Trama

On their way to The Games, via river barge, a suspected plague on board threatens the mission of the boys. Will runs into trouble searching for the captain while ashore.

The young Free Men athletes are on their way to the games. The two contestants that accompanying Beanpole romp in a meadow out in the open. Their activity attracts the red Tripod that quickly shoots Kate and Josh. Beanpole, who was under cover, escapes and hooks up with Will and Fritz. The three say goodbye to Henry who is staying behind to gather information on Tripod maneuvers that he might be useful in defense strategies. Will, Beanpole and Fritz will now travel by day, acting like normal, capped youth athletes on their way to the competitions. They follow the river toward Basel, planning to rendezvous with Captain Ulf Reinhart, who pilots the barge Erlkonig. Once met, Ulf instructs the boys to only be visible on deck one at a time. More than that will be suspicious. Ulf's wife constantly cries in pain. He says she is suffering from the plague. He will go ashore in the next town to get something for her. Beanpole's mechanical intuition helps avoid disaster when the barge engine quits. He sees that the steam pressure is too high and bleeds the lines just before the barge runs aground. In Wutterburg, Ulf sets out to find an apothecary. Beanpole slips in and determines that Petra is suffering from impetigo, not plague. He gives her arnica for her pain and calendula for her hand blisters. Ulf is late getting back, and Fritz is chomping at the bit to get moving. Will and Beanpole go in search of him. Unfortunately, Will is taken for a Tyrol foreigner, forced into a bar fight and then thrown in a punishment pit. Its other occupant says the Black Guard will stone them in the morning.—Garon Smith