Where Britain once lay, Brigandia had risen from the ashes. Only France had a reasonable populace, though between them there was less than half a million. Elsewhere, man had been scoured from the planet.
Dark clouds rolling overhead was a permanent feature of this sodden Earth. The air was continuously rent by flashes of lightning and rolling thunder.

To the west lay what Charly called Foxley Lake. Its deep, dark waters hiding an obliterated past.

To the east of that grim body of water stood the great castle. Its battlements and towering walls heavily guarded by bowmen. Behind the central courtyard stood the king’s chamber. A square room whose walls were covered by lovely tapestries, and whose floor was dominated by a thick wooden table. At the left wall stood the royal throne where the king usually sat.

Atop a flight of rickety stairs and through the first wooden door lay the apartment of Grant and Charly. When indoors of course, Grant would sit upon the leather sofa, stroking his long grey beard and smoothing down his trademark multicoloured poncho.

Charly was sitting at the small table gazing at the sapphire ring.

“You can never return mate. As you said yourself, it would mean instant death. Forget Foxley eh?”

“I suppose you are right Grant. I’ll put the ruddy thing in the drawer.”

A loud knock broke the grim atmosphere and Grant said, “Enter.”

The king entered their chamber, his blue eyes flashing. His full cheeks bulged as the suit of armour clanked away. At his hip hung his jewelled sword belt that was always ready for action.

He levelled the golden crown and smiled.

“I must thank you for saving my life Charly. You have done me a great service.”

“No thanks necessary sir. We can never get antibiotics again though. That world has gone forever.”

The king walked to the table and placed a crystal upon the desk.
Charly gazed at the beautiful lattice as Grant peeked.

“Such beauty in such a small object,” the king said.

“It is indeed sir,” Charly said. “You use these for decoration?”

“For trade too.”

As Charly picked it up, he detected an inner glitter that filled him with absolute dread. He dropped it again and shivered.

“What’s up mate?” Grant asked.

“The damn thing reminds me of that Martian rock. The one I told you about.”

“We certainly don’t want zombies chasing us around here,” Grant said.

“One experience like that is enough for me,” Charly muttered.

He paused for a moment.

“Where did you get it sir?”

King Henry the Ninth smiled.

“To the south. They are embedded in the rocks.”

Charly rubbed his hair, an action that Grant instantly recognised.

“What are you scheming now?”

Charly smiled.

“Fancy a little mining?”

As the king was leaving Charly stood and said, “Do you still have that sapphire ring sire?”

“Of course.”

“Then hide it away. With my world gone, using it would end in tragedy.”

The king understood the warning and returned to his chamber.

“We will need hammers and chisels,” Grant said joining his friend.

“We can get those from the king’s carpenter. We better take a horse though.”

“I was hoping you would say that. Trekking through that wretched rain is no fun you know.”

Charly grinned.

“At least the woollies keep us dry.”

Once they had donned hats and thick woollen smocks, they set off south towards the waiting crystals and unexpected danger.

They trekked south across the rocky terrain, with the rain a constant companion. After three or four miles of this, Grant had every reason to complain.

“I sometimes wish this wretched storm would wind down you know.”

“The planet is still adjusting itself. It’ll stop when it wants too.”

“How much further?”

“Not far now mate. The king was quite specific. To the left of skull peak.”

As Grant glanced around, he pointed.

“There it is.”

Charly looked at was astonished to see the skull shaped mountain standing firm against the elements.

“I see where the name comes from,” he muttered. “Time to dismount.”

They climbed down and tied the animal to a vacant rock before marching on. After a few steps, the glittering crystal rocks came into view.

As Charly knelt, his friend removed the hammer and chisel from the saddlebag.

“Which one do you want?”

Charly rubbed his chin. Watching the rather ominous internal glow.

“The largest will do mate. These must be related to that Martian rock you know. It’s not a natural formation you see. Just too much of it.”

Grant wandered around until he yelled.

“Found one.”

Charly joined him and saw a fist sized crystal staring back.

“I’ll chip it out mate. You just stand back and watch.”

Grant took the advice as his friend started the delicate extraction. Just as it came free, the ground began shaking violently. Charly grabbed the crystal and jumped back.

“Oh please not again!”

As they watched, a crystal began pushing its way from beneath the surface. The lattices glinting in the rain as it grew higher and higher.

“I think we should leave,” Grant suggested. “Don’t you?”

Charly nodded.

“I’m not sticking around to find out. Come on!”

