“Be careful with this one,” the ferryman said as they approached the bank. Continue reading “Youth”
Friendship
Wilom did not sleep, so he had difficulty telling how many days or weeks had passed. They crossed the River again and again. The ferryman left most people for Wilom to fetch, except for the very young. Continue reading “Friendship”
Fear
At the bank, he stopped and turned to Wilom. “Go fetch that man.”
“Man?”
The ferryman did not point. “The bank is not wide. Go find him, and bring him back.” Continue reading “Fear”
Experience
After Trey was gone and the boat was crossing the River again, Wilom gathered the courage to stick his hand in the water. It was thicker than regular water. When he pulled his hand out, little rivulets streamed off his palm, slowly, like honey. He shook his hand, and suddenly it was all gone, not a droplet left. It was like the almost-sand — none of it stuck to anything. He repeated this a few times. Continue reading “Experience”
Chapter One
Wilom leaned over the side of the boat, unsure whether it was safe to trail a hand in the water. The ferryman’s pole barely left any ripples. The eerie twilight non-sky tinged everything blue and black. Continue reading “Chapter One”
The River
It wasn’t very far back to the village, but Wilom was surprised how dark it had gotten. The lighthouse keeper waited around the corner while Wilom slipped the note under the door and hurried away. Continue reading “The River”
The Lighthouse Keeper
Wilom was so startled he hit his head on the back of the door, and grazed his knuckles trying to find the doorknob. Continue reading “The Lighthouse Keeper”
Breaking Point
It soon dawned on Wilom that he wasn’t ever going to leave Jali and Tanim’s house. He wasn’t going to get another house of his own; not in this town, at least, and his chances of being allowed to move elsewhere were slim to none. His job was returned to him, with as many extra disapproving stares as he could cope with, but at least it kept him out of the Continue reading “Breaking Point”
Home
The train jolted and rocked just as much as the last time. Wilom spent the entire trip on the floor of the truck. When they arrived at the station, Wilom got off with only a nod to the foreman, and headed home. His head was clear, despite the headache he’d been nursing for a few hours now. Continue reading “Home”
Futility
Wilom trudged down the slope towards his friends and the campfire, which was burning brighter now against the night. Alph was feeding it leaves and blades of grass to make it hiss. Tags was the first to look up from the group. Wilom sat down, unsteady but not from the beer. Continue reading “Futility”
Whimsy and Metaphor 