A large crowd was already gathered around the bell tower when Yulen arrived. Up on the podium he spotted a soldier frantically pulling on the bell. It wasn’t until the man turned around that he recognized him.
“Jennings! Cease ringing! Cease ringing the bell!”
Either the man didn’t hear him, which was very plausible amid the ground swell coming from the townspeople, or the soldier was deliberately ignoring him. Another possibility, Yulen admitted to himself.
When he reached the steps leading up to the platform, he was met with a ring of soldiers apparently guarding the tower. For what purpose, he had no idea. They obediently moved aside to let him go up the short flight of steps, and quickly closed ranks behind him.
“Jennings!” Yulen yelled again. This time he saw the man look directly
