Hobby

A MAN AND HIS SHADOW

By Chad Hobby
(Inspiration plagiarized from a thousand books, movies, magazines, shows, and
people Ive encountered in my lifetime.)
A MAN
It won't ever be said of me that I surrendered, that I gave up; I will not quit, and
although I may struggle and frustrate, I will not stop. Stubborn, foolish? Yes, to the
bitter end. But weak of heart? No. I will not be deterred from the tryst I've made
with life. I still have something to prove, and the course of time will unravel it all. I
will be diligent in the path I have chosen. Why? I have my reasons, and as long as it
matters, I'll be right there, persevering. They say at this point a gentleman would
throw in the towel, well guess what? Not going to happen.

In truth it never really began, and in truth it will never really end, but if there was a
beginning it might as well have been here.

A 1939 Lincoln Continental was making its way down a long and winding road. The
man in the backseat sat with his arms crossed and his head back against the head
rest. He seemed quite comfortable and appeared to be sleeping. He wore a dark
trench-coat, which was muddied at the bottom, as were his boots. Clearly it had
been raining where he came from, although it was very dry along this stretch of
road. His hat lay on the seat next to him. The driver was focused on the road, and
was wide-awake, even at this late hour. He was used to these long trips along dark
roads late in the evening. He didnt know what the backseat mans story was and he
didnt care too. It was just another long drive and another dollar.

The drivers name was Matt, which was short for Matthias, not Matthew. He always
had to explain that to everyone and it had gotten particularly old by now.
Sometimes he wished his name had just been Matthew so he could avoid the whole
issue, but his name was Matthias and he wasnt going to pretend to be Matthew just
to prevent his name getting mixed up.

As he rounded the bend in the next part of the valley, the car passed through a dark
fog. The driver slowed down; experience had taught him that this was the only
sensible course of action, and he liked to think of himself as a sensible man.

Hobby
It wasnt all that bad, really. He could still see the lines on the road and the general
outline of the trees alongside the road ahead. The bridge surprised him though. It
was a very long bridge and was kind of curved, all made out of concrete too. He
hadnt seen the sign at the beginning of it, but he had caught the end of it. It said
something about a dam. The fog broke and suddenly he was rushing down a
mountain road towards a dark forest.

After an adrenaline rush and a few tense moments the car was safely down the
mountain. The driver breathed a sigh of relief and noticed the man in the back seat
had woken up. Sorry about that, it got a little bumpy back there, Matt said.

Oh, dont worry. Id like to see the country-side a little. Are we very close now? The
man in the backseat asked.

Ah Matt looked around for familiar landmarks, but frankly none of this looked
familiar. There were no side roads, forks in the road, turn offs, or anything
whatsoever on this route. That was one reason why he had picked it. So as long as
he was on the road, he knew that he must be heading the right way. But this was
different than last time. He realized that he had begun an unfinished sentence and
his mouth was still open so he said, Im sure it cant be too far now. He tried to
smile reassuringly at the man in the back seat. He had found that customers never
liked a driver who got lost.

Good, I think Ill just watch awhile then, the man in the backseat said coolly.

Up ahead, there was a river crossing the road. The driver slowed and stopped
before the road went into the river. It was pretty wide, but it didnt look like the river
was there normally. Maybe it was just ice melting from up over on the mountain and
it happened down this way. The man in the backseat got out and told the driver,
Stay here, Ill see how deep it is and maybe we can drive across.

The river sounded peaceful and smooth. It made pleasant sounds and looked clean
compared to most rivers. The forest was quiet, other than the river, and the night
air smelled fresh. What a nice country! the man thought to himself. He walked
over to the river. It was hard to see in the darkness how deep it was, so he tried
taking a few steps in. The water was shallow, but as he soon found out it was very
fast. He almost slipped, but looked down for footing. He watched the mud being

Hobby
swept off his boots and being carried away rapidly downstream. He took a few more
steps, and the river got deeper. It was up to about the middle of his shin and yet he
still couldnt tell how deep it was near the center. By the level of the road on either
side he guessed that it couldnt be much deeper than this. Besides any farther and
his socks would get wet. He turned around to head back but tripped on a rock that
the river had moved in between him and the car. The current was very strong,
indeed. Thrown off balance by the unexpected rock, he faltered in the dark and
went down in the shallow river. He managed to catch himself on his hands and
knees, and thereby prevent himself from becoming entirely soaked.

Brought face to face with the river, he could see his reflection here in the shallow
water. It was rippled by the current and under the dim starlight it was hard to make
out, but it was dark and disconcerting. It had an unnerving realism to it. The man,
now dripping wet, stood up again and walked over to the car. Matt had already
jumped out to help the man up but saw that the man needed no assistance. So he
went to the trunk to grab some towels instead. He laid them out in the backseat.
The man thanked him and got in saying, Its going to get a little wet but I think, if
we go fast and dont stop, we can make it.

Alright lets go for it then, Matt placed his hand on the back of the passenger seat,
craned his neck to look out the rear window and backed the car up a good distance
so as to get a little more speed. He changed gears, and drove back to the river and
then into the water. There was a rush of water on either side, as well as in front, the
car slowed rapidly. When they were about halfway, water began to come in under
the door on the drivers side. Matt cursed knowing that hed have to dry out the car
tonight before it got moldy. Still the car managed to pull up on the opposite side of
the river and they continued on down the road.

The man in the backseat tried to dry off, and stay warm in the towels. He stared out
the window at the forest and its trees. He smiled and poked fun at himself in his
head for worrying about his socks getting wet. He might as well have swum across
he thought to himself. Soon they were leaving the forest and driving past little
houses on hills scattered here and there on their way to the city in the distance.

The man reached into his trench coat pocket and pulled out a worn letter. He read it
over again and then pulled out an old black and white photograph from the
envelope. He held it up to the skyline of the city. The skyline in the picture matched
the skyline of the city, as if whoever took the photograph knew the man would be
coming down this road into the city. The man didnt seem altogether surprised by
this and told the driver to stop the car up ahead in front of an old cathedral at the
center of the city.

Hobby

Umm Sir, this is not the destination you asked me to drive you to, the driver
explained, thinking that perhaps the man had been mistaken in their location.

Correct. However this is where Ill be staying, the man replied. Getting out of the
car, the man asked, Could you help me with my bag?

Certainly, but you paid for the full trip, where can I send a partial refund to if you
dont plan on continuing? Matt was confused but didnt want to put the man out.

Consider it payment for these towels and gratuity for a job well done, said the
man, who then closing the trunk, added, Oh, and if I were you Id get out of this
city before dawn...well thats not really true considering that Im staying behind. In
any case you know what I mean.

Huh? No, I dont know what you mean.

Well if you stick around till morning youll find out. Anyway, thanks for the drive
and have a goodnight Matt, said the man, as he walked off down the street.

Ironically this wasnt the first time this had happened to Matt. Sure it wasnt in this
city and it wasnt the same man, but this sort of thing happened sometimes and he
didnt quite know why. The only thing that really mattered was that he got paid. He
started to dry out the floor of the car with a towel, but then he started thinking
about what the man had said about not being around at dawn. He started to get an
uneasy feeling, and the hairs on his neck rose a little. He looked around. The streets
were completely empty, still, and quiet. There wasn't a single noise. No barking
dogs, no noisy kids, no hoodlums up to late night shenanigans. Certainly it wasnt a
big city but this was the quietest street he could ever remember being on. What city
is this? He realized that he had no idea what city this was even though he had
planned the route. Then he started to get nervous. What in Gods name was going
on? He got in the car started it up and drove off quickly. He didnt want to find out
what the man meant by his strange warning, he just wanted to go home. So he
continued on out the other side of the city and on to the destination where he had
planned to stay the night before driving home the next day.

Hobby

THICKER SOCKS
Matt woke up in a little motel. It was the kind of motel you find in the places
between places of much greater importance. It didnt smell clean, but it wasnt an
entirely unpleasant stench either. He asked the lady at the front desk if there was a
payphone nearby. She told him where the nearest one was and he set off with the
intent to call his wife.
After several minutes of engaging conversation about how cold the weather, and
subsequently her feet had been, his wife asked him the question hed been
expecting, but secretly hoping she wouldnt ask: So, how was the drive?
For a moment he preferred to lie to her about the trip, but then sensibility came to
the front of his mind and argued logically that there was no reason to do such a
thing. Well honey, Im not sure how we got off route, but we ended up in some city
and the man decided to stay there instead of coming with me the rest of the way. It
was a very quiet city with a nice countryside.
Oh, was it Davenport? she asked.
Umm no, I wouldve recognized Davenport, he said.
Peoria?
No.
Then Rockport?
Rockport? No it couldnt be, he said thinking out loud.
Bewildered she asked, Jeez, Matt how far off route did you get?
He tried to think back to last night and how he got off route, or by what roads he
traveled to arrive at the Motel and couldnt really remember. He remembered
driving, being tired, and then arriving at the Motel but the route was all kind of a
blur.
Matt?
Huh? OH! Sorry, Im just tired honey. Ill be home soon.
Well, was he mad that you got off route? Is that why he stayed in the city instead
of continuing? she asked.
He reached into his pocket and felt the wad of cash. No, I dont think so. He gave a
very generous tip. He seemed to be a very kindhearted, happy man. The world
needs more men like that.In his head he added, Especially if they all tip this good,
and need a ride.

Hobby

Well thats good. You know what the world needs Matt? Thicker socks; my feet are
freezing.
Matt laughed and said, Ill pick up some on the way home. Love you honey, see
you soon.
THE CONTRACT

After Matt drove off and left the man in the City at night, the man from the backseat
headed immediately down the street to a line of buildings near the Cathedral. He
didnt experience any feelings of doubt, or an inkling of fear. He knew that this was
the place where he was supposed to be and it felt like destiny. He had a large bag
slung over one shoulder; in his right hand he carried a small briefcase; in his left he
carried a towel. His face had those small lines running along the cheeks, the kind of
lines that came as a result of thousands of smiles from days gone by.

The man in the wet trench coat walked along the dimly lit road and into a small
office building near the east side. The lights were off within but the door was
unlocked. A small bell rang as he opened the door still holding a towel in his hand.
A dark Figure at the front desk looked up. It was sitting in the shadows and its
features were indiscernible. It seemed very relaxed.

Leave your bags by the door, you wont be here long, said the Figure at the
customer service desk.

The man at the door let go of the bags where they were and approached the large
desk. Only a single sheet of paper lay upon its surface.

The Figure in the shadows of the dark entryway began, You must be the
sheepherder

I prefer the term shepherd, the man corrected.

Whats the difference? The Figure asked bluntly.

Hobby

One chases, the other leads, the man answered simply.

The Figure shrugged its shoulders, Well both get the same job done.

But how its done is a matter of great importance you see, the man persisted.

The Figure pushed the piece of paper across the desk, In any case, the job is yours.
Sign here.

The man grabbed a pen, but with it hovering over the paper asked, Why was it that
you needed to send so far, and at such great expense for me?

The Figure paused before speaking, leaned back in the chair, and bridging its fingers
answered, We ran out of suitable replacements. The job has its costs and few are
able to pay them. Now I have a question for you: Why did you insist on this legal
documentation? I come from a time when a mans word was enough for any
arrangement.

The man began tracing his signature across the page, exhaling while doing so, and
said, Sadly a mans word is not enough anymore. With a contract, theres no doubt
whos in charge and what the duties are. Also, should we ever need to separate;
everything can be handled by the proper authorities. It keeps things business-like...
We need a witness, and turning the page around, the man pointed to the line
marked Witness.

The Figure may have smiled in the dark, but the man couldnt tell yet, Oh! How silly
of me to have missed that. What good eyes you have! Umm, well Im afraid that at
this late hour there really is no one to stand in for the part. Perhaps we could just
leave that out, from one gentleman to another.

The man picked up the contract and took it with him outside.

Hobby

WaitWhere are you going? The Figures chair fell forward as it rose to its feet.

To find a witness of course, said the man.

He wandered from the city to the suburbs, and from the suburbs he meandered to
the edge of the forest. Looking for a witness for the contract and finding none, as
the Figure at the desk had said.
He came across an old man sitting on a log near the tree line. The man with the
contract asked, Excuse me; do you know the city well?
Through eyes beneath a furrowed and wrinkled brow, the old man looked at the
man with the contract in his hand, folded his arms, and said, That city? Oh, I know
that city well.
The man smiled, finally a potential witness, he thought to himself. Are you able to
act as a witness in matters of business or state? The man asked the older
gentleman.
I never have before. I dont know if Id qualify for such a thing, the old man said
apologetically.
The man was beginning to feel a bit desperate, but it didnt show in his voice, Well
are you well known in the city, and do you have a good honest reputation?
I grew up there. Ive seen it all, but as far as an honest reputation You know how
people only remember the good nostalgic memories when they revisit long lost
locations? Well, as I look around this city, I remember everything and it all hurts
now just as much as it did then, said the old man with a slight hanging of his head.
Trying to be of some comfort, the man with the paper said, Well, time heals all
wounds.
Look at me, son, beckoned the old man, No time doesnt heal any wounds. Ive
had plenty of time and it hasnt healed any wounds. It has only given me
understanding and wisdom, but too late. Love...MercyForgivenessThese three
heal wounds. Without them... And the old man waved three fingers and his hand
off in the air, as if wafting away the words, before folding his arms again.
The man with the contract sat down next to the old man. He folded the contract and
placed it in his trench coat pocket. What do you do? he eventually asked.

Hobby
Im a fisherman, and you? the old man said indicating the tackle box and pole
near his side.
Im a fisher of men, the man responded.
Well, I know you didnt come here to glean wisdom from an old man. What did you
really need?
I need someone who can act as witness for the contract into which Im entering.
Contract? Oh, so thats how it is nowYoure the new one, eh? Well the only one I
trust round these parts is the river.
Fishermens wisdom the man with the contract smiled.
The old fisherman shrugged, Smile if you want, but the river never fails me. She
flows on her way, cool and clean; brings me fish, and brings me water. She aint
never upset me none, and I aint never upset her none. We have a mutual respect
for each other. Thats better than any lawyer I ever met.
So the man with the contract got up and headed towards the river which was as
good of a direction as any at this point.
Contract gripped tight in his hand, the man approached the river that night. Dawn
would come soon, and he had yet to find a witness. He sat down on a boulder next
to the river. He would not enter into a contract without a witness, he thought to
himself. Maybe there was another way to help the people of this city. The contract in
his hand had already been signed though and would have to be destroyed, or it
could be used against him, without any witness to prove otherwise. He crumpled it
up into a ball and threw it in the river.
THE ARMCHAIR
Many years later, at night, in a dark living room, which had been beautifully
furnished, sat the same man in what couldve been a red armchair had it not been
so monochromatically dark. It was raining outside the small house on a hill. The
house was in what looked like one of those little suburban neighborhoods you find
just outside large cities. The rain was cold, and the air was colder. The sky was dark,
but the living room was darker.
There was movement in the dark. The Figure from the customer service desk
opened the front door from within; the man in the armchair had been waiting
expectantly.
"Where are you going?" the man in the armchair asked the Figure, who had just
opened the front door.
The Figure in the doorway paused, cloaked in darkness and outlined by a lighter
darkness from without, which was intermitted by rain. The head turned slightly and
a voice came from it saying, "I'm not going anywhere."

Hobby
The man in the armchair asked, "Why do you always insist on withholding your
intentions from me? What are you hiding from me?"
"I'm not hiding anything." The reply came, After all this time and you still dont
trust me tsk tsk.
The man in the armchair reached for the lamp-switch.
"Don't," said the Figure.
"Why not?" The man asked bluntly.
The Figure replied in a dark voice, "Because I prefer to retain some element of
secrecy in these matters. You wrap a present in paper to give to a friend. It makes
it... special. You withhold information intentionally to gain advantage. You organize
surprises and sneak attacks with nearly equal effort. It gives them a certain
desirability, don't you think?"
The man in the chair chuckled, "Are you planning a surprise for me?" and he
thought the Figure may have smiled in the dark.
The reply came, "No, not for you, at least, not tonight. Though you won't admit it,
man, I know that you long to have secrets like I."
"Hmph! What do you know? I haven't the faintest idea what you're referring to."
"Oh but you do. You've put your life out in the open, an open book for all the world
to read. Or should I say... how did you put it? A city set on a hill? Or was it a
candlestick?"
"Both actually" and the man smiled in the dark, surprised the Figure remembered
his attempt to teach it the gospels.
"Well, they've seen you alright, and they've come, and look what youve received in
return. You have nothing to show for it! I've been around a long time and believe
me; it's all in the results, man. The Figure spoke snidely.
The man in the armchair leaned forward and raised his voice, "What I've received,
the man said with clear contempt, you can't see, at least not with your perspective.
You only see what you want to see, that's why you don't want me to flip that lampswitch. But one FLICK and all your illusions disappear in one brilliant, blinding light."
The Figure in the doorway responded by raising its own voice, My EYES can see
more than you know! And what is it your open frankness has earned you but toil?!?
Why don't you ever come with me instead of staying here at home working all the
time?
There was no response from the man in the armchair and so the Figure turned
halfway and glanced outside.

Hobby
The Figure lowered his voice and spoke, It's raining out.... I love the rain.... don't
you? People complain about how dreary and sad it is.... but it brings new life."
"Too much rain can bring death too you know, the seated man pointed out.
"Oh, I know." the dark Figure said coldly.
"Well I wouldn't expect you to understand the benefits of toil anyway, what with all
the sneaking about at night in the rain doing God knows what!" The man in the
armchair exploded as if he had been brooding over the previous topic of
conversation.
"Interesting choice of words, man," and the room grew colder still, as the rain began
to come inside.
The man in the armchair spoke with authority now, "Listen, you! As long as you live
in my house you do as I say, or did you forget the conditions of your contract? Do I
need to remind you why you're here? Need I remind you what your duty is? You
have one job and that's all I expect you to do. If you can't do that then you're
useless to me."
Enraged the Figure answered, "You're filth! You have no idea what... never mind,
you're wasting my time. I have a previous engagement to get to, and this lovely rain
is only going to make my trip take that much longer." Having composed itself the
Figure began to walk away.
"Where are you going?" The man asked one last time.
The Figure turned entirely to face the armchair, "I'm not required to disclose my
previous engagements made prior to the contract. There is much that predates you,
mighty man!" And with that the Figure stormed out, leaving the door wide open and
the rain coming inside.
The man sat and stared at the doorway and the rain without. He did not bother to
close the door while thinking of his unusual partner in business. It had not been
easy for the two of them. There was so much work to do, and they both had such
different methods, but they needed each other. It was a constant struggle to
maintain the balance of power between them, and if secrets could win wars then
the man hoped that his would remain secrets. He wondered if maybe it was his own
secrets that made him so suspicious of his partner.
THE OPEN
There was a crunching sound outside. The rain had stopped, and the man in the
chair awoke. He was still in the armchair, but soon arose and walked out to the
porch in the back of the house. Even before he saw them he knew that the group he
had sent for had arrived. The Figure wasnt nearly so noisy when moving about.
"Enosh, thank God! Hurry we have to keep moving. I think I saw IT back there..." the
voice came from a woman approaching the porch. She was just a little shorter than

Hobby
the man in the armchair but she was taller than her companions. There was
confidence in her step, something the two men following her seemed to lack. She
had her dirty blond hair in a short pony tail for simplicitys sake. She had a hurried
look about her, but it wasnt fear for herself that drove her to push things along.
Enosh, the man from the armchair, cut her off, "How many did you bring this time?"
She answered, "Just myself and two others--don't worry I checked them out. It won't
be like last time..."
"I told you no less than seven, said the man.
She began, "But..."
He looked her in the eyes, "I told you."
The woman sighed and apologized, "I'm sorry, but this is all I could get. The rest
wouldn't go. It was raining and you know how they get when..."
"Truly the harvest is great but the laborers are few, sighed Enosh. We'll just have
to do the best we can. Lets go."
Enoshs house atop the hill was at the end of the suburbs bordering a thick forest.
The four headed off into the woods behind the house with Enosh taking the lead.
The leaf covered ground was wet and squishy from the recent rain. The water
seeped into their shoes through soles worn thin by travel. The woods were quiet and
peaceful, but two of the three following Enosh were on edge and more than a little
anxious. They looked around, constantly scanning the woods surrounding them.
Enosh, However, looked straight ahead, walking at a confident but brisk pace.
Normally woods are full of the sounds of life, crickets chirping, bats leather flapping,
but here there was only silence. It was the silence that scared the two men the
most, but it was what Enosh had come to expect. The two men looked to the woman
to see if they should be afraid. Her ongoing confidence reassured them, but she
always felt more confident when she was around Enosh. He made her feel capable.
One of the men, desperate to break the silence, said, "These trees really give me
the creeps."
"Trees," Enosh sighed.
The other man said, "Yea, I keep thinking I see something, but then when I look, its
just another tree."
After an hour of walking, they arrived at a stream, flooding the banks from the
recent rain. It ran perpendicular to their direction of travel. Enosh stayed back
several yards from the familiar water. His eyes hadnt left the river since they had
come within sight of it. He spoke to the three without making eye contact.
Enosh said, "This is as far as I can take you tonight. Move quickly, but watch your
step. Expect the unexpected, and don't let go of each other. Do you understand?"

Hobby

The woman nodded but the other two didnt respond. As they stared into the water
they saw reflections, but they could only see shadows of themselves. They told
themselves that the forest was very dark and naturally they'd be unable to make
out any features in their reflections. But there was something unsettling about the
stream and the reflections.
One of the men opened his mouth to ask Enosh, "Are those..."
"Heph! Enosh said to move quickly, now lets go!" the woman hissed, and the three
interlocked arms and began wading across the risen stream.
They shuddered from the cold, which penetrated everything. The current of the
quiet stream was deceitfully swift and powerful. One of the men struggled, almost
instantly, to maintain his footing, and went down into the water still holding onto
the arms of his comrades. The woman and Heph tightened their grip on him,
remembering the words of Enosh, who watched from the shore. The man who had
fallen came up screaming, and struggled to break free from the other two. He nearly
pulled away when Heph yelled "SAMUEL!"
Samuel snapped out of it, stopped struggling, and began sobbing "I saw... but I
was... It's not..."
The woman kept tugging them across the stream, "We have to keep moving."
Enosh smiled as they reached the opposite shore. She was strong; she would take
good care of them. He glanced at the river as he turned around to head back. There
was a long pause before he finally broke away his gaze from the river. He hesitated
and then walked back to his house through what he knew were not trees.
This time it was the Figure who sat in the armchair as Enosh walked under the
mantle of the door. The circumstances were similar, and Enosh wondered if it was
mocking him. The lights were out and it sat in the shadows, of course the Figure
preferred to be in the shadows of things. It was a defining aspect of its life.
"How many this time?" the Figure asked with its legs crossed and holding a book out
in front of it.
There are no lights on in the house and it couldnt possibly be reading it, Enosh
thought. "Just the usual and two bumbling fools," Enosh answered taking off his hat
and hanging it on a rack near the door.
"Hmm, that few?" The Figure sounded either surprised or pleased; Enosh couldnt be
sure.
Enosh answered the rhetorical question, "Well they know how much you love the
rain. How did your...engagement go?"
The Figure didnt hesitate to respond, "Better than I had expected. I have just one
question for you man; did you see it tonight, your reflection?"

Hobby

"No, I didn't look. Enosh answered now seated on a chair across from the Figure,
Does that disappoint you?" He had to ask because it was always so difficult to
know what the Figure was thinking.
"A little. After all you were the one lecturing me on hiding things. Lying to yourself is
worse than lying to others, you know. But you've done both in one night. Did you tell
them everything?" The Figure asked the question to which it already knew the
answer.
The man became defensive. "What I withheld from them was for their own benefit.
They need some sense of doubt to make what they're attempting possible. If they
knew...well they would never try."
The Figure smiled, "You see? You're just like me."
The man took off his shoes and drained the water from them. "No, not entirely," he
said as he headed upstairs leaving the Figure alone. The sun would be coming up
soon and neither of them wanted to be awake when it did.
DAY AND NIGHT
The man awoke late in the afternoon. He sighed with his head in his hands, sitting
on the side of his bed. He walked over to the window, threw it open, and thrust his
head outside. The wind blew hard on the side of his face, kicking up sand from all
around. He looked out on a harsh and dead landscape. The forest from the night
before was gone leaving only the desert of Day, and in that desert a beautiful city. It
was a city with towers, suburbs, dead parks, playgrounds, schools, and an old
cathedral.
He got dressed and headed into the heart of the city. The wind blew hard on him as
his feet crossed shifting sand dunes. He found his way to the cathedral. He pulled a
key out of his pocket and unlocked a small door cut in the massive door, surrounded
by an even larger stone archway. The cathedral was unusual in design. It had a
large portcullis over every entrance that could be easily lowered into place by a
massive chain and pulley. It had crosses on the walls all around the outside but they
were holes that passed through to the interior like arrow slits. The walls were made
of solid stone and the stained glass windows were small after thoughts to a clear
design of defense. Evening sunlight cascaded through high stained glass windows
across the main hall and lit up the man's body in strange colors as he walked to the
altar on the opposite side of the hall. He hunched his shoulders, hung his head, and
placed his hands on the altar.
For a while there was total silence. As the Sun set outside however, the cathedral
grew darker and faint voices could be heard getting louder, closer. Out of a dark
corner, the voice of the Figure arose, "Up before dark, hmm? I see you're trying to
reconnect. Do you feel you're losing touch? Slipping maybe?"
"How long have you been watching?" Enosh asked.

