Avery Leone returned to the estate in poor humor. He had not been happy with the idea of having St. Croix workers flitting all over the charters' holdings, especially since he could see the St. Croix compound from his own walls as it was. He did not feel the need for a civil defense on a basically agrarian world with no cities or tourist trade of any note. He had voted against the adoption of the proposal, even though Gregory was a neighbor. Privately, he questioned Greggory's motivations for the offer. It would be a great expense, to provide a global militia, for an agricultural outpost such as Avon. It seemed to him a businessman would have started by asking for more concessions in terms of funding and land. However, he had been out voted in council and that, he shrugged, was that. He made a note to talk further with Sienna about Gregory and his plans. A man about whom, he realized, he knew very little.

He looked up the dirt lane to the estate's porch. Sienna stood there, staring up over the tree break towards the St. Croix factory site, frowning. Her shoulders seemed to sag. She looked exhausted, and Avery wondered if Lucille had been over-working their guest. His sister's love for the estate sometimes lead her to involve others in her passion, which was not always appreciated. Avery waved at the girl, catching her attention.

****

Sienna was tired, but at peace as she let herself out onto the front veranda of the Leone estate. Lucille and Gilda had engaged her with banter about estate life, and had made her feel part of something. Life had meaning here,direction. Time didn't just pass, it was predicted, looked forward to. The future was not some great unknown that needed to be faced,but an orderly net of events that needed planning for, that set the tempo for each day's activities. It gave back a sense of purpose and comfort.

Sienna took a deep breath, clearing her head from the almost dizzying smells of baking bread and burning wood.

Looking up, she saw the distant matte gray dome of St. Croix. There was a swarm of activity above the structure, and a constant stream of small transports and cargo lighters descended upon it, a steel rain through the skies of Avon. Surface flyers circled it, shooting off in all directions, and the low rumble of tortured air could be heard even from here. The peace she had experienced dissipated as she watched, her thoughts returned to her father, and a wave of helpless despair engulfed her.

Sienna gazed up from the front of the estate house, to see Avery making his way past the enclosure gates, waving as he came.

****

Father Abrams trudged back across the dusty roadway just outside the estate of Herr Muller. His visit had been unproductive. He had been courteously received, but the owner had been absent. Two of the estate workers had invited him into their residences, and one baptism had been planned for later in the month.

The missionary eyed his lighter, set back well off the roadway in a somewhat open dale, and wished, not for the first time, that he had loaded the small field mission kit before leaving Alcomer. It had been discussed at New Vatica, but decided against it. The thrust of the mission was to assay the interest in providing worship facilities, not to build a temporary one, that could not service the widely separated estates anyway.

Father Abrams pulled up his cassock, carefully descending the drainage slope fronting the road, and picked his way through the brush to the lighter's hatch. Inside the small ship, a nagging amber light reminded Father Abrams that mail awaited. He sat and flipped on the reader. Among the common and expected dispatches was one marked urgent, from the office of Cardinal Bayer who, among other things, was the Director of Missions. He opened the post, and read it with growing alarm.

#

To all Diocese, Missions,and Agents of His Holiness, Pope John MVXXII.

An inquiry and warning.

We have determined that an enemy of the church, who has caused the deaths of many faithful and other children of our Lord, has flown, seeking sanctuary. We are in need of finding this person, named Gregory St. Croix, excommunicate, industrialist, and murderer. We have included a likeness of this man and a list of properties in which he holds interest. If some evidence or word of his appearance has reached you or any of your parishioners, please contact the office of Cardinal Reswell immediately. Be warned that Gregory St. Croix may be disposed to do you harm. Do not approach this man or his agents. Stand ready to aid this office in the protection of our children and our faith

#

Father Abrams gasped. He had overheard this man being spoken of at the estate of Herr Muller! He held property just beyond the next estate, east of, of... he struggled to bring it to mind... it was the Leone/La Platte holding. He crossed himself and sat back.

Practically parked on the doorstep of a monster! He thought, furiously recalling what had been said. Something about a meeting, organizing road repair crews, civil defense, yes, that was why Herr Muller had been absent. Father Abrams bent low over the console, and began to compose his response.