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The Reason
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The Reason |
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WildPoet Member
since 2003-11-10
Posts 205California |
The Reason I Shaking his boot, to relocate a pebble caught inside, Tucker climbed to the crest of the grass covered hill and looked down upon a serene valley. He saw a small blue river snaking through the middle of it, flanked by well tended orchards on either side of the river, and fields of ripe wheat grain being harvested as he watched. He counted about a dozen houses, a few other buildings and a town square, scattered in and around the shade trees. Smiling, Tucker adjusted his backpack, which held all his important possessions except the clothes on his back, and started down the hill towards the peaceful village. Stopping the swing of his scythe, to wipe the sweat from his brow, Joshua caught sight of a stranger making his way down the Wailing trail to his town. To the young man, this was no small thing! He was thirteen years old, and no one has ever wandered into Davidaton before, he couldn't even remember ever hearing of such a thing. Dropping the tool where he stood, Joshua started for the village. He just had to find out what this was all about. The old man looked out of the paneless window at the stranger strolling so confidently into the center of town. As he raised himself up to stand at the window, Abe felt every one of his eighty-four years. He was one of the Nine Elders of the town, and also its security officer and as such, he had to deal with this expected, but unwanted event. God, he was tired. II Dust shot up around his boots with each step, as Tucker made his way to what he figured was the village center. Here he saw a well where he could have a cold drink to wash the trail from his throat. Glancing up from the dripping ladle, Tucker noticed a small crowd gathering, staring at him and whispering to each other. He wasn't sure this was everyone in town, and he needed all of them gathered here before he could say what he came to say. Joshua went into a loping run as he entered the village. He saw that most of the people were there already and the stranger looked as if he was going to make a speech. As he came up to the group, Joshua searched the crowd unsucessfully for his grandfather Abraham. He must be taking a nap. Abe did that alot lately. Turning his attention to the man standing on the steps to the well, Joshua felt a rush of excitement as he wondered where the stranger could have come from, and what he was doing here. Abe turned from the window and went over to the bookcase, lifting a black lacquer box from the first shelf. He carefully opened it and looked down at the object laying on a cushion of red velvet. Gently Abe lifted the thing out and reverently held it up to the light. He remembered when his father first showed it to him and explained the reason for it's existence. Abe put on his coat and left the room carrying the object in his right hand, and headed to the town square. III Tucker looked over the people gathered around the well. It looked to him like there were no more coming. This was what he was stalling for. What he had come all that way to do. He was entrusted with this duty. He knew they would not have another chance for a long time, it was just too expensive of a trip. Tucker must make sure everyone in the village heard his message! Joshua waited expectantly as the stranger started to speak in a different, yet strangely familiar, language. He had an odd feeling, as if he felt fear, but didn't know why? Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw his grandfather Abraham making his way to the front of the crowd. He couldn't quite make out what his grandfather had clenched in his right hand. He'd never seen him with it before. Joshua did recognize the look of determination on old Abraham's face. Abe finally got to the front. He was positioned to the right of the man on the steps. He barely heard the words coming from the stranger, but he knew the speech from the teachings of his father, and Abe also knew what he had to do. Just as he heard the name Allah and saw the man reach around to his backpack, Abe leveled the colt fourty-five pistol and fired off two rounds into the head of the stranger. IV Tucker felt as if he was kicked in the head. As he fell to the ground, his last thoughts were that he had failed the Cause and there would be no virgins waiting for him in a paradise he could not now reach. He was dead before he hit the ground. Joshua stood paralized with disbelief. The two loud explosions still rang in his ears. He noticed the towns people also stood in stunned silence as old Abraham turned and walked slowly back to his house. Joshua was the first to move. He followed behind his grandfather, he had to know why the old man had performed such an unexpected and gruesome act. Abe knew his grandson had followed him. Now in his study he reloaded the gun and placed it back in the self sealing box. Without looking at Joshua, Abe walked to the window and stared up at the three moons starting to set on the horizon of the planet New Temple. Still looking out the window Abe began to tell the story of the reason they were here. V In the year 2049 back on old Earth, the Extermist's had gained popularity and sympathy in most countries with the help of friendly governments in France, Germany and Russia. Israel stood alone against ever growing attacks by suicide bombers after the United States elected an ultra-liberal president and turned it's back on the Jewish state. As the Arab countries