After what seemed to be an eternity, the man came upon a gate that crossed the path. There was no way around, for the vegetation off the road seemed impenetrable.
As he gasped in frustration, he became aware of an approaching figure on the other side. While this individual was dressed in now familiar clothes, his manner and look were different. To the man, he appeared to be in his early twenties, but his wide open smile set him apart from recent contacts.
"Hello Tony," the new arrival said, leaning against the gate. "I guess you're wondering what the heck is going on."
The man looked intently at his counterpart and whispered out loud, "George Mellen, you were killed in a firefight outside of...," then he suddenly stopped, memories flooding back.
"Yeah, said his host, "I was killed in that tiny village, the one command considered vital to securing the region. Caught one in the throat. Wrong place, wrong time," he chuckled.
The man looked into the face of this lost comrade, and suddenly noticed that they were not alone. Figures appeared from the trees that lay beyond the gated fence. They were represented by every manner of dress he had already encountered, and some still unfamiliar. The man was scared, but pride refused to let it be known to others.
"Tony, your home." His benefactor said, opening the gate. The man hesitated crossing the threshold, and asked, "Am I dead, is this Heaven?"
"Your dead, that much is sure," George replied, "in time you'll recall the circumstances. Is this Heaven? Let's just say it is an outpost on the edge of forever. Just a place for men and women like you and me to rest, exchange stories and prepare for what comes next." As he passed through the gate, Tony became aware of the beauty of his new surroundings, and a feeling of peace and serenity settled over him. Suddenly, he understood. Turning to his companion he asked, "Is this just for us, no one else. Why?"
George gave him a slight smile, and as others gathered around them to offer welcome to the new arrival, answered; "I guess someone figured that those of us who gave all it was possible to give, and lost our lives with such brutality, deserved a special place where our sacrifice was acknowledged and appreciated. I never expected such a place would exist, but our kind never asked for much in return. Maybe that is why it's here, because we earned something we would never have asked for."
THE END.
No comments:
Post a Comment