If Viktor Rozchenko noticed Charles sneaking back in to John Kassel's house, he made no indication of it. Once Charles had re-entered the house, John breathed a sigh of relief and finally sat back down.
"Yes. Yes, good. I suppose I do owe you all an explanation. But first you must understand, I only ever do anything if I think it's for the best. I want this town to thrive, I want it to be a place where good, hard-working people can feel safe. Where they can see the fruits of their labors and know that they done something right.
A couple a months ago, these three people showed up. Said they was travelers, said they needed a place to stay for awhile. We opened out town and our hearts to them. We fed them, sheltered them, helped them as best we could.
Then one day, our field animals took sick. We couldn't figure out what was wrong. Then our crops took sick. The strangers said that this was what was supposed to happen, that our town was a blight, and that it was gonna be reclaimed.
They said if we helped them, if we drove off those lizards that live up north of here, that they might let our town live a little longer and die natural like.
What was we supposed to do? We're farmers, hunters, not killers. We don't know how to drive off no blasted lizards!"
Kassel shook his head, his voice wavered a little and he looked directly at Catherine and Darrick.
"These Children of Winter, I don't know who they are or what they want, 'cept they want the lizards gone. And I want them gone. I want my town back the way it was.
That's why we told the 'Forged the lizards were attacking. We thought they'd send a whole bunch of soldiers to get rid of them. But the 'Forged, they don't see with their hearts, like people do. They see with their eyes, and we just didn't put enough effort in to fooling them.
Maybe I'm a stupid old man. Maybe I should just roll over and let those Children of Winter do whatever they want. But I don't got a quitting bone in my body. You've got to help us! Please."
