Title:Ghost Town-alternative universe rewrite
Chapter: Ten
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Rating: PG
all the rest, see chapter one

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" Oh no, oh no, oh no," moaned Fitzhugh. From where he stood, he had a clear view of the Giant woman currently scooping Mark, Steve and Valerie into her apron pockets.

" What are we going to do ?" Barry's piping voice intruded on Fitzhugh's continuous moan. Looking down briefly, Fitzhugh clutched at the boys shoulders as the two companions watched through the half open door.

" There is nothing we can do, boy, we have a duty to keep ourselves free," Barry cast him a sceptical look, prompting Fitzhugh to qualify his assertion. " In case there's anything we can do to help, of course,"

Barry turned back to watch as the middle-aged female Giant got to her feet, casting a last glance around the area before starting to walk away.

Faintly, in the distance, Barry could hear the sound of a dog barking.

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Sira Phall had a problem. She had arrived back at the house and gone straight to the kitchen, finding a suitable metal biscuit tin to put the Little People into, after lining it with an old teatowel. Now she just had to decide what to do with them. She had worked for Ackman ever since he'd lost his wife, ten years ago. Sira had been looking for work, her own marriage over, and having no children or qualification, housekeeping for the eccentric Ackman seemed a heaven sent opportunity. The old man was no trouble to take care of, having his all-consuming hobby that kept him busy most of the day. Sira enjoyed having the old house to herself, amusing herself with the cooking and cleaning required by the one occupant. Sira herself didn't live-in, having a perfectly nice apartment closer into town. She didn't like the isolated location, preferring her evening amusements, plus the drive to the house and back was through some very scenic woods and parkland, providing a soothing end to a long day. She had expanded her job description when Lizzie had come to stay with her Grandfather, after being orphaned when her parents had been killed in a car crash. Lizzie was usually a compliant and helpful child, but Sira had seen flashes of cruelty and unnecessary spite played out by the child when Lizzie thought she wasn't being observed. It prayed on Sira's conscience that the child needed people her own age, not the company of an old man and middle-aged housekeeper. But that was none of Sira's concern, she left well enough alone, making sure that the necessities were provided and that Lizzie had a ready listener if she needed someone to talk to. Having no children of her own, Sira was not the best candidate for surrogate Mother to Lizzie, but the child hardly seemed to need mothering, being content to dote on her Grandparent, and bask in his undivided attention.

Ackman had hinted that something momentous had happened at his town, but had given Sira no details, keeping his excitement reserved for Lizzie or the town itself. Sira knew of his dream to have the Earth People inhabit his creation, but she hadn't realised that they were actually there already, until she nearly stepped on them that morning. Now looking down at the tiny figures she wondered what she should do. Obviously Lizzie had been 'playing' with the creatures, they couldn't have activated the train themselves. But had the derailment been an accident or on purpose. Sira looked down into the tin and surveyed the bodies on the teatowel, only one appeared to be awake, one of the males, his shoulder bloody, his shirt sleeve ragged. He was looking up at her now, his expression wary.

" What am I to do with you, Little Man," Sira mused, her usually smooth brow scrunched into a frown of indecision. In the tin, Mark got to his feet, ready to plead for his friends lives.

" My friends need medical help, will you let Ackman know we're here ?"

" If I tell my employer, then Lizzie will find out where you are, do you want that ?"

She saw the tiny man go pale at the mention of Lizzie, confirming her suspicions that the girl had been tormenting the tiny creatures behind her Grandfathers back.

" Lizzie is how we ended up injured in the first place, that girl is a menace to anyone our size, she tried to kill us," Mark stated, sweeping his arm to point out their parlous state, " we won't survive another bout of Lizzie's idea of having fun."

" No, I don't suppose you will, so that leaves me with a problem. Either I treat you myself, hand you over to Ackman, or hand you over to the authorities, I believe there's quite a reward to Little People,"

" If you hand us over, Ackman could go to prison, you'd lose your job here, maybe go to prison for harbouring us yourself."

" Hmmm that's true, so I'm guessing you'd rather I treated your wounds myself, am I right ?" Sira watched as the man glanced down at his companions, obviously torn between his need to trust her and his natural desire to protect his friends.

" Steve has a crushed ankle, its swollen and bruised, but I don't think any bones were broken. Valerie is possibly concussed, she doesn't appear to have any external injuries, but I don't know about internal."

" What about you, that shoulder looks like it needs cleaning and dressing, does it hurt ?" Sira pointed a neatly manicured finger at Marks obvious wound.

" Like the blue blazes, but I'm more concerned about my friends,"

" In that case, I'll go and see what I can find in the emergency medical chest. I'll have to move you to a more secure location, then I'll take you all upstairs and see what I can do."

" Why are you helping us ?" Mark asked, his curiosity piqued.

" I've seen the results of Lizzie's playing with small creatures. I blame her parents for indulging their only child, she's spoilt beyond belief, but she's also a very lonely girl. I may still have to hand you over to my employer if you're found, but until then, I can give you a fighting chance at least."

