It sat deep in the bush with no discernible trail to
it or from it. Max ordered a halt. He surveyed the area
and then made his decision. "Alright, G'lishi, you're going to
stay here with the vehicles. The rest of us are going to go in
on foot. Everybody shoulder your weapons and try not to look
threatening. We want these people to give us something so let's
not give them a reason to turn us away."
That said he started a brisk but careful march through the
thickly spaced trees. The snow was hard and made a lot of noise
underfoot. He cringed almost every step the first minute and
then gave up on the idea of maintaining any kind of stealth. He
didn't want who knew whom traipsing in behind them. So far it
seemed that no one else had been dispatched to this house. The
overcast sky hovered almost just above the trees it seemed. The
air was crisp but also somehow held a certain closeness to it. It
seemed too cold to be so humid yet that was how the air felt. It
was like walking past half frozen blankets. It got worse as they
approached the house.
The house was small and unassuming. It was mostly white
and looked to be made of wood. The paint was dull looking and it
peeled away from the wood in some places. There were shutters on
the windows and they were closed. They might have been some
colour at one point but now they were just black. They looked
like they were rotted and might fall apart at any moment. Max
approached the front door which
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