I’ve been stolen.
Stolen from the boy and the man who have been my companions. This new man has no gun and no hope. The man will fiercely protect the boy – and
he still has one bullet. I have seen the
man kill for the boy before. It was very
matter of fact. The boy was threatened
and the man protected. It’s clear that
the man did not question his actions, but the boy is different. I heard him ask, “Are we still the good
guys?” He was assured by the man that they were – but I know the boy still
wonders. I think he wonders every time
that he holds the man’s gun, and every time the man threatens a person who
could use their help. This new man can
hardly push me along the road, I am heavy with all my companions’ supplies and the
thief can hardly grip my handle with the stump where his fingers used to
be.
It is as I thought. I
am with the man and boy once again. The
thief is gone, left naked and helpless by the man. The man’s version of justice is swift and
merciless yet the boy knows that even without shooting the man they as good as
killed him. The boy’s guilt resonates
as he says “But we did kill him” (260).
He is able to get the man to attempt to return the clothes to the
stranger, but the clothes are left in a crumpled pile on the side of the road
and will likely never see their owner again.
5Fingers: I am the “thief” you are talking about. The only things left to survive on once belonged to someone else anyways – so we are all thieves. The cart seemed like a miracle. A life raft stranded in the sand. But it was too good to be true. When I saw the pistol I knew that my life was over. I would either be shot on the spot or left to starve. I only did what I did to survive. I was desperate. I am not a thief.
ReplyDeleteCart: I see what you mean. If you choose to survive, you have no choice but to do everything that you can to stay alive. But why does that one choice – to live – eliminate all other choices in your life? Deciding whether to steal something, or kill someone is a choice is it not?
ReplyDelete5Fingers: In a perfect world it would be. In this day and age free will has its limits.
ReplyDeleteManWithTheShotGun: I know this boy you speak of. He had the choice to join my family or stay on his own. He chose to trust in us and trust in the goodness of others. He has a chance of a real life with us. Not just staying alive, but living.
ReplyDelete