[ZONE 3]

Bent over, he appeared to be a farmer of some stripe, though his work seemed to become more industrious as they drew closer to him. Undoubtedly, he had seen them as well.

JAMES: Quite a nice little stead you have here...

MAX: If you like busting sod, I suppose so. I've had a mind to sell a few times. Events here recently, I'm liking things less and less. I may just sell everything out like I've been telling everybody else. Course I wouldn't expect a kept boy like you to understand.

JAMES: Probably wouldn't, but this seems like such a nice lot to give up. Why would you want to?

MAX: Everybody knows that something evil happened at the Battle of Sethanon, definitely unnatural. Me myself, I used to live in the center of town before King Lyam offered up the money that I should leave. I didn't think much of leaving, but I thought that the evil would stay there.

JAMES: And it hasn't? It's creeping down the road from Sethanon?

MAX: Listen boy, I don't care for your attitude. You may be all educated, but it don't mean you know nothing about the world. If you're wise, you'll stay away from Sethanon and take anybody else that'll go with you. There's something evil here abouts and I don't want to be about when at last it gets here...

JAMES: So, how much do you want for your land?

MAX: I...uh...what?

JAMES: If this evil is so imminent and you're anxious to be away from it, I'd be interested in buying this little lot of yours. I'm not afraid of ghosts. What will you sell it to me for?

MAX: Well I haven't actually decided to make the move as yet... Don't want to get the cart before the horse you know... It'll likely be a while before I sell, see... Don't want to rush it...

JAMES: Do you know anything about the land that adjoins yours by any chance? Is it for sale?

MAX: Uh, no. Not anymore. I bought it when old widow Petrumh moved out.

JAMES: Bought it? I thought you said you wished to move?

MAX: I do and... Look, I haven't time to stand about talking all day. If you're interested in the land go ahead and look a round - just stay clear of my stead. Now, I got things to do. Good day.

JAMES: Good day to you, sir.

Bent over, he appeared to be a farmer of some stripe, though his work seemed to become more industrious as they drew closer to him. Undoubtedly, he had seen them as well.

JAMES: Would you happen to know who lives in that house nearby?

MAX: I should. I lived half me life in it. Name's Max Feeber.

JAMES: Are you certain?

MAX: Are you funny in the head, lad? Course I'm sure. How could I not be?

JAMES: Do you often make it a habit to go digging in graveyards?

MAX: What do you mean?

JAMES: I mean, the three of us found a burial cloth and we think you have something to do with all this evil that is going on around here. You've been desecrating graves haven't you?

MAX: You broke into my house! I'll tell the constable for this!

JAMES: If he were still living in town I might feel threatened, but I rather imagine you've already managed to scare him off. Now talk, or I'm going to have a cozy little chat with a friend of mine named Nivek - Prince Arutha's tax collector - nice fellow. I think the two of you will get along marvelously...

MAX: One grave! One grave only, I dug up. I don't remember the fellow's name now, but he used to own the Six Toe Tavern before Nia took over the shop. I thought that maybe I could scare her into moving out and selling to me but she's too darn stubborn.

JAMES: What did you do with the corpse?

MAX: No corpse about him! He was down to his skeleton. I tried to rebury him but I never found one of his hands. It's bound to be near the graveyard. I think I may have dropped it when I was near old Hershel's house.

JAMES: What else?

MAX: That's it. That's all I know! Honest. Dug him up and then I reburied him.

JAMES: We'll need to find that hand then and bury it. No thanks to you. Good bye sir and I would advise that you stay away from the Six Toe Tavern from now on. I doubt you will be warmly greeted.

Looking up at them suspiciously, the farmer pushed the sweat drenched hair out of his eyes with the back of his hand and waited, his eyes narrowed as they drew closer. He didn't seem pleased to have guests.

JAMES: Do you often make it a habit to go digging in graveyards?

MAX: What do you mean?

JAMES: I mean, the three of us found a burial cloth and we think you have something to do with all this evil that is going on around here. You've been desecrating graves haven't you?

MAX: You broke into my house! I'll tell the constable for this!

JAMES: If he were still living in town I might feel threatened, but I rather imagine you've already managed to scare him off. Now talk, or I'm going to have a cozy little chat with a friend of mine named Nivek - Prince Arutha's tax collector - nice fellow. I think the two of you will get along marvelously...

MAX: One grave! One grave only, I dug up. I don't remember the fellow's name now, but he used to own the Six Toe Tavern before Nia took over the shop. I thought that maybe I could scare her into moving out and selling to me but she's too darn stubborn.

JAMES: What did you do with the corpse?

MAX: No corpse about him! He was down to his skeleton. I tried to rebury him but I never found one of his hands. It's bound to be near the graveyard. I think I may have dropped it when I was near old Hershel's house.

JAMES: What else?

MAX: That's it. That's all I know! Honest. Dug him up and then I reburied him.

JAMES: We'll need to find that hand then and bury it. No thanks to you. Good bye sir and I would advise that you stay away from the Six Toe Tavern from now on. I doubt you will be warmly greeted.

Looking up at them suspiciously, he pushed the sweat drenched hair out of his eyes with the back of his hand and waited, his eyes narrowed as they drew closer. He didn't seem pleased to have guests.

MAX: I've been thinking about your offer to buy my land, but I haven't decided yet... Come back some other time and we can discuss it.

JAMES: I'll be around.