Conspiracy of Illusion

Paradise Lost - Pages 19 - 20

       "I don't know if he's dead or not," Obadiah continues as his two young companions listen intently, "but we need to be extremely careful, 'cause one thing's for certain, and that is he's wounded. So let's stay together as a group and keep your eyes peeled and your ears sharp. I want us all to tell this tale to our grandchildren. So, let's go." 

       With Obadiah's prompting, the trio moves toward the farm to exact vengeance, on behalf of their clan, upon the savage beast that slaughtered their two brethren. Silently the hunters move to the edge of the tree line where the gate guards the entrance to the cow pasture. Proceeding through the gate, the hunters pick up the cow path around the hill toward the barn.

       As they close in on the barn, their hearts begin to pound out of fear and excitement. The adrenaline coursing through their blood binds them into a heightened state of awareness because they know that the bear could be anywhere. They know their quarry has keener senses and would know when his assassins are near. And because he is hidden and has the element of surprise on his side, the hunters are extraordinarily wary, creeping ever so cautiously toward the almost century-old wooden structure. 

       Obadiah leads the hunting party along the backside of the barn. With his bow, coat, and quiver strung across his back; he prefers the sharpened point of his broken lance take the lead. Deftly but firmly, he holds it out in front of him. 

       As they approach the left side of the barn, they see a blood-soaked matted area where the bruin had laid down, temporarily to lick his wounds. A partial arrow shaft has been bitten off and is lying in a crimson pool of blood, alerting the party that the bear is severely wounded and bleeding liberally. This evidence guarantees them that the circumstances will be unpredictable when they overtake the killer. He may be dead when they catch up with him. Or he could still be alive but in a weakened state which could still be dangerous since the animal could erupt and strike out in a final act of desperate, adrenaline-infused rage.

       The stalkers continue on all the more cautiously now as they reach the end of the barn wall. Every inch explored brings the hunters closer to a dangerous encounter with their prey. Obadiah flattens his back against the wall, and with his spear held upright and close to his side, he cautiously peeks around the corner. He can clearly see the blood trail as it meanders toward the gravel driveway to the stables, where the door has been left partially open.

       Obadiah turns to his two associates, kneels on one knee, and motions for the other two to do the same. The others follow suit and kneel with him as they huddle close to hear what he has planned.

       "It looks like he's in the stable," Obadiah reports in a low whisper. "He's bleeding pretty heavy, so I think we should wait him out, and maybe he'll bleed out. Then we can move in and take him without a fight."

       "I would like to claim the hide, Obadiah," Joseph says with a humble bid.

       "Agh," Juan grumbles in a hushed tone, "I wish I would have said that."        But, unfortunately for young Juan, by speaking up first, Joseph now has all rights to the bearskin.

       Obadiah looking at Juan, shrugs and raises his eyebrows to say, "Oh well." 

       "Let's wait in the barn out of sight until it's time," the titan suggests. And the hunting party nimbly rises to their feet, silently filing around the corner, following close to the barn wall toward the large sliding front door. After sliding the heavy door open just enough for Obadiah to squeeze in, the trio enters the rustic structure, greeted by the old familiar musty smell of their former home.

       As they wait in the barn, the sky darkens as clouds begin to cover the warmth of the mid-morning sun, and the air commences to cool. The trio reminisces over times spent on Paradise Farm before the System raided it, took everything that wasn’t nailed down, and leaving it utterly barren.