œ 005 [Action]
[France is sitting on a bench in the park. Being in such an open space when he knows someone out there has a card with his name on it probably isn't the smartest move, but he needed fresh air to think about the contents of that letter.
It's impossible. He won't die, not because of this place. But his people are mortal and can be killed and this place is certainly capable of doing it. If they can bring things and people to Mayfield, why not send them back? A bomb on a train to Paris from Calais. A gunman hidden on a rooftop over a crowded city street. A poisonous gas leaked into a packed building. Or they could simply bring each of his citizens here, one by one, into some empty room where they would be killed before they had a chance to realise what was happening.
All for the sake of one person.
Of course, they could be bluffing. It's an obvious attempt to turn them against each other, France isn't unaware of that. But who knows what they want? If no one is killed in Mayfield, they might decide that their pain at losing their people is enough amusement instead. Indeed, it's exactly the kind of thing they might like- everyone's first thought is that they're bluffing, and that by ignoring the threats they can outsmart their captors but what if that's the trap? And Mayfield can laugh at their faces as they realise what their inaction has done.
Besides, death isn't permanent here. That's a reassuring thought, all of this is just momentary pain that won't matter in the long run. If Mayfield truly wanted them all dead, it would do it itself. There isn't any need to worry at all, possibly.
France takes the photograph out of his pocket to examine it yet again. A crowded Parisien street. He recognises it. He recognises the people. Not their faces, their names, their stories, but they are French. He knows that. Can he let them be hurt again?]
It's impossible. He won't die, not because of this place. But his people are mortal and can be killed and this place is certainly capable of doing it. If they can bring things and people to Mayfield, why not send them back? A bomb on a train to Paris from Calais. A gunman hidden on a rooftop over a crowded city street. A poisonous gas leaked into a packed building. Or they could simply bring each of his citizens here, one by one, into some empty room where they would be killed before they had a chance to realise what was happening.
All for the sake of one person.
Of course, they could be bluffing. It's an obvious attempt to turn them against each other, France isn't unaware of that. But who knows what they want? If no one is killed in Mayfield, they might decide that their pain at losing their people is enough amusement instead. Indeed, it's exactly the kind of thing they might like- everyone's first thought is that they're bluffing, and that by ignoring the threats they can outsmart their captors but what if that's the trap? And Mayfield can laugh at their faces as they realise what their inaction has done.
Besides, death isn't permanent here. That's a reassuring thought, all of this is just momentary pain that won't matter in the long run. If Mayfield truly wanted them all dead, it would do it itself. There isn't any need to worry at all, possibly.
France takes the photograph out of his pocket to examine it yet again. A crowded Parisien street. He recognises it. He recognises the people. Not their faces, their names, their stories, but they are French. He knows that. Can he let them be hurt again?]