Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Far and Away to Thee For days, I sat their pondering as I had so many times before. Watching the hours go by and wondering if this will be my last day. So many things had come and gone. So many friends and family, so many memories, all lost to the four winds. Never to be acknowledged again. A brief interlude between what and when; then nothing. What will become of all of this? No one can be certain, that is until I saw her. Nothing could make me forget her, the way she looked; the warm summer sun kissing her face. How the southern winds flowed through her long, chestnut hair with a smile that could fell a thousand trees and a voice that could hush a thousand storms. There were none more beautiful than her; save angels and their jealous hearts. Far and away she was to be my only. “Are you ready?” she asked. I could do nothing but gaze into those hazel eyes. “We’re going to be late and I’ll not have that”. “As you wish, my love”, I cooed. “You shall be the death of me”, she said with a smile. I damn those words to this day and shall for all eternity. A Gown for the Young Miss We walked through the streets of the little town just north of the big cities of Riverfall and Green Glen. It was a peaceful place with every amenity as a large metropolis with all the charm of a quaint village. We strolled hand in hand, stopping by every dress shop in the square. We came upon a small place tucked back and away from the ebb and flow of the city. “Sweetheart, come look”. I looked up to see her face all aglow as she took my hand and hurried to the window. There in the shop display, a magnificent gown of white and lace. Adorned with small faux pearls and gentle cascades of the finest silk; truly a gown of remarkable craftsmanship. “Let’s go inside, shall we?” She gave me a nudge. What could it hurt, I thought? “It’s perfect”, she exclaimed, dancing out of the dressing room. She was stunning in the gown. It was as though it was made for her. “If you truly love it then we should get it”, I announced. “Do you think we can?” She asked. “You may never find a gown as exquisite as this one”, I continued. “Then it is done, yes?” the shopkeeper asked. “It is indeed; done and done”. I said. “After all, you only have one wedding day, right?” My darling’s eyes lit up with awe and delight. I smiled and said, “That is, if you will offer your hand for this heart?” She gazed into my eyes as I set knelt and waiting on her next words. Without so much as a word, a single tear from her eye cascaded down her perfect cheek. “I will gladly take your heart for mine for all the whole of my days”. It was from that moment that I became complete and whole. Wanting no other and nothing more from this life but her and her alone. We were married one month later. Seeds of Life and Death A time and a half had passed when we learned that we were to be expecting our first child. We were overjoyed with the news and couldn’t wait. There were so many things to do and only a short time to do them. After all I had to learn how to care for a little baby. I just wasn’t planning on doing it alone. None of us were. “Darling, I’m going into town to get some things for dinner tonight.” She called. I was in the yard splitting wood for the fire. “I won’t be gone long”. And with that, she waved good bye. As she left a car drove up and a tall uniformed man exited. “Good evening, Miss”. He said to my wife. “Misses”, she grinned. “I beg your pardon”, he said as he tipped the brim of his cap slightly and smiled. “Adin?” she called. I looked up to see my commanding officer and my wife walking towards me. I stood at attention and greeted him. “Commander Howard, it’s an honor, sir”. “At ease Captain McCaffrey”, he said. “To what do I owe this honor, sir”? “Well, Ayva tells me the two of you are expecting”, he said. “Yes sir, in just a few short weeks” I replied. “We haven’t really told anyone yet, sir”, Ayva chimed in. “Please, my dear, call me Archibald”. She smiled in agreement as he kissed her hand politely. “Then it pleases me to be the first to congratulate you both”, The Commander announced. “Thank you, sir, we’re honored” I said. “May I come in?” “Of course, we were getting dinner ready”, I said. “Ayva was on her way to the market to get a few ingredients”, I continued. “My driver will take you into town to get what you need”, he said. “On the condition that you invite me to stay for dinner”. “We would be delighted to have you as our guest, Commander How…I mean, Archibald”. He smiled at her. “Nay, my dear, the honor is mine”. “Then it’s settled” I said. “Dinner for four it is”. The Commander gave instructions to his driver and off they went into town. I watched as they faded away into the distance. Just then, Commander Howard put his hand on my shoulder and said he wanted to speak to me inside. The car sped along quietly along the narrow paved road. Ayva sat in the back of the large car gazing out the window. Her mind was focused on the list of things that she needed from the market. So much so, that she hadn’t realized the driver talking to her. “Miss?” the driver asked. “We’re here, Miss”. “Oh, I’m sorry…thank you”. The driver came around and opened the door for her. She got out and straightened her dress and opened up a small compact. She checked her hair and make up briefly and then made her way into the market. She had needed just a few small ingredients to finish the dish she was preparing. The driver was waiting patiently in the car for her, but in her typical fashion, she hurried herself along so wasn’t waiting too long. As she was making her way to the spices, she noticed a door ajar in the back of the shop. She peeked through the crack out of curiosity and noticed a man in a long black overcoat and wide brimmed hat. He was speaking to two other men dressed in uniforms. They were listening intently to the orders and plans the first man was giving them. Ayva set her basket down and leaned closer to the opening. “It is imperative that this be carried out as soon as possible”, the man in black said. “The water supply must be fully contaminated and it must look as though the separatists did it”, he continued. The other men just stood and nodded with the occasional obligatory ‘Yes Sir’. Ayva was stunned. How could the military do this and to so many innocent people? I have to tell the Commander, she thought. Someone of authority has to know what’s going on in their own ranks. As she turned to leave, a uniformed man blocked her path. “What do we have here?” he asked her. Ayva fumbled through her words. “I was, uh, looking for the spices, if you would be so kind to assist me?” The man studied her for several moments. “The spices are over there, next to the dry goods”, he said suspiciously. “Oh, thank you, sir”, she said moving around the man. “Madam?” he called to her. She stopped in her steps and answered, “Yes?” “You forgot something”. She turned to see her shopping basket sitting next to the partially opened door. “Oh my, thank you”, she said nervously. She calmly retrieved the basket and thanked him again and walked briskly to the counter. He watch her walk away and then turned to go inside the room where the other men were meeting. Ayva hurried to the waiting car and got in. “All ready then, Miss?” the driver asked. “Yes, yes, let’s go please”. The driver, noticing her haste, nodded and started the car. As the car pulled out from in front of the shop, a large, black car made its way from behind the shop. The windows were tinted dark as if to hide anyone riding in it. Ayva and the Commander’s driver made their way back along the winding road. The large black sedan continued to creep up on them until it was right on the tail of the other car. The driver noticed and tapped the brake slightly. The black car stayed right on their tail. The driver proceeded to speed up but to no avail. The stealthy car went unphased as they sped along the narrow roadway. They approached a curve in the road overlooking a grassy ravine. Just then the black car slid along side the driver’s side of Ayva’s car. She looked out as the window dropped slowly revealing a small caliber pistol. Ayva cried out as the shot went off into the driver’s face, killing him instantly. She screamed just as the black car rammed the side of her car causing it to slide and fish-tail out of control. The car spun around and began to flip end over end. It broke through the roadway guardrails and tumbled down the more shallow side of the embankment, coming to rest on its roof. Smoke began to bellow from the underside of the wreckage. The black car stopped and watched for a moment. Then, as if on cue, the wrecked car burst into flames and exploded. The black car slowly pulled away and drove off. The driver lay dead and burning along side the wreckage. Just a few feet away lay another body, motionless and bloodied, clutching her stomach, as if protecting something or someone. The breeze whisked through her hair as the faint sounds of footsteps filled her ears. To Be Continued.

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