Our heroes come across a settlement in their pursuit of Greg, which is based around a
working windmill. They are offered quarters for the night. The mill folk wear monk-like robes, and have a rule whereby all weapons are handed over on entry to be locked away 'til leaving.Charles and Jen hand over their guns, but Hubert, suspicious as ever pretends he has none. Greg hasn't been to this settlement, but Charles hopes to get them onto his telephone system before moving on the next day.
Although they have no formal leaders, there are three
main figures among the mill folk. A young man named Henry, an older man, Frank Garner, and a young Indian woman, named Rutner.
Henry does not seem particularly friendly towards them, and Frank has to insist they are given rooms in the main building rather than in the outhouses. Hubert is happy to stay in the stables with the horses - he doesn't trust the mill folk, especially since he realises there is an Indian member of the group. He is even more
put out when they are fed vegetarian curry as their meal later on in the evening.
Henry and his friends had discovered the mill soon after the death and got it working. Frank and Rutner had arrived later. Frank, a personnel manager before the death, had introduced some group therapy, and Rutner organised their spiritual side - a Hindu lifestyle, believing in pre-destiny and non-violence. She had come over to Britain for an arranged marriage just
before the death, and sees Frank as a guru.
Rutner and Henry are keen to see our three move on. However overnight their horses become ill through eating bad hay. Hubert investigates and finds yew leaves in the hay - the horses are sick so they're delayed for an extra day. He knows it was done deliberately, as only their horses were struck. They suspect Frank is trying to keep them there, but don't know why.
The next day Charles hooks up a telephone to
the power lines. He speaks to Pet at 4 o'clock - the link is very poor as they're at maximum range. 5 more people have moved up to the manor from WhiteCross
Two men turn up at the mill with grain to be ground. They obviously haven't been before, as they refuse to surrender their guns. The mill folk sound an alarm and they all retreat into the buildings, Henry removing the striking chain from the windmill, which stops it from operating.
The men
rant and rave, and threaten to burn the place down if they don't bring the chain out. Charles waits with Henry, who is adamant in his non-violent belief. Charles thinks it would be better to let the men keep their guns.
Meanwhile, Hubert has caught a chicken, desperate for some meat! He is out in a nearby field cooking it when he hears the commotion, and takes his gun to investigate. When Charles sees that Hubert is out there, he decides he's had enough, and
goes out too. One man is distracted by Hubert, and Charles overpowers him and takes his gun. However the other man clobbers Hubert and holds a gun to his head - there is a stalemate.
At this point, Henry brings the striking chain out of hiding. He persuades the men that they are making a big fuss about nothing, and persuades him to give up their weapons. Charles does the same, and they carry on milling. Charles is very impressed by the way Henry
handled the situation. So is Frank, as the incident gives Henry confidence that maybe they don't need to depend on him any more.
Frank thinks the community needs to stand-alone - he doesn't really believe in the pre-destiny stuff. However he knows that the people think they need him, and has been waiting for a chance to convince them otherwise. He had fixed the horses to buy himself time, as he saw that Charles might want to take him along. He
addresses the community at the evening meal, and persuades them to let him go, to 'help others'. He promises to return - Rutner doesn't believe this, but accepts her and his destiny. She believes she herself has to stay.
Hubert is tended to by one of the more mature women, named Blossom, who quite fancies the old boy. She bandages his head and keeps him company in the stable overnight.
Jen is angry with Frank - she thinks he is trying to escape from his
responsibilities - she accuses Charles of doing the same, and obviously resents Greg for the same reason. She wants Rutner to fight to keep her man, as she realises she loves her guru. Rutner just accepts his will as destiny. Charles suggests that Jen of just afraid that Greg has forgotten her and no longer wants her.
Frank then admits why he really wants to leave. He has a heart pacemaker, which is 8 years old and contains 5-year battery - he has
no idea how long he has before the battery gives out, but he knows it can't be very long.
Frank leaves with the trio, off in search of an electrical engineer called Campbell. Hubert promises Blossom that he'll be back!
