"I don't. After I slit the bastard who told me everything I came straight here, though I stopped in Milgard on my way--that's one of your towns too, isn't it, Strider? The Runners there were all expecting some kind of attack. They didn't tell me specifics, but word is that during the last attack one of them was taken alive. If they did, my money's on torture. Soon everything that the Runners know, these evil Walkers, the Van, they're gonna know it too." He turned to the Runner woman. "Look, I don't know where your leader is or your base is located, but if I were you I'd send someone there and warn 'em before the Van can get there first. This is turning into more of a war than a slaughter, Mal darling, and you want to be ready for it."<br/><br/>Carson folded his arms. He was staring down at the symbol in the dirt, the X surrounded by four lesser markers. The skull, the circle, the needle, the... swords.<br/><br/><i>DEATH! roared the mob, cheering and waving banners tall enough to be seen over the walls of Safeco. DEATH HAS COME! PESTILENCE AND FAMINE! WAR ITSELF! And then howling, a terrible, almost inhuman sound, a thousand madmen howling as one. Madmen with crossed swords painted over bare chests. And on the banners, a cross, with four other symbols on them, painted black and topped with bloody crossed blades.<br/>
</i><br/>He snapped out of the memory all at once and turned, wide-eyed, to Malia. "I know where I saw the skull symbol. Remember that I felt like I'd seen it before? I have. On the war banners the raiders flew when they destroyed Safeco. This organization is nothing new." He looked down at the ground again. "We<i>need</i>to reach Central... and we<i>need</i>to alert Runner command." He turned toward her. "Look, I know that our two groups have no reason to trust each other--runners more than striders--but we need one another now. Runners have to find the Striders who aren't branded with the skull and guide them to Central. We have to make a plan or everything's going to burn."