Exceptional A terrible price is paid Chronicles of the Wandering Man : From Black Depths, Light Abounds by Fleedleflump

XXII The Earth's intestines clutched my form with muck and grimy mire, a depth of horror past forlorn to stoke my anger's fire. I'd landed in the blackest slime, soaked in the town's dark blood; a buried abattoir of filth, a lake of oil and mud. The pump was groaning up above, the ground growled of its loss. The air was shuddering with fear as man stole Earth's black gloss. I knew, then, Mother wanted help and I could be her knight. This lake - the folly of their greed - could undo numbers' might. XXIII I rummaged through my carry-sack with need fuelling my stare until I found combustion's birth adorned within a flare. With grim design and grimmer face, I clambered through the dark and climbed foundations of the pump without a sound to hark. In desperate times we find a way to dig up what is right from ages-buried treasure troves we choked with our insight. Into dry dusk I made my way, a creature of the deep, clad thick in murk and cold lament for crops I must now reap. XXIV I trudged unto the village well and sank to weary knees. I bellowed out a primal yell for all the flock to heed. They came to me with angered awe across collective face - they saw my mercy like a rock; the fate they must embrace. The Judge approached to spell my death with but a violent point, but then my flare lit up the night. "The darkness I anoint!" I watched their faces bow to fear as light slipped down the well, these misled fools I'd not allow to sound the Earth's death knell. XXV The fire burned out the world that day and gorged on holy air. It supped on lives brought up on lies and stripped the dead land bare. The sky lit up with flaming light - a visit from the sun - the long-black air lit up as bright as powder from a gun. The town was taken by the clouds, become but motes of dust. The Judge, his hate, his every heir I gave to higher trust. I cannot know if 'Arbiter' was my job to assume. I only know this crater's depth will be my sad heirloom. Earned A Seal Of Quality Author Notes . . One more chapter to go. I hope you enjoyed the read. Mike . . © Copyright 2024. Fleedleflump All rights reserved. Fleedleflump has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.