Chapter 6 -

Chapter 6
City of Garden
Morn - Sunrise

“Do not be afraid; our fate
Cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.”
~Dante Alighieri


A man lay on his back, his bedclothes strewn all around him. He was not asleep, but his eyes were still closed as if to not see what lay in front of them.

The day had begun like any other day. He had risen with the sun: his usual habit, though of late, it was getting harder and harder to do so. He had drunk his coffee and had slung his knapsack with his lunch over one shoulder. Not saying anything, for he didn’t want to wake his wife, he left the house as silently as his old bones and deteriorating hearing allowed.
He liked this part of the day, when there was no one on Garden’s streets, when the sights and sounds of the city were at their mildest. This is when he felt closer to home, closer to his dream of living a wild life. His eyes gleamed for a second as he thought of his dream, and then as it faded, so did the light in his eyes.
The Vivarium would have to do for now. That would have to suffice for his dream now. He didn’t love Garden as much as most, but if it could be said about any part of the City, he loved the Vivarium.
It was most natural part of Garden he thought. Even though flora and fauna was featured everywhere in Garden, he still found the mix of steel and glass hidden in plain view amongst the trees of the City a little disturbing.
Not like the Vivarium. It was plainly adorned, and there were only five walls within the enclosure: the four thick and tall protective hedge rows around the Vivarium and the last was the sky. This kind of ceiling was more to his liking.
He had made a detour that day; he had wanted to pick a amall piece of fruit as he still felt a little hungry, that and he was feeling his age a little more than usual. He would never have admitted it, but he had increased his fruit intake slightly to offset this.
He arrived at the Dome and doors were still open.
"That Addam and Lilya, they'll always forget something," He smiled and thought to himself. He walked inside, still giving no audible greeting as was his habit. He prefered silence to noise and rarely found himself saying anything that didn't need saying.
He wound his way around the Dome's circular path, wondering at the silence. Addam and Lilya were usually never the source of silence, their laugher and voices were well known to the whole village.
Suddenly the scent of something wild and feral struck his nostrels. He instantly stopped his body acquiver. He held himself in taut attention to the sense; it was a dark scent and it was not to his liking. It reminded him of his memories of the first hunt of the season, so long ago. He started walking again and wondered from where the smell had come. It seemed that it got stronger as he made his way towards the center of the Dome, towards the Tree.
He was thinking that an animal might have gotten in through  the forgotten door, "Blast that Addam." He thought to himself. Something like that had never happened, but that was the only thing he could think of.
Then he rounded the last corner and saw the Tree, and what lay underneath it.

He did not remember clearly what he did next. He could remember dim faces, someone screaming and helping hands lay him down.
He had not gotten up since then, and he had tried to keep his eyes closed. It was if by keeping his eyes closed, he might not remember what lay  the Tree. His wife had bathed his head in cool water as he lay, and he felt a little better. Nobody had come to ask him anything about his discovery and he didn't want to talk about it. His wife, seeing his expression on his face when she started to ask, stopped and gently held him instead.
Today, the day after the accidents, he got up with the sun as he always did. He didn't feel his normal self, but he didn't know when he would so he didn't know what difference it made.
Horten stood in front of his mirror upon rising and looked at himself. He was older than he realized. Sometimes he forgot how old he actually was, but there was no escaping it this day.
He slowly pulled his work covers on; he did this as always without the light for he didn't want to wake his wife. She had, as always, laid out his uniform. It was habit he supposed, maybe they all had them deep-rooted like that. He hoped so, as he was going to have to rely on that to get through this day.
He had to visit with certain animals at the Vivarium today; they were sick and he had not seen them yesterday. He didn't feel at all up to going anywhere, let alone interacting with anyone who might ask him anything about yesterday as well taking care of his animals.

The walk outside felt alien to his soul, it was as if he had never made this walk before. He dimly remembered walking this same path yesterday, with the same trees waving hello to the same sun and the same wind caressing his scars in its own playful fashion. But that was if it had been an ancient time compared to now. He just bent his head a little as if weighed down and kept walking.

He made no detour or stop and ended his commute at the entrance to the Vivarium. There was as usual no one there as early as he; the sun had just risen and even the animals were still hidden in slumber. He made his rounds, making little noise and disturbing few of the animals.
This work calmed him, and he felt more at peace with the world. He also felt more attached to reality; he didn't know if this was due to his interaction with the real world or just by doing something he felt more alive. It didn't matter. This is what he loved most about Garden and he would do it till the end of his days.

