Wilom was starting to grow uncomfortably familiar with the dark marks of hangings. Continue reading “Duty”
Opinions
The woman on the beach looked stunned, half-dazed. She stood unsteadily and looked up at him with the expression of someone who wasn’t really seeing what her eyes were pointing at.
Wilom knelt down a respectful distance away, and didn’t stare at her. People often came to the River like that, especially those who had died violently. Continue reading “Opinions”
A Second Opinion
“Ferryman?” Wilom asked, as the bank drew close.
“Yes?”
“Would it be alright if I got out of the boat for a little while? I want to go for a walk, and I’d like to talk to the lighthouse keeper if I could.” Continue reading “A Second Opinion”
Hung Up
As Wilom walked over to the woman on the bank, he listed facts about her as quickly as possible, trying to notice as much as possible, to practice. Nervous, he could tell. Hanged, judging by the dark mark on her neck. He’d seen enough of them. But there was something different about her. She seemed restless, and she definitely hadn’t been waiting in a jail cell for days before her execution. Continue reading “Hung Up”
A Visit from a Friend
The ferryman, for once, didn’t row them directly to the bank, but instead took them over towards the lighthouse. Wilom realised that the lighthouse keeper was waiting for them on the bank, holding something. Continue reading “A Visit from a Friend”
Lost Chances
When Wilom finally did see Tanim standing on the bank, he wanted nothing more than to turn back. To hide somewhere on the bank, and beg the ferryman to take this assignment. Continue reading “Lost Chances”
Pathways
Vanda jumped away from the cliff face as soon as she saw the boat arriving, but sulked her way into the boat. She flung herself down on a bench dramatically and held out a silver coin between two fingers. Continue reading “Pathways”
Propriety
On the shore, a man waited. Wilom took a deep breath as he got out of the boat and let it out slowly. The man was standing tall and nervously straight, square shoulders, watching the River with a belligerent intensity. Wilom could tell already he was going to be difficult. Continue reading “Propriety”
Generations
Wilom tried to count the people for a while, to try and get some inkling of how much time might be passing. He never seemed to be able to count much past twenty, though — for some reason as soon as he thought he had an accurate count, he’d remember someone else he’d taken, or realise that one he’d counted had actually been from long, long before, and he’d have to start again. Continue reading “Generations”
Thick Like Water
Wilom jumped off the boat and walked along the shore.
“W … Wilom?”
Wilom stopped abruptly. “Aunt Jali?” Continue reading “Thick Like Water”
Whimsy and Metaphor 