The Well

The Well

By Kym Robinson

There once was a village, remote and isolated. It had a community of simple though well-meaning folk. Because of where it was located the village had but one well, this was the sole supply of water for all. The village was built around the well in one big round circle fanning around the well perfectly.

A long time ago, every so often the water would taste a little bit funny. Some of the villagers had theories as to why this may be.

One declared 'We are running out and need to control how much water people use to stop it from disappearing.'

Another sighed 'It is a sign from the Heavens. We need to make some sacrifices!'

But a few more decided that the best way to fix it would be if they poured an elixir down the Well so as to make it taste nicer.

Softly some voices with almost a whisper warned against all of the above and said 'the water sometimes always tastes a little funny. It always has and no doubt always shall. Most of us cannot even tell that it tastes any different. So long as we can drink it, then what does its taste matter?'

The village decided to have a vote after some open and public discussions. It was this process that the decision was made. An elixir shall be sought so as to fix the water. The village formed a small council, those considered so wise and mighty. The council was to be temporary until the Well was restored back to normal. The small group of council officials voted and concluded that they should pour the suggested elixir down the Well.

This only made the water taste funnier. So another meeting was held it was now voted that perhaps the water was running out so maybe the people should pay a toll in order to use the water. Reluctantly the people obeyed, most understood this to be a good thing as they were reminded of the tolls benefits from the council officials as they collected the people's money.

This was tried but some businesses that relied on water began to dry up. People drank less and could not work as longer hours in the hot sun. Others soon found it to be too hard to afford the well so they began drinking other make shift water sources like their own waste water left over after they cleaned things, while others collected rain fall and used that.

This next generation of Village council officials got together and held another meeting.

Some alchemists had come up with the idea of both adding another elixir which would clean the water of the funny taste, while also adding more water to the well so as to increase the water supply.

The council officials created a new tax so that they could buy back the water from those who had stored it and pour it back into the well. While the alchemists stood over it dropping in the right amount of their new elixir into the Well.

The Villagers still felt parched and noticed an even worse taste. This time people started to get sick from the water coming from the Well. So over time more and more people found ways to collect the rain from the sky while others began to make better use out of their waste water.

The village council got together and was frustrated that it was collecting less money from the Well toll. It soon again voted. It determined that the village relied on the Well and it was crucial that everyone continue to use it. So collecting water from the sky was banned and using waste water was made illegal. Those caught doing either were punished.

Over time the Villagers continued to get sick and struggled in the heat while being made to use just the Well as their only water supply. One day along came some different alchemists. They had been working on some new potions, different to the elixirs of the past which would both clean the Well water, while also increasing its water supply as had often in the past been the promise.