The Doctor had not slept very well that night. He had tossed and turned, his dreams alternatively waking him and putting him to sleep.
He felt another dream's pull, but he resisted this time and sat up. It was still dark, not quite yet morn, but he could see an orange glow to the East that suggested it was nor too far off. His window faced the East, but it still dark enough outside so the faint tinge of orange was still the only thing he could see.
Rising, his creaking limbs crying out that they were not ready, he started to dress. Doing so, he shook the bell by his desk. This was to wake Robinson so he would be ready when the Doctor was ready.
He was sure now, what he was going to do. He had many a misgiving, but he shrugged them off as he put his coat on.
"Good morning Doctor," Said Robinson from the doorway.
"Were you already awake Robinson? I only rang for you few moments ago." The Doctor said drily.
"I'm always ready for whenever you ring Doctor. I think that you are the one up early, before the sun’s even risen." Robinson gestured with one hand towards the sunrise while he spoke. His other hand knuckled his forehead.
"Would you be so good as to get the barouche ready? I wish to visit the Vivarium and Horten if he is there." He asked Horten while tying his tie.
"It will be ready in a fiver." Robinson winked at the Doctor and turned to go.
"Robinson, I would also like you to accompany me."
Robinson didn't stop at all on his way out. "As you say Doctor."
Out in the hallway, Robinson thought to himself, what the hell is the old man up to at this time of morning? And what does he want me for?
He reached the carriage house and started the preparations for taking the barouche.
Whatever it is, he thought to himself, I’ll be ready.
He took out his revolver from its hiding place and slipped it into his coat pocket.

The ride to the Vivarium was cooler than normal; the weather system usually was a little more sluggish in the morning. The two men rode in silence; the Doctor usually didn't waste many words with Robinson. He felt he was understood without too much prattle and he knew he certainly understood Robinson without him having to prattle on.
The Sun was over the Dome when they could see it; hung tinged with orange, almost red and with an angry streak of fire that slashed vertically across its face.
“If you don’t mind me asking Doctor, what are we doing out at this time of morning?” Robinson asked while he nudged the horses a little faster with his buggy whip.
“I do not mind you asking in the least. I guess you could say, whether I want to or not, I am going to get involved.” The Doctor said simply.
“You mean in that nasty business? How does this jaunt have anything to do with them?” Robinson asked carefully. He wasn’t worried; he just didn’t want to appear too curious.
“I don’t really want to go into the necessary details Robinson, but I have reason to think that Horten might be attacked next.”
“Horten?” Robinson exclaimed. “Why? What’s he got to do with this?”
“I do not know. I just have a suspicion.” The Doctor shook his head slowly. “It’s that damned letter he left!” The Doctor exclaimed during the moment of silence after his declaring his suspicion.
“He? Was another clue dropped?” Robinson dropped his care and his full curiosity showed.
“It seems so. Something in it planted a seed that Horten might be attacked next. It was nothing really, but I should like to warn Horten anyway.” He shrugged uneasily.
“Right you are Doctor.” Agreed Robinson heartily.

