RP: Wood Violets and Ponies
In which Myles and Will search for anything of use at the AGRI-FAC.
Starring: Myles Woodrow, Will Heggers
Warning: Mention of human remains (skeleton)
*It is dawn. Will and Myles whisper through the dewed grasses and warped, untended trees of the AGRI-FAC orchard. There is a windfall of rotting fruit on the ground, between wet leaves and tangled branch. The path is a parting of grass; nothing more, and the wind is noiseless against their faces.
*They come to a slipped drystone wall at the edge of an upland pasture. Here, there is a large broadleaf chestnut tree where Wards at noon sought the shade. Beyond the field are the blackened shapes of the farm buildings. Tattered growth tunnels billow their torn plastic soundlessly in the distance.
*Myles is silent.
*Will finally arrives at Myles’ side.
[Will] Phew! What a charming place. Hope your old base is in better nick!
*Myles regards him in distaste. He adjusts his glasses and traverses the fallen wall. [Myles] The best neighbour - *He lands in the furrowed, overgrown pasture. [Myles] Is a good wall. As my Father used to be fond of saying.
[Will] Uh huh? What happened? Yours move away? But seriously, how much further? This pack isn’t exactly light...
[Myles] Oh, hurry up! I can’t abide any more of your nonsense! We’ve work to do!
[Will] Okay, okay. What’s the first job? You were wanting to make something go bang right?
[Myles] Revenge, Will. Revenge is our intent.
*Myles steps into the long field. For a time, they walk in silence.
[Myles] This was barley. Spring and Winter sown. We’d have been ploughing at this time of year. *He smiles bitterly
[Myles] It’s all just fallow now, isn’t it.
*Will crouches down and prods the ground slightly
[Will] I guess… I’m not a farmer you know… Back home we had other castes for that job. I’m sure it could be brought back to its former splendor… Maybe.
[Myles] … Let’s see if there’s anything left, Will. [Will] Lead the way.
*Will jerks his hand over to a nearby building
[Will] Though I might like to rummage over there at some point. Could’ve sworn I saw some parts that looked less rusted through the window
[Myles] Absolutely not! I won’t have you meddling - with…
*His tone dulls with sadness.
[Myles] I suppose you might as well.
*Will coughs
[Will] After you then. Not like I know where you stored everything.
*They trudge through the ploughlines to the bottom of the field, where still water lies in some of the furrows, amongst the rusted-firm hulks of nameless machines.
*Will’s foot lands with a squelch as he steps into a waterlogged section of ground without looking
[Will] Oh for the love of… You see Woodrow, this is why I stick with my machines.
[Myles] It must be a -terrible- chore to co-ordinate limbs when they’re as overgrown as yours. For Mother’s sake man, have some grace!
*Will grumbles something about his sodden boot.
[Will] Do bare in mind, my overgrown limbs are going to be what we use to lug anything we can salvage back to the Border.
*They walk the muddied field edge. Here, the torn plastic of the growth tunnels slap and twist in the wind. Myles is subdued. They come to the packed gravel path that leads to the blackened, fire hollowed farmhouse.
[Myles] I … Suppose we’re here, then.
*Myles glances aside.
[Myles] I don’t understand why they had to burn it.
[Will] This would be your friend from the helicopter?
*Myles nods, silently. He begins to pick his way across the garden. Limp and wilted fushias lean, and heavy, unkept pear trees have shed their fruit onto the wild lawn.
[Will] For what it’s worth Woodrow, I am sorry
*He steps forward. The house is gutted; windows smashed and smoked. Blistered paint peels under Myles’ touch, and boards, warped from years of rain and rot, have pulled themselves from their holdings.
*Myles steps in. The house groans. The roof is gone, and blackened beams lattice the grey sky. Half of the wall is gone; and beside the house a cream coloured car is rusting, discoloured by fire, ash, rainwater and moss. Myles stands motionless.
[Myles] That was - my Father’s. I took it out once, when I was sixteen. Picked up Arthur on the way to our school. Left Laurence to cycle. I don’t think he ever forgave me.
*He moves forward. A bird flits angrily by them, disturbed.
*Will moves to take a closer look at the vehicle but stops himself
[Will] I’m guessing those were friends? Family? What happened to them?
*They move around the house. There are small ornaments, each dark with ash, cracked, the leavings of another life. The boards creak under their feet. [Myles] … You’d better check the living room. I’ll see to the kitchen. [Will] Fair enough[. I’ll be back shortly. Take care though. Fires have a nasty effect on the structural capability of any building.
*Will cautiously moves towards the room indicated by Myles, watching his footsteps as he goes. In the living room he sees the charred remains of a coffee table on its side and what’s left of a couch. Soot and carbon burns scar the walls and the floor appears to have given way in sections. As he approaches the table, he notices something just sitting in the largest hole in the room and moves closer to investigate.
[Will] Hmm… What have we he… Oh.
*As he nears he sees a grim sight. Through the dim light of the room and into the darkness he is able to just make out the silhouettes of a small group of skeletons, huddling together as if to protect themselves from their fate.
*Time seems to stand still until Will is suddenly disturbed from his shock by the creaking of floorboards and approaching foot steps. He quickly rushes to the door to block Myles’ entrance.
[Will] Myles… You’re done already? Did you find anything?
[Myles] Either stripped or ruined - is there anything in here? My books - ah, pardon me. *Myles waits for Will to move. [Myles] I said pardon me, Will.
[Will] Look… There’s really no easy way to say this. Umm… There’s something you need to see.
*Will slowly steps out the way and nods towards the burnt out couch
*Myles stares at the burned piece of furniture. [Myles] Oh. Dreadful. My mother would be devastated; the upholstery cost a fortune. Wood Violets and Ponies… That was the name of the pattern...
*Myles glances at him.
[Myles] I wonder.
*Myles turns. He exits the house through the fallen wall. He presses his hand to his forehead and calls back to Will.
[Myles] Good news, you overgrown brute! You’re going to meet -my- overgrown brutes!
*Myles gestures down the field, grinning.
*Will, stunned, slowly turns around to face Myles
[Will] Huh wha? Horses?
[Myles] Will, prepare my steed - We RIDE!