Hobby
"Not long."
"This is a place where I used to go to find the answers to questions. Even now it still
offers some assistance..." began the man.
"But its more distant now, the Figure in the corner interjected.
"Yes... Why?"
"Why doesn't matter. Its all in the results."
Frustrated, Enosh responded, "Why matters to me! Why is all that matters to me!
Without why there's no point to any of this--to any of your results. There has to be a
reason. If I know the reason, I know the solution."
"So here's a why for you: That woman, why do you let her keep trying when you
know she'll fail?"
Enosh lifted his head and looked into the corner. "The better question is: Why
doesn't she give up?"
"So... What? You're entertaining your own curiosity? Or are you entertaining her?
Thats no way to govern," The Figure critiqued.
The man chuckled, "Oh, and you did better?"
The Figure said loftily, "Yes, I think so. A ruler must be aloof from such filth, and
nonsense."
"To answer your question, the man began, No I'm not. This is more important to
me than entertaining fancies. She's so strong willed I almost believe that she can
succeed where all others have failed. What would happen if I were to tell her to
stop? If I told her that failure was inevitable, that she should just give up? Would you
rather try and fail or never try at all?"
"Doesn't matter. Either way, it never gets accomplished. And its all in the results.
Maybe the question you really want answered is: Would she rather know something
she doesn't want to, or never know something she wants to? Meaning that she
doesn't want to know its impossible, and IT IS. But if she doesnt try shell never
know for certain," the Figure suggested cryptically.
"Maybe But you're the one who's lost touch. It's not so simple as the results of an
action. The purpose--the meaning behind something--accounts for so much more
than the action itself. If you try and fail at an impossible task, you're a fool, but if
you never try at all, you're a coward. So the question is: Which one would you rather
be? Which one are you?" Enoshs questions and thought process came across to the
Figure as rather strange. It was an idea that had not occurred to it before, and
certainly wasnt going to be accepted now.
"I'm neither. A wise man would never attempt such a thing and I have no need to

Hobby
prove my bravery in foolish endeavors," the Figure responded.
"MaybeBut are you sure its not possible?" The man asked the last question he
wanted his unfortunate partner to answer.
The Figure paused. To be sure of something? Either it is true or it isnt. Why would
it matter if one was sure or not? And yet the Figure couldnt answer it with a simple
yes or no, "...Its theoretically impossible, and its never been done before."
"But you didn't say yes," Enosh smiled "its easy to prove somethings possible. All
thats required is to do it. However, proving something impossible is impossible.
There's always a chance it could happen. You're afraid...afraid of what you don't
know might happen if you tried. Tell me, what is scarier: failure or the inability to
fail?"
"I'm not afraid!!!" The Figures roar echoed off the cathedral walls.
"You see, you aren't so different from me after all. Part of you is still
human...almost," Enosh chuckled, pushed off the altar, and walked out of the
cathedral as the sunlight waned. Enosh was beginning to think that they understood
each other better than they had ever thought.
Figures began materializing in the seats of the cathedral hall. Each one was
different from the Figure who was the business partner of the man. The voices had
grown louder and louder and had now reached a hush whisper of gossiping church
goers. Each voice belonged to one of the shadows around the church. There
features were impossible to discern but they were all in the shape or form of a
person. They were shadows of people, but the people were not present, shadows
that had lost their owners as they wandered in the night.
When Enosh had left and the door had closed behind him the Figure walked over to
the altar and placed its hands where Enosh had. It turned to face the congregation
now illuminated by the darkness.
TWO CITIES
Enosh stood outside the Cathedral for a few seconds, waiting as the door closed
slowly behind him. The city was beautiful at night, the trees were flowering; the hilly
countryside was covered in lush vegetation. This was the world at night as Enosh
saw it. He pulled his trench coat tight around him to shelter himself from the cold,
and set off down the street toward his home.
Thunder rolled overhead and he knew it would be raining soon. He passed Figures
on the street in the dark. There were streetlights, but they were never on, and in the
dark it was nearly impossible to discern the features of any of those passing by him.
He wondered if they could see him any better in the dark.
When Enosh arrived at home he went straight to his workspace, through the hall
door and down the steps. He opened the door to the large room, scattered with bits
of clay here, and pieces of driftwood there. A large rack of various chemicals, plants,

Hobby
molds, and insects filled one wall, and on the other was a large board with drawings
and notes pinned all over it. In the center of the room was a large table covered in
blueprints and models of two identical cities. The only variance in the two was that
they were clearly built in different climates. One set in a desert and the other in the
midst of a lush hilly countryside. There were strings hanging from the ceiling over
the model with paperclip hooks attached. On the hooks was a sort of metal colander
or strainer that had been flattened out like a sheet with perforated holes, except
around the edges, which had been turned up ever so slightly. The holes on the
edges had been filled with clay so as to prevent water from seeping out the sides.
When he turned on the light he was surprised to find the woman from the previous
night sleeping on a sofa in the corner that he had brought in here for when he
worked late. He let her sleep and began working on the models, shifting large
amounts of sand around in the desert, creating a mound here and a valley there,
and making small corrections to the positions of buildings. He pulled the top off the
cathedral and adjusted the arrangements of the seats and the altar. Then after he
was satisfied trimming the plants growing in the one city and with the adjustments
to the layout of the buildings, he stood back from the table and stared at the cities
for a few minutes.
He could hear the rain coming down outside and he filled a large bottle with water
and poured it onto the flattened metal strainer hanging over the cities. The water
spread out across the sheet dripping through tiny holes and coming down in drops
all over the city. The ground moistened in the desert city creating flash floods and
erosion, but in the lush city the moss and plants absorbed the water and held the
soil in place. He observed closely the patterns with which the water moved in both
cities and took notes and drawings on a clipboard. Occasionally he'd refill the sheet
with more water to allow the simulation to continue only to return to his drawings.
He took the sheets of paper filled with notes and set them down, walked over to the
board pulled off a tack and the papers underneath. He quickly flipped through them,
made notes in a journal off to one side, marked the date and time, and then burned
the sheets that had been tacked to the board. He then replaced the sheets with the
ones just made. This whole process took several hours and all the activities were
often intermittent with minutes of silent observation and staring at the cities.
"Are you done yet?" a woman's voice said.
He turned to see the woman wide awake and standing in the doorway and then
looked over to the couch, where a blanket was sitting washed and neatly folded. So
absorbed had he become in his work that he had not noticed her rise. Nor had he
noticed her wash the blanket and bring it back folded.
"Almost," he replied "I just need to make a few more notes in the logbook and then
I'll have to talk to...my business partner about what needs to be done."
"Okay, good. I need to talk to you," she said.
Enosh responded with half of his focus still on the city and the notes, "Yes, I didn't
want to wake you, but I was interested to know how your, um, trip went."

Hobby
"Enosh, she spoke with concern, listen I don't know what I've been thinking I
mean I KNOW that we need this to work, but no matter what I try so far it doesn't
seem to be making any difference."
He finally put down the notes and gave her his full attention, "I understand entirely
if you want to give up, no one would doubt your commitment to the cause."
"No! she almost yelled, and then after a pause, I mean I'd prefer to continue... I
can't give up... It's just that we need to try something else...again."
"Incredible..." he said almost to himself, astounded that she still wouldnt give up.
"What?" she asked perplexed.
"Nothing, he moved on, I've actually come up with something I think, and if my
predictions are correct you should have another opportunity to try it out in a few
nights, assuming...the, um, rain will continue at this nightly rate."
The woman smiled and the excitement was clear in her voice "Great, what's your
plan?"
"Well I'll have it all spelled out in a briefing for you," Enosh said and turned back to
the notes and the table.
She continued asking questions hoping for a hint, "What should I tell the others in
the meantime?"
"Nothing," He answered simply.
"But they'll want to know..." She began.
He put down the pen, turned to face her and said, "Nothing, you must tell them
absolutely nothing, this time its only going to be you. This time it has to be only
you. Do you understand?"
THE RAIN
The Figure stood at the altar looking out on the congregation with its hands where
Enosh had placed his. In the dark it knew they would only see it as they wanted to
see it, and it was confident in their imaginations to create a grand image of it. It had
gotten so used to people seeing it as they wanted to that Enosh always threw it off.
Enosh was so very original. If there was one factor in the issues they discussed that
the Figure could never be certain of, it was Enosh. It could feel the warmth on the
altar from where Enosh's hands had been. The man was so very alive. It began to
speak.
"Death, embraces all. None can escape its grasp. Life is so much more than just
living in paradisical peace. Life offers so much more opportunity for growth and
understanding: for learning. But what does death bring? Does death offer nothing to
mankind? I contend that Death can be more real than life. So many people live their

Hobby
lives denying the truth, only seeing what they want. Even now you all do not see the
world as it is, but only as you wish to. Death denies and reverses such perceptions.
It brings relief to those in pain, rest to the weary, humility to the proud, justice to
the wicked, mercy to the tortured, peace of mind to the righteous, and it offers the
great mystery of Life in the completion of it. Life would cease to be definable
without Death. Death is one of the greatest gifts given to man. It gives men a
reason to move, a common enemy to fear, a reason to struggle, a reason to fight.
You've wanted to remove all disease, all sadness, all death, all misery, and you
would do it because you thought it would make people happier... Remove all
variety... Leave only one thing which is neither happiness nor sadness, just
existence. Eternal existence and eternal toil. Why do so many people complain
"Why does God allow the innocent to die?" or "How could God let this happen to
us?" Even if God caused their deaths, why would it matter? Is it cold hearted to say
so? BE it so for birth to death, life is temporary. It's going to end someday. It doesn't
matter how righteous you are you are still going to die, and its all in the results..."
But at that moment the Figure stopped and remembered what Enosh had said, and
once again the man made it question what it had been so certain of before...its own
perfection. It had never taken a chance on finding out. Enosh was right about that; it
had taken the easier course, avoided the struggle, and perhaps avoided the
meaning of the struggle. Enosh found meaning in failure, but because the Figure
had always succeeded in achieving the desired results, it had always known that it
must be perfect and never thought about it like Enosh viewed life, but what if...
What if the meaning wasn't in the finality of it all? What if it had lost touch? The
warmth on the altar had already faded and grown cold again...and yet maybe it
wasn't the altar at all, maybe it was its own heart that had grown cold.
"Death isn't what you need to worry about... it's how you live that's what you need
to worry about...find the meaning in every...action...I'm sorry I need a minute... I'm
feeling...under the weather." And it began to rain outside, as the Figure stepped
back from the altar and out one of the side doors. The congregation began to
murmur.
The noise of the congregation talking amongst themselves crescendoed as it
echoed off the walls, only to be silenced by the slamming of the door behind the
Figure. It walked off in the rain more uncertain than it had been in years. The rain
felt good on its skin and helped it to remember, exactly who it was. It was so
uncertain of so many things now...not like before Enosh.
A silhouette in the rain began speaking to the Figure, "What's on your mind?"
The Figure did not blink or turn its head before responding, "I used to walk wherever
I wanted, whenever I wanted without notice, or at least without anyone having any
inclination who I was or what I was hiding...and I know man can't really see me, but
sometimes I feel like Enosh doesn't have to..." and the Figure let its words trail off.
The empty spot in the rain which seemed to be in the shape of a man said, "So its
happening...surely you knew this day would come. The same thing happened to the
ones before you."

Hobby
"I know... but I thought this time might've been different. After all Enosh was
different from the beginning..." the Figure paused in thought.
"But in the end he'll be like all the rest, and he will take your place," with emphasis
the words of the silhouette reverberated in the rain drops.
"The contract was different... that hasn't been done before. I took it for myself
immediately...Enosh is unwilling, he prefers to lead from the side...he's afraid it
might...corrupt him, it won't work though... We brought him here to change things
not to... What will become of me if he takes my place?" The Figure struggled to wrap
its mind around all the things that Enosh had done differently and unexpectedly.
There was no reply from the rain.
The Figure continued, "He said...he believes that he can change it; that she can
change it."
"Its impossible," the silhouette in the rain said.
"Is it? I used to be so certain, but now I doubt everything."
"You can't do the same things and expect different results. Its illogical, and Enosh
failed when he tried just like everyone else, the silhouette reasoned.
"Yes but the man's failure brought different results than the other failures, maybe
not externally but internally. The man took meaning out of his failure...he
experiments...he's made it his...purpose." And the Figure remembered the man's
words, "To dream the impossible dream, to fight the unbeatable foe, to bear with
unbearable sorrow, to run where the brave dare not go."
The silhouette didnt see this making any difference, and asked what it perceived to
be the more important question, "Does he suspect that he's being corrupted?"
"Yes, he knows he's slipping, but he doesn't know why."
"Its a shame, and here the silhouette wouldve sighed if it had lungs, You were
my favorite of all. You fought for it, not against it. You've never failed me Erebos."
"I know and thats why I've decided to attempt the impossible. I have to show the
man I'm not afraid of what might happen if I try."
"He's baiting you. He wants you to fail. Its a futile attempt to prove something. You
already know what will happen if you try."
Erebos spoke calmly now, "No, no I don't. But I will soon, and it'll all be in the
results."
THE REFLECTION

Hobby
"Enosh these go back for years, this is incredible! How certain are these
predictions, asked the woman flipping through the logbook.
About as certain as any prediction, somewhere firmly between certainty and
doubt, Enosh replied.
The house was dark except for the basement workshop where Enosh and the
woman were talking. Rainwater was dripping from the table in the center of the
room that held the two cities soaked from Enosh's contraption. The rain outside
stopped suddenly. Not the kind of gradual stop youd expect after a hard downpour
like had just occurred, but a stop so immediate that it caused both of them to halt
their conversation and look up as if they could see through the house drenched in
shadow above them and into the cloudy night sky.
There was the sound of movement coming from above: creaking floorboards.
Did you see anyone come here while you were up there? Enosh asked the woman.
No, no-one. Perhaps the sound of the rain masked the sound of the door opening
and closing, The woman replied.
"PerhapsStay here. Ill go check," Enosh instructed her.
Enosh walked up the short flight of stairs that led out of the workshop and to the
door at the top. He opened the door, stepped out into the dark hallway, and quickly
closed the door behind him.
You didnt stay for my sermon. A voice came from the shadows.
No, I had important work to attend to," Enosh answered unsurprised.
Typical, Erebos said simply.
"How did it go?" Enosh asked referring to the sermon.
"It wasenlightening. Ive been thinking about what we talked about before."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Were not so different you and I, we have more in common than we both
realize. You are correct, I dont know for certain its not possible, and so I will try,
The Figure conceded, However I do know for certain that you will fail, not for lack of
effort, but for lack of time."
"There are so many things about me you dont know Erebos. Youre not the only one
with surprises and you dont know or understand all the factors involved in my
efforts," said the man.
The Figure was upset that Enosh refused to accept the inevitable, Then tell me,
man! You think I dont know about what goes on in your basement?! I know all about

Hobby
your experiments. Have you accurately measured all the factors? Do you even know
all the factors, and if you did, could you even comprehend the full meaning of them?
This is so much bigger than you! It was a mistake to bring you here, man."
Hurt Enosh yelled, "You brought me here to change things!! To fix something you've
never even tried to!! All you've done ever since I came here is tell me how
impossible it is to do what you brought me here to do! Why did you bring me here if
you knew I'd fail?! Why am I here?!"
"What you think we brought you here to fix a dam?! The Figure was yelling now
Others have tried to bring light to the city in different ways for years, man. They've
tried magic, prayer, then there was fire, then electricity, and generators, and they
built a dam... They built this whole city! All of it built by men fighting the inevitable!!
They all missed the same thing we hoped you wouldn't miss. Lets say you do get it
running... What then? The light will only last till the dam dies, but you can't make
the people see it even in that short time? The people only see what they want to
see in the dark, and they disappear in the light. And you?! You're slipping. You know
it!! The problem isn't with the establishment or the city, man. The problem is the
people. That's why the dam is in disrepair, because until you fix the people, the dam
is useless!!"
Just then the woman came busting through the door wielding a heavy piece of
driftwood. Enosh are you ok? I heard yelling.
The Figure just laughed and its laughter echoed around the dark house. She comes
at me with a stick? And what is SHE doing here, man hmmm?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?! The woman yelled at the shadows and edged her
way out from the door. It was so dark she bumped into a chair, then a table. The
Figures voice moved around in the darkness with ease.
Oh you havent told her have youEnoshAbout our agreement?"
"What agreement? What is he talking about Enosh?" The woman asked.
Enosh shuddered in the dark at hearing the Figure say his name.
Dont listen. Its just more of its lies! Enosh said, Hurry get out of here, Ill keep it
busy.
"Im not leaving you alone in here with thisMONSTER! She couldn't see a thing
and she was terrified, but she wouldn't leave Enosh alone.
The Figure replied, "Monster? I am no monster. I was taught to fight, I was taught to
WIN! I never thought I could fail, but I AM a man whose dreams have all deserted. I
once believed in hope for redemption, like you, woman. And Enosh, well he's no
more a believer than I, but like an old fighter, no one wants you when you lose. I
changed my face, I changed my nameIt is so strange the way things turn. I drove
the NIGHT toward MY home, and as Daylight broke I saw the earth, the trees were
all gone. I kept my eyes on the dark rivers flow and knew that whatever may come,

Hobby
whatever may go, my fate was there in that rivers flowthat rivers flowDid he
ever tell you what he sees in that rivers flow? Did he ever tell you?" The voice of
the Figure got quieter and quieter repeating the question over and over Did he
ever tell you?
The woman remembered what she saw in the rivers flow, and answered No, I told
him but he never told me. Enosh why didnt you ever tell me? Enosh?"
The woman wasnt entirely sure what the Figure was talking about but she wasnt
going to let her guard down she kept the driftwood at the ready. The chair next to
her leg moved and she swung. There was a crack break and then something hit the
ground near her.
She reached down to feel what it was and she felt Enoshs trench coat. She cursed
and dragged him back to the workshop door in the dark. She tried to bring him
down the steps gingerly, but he was too heavy for her, and his legs and feet thud
thudded down the steps. She misjudged the last step and fell with his unconscious
body on top of her. She wriggled out and put him on the sofa, head and torso, then
legs. She slumped down next to the sofa to catch her breath. Then picked up the
bottle Enosh had used earlier for rain, filled it with water at the faucet and did her
best to clean up his head where she had hit him with the driftwood. Lucky hit in the
darkhad it been anyone but Enosh that is. There was only a small cut, but she
could tell already he was going to have a heck of a headache when he woke up.
She went back to make sure the door was locked and closed. The woman could see
the light of dawn coming from under the door. She returned to the sofa, laid down
on an empty spot next to Enosh, and covered them both in the blanket she had just
washed.
Enosh woke her in the middle of the day with his restlessness. He started speaking
in his sleep "Sooner or later everyone makes compromises... everyone gives in and
joins the shadows... the shades. I've just lasted longer than most, but I'm not
immune"
A MAN AND HIS SHADOW
Enosh awoke with a throbbing pain in his head. He threw off the blanket and let it
hang half on, half off the sofa. Placing his feet on the floor of the workshop he sat
there with his head in his hands a minute or two just rubbing his forehead. Bits and
pieces of the argument from last night were coming back, but he didnt remember
coming back down here. He looked up and saw the table with the two cities on it.
With one swift angry movement he flew to the table and overturned it. The
buildings, sand, and plants all went flying, crashing around the workshop. With his
hands on the sides of his head he paced around in the mix of sand, soil, and plants.
The door from upstairs opened, and the woman came down with a tray of food.
What happened?! Are you alright? she asked.

Hobby
Im Fine. Why are you still here? Enosh replied calmly.
Why did you do that? the womans voice asked on seeing the cities destroyed.
It doesnt matter said Enosh as if he would continue, but he never did.
When I... when we first started working together I thought you had answers Enosh.
I followed your every instruction since then the best I could. I trusted you entirely
and followed you through hell itself, but youve never been totally honest with me.
Youve always withheld things from me and Im only now realizing how much goes
unsaid between us. Its like I dont even know you.
Enosh didnt answer.
I mean what was that thing doing in your house? What were you two yelling about
before I got up there? Is what it said true about some sort of agreement? Are you
working with it?
He just continued to pace in the mess he had made.
Im so stupid for letting this happen. Ive always gotten the feeling you werent
telling me something but I trusted in the better angel of your natureI need you to
tell me what it is you see in your reflection. I need to know. She said and then
waited patiently for a response.
He stopped pacing, I see you, he almost whispered it, without looking her in the
eye.
Youre lying! She knew; he was a bad liar.
He said nothing; he couldnt tell her, because he could barely bear the truth
himself.
Enosh! Who are you? she asked
He didnt like this one either, but he could answer it. I am the leader of this
people. I didnt ask for it, but no matter where I go or what I do theyll follow me. It
told me to be sure I lead them somewhere worthwhile. I feel the weight of my
decisions and I fear to act lest I lead them astray. Ive spent so much time carefully
planning only to fail in the end, because I can lead them, but I cant change them.
Where could I take them when they have no place they could ever call home? This
dream is the only place they could ever belong. I want to show them a better world,
one where they can have a real life, though it may be hard; where they dont have
to live a lie. But they cannot bear the light of the truth and upon saying this he

Hobby
thought to himself, and neither can I anymore, but the words never escaped his
mouth. Instead he added, Its too much for them
Enosh, dont you dare Dont you dare give in, she came to his side pleading him
more than telling him.
It doesnt matter what I do in the end, he said forlornly.
All of it matters. Its not just the results, and its not just the struggle. Everything
matters Enosh. Every little thing however minute, every decision however
inconsequential it may seem: it all matters. Thats why itll work this time, because I
know that this time and every time it all matters. And as long as it matters Ill never
give up. You cant sacrifice even a little bit, because its all important. You cant
compromise or else youll lose the most important thing, which is everything. And if
you dont save everything then youve gained nothing. It has to be all or nothing
Enosh.
Enosh said nothing. He just stared at a broken dam lying in the sand on the
workshop floor. She was right, he could feel it, but he wanted to give up so badly.
You heard im last night! He exploded as if it had just struck him, Ive been doing
it all wrong! Ive been so focused on that dam and bringing power back to the city
thatwell Im afraid its too late. Its right! Ive wastedit doesnt matternothing
Ive done matters any moreall this time wasted. Even if I did get the dam to
work Its right, even if I did; the dam wouldnt change a thing. It would all end the
same way eventually. The city would revert to darkness.
What about the people? she asked instead of trying to make sense of half of what
he just said.
Thats exactly the point!! he said, Its all about the people. Thats all its ever
been about. I cant expect bringing light to the city to fix them if what it said is true,
and I cant fix the people even if I could bring light back to the city. The only ones
who can fix the people are the people themselves and they wont do it. Why would
they do it? Theyre content. Whats the point in changing when everything is fine?
Im inclined to join them almost.
But not everythings fine!! She yelled, Theyre all miserable!
Enosh rushed past her and threw open the blinds and the windows letting in the late
afternoon sunlight and the rushing winds of the desert.
Look around us!! This is misery!! I can see what they see at night but I still know
its not true, I know that NONE of it is real, and I cant enjoy it. They dont see this.

Hobby
The world they see is lush and beautiful. They are not miserable because they are
ignorant.
We can fix this, but not without their help and they wont help unless they can see
the truth Enosh! Theyve seen the dream that can be and this is good because now
they can make the desert the way it should be and not the way it is, but if you leave
them lost in a dream forever theyll remain dead. You dont get to stop fighting just
because you cant win. You still have to fight for whats right even if it means youll
lose, she argued, still afraid he was giving up.
To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear
witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. What is
truth? The man quoted and then added his own question, Is truth what should be
or what is?
She answered it, Both Enosh, both.
God, I wish I shared your optimism, He sighed.
She set the tray down on the desk and said Im going to leave you alone and Ill be
back tomorrow with others to work on the next phase of the project. She hoped he
would come to his senses. He was just upset right now and probably had a bad
headache, she told herself.
With that she walked up and out of the workshop. She stepped out into the young
night and began heading towards the city. She was no longer able to trust in him,
like she once had, and she needed answers before she could ever trust him fully
again. She was angry that he persisted in withholding the truth from her. How could
he hope to build a city of truth on a foundation of deceit? But most of all she was
worried about him; he wasnt as bright and hopeful as he was when they first
started working together. It must have something to do with his reflection and that
awful contract.
Did he tell you? asked a voice from the side of the road.
I definitely dont want to talk to you, she said recognizing the Figures voice. She
had too much on her mind now to be scared of it.
Erebos laughed and started walking beside her, Ill take that as a no.
Shut-UP! she yelled at it.
The Figure laughed louder, I know what he seesDo you want to know?
The woman paused. Yesbut I cant trust you either. Why should I believe anything
you say?

