Voices can be heard through the door of the bakery.
"You do have to pay," comes Colin's patient but cautious tone.
"Oh?" There's laughter between several men.
Inside, it can be seen that there are about a half-dozen visiting soldiers clustered at Colin's table. The baker's gaze is turned away demurely as if he's just looking to get out of this unharmed. One of the soldiers, a man with a long nose, rests his elbows on the counter, crushing at least three perfectly-baked loaves under his forearms.
"Do we have to pay you? These things are half sawdust and you want money for 'em?" He picks up one of the loaves he ruined. "Look at this. This is rubbish. You expect me to pay for damaged bread?"
"I-I--" Colin stammers, and the solder flings the bread at his face, drawing laughter from the others. The baker backs away only to be crowded by another soldier, tall and broad.
"What are you gonna do," growls the large soldier, "if we just take what we're owed as fighting men, Spittle? What are you gonna do to stop us?"
"Just take it and go," Colin begs. The large man grips him by the jaw and forces him to look him in the eye.
"No, I want to know," says the long-nosed soldier. "What's your alternative to this generosity? What are you going to do when we come back tomorrow?"
II. Closed to Kit and Ben
There's a knock on the door the third night of the cold snap. On the other side is Colin, apparently wearing everything he owns and carrying blankets and a basket, looking rather like a rescue service with legs.
OTA
Voices can be heard through the door of the bakery.
"You do have to pay," comes Colin's patient but cautious tone.
"Oh?" There's laughter between several men.
Inside, it can be seen that there are about a half-dozen visiting soldiers clustered at Colin's table. The baker's gaze is turned away demurely as if he's just looking to get out of this unharmed. One of the soldiers, a man with a long nose, rests his elbows on the counter, crushing at least three perfectly-baked loaves under his forearms.
"Do we have to pay you? These things are half sawdust and you want money for 'em?" He picks up one of the loaves he ruined. "Look at this. This is rubbish. You expect me to pay for damaged bread?"
"I-I--" Colin stammers, and the solder flings the bread at his face, drawing laughter from the others. The baker backs away only to be crowded by another soldier, tall and broad.
"What are you gonna do," growls the large soldier, "if we just take what we're owed as fighting men, Spittle? What are you gonna do to stop us?"
"Just take it and go," Colin begs. The large man grips him by the jaw and forces him to look him in the eye.
"No, I want to know," says the long-nosed soldier. "What's your alternative to this generosity? What are you going to do when we come back tomorrow?"
II. Closed to Kit and Ben
There's a knock on the door the third night of the cold snap. On the other side is Colin, apparently wearing everything he owns and carrying blankets and a basket, looking rather like a rescue service with legs.
"Sorry," he begins. "I heard you still had room?"
IV. Wildcard