The marshalls were out among the crowds, directing the wagons and airships to where they were needed. They had already begun setting up a hospital triage near the shelter entrance.

Hidden behind the darkness of the night, a great mountain now stood in the middle of the valley forest. This new stranger on the eastern horizon would go unnoticed until first light, when the sun begins to peak out beside its new morning companion. The elderly, who have lived through many earth storms would find it uninteresting, but the young Industrians, especially the children, will stare at it in wonder.

Kaiou, who especially loves exploring the nooks and crannies hidden in the untravelled places of Serebia, would take little note of it, for he seldom ventured away from home without his sister at his side, and Kiri wasn't going anywhere. She stayed in bed, coughing, and wheezing through the nights.

At first, few took notice of the ailing child. There were too many injured people to tend to. Even Kaiou found his thoughts pulled away from his beloved sister as he ran between Slagcast and the supply stores with bandages and medicine.

It was a time of need and healing. Slagcasters flocked together to heal the wounds inflicted by the ikkou screams and subsequent earth storm. Even children, who normally would have been in schools or out playing were hauling around medicine, preparing food, and helping in anyway they could.

The nearby community of Starpark had lost its water tower during the earth storm. Many Slagcasters were there helping rebuild it, or helping carry in the water. This only served to further strain the already thinly stretched community.

The worst news came soon after. It was about the fields.

Sheltered between Industria and the northen arm of the valley forest were the sacred Garden Fields. These enormous, sprawling fields were rich with fertile soil and clean water. Most Industrians worked here, tending to the growth, carefully heeding the needs of the earth. The plantations they kept did not look like typical crops, rather they were filled with a delicate, diverse mixture of plants, giving it an appearance more like a natural garden than agricultural fields. This was the true heart of the Industrian world, the pivotal focus of all the communities.

During the earth storm, the valey forest had receded, pulling back its arm that stretched around the northern edge of the fields. Worse yet, the rivers that fed these lands had mysteriously dried up, and now the plantations were starving. Exposed to the harsh elements, deprived of water, the gardens were in crisis.

All efforts went to gouging a new irrigation canal, to bring water from the mighty Coruyad river, and errecting a wind break along the baren northern edge.

Amid all this turmoil, Kaiou's concern for his sister deepened. He checked on her as often as he could, bringing food and water. He thought the warmth of the sun and the fresh air would help her, but despite his trying, she was never strong enough to venture outside the hut.

Kaiou tried to appeal to Mom to get Kiri to see a doctor, but his efforts proved futile. She stubbornly maintained that Kiri was fine, and just needed some rest.

Kaiou could tell his sister's condition was worsening. On the fifth day since the earth storm, she refused to eat anything, and on the morning of the sixth day, Kaiou couldn't get her to wake up.

Desperate, he hurried off that morning in search of help.

It was before sunrise, and the deep crimson of the early dawn light was just filling the eastern sky. Overhead, a thin layer of cloud was lit up from beneath by purple highlights, reflecting the brilliance of the unseen morning sun. The only activity to be seen at this hour was at the food stores, where half a dozen people were busy preparing breakfast for the hundreds of Slagcasters. Few noticed the shadow of the boy running towards the pipework of the northern wall.

"Mister Burasu," Kaiou said quietly. He urgently tapped the spoon on the top of the pipe that formed the man's home.

There was no response.

"Mister Burasu," he repeated, and tapped the spoon louder. He must have hit it just right, because it sounded a loud resonating note.

"Ooohhhh!" came a long, deep voice from within the pipe. There was some shuffling and rustling.

Kaiou waited patiently.

A loud thud sounded, followed by a muffled cry of pain. Suddenly the curtain parted, and the bleary-eyed, bearded face of Mister Burasu appeared.

"Good morning?" he rapsed, rubbing the side of his head.

"Sorry for waking you so early," Kaiou began.

"Kaiou!" the man shouted, smiling. "Good morning to you!"

"Yes, good morning," Kaiou bowed.

"What's troubling you?"

"It's Kiri," Kaiou explained.

"Oh!" Mister Burasu loudly interrupted, smacking his head. "I forgot about her! I've been so busy with the water tower and the windbreak! She was sick. How is she doing?"

"She's getting worse."

Mister Burasu froze with his smile still stretched widely across his face. A heavy seriousness fell upon the man. "How bad is she?" he asked quietly.

"She stopped eating yesterday."

Mister Burasu's lips tightened. "Just a minute," he said, and disappeared back into the pipe.

More shuffling sounds came, and soon he reappeared fully dressed. "What duties were you assigned," he asked as he climbed out of the pipe.

"What?"

"Duties," Mister Burasu said hastily, "what duties are you handling?"

"I'm supposed to be a dirt-runner today. I have to be at the Sloomstacker site at day break."

"Head off to the trenches, then. I'll take care of your sister from here." Mister Burasu, rubbed his chin. "We'll need a doctor," he said to himself, and took off at a brisk pace.

"Wait!" Kaiou shouted, running along side. "Mom won't let anyone see her."

"I don't care," Mister Burasu said without missing a step.

"But how---"

"I'll kidnap her if that's what it takes," he said fiercely, turning to Kaiou, "That child needs help."

A smile briefly flashed across Kaiou's face, and tears welled up in his eyes as he ran alongside Mister Burasu.

