Chapter One

Jereth awoke a little after sunrise to the sound of angry men shouting their opinions at other angry men inside their little tin boxes with wheels. Such a trivial thing to hear so early in the morning, Jereth scoffed, and grasped the fencing he now wore like a tattoo on the side of his face. He lifted himself and, eyes closed, he listened to the world around him.

He heard a single bird twittering off in the distance. Jereth hadn't a clue what kind of bird this was, but was pleased to hear it over the simple people in their cars shouting their simple aggravations. For a second, he remembered being one of these people, but brushed away the memory as the dust he considered it. He hated to remember. He thought of yesterday as something not worth the thought of today.

Jereth was not unhappy in his tiny role as a traveler. There was much he enjoyed moving from one place to another, and constantly moving kept his yesterdays at bay. He once wished that they had never happened, but there was little point in wishing.

Jereth began this day's journey. He passed hot dog vendors, and pretzel vendors, and newspaper vendors. He passed young men in their finely tailored suits, young ladies and their yipping little dogs, and more men in fancy black uniforms with fancy black hats and sunglasses. The latter of which kept a close eye on Jereth whenever he passed.

He kept on his way, trudging through last nights snow, and the disgusting slush made by the cars. He looked up at the buildings in awe. He always liked seeing these buildings towering above him like kings or gods. It made him feel protected in some way, more so than the little men and their fancy hats and sunglasses.

Jereth saw a man sleeping on a park bench. The man had covered himself with newspapers. Jereth smiled. He was not happy to see someone is such a position. He was happy about what might happen next. Jereth stood watching for a second as he lit himself a cigarette. He tapped the man on the shoulder, who woke up rather cross.

The man demanded Jereth tell him who he was, and why he had awakened him. Jereth just smiled, and held out an Altoids tin filled with cigarettes. The man took one, and thanked him. Jereth leaned in, and lit the cigarette for him, then leaned back.

Jereth said nothing for some time as his companion serenely drew each smokey breath. "Sir, my name is Jereth."

The man grunted "Richard" and nodded his head in a belated greeting.

"I wish to make you an offer. I know of a place that will take you in. They will give you food, cloths, and a place to sleep."

Grunting again, the man asks "what will I have to do?".

"Most of the work is gardening, and fixing up the place you will be staying, but there is some community work they do as well. There is little more I can tell you. Here." Jereth takes out a little box no larger than that of a wedding ring, and hands it to Richard. Saying nothing more, he rose to his feet, and walked away, listening behind him. Jereth can hear Richard open the box, and unfold a piece of paper. He hears nothing more as he was too far away.

This was Jereth's job. If anyone would ask, these people were his employers, but it was entirely his making. Jereth, who refused every hint of his past, was spending his life trying to make up for it. He was far enough away now that his mystique would not be tarnished. He glanced back at the bench. Richard was gone. Jereth smiled.