Hobby
Hey, hey that hurts. Ive never lied to you; I just dont tell anyone anything I dont
want them to know. Enosh on the other hand, hes lied to you lots of times.
As much as she hated to admit it the Figure was right. And so what? You want me
to know what he sees? If so, that makes this knowledge even less appealing, she
said hurtfully.
Would you rather know something you don't want to, or never know something you
want to? Erebos asked her.
Thats a stupid questionId rather know something I dont want to, of course.
The woman paused again. Even so he should be the one to tell me, not you, and if
he tells me Ill trust him again.
regardless of what he sees? The Figure of shadow asked.
Why am I even having this conversation with you? Ugh just go away and leave me
alone.
Fine, but before I do theres something I want you to think about. When I look into
the river and see my reflection, its Enosh I see Every shadow needs a man. The
Figure thought this was fun; it really didnt have anyone it could talk to about these
things; Enosh was always so busy. But the woman saw through lies so easily, and to
make things even better she didnt seem to be frightened. Both of these traits of
hers worried and excited the Figure at the same time.
Perplexed she said, So youre his shadow? But how is that possible? You two are
never in the same place at the same time.
Neither are a man and his shadow. Even during the day they are in separate places
but connected at certain points. However at night the shadow is free to move about
as it pleases. It is free to roam in the dark, Erebos added the last bit with dark
delight.
So what about me, do I have a shadow? She asked and then added, I mean a
shadow like you.
The shades in the city, the people Enosh is always telling you about, they once
had owners like I, but theyre owners are all gone now. Only their shadows remain;
empty, dreamlessly depressing, featureless Figures of their owners former glory.
They were once just as vibrant, alive, and full of hope as you. But every man has a
shadow, and sooner or later every man becomes one. This is inevitable. The real
question is: Can a shadow become a man? This is what Enosh wants. Not to dispel
the shadows that haunt him and his city, but to restore them to their former glory.
To bring them back from the darkness and into the light, but this has never been
done before, and Enosh is running out of time. He will fail.
The last bit upset her, You say hell fail. How do you know?
Ive been around a long time, Ive seen many men try. Before I was the rulers

Hobby
shadow, I was a
ruler. Unlike the others though, I didnt try to redeem the shades. I was amazed by
the secrets of this place and strove to learn them all. The shadows are beautiful, the
rain is fantastic, and the forests are surreal. Its wonderful and I wouldnt want this
place any other way. Besides weve never seen anyone succeed in bringing back
shadows to the light. Theyve all failed because they sought to bring light to
shadows without taking thought to prepare the shadows till it was too late.
Again the Figure added something disturbing to the end of its explanation which the
woman wanted clarified, Too late?
They all became shades of course. Didnt I already say that? The Figure of shadow
said as if it had lost track of the conversation.
Is that what the agreement you mentioned is all about? She asked referring to the
contract.
No The agreement is between Enosh and I. Surprisingly the Figure didnt seem
to want to talk about it either, A contract of sortsits unique it has made things
more complicated to say the leastlets not discuss business shall we. Were having
such a lovely stroll on this cool night.
So you two are working together. Why didnt he ever tell me this? She asked,
upset that Enosh hadnt felt to trust her as she had trusted him.
Well, how do you think that conversation wouldve gone? Erebos asked knowingly.
I guess youre rightif the others knew about this, Enosh would be alone and wed
never get this city fixed. I guess I know why hes been hiding all this from me, but I
still dont think we can trust you, and now I dont think I can even trust Enosh.
There was silence as she walked down the streets of the city. She stepped in a large
hole full of water without knowing it was there till the water rushed in through the
top of her shoes. She looked down at her faint reflection by the light of the stars.
She stopped and looked into the darkness, What he sees in the water its you
isnt it?
Yes, the man sees a Figure of shadow in the water, me, and that is his fate to
become a shadow to become me. The Figure sighed almost longingly, A man
and his shadow, our fates are forever intertwined at the rivers flow.
THE STRANGER
The next night the woman returned to Enoshs house as promised with others. She
knew that only one night remained till the window of opportunity predicted would
arrive. She would need to cross the river again to make preparations. Although she
had made the trip many times now, she still needed Enoshs guidance to get there
at night, not that she didnt know the way, but she didnt feel comfortable going
without him at least part of the way. She expected him to know what to do and he

Hobby
reminded her why they were doing it. She had always relied on him for that comfort.
The others she had brought were the same two from the last trip: Heph and Samuel,
as well as several other rather bulky men. Heph and Samuel did most of the talking
eager to show off their understanding of what was going on to the other men, when
in actuality they knew so little.
Youre not going to run any tests on us this time are you? asked Heph.
No, Heph and I already told you that its completely harmless, answered the
woman.
Well yeah you did, but that whole vanishing thing... Its a little more than
unsettling, said Samuel. It feels funny. You know all whats-it and all that.
Dont worry this time its going to be strictly tediously boring labor for me and a
little hard labor for you, she assured everyone.
They breathed an obvious sigh of relief. Enoshs house was just a little way up the
hill from where they were, and as they approached the woman saw Enosh wearing
his long black trench coat and standing in the doorway. As they got closer he held
up his hand as if to let her know not to speak.
He began walking around the house and into the forest of trees in the back of the
house. She knew that she was to follow. It had not rained yet tonight and the water
of the river was shallow and easy to cross. Enosh had planned it this way. The
woman knew that hed never cross the river if it meant getting wet, and he never
went out in the rain. Enosh and the others skipped across on large stones in the
riverbed that had been submerged by the waters last time. From the opposite side
of the river there was still a long way to go but the ground began to slope upward
along a ridge, which curved in the opposite direction of the rivers flow. As the slope
leveled off they could see a large dam at the end of a path.
The Dam was set in between two sides of a large valley of sandstone walls, but it
appeared that the Dam only reached one side of the valleys sandstone walls. The
other side was about ten feet short and the water flowed around and out this gap
between the dam and the opposite wall of the valley. Enosh took them inside the
dam through a door at the top. From there they descended some flights of stairs to
reach a large set of turbines hooked up to a myriad of electrical equipment. Behind
a sheet of glass lay a small room with circuit breakers, dials, and control panels. The
woman set the men to work on cleaning the turbines and replacing rusted or burnt
out equipment. She also told them to go down another flight of stairs to another
similar chamber and bring up more equipment to replace the smashed panel of
circuitry along one wall.
Enosh was sitting at a table in the small room behind the glass with the broken
model dam from his workshop on the table in front of him. The woman closed the
door and sat down at the table across from him as the men worked on getting the
dam ready for tomorrow night.

Hobby
He began speaking without taking his eyes off the dam in front of him, And I Enosh
am become a doubting Moses, a leader of a people who are strangers to me
although destined and fated kin. I lead them to a land and to a hope that I will never
taste personally. No it is my part to die without ever seeing the attainment of what
Ive hoped for them when in the flesh. I ran short of time but not of effort, for I was
diligent as the day was long. However in my diligence there was no perfection of
skill, only perfection of effort. Of failures I have many; of regrets I have but a few,
and the only regrets are the occasions whence I proved a coward.
You speak as if youre dying, she said.
Ive been dying my whole life, He said simply
The Figure of shadow, he told me what you see in your reflection. I know why you
didnt want to tell me, but what I dont understand is how come I dont see anything
in my reflection except for myself. Why does everyone else see their shade except
for me? she asked.
He spoke again, but she wasnt sure if he was answering her question or just
continuing his previous train of thought because he continued to stare at the broken
dam in front of him. It may be in fact termed a death, for men do not die only once,
but die constantly. Death is a lifelong process. What is death but a transition? What
is birth or rebirth but the same? It is all a small part of a much larger process of
which we are only transitory passengers crossing paths. I am a stranger in a
strange land as Moses said.
Then his eyes darted from the dam to her in such a way that caused her to flinch.
There was a darkness in his eyes which sent chills through her, and he said, We are
wanderers, strangers in a strange land, a land where a mans shadow is not just a
reflection of his character, but an actual partner in a mans crimes. Every man
haunted by the shadow of his decisions; a shade which with every compromise
made grows stronger, and a shadow which will long outlive the man who casts it.
"Enosh? The Figure told me that all the others from before you are gone leaving only
their shades...including those men out there. The light produced by the dam that we
tested on them had the same results as the others, and we're still making repairs
from when that one large group panicked and started destroying equipment...So
what's your plan for tomorrow night? Who am I going to run the tests on...if I'm the
only one here?"
At that moment Samuel knocked on the glass and signaled for the woman. She
rolled her eyes and went out to go double check the work, and run the necessary
tests and procedures to be sure that everything was in proper working order. When
she had finished and returned to the room, Enosh was gone. Only the broken model
of the dam from Enosh's workshop remained resting on the table where Enosh had
left it.
THE HEIR

Hobby
She stood for a moment in the doorway, eyes wide, realizing that Enosh was gone,
and hadnt answered her question. She remembered that look in his eyes and she
ran up the flights of stairs to the top of the dam, busted out the door at the top, and
looked every which way for any sign of Enosh.
ENOSH! her shout echoed across the sandstone valley.
Hes not coming back. The voice of the Figure came softly from behind her.
The voice so close and unexpected startled her, and she turned to see the Figure
draped in shadow leaning against the door, a darker spot in the darkness.
Oh dear! Did I scare you?... No, you were already scared before you came up here.
Somethings wrong, isnt it? the Figure spoke with almost disinterest.
Where is Enosh? I need to find him. The woman demanded.
Why do you NEED to find him? the Figure asked with emphasis on the word need,
as if it doubted that such a need existed. Because from the way he left here I dont
think he wants you to find him.
Instead of getting angry she chose to explain, Theres something wrong. I saw a
darkness in his eyes.
And youre afraid that without him, youll be alone; without your leader, flawed as
he may be, youd be lost. Again it spoke with such severe disinterest, as if it was all
rather boring to it, because it had seen it so many times before.
Nowellno, not so much. Im not scared of what will become of me; I think I
understand my fate now, but Im scared for him, part of this was an explanation to
herself.
Dont be scared for him. Hes not afraid. Erebos said and then as if changing the
subject to something far more interesting and important, Let me tell you
something more. Im not Enoshs original shadow.
She rolled her eyes and decided to entertain the Figure, What happened to his
original shadow and what does that have to do with this?
Enosh and his shade became one. Enosh took it upon himself. No one is really sure
which one of them is in control. This was the first term of our contract.
thats horrible. Why would he take upon himself such a horrible fate?
I belonged to an ancient ruler. A ruler who made many tough decisions, a ruler who
made many failures, and whose dreams deserted him as his hopes for a brighter
world died. That ruler made compromises and his failures brought sadness and
darkness to his world. This King was given one last chance on his deathbed to
redeem his kingdom, to protect it from his failures. He would have to take
responsibility for his actions, his mistakes, and live forever with them. This ruler,

Hobby
unlike Enosh, was unwilling to make the ultimate compromise: that of living forever
with all his regrets. Instead of taking responsibility for his sins he elected to leave
this world without me. He left his shade, the shadow of his existence to rule this
place and run rampant on the land.
Bitterly the woman spoke, So, it was he who refused to take responsibility for you!
And as you said you drove the NIGHT toward your home, at least I know who to
blame now.
The Figure was taken aback, On the contrary. I think he made the right decision.
Certainly no one could blame him for wanting to leave me here, after all countless
others have done the same, leaving their shades behind to move on alone with
clear conscience. I remember the Kings last words to me, quoted from Isaiah when
he saw a seraphim place a live coal in his mouth and purge his sins as Im sure the
King mustve felt the burden of his sins lifted that day. And he said, Go, and tell this
people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their
heart, and convert, and be healed. I asked him Lord, how long? And he answered,
Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the
land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a
great forsaking in the midst of the land.
The woman clearly disturbed responded, So because of the charge of a King who
was unwilling to take responsibility for his actions, you locked the people in
darkness, denied them the truth, and the light of day?!
The Figure with indignation replied, Even Enosh will tell you that the people arent
able to bear the truth of the desert they are required to tread. Shining the light on
them only causes them to vanish. They cannot see it, they cannot comprehend it.
All they know is what they are. Think, shadow is the absence of light, and light is an
actual measurable quantity caused by actual particles. But darkness cannot be
measured, it has no substance. It is only a result of the absence of some actual
substance. Yet a shadow has a name, and a well lit spot does not, other than being
known as the light. The shadow is named for itself, but the light is only called by
its source. Shadows can be created by a light source entering an area, but light
cannot be created by the passing of a shadow. The process is not reversible and in
like manner a man may create a shade but a shade may not become a man.
The shades have a right to know all the same! You cant just deny the truth to
them; its not your place! She yelled.
The Figure blew air out of what may have been cheeks dismissively and said, This
is a new idea for lands where the decisions are made by the people. Here the
decisions are made by Enosh alone and the dissemination of information is
unnecessary and potentially dangerous to them.
NO! Enosh wants all the people to see the light, and to walk in the truth though it
may be hard. He wants to restore them! You said so yourself! She yelled feeling

Hobby
that the Figure was contradicting itself.
What Enosh wants and what he believes will happen are two different things
woman, Erebos said condescendingly.
She replied, And yet he continues to work towards a goal he doesnt believe in?
That doesnt make sense Figure!
Then why does Enosh doubt? Why does his shadow prevail within him and you see
darkness in his eyes? Where is his hope if not in himself? Erebos had come to these
conclusions as a result of them being the only answers to these questions. Now he
posed them to her in the hope that she would see that there is no other answer.
The woman smiled, but it was more than just a smile. It was as if her whole body
smiled.
The Figure got up from his reclined position on the wall and became interested
again. Why are you smiling?
I know something you dont know Figure, she continued to smile.
The Figure smiled back, perhaps unwilling to appear bested by the woman. She was
like Enosh in that she was starting to throw the Figure off a bit, and it bothered it
more when it came from her.
The woman spoke again, returning to the original subject, knowing that it would
torture the Figure that she knew something about Enosh it didnt know, What was
the second term of the contract after Enosh swallowed his shadow?
The Figure answered, It was by the contract that I was able to become Enoshs new
shadow. In exchange Enosh rules the kingdom, but Enosh must bear all the burdens
of his shade; he must feel the guilt and pain of every failure. Because no man can
have two shadows, he had to swallow one. Amazing it is to me, that man goes to
such great lengths for power, for control. He would forsake his own happiness and
live in misery for greed, power, and selfish gain. What else could he hope to
accomplish by such means? As much as Enosh and I disagree, I know he is no fool,
although he often desires to be seen that way. The wise man who seeks power often
wishes for his enemies to think him a fool.
The woman wrapped her arms around herself. The night was cold and she could tell
by the feel of the air that it would rain soon. She looked into the darkness and
defiantly said, Youre wrong about him. I know Enosh well enough to know thats
not true. He only sought power to help the people. He has a plan for tomorrow
night. I believe that he knows something special is going to happen tomorrow.
Something thats never happened before and Im going to be here for it.
Across the valley darkness drifted and swirled down in sheets and curtains. Rain
began to pour from the skies and across miles of wilderness and wasteland,
sandstone and granite, into the dark forest of what only appeared to be trees. Enosh
walked in the midst of all this.

Hobby

The rain pelted his skin, each drop containing a small pellet of ice in the center.
Blanketed in a painful barrage of icy water, his body felt each slight movement
cause pain to shiver down every single hair on his body as it brushed against his
soaked clothing. The water had penetrated even his dark black trench coat. He was
aware of every single fiber of his body and its particular movement in a way that he
had never noticed before. It was as if his body had been on autopilot for his whole
life, and only now was he gaining total control over every particular of it. The pain
brought this increased awareness of the motion of his muscles as he made each
step and each swing of his arm.
There was a silhouette in the rain. Not a person, not a shadow, but merely a hollow
spot where rain should be, but wasnt. There was no splash of the rain on that spot,
and the rain did not curve around it, one moment the rain was falling to earth
normally, and the next moment the rain would shrink out of existence as it reached
the silhouette in the rain.
A voice came from the silhouette of rain: A voice which didnt pass through the air,
but passed through the rain drops. It was vibrating along the fibers of his clothing,
down the shivering hairs, and painfully entering his body through every pore. Man,
Enosh, Ive awaited you with interest.
WhoWhat are you? Enosh spoke with slow trepidation and a shiver in his voice.
And the rain answered, I am the living waters, I am truth. My people have
committed two evils; they have forsaken me the living waters, and hewed them out
cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. And you Enosh, you have
squandered your time, wasting it on fruitless endeavors. To know that your time, so
limited, has availed you nothing I can think of nothing more haunting to a man
about to pass into the shadows of history.
Enosh felt the corners of his mouth crease as he smiled and said, Im always
holding something back. Ive spent my time ensuring a bright future for those Ive
left behind. She is my legacy, she is my hope. What I could not, she can; what I did
not, she will. She will govern over a world of shadows that I could not lead.
What have you done? The silhouette asked with surprise.
Im here to embrace my fate. Im ready for what I see in the rivers flow, Enosh
continued
You are ready Enosh. You are, but Erebos is not. It has come too early, and you
cannot rule like thisbut you already know this? What have you done? The
silhouette asked again more firmly.
Yes, what have I done, Enosh responded and reaching into the trench coat he
brought forth a leather tube capped at one end, Here is the contract. The woman,
she will take up the terms of the contract in my place as I am unfit to fill them, and
as she is my only heir. She will govern Erebos in my place, and she will rule.

Hobby
The silhouette in the rain reached out and grabbed the tube and uncapping the
leather read the contract without a single drop of rain falling on it. It was silent for a
moment, then placed the contract back inside the leather tube and capped it before
the tube disappeared entirely. Well Enosh, Erebos may not realize it, but you have
changed things. Youve wrested power from the lord of shadows and given it to a
woman without a shadow, in one lifetime, with a simple piece of paper.
THE RIVER
She worked through the rest of the night. After a while, she ran out of jobs for Heph,
Samuel, and the other men to do and they began to merely get in her way. So she
told them to get some sleep while she finished up a few minor things. They had
done very good work and the dam was nearly ready for the night Enosh had told her
about, the night that shed have to come alone. After finishing up the last bit of
work, she went to rouse the men for the trip home.
Kicking Heph she said, Come on; time to go.
They were becoming translucent, and she could make out the objects and walls
behind them; it was nearly Day. She knew that she needed them to get across the
river, which had surely risen with the rains from earlier in the night, but she would
have to hurry to make it before the sun rose or the river would become impassable
to her.
Heph, Samuel, and the other men stumbled along behind her up the stairs and out
into the night. Some impatient rays of light were creeping up along the horizon, but
the Sun had not peaked over the horizon yet. From the top of the ridge leading to
the sandstone valley and the dam, they could see that the landscape of the valley
had changed drastically in the night, as it did every night it rained. Despite the
appearance of lush vegetation and forest, the woman could tell that the hills had
moved and that the waters of rain had eroded a Cliffside here, or created a ditch
there. She knew that the winds from the East that blew in the desert of Day would
only change the valley even more. During the Day the shifting sands and dunes
could move faster than a man sometimes.
The men were nearly transparent from the growing light, but she could still make
them out as she interlocked arms with them and crossed the river. Heph and
Samuel tried to tell her something when they were moving slowly through the
waters, but their voices, already diminishing along with her ability to see them,
were lost in the roar of the swift waters. The sunlight flashed across the horizon like
a supernova incinerating the trees and vegetation of the forest in a puff of dark
smoke. She fell backwards into the water thrown off balance by the sudden
disappearance of the support that had been given by the circle of men, who had
finally faded entirely out of existence with the rising sun.
The water numbed her face and upper body as it had already done to her lower half.
She saw herself; it wasnt like seeing herself in the mirror. It wasnt a reflection. It
was more like she could see not only what she looked like, but what she was, what
she is, and what shed become all at the same time. It was a reflection of her entire
existence, and yet she only saw herself. She didnt see what events would happen

Hobby
to her, only what person shed be, what person she was, and what type of person
she is. The truth about what one may become can be more shocking and
devastating or may bring more happiness and joy to that person than the
knowledge of what things will happen to them, she discovered.
Swirling downstream, she struggled for a foothold and for breath. The river widened
as smaller rivers joined in on the race to get to wherever the river was taking her.
She swam to avoid rocks and rough waters, but was ultimately unable to keep her
head out of water as she was constantly striking wave after wave. The river picked
up speed as it narrowed again and became slightly shallower. The river eventually
came to a smooth spot, and she took opportunity to escape its clutches. Cold,
soaking, and exhausted she stumbled onto the rocky embankment and collapsed
against a nearby boulder.
Lying on her back and breathing heavily she felt as if a weight was pressing against
her chest. Placing her hands over her heart she found a leather cylinder attached to
a cord wrapped around her arm. She mustve gotten snagged on it while being
swept downstream, she thought. She wondered where it came from and who it
belonged to. It looked old, scuffed, and water tight? She sat up, uncapped it, and
found a set of keys and a roll of paper contained within. She pulled out the paper
and her eyes slowly scanned it from side to side. The paper was crisp and it felt
smooth to her touch. It was a contract for control of the kingdom and in exchange a
home would be provided for the Figure of Power: Erebos. She remembered Ereboss
words, Every Shadow needs a man. There were a number of stipulations and
clauses; the legality of which made her head spin. At the bottom was a set of
signatures: one clearly and legibly signed Receiver of Power: Enosh, the other as
the Donor of Power: Erebos in dark rich ink that should have been glossy she
supposed, but refused to shine. There was a spot to the right of the signatures
where the ink ran to the bottom of the page from water damage. It might have
originally said Witness. Below that there was a clause for an heir to stand-in the
place of the receiver of power at the receivers choice should they become unfit to
enact such power. There was a line next to that where her name was printed:
Constance, and a blank line next to that with a red X next to it with the
instructions: Sign Here, written in Enoshs handwriting.
She read the contract through again. Her eyes darted back and forth from the red
writing, the contract, her name, and the blank line. Finally she reached into her
pocket and pulled out a pen. Placing the contract on the rock she signed her name,
but no ink came forth to make the mark. There was only a slight indentation on the
page from her action. She groaned licked the end of the pen shook it and tried
again, nothing. Frustrated, tired, sore, and wet, she tried in vain to snap the pen in
two, and threw it into the river. Lying back down in the shadow of the boulders, she
rested for awhile. The air whistled between the rocks and kicked up sand farther up
the rocky embankment.
The dunes were on the move again. Over the rise of the nearest dune she could see
the top of the dam. The dam stood alone in an ocean of sand dunes, firm and
unyielding to the fierce desert winds. The shifting dunes piled into and around the
dam like slowly crashing waves. She knew that by night the shifting dunes would
form the perfect sandstone basin that Enosh had predicted, yet again using the

Hobby
model he had constructed in his workshop. It would rain and the rainwater would
collect behind the dam. This would provide all that the dam needed to run the
turbines and generate power. Tonight would be the night that she would enter the
dam alone. She was certain Enosh had a very good reason for her going there
alone, but she was uncertain what that reason was. The Figure was skeptical, but
she still believed in Enosh regardless of all that he had kept from her. Maybe it was
because Enosh was the only one she knew who wasnt a shade. Maybe it was
because they had spent so much time working together, so much so that she
couldnt rightly remember a time when they hadnt been here together working
towards the same goal.
After feeling a bit more collected she sat up to head back, but while she was doing
so she caught a glimpse of the contract and leather capsule she had left on the rock
next to her. She stopped in mid lunge to stand and nearly fell over, because she was
so shocked by what she saw. There, lying on top of the contract was the pen she
had bent, but not broken, and flung into the river Or at least she was almost
certain she had thrown it into the river. Tenderly as if it would disappear at the
slightest movement she reached out to pick it up. Holding it in her hand, she stared
closely at it. It felt cold to the touch despite the Sun beating on it for however long it
was sitting there. She pressed it to the page to sign her name and ink flowed from it
to fill the indentations she made. She swiveled around looking for someone, anyone,
but there was no one for as far as she could see. How did it get here? If someone
had brought it, she had heard nothing other than the whistling of the wind, and the
rushing of the waters. She stuck the pen in her pocket, replaced the keys and
contract, and capped the leather tube. Then after one last look at the river, one last
long perplexed look at the cold rushing waters, she headed back towards the city.
There were still a few things she had to do before the night came.
ECCLESIASTES
Constance walked alone in the desert of day on shifting sand dunes. The leather
tube slung across her back was light and easy to carry. She flitted the pen about in
her hands as she walked pondering the importance of the contract she had just
signed, as well as a million other questions she had about the future and what it
held for her. The walk may have taken hours, but it seemed to fly by, as it often
does for one who has a lot on their mind.
Eventually, when the sun was at its zenith, she reached the cathedral in the heart of
the city and the door within a door. She was about to knock when she realized
something and reached into the leather tube. Constance pulled out the key that had
come with the contract. It fit smoothly into the ancient lock and with a turn and a
clank she unlocked the door within a door.
Her first step into the hall echoed off the still walls. The air was warm inside, cooked
by colored light as it spilled through stained glass windows. She took a few steps as
the wind blew sand inside behind her through the open door. Oblivious to this, she
faltered as tears began to stream from her eyes. Silently, she wept realizing that
Enosh had given her the key to his sanctuary, his chapel. Between silent sobs, she
whispered in a hushed voice, Smite the shepherd and the sheep shall scatter.

Hobby

If Enosh wasnt here she knew there were only two other places he could be. This is
where they had met. She could remember it so vividly. It was right over there not
a soul in the chapel but Enosh. He was kneeling, begging for answers. She smiled
remembering the first thing he said to her. You must be the answer to my prayer.
What was your question? she queried.
Who said my prayer was a question? he smiled.
She returned the smile, Well then how have I answered your prayer?
I was praying for hope, and I assume your name is Hope, is it not? he replied, I
find the Lord has a most interesting sense of humor when it comes to answering my
prayers.
She laughed, No, Im afraid not
Fear is evidence of the lack of Faith my dear. Therefore be not afraid, for I have
faith you will be my hope even if you are inaptly named otherwise. He interrupted.
Whats the trouble that causes the preacher to pray for hope in his own chapel?
she asked.
These are turbulent times, a storm is coming and the flock is scattering faster than
I their shepherd can gather them. I am the shepherd and wherever I go they will
follow because I love them and they trust me, but its as if the whole world is
slipping through my fingers. Im losing them and myself in the process of trying to
save them. The harder I struggle to prevent them from slipping away the more I
lose. It is more than I can bear.
She was awakened from sweet reminiscence by the sound of a crystal clear voice
singing an old familiar tune. It was the preachers favorite.
Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.
She got up and began to walk towards the altar, all the while looking around for the
source of the music. She overheard voices whispering:

Hobby

Sometimes I feel as if my whole life is just an answer to a question someone asked.

