Pancho - Writers Forum

A Glass Thought · 03-08-2006, 12:31 AM

There is nothing we cannot do. At least, that is what Pancho believed.

Three figures walked along the coastline, on their right was empty wind and sand; on their left the ocean roared.

The sun would set within an hour, leaving the sky crimson in its wake. Pancho walked with Carla on his left and Massimo on his right. The Spanish cities down the line were filled with lights. There had been festivals all week, for the devil had left them, and Pancho knew this was more than a miracle. He coughed violently, something that started earlier in the day, but he was not afraid. The black devil had gone, and he was invincible.

Carla noticed Pancho's cough.

“Are you okay?”

“Do not worry my beautiful Carla, there is nothing that can harm me.” Replied Pancho with a smile.

“Oh really?” Mused Massimo. “I seem to recall finding you half dead along these very shores not three weeks ago. Were you invincible then?” He only laughed and that caused him to cough more.(Oh my friends, if you only knew. Why do you think the death left this place shortly after my coming? It is no coincidence. I am the life bringer.)

“Yes, I may have seemed that way, but now I know the truth. I will tell you both a great secret as we move along this sand. It is you two who took pity on my starved form those weeks ago, and I cannot blame you for that. When my ship capsized during the storm, I too believed there was no way for me to survive. After a few days at sea and now witnessing the miracles here, I know the truth!!”

“What is the truth, Pancho?” Inquired Carla. Her eyes were wide.(As well they should be.) Thought Pancho. Massimo listened intently as he picked up bits of rock and wood and threw them into the waves.

Pancho found his breath as they came over a nearby dune.

“My friends, I am immortal! I bring life! I am the reason death has left!” He laughed and coughed at the same time, while Carla and Massimo exchanged worried glances.
“Oh, I don't expect you to believe me,” He continued. “Take me to the city! Put me amongst the lights, and see how humanity worships its immortal son!” He laughed harder and longer now. Carla and Massimo had to slow their pace so Pancho could keep up.

“Have no fear, Son of Man, we bring you to your glory.” Said Massimo as he helped Pancho along, noticing the blood mixed with his mucus.

Pancho managed a smile. Some time passed without much incident. Pancho wheezed and coughed, and Carla and Massimo exchanged looks of concern. It wasn't long after that before Pancho noticed the city lights fading into the distance, and the oxcart tracks that had been beside them most of the journey.

“Wait. The cities... this is the wrong way. You, you are taking me to... taking me....”

As they rose over the nearest dune, Pancho could see their destination, only a few hundred meters off. There was a team of oxen with their carts all resting in a circle. In the middle was an unmistakably large pile of bodies.

“The cities... you have brought me to the burnings! But why... I am (hack) the life bringer... I need—the people need me. I am... go....” He collapsed to his knees. Most of the blood he coughed up ran freely down his chin and neck. Carla reached to help him, but Massimo stopped her.

“No, we've done all we can. The burners will find him and think that he fell off the cart.” He said. Carla still stared at Pancho as he slowly let himself lie down.

“I know.” She said. “Are you sure he was the last carrier?”

“Yes, I am sure. The fever made him delusional near the end. I did not think we would make it this far.” He paused as he recollected his thoughts. “Him and those down there,” He motioned to the mound of corpses. “They are the last. This plague dies him.” They both look at Pancho.

He no longer moved. His body rested in a near fetal position, and a dark spot emerged beneath his lips as blood stained the sands. He looked peaceful. Massimo had no doubt that his hallucinations took him straight to a heaven in which he reigned as The Life Bringer, before passing. His clothes were loose upon him when he walked, and now, they covered most of his figure. At a distance, he might look like nothing more than a pile of rags....

“Milo?” Asked Carla.

“Yes Rhea?” Replied Massimo.

“How long? How long before they can live without this, and we no longer have to do what it is that we do?” She paused. “How long before there are none left alive, and we are alone in the emptiness?”

He sat amongst the sand, silent so that he could hear the slight wind and the roar of waves. His right hand dug into the dunes;his left held a piece of driftwood, washed smooth by the sea. His fingers ran over it slowly, again and again.

“I don't know.” He said. “But when there are none left, what becomes of us? When this world is spared the tortures of life, maybe we fly with them, but I doubt that. I believe that while there is wind, we move with it.... I do not know what becomes of us. When they are gone...... ”

The sun disappeared below the horizon and fires were lit.

johnnywraith · 03-08-2006, 12:40 AM

This is a good story with a twist.
I liked reading it.
My only point of confusion was:
Was Pancho already dead? Were the gods delivering his soul?
Was his soul corrupted by his visions of immortality?

A Glass Thought · 03-08-2006, 03:10 AM

Haha, sorry bout confusing you. Actually, this ties into another story. Here's the link: http://www.writingforums.com/showthread.php?t=55334

That should clear it up, but I'm glad you can pull so many other possibilities from it.

Chris Miller · 03-08-2006, 09:34 PM

I enjoyed the beauty and the irony of this. Your quote tag punctuation is wrong, but this did not deter from the read. I love the ending, poetic and practical both.

A Glass Thought · 03-09-2006, 06:02 PM

Thanks Chris. Quote tag punctuation?

Chris Miller · 03-09-2006, 09:20 PM

For example:

“Do not worry my beautiful Carla, There is nothing that can harm me.” Replied Pancho with a smile.

or

“Have no fear Son of Man, we bring you to your glory.” Said Massimo...

A Glass Thought · 03-12-2006, 02:05 AM

kk, I see. thanks for reading