massed for the Great Jihad against Israel and it's borders, the leaders of that doomed country came up with one last desparate plan to save some of it's people. Five years before, with the invention of a reliable interstellar drive, a group of Israeli scientist searched through maps and data of the known universe for a suitable planet to explore. While the government built the large space arks that would carry the selected explorers to the new world. Now instead of a grand experiment, the thirteen ships that were barely completed, were going to be used as escape pods to leave a hostile world that wanted to once and for all rid itself of the Hebrew race. The Israelis packed the ships with as many people and supplies that could be crammed into them. And sent the last hope of they're race on their way towards the Alpha Centari system. Ten days later Israel ceased to exist. Abraham and his family sailed through the emptiness of space in ship #13. His father was a security officer aboard the ship and Abe was a solemn nine year old, who kept mostly to himself on the long voyage. They lost five ships going through the asteroid belt and another five to various mechanical and human error along the way to Alpha Centari. The remaining three ships made it to the fifth planet circling a star a little larger than Earth's sun. Ship #5 entered the atmosphere at a trajectory that would take it to the northern hemisphere. Ship #9 went towards the southern hemisphere and Abe's #13 dropped to the equatorial region of the planet. They never heard from the other colonist who landed elsewhere on the planet, and over the next seventy-five years they became known to themselves as the lost thirteenth tribe. When Abe turned thirteen, his father taught him the skills of being a security officer and when his father died of a sudden heart attack, Abe became the security officer for his tribe. Now it was Joshua's turn to learn and old Abe would be the one to bring the boy into the reality of what only the Elders and their successors knew. Epilog The other Elders had Tuckers body carried far from the town to a barren spot on the hill. There they safely detonated the explosives in his backpack. Tucker disintregrated into a fine mist, becoming one with the soil around the site. The only thing that survived was a miniscule piece of prayer rug, that was later ingested by one the tribes goats. Joshua left his grandfathers house feeling as if he understood the old man for the first time in his life. He knew that he would some day be responsible for the security of the Jewish people and he must learn the ways of his grandfather, in case the Extremist found them again. Joshua breathed in the sultry night air that seemed forever changed. No longer could he dream the dreams of a boy, for now he was entrusted with an important job. He was thirteen. He was a man. Watching the last of the three moons set, Abe wondered when they would come again, and if the boy would be ready and able to safeguard the lost tribe from the Islamic Extremist. He would just have to do the best he can teaching his grandson the ways of security and about keeping the truth of why they're here, from the main population. Abe knew the Elders before him, had decided this would be a world of new beginnings, and the old fears should be forgotten. Except for the knowledge of those like himself, who know the reason, old Earth would be dead to the lost thirteenth tribe. Letting out a deep sigh, he got ready to go meet with the Elders and concoct a story to officially explain the incident today. With tired, sad eyes, old Abraham looked out the window once more and watched the glow from the moonset fade on the horizon, which had above it, a faint little star called Earth. |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Well done! There are some minor mistakes in tense but all in all it's a good story. Peaked my interest.  |
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WildPoet Member
since 2003-11-10
Posts 205California |
Thanks DeVine! I've started A second short story in the series, and I would be honored to have your opinion on it! WildPoet  |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
I look forward to reading that one. The religious aspect concerned me at first, until I read through the piece a few more times and noticed small things, like the use of numbers and the approximate date, 100 years later, of the creation of Israel following WWII. Interesting way to tie a futuristic 'maybe' into the past and present. |
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WildPoet Member
since 2003-11-10
Posts 205California |
Thanks Alicat! I don't dwell on religion much, but was wondering one day how far the Islamic Extremist would go to destroy Israel, and came up with this scenario. I'll post the start of the second story, so you and DeVine can start reading it. WildPoet |
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Brad Majors 
since 2001-04-03
Posts 2647Georgia |
well done |
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WildPoet Member
since 2003-11-10
Posts 205California |
Thanks Brad! This is only my second attempt at writting. Devine is a good teacher! WildPoet |
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Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
I have to agree, this was outstanding. Susan "if you won't let me fall for you |
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WildPoet Member
since 2003-11-10
Posts 205California |
Thanks Susan! Everyone is being so nice.You people may be creating a monster  WildPoet |
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