Check down the left hand side and you will see shortcuts to the pictures I’m making available as photographic prints. that was another of the things on my To Do list.

Seeds–

Lensman felt less naked as the terrain became more hilly. Their blow to the railroad had been so major that he had decided to bypass the second target- the airfield of a despised deserter squadron- and return to the mountains. The third target, as it was on his route, he would hit in passing.

It was a larger bridge than the one they had sneaked under on their way out of the mountains, and guarded more heavily. Even the rocky riverbed was patrolled, which was going to make planting charges on the four wooden legs much harder.

They used tree cover to get as close as possible then watched for a pattern to emerge from the patrols. There were two guards at the north end of the bridge, two at the south and two underneath. At regular intervals one of the guards atop the bridge would walk down the embankment to relieve one of those below. It was so predictable that the guard being relieved would set off up at the same time as the other started down. This provided Kess with his window to take down a number of the guards at his leisure.

It was approaching dusk when the next change over began. Kess wasn�t taking any chances. The shot was at the extreme range of his baby long, so he was using his full size gun. The single guard in the riverbed was looking bored. �Now.� Whispered Mov.

The guard was thrown several spans by the bullet. Kess reloaded and shifted his aim. The new guard didn�t even have time to register the body on the ground before the bullet hit him.

In groups of two, they sneaked down the riverbed. Lensman led the demolition team, packing explosives around the bridge legs and counting his men through.

As Kess and Mov brought up the rear there was the sound of motors up the road, and a shout from above. Weak headlights, from far down the road, illuminated the riverbed and the two figures running across it. An autogun opened up from above.

Mov fell, and didn�t get up. He only moved when more bullets hit him. Kess stumbled, but made it under the cover of the parapet. He looked back at Mov, rolled onto his back and pointed his long rifle straight up. In the confined space the flash and report were shocking. The bullet smashed through the wooden decking and a moment later the guard�s body tumbled to the riverbed.

Lensman helped the younger man to stand. There was blood on Kess� right leg. The both looked back at Mov. �We have to leave him and get out of here.� From their positions upstream the rest of the squad was firing on the remaining guards. Kess nodded understanding and allowed his commander to help him move. The last man out pulled the pins from the fused bag charges.

The convoy had stopped far down the road, and troops were jumping from softskins. As yet they didn�t seem to have any heavy weapons to bring to bear. A squad ran onto the bridge to take up firing positions, just as the charges went off. Some of them made it back off before the structure toppled. It was a minor victory. Lensman�s squad was still outnumbered four to one. He began planning for a last stand.

Quite a long chunk of Seeds tonight. I’m trying to bring some of the tales that have been running through part one to a close. Occasionally this takes a little longer.

Seeds–

Every other boat was a former battle craft. They had even come across a tracked amphibious thing that ferried people back and forth across the river. They took their cues from these craft and decorated theirs to match.

The shoreline was naked of trees, but not of industrial litter. Oil drums, both collapsible and rigid, were stacked up with old tyres, track segments and whole abandoned vehicles. The few green shoots became ever rarer as the air became more polluted. They took to covering their mouths with cloth and shielding their eyes with goggles.

�What could produce this much toxic air?� Marra wondered.

�Reff.� Dack told her, �It is a city dedicated to refining and processing the resources they strip from the plains and forests.�

The city came at them suddenly, appearing from its own haze. There were docks and warehouses and beyond them a great barrier of smokestacks and soot. They found a decrepit little jetty and landed. �I believe I have found my mission.� Morn announced as he alighted.

�Here? But there could be more deserving downstream. What about my country?� Marra asked.

�To take back your country you need more men like Dack and fewer like me. Even on your own you have the strength to do the job. It is my task to help the truly helpless.�

There was movement at the shore end of the jetty. Small figures resolved from the murk. They were all armed, some with spears taller than themselves. Two taller figures came towards the boat. As they drew nearer they were revealed as identical twins, each with the build of a wrestler. Identical but for one detail- one had a red crescent tattooed down the right side of his face, the other the left.

�Off are jetty!� proclaimed Left. For all his size he was very young, perhaps no more than a year past hairing.

�I would like to enter Reff.�

�Nothing in Reff but death.� Right announced.

�Perhaps I could help. Can I speak with your parents?�

Left laughed at that. A nasty laugh with hints of violence. �Our parents are dead.� Right announced.

�You are orphans?�

�We are all.� Left gestured at the little figures.

Right had come to a decision. �We fight. You win, you pass. You lose�..� He addressed this to Dack, then studied Marra, considering her his prize.

�Very well.� Morn stepped forward. Marra kept Dack from protesting. �You fight me. If I win, you will take me into the city. If I lose, we shall get in our boat and sail away.�

That wasn�t the prize that Left wanted, but he was ready for a fight now. Besides, he was nearly three whole spans taller than this little man and one span taller than the dark one and the woman. �Both of us.� He announced. It was supposed to unnerve his opponent, but the little man simply nodded and smiled.

Marra and Dack took steps back. They could jump into the boat and get weapons if needed. Left stepped forward, relishing the bone popping noises he would soon hear. He lunged at Morn.

And went straight over him. Morn had ducked under his attacker�s arms and dropped to the floor. He jabbed at the boy�s groin and levered him into a cartwheel by the ankle. Left landed on his face, pivoting about it onto his back.

Morn bounced back up, ready to defend against Right�s attack. This youngster was more wary than his brother. He tried jabbing punches. Morn dodged them, tapping at nerve clusters until the boy found his legs wouldn�t respond and he fell sideways.

Some of the smaller figures raised their spears. Left was forcing himself up, he waved them to stop. Morn was ready for another attack, though there would not be much to it. �No one beat me before.� Left complained, �Show me how.�

�Maybe one day. Your brother will recover in a little while. When he does, perhaps you can show me where you all live.�

Left nodded agreement. He waved the little ones to come closer. �Our tribe. You have belongings?�

Marra and Dack passed items up from the boat. Morn passed some of them back. The little ones picked up the treasure as it was piled up, ready to carry it back to their hideout.

Finally, Marra and Dack came onto the jetty to say their farewells. �It has been an honour to share time on the river with you.� Marra announced.

�And with you.� They clasped hands and bowed until their foreheads touched.

Dack and Morn bowed to each other without touching. �May we meet again.� Dack said.

�Indeed. There are great things coming. Perhaps we will be part of them.� Morn joined the tribe of juveniles and walked off into the grime.