shot, so I ask Bryce if there is a place to stay. He says I am welcome to any apartment on the fifth floor of the building across the street. It is safe and they keep the top floor open for guests.
Before I leave, he shows me the map of town and points out a couple of plots where he thinks I might be able to get water running and that are uninhabited. I feign attention and thank him as he shows me to the door. Right before I leave, he shakes my hand again.
“Let me know how things turn out, and welcome to Salem.” He looks over my shoulder, frowns, then closes the door with a click.
Turning to see what Bryce had been frowning at, I see a strange man leading a woman on a leash that’s connected to a dog collar worn on her neck. He is dressed in jester’s pants and an oversized army jacket. His hair is a wild blonde afro and he wears an oily pointed goatee. The girl is dressed as I imagine a cave woman might have been; wild hair and animal skins. He leers at me and begins to speak in a nasal voice.
“This is only for you to know, only YOU...relish this... A Black King shall descend from the sky, dressed only in his own locks, naked as the ancient gardens... He shall bring comfort to an assembly of people, and shall secure for them a Kingdom of Peace. He shall feed the many the Bread of the Gods, giving them immunity from the plague, the immunity as I know it. There shall be some within this city who shall make a Shining Music that shall control and lay waste to the Walking Death, and with their minds in the bliss of Pure Sound, they shall destroy the seeds of evil, and restore happiness to those who remain, and perhaps the land shall be freed. Now, with this knowledge, I send you into the Wilderness- as I have said, these things only you may know. Go now, and be ravaged by the sun and the stones...JAI!”
He spins once and leads his smiling friend away down the street. What the hell? I think. This place has an odd assortment of characters. What was all that about? The guy is obviously off his nut, then again as I admire the departing form of his companion -perhaps he is on to something.
I cross the street and walk into the old brick apartment building. I walk up the flights of stairs and choose a room that has a window facing the street. I lock the door and take a quick look around.
The water works and the toilet flushes, but the electricity is off. I toss my backpack on the bed that lays in one corner and pull a chair to the window. I prop my AK against the sill and draw open the window.
The sun is getting low. I look out on the town as the light fades to orange. I pull the roach from earlier from behind my ear and light it carefully with my old faded lighter.
I have a lot to consider. Technically, I have murdered one of the townspeople. Even if I believe it to be justifiable homicide, predicated on paranoia, I am sure it would spoil my welcome and, perhaps, even cause some form of retribution.
I’ve been cautious with my story, but I have no intention of moving to one of the plots Bryce has shown me. Maybe I can concoct a story about killing the cannibals and taking over their farm. I’m not sure Bryce will buy that. I wouldn’t.
In the morning I plan to drop off the empty jug at Silas’ tavern and ask about the fellow with the cavewoman concubine. After that I will get back to the farm as quickly as I can and try to decide on how much I feel like returning to society.
I lick my finger tips and smoke the joint all the way to the end. I watch for a long time as the sun sets: golden hues on brick, wood, and the soft squeal of the windmills; my mind is now devoid of commentary.
Chapter 3
I am awakened in the morning by a patch of sunlight that has crept slowly across the cranberry colored carpeting, climbing ever so gently up the white
Before I leave, he shows me the map of town and points out a couple of plots where he thinks I might be able to get water running and that are uninhabited. I feign attention and thank him as he shows me to the door. Right before I leave, he shakes my hand again.
“Let me know how things turn out, and welcome to Salem.” He looks over my shoulder, frowns, then closes the door with a click.
Turning to see what Bryce had been frowning at, I see a strange man leading a woman on a leash that’s connected to a dog collar worn on her neck. He is dressed in jester’s pants and an oversized army jacket. His hair is a wild blonde afro and he wears an oily pointed goatee. The girl is dressed as I imagine a cave woman might have been; wild hair and animal skins. He leers at me and begins to speak in a nasal voice.
“This is only for you to know, only YOU...relish this... A Black King shall descend from the sky, dressed only in his own locks, naked as the ancient gardens... He shall bring comfort to an assembly of people, and shall secure for them a Kingdom of Peace. He shall feed the many the Bread of the Gods, giving them immunity from the plague, the immunity as I know it. There shall be some within this city who shall make a Shining Music that shall control and lay waste to the Walking Death, and with their minds in the bliss of Pure Sound, they shall destroy the seeds of evil, and restore happiness to those who remain, and perhaps the land shall be freed. Now, with this knowledge, I send you into the Wilderness- as I have said, these things only you may know. Go now, and be ravaged by the sun and the stones...JAI!”
He spins once and leads his smiling friend away down the street. What the hell? I think. This place has an odd assortment of characters. What was all that about? The guy is obviously off his nut, then again as I admire the departing form of his companion -perhaps he is on to something.
I cross the street and walk into the old brick apartment building. I walk up the flights of stairs and choose a room that has a window facing the street. I lock the door and take a quick look around.
The water works and the toilet flushes, but the electricity is off. I toss my backpack on the bed that lays in one corner and pull a chair to the window. I prop my AK against the sill and draw open the window.
The sun is getting low. I look out on the town as the light fades to orange. I pull the roach from earlier from behind my ear and light it carefully with my old faded lighter.
I have a lot to consider. Technically, I have murdered one of the townspeople. Even if I believe it to be justifiable homicide, predicated on paranoia, I am sure it would spoil my welcome and, perhaps, even cause some form of retribution.
I’ve been cautious with my story, but I have no intention of moving to one of the plots Bryce has shown me. Maybe I can concoct a story about killing the cannibals and taking over their farm. I’m not sure Bryce will buy that. I wouldn’t.
In the morning I plan to drop off the empty jug at Silas’ tavern and ask about the fellow with the cavewoman concubine. After that I will get back to the farm as quickly as I can and try to decide on how much I feel like returning to society.
I lick my finger tips and smoke the joint all the way to the end. I watch for a long time as the sun sets: golden hues on brick, wood, and the soft squeal of the windmills; my mind is now devoid of commentary.
Chapter 3
I am awakened in the morning by a patch of sunlight that has crept slowly across the cranberry colored carpeting, climbing ever so gently up the white
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