The people in the settlement had gotten used to the loud skies.
The first fighters sent half of them running for cover. Several more pairs followed throughout the week, sometimes passing north and sometimes leaving distant explosions behind from the direction of Saicine.
People still looked up when the engines came now, but nobody abandoned the fields anymore.
This morning, however, the warning came from the southern barricade.
"Vehicles approaching from the south!"
A second shout followed.
"Military vehicles! A lot of them!"
Farm tools were left where they stood. Children were called away from the road while the few people with rifles moved toward the barricades.
Edwin Vale stepped out of the old municipal building.
"What's with the damn noise this early? Even those planes aren't this irritating."
A younger man hurried toward him.
"Mayor! Armored vehicles coming up the highway."