Someone is answering a question where I am the example. I am the answer to a
question of a being far superior to me. And you know what? I think youre the
counter argument.
Whats the question?
Id like to know that myself, but to you that shouldnt matter since all you care
about is the results. However answers arent much good and dont make much
sense without questions, and only one of us can be the right answer.
I think I already know the question. Its one the old ruler asked me all the time
before I had complete control: Can a man truly be redeemed from his sins? And if
so, can a man escape the consequences of his actions? He made me stronger with
every failure, every compromise, and every despair. You preach redemption but yet
you know there is no hope for you to escape the consequences of your actions. You
can change who you are and how you live but the consequences will haunt you.
Forgiveness may come from God in the next life, but in this life the ripples of your
decisions trouble the waters.
Constance called out in a voice of undying hope, Did you think that you were
alone? That you were the only person who wondered if there was hope for them?
Im not giving up on you. I hope for you. Theres no such thing as a failure who
keeps trying.
There were moments that felt like an eternity of silence.
Then the conversation continued, True, the consequences of our decisions by the
law of the universe are irrevocable and must be met, but God is not distant. My God
is present and one who has and does intervene in the course of human events. One
though Just and ensuring that all men receive the consequences of their actions, is
also merciful and willing on occasion to rescue a lost soul from consequences
brought on by his own decisions. There is Hope maybe not for me, maybe not for
you, but there is always Hope. Hope is constant.
She turned to place her hands on the altar. It was warm. Maybe the light had
warmed it up, but maybe it was something else. She knew that the shades
disappeared in the day from sight and sound, and maybe she could just barely hear
him because a part of him was still hanging on. Maybe would be enough to keep her
going for now.
THE SHADE LAMP IN THE STORM
No one was home at Enoshs house on the hill. But she slipped in through the back
door and down to the workshop to gather the necessary journals and notes.
Normally she would have specific instructions but as Enosh would not be there
tonight she wanted all the information she could get on the dam and Enoshs
predictions. This was especially true as tonight was supposed to be a unique
opportunity. She made it across the river which was now extremely low, as she well

Hobby
knew it would be, because the dam was water tight tonight.
The shifting sand dunes of day were sandstone walls by night, and now formed the
sandstone walls of a basin to hold back the river and rainwater behind the dam as
predicted. The dam was fully operational as far as she knew from her repairs last
night, and the water was all where it should be. Yet there was something unsettling
about the air and the water in the basin of sandstone. Like the air crackled before
the storm, so did the stillness of the shadows this night.
Constance opened the door and descended the stairs regardless. She ran down her
checklists alone and discovered that all was in order. It was still hard to shake that
feeling though. Running the water through the turbines and the dam brought energy
into the reserves and made her feel slightly more comfortable despite this.
Everything seemed optimal down here so she ascended the stairs and headed for
the tower at the top of the dam. The air at the top of the dam had changed little
and that sinking feeling got worse and materialized as a painfully cold hand fell on
her shoulder. Constance struggled to break free from the grip but she was soon
lifted off the ground by another hand.
Storms coming, the voice of the Figure came to her ears betraying its owner with
its distinctive tone. And the next moment she was plummeting over the side of the
dam into the basin full of water some distance below. Visions flashed across her
mind as she was surrounded by cold water. She paid little attention to them this
time as she struggled to the surface. The Figure looked down at the troubled waters
and laughed at the woman in the waters. It held the leather tube with the contract
aloft and shouted over the hum of the dam These are turbulent times arent they?
Thank you for getting everything ready for me. I told Enosh Id try, and I really cant
have you getting in my way. Its for the best, trust Me.
NO! Enosh said it has to be only me tonight! Youll ruin everything! I told you
something special would happen tonight something thats never happened before,
remember? she pleaded.
EXACTLY! Dont you see? Ive never tried this before. This IS special. DONT YOU
SEE?!
Youre a pathetic parasite convinced of its own perfection except when confronted
with true courage and hope in the face of despair and darkness which you raise as
your standard. A being on whom I look down on with disdain, and who I am now sad
to say will be forced to govern and keep an eye on until one of us leaves this world,
she yelled with an even severity that surprised even herself considering her
circumstances.
The Figure of shadows scowled, GOVERN?!?! and tearing off the top of the tube
yanked out the contract. It scanned the page and seeing the signature of Constance
on the line at the bottom of the page it howled. Now Erebos knew exactly who she
was. How could I have been so blind? This was all Enoshs doing. The man had
one secret alright, one hidden in plain sight all along. Dropping the contract it
waved her off and began to run towards the tower atop the dam.

Hobby
Constance swam frantically for the ladder placed on the side of the dam in case of
emergencies such as this. The ladder was rustier and weaker than she thought, and
after getting about halfway up, the rung in her hand broke. Constance crashed into
the waters below once more. Cursing she again began the climb exhausted and
cold. Testing each rung for the strength to hold her weight it took longer this time,
but she knew it would take less time than having to climb up again.
Lightning flashed overhead arcing from cloud to cloud. Thunder rolled along the
sandstone valleys and it began to rain like it had never rained before. The wind blew
strongly against her back helping her stay closer to the wall of the dam. The Figure
of shadows howled over the roar of the storm as it reached the top of the tower.
What was it up to? She wondered to herself. She almost laughed out of self pity
realizing she didnt even know what she was up to tonight. Enosh hadnt explained
anything. Filled with frustration and anger she couldnt help but curse Enosh for not
telling her what she was supposed to do. He was supposed to have a plan. He was
supposed to be guiding her, but now hes been taken over by his shades and Erebos
had thrown her off the dam. Nothing was going the way she thought it would.
Finally, Constance reached the top of the dam and pulled herself over the edge. As
she stood up, the tower began to hum with electricity and the huge lamp light came
on then her heart sank within her as the light flickered andwell it didnt quite
die. In fact as far as she was concerned it was probably worse than dying If it were
possible, pure darkness began to flow from what could no longer be properly called
a light... Shadows spewed from the shade lamp sweeping the city in the
distance and wherever they landed darkness prevailed over light. The candlelight in
the cathedral went dark. It defied everything she knew and yet it was there
happening before her eyes. Even the flashes of lightning could not penetrate the
darkness cast from the shade lamp. The Figure was turning it towards her leaving a
stripe of darkness across the city and the landscape. She ran for the tower hoping
to reach it before the shadows could reach her, but she knew it was too far. And yet
she ran on.
The shadows issuing from the shade lamp were sweeping towards Constance with
the swiveling lamp in the hands of the Figure. Just as they were about to reach her,
Enosh in his dark trench coat came rushing up from behind, and spreading his arms
wide was taken by the shadows. The beam swept by and Enosh collapsed in a dark
mass on the ground in front of her.
A sudden surge of despair gripped her. ENOSH!! She cried, but there was no
answer. Part of her wanted to stop to help him, but she had no idea how to help him
and worried that if she stopped his sacrifice could be in vain. She vowed to make
the Figure pay for this and kept running.
The Figure screamed an unearthly cry of rage, robbed of its prey. It swiveled the
shade lamp back towards the woman running to the tower it stood upon.
The shadows were coming for her once more but before the shade lamp could be
turned to face her, the dam shook violently and a colossal wave came crashing over
from the basin. The wave mustve stood 50 feet up from the water below in the

Hobby
basin. The shade lamp was thrown off of its intended target and left a dark stripe of
shadows across the dam 10 feet behind her. The wave crashed around her and
wrapping her in its cold embrace washed her along towards the tower. It was as if
the water understood her desired destination. She lunged for the ladder at the base
of the tower and pulled herself up out of the waters rushing along.
Climbing swiftly she neared the top of the tower and the Dam shook again. The
waters were hammering into the dam below, and the electric hum and buzz of the
turbines and wires below could barely be heard over the storm raging above.
As she reached the top she could feel the tower swaying with the wind. The roof
came clean off of the tower and she saw the sparking wires which were shredded in
two along with the roof. She got to her feet holding on to the railings. It was difficult
to see anything in the dark with rain flying about thick as sheets. She struggled to
keep her balance on a swaying tower, and the Figure was nowhere to be seen. She
walked through what had been a doorframe and was now just a hole between two
walls into a room with no roof. It was a cluttered office and papers flew around in
the wind despite their weight from the rainwater they had collected.
The Figure came lunging at her through a wall that it shredded like a sheet.
Constance dodged to escape its arms and it struck her with its thigh as it bulldozed
past. She landed rather ungracefully on a desk chair to one side of the room which
broke her fall to the floor. She quickly crawled under the desk to catch her breath.
The Figure frantically searched the room overturning and tossing furniture around
like softballs. She knew any second now her desk would be next and she would be
discovered. She only knew of one way to stop the Figure and she knew she would
only get one chance. So when the Figure picked up the desk she was under, she
ducked between its legs and jumped through the hole it had made in the wall
hoping it would lead to the lamp. She scanned the room quickly and dodged out a
side door as the wall behind her exploded with flying splinters from the desk flying
through it. She almost ran into the Figure itself as she rounded a corner. It swiped,
hitting the wall as she rolled under its swing and through its legs once more. Its fist
and arm got stuck in the wall buying her precious seconds as she ran for her goal up
ahead. She could see the lamp on the balcony of the tower turned towards the dam
below. She swiveled it about and flipped the switch aiming directly at the Figures
chest. The Figure flinched, but grief hit her like the waves crashing against the dam
below. Frantically she flipped the switch on and off hoping for something, but
received no comforting light, not even a shadow in return. The towers power
mustve been damaged from the storm, a little voice in her head told her. The Figure
looked up and smiled realizing that it had won at last. It walked over to her smiling
Erebos began to speak to her as it paced towards her slowly, You were his hope
and to make room for the shadow the man took upon himself he had to move you
without. Just as a shadow embodied his compromises, his failures, and his despairs;
you embody his hope, his righteousness, and his successes. The picturesque
embodiment of his hope, you are truly my opposite. Youre strengthened by Enoshs
belief, his creations, his successes, and you are strong for he has made you so. You
believe; you yearn; you can create, and thrive. You are his Hope even still, you will
live on after he has left this world just as shades in this world have, but you have no
shadow. Few men have been willing to live with the consequences of their failures

Hobby
for eternity, and fewer still without the comforts of their successes in life. You are his
prized creation, created by his selfless successes. You must make him so proud,
because he chose YOU over ME!! Certainly I wasnt his first shadow. He hated his
original shadow, and I was HONORED to be adopted as his new shadow. We had our
disagreements but I always thought he took upon him that shadow to access the
power I could bring him. Now I SEE that it was just to set you free upon this world.
Then placing its hands upon its head and screaming into the storm without, I
thought we were partners MAN! WE had a DEAL! YOU BETRAYED ME!
Spare me your self-pity Figure, she said boldly.
MY NAME IS EREBOS LORD OF SHADOWS!! The Figure bellowed and charged for
her. It picked her up and tossed her through a wall back into the tower offices. It
turned to face her as she struggled to maintain consciousness. She could taste
blood in her mouth, and saw the Figure laughing but could not hear it. Then she saw
the arc of lightning slowly tracing its way through the sky down to the tower and the
Figure. As the Figure shined and smoked from the lightning strike she almost
chuckled in her half delirious state and passed out.
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Enosh felt everything go black as the shadows from the shade lamp struck him
across the chest. He awoke when water swept him off the side of the dam in the
huge wave that had saved Constance only seconds after Enosh had taken the first
blow of the shade lamp. He hit the river below and struck the bottom.
He awoke again on the side of the river and saw a tormented sky above him.
Enosh felt rain falling on his face. The storm was raging, and he didnt rightly
remember where he was. He was lying on his back, but soon sat up. Looking down
he saw his body and holding his arms out in front of him he could see darkness
coiling and twisting about his limbs like a hive of ghostly snakes.
Looking ahead he saw the tower atop the dam, and remembered where he was.
The tower looked like an explosion had gone off. There were smashed pieces of
furniture lying about the base with scattered papers and items littering the area. In
the tops of the trees across the canyon were large chunks of the roof off the tower.
He stood up and looked down at his feet as if he needed to be certain they were
touching the ground. It was then he saw his reflection in the river of water near his
feet. It was the same reflection he had so feared in that rivers flow, but this time he
was certain that it was not the Figure he was seeing in the reflection. It was himself.
He felt the Silhouette in the rain begin to speak to him before he saw it. You knew
it would force my hand. Thats why you baited Erebos into coming here tonight, and
thats why you wanted her to come alone. Do you think youve proven anything?
Enosh squinted to see the spot in the rain where the rain didnt fall to the ground
but faded out of existence. Yes, I do, Enosh responded, Are you familiar with the
story about the man who said that within him there were two ravenous wolves
fighting for dominance of his soul? When someone asked the man which one wins,

Hobby
he answered, The one I feed. I believe that what has happened tonight could be
the culmination of an experiment on this line of thinking.
It would appear that you fed one more than the other, the Silhouette said rather
snidely.
Enosh held up his hands saying, I have fed them both, and they have both grown
strong because of it. I wanted to bring balance and equality.
The silhouettes voice grew louder and the river rippled from the increase in volume.
You have brought strife! Whenever there is freedom, there will be competition, and
whenever there is competition there will be a winner and a loser. Which one wins
when you feed them both?
Enosh answered calmly having already considered this question over and over
again, The one I choose.
A whirlwind of questions blew all around Enosh, And who are you to choose? Who
are you to decide which one is worthy? How can you choose between your
creations? Do you hope that in some way by choosing the one full of hope you are
redeeming yourself for creating so much darkness? Are you fate? Are you God or
man? You are Enosh. You are man. How do you justify the weight of decisions which
will affect the fate of the world you live in for millennia?
Enosh raised his voice, And is fate so inescapable that man or shadow cannot avoid
it, at the least, if not change it?
The silhouette answered Enoshs question with severity. What is fate? Fate is
nothing but an excuse for men like you, who are haunted by their decisions and
decide not to take responsibility for the consequences. Men like you claim it as fate
instead. Fate is the end result of countless choices which are as significant as they
are numerous. Each and every choice matters, Enosh. You choose and the law
decides the consequences of your choice. The contract was a part of that law.
Enosh, I merely showed you the consequences of your actions in that river all those
years ago. I showed you where you were heading. You couldve changed it. You
couldve stopped it, but you never changed who you were. So even when you
changed course for a short time you always found your way back to the path that fit
you, and it was that path that would lead you to the fate I had already shown you.
Enosh looked down at his body covered in living shadows, and he felt a strange form
of peace. The kind of peace that comes with realizing that for better or for worse,
the die has been cast, the decision set in stone, and there was no going back.
So who won? Enosh asked indicating with a nod towards the tower of the dam.
I did, the silhouette responded firmly.
Enosh tilted his head and gave the silhouette an inquisitive stare, I wasnt aware
you were ever a contender. Did you help her?

Hobby
After a pause the Silhouette extended a finger of accusation toward Enosh, I dont
take sides Enosh. I only uphold the laws of this land and that includes the contract.
Erebos broke the law by assaulting the one given authority by the contract. So I
stepped in. Yet I cant help but feel that what you did here was wrong. Certainly
putting Constance in charge may lead to a brighter future, but at what cost to your
soul? You made Erebos the way it is and then hated Erebos for it, because the Figure
reminded you of your failures your mistakes, not his. You used him to steal away
the kingdom and give it to someone who you created and decided was more
deserving of the duty. You have received the punishment you rightfully deserve for
doing so, and at the hands of the one you wronged the most, but recognize that this
cloak of shades is your doing just as much as it is Ereboss.
I dont deny it, but I dont regret it either, Enosh responded.
It may be too soon to tell. The silhouette said and then the rain poured into the
hole where the silhouette had been.
Enosh knew the silhouette had gone, and again looked up to the tower above as
lightning flashed overhead.
BURNS
Constances head felt like it would explode with every throb of pain. She instantly
wished she was still unconscious. She attempted to get up and then the left side of
her body lit up in flaming pain. She slowly rose to her knees with the help of the wall
she had been thrown into. She licked her parched lips and tasted dry blood. She let
out a heavy sigh and looked around at the damage to the tower. Her eyes rested
long upon the large lamp on the edge of the tower. Looking around for the Figure of
shadow she crawled on her hands and knees over to where Erebos had been last.
She found a black trench coat like the one Enosh wore but it had serious burns in
the fabric. Lying face down under the trench coat was a very large man with dark
wild hair, and a long beard. The man had burns all over his body. It took her a
second to realize who it was, but as the thought struck her she immediately seized
a large two by four which had been a part of the towers roof. She began to lift it
over her head as if to strike the unconscious man. With considerable hesitation the
wooden board hovered over her head. The man groaned and rolled over.

Blinding sunlight scorched Ereboss already burnt face. He squinted at the midday
sun overhead. It was beautiful to him although foreign. Then he saw the woman
kneeling over him with a large piece of wood raised over her head.

He chuckled, What is it with you and wooden weapons?

Hobby
I could smash your head in right now! She yelled, but she looked confused.

Then why havent you? He asked, knowing that she wouldnt.

Two reasons; One: Youve already been defeated, and two: Im going to need to run
some tests on you to Figure out how you got this way and if theres any possibility
of reproducing the effect.

Erebos furrowed his brow and looked at her puzzled.

Dont you feeldifferent? Notice anything strange about the sky? she asked.

Yes, He replied, beginning to catch on.

She sighed and lowered the board a little, Its the Sun, Erebos. This is daytime.
Take a look at yourself.

Slowly he rose to his knees and looked around him. The tower was creaking gently,
swaying slightly in the strong winds of the desert of day. He saw shifting sand dunes
all around, and below him a broken old dam with two large gashes running through
it at angles that led back to the tower they were upon. These had been cut by the
shade lamp.

He thought to himself that this was the strangest dream hed ever had. There in the
distance was the city he knew so well, but the forest and all else had turned to
desert scorched by this blinding hot sphere overhead.

He could feel his face radiating heat. He touched his face and it stun painfully. How
strange, he thought, and as his hands pulled back from his face he saw them. Not
cloaked in shadow, not covered in swarming darkness but they were just like

Hobby
Enoshs. Looking down at his body he could see that none of it was covered in
shadow. He looked at the woman with his mouth agape and then jumped to his feet.
Before she could stop him, he slid down the ladder, and ran to the river that flowed
smoothly around the dam through the sand dunes. His hands were inflamed from
descending the ladder so rapidly but he paid them no heed. The light burned as it
fell on his skin, but he ignored the pain. There was something that he needed to
see, and he needed to see it now. He fell upon his hands and knees at the rivers
edge and gazed at his reflection. His hands sunk into the mud at the rivers edge
just a few inches into the water.

So this is my fate? A man without glory! Without kingdom, without rule, He

murmured.

The voice of the silhouette reverberated causing ripples in the water and vibrating
up Ereboss wrist and arms, But Erebos, you have the power to create now. Light or
Shadow, Hope or Despair, and you decide, no longer bound by your substance or
creator, only by the consequences of your decisions.

I thought I would become Enosh, and I would gain power once more over the
kingdom, that I would fulfill the contract when I took his place. This is how I
interpreted the reflection you showed me, this is how I interpreted my fate. Erebos
quoted Enoshs words, But one FLICK and all your illusions disappear in one brilliant
blinding light."

Erebos youve brought this on yourself," the river rippled simply.

With accusation Erebos seethed thinking of Enoshs hand on the lamp switch, Your
hand was the one on the switch! You were the storm, you chose her over me, just
like Enosh.

The silhouette responded with kind pity, Erebos, you broke the law, I must uphold
the law. You know you were my favorite, but I must obey. Obedience to the law
brings us freedom, and I must uphold that. With Enosh become shadow, your terms
of the contract were fulfilled. I found that the perfect way to prevent you from
destroying the heir would be to give you your reward at an inconvenient time.
Erebos, you now walk in both day and night as a man, and you may see things the
way they are and the way things should be. You may choose to make things one

Hobby
way or the other. All these freedoms are given to you so long as you obey the law of
Justice.

JUSTICE! Dont speak to me of Justice. Erebos spat in the water and stood up.

The new man paced over to a large rock. Erebos sat down on the rock. He placed his
head in one hand with his back to the river and stared at the sand dunes shifting as
the wind blew. Everything he had touched had only brought more shadow, more
darkness, more of what he had always known and loved. But now he stared at an
alien landscape with a burning sky, and he wondered.

Constance sauntered down the slope trying not to limp towards Erebos. She drank
from the river and then sat on a nearby boulder grateful to be off her painful legs
again.

Erebos continued to stare at the dunes quietly, only moving to breathe.

Everything that happened last night began to replay itself in her mind as she stared
at him. Her eyes began to well with tears of rage as the fresh memories and hurt
came back like a wall. Seeing Erebos in Enosh's trench coat made it all the harder to
control. She stood and kicked Erebos hard in the side shoving him off the rock. Then
Constance bent over to pick him up by the trench coat, but as she did so Erebos
quickly snatched the knife from her belt and slashed at her. She jumped back
unharmed but was forced to release her grip of the coat. Erebos rose to his feet
holding the knife out in one hand and adjusting the trench coat in the other.

She yelled, I looked all around up there, and I cant find him. That trench coat is the
first sign Ive seen of him. Howd you end up unconscious wearing his coat? Whatd
you do to him?!

Hes gone, Erebos said.

WHERE?!

Hobby

I dont know, he lied.

She jabbed her finger at him and shook it in the air, Youd better find him Erebos,
and quick. With that she turned around and stormed off in search of Enosh.

The new man watched her leave and then sat back down on the rock. He stayed
there watching the sand dunes for hours. The sky began to blossom like a rose. The
world of day was so much more colorful then his monochromatic night. He admired
the majesty of white clouds turned red against a bluish red desert sky. He looked at
the knife still in his hand. His fist clenched it tightly and he could feel the sweat
pooling in his palm. He saw the glint of his reflection in the knife. Making use of
what little light was left he crouched near the river and began to shave his face with
the knife.

Blood and hair mixed with the river water as he continued, cutting his self more
than once on his already burnt face.

You push much too hard Erebos, a familiar voice observed. It only takes the
gentlest touch when done properly, and its less painful.

Very true, it only took a small push to get me where I am now, didnt it? Well done,
and may I compliment you on your discretion in knowing just the right amount of
force to apply. Taking the problem and making it the solution, the new man replied
with a touch of admiration mixed with pain, what an elegant move.

Im glad to hear that There are no hard feelings? The familiar voice said with
some uncertainty.

Erebos continued shaving and said, Well let us not fool ourselves. Despite
appearances, youre very much still you and Im still me.

Hobby
Point taken, but at least you may see my point of view much better now?

Oh yes, its fascinating indeed. I SEE things in ashould I say a different light, or
just merely light? Erebos washed off the knife in the river for the last time, and
then turned to look at the familiar shadow standing on the bank of the river.

Lets not debate semantics, the familiar one replied.

Erebos threw up his arms and chuckled, Thats about all we ever seem to do! What
else would we do? Wrapping the knife up in Enoshs trench coat pocket he sighed
and continued, Anyway, Shes looking all over for you by now. I knew youd be right
here though. This is where I was inclined to be myself and I imagine we are both
going through similar adjustments.

Yes this may require a considerable adjustment for you especially Erebos. You do
not yet fully understand the full breadth of the consequences your decisions will
bring from now on. Choose wisely for every choice could become your legacy, the
familiar one warned.

You speak as one with regrettable experience in these matters. Erebos spoke
critically and felt justified in doing so after being so betrayed.

Erebos smiled. The shade that had once been Enosh the Man did not. But if Erebos
could've seen the look in Enosh's eyes he would've taken the warning much more
seriously. It was a look that was worth a thousand words, but could be summed up
in a few: "You have no idea."
THE KEY
The woman walked alone throughout the night. It was still dark when she arrived at
her destination. Enoshs house on the hill was desolate; the whole house seemed to
mourn Enoshs disappearance. Every ornament, every item, and furniture piece
seemed in a state of depression to her. Enoshs workshop was clean. She had never
seen it this clean before. The mess Enosh had made by overturning the table was
gone. The table and the two cities had been reassembled, but there were a few
changes. She pulled the broken dam from her pocket where it had been since Enosh

Hobby
had left it behind that night at the dam. She remembered how the look in his eyes
had scared her that night. After looking at the dam for a second she placed it in its
proper spot on the table. She noticed that the chapel was missing now in the model
of the city of day where the desert prevailed. The flattened colander for the rain lay
on the floor cut in half. It looked like the job of cleaning the workshop had been
abandoned to finish another time.
Had Enosh done this? Perhaps right before she saw him take the blow of the shade
lamp he had been here putting this all back together. But then she saw the leather
tube on the table next to the logbook of Enoshs predictions, and she remembered
that it had been Ereboss hands the last time she saw it; Erebos who she had just
left at the rivers edge near the dam. She had come straight here, Theres no way
he could have beat me here, she thought to herself. She opened the tube. The
contract was damp but it was safe and legible.
Perplexed she slung the leather tube across her back and after searching the rest of
the house for any sign of Enosh she set off to the Cathedral in the city. The sun was
creeping up over the horizon now, and the vegetation all began to vanish leaving
only puffs of dark smoke. The city looked different in the distance. She had been
unable to see it until the sun had risen, but the skyline was strange to her. As she
neared it became clear that the familiar spires of the Cathedral were gone, and
upon arriving at where the structure once stood she found only an empty square.
What surprised her about it were the grass and the trees. There in the middle of the
city, where the cathedral had been, was a large area covered in luscious green
grass and populated with trees. Around the outside stood a stone wall with the
stones staggered to allow passersby to see within. The large wooden door that had
been the Cathedrals entrance was now a formidable gate with the same door within
a door there. She opened up the tube once more and turned it over hoping for the
glint of brass to fall out. Only the contract slid forth from its container. The brass key
to the door within a door of Enoshs Cathedral was gone, as was the building itself.
She climbed the wall and let herself gently down inside. Tentatively, as if it might
disappear like a mirage in the desert, she stepped onto the green grass and
reached out to touch a tree. It was real. As she did so she noticed the coolness of
the air there. Looking up she saw a solitary dark cloud, which blocked the sunlight
over this square alone, and it began to rain. The rain was warm on her skin, and it
made her laugh as she had not laughed in a long time. It tickled as it trickled down
her collar and along her back. The sheer oddity of all this felt more like a dream to
her and less like reality. She could not remember a time when it had rained in the
daytime before. This was different, this was special, but she could not help the
tugging of dread in the back of her mind. Where was the Cathedral? And what was
the meaning of its disappearance? She stopped mid-step upon remembering the
missing cathedral on the workshop table.
She said to herself, Wait Erebos didnt have the contract when we were down by
the rivers edge. In fact he dropped it at the top of the dam after throwing me off.
Enosh must still be alive! He mustve picked up the contract and the tube and
brought it back to his workshop, then repaired the table and removed the cathedral
from it.