"Misses Aiirenai," Doctor Suturongu called, tapping on the pole that supported the roof of the hut.

Doctor Suturongu was a balding, wirey man with a long grey mustache that reached straight out from his cheek as far as his shoulders. He had a crooked nose that gave him an appearance similar to a mouse. His face seemed to have a permanent look of concern worn into it, almost as if he had aged more from his care for others than from the winds of time.

"What is it?" Mom called from the inside.

"This is Doctor Suturongu. I'm here to see your daughter."

There was silence.

"Misses Aiirenai?" The doctor tapped the pole again.

There was no response.

Kaiou pulled Doctor Suturongu's elbow. The doctor held up his finger, and waited longer.

Suddenly the curtain parted and Mom's face appeared.

"Hello, Doctor Suturongu," she said smiling.

Kaiou cringed.

Mom glanced around at the crowd standing before her. When she saw Mister Burasu, she locked eyes with him and gave him the iciest glare Kaiou had ever seen.

"Misses Aiirenai," Doctor Suturongu continued, "I'm here to see Kiribi. I understand she's---"

"Doctor," Mom said, smiling again, "you couldn't have come at a better time. Kiribi has taken ill. I'm so glad you're here." She beckoned the doctor inside.

The doctor bowed, and ducked into the hut. Behind him, his assistant, Mister Hanudu and Kaiou followed. But as Mister Burasu ducked down, Mom deliberately closed the curtain in his face.

As Kaiou's eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw the place was a mess. The moon tree leaves were scattered about unevenly, and the bed rolls were laying in a disorganized heap, highlighted by a slanted shaft of sunlight coming in through the only open window flap. At the side, Kiri lay pale and motionless on her bed.

Mom moved next to Kiri and watched the crowd gather. Beneath her false confidence, her eyes betrayed her fear.

"Kiribi," Doctor Suturongu called, kneeling beside her, "Kiribi, can you hear me?"

There was no response.

He cupped his hand over her forehead, and closed his eyes. He sat like this for awhile, then pulled his hand away frowning. He looked over his shoulder to Mister Hanudu, who nodded, and opened a leather bag.

A soft blue glow eminated from within, highlighting Mister Hanudu's features as he ruffled through its contents. He lifted a glowing stone out, and bowed his head as he carefully placed it in Doctor Suturongu's hands.

Doctor Suturongu began chanting monotonously, rocking back and forth. He slowly moved the stone over Kiri's face. As he lowered the stone, his chanting quickened, growing louder and more fierce. Finally he set the stone on Kiri's forehead, and squeezed his eyes shut in tense concentration. The man stayed like this, all his muscles strained. A bead of sweat slowly worked its way down the doctor's forehead.

The blue light wavered, faded, then extinguished.

Doctor Suturongu curiously opened one eye, looking down in expectation. He exhaled sharply and frowned in dissapointment.

"Ikkousakebi," he proclaimed. "This child is suffering from severe ikkousakebi." He looked at Mom, who recoiled in fear. "There is little we can do."

Mom just stared at him.

"What does that mean?" Kaiou asked.

"She suffers from the screams of ikkoutsu rock," Mister Hanudu said quietly. "It is a sickness that aflicts her inner spirit."

"It has advanced far," Doctor Suturongu said gravely, examining Kiri's palm. "Her body is already begining to whither." He turned to Kaiou.

A whimper came from the corner where Mom was sitting. She was now clutching her knees to her chest, staring emptily at Kiri.

"The only thing that can save her now is ikkou singing," the doctor continued gravely, "its healing power will restore her spirit and her body will recover, but..." He glanced back at Kiri. "Time is fast running out. If there is not another Emergence before winter..." He paused, and lowered his head. "She will die," he said softly.

Kaiou's mind spun. The last words echoed in his head.

Kaiou knew what death was. It was the unseen harbringer of darkness. It waited patiently at the bedside of the elderly, and lurked in the machinery of the smelters, always ready to descend upon its victim, bringing the full force of eternal sleep. But to Kaiou, death was also the very real, and unforgiving horror that had taken Dad away. With this inescapable understanding, Doctor Suturongu's words brought their full weight to bear upon Kaiou.

"No!" he cried.

Mister Burasu jumped from his seat outside as the boy ripped his way out of the hut, and tore up the hill, towards the western wall.

"Kaiou!" he shouted, but his words went unheeded.

The cold wind blew about his face and rustled his clothes. Kaiou could feel the winter in its breath.

Among the largest structures in old Industria were three immense tanks known as "the guardians". They were surrounded by a confused jumble of pipes and steel trusses reaching impossible heights. From a distance, the pipework lent the structures an eerie organic look, as if they were dismembered appendages of some giant that lived eons ago.

Somewhere, high above the rooftops, lost within this steel jungle, the boy was now resting. From his perch among the truss members, his eyes searched the distant Ethereal Mountain range. He could barely make out The Threshold at its foot, but it was on this small green hill that all his thoughts were bent.

Behind him, the morning sun was just climbing into the sky. Kaiou felt it there, stubornly pressing forward in its treck across the heavens, inevitably marching toward the close of another day. Time was now dearly precious as it moved onwards, delicately carrying Kiri's life by its threads.

Again he focused on The Threshold. There must be an Emergence soon. Kaiou guessed it was probably four weeks until winter. Four weeks! How long had it been between the last two Emergences? He shook his head. How could there possibly be another so soon?