Lechance

It was southern California. In a way, it couldn't have been much of a surprise when the earth moved in the early hours on Tuesday morning. Walls trembled, pottery shook, but, for the most part it was simply frightening, not actually damaging.

Except for the blue streak Leroy was swearing in the street outside of his house in the minute aftershocks.m

Jonathan had woken to his bed shaking. After his later to certainly denied yell, roll out of bed, and instinctive covering of his head, listening for the thundering roll of canon fire that never materialized. He took a few deep breaths before rolling into a stand, pulling on his trousers and a jacket over his long johns and heading outside to make sure there weren't any problems.

Sadie had rushed out with a few of the others from Ms. Sheedy's hotel the instant the tremors stopped. She'd dressed hurriedly and held her cloak tightly about her as she headed toward the town square with the others.

"Excuse me," she said, as they passed someone on the sidewalk. "Do you know what happened?"