Hobby
A voice corrected her, No, I brought the contract back to the workshop, and I
removed the Cathedral. Enosh repaired as much as he could before running off to
the dam to see what would occur between Erebos and You.
Constance swung around reaching for her knife on her belt, before remembering
that Erebos had taken it. She called out, Whos there?
Just me, came a reply that felt like it had come from every direction. She turned
round and round looking for the source of the voice.
Show yourself. What do you have to hide? she demanded.
I have nothing to hide, but I have nothing to show either.
Thinking of where she was and the way the voice came from every direction she
asked, Are you God?
I see the need of a God for humanity. They have so much capability, so much
power given them for good or for evil, and yet they hardly grasp the consequences
of their decisions. And how could they? This is all so much bigger than all of them?
Tremendous events unfold over millennia, much longer than a man can live or even
foresee. Mankind stands on the shoulders of those that came before them, and
every invention, built upon the inventions before, leads mankind further along the
path which was decided by its ancestors. The longer this species continues the
more difficult it will become to deviate from the course as more and more becomes
invested in it. Every decision, as you said, matters. Decisions all have consequences
which will soon spiral out of a mans control as time passes. Little could a man know
that his seemingly innocent decision could lead to the destruction of so much in
years to come; little could he realize that a book or even a phrase could start a war.
So of course Humanity seeks a God, someone who knows where this is all going and
who with an outreaching hand will guide humanity to a destination that is beyond
their foreseeable future. Yet you trust to Gods good will that it will be Right in the
end... Yes Constance there is certainly a need now for such a being as there always
has been a need that such a being exists, but I am not such a being. You may say
that I am a creation of said being, an observer with swift judgment to act in behalf
of the law and ensure that decisions meet consequences as is the law of the
Universe. Although I wonder if God is not subject to such an observer as I; perhaps
the God who you Hope watches over your people with mercy must also obey the
laws of the Universe: Decision and Consequence, or in other words, Justice. I am the
waters of truth and Justice. I show one man what his failing decisions will cause him
to become, and to another I show him what his successes will make him.
She began to notice a faint silhouette in the rain. It was almost indiscernible from
the rest of the downpour. It was a hollow spot where rain should be but wasnt.
Something was there. She remembered the river and what she saw in its reflection.
The waters here had always been special it seemed.
You gave me the contract when I nearly drowned in the river, she said
Yes, came the monosyllabic reply

Hobby
And that wasnt really water damage on the contract where it used to say Witness
was it? Thats how you signed it; you were the witness of the contract between
Erebos and Enosh.
Yes, the silhouette replied
She pulled the bent pen out of her pocket that had run dry. Was this you? Did you
fix it after I threw it in the river?
Yes.
And two nights ago at the top of the dam you were helping me reach the tower
werent you? You were guiding the wave and the storm?
Yes, was the final affirmation.
And now you have turned the Cathedral into this park in the city? she asked.
No. Enosh, and Erebos have done this... Erebos cast the Cathedral into shadow,
henceforth it will only appear at night. Enosh gave power over the city and its
people to you. When Enosh was the ruler, he was not in control of himself. It rained
at night because of the life he lived and the choices he made. You are Hope and
strength. By giving you the power Enosh ensured the law and justice would be on
your side, and so now the waters of truth and justice rain in the day, the silhouette
in the rain explained.
She asked yet another question, Why only here though; why only at the square
where the cathedral once stood?
The silhouette said, Youre the ruler. You tell me.
Youre serious? she asked in disbelief.
There was no answer except the soft pattering of rain on leaves.
She sighed, looked up, felt the rain on her face, and answered her own question, It
only rains here because this is the place where Enosh and I first met. This is where
he came for answers, and his Hope, which is me, is the reason it rains in the day.
And thus Enosh, through me, has brought life back to this spot where he found
Hope.
Exactly, you are the key to the Hope for this city, a brass key seemed to appear
before Constance in the silhouettes outstretched hand, and here is the key to the
heart of this city.
It was the brass key that opened the door to the cathedralwell now it was the key
that opened the door to the park. She made a sign and nailed it up over the gate.
The sign was made of wood bleached white by long hours of baking in the sun, and
it read The Heart of the City.
A NEW MAN

Hobby

Erebos left the river quite satisfied with his self. A clean shave and he felt better
already. He felt like a new man. New man indeed, he chuckled. He arrived at the
home Enosh and he had shared for quite some time now. He ducked behind a
treelike shadow upon seeing the woman exiting the house. He peered out from the
shadows until she was well away, and then he made his way to the door. He went
inside leaving the door wide open and the night in. He went down to Enoshs
workshop and looked around.
What a peculiar man Enosh had been! He had been down here before but the
workshop was new every time he came. There was always some unfinished
experiment or something going on. As soon as Enosh finished one project he
immediately began another it seemed. Erebos could not recall a time when the
workshop had looked this clean or this organized. He sat on the couch in the corner.
It felt good to sit he thought. He heard creaking boards upstairs. The woman must
be back already, he thought. The new man in the trench coat went upstairs hoping
to shock her.
He opened the door and stepped into his old friend, the darkness. A Figure of
shadow brushed past him. He began to think he shouldnt have left the door open.
Erebos, are you ready to let go? Youve been fighting against this your whole
existence, but do you really want to go down as the villain of your story? Is that how
you want to be remembered? You could be the hero rising from the ashes of your
former self. You could be a phoenix bringing light to the people in darkness. What
poetic redemption it would be! The creature of darkness, became mortal, and the
mortal creature that had only known darkness and death in days past brought light
and life instead. The voice of the Figure spoke to him.
You chose her to bring them light, and you denied me the right and the
responsibility to rule. I owe the people nothing, because you think me incapable of
bringing anything but darkness, Erebos accused the shade.
Then prove me wrong!! The voice demanded.
Erebos was sick and tired of these games, You wanted me to try well I did I went
to the dam that special night. I did it to prove to you that I was willing to try and
you knew that all I wanted was for you to believe in me. You USED THAT to put a
divide between the waters and I. You USED ME to become ruler so you could put her
in charge. YOU USED ME! You believe in her So no, Im not ready to let go. Ill
crush your precious Hope and then Ill rule this place.
If youre going to blame someone for your problems make sure to never exclude
yourself. What is it that you want Erebos? the voice asked that most difficult of
questions.

Hobby
Erebos paused for a minute, I want the world to give me everything because I
deserve it, and then I want to throw it all back in their face because I dont need it.
Then you are lost in the darkness youve created, the shadow of Enosh sighed and
walked back out through the open door vanishing in the light of dawn.
Erebos scowled. That man that shadow always seemed to get the last word in,
didnt he? Then Erebos realized how depressing it was that the only person from
whom he wanted approval hated and despised him for who he was. He headed into
the city. Enoshs words haunted him the whole way.
The new man headed to the Cathedral. He already knew that he wouldnt find it in
the day, but he was hoping to find the woman weeping there. As he turned the
corner he clenched his fists and stared at the trees in the park, real trees. Worst of
all, it was raining in the day now. The scales are tipping in her favor, he muttered.
He walked over to the gate of the park and yanked on the door to pull it open. It was
locked to him.
Constance opened a small latch and peeked out through the opening on a hinge.
The only sound that escaped her lips was, Oh. She closed the opening before
Erebos could speak. Erebos waited expecting her to open the door, but she never
did. Frustrated he pounded on the door.
Finally Constance yelled, What? after nearly ten minutes of pounding.
Erebos struggled to compose himself. He was more than a little angry with her, but
he tried to speak calmly or else he knew that she would only ignore him. Theres
something thats been bothering me Enosh haunts me, even after his death I
need closure We should hold a funeral at dawn.
In disbelief she asked, We??? YOU want to hold a funeral at dawn?
Dawn is the end of the night and the beginning of the day. Funerals should always
be at dawn, especially those that promise a brighter tomorrow for the deceased,
he reasoned.
But a funeral at dawn?! Who will come? The people arent out in the day. Who will
preach with Enosh Gone? She had a whole list of reasons why this wouldnt work
but he didnt let her finish.
I will preach the sermon!! There was a pause, and then after lowering his voice
again, and you are welcome to attend. I used to preach at night to the shades you
know, he said matter-of-factly and added, Im well qualified.
But you also killed him! You cant preach at his funeral! Constance yelled.

Hobby
Having no response for this he continued despite. Having his heart set on a funeral
at dawn, no amount of objections would interrupt his plans now. Well the shades
may want to pay their respects as well, so well need to continue the viewing into
the night
She listened to him in disgust, as he rattled off the necessities and plans.
Of course it will have to be closed coffin though, he finished.
Interested she asked, Why?
As if it was obvious, Theres no body, he replied.
SO YOU HAVENT FOUND HIM!?!?! She screamed. I told you to...
Again he interrupted her, You need to let Enosh go. He has chosen his path; you
need to follow the path Enosh laid before you. This funeral is your chance to start.
Find him, the womans voice behind the door said resolutely.
Why is it my responsibility to find him? Erebos asked as if this was an unfair
assignment.
She opened the door and came out so quickly that Erebos was caught off guard. She
seemed much taller now than as he remembered her when he was a Figure of
shadow. She was still shorter than him and so in order to get in his face she had to
rise up on the edges of her feet. But it had the desired effect as Erebos leaned back
despite himself.
She said in a calm but firm tone, Erebos, Im in charge now and one thing were
going to change is that people are going to start taking responsibility for their
actions so people like Enosh dont have to. You killed him; you find him. With that
she yanked the knife Erebos had taken out of the old trench coats pocket, and
stepped back inside the park.
Ereboss pride caught up with him and he tried to storm after her but she slammed
the door shut, locking it in his face.
She slid the knife back into its harness and walked away with Erebos pounding on
the gate once more.
TO SUCH AN END
Constance walked on in the park and when she was out of hearing range of the new
man she fell down and began to weep. Enosh is gone, kept playing itself over and
over in her mind. She knew that the man outside that gate was not Enosh, but she
had to keep telling herself that. She couldnt tell when Erebos woke up and his face

Hobby
was covered in wild hair, but now that he was clean shaven she could see that it
was Enoshs face even though it was horribly burned. She had gotten within inches
of his face to be certain of it. This scared her. She was rarely afraid but this was
different. Enoshs body was nowhere to be found and she feared that Erebos might
be wearing it. If thats what it took for a shade to come back then what had
happened atop the dam wasnt the answer to the problem of the city. She couldnt
bring the shades back if it meant placing them in other peoples bodies.
The tears were cool as a gentle breeze blew through the park, and it began to get
dark and it began to rain. Constance, a gentle voice came through the rain.
She sobbed on. Her tears mixed with rainwater on her cheek and she quoted, I will
weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, for I will not be comforted.
The sun could not be seen over the Horizon now, but a few lazy rays of light still
shone across the sky. The darkness deepened as night approached.
Now you see, now you know. Seeing is not believing, seeing is not even knowing.
Seeing is only what the mind interprets it to be, or even what the soul yearns it to
be. What the soul and the mind desire might be yearned into sight, though it be
nonexistent. Mirages, shadows, and visions in the night are such. The soul is the
master and the mirage is subservient to it. What is seen is subject to the viewer, for
two viewers of the same event may have varying reports of what occurred. Now I
am the shadow; I am the vision in the night; I am the seen. I desire to know: What is
the viewers report? The familiar voice asked her.
She stopped sobbing and looked about. That was a real voice in her ears not like the
voice of the silhouette that traveled through the rain.
The rain vibrated and spoke, Your intentions, noble though they may have seemed
were selfish to the core. You desired to find a way for a shadow to become man, not
to restore the shades and the city to its former glory, but to rescue yourself from
your dark fate. Oft a wicked man will give up everything to save his own skin. Such
deathbed repentance is not true sincerity of heart. Oft an unbeliever such as you
will strive vainly for redemption when faced with his own fate, and so you were
willing to try the impossible to save your skin. Brave, but not without precedent.
Now you see that you are and were as dark and loathsome as your fate has made
you. The silhouette in the rains voice all around her was directed at this familiar
voice and not at her. Enosh, oh Enosh, what are we to do with you? I want to
condemn you for your mistakes but I pity you for them. I want to redeem you or see
you redeemed by the sacrifices youve made on behalf of Constance and the
people, but those sacrifices were often selfishexcept one. One last great sacrifice
on your part.
The familiar voice began to speak back, I didnt come here to speak with you,
silhouette, but since you bring up motives, lets talk about yours. Youre not devoid
of selfish motives, not entirely the unbiased executor of Justice you made yourself
out to be, are you? From where I am now I can remember things that happened in
places and in times where I never lived; Things that Iwell that Enosh never saw or
heard, but things that only the Figure of Shadow could know. You dont take sides?

Hobby
But you do play favorites. To one you show leniency and to another harsh
punishment. Punishment deserved Ill grant you, but without consideration of mercy
or possibilities of reform or redemption.
The silhouette didnt respond.
The new Figure of Shadow continued boldly, You see Ive been thinking, and Im not
sure you represent the waters of truth and justice at all. Youre always dry. Youre
the spot where it doesnt rain. The emptiness in the middle of truth and justice can
only be the lack of it. Youre the imperfection in a good rain, which makes the whole
thing at best imperfect. I think the rain is your prison, not your domain. Youre
trapped in the waters of justice and truth. Its your punishment for eternity, not your
blessing. The waters bring joy and happiness and warmth to the righteous; they are
cold and painful and horrifying to those full of regrets. Maybe youve gotten yourself
mixed up in there so long youre beginning to think youre the one pulling the
strings. EnoshI mean I I didnt get that contract witnessed by a silhouette in the
rain. I didnt recognize you when you came to me. I had it witnessed by the water in
the river. Maybe youre the mouthpiece for the waters or something, but youre just
another lost soul given a calling from on high then. No matter how far you come
youre still just another lost soul who needed redemption, and if I were you Id
remember where you began. There is power in redemption and rebirth, even for me,
even for them. And the Figure of Enoshs Shadow pointed to the city all around.
And suddenly it stopped raining. The last bit of light had died. The ground began to
shake; the trees began to flicker and phase out of existence as a Cathedral phased
in all around them. Constance was kneeling on the floor in the aisle and Enosh was
standing there with shadows swirling about his form. His body was almost
impossible for Constance to see. He was as dark as Erebos had been when he had
been the Figure of shadow.
Constance ran and collided with Enosh with open arms. She wrapped her arms
around him now crying tears of joy.
Enosh, was all she managed to say.
Enosh placed his hands on her cheeks as she held him, Listen you must use Erebos
to Figure out how to return the shades to their forms. He must be reformed if
possible. Its important research even if we cant replicate the process exactly. We
can use this information to understand the transformation.
Theres naught but despair and darkness in him. How can any good come of it?
Erebos is rotten to the core. Its what he feeds off of that makes him that way. To
expect him to be anything but a villain is folly, she shook her head rejecting the
notion of Ereboss reformation.
Enosh cast his eyes down, I want to believe that good can come of evil.
Believe it not, Constance simply replied.

Hobby
Im afraid that he defines me. That a man can only shine as bright as his shadow. I
dont want to be remembered for my shadow, the new Figure of shadow mourned.
You wont be, she comforted, Im sure of it.
Oh my Hope, what are we doing and to what end? To what end? the Figure of
shadow questioned.
To such an end, she said knowing the rhyme well.
An end of what? he asked.
The end of whatever it is youre doing, she laughed, Everything ends.
Even potatos? he asked jokingly.
Even potatos. Came her answer.
Old people?
Especially old people, she said with sorrow.
Why doesnt guilt end then?
Why doesnt pain end then?
Why doesnt death, sadness, and corruption end?
Wheres the end of lies? he asked with sorrow as he stared at the stained glass
windows and the dark Figures moving without.
There is such an end, she promised.
Well there had better be
To think we could travel through a life heading to no such end would just be
depressing.
That is why there must be an end to it. Because not having such an end would just
be unbearable,
How will it end? she asked with tears welling in her eyes.
What End? He asked knowing full well what she meant.
She hit him in the chest with one of her arms and said the next line of the old poem.
The end of death, of pain, of sorrow, of guilt, of bloodshed, of whoredoms. The end
of everything wrong and of everything wrong.
Ahhh
Such an end,
It will end unexpectedly leaving you wondering what comes next and waiting for the
hint of a glint of something unending, and so we head to such an end, He
concluded.

Hobby
WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH
There was a knock at the cathedral door. Enosh without looking asked the woman to
go and open it politely. He knew the shades would be coming to hear the Figure of
Shadow preach as they always did at night. He hadnt prepared a sermon for
tonight, but years of experience had taught him that it was to best to preach from
the heart. The shades filed in slowly and almost drudgingly. What beaten and
dreadful souls they had become! Enoshs heart went out to them. As a man he had
been unable to help them and he wandered if there was anything he could do now.
He was only one manor had been only one man. He had tried anyway. Now that
he was the Figure of Shadow, the feared leader of the shades, he wondered if he
could do anything to lift their souls. Constance took a seat in the front of the
congregation, Enosh walked to the pulpit, and a hush came over the congregation.
Enosh began, The beauty of this world and the ugly of this world belongs to us:
the makers of our world. So why do we allow our world to fade into darkness? Why
do we allow a few wicked men to trample us down? Why do we like scared cattle
flee from a few mighty men? Know ye not that mightier are they that are with us
than are with them? Know ye not that might by right is stronger? Do we lack the
capacity to take control? No not for lack of capacity my friends.
The people looked at each other casting confused looks. The Figure of shadow had
never called them his friends before.
The Figure at the pulpit continued, Not for lack of materials, not for lack of time
either, but for lack of vision. For it is written: Where there is no vision the people
perish. And certainly here, the people have perished, in endless consumption. They,
like leeches of their own creations have become selfish. They lost sight of the
frontier, ever there has been a frontier. They forgot where the next challenge, the
next hurdle lay, and their eyes turned inward, focusing on self fulfillment and self
actualization, an appetite which shall never be filled though they consume
everything. It must not be fed or it will only gain strength like a fire. A flame when
fed does not grow satisfied, but merely grows hungry.
Mankind is on a quest though it has lost its way: A quest, to improve its station for
the next generation. This has always been and must always be. If it were not so the
unnumbered stars would cease to burn, the world would cease to spin, vanity and
rust would set into mens bones as they lay in contentment. Sweet poisonous
contentment, which cannot quench, theyd drink it in. Drink it by the gallon until
their bellies burst and death overcomes them all.
Better it is to go on, go on, and on in the quest. If only they could regain the vision
of their purpose, they could build, oh the things they could build.
The foreman is come to the site, the materials prepared, and the equipment oiled
and running but there are no men to work. Where has the electrician gone, where is
the driller gone, where is the driver of the bulldozer, where is the layer of pipes, and
the welder? Where is the manual labor? Where have the men who work with their
hands gone? Gone? No they are not gone, they are here but the zeal is gone out of
them. They are in their beds. Sores cover them who sleep too long in front of their

Hobby
televisions and computer screens. They have had their vision replaced with the
worlds vision on these screens aglow. They have eyes that glow. They have made
these eyes, but they cannot make them see. Give them vision, give them purpose, I
pray. It is for them to see, it is for them to see, it is there, it is right there. It is for
them to see, and none can show. But LOOK and be saved.
And what is there to see? Oh that I could show it to you my people! The wonders of
the world, the beauty of kindness, the suppleness of charity, the dimensions of love,
there is so much to see, my people. See that it is not good for man to be idle. Why
wait to do what you know must be done? Why wait for payment to work? If you work
hard, payment will come. Why seek boredom and idleness? Ask yourself why so as
not to waste your time. Ask yourself how so as to gain vision. Ask yourself
questions. Think for yourself or others will think for you. Make your own decisions or
others will make them for you. You must give to others or no one will. You must
serve others or no one will. You must love others or no one will.
I cannot lead you my people. For he that is led has no need to see where he is
going. He that is led does not know the path he walks. We are to be a nation of
leaders, of thinking visionary men and women. Within each of you is the capacity for
this. Do not tell me you are weak. Do not tell me you cannot. Do not tell me you
dont know how. Know that you are strong; know that you can; know that you are
courageous.
The shades in the congregation stood up and applauded the message. They began
to cheer. Enosh had given better sermons before, but this was the best one the
Figure of Shadow had ever given. Enosh came down and shook hands with the
shades as they left. Many of them smiled and nodded approval at him as they
walked out into the night.
Constance was happy too. She tried not to give any thought to the funeral that
would begin at dawn. This was a triumphant night and she wanted it to end that
way.
A FUNERAL AT DAWN
As the last shade left and the sun began to rise yet again over the city, she asked
Enosh, How exactly did this happen to the people? What caused them all to
become the way they are?
Before he could answer the building began to shake and the Cathedral began to
fade out of existence, just as it had phased in with the coming of the night. In its
place the park and the trees of the previous day phased in. Constances sign The
Heart of the City still hung over the gate. The sun rose. It didnt begin to rain as
much as it continued to rain, as if it had been raining all night. Thats funny, she
thought, There were no rain drops on the roof of the Cathedral or outside when it
was night. And yet something in her knew that it hadnt stopped raining, because
the Silhouette began to answer the question she had just asked.

Hobby
It was a disease of the spirit, a pandemic of harsh immorality, injustice, and
corruption. It spread breaking spirit after spirit. It extinguished hope and virtue like
a flood. Once it began they could find no cure.
How did it begin? she asked it.
It began when they created the Figure of Shadow. The people are to blame.
A few men can cause so much harm, perhaps the ruler that Erebos was the shadow
for. They arent all to blame surely, she said rejecting the notion.
If a few wicked men cause all the wrongs of society, why dont the righteous push
out the bringers of evil? Why dont the many overpower the few causing harm?
They are indecisive, weak and in many respects they are not that different from the
ones causing harm. Only one or two properties separate them. They are all corrupt
and none deserve the gifts offered them. People complain about their situation and
their trials but theyve brought them upon themselves!
Constances eyes narrowed as she replied, How can you be so cold hearted? Its
not always that black and white, everybody makes mistakes certainly, but
sometimes people are victimized by others with the intention and the power to
cause harm. How can you say that so much pain and suffering caused by a few bad
people can be the fault of the good and righteous or even the indecisive ones who
have the capability to stop the evil? How can they share blame for choices they
never made?
The hole in the rain, the silhouette in the rain answered, Choosing not to act is a
choice in itself first of all. Secondly, the ruler must understand that she is
responsible for the results of her actions on the people. The ruler must understand
that her people are powerful, and that their decisions organized or unorganized will
have consequential effects on the rulers kingdom. The ruler will be held responsible
for these too, even though the people brought them about. People are selfish, and
chaos will lead to selfishness abound. Each person acting in his own best interest, to
what each feels is most important to accomplish. They will fight for it, but not very
hard unless they really want it, because they are selfish and it is difficult. They will
take the easiest path that leads to their best interest. Only by changing their
selfishness; only by giving them charity will the world change. Then People will fight
for others; they will die for what they believe will make the world better. Even when
they fail people will honor them because they were fighters to the death.
She listened and smiled out of the corner of her mouth, Im surprised. That last
part almost sounded positive maybe even hopeful. Sadly, I must point out, peoples
lives and their motivations are much more complex. Lets say that there is a man
with a family. He is not particularly wealthy, but he and his family have just a little
more than they need to survive. They use what little extra they have to try and
make a better profit to advance their position and their living standards. This is
acceptable in society. The man passes by a solitary homeless man everyday on his
way to work. The homeless man has no family. He has no one to care for and he
sleeps in the gutter. He is not handicapped. He is dirty, in his mid forties, but he is
capable. He could get a job, not a very good one, and not without considerable

Hobby
effort. Maybe all he needs is a helping hand, maybe if someone would just open a
door for him he would go through it and improve his living standard. But the man
with only a little more than he needs, gives him nothing. He notices the man but
drives by; he has a family to feed and to think about. If something were to happen
to him they could be without money for a few months or maybe longer. They might
lose the house, and the little extra money they have could be necessary for taking
care of his children. It would be irresponsible of him to donate that security to a
stranger. The man has a duty to his family. Why should he be the one who lends a
helping hand to the homeless stranger? Arent there other wealthier people in the
city who can take care of the homeless stranger? Is he justified for keeping the
money for his family? Is it selfishness?
The silhouette let her finish patiently and then responded, You look for a loop hole.
Without love the people will destroy themselves. Without charity this city will
crumble and decay. If they do not give help to each other then they will receive
none, and they all so desperately need it. You cant sacrifice even a little bit,
because its all important. You cant compromise or else youll lose the most
important thing, which is everything. And if you dont save everything, then youve
gained nothing. It has to be all or nothing. These are your words. Society cannot
leave anyone behind if they are to gain everything they desire. That man could
spare a little time to counsel the homeless man and help him out in some way
besides money. Charity doesnt need to be money, sometimes it just has to be
showing a little love.
Constance saw a man carrying a large wooden coffin. Erebos held the coffin over his
head and walked to the gate of the park. The park was full of beautiful greenery in
the day. The dirty city around it decayed in the hot baking sunlight. Constance
looked Erebos in the eye through the small viewing hole. She saw only the look of a
man come to pay his last respects. She opened the door and invited him into the
park. Remember, youre a guest here and the rain is on my side now, She
reminded him.
Hours later, in a light downpour near the East end of the park Erebos began his
Eulogy with Constance as the only attendee.
Enosh was the kind of man who believed that people were generally good. He was
the kind of man who ran even when he knew it was too far. He was the kind of man
who seized power by right and not by might. He was the kind of man who thought
that one man could make a difference. He was the kind of man who fools
underestimate. He was the kind of man who builds when others tear down. He was
the kind of man who appreciated the struggle and the strength he found by it. I am
reminded of the words of Paul to the Romans
Constance was experiencing a mix of confused states of emotion. She knew that
even though Enosh was dead, he or a part of him was still around in the Figure of
Shadow she had seen last night. She was sad and indifferent at the same time.
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God...

