In the deep

In the deepest part of it
He would've said it doesn't matter
They won't know any better
In the deepest part of it
He found a way to just be.

There was this line he used to follow
He was easier in himself then
He'd spend days traipsing
After that belligerent signal
Suffering blackouts and drops
And not worrying about any of it
Loving every minute of it.

Because he'd be out then
Away from the city
Out here it didn't feel like work at all.

It felt like something worth doing.

It felt like something his Father might've done.

It felt like something they'd never get their hands on.

--

On the last Friday of that month on the tenth year he walked into the office beside the river and quit his job. They could not have been more surprised nor less prepared. They reacted poorly. They fucked up. We're still paying for their mistake.

Line

A cliff approaches.

I skitter and skid to the edge, trying anything for purchase. I'd do anything. I'd love to stop.

Lots of nonsense running through my head. It's like dancing she said once and I was chuffed. I wobbled on the end of the piano board and thought I was man almighty. He was the best of us it was said of me. But that was then.

The wolf yawned. The edge. The finish line. I'd have given anything for purchase. But there's no stopping me now.

Message

I sent a message to Diane.

With a click is was sent. She'd read it when she got the chance. I'd wait for the reply.

All paused.

All at prayer.

The whole town gathered in the square. The people worried but not yet ready to give in.

The man from the City came. And his interpreter was with him. The interpreter who was once from the town. There to help. There to make sure everybody understood that this was a good thing, a great opportunity for the town. Questions? There were no questions. The man from the City never spoke a word. Why should he? He had his interpreter with him.

I'm still waiting on a reply from Diane.

Girls dancing on the table

Ya prick ya said the Captain. Not often there's water involved here. Ya fool ya, set the cat on ya. Not ought to be the better here. Over and over and down in the dirt. The drink trick-pulls at you, sings songs to the hurt. The cousins, the juniors all left in the lurch. They're plied with sweets and fanny tangles and the day off from church.

Go off roared the Captain you fucker you filth. You'll piss in the ruins of all that we built. I cannot get over the cheek of you, ingrates and punks. Party to influence, to tablets and skunk.

I once was a different man said the Captain but you won't listen.

Clearance

A great big stinking letdown! Oh the annoyance and bother. I was hoping we'd have caught the Skipper for a quick interview but his heavy boys wouldn't let us in. I had the Youth with me; I'd promised them all a personal meeting with their hero. Their little faces creased in disappointment when I told them the news that the Captain's mister-men wouldn't allow entry. Their lips quivered. Oh how their despair hurt me. I got angry and I hate to admit I took it out on the Youth.

Those damn heavy boys. Who do they think they are? Don't they know that I was there first? Back when it was just me and the Captain ... I know, I know ... I'm not supposed to talk about that. But it was perfect then. The Void, the Captain and I.

Oath

A door left open was worse.

These men were afraid to leave. They had no desire left for the world. So when she came to them, canvassing for their service, they told her to go. They would not mobilise for the city, not now. So she had to dig deep and kneel before these men. She pleaded with them. They would not listen still.

So she got angry and belittled them -- you are not true men, little princeseses.... What of the oath your fathers took?

And they hated her for this. But she had them now. They gave of themselves to her, of themselves and their wondrous terrible gifts.

She is

She represents all that is corrupt and sorrowful. She is wrong wrong wrong. We can pick at her, piece by piece and have her fall from her wall. Hold her down, bind her to the floor. Subjugate her and keep her from the Captain.

She is His one weakness. He heels to her. So we remove her from all print, image and column. She will be well rid of when our brave Captain returns.