All of her life, she grew up hearing about the Prophet. Her family struggled to make ends meet because of this Prophet. There were no vacations because of the Prophet. There were no fancy restaurant meals because of this Prophet. She wore hand-me-down clothing because of the Prophet. And she couldn’t go to her prom…

The space-traveller had become a relic as he lay in stasis for fifty years, oblivious of what had happened with his home-world, Earth and to humanity. That was before the young woman, who was scouring his spaceship, found his ‘deep-space coffin.’ Now their heart was heavy, for while they’d seen much and knew much, they…

Before he could begin getting undressed, a knock came at the door. It was Molly, carrying folded clothes. “I think these will fit you, if you don’t mind wearing my dad’s old clothes. Leave you’re old duds on the porch and I’ll wash them.” “No. Please don’t bother. Jus’ toss’em in the burn barrel. I’ll…

The cool water from the faucet felt good on his face and neck. He watched, surprised as the gray cement puddled up with dirt and grim as he rinse the filth from himself. Before to long, Nancy came out the side door, keys in hand and unlocked the old truck whose step-board, Gil rested on.…

The night, though cold and moonless, was most uneventful. Again Gil heard the coyotes pad’s gently following at some distance to either side, but this time he welcomed their company, whistling the lullaby, not as a comfort or warning for himself, but for them. A some point in the dark of the early morning hours,…

He rolled through scrub and over heavy, sharp gravel, finally coming to rest against a large boulder. Gil slammed head first into the rock and laid, dazed, staring up at the constellations, than now included a few that moved when he blinked. Sitting up after a few minutes, Gil cursed his clumsiness and felt for…

Gil didn’t worry, did not think. Instead he concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other as he mentally counted cadence and held his destination in mind. The road trended roughly southwest, then abruptly cut back in a southeast direction. More than once Gil found himself back tracking to the road, having lost…

The end of the month came and went, and no Smith. Gil wasn’t concerned as he still had supplies enough to last another week to ten-days if need be. Instead of wandering about though, he decided to stay close by, if the old man suddenly showed up. To while away his time, Gil sat on…

After three months, Gil had established a pattern for himself. He chopped wood and gathered water in the hours just after sunrise, then he spent the rest of his day, exploring his surrounding, including walking back to where he’d followed the horses. The last time Smith had brought around supplies, Gil hadn’t been there. He…

Three days after Smith’s hit-and-run visit, Gil was sweeping out the dust that had accumulated on the floor in the last 24-hours, when a shadow crossed the uneven wooden planks. It was ‘One-eyed’ Jack. The old man stood there watching as the younger man swept the floor. “You won’t find me doing women’s work like…