Happy Thanksgiving folks!
As promised here is the second part of the prologue for the upcoming Jonah book. In this section we introduce the other two main players in the book. I hope you enjoy and know that I am so thankful that I have you all to encourage me and give me feedback. You can reread part one here.
*****
The
town of Khorsabad was located on the outskirts of the Nineveh province. It was a rural town that once held a mighty
fortress. The town was in the midst of
rebirth. One could see new construction alongside
of four hundred year old homes. It was a
town of transition with a population that was ever fluctuating. The staple of the town, fishing, had been
dwindling ever since several factories were built to the north, but the factory
did bring several jobs, which was why the town was growing for the first time
in a generation. Along the western side
of the town ran the Tigress River. Among
the docks the traditional Sunday bazaar had sprung up. The Tigress on the West,
the main road to the East, an old cannery on the North side, and funeral home
to the South framed the marketplace. It
was a snapshot of days gone by where the town came together to peddle their
wares.
The
occasional cloud passed, shrouding the marketplace in shade. The shade, in conjunction with the soft
breeze off the Tigress, created a very pleasant atmosphere. The murmur of masses of people each trying to
get the best deal melded together to a drone, broken by an occasional call for
fresh fish. Aromas wafted toward the
road where a white town car was parked.
If
you had to describe Thom Trinneer in one word it would be charismatic. Nearly everyone who spent time with him came
to respect him, even if they disagreed with his ideals. The second word to describe him would be
hard. Standing at six foot three he
towered over most anyone around him. He
was also covered in rippling muscle, not the type of bodybuilders, but lean,
tough muscle that made him substantially stronger that he appeared.
Thom stepped into
the bazaar wearing a smile. He
methodically moved from stand to stand, always giving a kind word of
encouragement or checking on the shopkeepers loved ones. He waved at the loud-voiced Michael who ran a
fish stand before he greeted Cecilia who was the proprietor of a handcrafted
furniture stand. After spending a brief
time visiting, he would move on to the next stand. He would carefully listen to the people’s problems
and always seemed to be able to find the best outcome for whoever was
involved. While not exactly a pillar of
the community, his business, the funeral home, had been passed down through his
family for seven generations. He was
known for helping people through some of the roughest moments in their lives
and the Trinneer’s were known to go above what was required.
As
Thom made his way through the bazaar he spotted Mark. Mark stood tall as he moved from stand to
stand in much the same way Thom did, but he was not visiting the shopkeepers,
he was working. Mark had recently taken
a job with NPD, the Nineveh Peacekeeping Department. Thom could feel his blood pressure rising as
he looked upon this once free man. Thom
understood and couldn’t blame Mark for taking this job. Mark had a wife and three children to provide
for and fishing, unfortunately, could not do that anymore. A man must take care of his family and the
stability of a government job was certainly appealing, but the site of Mark
with his riot vest, helmet, and retractable baton caused Thom to feel sorrow…
and frustration. Mark was no longer
free. He now relied on Governor Micah
for his livelihood, and worked as the governor’s personal army. The NPD used to stand for justice. They used to defend the week, but position by
position, Governor Micah had replaced a majority of the leadership with his own
people. Now the NPD was like a fishing boat
with no nets, unable to fulfill its true purpose. It had become so riddled with corruption that
the NPD appears to now do nothing but suppress and batter the population. Thom would do anything to allow his neighbors
to be free of the tyranny of the governor.
With a sigh, Thom
turned around to avoid Mark and made his way toward the funeral home as a group
of children came running to him.
“Is
that you James,” Thom inquired, “You must have grown half a foot since I’ve
seen you last.”
The
young boy at the head of the group gave Thom a lopsided smile, “Yes, sir, Mr.
Thom. Are you going to be staying in the
village long?”
“Not
too long, son. I am here on business and
business always keeps me moving.”
James’ smile faded
with an “Oh”
Thom
could see that something was bothering James.
He turned to Stuart, the second oldest of the crew. “Stuart I have a job for you. Do you think you young men could help
me?” Thom continued as Stuart gave an
enthusiastic nod. “Mrs. Cecilia hasn’t
been able to sell much from her booth lately, and I have had an eye on one of
the coffee tables she was trying to sell.
I need you boys to go buy it for me and deliver it to my car.” Thom handed Stuart a wad of bills. The boy’s eyes bulged when Thom leaned in and
with a wink added; “there is also old Gideon’s sweet shop around the corner
from Cecilia’s where you and the rest of your crew can use the extra.”
As
James and the rest started to go Thom grabbed James’ arm. “What’s wrong James,” Thom asked firmly.
The
boy shuffled his feet and wouldn’t make eye contact. He muttered.
“You
will need to speak up James. What’s
wrong? “
“Is
it true that you help people even when the NPD won’t, Mr. Thom.” The boy’s eyes were large with hope and
fear.
James hoped that
he had heard correctly.
James was afraid
that he had heard correctly.
“I do what I can
for those that can’t, son. What’s wrong,
James?”
The child told
Thom what no child should know. His
sister had come home earlier that week beaten and bloodied. His mother wouldn't say what happened, but
James knew that his sister had been hit repeatedly and he knew there was
nothing they could do about it.
“She said she
tried to break up with him, but he wont let her,” tears welled in his eyes
and his voice shook with emotion. “He is
the chief’s son, Thom, and a lieutenant in the peacekeepers. She would not even let us take her to the
hospital because she would have to report it.”
Thom could handle
most anything life threw at him, but instances like this could break through
his tough exterior. He could not handle
the suffering of innocents. Rage
threatened to burst from Thom like fish trying to escape a net. He did his best to keep it out of his voice. “What’s
his name, James?”
“Amos Anderson,
sir, but I’ve heard his friends call him the Pike.”
Confirmation…
Thom forced a
smile. Ruffling the boy’s hair he said
with fake cheer, “Don’t worry James. He
won’t bother your sister anymore.”
Thom was almost
rocked back a step when the boy took a flying leap toward him, wrapping his
arms around Thom’s substantial build.
*****
Micah
had been at this for a long time.
Decades of effort and what dis he have to show for it. Power and fortune mean nothing in the face of
eternity. How could this all be so pointless he pondered. He looked out the window of his penthouse at
the ants on the ground and felt nothing but sorrow.
For
himself.
And to top it all
off his migraines had been getting worse.
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