Descending Road - DESTRUCTION by Dana W. Paxson

DESTRUCTION

1560 4D

Andrew and Leil confronted Arlen at the front door to their farmhouse. Their seven children gathered in a knot behind them: Engel, Tauro and Tuanu the twins, Cressi, Martela, Maiji, and tiny Janny, her finger in her mouth.

“I warned you,” Arlen said. He gestured with three fingers, and the men behind him in the cart cocked a huge beamer up at the towering rock face above the farm.

Andrew blurted out, “What are you doing?”

“I’m simply taking what is mine,” Arlen said.

“Everybody, get in the house,” Andrew said, “NOW!” The children ran, but Leil stayed just behind him.

Arlen shrugged. “That won’t matter, unless you decide right now to turn over this land to me. Here’s the paperwork – all you need to do is to sign it. For me, time is of the essence.” He held out a sheaf of datasheets.

Andrew took a step forward, his fists clenched, but Arlen held up a hand, and four men stepped up threateningly. “Never. I will not give up my land to you.”

Arlen‘s hand barely moved. The beam flickered for a split second, and the rocks above them roared and collapsed downward in a hammering slide of destruction. The house stood apart from the rock face by more than twenty strides, but the rubble quickly filled almost all the intervening space.

“It’s too bad your brothers aren’t around to see this,” Arlen said. “I made sure they’d be no problem. In fact, there’s no one at all around here for fifty miles or more.”

Andrew‘s fury overrode him, and he vaulted toward the big man. As he collided with Arlen‘s guards, a thunderous blast behind him made him twist in their grip and stare in horror.

A last boulder, tumbling from its perch, had bounced across the slanting debris field into the back of the house, where the fuel converters stood, and slammed into the conduits for the storage gas. The rear of the house fell first, burning, and the interior lit up like a torch.

Arlen‘s guards let go of Andrew and stepped back, shielding their eyes. Andrew saw Leil sprinting for the front door, silhouetted against the glare, and he dived to catch her.

“No! It’ll blow up and kill you too!”

“Let me go!” she shouted, writhing to free herself, and then the house exploded in fire.

The two of them lay helpless and scorched as their home fell, destroying their entire family.

“Now to erase all this from memory,” Arlen said. He bent over Andrew.

As Arlen‘s jector stabbed into Andrew, he wondered, What was the point of all this? At that moment, only the darkness answered him.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	DESTRUCTION 1560 4D Andrew and Leil confronted Arlen at the front door to their farmhouse. Their seven children gathered in a knot behind them: Engel, Tauro and Tuanu the twins, Cressi, Martela, Maiji, and tiny Janny, her finger in her mouth. “I warned you,” Arlen said. He gestured with three fingers, and the men behind him in the cart cocked a huge beamer up at the towering rock face above the farm. Andrew blurted out, “What are you doing?” “I’m simply taking what is mine,” Arlen said. “Everybody, get in the house,” Andrew said, “NOW!” The children ran, but Leil stayed just behind him. Arlen shrugged. “That won’t matter, unless you decide right now to turn over this land to me. Here’s the paperwork – all you need to do is to sign it. For me, time is of the essence.” He held out a sheaf of datasheets. Andrew took a step forward, his fists clenched, but Arlen held up a hand, and four men stepped up threateningly. “Never. I will not give up my land to you.” Arlen‘s hand barely moved. The beam flickered for a split second, and the rocks above them roared and collapsed downward in a hammering slide of destruction. The house stood apart from the rock face by more than twenty strides, but the rubble quickly filled almost all the intervening space. “It’s too bad your brothers aren’t around to see this,” Arlen said. “I made sure they’d be no problem. In fact, there’s no one at all around here for fifty miles or more.” Andrew‘s fury overrode him, and he vaulted toward the big man. As he collided with Arlen‘s guards, a thunderous blast behind him made him twist in their grip and stare in horror. A last boulder, tumbling from its perch, had bounced across the slanting debris field into the back of the house, where the fuel converters stood, and slammed into the conduits for the storage gas. The rear of the house fell first, burning, and the interior lit up like a torch. Arlen‘s guards let go of Andrew and stepped back, shielding their eyes. Andrew saw Leil sprinting for the front door, silhouetted against the glare, and he dived to catch her. “No! It’ll blow up and kill you too!” “Let me go!” she shouted, writhing to free herself, and then the house exploded in fire. The two of them lay helpless and scorched as their home fell, destroying their entire family. “Now to erase all this from memory,” Arlen said. He bent over Andrew. As Arlen‘s jector stabbed into Andrew, he wondered, What was the point of all this? At that moment, only the darkness answered him.