" Thank you, you're a rare commodity in this world, a compassionate Giant, Mrs ?"

" Sira, Sira Phall."

" Thank you Sira, my names Mark."

" Well Mark, we need to get you're friends sorted out as soon as possible, so excuse me, I'll just pop you into a cupboard, then go get that medical chest."

Sira placed the lid back on the tin, careful to leave it loose to let in light and air, then placed it inside a crockery cupboard. Closing the door, she cast a quick look around, nervously tucking a strand of pale blond hair behind her ear, then left the kitchen. Her feet, shod in sensible shoes, beating a rapid tattoo on the wooden floor of the hallway as she hurried to fetch the medical chest from the hall cupboard.

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Lizzie was fuming. She had gathered the rocks and piled them where her Grandfather had indicated, fully expecting to be allowed to go off and play once her task was completed. Instead, her prank with the train had been discovered while she'd been absent, her Grandfather finishing his work in the control room ahead of schedule. Ackman had decided to check on the Little People but found them all missing. Thinking they had escaped he quickly checked around the perimeter, finding the derailed train at the last corner. His face became red with anger as he knelt down, picking up each of the carriages and checking them for any sign of the Earth people. After checking them all and finding nothing, he was prepared to accept that maybe Lizzie had only been playing with the toy and had an accident, but a smear of something red on the last carriage confirmed his worst fears. Picking it up and carrying it back to the control room he called to his Granddaughter, his voice sharp.

" Lizzie, come here this instant!"

Hearing the tone of his voice, Lizzie sighed, knowing that her plans for the afternoon were likely to be centered around confinement in her bedroom.

" Yes Grandfather,"

When Lizzie presented herself a few minutes later, she found Ackman standing on the steps of the control room, arms crossed, face grim.

" What did you do ?"

Seeing the train carriage in his hand, Lizzie hung her head, her hair hiding her face for the moment.

" What did you do with the Little People, I know you had them on the train, but where are they now ?"

Looking up, Lizzie turned a genuinely confused expression to her parent.

" Aren't they with the train ?"

" No. I found nothing there but this blood on one of the carriages." Ackman held out the crumpled metal for Lizzie to inspect.

" I don't know, I expected them to be still there when I got back."

" Were all the Little People on the train ?"

" Um....yes."

" So they are out there, possibly injured."

Lizzie looked down at her feet, her Grandfather's anger almost palpable.

" Go back to the house, Lizzie. I will deal with you later, after I find the Little People. I never thought I'd say this to you my girl, but you are banned from ever entering my town again."

Lizzie looked up in shock, her eyes wide with dismay. She opened her mouth to protest but shut it when her Grandfather held up one finger.

" Now Lizzie, and don't come out of your room until I return to the house, do you understand ?"

Lizzie only nodded. She had never seen her Grandfather so angry, despite all her naughty pranks, he had always forgiven her. Now she had stepped beyond the pale. Her head downcast, Lizzie walked back towards the house, her feet dragging.

Behind her Ackman watched as she disappeared down the path, then he turned and lay the damaged carriage on his bench. Shaking his head in disappointment at Lizzie's behaviour, Ackman made his way over to where the rest of the train lay scattered over the ground. Using a box, he picked up the remains of the toy and carried it over to one of the worksheds, lifting the roof off and placing the bits inside. All the time he kept half an eye on the ground, in case any clues became evident as to the fate of his prized possessions.

In the workshed closest to the forest, Fitzhugh and Barry listened as the old man stomped about, picking up the pieces. Barry and Fitzhugh had argued about whether they should reveal themselves to the Giant, but Fitzhugh won out, stating that they were better off free, than cooped up in the town, behind the forcefield. Barry was frightened and hungry, not knowing what was happening to the others, as well as worrying about his pet. He had heard a dog barking faintly, before the Giant had arrived, but Mr.Fitzhugh had cautioned him against running off to investigate. Now they would have to wait until Ackman left to find out for themselves if the bark Barry heard was, in fact, Chipper.

Eventually, Ackman did leave and all was quiet. Fitzhugh cracked the door open a fraction and peered out. Finding nothing to alarm him, they both left the shed and made their way over to where they'd left the others, finding only flattened plants where the Giant woman had stepped.

" I'm sure it was Chipper, can't we go and look ?"

" Barry, the only thing we know for sure is that we are alone, Dan is still captive of that horrid girl, Mark, Steve and Valerie are prisoners of that woman, Betty is missing along with Chipper. We can't help most of our people, but we can help ourselves. We'll need shelter tonight, so I'm not going to leave this area and neither are you. If Chipper is fine, he'll find us, dogs are good at that. You said yourself, how smart Chipper is, he'll come back if he can."

Barry's expressive face revealed his dismay at their helplessness, but he knew that Mr.Fitzhugh was right, about most of it. Giving the woods one last, longing look, boy and man turned to retrace their steps back to the workshed.

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Mark had just settled himself down to wait for Sira's return when a voice startled him, coming out of the darkness of the tin.

" I bet you can charm the birds out of their nests,"

" Geez Steve, I thought you were still out, did you hear all of that ?"

