Risk, Rhetoric, and Reward

“All respective parties, friends and naysayers alike, favoring full expansion of the rails, may a show of hands in support be too many for our enemies to count?” Soledad exclaims before a small crowd of onlookers. Senior industrialist have convened in the woods of the State of Queen Estate in order to mark the inception of the “industrialist charge” by which the railroad shall commence expansion southwestward. Doing so, shall connect the three Industrialist states of Marlboro Sound, Primrose, and Oppoquan with the natural resource rich locales of Kapital, and the all important marine town Port of Folio, to the growing dismay of the Agrarian syndicate of Governors’.

“Our sponsors include the Magistrates of the High Courts, church personnel of the Holy Threshold, and Sovereign chairmen of the five senior families of the illegal gambling and alcohol apparatus and all the works of their black marketeers” he continues his broad hat casting a slight shadow concealing a portion of his weathered face. “The common man is now a champion of commerce. In the absence of kingships, he commands industry into an order of the system republic. Having said that, the cascade of wealth, like waves chrashing a barren coast, reaches the once empty hands of the average citizen weathered by years of desperation and empty prayers that go unanswered”Soledad strongly asserts. The well dressed crowd of onlookers of mostly men applaud though briefly knodding in approval to the message.

“Our enemies experience comfort at the growing expense of your discomfort. They argue, this industrialist charge compare to an advancing herd of bulls, primal by nature made wild by the wilderness of savagery” he expands wiping the sweat from his brow with a satin handkerchief. Several in the audience, express their disenchantment with a chorus outburst damning the Agrarians. He pauses to gather his thoughts, his face expressionless before frowning enraged with immeasurable fervor. “We have become what we wish not upon another when peace was practiced”. “Our efforts shall bridge the gap of a deepening divide of power and disturb the peace of monopolies redistributing the ill gotten gains of beneficiaries unworthy of everything which is anything most splendid” he laments as saliva exits his mouth forcefully.

With a single finger pointing to the left of him, Soledad exclaims “somewhere beyond the horizon do the spoils of the lion’s share rest at the feet of Providence”. Applause follow suit as he begins shaking the hand of each attendee smiling with an all most sinister gaze as the setting sun cast a glow of orange pink upon his sweaty face. “With ambitious eyes, behold this silver spike marking the tail end of single party statecraft and head start of the commercial age spearheaded by steam engine and vessels of the maritime marine” Soledad affirms striking the aforementioned spike with a hammer wedged into its rightful place. It’s blinding appeareace radiates as the sun reflects upon it.

Scene two: Night befalls the countryside of Queen Estate. Soledad accompanied by trustees of his inner circle convene by train destined for the industrialist governed state of Primrose. “Are you a religious man Soledad ?” inquires a bearded man dressed completely in black attire leaning backwards in his leather bound chair. He studies the cigar smoke exiting his mouth as it billows like a ghostly apparition from one side until it’s dissipates into thin air. Soledad seated across, leans forward illimating his shadowy face as he strikes a match before a cigar perched upon his lips illuminating the poorly lit passenger train.

“Albeit the hour glass suggest the God hour beckons, the guardian watchfulness of the superstitious calendar governs my every calculated step. The shuffle of the tarot cards deals a cautionary hand.” Soledad expresses before inhaling laboriously than exhaling cigar smoke his eyes directed towards the ceiling. For reasons more than one, do voices come from the light in the forest. My dreams appear as reality, for my mind know not how to distinguish the two. Voices of warning surround me when summoned to the deepest reaches of the forest. My footsteps are observed by the night owl whom speak to me through the silence of enigma” Soledad continues. He crosses his leg to contain his discomfort felt by the bearded man’s ominous prescense.

The thud of footsteps above the ceiling coming from sentinel guards stationed on top of the train moves from one end to the opposite side of the passenger car. “My dear sibling Theo, a mouthpiece whom lititgates on behalf of the Agrarians, wishes for war exercise , if need be a most suitable means to prolong his stake of the spoils”. He expands. “Danroy, I receive your letter sometime ago and know of what come this way”. He announces looking directly at the bearded figure his ar extended before him prepared to shake his hand.

“The son of the setting sun reduce this world to shadows. Embodied in the night owl’s likeness, it’s watchful eye is evil. Born into darkness, it’s shadow appear like that of a man. It’s speak through the silent suggestion of hints and mystery. It’s hides beneath the echo of the howling wolf and shall knock three times upon your door” speaks Danroy…..his eyes white as snow with a most piercing look at Soledad.