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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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necromancer would <strong>do</strong> with the entrails <strong>of</strong> an immortal? Actually, I didn't<br />

want <strong>to</strong> think about it.<br />

This damn ring had <strong>be</strong>tter <strong>be</strong> worth it.<br />

Outside I <strong>to</strong>ok a moment <strong>to</strong> gaze at my surroundings. Floor <strong>to</strong> ceiling, what<br />

once was a warren <strong>of</strong> ancient garbage carved like the tunnels <strong>of</strong> a termite<br />

<strong>be</strong>came a cavernous village. Not a single brick <strong>of</strong> the place looked <strong>to</strong> fit<br />

cleanly a<strong>to</strong>p a<strong>not</strong>her. Rather, the buildings had <strong>be</strong>en cobbled <strong>to</strong>gether with<br />

anything that could <strong>be</strong> scavenged: rotting, mismatched planks, patchwork<br />

and stained tarps. And if the unwashed denizens <strong>of</strong> the Hive were grubby,<br />

the people <strong>of</strong> what I came <strong>to</strong> know as the Buried Village didn't even have<br />

the dignity <strong>of</strong> walking the streets above. This was a village <strong>of</strong> vultures.<br />

A ragged man walked past, clad in patchwork clothes. He reeked <strong>of</strong> smoke<br />

and trash, and had a yellowish cast <strong>to</strong> his skin. I waved <strong>to</strong> him, "Par<strong>do</strong>n."<br />

He looked askew at me as I approached, "What d'ya want from me, cutter?"<br />

"Just the answers <strong>to</strong> some questions... who are you?"<br />

The villager shook his head, "Ain't important, cutter. Slipped 'twixt the<br />

cracks <strong>to</strong>o long ago - or may<strong>be</strong> that was me da. One way or a<strong>not</strong>her, m'just<br />

a<strong>not</strong>her one tryin' <strong>to</strong> make a living any way I can."<br />

"Well, I had some other questions..."<br />

His voice grew slightly pitched in annoyance, "Make it fast, cutter. I got<br />

mouths t' feed."<br />

"What are you <strong>do</strong>ing?"<br />

"Tryin' <strong>to</strong> make a living. What's it look like? Only I keep gettin' asked<br />

questions, and it's s<strong>to</strong>ppin' me from that. You <strong>do</strong>ne yet?"<br />

I said my apologies and went on my way.<br />

Some <strong>of</strong> the villagers seemed <strong>to</strong> have a <strong>be</strong>tter lot in existence. Fortune was<br />

<strong>to</strong>ugh meat <strong>to</strong> find when living <strong>of</strong>f the scraps <strong>of</strong> others. One woman with a<br />

lined face and decked in drab clothing looked <strong>of</strong>f in<strong>to</strong> the distance from<br />

where she s<strong>to</strong>od. Her eyes were faraway, and there seemed <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> a new<br />

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