THE RELIC GUILD (and other stories) Updated regularly.

IDEAL VILLAGE (part 10 of 10)

-PHASE X-

To use the word 'Ideal' is to acknowledge a difference of opinion...

As October changed to November, it snowed early, as if the weather had decided a good covering of pure white was just what the villagers needed.
   On the village green, Max Framley the carpenter, and Gill Croup the engraver, worked in the cold. They had disassembled the old village sign, and were now erecting the new one, which had been kindly donated by Lady Kimble-Blanc. Unseen and silent, Mr Cavendish watched Max and Gill work, as did two others: Lanky, who stood alongside the new Mayor and Chairman of the Parish Council, Charlie Pankhurst.
   "Time to set things right," said Charlie. "I want nothing more than to wash away my father's madness for good."
   "And there's no better man for the job, Charlie," Lanky replied, and he smiled somewhat wistfully. "You were a good bobby, though, and we'll miss you at the station."
   "Nothing bad will ever come to this community again," Charlie promised, and so saying, he looked down at the old village sign: Welcome to Ideal Village. He looked up at the new sign, and read it aloud:
   "This is Good Village."
   "The final phase of the Plan," said Lanky.
   Having finished erecting the sign, Max and Gill stepped back alongside Lanky and Charlie to admire their handiwork.
   "Not bad at all," Gill said.
   "And it makes sense," said Max.
   "It certainly does," Charlie agreed.
   "You know," said Lanky. "I'll never understand why someone didn't suggest changing the name of the village years ago."
   Behind him, Mr Cavendish gave a wry smile. There was nothing left for him to do, and so, pulling his coat tighter about him, he set off through the snow, and headed home.

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