The Scout

Chapter - 54

The Scout
Chapter 54
'Simple Men'
By: Mike Hurley

***
*** A few minutes before the
last scene in Chapter 53***

Robin sensed him and spun around like a lightning bolt caught in a tornado.
No!! She screamed and stared at Death's lightning-bright eyes.

Be careful young warrior!
You almost cut my robe with your sword!! Death exclaimed.
He had a schedule to keep and it had been a busy day.

You!! You, you.......cannot take him!
You cannot have Ty!! No!!
Absolutely not!!

Robin shoved her sword into the earth, like Moses shoved his staff into the sea.....and stood behind it. Daring Death to step past her weapon.

Are you Moses now? Death asked while looking at Robin's sword.

What do you know about Moses?
Robin asked as she intently looked up into his eyes.

Moses was a mighty warrior like you,
Young One. He was fearless and knew the One he served. And his staff was indeed the King's sword!

Were you there, you know, when he parted the Red Sea?

Yes, Pharoh kept me busy; there were many souls to clean up.
Death pointed and said;
I'm here for him, Tyler is his name.
Tyler Borden.

Shawn silently groaned and wandered off into the dark woods, he could not bear to watch as Death took Ty's soul and flew off.
He was tired of angels, prayers, swords, stories about Moses, and girlfriends who loved him one minute and were scared to kiss him the next.
Shawn hiked up a meandering hill and sat under an old elm tree and looked up into the Milky Way.
He dreamed of his Mom's beef stroganoff.
He was exhausted, and his only glimmer of hope in life for a real family of his own, seemed to be fading.
He didn't like being alone; Shawn wanted a girl to kiss, laugh with, and make dinners together. Then at night make love with, and snuggle all night long. She would be warm, and soft to the touch.

He picked up a stone and threw it into the darkness. He stared into the heavens and wished he were back in his cave, at the Rebel Camp, in his old bed, asleep. He had a life there, albeit a lonely one. But he promised his father he would make a difference in this world, like the Minutemen of years ago. Or the French Resistance who had balls of steel as they secretly fought the enemy.

Shawn felt the flags someone had sewn on his uniform. The flags of the United States and Canada.
He closed his eyes and reminded himself he had a family back at
Ft McAdams. The Colonel and Grandma were like parents to him.
Amy was a sister, and Billie, a friend he'd known seemingly for many years.

Shawn stood, and suddenly wound up a pitch, and threw it. 2 more and the batter was out. Billie was his catcher, and smiled at Shawn, from behind the plate. He was just a boy, but Shawn loved spending time with Billie.
He had a young, and innocent imagination, reminding Shawn of his own childhood which he rarely had time to remember anymore.
Instead, his memories were full of war.
Blowing up a meeting of 19 Rebel men, killing them all. Or tonight killing a man in hand-to-hand combat, and seeing the life drain out of the man's eyes. Feeling his body go limp, and hearing the death groan from his lips.
Shawn, so wanted to go home, walk up the back stairs, and smell a cherry pie in the oven. His Mom hugged him and asked how his day at school had been.

But here he was, all alone on a dark hill, overwhelmed with the sadness of losing his best friend. But Ty was way more than a friend; he was the brother Shawn never had. At times Ty had been a father to Shawn.

Young Lafayette stared up into the heavens. He prayed a silent prayer, asking for a girl who had long black hair, blue eyes, a gorgeous body, and a fearless spirit. Shawn had nothing anymore in this life. But he prayed that Robin would marry him, hold him, and make love to him. He did not know the God whom he spoke to.
But Shawn believed in this God, whom Robin served without question.
He stopped his thoughts, closed his eyes, and listened to the crickets, the wind, and all the sounds nature made.
He wondered if Robin's God had heard his prayer?