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         TOYS AND OTHER WEAPONS

        by Daniel J. Robinson
           Kansas City MO


          A Broken Retreat

    Burton walked in, shaking the
door handle to be certain the latch
had caught. "Don't need any pests in
here," he mumbled to himself as he
crossed the room. He placed his staff
into the rack beside the door and
turned and walked into the large room
beyond.

    He had finished the planting, and
looked forward to several weeks of
rest before the fields would again
require long days of hard labor. He
stared a few moments at the cold
fireplace then turned towards the
hallway. "A cold meal's enough
tonight," he thought as he hurried to
complete the last chore of the day.
He walked down the hall past the side
rooms and up to the door at the end.
He placed his index finger into the
hole near its unused handle and
hearing a "click" pushed it open.
When he emerged from the room a few
minutes later the weariness in his
face had grown but his gait had
quickened. A few minutes later a new
fire spread among the kindling in his
fireplace and his staff had been
moved to the third slot of the rack.
Seven chairs were placed in careful
order near the fire. One centered
before the fireplace and three to
either side of that chair, to form a
semi-circle.

    "Just a moment," he answered the
knock. He was annoyed by his new
tasks. With darkness quickly
approaching, the visitors would be
here until morning. Still he would
not betray this feeling to his
guests. "Welcome Thomas, come in," he
greeted his first guest.

    The first figure nodded to his
host as he entered, "Sorry to disturb
your retreat," the older man said as
he placed his staff in the first
slot. "They insisted on a formal
meeting," he explained then passed by
and took a chair by the fire.

    "We have disturbing news," the
second figure spoke while entering.
He placed his staff and lingered as
the next man entered.

    "Yes, I know Joseph," Burton
acknowledged. "Nothing less would
bring you here so late." Burton
turned to the next guest and nearly
whispering asked, "How are they,
Victor?"

    Victor placed his free hand upon
Burton's shoulder and leaning forward
as if to hide the reply from the
others quietly explained, "They are
very concerned. Only yesterday the
sensor was tripped, and this morning
Joseph saw smoke on the mountainside
near the entrance." Taking his hand
away the man placed his staff, then
swung his hand widely to invite the
loiterer towards the fire.

    The host simply greeted the last
figures with a nod as they entered
silently, placed their staffs into
the remaining slots and joined the
others. Burton closed the door, shook
the latch, and took his place in the
first chair to the left of Thomas,
who sat in the center chair. Victor
sat beside Burton, and Joseph sat in
the first chair to the right. The
remaining guests filled the chairs
further from the center. Burton
stared into the building fire and
quietly spoke, "This is troubling but
not unexpected. It's most likely a
lost hunter or trapper."

    Joseph queried, "And if it isn't,
what are we going to do? This is a
threat! What are they hunting? They
might torture us for secrets or
treasure and kill us when they find
we have none. They will destroy all
we have, trying to find what isn't
here."

    "Only one bell sounded," Thomas
spoke calmly, "that's two people at
the most. We must find out their
intentions but we've no reason to
fear them yet. We don't have an army
of scavengers looking to remove any
useful bits they can find. This may
be no more than wide-eyed youths
seeking out some land told about in
an old legend. We can't panic every
time someone finds their way through
the tunnels."

    Fatigue from the day's work and a
warm fire had Burton staring at the
flames. The word "panic" brought him
back to reality. He knew some already
had the first tickle of fear in their
bellies. The intruder would
eventually spark panic if he or she
came too near before their purpose
was known. Each had his task. All was
decided long ago, though the role
each would play changed as time
passed, and their talents emerged.
First, someone would approach the
trespassers and determine their
intentions before they came too near.
Someone would take a chance and find
out if the intruder was a curious
explorer, or a scavenger looking for
new places to loot. Everyone in the
room had a their special skill. It
was his luck, or lack of it, to be
the scout. "I will leave tomorrow to
observe and, if I feel it is safe,
meet with our trespassers. When we
know their intentions we can decide
how to proceed. We have always known
this would happen. We have planned
for it so we don't have to destroy
every luckless traveler who happens
upon us and still keep the risk
minimal. Now we will test our
preparations and find out their
purpose. If they appear peaceful, I
will make contact." Raising his hand
slightly towards the guest to his
left he continued, "Victor will come
with me, but if I choose to make
contact, will remain hidden. He can
raise the alarm if I am detained or
killed."

    "Victor has acquired this skill
also?" questioned Joseph.

    "I have some skill," Victor
reported, "though I will be several
years learning before I can match
Burton."

    Their concerns noted, each rose
in turn, offered their encouragement
to their comrades who were about to
put themselves in harm's way, and
retired to a bedroom. At first light,
before the others had risen, Thomas
walked into the morning air and with
a quickness envied by the younger
men, was soon out of sight. After the
morning meal the others set off for
their respective lodgings. Burton and
Victor spent their morning gathering
their packs, preparing the house, and
working to free the large gate to its
enclosure. With preparations finished
they walked out towards the faint
treeline on the horizon.

    As the trail began to wind among
the trees the two were surprised by
the sudden appearance of the first
guest. "I see you've been practicing
your skills too, Thomas," Burton
greeted his old friend.

    Thomas smiled, "It has always
proved a useful tool." His expression
became serious as he continued,
"There is something you need to know
before you proceed."

    "And you didn't want the others
alarmed," interrupted Burton. "You
think our intruder knows where he
is."

    The elder smiled again and
scolded, "You have skills you haven't
shared. Then again with a stern
expression, "He passed through the
tunnels without hesitation. He knew
every turn and ignored every
deception, yet he is too young to
have been here before and his face
was never clear. If he is descended
from a wanderer, I couldn't tell. He
may indeed have learned of us through
an old legend, but as you know, the
route through the mountain is
complicated. Someone from this valley
taught him how to navigate it. No one
else would have so much knowledge of
the tunnels."

    "You can watch as someone passes
through the tunnels?" asked Victor
with astonishment.

    "I watch everyone who moves
through the tunnels," Thomas replied
then smiled as the young man's jaw
dropped. "Don't worry young one, we
all are curious about the outside."
Turning back to Burton he continued,
"Be careful. With luck he knows
nothing but the path. Stories,
however, could have all sorts of
distortions and promises. The stories
he's heard could portray us as evil
beasts or benevolent gods. Either way
he may attack to kill or to test you.
Take careful notice of any weapons
before you make contact."

    "I know my craft, Thomas," Burton
replied. "Thank you for your concern,
my friend, and for the information.
Rest at the house tonight and finish
your journey tomorrow morning. No
fires tonight though, since our
intruder may notice. Be certain to
leave everything just as you find it.
If all goes well I expect to have a
new guest tomorrow night, and I need
everything in place."

    The old man walked back into the
open valley. The other two turned
towards the trees and soon their
shapes merged with the shadows of the
forest.


           The Trespasser

    The young man looked about. He
had seen no sign of road or trail and
was surprised when