Prologue
1 November 2007

There was not a single cloud in the sky when George looked out of the kitchen window; with absolutely no warning of what was about to come he went about his daily routine like normal. George always started his mornings off with a cup of hot cocoa which was mirrored in the evening as the last thing he drank before he went to bed. It never occurred to George as he looked out that window onto the town hall that the events of the night would see him become the leader of a revolution. That night marked the first time in 896 days that George didn't have his evening cocoa as much more pressing issues had forced themselves into his mind such as staying alive for one.¹

The storm that hit Arrow fifty years ago was a devastating one; it happened suddenly during the town's spring festival as everyone was in the town square enjoying the traditional spring outdoor theater. The storm completely destroyed the town hall and half of the homes whilst damaging the rest and taking out the power supply and the only road into the town.² Fifteen people died as a result of that night, including George's wife.

It took a week for the government to respond to the emergency. When they finally came with supplies they were met with resistance and driven out of town. It was George that rallied the town together - he told a story of crime and punishment: that God had sent the storm to punish the citizens of Arrow for their sins and the destruction of the road was as clear a sign as any that they must sever all connections to the outside world. The town of Arrow revolted; they refused to have the road fixed and set out to be entirely self-sufficient and completely isolated themselves from the rest of the world. They got their wish to forget that lands existed beyond their borders as everybody eventually forgot the town of Arrow.

Footnotes

...¹

The previous time George didn't have his evening cocoa was due to the fact that he had dropped the cocoa jar on the floor and had to watch as it smashed into pieces. He was never quite the same after that; he developed a little twitch in his left arm and seemed to never blink.

...²

Arrow was completely surrounded by a thick forest on all sides which was in turn surrounded by incredibly dangerous mountainous terrain making the bridge into town the only way for anybody to get in and out. The question of why a town would develop in such an isolated area is an interesting one - the answer involves a story of how Arrow was once an ancient site for the indigenous population. None of whom have actually lived in Arrow for decades after being driven out by the white people who didn't like their distinct indigenous smell

Posted byBren at 2:43 pm  

Labels: Juggling Onions

0 comment(s):

Post a Comment