Laurence 3 (or The Man of Hope)

Despair was a ruthless place. Once. When people hoped enough to even be evil.

It used to be named Cutt Throat, but long ago, when the wells ran dry and the mines no longer shined, the town cleared out and those who remained fell into depression.

Caravans used to come through the towns and trade, but one day, they stopped, and left behind a new name for the town. Despair.

Laurence walked into town thirsty. The land was barren around it, almost a desert, and the few people he saw ignored him. So, Laurence did the only thing that made sense to him and walked into the bar.

"Water, please," he croaked.

"Sure, didn't think you'd spend any money," the bartender, a dirty, young woman, said.

"I'll pay," he said, and picked a coin out of his pocket.

"Gee, thanks," she took the coin and bit it with her two good teeth. "Real gold?"

"What's that you said?" An old man got up from a table, where his overweight body had begun to grow in a shape to fit into the small wooden chair he sat in.

Laurence didn't pay much attention as he downed the thick, warm water like it was a cool, clean spring. The others in the bar began to gather around him, though. Everyone wanted to see the gold he brought.

"Is that real?" one woman asked.

"Can't be, has to be a fake," another said.

"It is," the old man said. "Where'd you get this, boy?"

Laurence was surprised by all the commotion and looked around. Every eye was on him.

"I got it from my parents. We live in Safety. It's about 10 miles that way." He pointed East.

"Ain't no such town, and there ain't any town that way. Where'd you get it?" the old man pressed closer.

The crowd began to grow angry. Then another man, taller and younger, but still haggard, walked up. His hat had holes, and his badge was more than tarnished, but he was obviously the sheriff.

"Now, now, Mayor Danfield." The younger man put his hand on the older man's arm. "Leave the boy alone. He's obviously dehydrated and in need of some rest. Lyzzie, this gold piece he's given you ought to be enough to get him room and board for a couple of days, no?"

"Yessir, Sherrif Duwalt," the bartender, Lizzie, said. She smiled slightly and Laurence realized it was the first smile he'd seen since leaving Safety.

"Alright, Sheriff, but I'm talking to him tomorrow." Mayor Danfield looked from the Sheriff to Laurence. "First thing in the morning."

Lizzie showed Laurence to his room. A small, dirty room that smelled of cheese. He took off his boots and knelt to pray.

"Father, please give me the words to say to them. These people have nothing and a small piece of gold has seemed to give them hope. Let me show them the real hope You bring. Please bring glory to Your name here and let me be the salt and light for this town. I promise You I will stay here for as long as you need me to. Amen."

While Laurence slept, Mayor Danfield talked to a few other townsfolk about Laurence.

"Mayor, what do we do? This man has gold," Mrs. Ratner said.

Her husband agreed and added, "And he probably knows where more is too."

"Yeah," Mr. Waldorf said, "he must have more. He was probably out there burying his treasure. That's why he was so worn out."

More people tried to talk, but Mayor Danfield chimed in with the skills that earned him the title Mayor.

"Folks, we have been Despair too long. It's time we become Cutt Throat again. Who's with me?"

"But, Mayor, with all respect and honor, what if he is from Safety?" Lizzie asked.

"Safety doesn't exist, Darlin'. It's just a tale to get kids to sleep at night."

Ramblings of Today

So, I'm going to write a new book. I know, I know. I'll get back to The Dark Lands one day, with a major rewrite, but it's not the book for me to write any longer. So, I'm starting a new one. It's a science-fiction book. It kind of reminds me of Battle Star Galactica, and maybe some Firefly and Star Gate in there too. Of course, any other space-based science fiction series could be related to any other, so we could throw in Star Wars, and maybe Star Trek, though much less utopian than that.

I'm not saying anymore other than the working title of the series, "Exodus", at the moment. I'll be beginning the first chapter this week, and those of you who would like to read the beta, please let me know (commenting about it on my actual blog is the best way, it sends me an email and I will see it... other methods, I'll try to pay attention to).

I will continue to post poetry on my blog as it comes to me (all poetry posted is mine, unless I attribute it otherwise, and is a first draft. I write it directly to the blog). I'll also continue updates and make a facebook page, but only after the first couple chapters are finished, or the first draft... if it goes quickly.