Hobby

She looked to the coffin, but she stared at Erebos.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the
same office: So we, being many, are one body
She was angry, so very angry with him that she wanted to kill him for what he had
done to Enosh. Her fingers ran along the handle of the knife at her side.
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or
he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he
that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love
be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good
This man wore Enoshs face and she couldnt help it, but she knew that part of her
would refuse to stab that body, to slit that throat on the neck that held up that face.
She stared at that face, the face of beloved Enosh that Erebos had stolen.
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing
to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you:
bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that
weep
She stared realizing that hate and loathe Erebos as she did, Enosh was right. She
had to let him live at least for now, but mostly she just stared.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if
thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt
heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with
good.
She just stared, and over Ereboss shoulders she saw something move in the
distance.
On the rooftop across the street along the park there was something alive. It was
high noon and there was something alive and moving. Could it be a pigeon, a real
one? She saw a blonde mop of curly hair atop a small head pop up over the parapet
and peer down at the park. It was a person.
She could barely make it out but there was another human being in the city, besides
Erebos and her. Well, Ereboss humanity is up for debate, Constance thought to
herself. She shouted, Hey and started walking in the direction of the human.
The face quickly disappeared below the parapet.
She sprinted to the fence and clambered over it. Dropping to the ground on the
other side she broke into a run. She came in the front door of the building just as a
young boy was running down the stairs. Seeing him she asked Who are you? He
bolted back up the stairs now that his ground floor exit was blocked. She yelled

Hobby
after him WAIT! Stop, I need to talk to you. He paid no attention to her and so she
chased him up the stairs. The boy was young, maybe eleven years old, and he was
fast. He reached the roof. She stayed by the door on the roof hoping she had him
trapped, but he didnt stop running and jumped from this roof to a slightly lower one
across the alley.
She started from the doorway, afraid to lose him. She jumped, easily clearing the
gap, but the boy wasnt stopping. He was already running down the stairs of this
abandoned building. She followed him down, but the jump from one roof to the next
had brought back the pain of her freshly healed leg, injured in the fight with Erebos.
By the time she got downstairs and outside, he was nowhere to be seen.
She yelled, I just want to talk! Come back! She cursed when she realized he
wasnt coming back. Why had he run? Who was he? She hadnt seen anyone in the
day except Enosh for a long time. And this boy was young, too young to have been
surviving in some secret place since the last time there had been a person besides
Enosh.
Erebos was staring at her now from behind the park fence, his tattered, sun
bleached bible still open in his hands.
Thanks for the help, Erebos, she said panting.
Shall I continue then? he asked.
Dont you want to know who that boy was? Where he came from?
Why? He laughed, Are you going to tell me where little boys and girls come
from?
Fine, continue your Eulogy, and she limped back into the park. This time she
walked around to the gate. She paid little attention to the rest of the Eulogy. Instead
she scanned the rooftops and alleys for that boy, but she saw no other signs of him.
Truth is, Erebos was greatly interested in the young boy, but he had no intentions of
showing it to the woman. He had become very adept at hiding exactly what he was
thinking or feeling. Certainly, on occasion, he had to admit that he had allowed his
passions to overcome him and to reveal too much, but for the most part he tried to
maintain his false face of jovialness.
Upon finishing his eulogy, he cleared his throat and crouched down next to the
grave they had dug together. The simple wooden coffin rested on the ropes over the
hole. Erebos reached out with one hand and grabbed a handful of dirt. He weighed
it in his hand, and then poured it into the other palm thoughtfully. He weighed it
again in the other hand, and poured the dirt back into the other palm. Finally he
looked at Constance and asked her, Do you really think one man can make a
difference?
Yes I do, she answered.

Hobby
Erebos divided the dirt into both hands and weighed it for balance, What is meant
when one says that one man can make a difference? Is it not that one man can
make a significant impact on the grander scheme of things? What can one man do?
Alone, without guidance or help, one man is practically useless. What can he build
that will last forever? What can he make that cannot be unmade? Man is so
insignificant and small, his lifespan so short, how can he hope to do anything
meaningful alone? In truth one man could not do such a thing, not in one lifetime
and certainly not alone. In history one mans words or example could spark
inspiration and revolution, but then he did not stand alone, for they joined his
cause. The minds of many were swayed to action by one. One man made a
difference and changed the world because the world or at least a part of it joined
him. One man cannot make a difference even when he thinks to do it alone,
because all his life he has been raised and taught by the examples of others. One
man is nothing, the individual does not exist. There are only people who think of
themselves as independent; who think of themselves as individual. To think that you
got where you are due to your own skills, your own talents, or that you dont need
others, is a lie. Mankind has never accomplished anything alone. They are only as
strong as each other and as the giants whose shoulders they stand on. So, can one
man really make a difference?
Constance crouched down across the coffin from Erebos and spoke to him on his
level, Yes, one man can be the difference between war and peace. One man can be
the difference between freedom and captivity. One man may tip the scales one way
or the other in every struggle. This world is full of scales and balances, and the
decisions of mortal men and where they choose to make their stand will decide
which side prevails. I believe that when someone says, One man can make a
difference it is meant to remind us that although we are only strong as a group;
although we rely on those who came before, we also cannot forget the individual, or
the individuals responsibility. We cannot forget the one man who could be the
difference between victory and failure. Yes one man can make a difference but there
are restrictions. If one man wishes to make a significant difference in circumstances,
he must persuade others to his cause, as you said. The reason this is still considered
one man making a difference is because he is tipping a scale in the minds of the
people to act one way or the other. Even though he is only one man, he may be the
ONLY man to stand when others would do nothing. He may be the ONLY man to
strive when others surrender. He may be the ONLY man who brings hope when
others despair. He may be the ONLY man who has the guidance the people need.
The one man who makes a stand lets others know that they are not alone even if
its ONLY one man who stands up for them, and that does make a difference.
Erebos adjusted the weight of the dirt in his right hand by pouring some of it into
the other, And if he stands alone? What then? If none rise to stand beside him, if
the world combines against him, and all he said and made is destroyed, did he
make a difference?
Yes, even then. Constance answered with a confidence that could withstand the
centuries, Although it may not have been the difference he hoped for. It was a
difference between nothing and something. They may wipe him and his creations
from the earth, but his memory will be burned in their minds and they cannot forget
him, nor can they forget what they did to him, though they should try. And the

Hobby
world will be better for this, that one man scorned and covered in scars, still strove
with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star. Do not these words
ring true within you? The memory of Enosh will haunt you just as the memories of
his mistakes haunted him.
Erebos groaned and fell to his knees. The hands filled with dirt lashed out for the
coffin, spilling dirt across the lid, he leaned back and with one hand he clutched his
chest as if he could wrap his fingers around his heart. He sunk his head.
Constance came to his side and tried to help him. He seemed in great pain. He
shook her off and rose to his feet, staggering away. The sun was beginning to go
down. Had it really been a whole day already? It had taken a long time to dig the
grave and Erebos had done most of it. There had only been one shovel but when
she tried to take her turn, he never let her dig for very long, and it had taken its toll
on him, she supposed. He wouldve dug the whole grave without her, had she let
him. The simple coffin lay there silently, over the grave on strong taut ropes.
Constance watched Erebos walking through the park with his hand still clutching his
chest. She wondered if his pain was entirely physical though. Perhaps he really does
need to bury Enosh. She was worried for him despite everything.
THE COFFIN
As the Sun descended and the night arose, the Cathedral phased back into
existence, replacing the trees and park once more. The park and the cathedral
occupied the same space, but one only appeared at night and the other only
appeared in the day. It had been this way ever since Erebos had used the shade
lamp atop the dam and its beam had struck the Cathedral. The young boy from his
loft down the street watched it happen.
Ereboss heart ached, and his hands shook. He hated that she was right. She
reminded him so much of Enosh; the way she talked, the way she walked, and the
way she made him feel like she could see right through him. As the Cathedral began
to phase in, he headed to the gates. He pulled them open just as the night came,
but the shades were already at the gates waiting to enter the Cathedral. He was
between the night without and the darkness of the Cathedral within, and the shades
all took a step back and gaped when they saw him. In the Cathedral behind him, the
woman Constance began dragging the coffin to a better location for the viewing.
Not all of the shades attended the nightly mass. The others that Constance and
Enosh had been taking to the dam were a few who didnt follow the Figure of
Shadow and who shared Enoshs sentiments. A large throng of hundreds of shades
was gathered around the Cathedral tonight.
Shadows and shades whispered to each other unanswered questions. Ereboss
body, the mans face, illuminated by the darkness, was well known to the people. It
was well known to the shades for it was the face of their beloved preacher in the
day, Enosh. It had been so long since they had seen him at the cathedral, and then
there was the funeral that they were supposed to be attending tonight. How could
he be here, now, alive?

Hobby
So many questions in the crowd, there were no hands to be raised, there was no
organization to a crowd where everyone wanted answers and wanted them now. I
thought he was dead? Where have you been Enosh? What happened to your
skin?
Erebos did what he had always done so well. He lied and played the part the world
had given him. All in good time my people. I have discovered the one responsible
for the dark shroud of fear we live in, the one who has brought darkness to this land
and to my people, and I know a way for us to be rid of it. We can only be free from
these bonds of darkness that swarm about your souls if we rise up together and kill
the immortal Constance.
There was a murmur and a wave of confused looks spreading throughout the crowd,
But shes been working with you to bring us back to the the truth, a quicker
voice in the crowd observed.
Yes it is true that I was working with her, but I assure you that had I known her true
intentions I would have struck her down before it grew too late. For you see she has
deceived us all. The Cathedral is shrouded in darkness, even now, from the
darkness of the lamp atop the dam tower. She has taken the beacon and turned it
into a weapon. When I discovered her plot to completely darken what was left of the
city it was too late to save the Cathedral, and when I confronted herwell she
sabotaged the dam and the tower as to prevent anyone from undoing the harm she
had already done. The dam, which we had so long hoped would prove our salvation,
is in ruins. She has demolished the only hope of rescue from this darkness. If we are
to build again, we must destroy her.
Cries of outrage and distress arose from the crowd. How is this possible!? This is
your fault Enosh! What are we going to do?! KILL HER!
The man with Enoshs face raised his hand to call attention from the people. They
obeyed and once again allowed him to speak. All of them respected the man who
had come to their city so long ago to help them. He had sacrificed so much for
them. Many of them had continued to attend the Figure of Shadows sermons out of
fear of the consequences for not attending, and they were all incapable of attending
the sermons Enosh had given in the day. The citys walls had heard them and the
city felt happier for it though. A few of them, a very few, had been brave enough to
help out at the dam, and it was a great blow to them all that the dam had been so
demolished after all that work.
These burns on my body are from the explosion she caused at the dam. I was
spared only by the mighty waters, the one from whom we draw our power. Even
now I realize that the river only spared me so that I might be redeemed before my
people, that I might warn you of the great harm one as powerful as Constance
wishes to enact upon us. I am no longer fit to rule you, my people, for I have failed
you I have allowed myself to be deceived and in doing so have put you all in great
danger. I will step down and allow another, more capable than I, to rule. With that
the man turned to go back inside the Cathedral and closed the door behind him, but
stopped with a crack in the door open.

Hobby
Again the crowd was in uproar. Good riddance She deceived us all Enosh! We
are to blame. We need your guidance. Dont leave us. Wait!
Behind the door the man smiled, but only for a brief moment. His face became
ragged and tired, forlorn and melancholy as he returned to face his people. The
people became still and quiet, holding their breath. They hung upon his every
movement. The moments before he spoke seemed an eternity of anticipation. My
children, how could I ever leave you? I desire only to do your will. What would you
have me do?
A man stepped forward. Take us to this Constance, and we will fight for you!
No, the man who looked like Enosh said, and the people looked at each other
confused again. No, not for me my children; for YOU, you will fight for you, your
wives, and your children that you may be free! And from the ruins of the dam we
shall build anew!
A cheer surged through the people and the crowd. Erebos smiled from behind
Enoshs face. He opened the doors wide to the Cathedral within and yelled There
she is my people! Seize her!
From the back of the crowd Heph looked at Samuel, eyes wide and mouth agape as
the full extent of what this meant dawned on his dark brain. SAM! Weve got to do
something to help her! But the crowd was too thick, and with no way through the
throngs of people to help Constance, both of them dashed away.
Oh God, what are we going to do! Samuel exclaimed as they ran.
Hephaeston looked back at Samuel, Listen Sam, weve done a lot of stupid things
in our lives. I always sort of hoped that all those stupid things would somehow add
up to mean I dont know just a little bit more than nothing. Ive never done
anything selfless and maybe its cause I never felt like I could make much of a
difference, but THIS this may be the most important thing well ever do even if it
means weve got to ask the Figure of Shadow for help. Hes the only one wholl
stand up to Enosh. I dont know whats gotten into Enosh, but the Figure of Shadow
will want to spoil anything hes up to.
So whats the plan?
We run until we find the Figure of Shadow and hope the mob doesnt kill us too.
Were gonna die.
Back at the cathedral Constance looked up from her place next to the coffin. She
had just moved it to the center aisle in front of the pulpit in anticipation of Enoshs
sermon this night. She saw the crowd rushing towards her led by Erebos. She knew
she was powerless against so many, but there was nowhere to run.
Erebos commanded the people, Place her in the coffin she had thought to bury me
in.

Hobby

She looked at Erebos as she was forced inside the coffin. There was no cry from her
lips, there were no tears, and there was no fear. She just stared at Erebos the
unblinking, unflinching stare of an angry woman. He didnt want to see her face so
he had them put the lid on. They marched the coffin with Constance in it back
outside and slammed the door. The cathedral was quiet, dark, and still now. Only
the sounds of a mob getting quieter and quieter could be heard without.
BREAK ME IN PIECES
After about fifteen minutes the door was opened once more and in strode the Figure
of Shadow that Enosh had become. It noticed the coffin was gone and that there
was no one here. Behind it stood the small by comparison shades of Heph and
Samuel.
It spoke in a booming voice of darkness, Where did they take her?!
um weer dont know my lord, Heph stuttered
The Figure of Shadow paced to the altar and back. It was trying to think back to the
memories of Erebos when he had been the Figure. Where would he take her? The
Figure of Shadow arrived at the correct conclusion just as a brick flew through a
stained glass window high overhead. Erebos would of course like to gloat now that
he had her and would want Enosh to accept defeat. So, as Enosh had concluded, he
would take her to wherever Enosh was.
LOWER THE PORTCULLISES!! The Figure of Shadow shouted to the two shades and
Enosh himself lowered the remaining one. There were two side entrances and one
main entrance each with a strong portcullis that could be quickly lowered over the
entrance. The cathedral had a clear design of defense with stained glass windows
as afterthoughts. The heart of this city was strong. Stay here; youll be safe, he
told the two shades who had come to get him.
The Figure of Shadow picked up the brick and read the note wrapped around it. It
was written in Ereboss handwriting, the same Enosh had seen before on the
contract and in other places. The note read, I have your precious hope, come out
and/or I will kill her. If you dont, well come get you, and/or I will kill her.
Erebos was not bluffing, for as soon as Enosh had lowered the Portcullis they had
begun thronging at the doors and beating on them. There must have been at least a
hundred shades out there. They had certainly blocked all exits and there would be
no escape.
The Figure of Shadow climbed the cross-like slits for arrows along the walls up to the
broken stained glass window. A difficult task for any man but the Figure of Shadow
was stronger and taller than a man. The round window had been 6 feet in diameter
and was near the first tier of the roof on the cathedral. It was well above the earth
below. From the window the Figure of Shadow could see Erebos standing on top of
the coffin on a roof across the street. He had about ten shades around him and
there were many more shades in the street below.

Hobby

The Figure of Shadow began its nightly sermon, and tonight it chose the book of Job,
These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make
yourselves strange to me. And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth
with myself Behold I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is
no judgement. And pointing to Erebos who wore Enoshs face the Figure of Shadow
said, He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my
paths.
Erebos jumped down from atop the coffin, and standing at the edge of his roof while
pointing to Enosh, he shouted, He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the
crown from my head. He hath destroyed me on every side and I am gone.
The Figure of Shadow kept his finger pointed at Erebos, but directed his speech to
the shades below, And mine hope hath he removed like a tree. His troops come
together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my
tabernacle. He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintances are
verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have
forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a
stranger: I am an alien in their sightBe ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth
the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment. As it said the
word judgment it jumped and fell upon the crowd.
Erebos smiled and laughed, watching Enosh fall to the street filled with angry
shades below, but soon stopped as Enosh landed upon two shades crushing them to
the street. Still infuriated and taking confidence in their numbers the mob tried to
grab at the Figure of Shadow and pull it to the ground. Enosh grabbed the first hand
reaching for him and broke it in his grip. The shade screamed and grabbed its hand.
Another one jumped on his back and tried to pin his arms down while others from
the front beat the Figure with sticks. The Figure got one arm free and grabbed the
shade on its back and threw it heavily into those with the sticks in front. One of
them dropped the stick. Picking it up, the Figure began to whirl it about on all sides,
beating the crowds back. Shades that wouldnt get out of the way were smacked off
their feet by the stick cutting through the air.
The Figure began to beat his way through the crowd towards the building Erebos
was in. A brick struck the Figure in the face and it staggered dropping the stick. The
crowd moved in and pushed it over kicking it while it was on the ground. Erebos
laughed from above holding a second brick in his hand and watching the commotion
below. This was great! Things were going better than he thought it would.
Enosh felt the kicks across his entire body and grabbed the first foot coming for his
head and broke it to the surprise of its owner. Then the Figure reached up and
grabbing two shades by the arm pulled them down and thrust itself back up. They
were unable to stop it rising and themselves from falling to the ground. They were
soon trampled by the rush to back away from the Figure when it grabbed another
two and threw them aside like sacks of potatoes would be thrown by a catapult. The
shades crashed through windows into the building above. They hadnt quite reached
Erebos as Enosh had intended. The Figure roared and charged ahead throwing
aside any its path. However the shades now rushed to get out of its path.

Hobby

On the roof Erebos told the shades to get in front of the door with their knives and
await the arrival of the Figure. Next he pried open the lid of the coffin. Constance
still had the same look on her face as when she had been shoved into the coffin.
He looked her in the eyes and said, Im afraid our fun is over now. Ill have to kill
you before he gets a chance to stop me. It really is nothing personal, well at least
not between you and me. Theres a bit of bad blood between Enosh and me, you
see, and youre just caught up in the middle of it.
He reached into the coffin to pick her up and she bit his hand. He pulled it back
wincing and dripping blood from his fingers. Then when he tried to kick her in the
face there was a flash and she had her knife out in front of it. He impaled his foot
and his shoe on the knife she held. He made a painful gasp of surprise and
staggered back falling over the edge of the roof. There were a number of yells of
surprise as he struck the crowd below.
She heard the door that allowed entrance to the roof explode and arose to watch
the commotion behind her. She ducked as a shade flew over her head and slid off
the side of the roof causing more yells from below. The Figure had a knife sticking
through one arm but with the other was punching and throwing the men around.
Five were already unconscious or dead on the ground and two were missing entirely.
The other three were slowly backing up and appeared to be trying to make their
way around towards the door on the other side of the Figure of Shadow. It stepped
aside and made a motion for them to leave, which they gladly did without looking
back.
The Figure walked over to Constance who was sitting upright in the coffin.
Wheres Erebos? it asked her.
I stabbed him in the foot and he fell over the edge with my knife in his foot, she
answered.
The Figure looked at the knife in its arm, pulled it out, and handed it to her. The
blade was black. Looking over the edge of the building Enosh could see no sign of
Erebos among the crowd, which was quickly dispersing and taking its wounded and
dead with it for the most part.
EXQUISITION
From behind shadow eyes, Enosh looked down at the chaotic scene of the street
below. Shades were running to and fro. He looked back at Constance who was now
standing next to the coffin and closing its lid. She was safe. Constance was tired and
so he took her to sanctuary at the Cathedral. Sam and Heph opened the door from
within. They tried not to look directly at the imposing Figure that accompanied
Constance back to the sanctuary.

Hobby
Constance lied down on a pile of seat cushions and said, They were going to kill
me. Hes convinced them that what hes done is my fault, and they want to kill me
for it.
He lied to them. Hes very convincing, Enosh said in their defense.
That doesnt matter; these people you want to save are just one persuasive leader
away from becoming a murderous mob. They are foolish, angry, fickle, and and I
dont like this. They cant tell its not you? She said with a little anger in her voice.
I preached in the day, and after awhile I just stopped preaching because there was
no one to preach to. A majority of them havent seen me in a while and none of
them have ever really known me, It said with some regret.
She felt exasperated, How can you defend them after what theyve done tonight,
we both couldve been killed?
The Figure began with a question, Cant you feel the underlying theme in all the
scriptures? Not to say that there is only one, but the scriptural works in their
entirety all lead to one conclusion. Even if you were to be the most perfect and
righteous man imaginable the world will reject you and crucify you. If you were to
try and build a nation on righteous principles, the world will combine against it to
tear it down. And this is ok, because we are strangers in a strange land; our
kingdom is not of this world. Let the world have the world because we dont need it.
We only came here for a few things and we can get them all without the worlds
help. The Figure waved a dark hand in the air, Let them break and destroy all that
we build. We will build again where the world cannot come and we will build things
the world cannot understand.
The three stayed the rest of the night in the cathedral. Enosh however walked about
the city as the Figure of Shadow.
Enosh had never known violence like he had known this night. The raw surge of
energy as he beat his way through the crowd had been surreal. It had felt as if he
had been holding the reins to the mind of an untamable beast. He hadnt attempted
to stop its rampage of destruction through the crowd, but he wondered if he could
have, had he wanted to. The shadows swirling about his body were slowing now.
Each one of them was unique, each swirling shadow had once been a shade, and a
shade which had represented a ruler.
He was searching. Erebos would be hiding, cowering in some dark hole or dank
alleyway. Enosh searched among the swirling shadows as well. Erebos had once
been a ruler and so one of these swirling shades must belong to him. There was no
trace, no sign, among the shadows that swirled about Enoshs body. Then it was
true, he thought, the inhabitant of Enoshs former body was indeed a shade. Erebos
had been completely separated from the Figure by the lightning strike and was
given human form. But the Figure remembered the shade of Erebos, and it could
sense Erebos. It was faint and difficult to find but there was a scent to follow. Enosh
bridled the shades that swirled about his form and allowed them to lock onto it.
Release the hounds, and the hunt begins.

Hobby

Hours later in a comfortable bed, Erebos awoke with freedom in his lungs. The pain
was exquisite; Erebos had never felt anything quite like it. He awoke in a small
apartment with rays of sunlight creeping through the blinds that were drawn across
the window. He pulled back the sheets that covered him and inspected the bloody
bandages on his foot. Noticing the fresh bandages by the foot of the bed, he
redressed the wound carefully.
He knew he had blown his best chance at killing her, but he also knew the timing
was important. He wanted to make sure Enosh saw it happen, and then he wanted it
to destroy what was left of the man. Besides, thered be more opportunities to get
her, and if it wasnt done right, then it might as well not be done at all.
He put his feet down on the floor, and tried to stand, but fell back on the bed unable
to put any weight on his foot for the pain. His yelp of pain had caused a stir in the
kitchen. The blonde mop of hair peaked around the corner, and quickly
disappeared.
Be so kind as to get me a glass of water would you? Erebos called out.
The boy grunted as he lifted himself onto the countertop, and then reaching into a
cabinet, pulled out a glass. He set it down on the counter, jumped down, then filled
the glass with water from a hose dangling in through the window from outside. The
hose had a clamp on it which stopped the flow when it was unwanted. The boy said,
There wont be much left soon, well have to go down to the park and pick up a few
of the jugs we stuck just inside the fence to fill up with rain water. Then from there
we pour it in the container on the roof which feeds it down here through the hose.
Erebos took the glass and drank it quickly, Thanks. He handed the glass back to
the boy who took it back to the kitchen. Erebos watched the boy intently. Are you
alone? he eventually asked.
No, said the boy, my mother and father are here too, but father is looking for
parts for the car in the city, and mother is out gathering food.
You arent shades? Erebos asked uncertainly.
Whats a shade? asked the boy curiously.
You can only see them at night, they look like people but theyre more like
shadows
Oh, no were not one of them, but neither are you, right? Father says we should
just keep to ourselves and they wont bother us, said the boy.
So why bring me here? Erebos asked
Well, Father told me that he brought you here before I was born, and you never
left. Hell be home soon, and he said that he wanted to talk to you when you woke

Hobby
up. I have to finish cleaning before he gets back though, so no more talking. The
boy went back to the kitchen and scrubbed away at his chores.
Erebos lay in bed and tried to heal, which he was discovering was a very slow and
slightly boring process.
He was awakened by the closing of the door when the boys father came in.
The man, who had just walked in, asked, Has he woken up yet?
Yes, but he went back to bed, answered the boy.
Whatd he say? the father asked expectantly.
He wanted a glass of water.
Anything else? The father inquired.
No, the boy said.
The father walked into the room where Erebos was lying, and looked at the bloody
bandages on the table at the foot of the bed. Son, throw these away. Dont just
leave them lying around.
Erebos said to the man, Thank you for your hospitality, but if you dont mind me
getting straight to the point, who are you? It has been so long since Ive seen a new
face around here that I really must know.
Dont you remember me? Ah, its alright most of my customers dont remember
the face, just the name: Matt short for Matthias. Matt extended a friendly hand
which Erebos shook, Ever since I left you here all those years ago, Ive been
thinking about this place and but I never got the guts up to come looking for it.
Turns out I didnt need them, as this place came looking for me. My wife, our son,
and I were on our way out of town when we ended up here. It was night. I came
from the other direction this time, but there was this terrible storm. I tried to just
drive through town and out the other side, but the roads are in poor condition and
with the storm on top of that, I lost control and we crashed. Blew out a tire on the
curb, busted the radiator on the pole, and a few other things are all busted up too.
So we hunkered down in this abandoned apartment complex till the storm passed. I
was willing to pay, but there was no one here. Beds looked comfy, and the place
isnt too bad, so we planned on staying the night, and getting help in the morning.
Morning came, and there was no one around, then I started to recognize things. City
aint changed much since that night when I dropped you off, cept this time I
couldnt leave before morning.
So, you just showed up by accident? Erebos asked.
Yea, I guess you could say that, Matthias answered, and then continued in a
hushed tone, as if he didnt want the boy in the kitchen to hear, Listen, I dont care
about the forests and trees all disappearing at night and only desert being left in the

Hobby
day. I dont care that the Cathedral only appears at night, and I dont want to know
why there are hundreds of shadowy people that walk around at night. I dont even
want to know why you wanted to come here in the first place. All I want is to fix the
car and get my family out of here. When my boy saw you in the alley, left for dead
by them shadows as dawn came, he recognized you as one of the only two people
weve seen out in the daytime. So we came out, we brought you back here, and
bandaged your foot up. You dont owe me an explanation for what the heck is going
on, but you do owe me some help getting out of here.
THE BLADE
Constance awoke the next day in the park with warm sunlight beating down on her.
She felt something uncomfortable under her side. It was the sheath containing the
knife with the black blade in it. She pulled it out to find that only the handle of the
knife remained. Clouds began forming from thin air over the park.
She didnt want to talk to the silhouette today. It hadnt been there last night. She
walked past the grave which was still open to the air with no coffin in it. She had left
the coffin on the roof last night and had no intentions of finishing the funeral herself.
It wasnt her idea anyway. After she closed the gate and locked it shut, it began to
rain in the park. Looking back over her shoulder as she walked away she admired
the scene. It really was quite beautiful, this little oasis in the midst of a desolate city.
She twirled the knife handle in the air as she walked across the dunes towards the
dam. The river was nearly dry where it had been. It hadnt rained out this way in
awhile. She could see the dam off to her right as she walked around to the slope
that would lead her to the top of the dam today. There were still two large gashes in
the dam which must have been made by the shade lamp Erebos had cast at her.
The tower was in shambles as well. This would take forever to fix entirely by herself.
She sighed and climbed up the ladder to the top of the tower. The day was hot and
the air was nearly still up here, but she worked long into the afternoon. Working
hard to scavenge, not to repair, she took the lamp and some undamaged strips of
wire. She found a good tool set, some old electrical tape, rubber insulation, and
other necessary or useful items.
Creating a workspace near the turbines at the base of the dam, she wondered if
she could get the silhouette to rain over here too. Shed have to wait till the basin
was just right, in a way that only allowed the water to pool behind the third of the
dam that didnt have large gashes running through it. It would take more accurate
predictions than they had needed before. She could get the turbines working on
that part, but it would greatly reduce the dams power yield without the rest. It
would be better than nothing she thought. Constance planned to set the lamp up
somewhere else; the tower no longer felt safe to her.
She was sore after hours of carrying equipment back and forth. She was satisfied
that she had done a days work and fell asleep resting in a large and comfortable
chair in the area they had previously set up for the workers to rest in. She slept
soundly and peacefully as all those whove done an honest day of work should.

