h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

[Woman] Don't forget the headmistress! She is a kind and generous woman who opened her house to the children. *cough* *cough* She, though bedridden, has been teaching the young ones to read and write.

*Katriana smiles at the woman, glancing at Lumien*

Right I'll take the children with me, well as many as I can round up anyway. I'll make sure they get cared for I promise. Have no worries for them.

*She turns from the room, securing the briefcase to her belt, feeling it tug down rather*

Children could you gather here please? Your teacher wants you to come to our guild and get some good food and let us look after you. I think you'll like it there. We have lots of bread and nice warm fires and people who will make sure you don't get sick. And can someone tell me how many of you there are and whether there's anyone who needs a bit of help getting to the guild?

*a girl, age eleven, approaches Katrina*

[Little girl] There are seventy-two of us, including the five babies by the fire in the kitchen.

*the children gather around Katrina*

<>

We're seriously going to need some help.

Take as many as you can handle at one time, I'll stay here with the rest.

*Katriana rubs her head before grinning at the girl*

Right you are. Now, anyone who is over the age of 10 and reckons they can, I want you to take charge of a younger child. The eldest take the babies please. Anyone who gets lost, make your way either to the guild, where people will be waiting for you, or come straight back here. Do NOT wander off to another part of the city or we'll never find you.

*Gathering up two children, one in each arm, having checked the briefcase attached to her belt, Katriana sets off through the city with a huge mass of children following her*

*2 healers run in*
[Healer] Lady Lumien, Lady Katriana told us you needed our help

*The oldest children, two boys at 13 and three girls at 14, run through the ruined house gathering up all the loose children before taking the babies from the kitchen and await instructions in the lobby*

Yes- this place is in bad shape. It was the orphanaga- how could we let it get in such awful shape?

There still might be some children around, see to them if you can find them. Where is the headmistress?

*cough* She's in the big bed. *cough*

Come on, can you sit up? It'll make breathing easier.

You go upstairs and see what you can do for the headmistress here.

*Motions to the other as the first healer takes off in search of the headmistress.*

You come here, help me get her back to the Guild.

Hold still a moment, miss.

*Casts a healing spell that would clear the lungs temporarily.*

That will make you feel better for a while, but we need to get you proper medical attention. Come on.

*Lumien and the second healer build a makeshift stretcher out of bedclothes, and take the prone woman to the Guild. Before they exit, Lumien gives the woman a handkerchief to hold over her mouth, and covers her to the neck with a blanket. They leave as the first healer is searching for the headmistress.*

*the headmistress is incrediably easy to find because she was in the same room as the ill nurse. The headmistress a very small woman at 3'2" under two huge quilts and in the center of a gigantic bed. Thirty years ago, she was a court entertainer with her husband, a tall man at 6'7" explaining the size of the bed*

[Healer] Madam, I am a healer from the guild, I am here to help, please tell me what is wrong

*the old woman gestures to her throat, indicating that she is havving trouble breathing and speaking*

*Calls*

Lady Lumien, I need you help

*The Healer take out a poultise and wraps it around the woman's neck*

Just leave it like that for a few hours it will help the airway

*the old woman nods in agreement*

Just rest, the children are being looked after at the guild

*the tiny old woman goes to sleep*

*it starts to rain*