" Most of it, I figured she might be more loquacious if I played dead."

" You certainly had me fooled. How's your leg ?"

" Painful. Is that Valerie ?" Steve nodded towards the dark figure lying against the far wall.

" Yeah, I'm worried Steve, she hasn't stirred since I carried her out of the wreck. I checked her before and her breathing is steady, but she skin is clammy and hot,"

" Let's hope Mrs.Phall can do something for her, give me a hand will you ?"

Mark gave Steve his hand to help him sit upright, both men coming to rest against the back wall of the tin, the thin bar of light casting shadows over their faces.

" What a mess, any idea what happened to the others ?"

" I sent Fitzhugh and Barry to look for anything useful in the workshed, right before Sira turned up, they're most probably still there. Dan is still a prisoner of Lizzie's, so I'm guessing she'll take him to her room, same as she did with me. Betty is still missing, I've no idea what's happened with her."

" Maybe she was thrown out, or wandered off,"

" I hope so, I'd hate to think she's still trapped in that twisted wreckage, it was a miracle I found Valerie in one piece."

Both men fell silent, thinking about their current predicament and the fate of the rest of their group. A faint rustle from the darkened side of the tin alerted Mark and he quickly moved over there, taking care not to knock Steve's leg as he passed. Crouching down, he took Valerie's limp hand in his own, chafing it. A faint gleam from her eyes told him she was awake at last.

" Don't move Val, we don't know how badly you're hurt, just lie there, you're safe for the moment,"

" I....wha...," Mark saw her wet her lips in an effort to form her words more clearly. " Where ?" she panted, her eyes darting around the gloomy enclosure.

" You're in a biscuit tin, we were captured by the housekeeper, but she's going to help us, Steve's here too."

" I...remember...a train ?"

" Yeah, we didn't make that last bend, the train was thrown off the tracks and the carriages rolled. We're lucky to be alive."

Valerie closed her eyes, her hand gripping his tightly.

" My...hea...head hurts,"

" You've been out of it for awhile, don't try and sit up just yet, you must have taken quite a knock. Can you tell me where it hurts ?"

Mark saw her try a faint smile. " Everywhere,"

He exchanged an amused smile with Steve at her reply.

" That about cover's it for all of us,"

Valerie opened her eyes again and looked over to where Steve was sitting, then back, her gaze fastening on Mark's ripped and blood stained shirt. Raising her free hand she lightly touched his injured arm, her eyes full of concern.

" It's not as bad as it looks, the housekeeper has promised us medical aid, so things are looking up. At least we're safe from Lizzie for awhile." Mark explained.

At the girls name, Valerie's hand closed convulsively on Marks fingers, her eyes closing and a grimace of pain creasing her face.

" Val, what is it ?" Mark asked, his eyes trying to pierce the gloom and see what was causing her to wince.

" I'm fine...I..just can't bear the thought of being in that girls' clutches again," Valerie whispered, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears.

" Shhhh don't worry about that, we have an ally in the housekeeper, maybe we'll find a way to escape with her help." He soothed, exchanging a grim look with Steve, both men knowing that ultimately their fate was in the hands of the Giants.

Outside, they heard someone moving around, then the sound of the cupboard door being opened. Mark braced himself as the tin was lifted down and placed on a hard surface, the lid taken away so that light streamed in, making them all squint in the harsh glare.

Above them the homely face of the housekeeping peered down.

" I see my patients have woken up, how are you all feeling ?"

" Thank you for helping us," said Steve, sitting up a bit straighter.

" Let's reserve your thanks until I've actually done something. I'm going to have to secure the lid while I carry you upstairs. I'll do my best not to jolt the tin too badly, but I suggest you brace yourselves for the ride."

Receiving a nod from Steve, Sira lifted the lid and secured it on the tin, pressing it down firmly. Then picking it up, she tucked it under her arm and carried it out into the hallway. She had already carried the medical chest up to her room, along with other items. Now she just had to get the Little People there without being discovered. She had her foot on the first step of the stairs when the back door banged open and Lizzie came stomping down the hallways, her face set in a frightful scowl. Seeing the housekeeper, Lizzie smoothed her expression and approached the stairs.

" I have to go to my room for the rest of the day," she announced. Sira regarded her impassively.

" What did you do Lizzie ?"

" Nothing," the girl replied, sulkily. Taking in the battered biscuit tin, Lizzie cocked her head on one side and fixed Sira with a curious look.

" What are you doing Mrs.Phall ?"

" I'm just up to the sewing room to mend those trousers you split the other day, want to help ?" Knowing full well that Lizzie abhorred sewing.

" No, I can't, I have to go to my room."

" I'll see you later on then," said Sira, watching as Lizzie made her way up the stairs and into her room. Making her own progress up the stairs, Sira opened the door of the sewing room and walked in, placing the biscuit tin on the workbench. Then she secured the door before going over and sitting down by the window and taking the lid off the tin.

" Now, Little People, lets see what we can do to clean you up and tend your injuries, who's first ?"

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