Two Winters Past

EXT. DEPOSIT. NIGHT.

CRANE: Looking down on the walls of Deposit. BARABAS walk the catwalks carrying spears. 

A rider on a horse appears. He is a tall African-American. He is AHMET. 

BARABAS: Rider!

LOGAN looks up in terror.

LOGAN: How many?

BARABAS: Just one.

A ladder is put on the wall. LOGAN climbs. 

LOGAN: We got a rifle up here?

BARABAS: In position. On your command, Barabas.

LOGAN: Keep an eye on all tree lines and cover.

When AHMET gets close, he raises his hand.

AHMET: Mehemet the Great sends his regard to the people of Deposit!

LOGAN: We know no Memhat! Is it Memhet that kills my people?

AHMET: Those men were trespassers. My Lord Mehemet has sent me to treat with you, to ensure this does not happen again.

LOGAN: And what does your Lord claim?

AHMET: My Lord Mehemet the Great is master of all the lands that he sees, king of all men on those lands, and owers of all land in their vision. My Lord Mehemet was already master of Hancock when Deposit attacked. Still South you push to take what is ours.

LOGAN: In the night we saw your camp fires on the highway. You are on our lands now.

AHMET: How can these be your lands if you cannot defend them? My Lord Mehemet decrees these lands belong to him, and you are to swear fealty to Allah. If you do not, we will take this fort you have constructed with our property. These are the terms we offer. I will return in the morning for your answer. My Lord Mehemet will be inside your walls by nightfall either way.

AHMET salutes and rides way. LOGAN calls the SENTRIES to him.

LOGAN: You did not hear that. No word of thise gets to the Barabas before I’ve spoken with the captains.

LOGAN climbs down the ladder, finds STOKES in the yard.

STOKES: Are we under attack?

LOGAN: Damascus will reach us by morning. Call Tartell and Richards. Tell them to meet me in my chambers.

STOKES: And Villoff?

LOGAN: We already know his opinion.