They reached the waiting horse as the crystal reached a height of fifty feet, before climbing on. As Charly glanced back, the alien monstrosity broke free and came after them.

“Head straight for the castle,” Charly said. “We need to alert the king to this.”

Grant dug his heels and the horse broke into a gallop, leaving the strange threat far behind.

The gate rolled up as they arrived at full pelt. Within the courtyard now, they jumped off and bolted into the king’s chamber.

“Sorry sire,” Charly panted. “You must alert the bowmen right now.”

“Whatever for?”

“What about an angry crystal sire,” Grant said gloomily.

“Issue the order Charly and give them a hand. Your bow skills are pretty good.”

Charly smiled and bowed, before dashing out once more.
As the strange enemy appeared, the castle walls and towers were fairly bristling with cross bows.

“Don’t fire until I give the order,” Charly said.

“What chances do you think we have?”

“If it breaks in Grant, no chance at all. We just have to hope that
the iron tips of the bolts are strong enough to shatter it.”

“Amen to that mate.”

The enemy was a little smarter than that though. It approached just out of range and stopped.

“Seems that it senses danger,” Charly quipped.

“As long as it stays put, it might just get bored enough to plod home again.”

Charly glanced over.

“You know Grant, that’s not a bad idea.”

Grant was naturally puzzled by the remark until Charly shouted, “Why not return to Mars where you belong?”

There was no response. The crystal simply waited.

“It’s probably thinking that over,” Grant suggested hopefully.

“I wonder what its next move is going to be?” Charly whispered.

“Sing us a lullaby?”

Charly smiled at the joke.

The crystal bore into the hard ground and slowly began to expand. As the garrison watched in amazement, a crystal wall closed around them.

“That’s a typical siege tactic,” Charly commented.

“How did it do that?” Grant asked.

“It must have slewed crystal particles from its body I suppose. At least the wall is only four feet high.”

“Is that important?” Grant asked.

“It tells us one thing. Our enemy has limited resources. We can use that against it.”

Grant suddenly cheered up.

“You are far too clever you know.”

Charly simply winked and mulled the problem over.

“We could use a cannon,” Grant suggested.

“It may have escaped your notice but they don’t have one. No gunpowder either for that matter. This will take some stealth on our
part.”

He scanned the crystal wall carefully, noting the line of the lattice. When it reached the corners, it changed abruptly.

Charly pointed and said, “Bowmen fire!”

A volley of bolts streaked out toward the intended target and a loud cheer went up as the corner shattered.

“Got you.”

The wall remained, standing though the breach was not repaired.

“Round one to us I think,” Grant muttered.

A sudden yell from the far wall caused Charly to dash over. When he arrived, he clearly saw something burrowing towards them. “

“Shoot the ruddy thing.”

Bolts struck the crystal miner and the advance stopped abruptly.

“If it undermines the walls we are finished.”

“What now sir?” a bowman asked.

“If it's using that tactic we must cut it down to size. Take out the corners.”

The bolts streaked out, shattering the corner posts of the siege at once. As cheers went up, the crystal drew the wall into itself.

As Charly smiled he said, “Now we go on the offensive.”

He called into the courtyard for the knights to be assembled. A Grant came over, Charly prepared to join them.

“You are not going down there. You have no armour.”

Charly smiled.

“I’ll get some made for me later. You worry too much.”

“That’s your ruddy fault!”

Two lines of knights stood before him. Each man glittering in body armour. Each armed with the killer sword.

Charly addressed them boldly.

“What we are facing is a strange but weak enemy. We proved that by lifting the siege. When we go out there, we shall break into two columns. On my command, each column in turn will charge and slash at that monstrosity.”

He climbed upon his steed and raising his sword, led the men outside. As they broke into two, Charly led the left flank. He quickly noted the crystal turning to face him.

“It’s now or never I suppose.”

In a loud voice he yelled, “Charge!”

Leading the gallop, Charly lashed out at the creature. As he passed, each man in turn did likewise. Turning sharply now, he looked at the crystal.

“The damn thing’s cracked. Column two go!”

The second column struck without mercy, and as they slashed at the helpless enemy, the edifice began to rapidly crumble.

By the time the last man struck, the fatal wound had been inflicted. Everyone cheered as it crumbled onto the hard earth.

As the knights rode back inside, Charly stopped at the battlements and yelled up.

“Tell the king to find something else to trade with. That crystal bed is strictly off limits.”

“Where are you off to?” Grant yelled back.

“To return that large crystal of course. I’ll be back within the hour.”

As Grant watched him gallop off he muttered, “Let’s hope so.”