The boy remained silent for miles, struggling to steer his horse while cuffed with his lank hair shielding his grubby face; the boy was barely eighteen and too young to remember, but Robbie, the older of the two guards, thought often about the old times when it was all about ‘incarceration’, ‘correction’, and ‘reform’—after The Great Collapse that all changed; Robbie, would never tell anyone, but he hated his job, it had no prospects or progression, and was a daily reminder of death; but it was a job, and a job meant being alive in this new world, and it was better this way, Robbie kept telling himself, punishment was more effective and swifter, with no chance of re-offending.
As they reached the edge of The New Forest, the cold autumn sun had disappeared behind the clouds, the woods seemed silent, and the only apparent sounds were the horses hooves over the crisp leaves, and their own cold breaths; Robbie understood the boy’s silence as a sign of guilt, but a part of him felt sorry for the young man, ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘this is where we leave you, kid, but because I like you—and I know it doesn’t mean much now—I know you probably didn’t mean to kill all them people the way you did, you were desperate and all, I get it…I mean we all gotta eat, right…anyway, one little tip: stick to the left path, most of these hunters, they like the elevation of the right, stick low and behind the trees you might live a little longer…for what it’s worth.’
The boy dismounted the horse, almost falling from it, and without thanking Robbie, ran unsteadily to the left; Robbie watched him and thought of the old days when, after a day at the office, he’d give his wife a quick text or call, or check-in online before passing the commute like the others staring at a screen denying the end was about to begin—but here, there was no denying, no end or beginning anymore, just now—and now he’d have to ride the fifty miles back in darkness before escorting another offender tomorrow; and as he turned, desiring the simple comforts of a warm bed or some hot soup, the low sun broke through the trees and tall shadows stretched along the forest floor as gunshots sent flocks of birds fluttering to the skies above.
Written for Three Line Tales, Week 95.
Image credit: Tobias Keller via Unsplash
Such a well developed snippet! Kind of like what I had been thinking except I didn’t bother with details, zoomed right out for the greater scheme of things. They are definitely guilty of something.
Thanks, Mek. Probably would’ve worked just as well with half the length. I think I was challenging myself to pack as much as I could into 3 lines this week! Yes, definitely something insidious about this picture. Glad you agree!
The length is perfect- it gave you more room to define you characters and gave the reader more points of departure for the imagination. I know what you mean about the challenge too. I love seeing how far I can go with semi colons, commas, emdashes etc 😂😂
you will always be my favourite story teller, upon finishing reading the piece I wondered if maybe it was the other way round, your story first then the photo as it really captured the essence of the scene before my eyes. what change for Robbie, but in a dystopian or altered society it’s the adaptable that survive.
Thanks, Gina. It came easily after seeing the photo. Like one of those stories that have already written themselves and you’re just recording it. I hope you are well near the equator, and I look forward to reading your stories again soon.
Life on the equator is better now the rains have come, you know my affection with the droplets. I have missed so much of your stories and really want to catch up and glad I read this one first. The stories have been building in my head and I want to get to them soon hopefully. blessings to you and the family David.
I didn’t see that coming. Is this part of a longer story? I know you’ve written about this bleak new world before. I’d be interested in finding out more about Robbie.
Just something I wrote today for the prompt. Could be something longer though. I guess I just have a fascination with post-apocalyptic stories about a bleak, new worlds. Thanks for the interest.