Hobby
Across the shifting sand dunes in a small apartment within the city, lay a fellow who
was having a great deal of difficulty in resting. It was not only the pain of Ereboss
injuries that was keeping him awake. He knew it would be dark soon. Anxious
restlessness was becoming more prevalent in him as night approached, for he knew
that the Figure of Shadow would be after him, and unlike Enosh when he was alive,
Erebos had no contract to protect him. He felt like a caged and wounded beast. He
wondered how long it would take for the Figure to find him and he fearednot so
much for his life, although he knew it was in danger, but for the possibility that he
would fail to accomplish what he had set out to do.
Just as the Sun began to set, Matts wife came over to check on Erebos and clean
his bandages. They trusted him because he was alive, because he could walk in the
daylight. It was this same reason that he didnt trust them; they were unpredictable,
just like all the other people he ever met. They lived by a set of rules driven by a
force he didnt fully understand. He was only the shadow of a living person trapped
in Enoshs body, and he was dead inside. So as soon as she had changed his
bandages, he grabbed the scissors off the bedside table, seized Matts wife, and
held the scissors pointed up to her neck.
She screamed and he gripped her tighter. Matt came out of the kitchen and Matts
son peeked out of the bedroom.
What are you doing? Just let her gook. Were your friends, remember? Matt said,
his heart was racing, but he tried to think fast and move slowly.
Erebos jumped to his feet, the nerves fired pain up to his brain, and he nearly fell
over, struggling to maintain his grip on Matts wife. Matt lunged for the scissors in
Ereboss hand.
BACK OFF!! Erebos shouted regaining his feet and returning the scissors to her
throat so quickly a small drop of blood began to form on the blade.
Matt backed up a step, held his hands out, and pleaded, Please, we were just trying
to help. You can take anything you want, just let her go.
Erebos was tired, in pain, and scared. I want a pack of bandages, food, and
medicine, and I want it now!
Matt began to move, but Erebos yelled, NO! You stay where I can see you! The
boyI want him to get the supplies.
Stephen, did you hear the man? Matthias said to the boy without taking his eyes
off Erebos.
Yes, said Stephen with a sniffle and he began to pack up the things in a bag.
When Stephen was done he brought the bag over to Erebos slowly and held it up.
The look in those eyes, under that curly hair, could have softened the hardest of
hearts. The little boy asked, wiping his nose on his sleeve as he did, Why? We were
so nice to you.

Hobby
Erebos motioned with his head, Place the bag over by the door. You want to know
why? Because you just want to use me! You only need me to get out of this city, and
you think that as long as Im bandaged up around here you can call the shots. As
soon as you dont need me, youll throw me back out to die, just like Enosh!
Matt looked at his son. Clearly, Enosh had lost his mind, he thought. Just do what
he says and put the bag by the door, ok Stephen?
Erebos began taking steps towards the door, all the while dragging Matthiass wife
with him. Every other step was fresh pain, but the adrenaline kept him going right
through it. He reached around quickly and opened the door with one hand, but kept
the scissors pointed to her throat with the other.
Alright, you have what you want. Now let her go, ok? Matthias begged.
No, I dont think I will. I need a reason for you not to follow me, said Erebos and he
kicked the bag backwards, out into the hall, with his uninjured foot.
Matthias said, Let her go if you want to be left alone; the only reason Id follow you
is to save her.
Why? Erebos asked.
Why, Matt was on the verge of tears, he couldnt bear to lose her, to love and to
be loved in return. There, is nothing greater, than to devote your entire heart to
someone, and to know that she does the same for you. It is a comfort to ease the
most troubled mind; it is a luxury which money cannot buy, and a fidelity which
cannot decay. Of all things, love is most pure. This is why I would chase after you
until I have her back. Have you never known such a thing?
A single tear fell from Ereboss eye, No, I have not. Lowering the scissors he
relaxed his grip on Matthiass wife. She ran to Matthias. Erebos picked up the bag
and limped quietly away as the couple embraced behind him. It was already night.
THE HUNT
The previous night the swirling shadows had tugged at the reins of Enoshs mind.
They had hunted many a soul before and knew their part well. Every now and then
the shadows circled around an area zigzagging back and forth in confused patterns.
Then as if reaching a conclusion they would dash off in one direction, tugging Enosh
along behind them. But before ever coming upon Ereboss form, the Sun rose
dramatically over the dusty city, and Ereboss scent was washed away in a bath of
sunlight. The Figure of shadow along with the cathedral, the shades, and Ereboss
trail all vanished with the rising of the Sun.
And now as Night came once more the Figure of Shadow stood in the alley where
the trail had grown cold. It began to walk around looking for a clue as to the
whereabouts of the hunted. It was after an hour of searching that the shades caught
a fresh scent of something living. The Figure of Shadow moved with inhuman speed

Hobby
towards its point of origin. It found itself in an apartment building, at the doorway to
number eleven. There were voices within and creaking floorboards.
The apartment lit by dim candlelight was still relatively dark, but it was better than
pitch blackness, and there was no electricity in the city anymore. Matt heard the
knock at the door and he heard the hush fall over his wife and son. The knock was
firm and persistent in a way that insisted it be answered promptly. They didnt
move, but the knock came again louder. Matt stepped silently over to the door and
looked out through the peephole, but saw only blackness without. He opened the
door slightly but left the chain on. Hello, he said.
Enosh couldnt believe his eyes, Matt?
The voice Matt heard was strange and deep, like the depths of the ocean, Who are
you? How do you know my name? Asked Matt
You brought me here a long time ago, answered the Figure of Shadow as it looked
into the familiar face.
Im afraid not, I would certainly remember a voice like that, and the only man I
brought here has obviously lost his mind, Matt said.
No, just his body actually. So you have seen it then. You wouldnt happen to know
where it is. Enosh said inquisitively.
Excuse me? Matt asked perplexed.
The man that you brought here stands before you now, and the one you met
earlier was not that man. He only possessed the body of the man you brought
here, The Figure explained patiently.
Matt opened the door a little wider and saw the Figure of Shadow outlined in
darkness against the shadows. The pupils of his eyes widened, What the Heck
happened to you?
Enosh answered, You preach for years, unable to save a single soul, and then try to
maintain hope that ones life has a purpose; that one can make a difference. I gave
in; I worked in Darkness; I made close alliances with the enemy, and took upon
myself oaths that no man should have to. I lost hope in the way of truth, and I only
saw sacrifice. Sacrifice became the only way out for me and this people. It created
hope. But I am the sacrifice, and to reconcile me, is to lose hope. This job has its
price and few are able to pay it. And the next three words were spoken slowly, I
have paid.
alright, good night Enosh. You must understand we had quite a scare this
evening and that was quite enough for a lifetime. Youre more than I can handle
right now. And Matt began to close the door.
Wait! Where did the man go? The Hunter persisted.

Hobby
I DONT KNOW! I dont want anything to do with this! I just want to go home!
Matthias yelled
Matt, why did you come back then? Enosh asked
I didnt have much choice in the matter!! Matt yelled and slammed the door.
The dust floated in the dark air in the hallway. There was another end to this trail.
The shadows had chosen the wrong direction, which could only mean that he had
come upon the middle of tonights trail. If the origin was at this end, then Erebos
would be at the other. He spoke aloud to the door and to the night air in response to
Matts exclamation, I thought the same thing. The shadows locked onto the scent
and shot forth from his arms tugging him along after the prey.
A NEW SHADE
At the same time Enosh was questioning Matt at the Apartment, Erebos was resting
in an old bicycle and parts store. He had set up a little place to rest and hide. It was
foolish to travel at Night, but he couldnt stand to be in that house anymore with all
those living people. Besides it would be too easy for the Figure to track the scent
there, with them coming and going so often and they usually didnt make it back till
after dusk. Matt and his family would certainly leave a trail leading right to their
apartment. If he could avoid the Figure tonight he knew he could travel solely in the
day from now on, and unless a chance occurrence brought the Figure to his new
hiding place hed be quite safe.
There was a dry whistle of admiration, and a voice in the darkness of the room,
Nice place you got yourself here. Real classy, whyd you pick a bike shop?
Ereboss spine stiffened and his eyes widened, the voice was familiar but it didnt
sound like Enosh.
The voice continued, Im surprised from the way you were that night on the rooftop
I thought you were all confidence and quick answers.
Erebos wasnt sure what to make of all this, and asked, What do you mean?
You seem like the kind of guy who says big things without knowing what they mean
half the time, the voice responded simply.
Erebos caught a glimpse of a shadow moving around, Whose shade are you?
Im yours old boy, and you are pretty old to be in a body lets face it. No need to
explain though Ive been right here with you since that lightning strike. Course it
wasnt till that crazy night with the mob that I was strong enough to take my own
corporeal form. That wasnt such a good night for you was it? The shade laughed
loudly.
Shut up. So this is what he meant Erebos said remembering Enoshs warning at
the river.

Hobby

Oh yeah, the old preacher man did say something about that didnt he? You can
call me unforeseen consequences of your decisionsno that wont domuch too
long. Any thoughts? The shadow held out a hand open for suggestions.
No matter, youre my shadow and you might as well make yourself useful. Theres
a broken car somewhere in the city, find it and report back to me its location,
Erebos commanded.
The shade laughed, Bossy, eh? Alright well work on the name thing. Ill go catch a
bit of fresh air then and maybe if you say please next time Ill go find your car.
Toodles. With that said, the door opened and the darkness walked out into the
night.
Ungrateful Erebos began, but he was alone, lying in his makeshift bed, in pain,
and tired. He checked the bandages on his foot one last time before deciding to get
some rest. He was healing well. The medicine helped the pain and the swelling.
Drifting off to sleep he dreamt of Constances death.
He was awoken by a loud crash and the sound of shattering glass tinkling to the
floor. A mailbox flew through the store window and knocked over the row of bicycles
next to him. The bicycles fell over on top of him pinning him to the bed, the spokes
and tires spun in the air making a rapid clicking noise all around him. Dazed and
shocked he struggled to get out from under the blankets and the bikes.
A mad horror came over him as Enosh, the Figure of Shadow stepped into the store
through the broken window. Erebos wasnt ready for this, not yet. He needed more
time and a new plan.
The Figure placed one dark shadow swarming foot on top of the pile of bikes and
began to push down, I found you Erebos.
The metal of the bikes was beginning to bend and twist as the pressure increased
and Erebos could feel the weight on his chest. He tried to respond but he was
struggling to breathe.
What was that you said? I couldnt understand you, The Figure smirked.
This wasnt like Enosh at all, Erebos thought to himself. Enosh would never kill
anyone, and especially not in cruel, cold blood like this. He was beginning to
relinquish this position as current circumstances were providing strong evidence to
the contrary. The blackness was closing in around Ereboss vision and he was sad to
die this waybut then the dawn broke over the rooftops and the Figure of Shadow
vanished in a puff of black smoke. Erebos breathed the morning air in gasps. He
looked at the Sun. Since the first day he saw it he thought hed never be happy it
was there, but today he relinquished that position as well.
PURITY

Hobby
Constance felt inspired. She worked alone for days at the dam, uninterrupted,
undistracted.
As she walked about the dam to think and ponder she often visited the bald tower
top in order to think. Shed stare out at the city. Her mind kept coming back to what
happened that night in the storm, right here on this tower. She thought about the
way Erebos had changed right here. It was a small change really, but an important
one. Enosh wanted her to study it.
Light was good, they had been using the power of the dam to create light, but what
was light really? Light was only dispelling the shades, they couldnt help the shades
with light alone, only make them disappear. Light was a byproduct of pure energy. It
was given off by photons of energy, but it wasnt the key issue in all this. She
realized this now. Lightning was the strike that separated Erebos from the Figure.
Lightning was pure energy, energy so powerful that it gave off visible light, but it
was so sharp and concentrated. So quick that the shades didnt have time to
gradually fade away, or be dispelled. They were brought face-to-face with their bane
and forced to succumb to it in less than a second.
Imbued with energy and power Erebos had gained a human form. This energy was
in him now, and all energy gave off light according to its strength. The light rays
didnt carry enough pure energy to do this but the lightning did. Energy was all she
needed and here she was atop a hydro-electric dam. She could do this, she just
needed to build some Tesla coils and some reliable controls inside a faraday cage,
and she could recreate the lightning artificially in relative safety.
If she could put that energy, to some extent, inside of each shade maybe they too
would receive human form. It was worth a shot at least. Sadly, she realized that
returning to the city for test subjects could be a death sentence since all but two
shades now hoped to kill her it seemed. Erebos had turned them against her. Enosh
had been willing to sacrifice everything for this, and she decided that she would too
if thats what was required of her.
The air changed again. She looked up to see dark rain clouds forming over head.
The Sun was at that perfect angle where it could rain and still be bright out. She
watched the sunlight glistening off of the water filling up in the reservoir behind the
dam. Water gushed out of the long gashes on two thirds of the dam. Something
peculiar was happening as the water moved. The sand dunes touched by the rain
became hardened sandstone like they were at night. As the water flowed out from
the dams gashes and into the river bed, plants and trees grew spontaneously
alongside the river. The forest seen only at night was appearing here in the day. The
forest was lush. The rain had done this, just like the park in the city.
She spoke aloud to the Silhouette who she hoped was listening, Im not sure what
to make of you Did you know I needed the rain here and came to help out, or do
you even care how this all turns out?
I care, but thats not why I rain.

Hobby
But you DO hope this all turns out the way it should be, right? I mean you did help
me that night atop the dam, she spoke with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
I helped you because it was required of me by the contract you signed. How should
it turn out? Good triumph over evil, is that what you mean?
Constance hadnt really thought of it all as some sort of epic struggle between good
and evil. She had just made choices based off of what she believed and thought was
right. She shrugged, I guess so. Im trying to help the people of the city, thats a
noble cause, a good cause, but Erebos he just wants to mislead them and have his
power back. That puts me on the moral high ground here.
The Silhouette explained its position simply, I uphold the law, and the law says that
there is a consequence for an action, that promises should be honored and kept,
and that justice be dealt. There is no law that good must always win. The law has
not always been on your side, nor will it be. Do not take it for granted that I will help
you because you are doing a good thing.
There was still one thing that was bothering Constance, The little cathedral that
was on top of the table, what did you do with it?
The Rain felt like it was going in circles, I told you, I removed it.
She sensed it didnt understand the question, Ok, but whyd you keep it? Why not
give it back to me with the rest of Enoshs stuff?
The Silhouette didnt understand the purpose behind this line of questioning, Do
you need it?
Hold on, this isnt about what I need. Whyd you keep it? She asked with
frustration resonating in her mouth.
Putting it back on the table wont bring the cathedral back in the day. The table is a
model representation of this world not the other way around, The Silhouette
jumped to a conclusion about her intentions.
I know I didnt think that would happen, and I wasnt planning on putting it back
on the table. I want to know your motivations youre avoiding the question. Whyd
you keep it? She asked for the third time.
The Rain paused after she asked it the third time, and gave Constance the proper
answer to her question, It is irreversible; the Chapel can never be returned now
that its been struck by the shade lamp. It cannot go back to the way it once was.
So I took it, and I keep it, because its a symbol, because I keep all the things that
are lost in the darkness.
And Enosh?
Irreversible, The voice of the water answered.

Hobby
So you keep them, all the things that are lostdoes that include the people who
are lost to the shadows, the ones that become shades? Why not just forgive and
release them, why continue to punish them? She asked for them all, but in truth
Constance was only thinking of Enosh.
Astounded and hurt the Silhouette responded, Punish them? You think God, the
law, or I so malevolent as to continue to punish those unable to redeem
themselves? Is God not quick to forgive the repentant? Is he not benevolent? No,
God does not punish, nor does he need to. The law maintains the equality of
consequence and action. He is quick to forgive, but they are not. God cannot
release them from a state of punishment they inflict upon themselves, though he
wishes too. If they do not forgive themselves, they will punish themselves for an
eternity.
He can release them from their pain, Constance protested.
But he will not release them from their choice, the Silhouette explained. Gods
gift to man is an open end; they may decide their fate.
She paused and asked, Even if the fate is terrible beyond comprehension?
It is the most fantastic and dangerous of all gifts, the Silhouette affirmed.
Constance understood. Maybe like no one ever had before, maybe like no one ever
would, but she understood. She walked back downstairs to make the final
preparations for the experiments she hoped to perform in a night or two.
THE VEHICLE
Matthias was on his way to the apartments he had seen the other day. He hoped to
gather some canned goods from the cupboards in a few of the Apartments, or any
unspoiled food. This was when he noticed the broken store window, and the cracks
in the sidewalk from where the mailbox had been ripped up off its bolts. The place
looked like a wreck. A few of the bikes were badly bent, as was the mailbox, and
there was broken glass everywhere.
There was no one here, but Matt saw the bloody bandage on the floor next to the
fallen rack of bikes. He looked around for the man it belonged to, but he found no
other trace of him.
He did find some tires that were about the right size, although much older than
what he was used to. Perhaps with a little work and frustration he could mount one
in the place of his busted tire on the car. How odd to find it in a bike shop! He also
found some industrial resin, which he thought might work as a temporary fix for the
radiators large cracks. There were plenty of parts he hadnt seen in years around
the bike shop, both for old cars and for bicycles. Most of them completely
incompatible with his vehicle, but he gathered up anything he thought he could
make fit with some serious but necessary adjustments.

Hobby
Matt placed all these items, as well as a large toolbox he had found, into a cart that
could be attached to the back of one of the bicycles. Hopping on the bike he rode
straight to the busted car, entirely forgetting the apartments and the food he had
hoped to find there. He worked for hours and hours on the car before he noticed the
hunger pains. He left the tools and parts there next to the car, fairly certain that no
one would touch it. Hungry and tired Matthias rode the bike to their temporary living
space.
Over dinner he expressed his excitement to his wife, I think I can have the car fixed
by tomorrow night. I cant wait to get out of this place!
Thats great, howd you get the parts? she asked with relief.
Well I found a bunch of old parts in some sort of bicycle store, but the place is more
like a shop for moving parts and mechanical gears than a bike shop. Anyway almost
none of the parts really fit in the car, but Ive made some progress hammering them
in and jury riggin things together. It should be enough to get us out of here. If notI
suppose we could always take a few of those bikes, and pack up the gear we need
in a cart, he smiled and grabbed his wifes hand, Dont you worry. Ill get us out of
this mess; were going to be alright.
She smiled, but after he let go and continued eating she touched the thin cut on her
neck with two fingers of her hand. That night she had trouble sleeping. Every time
she woke up she checked the door to make sure it was locked before returning to
bed.
MAJORITY RULE
When the last rays of light had left the city the Figure of Shadow appeared in the
shadows of the broken shop. It threw its fist viciously down on the table. The legs of
the table shattered and the top clattered to the floor.
So close. Erebos had escaped, but it had been so close.
Enosh was still in there, but the Figures existing residents held a large majority over
him. He could give direction but it was a constant fight against their collective
nature to maintain control. They were selfish, impulsive, impatient, angry, cruel, and
deviously clever. The preacher was heavily outnumbered and the more he allowed
them to help him, the more they took control. They wanted to hunt Erebos and his
body too, but he wasnt sure of their motivations.
Erebos had fled the shop for some new hiding place during the day and there were
no clues left. Now the Figure would have to hunt him once more.
The hunted man was currently hiding in Enoshs old workshop at the house on the
hill. He had brought the armchair down and assumed the position so often taken by
Enosh while waiting for something. Erebos was looking for Constance and hoped she
would turn up here. Now that night had come he had no intention of going outside
and risking an encounter with the Figure.

Hobby
The floorboards overhead creaked. It was a sound Erebos had become quite familiar
with while staying at this house and he knew there was something afoot overhead.
He just sat there listening for a long time. There were other sounds as well. Faint
whispering could be heard and the occasional movement of an item upstairs.
Erebos stood up slowly and walked to the top of the stairs in the workshop. Before
opening the door he turned off the lights in the workshop and allowed his eyes to
adjust to the darkness. As he stepped out and closed the door behind him a hush
fell over the house. The whole house was packed with shades from the battle at the
Cathedral a few nights ago.
I see none of you plan to attend the sermon tonight. Well thats good. How many
came? Erebos asked.
All, except two, said the shade that had taunted Erebos in the bicycle shop.
Erebos stepped out onto the porch. The entire hill surrounding the house was also
covered in shades. He spoke loudly, I want you all to stay in the city tonight, and
tomorrow night we take the dam.
The city was completely empty. The mass of shades at Enoshs house had not been
seen in ages. Erebos knew they wouldnt do more than stall the Figure though. He
needed a game changer, if he were to have any hope of surviving this. He had to
remove Constance from power, and the only place she could be now was the dam.
She was up to something. He could sense it.
After all the shades left the house except Ereboss personal shadow he took the
shadow with him down to the river.
Erebos pushed the shade down to the waters edge. They stood together near the
river which was now gushing with over twenty thousand gallons a minute. Erebos
watched the rivers flow wondering about his reflection. No longer wincing or
limping he walked slowly up to the edge of the swift river and gazed in. He had
expected a mist to come across the face of the water and reveal a dazzling image
like some sort of crystal ball, but was disappointed when he only saw an unmagical
and slightly distorted image of himself.
The new man was a little disappointed with his new found life. He had hoped that
some future lay ahead of him. He was hoping for some further change yet to come,
and longed for the river to reflect his desire. The river gave no such indication.
Looking for something? asked the voice of the shade from the bicycle shop.
Still gazing at the river, I expected more, Erebos said with a sigh.
Ereboss shade walked to the rivers edge. Standing alongside Erebos the shade
also gazed in while saying, Be careful now. Expectations are tantamount to hope
and you wouldnt want me to think youd gone soft.
What do you see? Erebos asked it.

Hobby

I see an ugly fellow with cuts and burns on his face standing alone in a dark
forest, The shade answered.
Not my reflection! Yours! What is your reflection? Erebos yelled and grabbed the
shade by the head, shoving it closer to the water.
I dont have a reflection! the shade yelled back breaking Ereboss grasp.
Youre lying! Tell me what you see! Erebos tackled the shade onto the river bank
and the two rolled into the river. As they rolled into the river the shade broke free
once more and disappeared into the river. The water was cold, but it felt good.
Erebos had felt like he was burning up. The rage only made him hotter, but the
water helped to bring his temperature down. He stood in the shallows now with mist
rising off of his warm body as the water evaporated off of him slowly. It was not an
abnormal amount of evaporation, and was only noticeable as a result of the
extremely dry air in the area.
SEE A MAN ABOUT A DOG
When the Sun arose Constance went into the city with all the preparations made.
The Silhouette had assisted greatly in making the dam operational again under her
direction. She played with the handle from the blade that the Figure had given her.
It was really such a curious artifact. The black blood of the Figure had caused the
blade to only appear in the dark. She twirled it in the air as she walked through the
forest alongside the river, across the dunes, and into the city.
At about the thousandth twirl of the handle she saw the boy with the curly hair
pushing a cart full of supplies down the street. For the first time on the walk she
dropped the handle, which made a clinking noise as it hit the ground. The boy
turned his head in her direction, yelled, and ran away down the street. Constance
picked up the handle, shoved it in her pocket, and ran after him.
This time there was no leg injury to slow her down and she was gaining ground on
him quickly. The boy ran up to a car in front of an apartment building. He opened
the door, jumped inside, and locked all the doors. She reached the car just as he
was crawling under a blanket in the backseat to hide.
I just want to talk to you, Constance yelled loud enough for the boy to hear inside
the car.
The boy lay perfectly still and hidden from view.
I know youre in there! She shouted.
She heard footsteps behind her and quickly dodged out of the way of the wrench
swung at her from behind. She spun to see Matt readying the wrench for another
swing and yelling, Stay away from my boy!

