Chapter 7. Gyre

  1890 The Kalgoorlie Goldfields, Australia

  Before he closed the front doors, Pastor Fields made sure all the

  windows of the Chapel were firmly shut. He stood outside on the

  alcove stairs and watched the towering outer wall of the dust storm

  as it moved towards the town.

  There was no denying how menacing it looked. There was a primal

  inevitability in it's slow approach. Last years dust storms had

  blanketed the town and surrounding goldfields for days, blinding and

  choking anyone unfortunate enough to be out in it.

  The Pastor smiled, it was going to be an excellent cover for dealing

  with the bothersome visitor in town. For some days now the man had

  been asking questions and poking about in affairs that where

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  none of his concern. The only thing the Pastor knew about the man

  was his name - Ithaniel.

  Tonight that was going to change, he'd reached out and invited him

  to dinner. His men knew what he wanted done. Their reputation

  was often enough to keep trouble at arms length, but they did have

  a bad habit of getting carried away and beating senseless people

  the Pastor wanted to talk to. The sky began to darken.

  *

  When he reached home the Pastor was surprised to find

  Ithaniel sitting by himself at the dining table.

  "Good evening Pastor Fields, I would introduce myself but I

  am certain you already know who I am."

  The Pastor said nothing.

  Ithaniel poured himself a glass of wine and then another for

  the Pastor. "I must confess to being impressed by how much

  influence you have in this community. The networks you've

  quietly built. Take a seat, your house keeper was kind enough

  to put out some soup and bread before she left."

  In my own fucking house the Pastor thought bitterly.

  "There is usually a man by the front door to greet guests such

  as yourself." he said as he sat down.

  Ithaniel soaked a piece of bread in the soup.

  "I hope you don't think I am doubting your hospitality. Your man

  and his colleagues greeted me when I arrived earlier today."

  "And yet," the Pastor said. "here you are, by yourself."

  Ithaniel buttered another piece of bread. "You really should try

  some of this soup."

  "Where are my men?"

  "All dead I'm afraid." Ithaniel said.

  When the Pastor tried to push away from the table Ithaniel

  stabbed the knife he was holding into the Pastor's hand pinning

  it to the table. Pastor Fields started to shake as he looked

  at his hand.

  "Your brother Maurice was part owner of a mine that collapsed."

  "That had nothing to do with me." the Pastor said.

  Ithaniel dipped a spoon into his soup and sipped. "I'm going to

  ask you some questions about his partner, a man named Innis,

  and you are going to tell me absolutely everything that you know

  about him."

  The winds of the dust storm howled through the town's empty

  streets and no-one heard the Pastor's screams.

  *