A Canticle for Birth: Part III

Part III: Laws Preserve

Moss.

It's not food but it stops the growling in my stomach. 

I waited through the night until dusk. Its not possible to see the sun through the fog, I'm not even sure there is a sun anymore. When the jittering sounds began it was time to leave.

I can hear them around me, sometimes I catch a glimpse, they're playing with me like cats. I think whatever they are they might have even been cats at one point. 

A village! I see it in the clearing ahead. Were they steering me here?

I don't want to go. It looks normal all of it. Part of me fears it is normal. Not everything in the glade is… well its not all bad here but that makes it worse in a way. 

For a moment I think it may very well be normal.

"Rum-dchk-chk-chk!" A motor roars from behind I trip and stumble turning as quick as I can my staff at the ready.

It looks like a human from the neck down. Walks and acts like one. The engine block head is the only thing thats not right. I've seen worse, its annerving all the same.

He points at me, and a jagged sound something between guttural speech and a lawnmower emits from his engine head. 

My heart throbs as I slowly stand easing the staff but still keeping the spell I have ready to unload.

"Food?" I implore tentatively rubbing my stomach. It has a stomach surely it needs food. But what do people with engine blocks for heads eat.

It points at me "Grrmft!" Black smoke billows with this response. Is this anger?

"I don't understand. Are you asking my name? Oez my name is Oez, who are you?"

He approaches quickly and I hold my staff out warningly. He brushes it aside and shoves me.

"Aank! Whawrk!" I stumble back frightfully keeping my footing but stepping in mud.

"I caution you b-b-by the rites and laws of soil and air I will dispatch you!" I stutter. 

A series of chainsaw like noises he emits, easily distinguishable as laughs despite whatever else I may not be able to decipher. 

He hisses a rattle, points at me then points at something behind me. I cast a glance quickly keeping my eye on engine head and my staff ready. A shack near the edge of the village. I see several figures moving in the background barely perceivable through the fog. Women, men, children, and I'd bet not a one has a human head. All engines? Likely.

I hate this place. 

"No threat I mean you! Hospitality I beg, please do not-" I feel a writhing in my leg and lose stability.

Pieces of metal twist and his expression changes. I never thought an engine block could look angry. "Gr-gr-grgrGOE, GO!" It bellows in plain mechanical speech. 

I don't want to fight a village I can feel the gazes of other engine heads now. I let the tip of my staff erupt in radiant light, nothing dangerous just a demonstration of power.

He approaches, indifferent, shoves the staff aside grabs my arm and begins dragging me. I struggle but he is strong. 

"R-r-release me, I will-" he throws me at the shack door and I collapse in a pile inside. 

I raise the staff and whimper back to the closest corner I can feel the tears and I struggle to breathe as the anxiety seizes me. 

"Hrk-hrk-hrk!" He stutters and points again I hesitate to look. He approaches like he's going to hit me and I cower. 

"Uk-gwa! Jk-jk-jk!" He points again. 

"Do not make me do this!" I sob.

I need Ves I can't do this. Slowly I turn. And see it but I don't understand. A dead engine woman naked from the chest up. 'WHORE' carved cruelly into her bare breasts a mix of blood and mechanical fluids. What kind of fucked society is this?

"I don't-" he slaps me in the face.

"Shok-ka!" He rumbles

"Please!" I raise my hands to protect my face, "I don't understand."

"Kill him." My neckball whispers. "Kill him or die."

Shrieking noises and he shakes me. I close my eyes and let go. The spell finds its mark, I know it has, even with eyes clenched shut. Laws preserve me. 

Shpluk! Thood!

Blood and flesh. Scrap and oil. He is gone now.

Quickly I go as quickly I came. I shall go hungrily from here. They stare as I flee. 

Always watching, never alone whether tree or vine, feline or motor head the glade knows. It always knows.