Niteblade Archives Pre-09

And now….

The Dark Wastes, the endless expanse beyond the black cities, holds little but death for us, as we all know. Only when a day has been very kind can one find something useful between the blasted rocks and wind-blown sands—if you are brave enough to travel the endless Dark and make it back that is!

You see, by the Mountains of Time, between the Hills of Yesterday, out on the edge of the Great Empty Lake, I had a home in a village. Not much: a woman, our boy, and a small wooden box to keep out the night. We had enough to live on; breeding cattle-dogs for meals, trading some for water and other things. All was good. We did not want as much as most.

But the virus of the Days of Mania lingers like a spectre, just out of sight….

One day a man came to us, from where none of us knew, but he had a dozen or so men with him, all armed, all angry. They shouted at us, and when they didn’t feel like shouting their metal pipes shouted for them in great bolts of lightning and with a cracking sound. The man rounded us up like cattle-dogs, made us work, built a high fence of needle-wire around the village so none could leave.

He instilled terror in our hearts by killing a few of us often. They were usually the old, who could not work, or those among us who resisted. The pipes would flash and then crack! They fell dead like flies. And when that wasn’t enough, they began taking our wives and daughters, making us watch with rage in our silent mouths….

One day, the man, who called himself “The President,” took our son as his slave boy. When he finally took my wife, I protested. When he was done with her he slit her throat and had me chained and beaten for three days every sunrise; held me in a dark shed for how long I do not know, but I’d almost forgotten the sun and his warmth.

I was broken, you see? Broken. But when I healed and was released I devised a plan and escaped in the dead of night by digging with my bowl, under the ground like a mole, under the fence. And I ran with nothing in my arms or on my back to sustain me.

I ran into the desert and they pursued me with anger in their mouths. So I went into the Dark Wastes where they dared not go, hoping the Great Ones would see me, remember me their child, and take pity.

Well, hope beyond hope; take pity they did! I wandered, perhaps for days, maybe longer, I cannot recall, as I was ill and near death from lacking. But one day there it was, shining in the forever burning sun, glistening with hope and waiting. Waiting for me.

It stood long and tall in the middle of the hot sun, among the rocks and fallen walls of a deserted and lost village, silent and majestic and holy. I touched it and it shimmered, the glass seemed to ripple in the heat. I looked through, and it showed me things, great and wonderful things beyond its ancient frame.

I saw a field of green waving in a breeze, with colours on the tips of thin stalks. And I saw many creatures the likes of which I’ve never seen before. Some even flew through the air! Can you imagine? And there were blue skies. Blue! And puffy white clouds, so nice and clean and pure.

And each time I touched the glass it shimmered again and changed pictures. I saw a great body of water that stretched to the far horizon; I saw great cities of shining metal, and people, millions upon millions of people, laughing and playing and dining on such fine meals.

And then a thing happened that I could never expect: the ground shook, the glass rippled and seemed to reach out to me, sucking at me—and I fell through! Yes, I fell through the Window and into such a place as I could never have imagined. And there were people there, holy people who took care of me as though I were one of their own, and all my needs were granted.

Oh, it was a place of great joy, great hope, where no one was in want and all was provided for. It was a place where brutality did not exist, and peace reigned in the hearts of men.

Such a place brings life back into the soul, and kindness back into the heart. And although I did not want to leave I knew I had to return, so they kissed me and cried and gave me all that I could carry in my arms and on my back. And they bade me share a little bit of that kindness back to you, my brothers and sisters.

Oh, I feel your destitution, my friends, and have sympathy. But I have come back! Come back for your benefit!

Yes, it is true! And I’ve brought back with me a story of kindness and these precious necessities, to trade and to provide hope. Hope that we may be smiled upon by the Great Ones, as I have been, and find a little bit of that kindness to spread to others that we may rebuild our broken world.

And so….What? No, I had gone back several times before, but upon arrival I found the Window gone. Gone, I say. But who knows where it may show up next? In someone’s time of need? Yes. But that one time was all that was needed to bring to you hope. Who knows, maybe you may be blessed to come upon it one day, in your own need, to fall through into paradise.

Not a bad story, hey? No, a wonderful story. So keep your eyes sharp for that glitter of glass, that sparkle of salvation, that….Why do you shake your heads at me? Why do you mumble? What are you saying there? You! What is this? Why, I do and say these things for you, and—and what do you hold in your hand?

Get back! What is this? Don’t push, there is plenty for all to trade. Wait! We must be civil! We must be like those holy people. We must—you’ll knock my carriage over! Wait I tell you! It is true. Your destitution can end, and—don’t hit me with that! You monsters, monsters all of you! Stop! Stop I tell you! Stop!

Ah-eeee!

Oh, evil days. Oh, hard pressed and broken bones. All my precious things gone. Gone! My offer of hope, shattered! Gifts of salvation, stolen!

Savages! Undeserving beasts!

Suffering. Great suffering now. Oh, I fear it. Yes. Ah, cruelty. Shall Death come now? Shall night fall hard upon me? Upon all children? Does the heart ever warm? A curse! A curse, I say. We are cursed! What to do, what to do….What are you looking at? Yes, you! You mock me? Laugh at me? You find something funny here? Be gone with you! Be off, I say, you….What?

Oh, so sorry. So sorry indeed, my friend. Yes, I remember you. Forgive me my wild mind….You have something there. What is it? Something useful, maybe? Yes? A bit of meat from that fire over there? I see you have a kind heart. A very kind heart indeed. Did I say I would show you what real kindness is? I did, yes?

Ah….Look here, then, take this piece on my belt for instance. Been around ten thousand years and a day, I was told, back before they built what were called the Eyes in the Sky, or the mechanical beasts of burden, those ancient of ancient days, glorious antiquity. And still in good condition! See the perfection of the blade?

Come closer. Come. That’s it. That’s right. See? Glistening with hope. Yes, that’s it. Hope. Long, shiny, pretty, something sharp, yes. That’s it! Something sharp and kind, so very, very kind. Come closer.

(Ah-hem.)

Here, let me interest you in an antique….