As far back as he could remember Ham had had the same dream. While this was just one more thing that set him apart, he nonetheless would share the dream with other Huddlers from time to time. “One day, a man comes to Dusk. Since no one ever comes to Dusk, everyone comes out into [...]
Ham lived with his mother, Hannah, and his father, Horace. Their home was a typical Huddler home, with packed dirt floors, cast iron sinks, off-white walls, thatched roof, and an oh-my-goodness-that’s-chilly toilet. Along with Hannah, Horace, and Ham, there was Ham’s sister Helen and their dog – a mutt of unknown origin – Hank. Ham’s [...]
Life was dull in Dusk. Entertainment was rare, and usually took the form of singing the Birthday Dirge. Everyone knows the Birthday Dirge. It goes like this… “Hap… py birth… day… to… youuuuuuuuu… Hap… py birth… day… to… youuuuuuuu…” And so on. Slow, mournful, as though each reminder of another year passed is just another [...]
Hyram was Mayor of Dusk. Hyram was Mayor because his father had been Mayor, and his father’s father had been Mayor, and so on. Hyram was an average looking Huddler: average height, mousy brown hair that lay where it fell and stayed there, brown watery eyes that mostly looked down, and a bit of a [...]
Ham’s village of Dusk was a part of the land of Dank. In Dank, it was always dim and dreary. The sun, when it managed to peek through the ever-present overcast, was weak, wan and woeful. The inhabitants of Dank – the Huddlers – went through their days with their heads down, their shoulders hunched, [...]
Ham felt the sweat dripping down his back as he swung the axe overhead. In his mind’s eye, he could see the sweat clearing a path through the dirt and dust that settled on his back as he worked. He took some pride in the smooth play of the muscles in his shoulders, chest, and [...]
“It is time,” said the first voice. ..“Do you really think so?” asked a second voice. ….“Indeed, it is time,” said a third. ..“And how shall we proceed?” asked the second voice. “A child has been born,” said the first voice, “and chosen. He will serve our purposes quite nicely.” ….“He will know the purpose, [...]
