that well. And it was always strange, you know. Maybe if things had been different, but with me going away, and only being there once a year, and not being there when you were born… it was like a knot that you can’t find a thread to start untangling. There was already too much there, too much history, for us to ever actually… Get to know each other. [Beat] I love her for… I love that, because of her, I got to meet you.

 

Melody:
Why didn’t you stay?

 

Arlo:
She didn’t want me to. Her parents really didn’t want me to, as well, but she said it was best if I just… kept on doing what I already do. You had enough people who loved you and were looking after you. It was just easier for everyone if I kept on the Road. 

 

Melody:
If you’d been there… It would have been nice.

 

Arlo:
Maybe. Or maybe your mother and I wouldn’t have actually liked each other, long term, and it would have been a bad time for everyone. We’ll never know.

 

Melody:
How did you meet?

 

Arlo:
Well… I was in town, the Caravan was, and me and some of the others went to the inn. And we were having a bit of a rowdy time- we were all younger, obviously- and this was when your mother was working there. She brought us our drinks, and Hersh… he said something to your mother that I won’t repeat. And she kicked him in the balls.

 

Melody:
Oh!

 

Arlo:
Yeah, and I mean- he deserved it. To be clear, he absolutely needed a kick in the nuts.

 

Melody:
What did he-

 

Arlo:
It is not for young ears.

 

Melody:
Okay… Wow.

 

Arlo:
Yeah, believe it or not the Uncle Hersh you know today is the calm and level-headed version. He’s mellowed a lot.

 

Melody:
Well, good. What happened next?

 

Arlo:
Well… I apologised. I’d been acting up a bit, myself, but you know, I wanted to look better than Hersh, so I offered her a drink. And of course she says, “I work at an inn”, so what does she need to be offered a drink for. So I asked when her shift finished, and I offered her dinner instead. Said I’d cook her something at the Caravanserai.

 

Melody:
I didn’t know you could cook!

 

Arlo:
Oh, I can’t, I’m shocked I didn’t poison her. But… I think she thought it was cute that I tried? It’s like how, I only asked her because it was funny how she kicked Hersh in the balls, she only accepted because it’s funny that I would ask after she kicked Hersh in the balls. It’s just… How things go sometimes. People are strange.

 

Melody:
And then what happened?

 

Arlo:
Well… Uh… You know how… babies are made, right-

 

Melody:
Yes!
 

Arlo:
Sorry! I just-

 

Melody:
Uncle Hersh told me.

 

Arlo:
What!

 

Melody:

[Giggles] I’m kidding. They taught us in school. 

 

Arlo:
Oh. Okay. Thank Light…

 

Melody:
There’s only so much space in towns, so they tell us young how it all works so we don’t accidentally make more babies than the town can handle.

 

Arlo:
That makes sense. 

 

Melody:
Yeah. Anyway, I meant… What happened next with you and Mum? Why didn’t you…

 

Arlo:
…Get married?

 

Melody:
Yeah.

 

Arlo:
Sweetie… We weren’t in love. We didn’t know each other. It was just something that happens sometimes, people have these… Everyone’s on their own little Road through the Night, and sometimes those Roads run into each other. And sometimes they join up for good, but sometimes they don’t. Most of the time, they don’t. My road, and your mother’s, they only met briefly, and that’s how you happened. 

 

Melody:
Oh.

 

Arlo:
But that doesn’t mean she didn’t love you. And it doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Just because we didn’t love each other… 

 

Melody:
Yeah. [Beat] I miss her so much.

 

Arlo:
I know, sweetie. And you… you always will. But the memory of her… in the end you’ll remember the time you had with her more than the pain of losing her. I promise.

 

Melody:
I’m sorry.

 

Arlo:
What? Why?

 

Melody:
I just… I wish I wasn’t here. With the Caravan. 

 

Arlo:
Yeah?

Melody:
Yeah. Because… if Mum wasn’t…. Gone. Then I wouldn’t be here. On the Caravan. So I wish I wasn’t.

 

Arlo:
Yeah. I get it. 

[They sit in silence for a time. Birds tweet. The wind blows.]

Tell me about her.

 

Melody:

Tell you what?

 

Arlo:
I only knew her from that one time, and then stopping by once a year to check in. You knew her more than I ever did. What was she like?

 

Melody:
She was… Nice.

 

Arlo:
Yeah? What did she do that was nice?

 

Melody:
She sang.

 

Arlo:
Really?

 

Melody:
Yeah. When she was by herself, mostly, but sometimes when I was sick she would sing me to sleep.

 

Arlo:
Can you sing?

Melody:
A little…

 

Arlo:
I’d love to hear that, sometime.

 

Melody:
Maybe.

 

Arlo:
What’s something else about her? Was she a good cook?

 

Melody:
[Stifles a giggle] No. Not really.

 

Arlo:
Aha! So that’s why she wanted to try mine. Eleven years on, and finally a mystery solved.

 

Melody:
Twelve.

 

Arlo:
Yeah. I suppose it would be. Go on, tell me more.

 

Melody:
Well, one time another girl- Suzanna- she was bullying me. She kept stealing my food at school, that mum made for me.

 

Arlo:
Mhm.

 

Melody:
And she was the daughter of the schoolteacher, so I couldn’t do anything back or I’d be in much more trouble than her. So mum started making me a special lunch that only I could eat.

 

Arlo:
How’d she do that?

Melody:
Well, I could eat it and be fine, but then when Suzanna stole it and ate it she got all green and started being sick all over the schoolroom floor. But when she said I’d poisoned the food, I just took a bite and didn’t throw up, so there was nothing she could do about it! And she never stole my lunch again.

 

Arlo:
Really? That’s amazing.

 

Melody:
Yeah! She put something in my water that morning so that the food wouldn’t make me sick. It was really clever.

 

Arlo:
Is that why you’ve been spending so much time with Old Bess? Your mother knew a thing or two about herbs and so on, too?

Melody:
Maybe? I didn’t think about that. I just like Bess.

 

Arlo:
Bess is wonderful, it’s true. Go on, then. Tell me another story.

 

Melody:
Well. There was one time…

 

[We slowly fade out as Melody tells stories about her Mother, as the birds chirp and Sacha’s singing begins to pick up nearby. A moment of peace.]