 They arrived at the entrance to the Vivarium quietly, with only a small jangling of the reins to announce their presence.
“Shall I stay with the horse Doctor?” Robinson asked, leaping out of the barouche to steady the animals.
“No, I wish company when we find him. The horses will be all right for a little while.” He replied, getting out of the barouche. “Now, if you were Horten, where would you be at this time of morning?”
“Doctor, I would be sleeping.” Robinson smiled.
They went through the gate and followed the main path angling off center by way of a Westerly direction.
“But you were awake when I rang for you. Why had you already woken?” The Doctor asked curiously.
“I couldn’t sleep. It’s been troubling me of late.” Robinson replied easily.
They approached the first pit that had animals in it. Horten was nowhere to be seen but they stopped for a moment.
The animals inside were lions. Hidden inside their den, they slept, barely perceptible to the two men’s eyes; they were nonetheless majestic in what they did. Their manes sweeping down over their noble brows, their fur was the exact colour of the rays that were soon to be arcing down to meet their pit in joyous celebration.
The Doctor paused only for a moment to admire them though, he stalked on, his intent and purpose serious enough to make him walk faster than normal. He would usually walk slower than most to hide what he could of his limp, but his habit now was all but forgotten in his haste.
He broke the silence of the habitat for the first time that morning.
"Horten?!" The Doctor's voice rang out sweet and clear. "Horten?"
There was no answer save that of a lion lifting up its head having been woken from slumber.
There was silence for a minute while the Doctor and Robinson listened for any sound that would break the silence.
Finally Robinson spoke, "Doctor, I don't think he's within hearing distance. Want to split up and find him?"
The Doctor shook his head worriedly. "I don't know if that's a good idea. If something has happened to Horten, we might be in more danger by separating. We should stick together and find him."
Just then, there was a lingering shout from a little distance away. It was not intelligible, but Robinson, with a look at the Doctor's nodding head, raced forward towards the origin of the sound.
The Doctor tried to keep up, his limp becoming even more pronounced as he walked faster.
Robinson, who was loping as if the devil himself were behind him, disappeared behind a small rock formation.
"Robinson....Robinson, do you see him? Is everything all right?" The Doctor cried out when Robinson disappeared.
There was no answer for a moment, and then two.
Then there was another shout. "Doctor!" It was Robinson this time.
The Doctor, fearing the worst, limped forward a little faster. His mind racing, he shouted again.
"Horten? Robinson?" He tried again.
There was silence.
He rounded the rocks and saw Robinson kneeling by a prone figure. At the sound of the Doctor's footfalls, Robinson craned his neck around to meet the Doctor's gaze.
"He's only resting. I think he must be extremely tired." He got up from his position and stretched.
"When I saw him there, I thought the worst." Robinson sounded extremely relieved.
"As did I." The Doctor, relieved as well, walked forward.
"Horten? Horten?" His voice was not loud by any means, instead it was pitched as to gently lift someone from their slumber.
Horten stirred and opened his eyes.
"Doctor...Is everything all right?" Horten sat up.
He was gray haired  and his face was wrinkled as if it was older leather that had cracked  in a number of places. His voice had even cracked a little it sounded like. Horten's question changed from a tone in the middle and his rasp made it even more noticeable.
"Yes Horten, everything is all right. We didn't mean to disturb you." The Doctor nodded at Robinson, letting Horten know he was there.
"Do you always sleep there?" Robinson asked grinning from behind the sitting man.
"I do." Replied Horten owlishly. "I sleep here because you can't see me from the gate."
"It's where I would sleep. I would think of that if I were to sleep here." Robinson said still grinning. "But no, I wouldn't sleep here. I would be alseep in my bed back in my room."
Ignoring him, the Doctor spoke to Horten.
He had decided to ask first about the Murders and then the warning.
"Horten, I would like to ask you some questions."
"No, I won't answer any now." Horten replied at once and very hurriedly.
"Soon then? We need to know everything we can." The Doctor spoke understandingly. "I did not come to bother you about that though, Horten." He paused and waited to see if Horten would say anything.
When there was nothing but silence, the Doctor spoke again.
"We discovered another missive last night." He paused again as if to find the words. "It speaks of more danger. "
Then, quoting the line from it, the Doctor said in a forbidding voice.
  "WORSE STILL THAN THE FIRST
                WOLF TO LAMB
                    DEATH FOR THE DAMNED"

"I thought that....might refer to you. I should be very careful if I were you."
"Well thank you Doctor, but what would you have me do? The Vivarium, much as I would like it to be self-sustaining, wont exactly take care of itself." He shook his head. "I'll be as careful as I can, but I am not going to hide."
"I just wanted to warn you. I don't know what it means. Just...be careful." The Doctor smiled slowly at Horten.
"You be careful too Doctor," He said, then nodded at Robinson, "You too Robinson."
"I'm always careful." Said Robinson easily.
All three stood there, then, silently thinking the same thing.
"Well, we will leave you to your work Horten." The Doctor said. Then to Robinson, said, "Come, I think some repast is in order."
"You never said a truer word Doctor." Robinson said grinning again.
They walked back in the direction they had come, a little more slowly as if the Doctor was burdened by even more than his limp.

When the barouche had pulled out heading to the Vivarium, a shadow detached itself from the side of the carriage house. The figure wore black and had a black balaclava over their face. For a moment after the Doctor and Robinson left, they just stood and stared after them. Then they walked quickly away and were lost to the darkness.