Hobby
Holding up her hands she said, Wait, wait I just want to talk! Its been so long since
Ive seen people in the day, real people.
Well you wont be seeing us much longer because were leaving soon as this car is
loaded up, Matt said as he made his way between her and the car. Without taking
his eyes off her Matthias tapped on the car window, Its Ok. You can come out now
son.
The boy shoved off the blankets opened the door and hugged his fathers leg before
running off to get the cart.
Constance asked Matt, How did you come here?
Same way were leaving. Forgive me for being brief, but Ive already explained this
twice to two equally strange and disturbing individuals and seeing as everyone in
this city has some sort of serious issue Id prefer not to get involved with you either.
So please just walk away and go back to your own business, Matt replied.
One more question, how long ago did you arrive? she pushed for one more
answer.
Matt sighed, It was during that big storm about a week ago. We crashed on our
way through because of it.
Constance had more questions but she had found out what she needed to know.
She had wondered if their existence was a result of the lightning strike or the events
on the dam, but they were not connected with the Figure. The thought had passed
her mind that perhaps they were just host bodies for the other shades in the Figure
that may have become dislodged during the strike. These fears, having been
assuaged, gave way to other questions which would most likely remain unanswered.
She bid the man farewell and headed for the Cathedral to await nightfall.
Matthias was relieved to see her go. His family spent the rest of the day loading the
vehicle and making other final preparations.
At dusk, Matthias was waiting down by the car for his wife and son who were
upstairs in the bathroom. Every minute that passed added to his anxiety. He had
hoped to leave before nightfall, but fixing the car had taken longer than anticipated.
Finally his wife and son came downstairs to join him. As he was closing the car door
for his wife, down the street he could see that woman exiting the Cathedral followed
by two shades. For a second he allowed himself to wonder who she was before
reverting to his uncaring attitude towards the events of the city.
All at once from every doorway in the city shades began to pour out onto the street.
There must have been hundreds upon hundreds of them. Matt began to gasp for air
as he slowly got into the car and locked the doors. They were surrounding the
woman and closing in on her and the two shades.
His wife yelled at him Do something?!

Hobby

He took one look at her and then glanced over to the woman being surrounded. He
tried to start the car, but it wouldnt turn over. He turned the key five times on and
off before trying again. Someone told him once that it helped the battery but he
personally thought it was just for good luck. He tried it again, and the car did not
sound healthy. COME ON! he yelled. His repeated and failed attempts to start the
car had drained the battery of all power.
The shades were already carrying her off at an unheard of pace. The mass exodus of
shades leaving the city and heading towards the dam was quite a sight for Erebos
as he sat atop the tower at the dam. The dark tide of people leaving reminded him
of Moses and Egypt. Enosh had always compared himself to Moses, now it was
Ereboss turn to do so.
Matthias got out with his wrench and took out the dead battery which shouldve
been just fine but he had no way to charge it. He threw it into the street, pulled a
spare out of the trunk, and mounted it inside in its place. The few remaining shades
just ran past him out of the city following the others. They totally ignored the man
working on the car.
Job finished, Matt returned to the driver seat and the car started right up. He floored
the gas and the car took off in the direction that the shades went.
He followed the road that led through the forest across the top of the dam and out
of town. He had mistaken it for a curved bridge years ago when he had entered the
city that first time with Enosh. The top of the dam was covered in shades which
dodged out of his way as he honked his horn. As another group of shades ran out of
his way, he saw that woman lying on the ground in the center of the road atop the
dam. He swerved to avoid her, crashed over the railing, and into the reservoir of
water below.
The car struck the dark water violently, and Matt lost consciousness as he struck
the steering wheel in front of him. As the car filled with water, and the young boy
screamed in the backseat, Matthias was in between consciousness and a flashback.
His mind wandered back to a drive home after a long trip. His wife and he were
excited to see their son. He saw a dog walking across a four lane motorway, and
slowed to a stop to allow the dog to cross in front of him. The driver in the lane next
to him did not stop and hit the dog as it crossed their lane.
Holy He had started in surprise, and before he could do anything his wife was
already getting out of the car to help.
He put the car in park and the driver behind him slammed his horn. He got out of
the car and tried to reason with his wife to get back in the car. Honey he began
but the car behind him honked again and longer this time. Matt flicked off the car
behind him in anger, and yelled WHAT?! You want me to leave without her IDIOT!
Get a towel Matt! She yelled at him as she was checking to see how the dog was
doing. When she saw that he was just staring at her in disbelief she spread hands
out and said, Come on, dont just stand there. Do something.

Hobby

He walked around to the back of the car, opened the trunk, helped her bundle the
stupid dog up, and they began driving it to the vet immediately.
While they were waiting at the Veterinarians office he said to her, Being a witness
to something doesnt make you responsible, you know.
She replied, Yes, but having a choice DOES.
ONE WAY STREET
Constance stood up from where the shades had dropped her at the sight of the car
speeding by. Maybe they had hoped she would be hit by it. Everyone stopped and
stared as the car fell over the railing and sunk into the water slowly, everyone
except Constance that is. She sprinted and leaped over the shades which were
leaning over the edge to watch. The shade she had used as a hand plant stumbled
and nearly fell in. Her dive was quite graceful.
She signaled to the woman and the child inside who were panicking. The driver
wasnt moving at all. Constance tried to open the doors of the half submerged car,
but to no avail. She swam around to try the other doors but they wouldnt open
either. The car was weighed down from all the parts and supplies in the car and was
sinking faster than a car normally would. Constance pulled out the knife and
signaled towards the window with it to let the mother and child inside know what
she was planning. They took off their seat belts and let her know they were ready
with a nod. She broke the glass of the drivers side window using the knife, and
reached in to cut the seatbelt holding Matthias in place. Once the car was full of
water the mother was able to open the door and exit with her son while Constance
pulled Matt out of the car through the window. They all swam to the surface
together, except Matthias who Constance tugged along with her as she swam.
When they arrived at shore Constance started trying to resuscitate Matt. Matts wife
was crying and so was the boy. His wife sobbed, Dont let him die!
He coughed up some water and moaned. Constance smiled and sat back on the dirt,
exhausted. Her back struck a pair of legs as she sat back, and at that moment
Matts wife screamed. Erebos grabbed the black blade from Constances hands and
lifted her up. You found a Blade of Shades? he said in disbelief.
She kicked him in the knee and he fell back holding the blade and laughing. With
some amusement Erebos said, There is such a thing as fear, you know.
There is such a thing as hope, you know, she spat back at him as she was seized
by several shades around her.
Erebos continued to laugh, and said to her, You are good; very quick clever
maybe not strong physically, but resilient and steadfast in character.
Then turning to the shades around him the man who looked like Enosh said, Lets

Hobby
go down into the dam and see what shes been working on since last we were
here.
Back in the city The Figure came across the bodies of two shades lying in the street.
It recognized them as Heph and Samuel. They were completely still and lifeless.
Enosh had told them to wait in the Cathedral. Something was wrong. The Figure
could smell the scent of the living woman, and it went the same direction as
hundreds of hundreds of shades. It was easy to follow even at a full sprint. This was
Ereboss doing. The Figure smiled knowing that the game was afoot and its prey
would soon be within reach.
On the dam were hundreds of shades waiting for the Figure. The Figure could now
track Erebos among the other scents. The dam was humming as water poured
through the powerful turbines and generated power.
The intercom came on and the voice of Erebos rose over the dam at the Figures
arrival, Prometheus, son of titans, friend of mankind, was able to see the future
and focused only on improving the world.. Each God had his domain and his powers.
Zeus had the sky and power over it. Prometheuss domain was the future, and
foresight was his power. His only desire was to make the world as bright as possible.
He brought fire to mankind, but fire was not his only gift to them. In his own words
he said I took from man expectancy of death, I planted blind hope in the heart of
him. Moreover, I conferred the gift of fire, and [they] shall master many arts
thereby. Prometheus had not been pleased to live on the mountain with the Gods,
but preferred to walk the Earth among the children of men. He saw them huddled in
caves, cold and dank. They suffered their days away without warmth or
understanding. He had compassion on them and showed them forbidden mercy. He
brought them fire from the Sun in a dry reed, and gave them hope though it was
blind.
While Erebos spoke the Figure walked across the top of the dam slowly between the
shades. They were all just watching the Figure. None of them were attempting to
fight it or slow it down. In fact they formed a pathway for it to walk between them.
The voice on the intercom continued, He was severely and harshly punished for
this merciful act. Surely, he saw this coming; he who could see the future was not
caught off guard nor surprised by Zeuss retribution, and yet he performed the
merciful act all the same. For years a titan has walked among us. I wonder if it too
sees whats coming.
The Figure looked behind it and saw the pathway between the hundreds of shades
had closed behind it.
THE FIGURE
Entering the doorway and descending into the dam the Figure was followed and
watched by shades on all sides. As it pushed its way through the huddled masses,
watching silently, it could hear the voice of Erebos over the intercom talking
incessantly about fallen titans. The voice sounded close now as it entered the last

Hobby
room in the pathway of shades. The door behind the Figure closed. The room was
dark but that didnt matter to the Figure. The metal ceiling and the floors were
covered in salt water which was dripping all over.
A voice in the darkness said, Like Prometheus you sought to bring blind hope to the
people of this city. You wanted to bring light and fire to the masses huddled in
darkness, and like Prometheus you are to be harshly punished as if by Zeus himself.
You certainly do have a lot of self destructive tendencies Enosh.
The Figure of Shadow stared Erebos down. Erebos was sitting inside a steel cage of
strong bars next to a control panel. The Figure spoke to Erebos, It is you who has
the self destructive tendencies. For the more you fight against me the stronger you
make me. The more you fight to stop us the closer you bring yourself to an end.
Erebos rolled his eyes and held up a hand, Hear me out. You received so much
power from your new position. You could have done almost anything, but instead
you chose to go for the one thing that is completely out of your reach. You chose the
inevitable failure that I kept warning you not to choose. I dont really understand.
Maybe before you lose everything youd care to explain it to me, because I truly am
curious. Why do you persist in setting yourself up for failure? You could live a very
comfortable life without pressure or care and yet you choose to discomfort yourself
by trying to be someone youre not and make the world something its not. Dont
tell me this is the right thing to do. Youre lying to yourself about the way the world
is and about whom you are.
A dark fist belonging to the Figure pounded against the cage wall rattling the bars. It
spoke, I do what Ive always done: whatever I feel is right! I follow my heart, and
sometimes it leads me to things Im not proud of. But it fills my actions with passion,
and my mistakes are my own. They are my choices and my failures. Why should I do
what is easy unless it is what my heart wants? Why should I do anything unless it
feels right? I dont care what others think, I dont care where it leads me so long as I
know that I have been faithful to the only judge Im truly accountable to: myself. If I
cant be happy with myself then I dont care what happens. Everyone dies
eventually. Its not about the if or when you die. Its about the why and the
how and nothing else. Questions like: Will I die today, or when will I die? Dont
matter. The only questions that matter when one accepts the inevitability of death
are these: Do I die for a great cause? Do I die a martyr? Do I die a brave man or a
coward? Do I die a free man or a slave?
Ereboss hand was tense on the lever. His heart beat nervously as he spoke
attempting to say everything he wanted to say before the Figure beat its way into
the cage, You see I have a theory Ive been working on for some time now. Its not
that you dont care, you do care. You care so much, in fact, that you have to destroy
yourself. Youre not selfish, but youre not selfless either. You hate yourself. You want
to destroy yourself so badly, but you want there to be a reason for it. So you make it
out to be selfless. Youre punishing yourself, driven by some ridiculously
overpowering sense of guilt, and yet you may even be ignorant to your true
motivations. You do love, but you punish yourself by denying yourself the things you
love, and the things that make you happy. This is not right. Do not tell me that this
is the right thing to do.

Hobby

The bars began to bend. Erebos smiled and clapped the clamps to the copper coils
on the control panel in front of him.
Tesla coils all over the room began firing lightning. Salt water covered the floor and
made an excellent conductor for the electricity surging around the room.
The lightning struck the Figure repeatedly. The electricity that didnt strike the
Figure surged across the floor through the salt water to reach the same destination.
The Figure smoked, burned, and glowed. Darkness evaporated from its body like
water boiling off a cauldron. After all the power in the dam was exhausted the
shades that had boiled off of the Figure as darkness could be seen standing around
the room. The legion of bodiless shades was no longer united in one form. The thing
that had once been the Figure of Shadow collapsed on the floor, leaving only a
shade. It was the shade of Enosh the Preacher, and all around him stood the shades
of the rulers in ages past.
THE BLADE OF SHADES
This shade of Enosh was unconscious, but if one could peer inside its mind it would
see the following events of interest unfold.
Dark towers loomed overhead obscuring the view of a black sky with orange wisps
of clouds like smoke. The towers lacked detail, and between them ran a labyrinth of
streets. There was a single man wearing a dark trench coat walking through this
labyrinth, and there was fear in his eyes.
[It is time]
A cheery chiming of bells caused the man to halt his easy pace along the city
streets. With his hands still in his trench coat pockets the man let out a slow breath.
The fog of his breath ascended slowly as he turned to see a large shadow cast along
a wall down the street. The shadow passed quickly when the man turned his head to
look. As the man turned his head back to the front he saw a trashcan shift on its
axis inexplicably as it fell over near a dark alley. He backed up slowly and then
turned to run.
[Time for me to flee, flee from the chime]
He was heading for an alley leading to the poorer sector of the city and the smaller
streets therein. He turned a corner and stopped with his back to the wall. The
winded man was panting so loud he could barely hear the patter of paws along the
pavement of the alley, and the slight rattle of a can being kicked. He felt an object
pressed between his body and the wall. It was a knife with a dark black blade. The
man pulled the knife from his back pocket and readied it in his right hand. Holding
the knife he waited for the thing to come for him.
[So I may be free. Free from my destiny which I refuse to believe]

Hobby
He wanted it close, within striking distance, close enough for a clean kill. The
scratch of claws against the ground was so close now. The feet of the creature were
silent except for the scrape of large claws against the hard street. He swung the
blade with his whole body and gave a cry of rage, but he found nothing there to
meet the blade he swung.
[Free from my past which is haunting me]
A bit of mortar fell and broke on the floor next to him. The man didnt look up
before he ran. He knew exactly what was above him, and preferred to keep his eyes
on where he was heading. As he ran, he threw anything he could in between the
thing and him, just hoping to slow it down. He noticed an uncovered manhole up
ahead and threw a dirty tarp over it quickly. Silence was the only sound that greeted
his terrified ears as he waited on the other side of the hole. The silence spread to
his heart for a few beats when he heard the growl behind him. Leaping across the
tarp he slipped on the edge of the dirty tarp and landed on his face gracefully. When
he fell the knife slid away from his hand, but still lay just barely within reach. He
heard and felt the paws walking on the tarp he now laid on.
[And Free from that thing which is chasing me.]
He barely gripped the handle of the knife just as the creature stepped over the
hole. The beast wrapped in the tarp plunged to the bottom of the manhole. The
man, dragged along with the tarp and the beast, followed shortly after with equal
inability to prevent his fall.
[That thing that will never let me be.]
The fall felt like an eternity of grappling with the beast. Tooth, claw, and dagger all
were slashing at each other as they fell. Both splashed into a foot of dirty water at
the bottom. The beast growled and whined; the man moaned. It wasnt long before
they both came to their senses and their eyes turned to blood once more. The man
raised the knife, the beast bared its teeth, and the two clawed, kicked, and gouged
in the dirty water. With deep cuts running through the mans clothes and flesh he
held the beasts throat in one hand as he lay underneath it. It was the only thing
stopping the enormous maw from engulfing his head. He grappled the beast and
rolled it with his might. Kneeling on the beasts chest he raised the blade high in the
air preparing for its final plunge.
[That thing that thing is me.]
He paused with the beasts throat in one hand and the blade in the other as if frozen
in time.
Then the man said to himself, What are you waiting for?
I cant do it. Its part of who you are. You cant just kill it. You have to save it, he
answered.

Hobby
Save it? He scoffed, Listen to yourself! Youre mad. The thing is feral, it reeks,
and its bloodthirsty. It wouldve killed you. So why not kill it?
The man peered closely at the reeking beast. There was something familiar about it,
something that he couldnt quite place in his mind.
Yes, he said slowly.
The beast is Enosh; I am only his shade. Hunterhuntedthere is no difference
here. We are one, a man and his shadow. Erebos never has and never will be
Enoshs true shadow. For Enosh moved me within. I am his true shadow.
The shadow man released his grip on the blade allowing it to fall into the dank
water, now turning the color of rust from the combined blood of the combatants.
He said, One need not open his mind to let the light in, but only to let the darkness
out. For the light cometh from within, and though the darkness should try to hide
the light, it will only illuminate itself into annihilation. We must not fight each other.
We are a part of each other; we are each others strongest asset.
[It is time. Time for me to stand.]
A TIME TO STAND
The sparks and flashes of light had been almost terrifying. The air had buzzed and
sizzled as the energy had surged around the room. Erebos had kept the clamps on
until the energy died out completely. His heart was racing, although he didnt realize
it at first. He was practically in shock. His eyes were glued to the shade on the floor
drenched in salt water. It worked
Erebos smiled. It was over. He had won. The shades followed him and the Figure of
Shadows power had been broken. The Figure had been fractured back into the
original shades of the rulers it had been composed of. Erebos scanned the room.
The dark shades of the previous rulers stood all around the room. They just stood
there, silently watching. What were they looking at? He wondered if they were
judging him. But there was no judgment in their eyes, only patience.
The shade on the floor began to glimmer. Then it began to glow. There was light
coming from underneath the shades skin. It was glowing from within. The head of
the shade rose slowly in one motion and the body followed with it until the Figure of
Light was standing in the center of the room next to Ereboss cage. Erebos flipped
the switches and levers back and forth frantically, but there was no charge left. He
had used all the power up and rebuilding the charge would take hours.
Enosh was glowing. Erebos didnt know what to make of it. This was not a shade, it
was not a man; it was something completely new. A Figure of Light was the only way
he could think to describe it.
Erebos opened the cage and stumbled as he backed away with his mouth open. The
Figure of Light took a few steps towards him, and he nearly fell over when he saw it

Hobby
walk. Erebos realized that every step he had taken had brought him to this moment.
It was true. The more he had fought this, the more he had brought it about. He
averted his gaze. It was too much to bear. But it wouldnt allow him to look away, or
to ignore it ever again. The Figure of Light seized him by the collar and forced him
to look it in the eyes.
The darkness cannot diminish the strength of the light. All youve done is move
yourself into it. You project your self-image upon others around you, and I reject it.
You bring others down so you dont have to be alone, but you will never be satisfied.
You will always be alone even when surrounded by thousands just like you. It is you
who cannot live with yourself, and no amount of broken souls will ever fill the hole in
your heart. It only takes one soul and it can only be filled by one soul: your own.
Until you make it fit, you will never be whole. You have everything you need within
you, but your soul is distorted by your weaknesses. Reshape who you are, and you
will be complete.
Ereboss injured pride overcame his shock and fought back. His pride reached into
his pocket and pulled out the Blade of Shades still stained with the blood of the
Figure of Shadow. His pride smiled and stabbed the Figure of Light in the chest with
the dark blade. Blinding light and glowing blood poured from the wound. Much of it
spilled across Ereboss face and chest. Erebos screamed and clutched his eyes as he
fell to the earth where the Figure of Light dropped him after being stabbed. Erebos
went silent after a few moments of agonizing screams. The Figure of Light pulled
the Blade from its chest. The Figure too stumbled and fell back. It dropped the blade
on the floor in between them.
Something abnormal was occurring on the blade. It was making a hissing sound,
and sizzling.
The shades around the room took a step forward to watch as the glowing blood on
the blade began to consume the Blade of Shades. The blood of the Figure of Shadow
that stained the blade was fighting back though. The two bloods danced a true
blood feud. The knife rolled to and fro across the floor. First smoke, then fire rose
from it. The blade began to spin about on its point like a top. It spun faster and
faster and the fire went out. The glowing blood struggled to stay on the blade.
Neither was willing to surrender. Neither was willing to give in.
It was at this precise moment that there was pounding on a door off to one side of
the room. It was fierce and strong like a battering ram. The door caved in under the
pressure, and Constance rushed into the room. She shoved her way through the
shades in the room. They were focused on the blade and did not yield to her easily.
They were so stiff and she was almost entirely exhausted by the time she reached
the scene of blood and the blade.
Constance knelt down on the floor next to the blade. She looked at the two forms
lying on opposite sides of it. She looked at the knife, and knew that she had to stop
it from spinning or the glowing blood would fly from it. The thought just came to her
and she wasnt sure where it came from. She realized that she kneeling in a pool of
water, and she could feel the silhouette watching her. It had let all this happen.

Hobby
She seized the handle of the blade to halt its spin, but after a few agonizing
moments she pulled back her hand waving it in the air. The blade was spinning so
fast that it just burned in her hand when she tried to hold it. She rolled Erebos over
to pull the trench coat off of him. She wrapped it around her hand drenched it in
saltwater and then tried again. Steam rose from the trench coat and she could feel
the heat not just on her hand but in the air around her as well. The blade was
slowing though. She pushed down on the handle and the blade dug into the floor,
which slowed it more. The battle resumed and the black blood was losing ground
quickly. It was backed up against Constances hand on the handle as the glowing
blood made advances up the blade. The black blood attempted to retreat off the
blade and onto the trench coat wrapped around Constances hand and arm, but the
glowing blood shot out a glowing tendril, pulled it back, and swallowed it whole. The
blade abruptly stopped spinning.
Constance picked it up. She stared at the glowing blade that she held in front of her.
Then realizing that the eyes of all the shade rulers were upon her, she raised it
above her head. She looked around the room holding it aloft.
There was a stirring among the shade rulers who still surrounded her. A few of them
cowered in fear, a few backed away and ran, a few kneeled, and a few smiled.
She looked down at the glowing Figure on the floor to her right. It was Enosh. It had
to be. Of course hed come to save her. Both of the two men on the floor were
covered in the same glowing blood on the blade of the knife, and both were
unconscious. She put one of Enoshs arms over her shoulder and carried him with
his feet dragging upstairs. She noticed that as she walked the shades of the rulers
parted for her now. Many of them even reached out to touch Enoshs body as she
carried him by.
The shades all over the dam did the same. How odd it was that none of them
offered to help her carry the body! They made way for her and they seemed to
revere the one she carried, but they dared not help her carry the glowing Figure of
Light. When she reached the top of the dam the shades holding Matt and his family
captive released them. Matts wife ran to help Constance carry Enosh as soon as
she was released by her captors.
Set him down over here, Matts wife said pointing to a bench atop the dam.
After they had set him down, she took a look at the wound on his chest, and sighed,
If only we had the medicine and supplies that dreadful man stole from us.
Constance unwrapped the trench coat she wore around her arm and hand in order
to check the pockets. She pulled out a set of bandages, a few bottles of medicine,
some antiseptics, and a pair of scissors with a drop of dried blood on the blade. She
handed them, in that order, to Matts wife. When she tried to hand her the scissors,
Matts wife dropped them. Constance watched as the woman just stared at the
scissors on the ground without bothering to pick them up. When Constance went to
pick them up, the woman said, DontIll do it.

Hobby
She picked them up, clenched them for a second, and threw them over the side of
the dam. Then she began to sew up and dress the wound after checking to see that
no vital organs were punctured. Constance didnt bother to ask what that was
about, and the woman didnt explain. The shades all around the two women
watched silently as they worked on the Figure of Light.
BLIND LIGHT
A blind man stood under a dark lamp post, pensive, in thought.
It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks, Erebos, the voice of the Figure of
Light came to the blind man.
I have failed thrice now because of her, the blind man spoke aloud without turning
to face the Figure.
How does it feel to fail? the Figure of Light asked.
It is enough. I want no more of failure. It brings a solemn and slightly discomforting
knowledge. Erebos answered.
Knowledge of what? The Figure asked guiding Erebos to a conclusion.
Erebos answered with incomplete sentences, My imperfections. Despite all my
accomplishments, despite all my strengths, I am still weak. She is strong though
and rules well. Things are starting over. People walk the land once more, real
people. They see the truth and they walk in the lightthanks to you, Figure.
Enosh, the Figure of Light, laughed loudly, You were wrong, but you were also right.
We are not so different, you and I. This discomforting knowledge you speak of, they
call it humility. It is not the same as self-loathing or a lack of self-esteem, but it is an
acknowledgement that one is not perfect. It is an essential step if you ever hope to
become perfect. A lack of self-esteem will never result in perfection, because it is
surrender to your imperfections. Humility is the beginning of a fight against your
own personal demons. Know thy self, know thy enemy, and you need not fear the
result of a hundred battles.'
The blind man raised a hand to indicate his blank eyes, It won't ever be said of me
that I surrendered, that I gave up; I will not quit, and although I may struggle and
frustrate, I will not stop. Stubborn, foolish? Yes, to the bitter end but weak of heart?
No. I will not be deterred from the tryst I've made with life. I still have something to
prove, and the course of time will unravel it all. I will be diligent in the path I have
chosen. Why? I have my reasons, and as long as it matters, I'll be right there,
persevering. They say at this point a gentleman would throw in the towel, well
guess what? Not going to happen.

The Figure of Light placed its hands on Ereboss shoulders, I never wanted you to
give up, only to choose different battles. Everyone deserves a chance at redemption

Hobby
brother, and there is hope in it. Let that be your path. Let that be what you have to
prove. Never give up on that.

Special thanks to Peter Gabriel, Blues Travellers, the Man of La Mancha , Hans
Christian Andersen, Josh Groban, the Scriptures, Parents and just about everything
else Ive read.