Activity

Clack.

Wood chips and flies.

Clack.

Sweat trickles down the nose.

Clack.

Hands are numb from hundreds of strokes.

Clack.

The remaining wood breaks and the limb falls. Caleb paused to catch his breath. The tree was almost delimbed now. Just a few more to go. Then he had to clean five more. Alex would collect the limbs for their fire. Basilone in the meantime was working with their father. the two were manhandling the chainsaw to cut down a dozen more trees. Over the next week, the stumps would be ripped out by their bulldozer and also burned. After that, they could begin the driveway. A whole lot of work for something only nobles would see. A shame really.

Caleb heaved his axe and walked to his canteen. It was nearly empty. The stream was nearby and mountain runoff was the cleanest of water. Slinging the canteen over his head, Caleb patted his revolver. Enfields called this area home. He would make a nice snack for them if they caught him. He also took his axe. Perhaps it was too much but better too prepared than not at all. Kneeling by the water, Caleb listened to the gentle trickle. It got him thinking. Was this job where he really was meant to be? He didn’t hate it per say. He just didn’t feel destined to work there forever. Was he meant for something else?

A growling brought him back to reality. A grey enfield was downstream looking at him, fang bare. The wolf like body and eagle wings and claws all seem very intimidated, even at a distance. Drawing his revolver, Caleb slowly backed away. Enfields traveled in packs and were territorial. He might have just stumbled into their land. Leaving would resolve the issue. His foot caught on something and he fell backward. A single shot echoed in the still forest. Next thing he knew, Caleb was falling into blackness, bouncing off of stone. His axe followed with a jumble of wooden clatters and steel clanks.

He eventually landed on his back, looking up at a crowd of people. He hurt all over and still, somehow, had the revolver in his hand. Slowly thinking over everything, Caleb came to the conclusion that this was not home.

“Um, you wouldn’t mind telling me where I have fallen into would you?”