The farmer stared at the dust, then looked across the crop he had spent months tending. His resistance left with a slow release of breath. Ludwig guided him back toward the road before signalling Kaiser to continue.
One construct reached the center of the field and drove both fists into the ground. The impact threw soil and broken roots into the air. It struck again, widening the crater, while the second construct dropped to one knee and pushed both hands into the fractured earth.
Its fingers sank deep beneath the roots. Soil heaved as the construct pulled, exposing layers that had remained untouched by farming. The surrounding wheat bent outward until the construct's red eyes brightened.
Kaiser stepped toward the hole. "It found something."
The enormous hands pushed the remaining earth aside, revealing what appeared at first to be a leather sack. Then Ludwig saw the legs.
