We struggle with the world’s indifference
the percussion of rain only background noise to existence
no God breathing chance into the dice
everything just is
apart from you and I
carrying the world on our shoulders
breathless and tired
Is this what it is to be human?
‘Looks what way,’ shrugged Sisyphus
writing
Another damn letter from from Mammaroon
Dear Friends,
I am writing to you against my better judgment!
The family life didn’t last long.
It lasted as long as a dream, though I am almost sure it was real!
‘What shall we name her?’ Alice had asked me.
I was lying in the bed behind a haze of smoke from a cigarette that hung between my fingers. I wasn’t sure how it got there, I didn’t remember lighting it, and I didn’t remember drawing smoke from it either.
‘Spoon.’ I replied lazily.
Alice sprung from the bed like a cat, ‘Get Spoon out of your mouth!’
I looked at her through the smoke, ‘What’d you mean?’
‘I swear you love him more than me!’ She paced up and down beside the bed, ‘Maybe I should get them to bring him here, so he can keep you happy.’ She leant on the bed, reached out and lifted my chin with two fingers to make me look her in the eyes. ‘We are not calling our daughter after your lover!’
‘Yea, you’re right,’ I had said, ‘Especially if we did decide to use my surname.’
Alice bit down on her bottom lip, her eyes glazed over, ‘Is this a joke to you?’
‘I don’t know,’ I gestured round the room with my hand, ‘What the fuck any of this is!’
In some respects, being in a house that looked like one I could have back home on Earth was a comfort. But Alice being there and our…Daughter… I still can’t fathom that one…It made it all disconcerting.
I kept having nightmares where I’d walk through the curtains and take the baby out of the cot and peel the skin off her face; underneath were just wires and red lights.
But then, despite all signs of her being an android, blood would start to spill, and my hands would be covered in her blood.
Alice would walk in, and at the sight of me holding our daughter, bleeding in my arms, she’d let out a shriek so piercing that it could break glass.
‘What have you done?’ She’d scream at me, ‘What the hell have you done!’
And I would stand there and cry, looking down at my dead baby human/android in my hands.
It seems the Mammarians wanted Alice and I to play happy families, smaller Mammarians, like the little boobacious spiders, would come along holding a big device between their two front legs. Then, after a white flash, they’d be gone again. I can only presume that they were taking photographs.
But apparently, I needed to play families better for them.
Yet I was up at night doing the feeding occasionally, allowing Alice to rest. I burped her and changed her nappy. All the usual things a dad does. I pulled funny faces at her, and she laughed, and I laughed back.
Occasionally Alice and I tried to fornicate, but it was very hit-and-miss whether I could perform.
I must confess to you the times I did perform, I was picturing Spoon or some other man I once knew on Earth.
How much I miss the flesh of another human. I miss the birds and the bees, the squirrels chattering in the trees.
I miss the trees too! The velvety moss you could run your hands through, like running your hand through a man’s hairy chest.
I know we burdened the world; a lot had been lost before I was even born. But what was left counted to something, and I can only dream that maybe humans were letting things grow back since my abduction.
After what felt like eons I was picked up in another bubble cart and taken back to the fish tank.
I am still determining what else to add as of right now. I am still processing everything, so I guess that will be all for today.
Yours faithfully,
Holden Mcgroin.
Plastic death
There was a rustle
before it dipped, plopped and clinked
and the sound made me think
of our lungs laden with this tarred air
as the bottle rattled, one last breath
and I thought about the remains of us
littered among this plastic death
The dance of Predator VS prey
There is one of you
a flock of me
you run
We flee
thus the dance is on
who will it be?
Who will be Jesus amongst us
caught in your grasp
so that we can live?
Heaven forbid it might be me.
We only love in seasons
We love only in seasons
and there is nothing more earthly
than these tidal waves of lust & crime
Eve was never a woman
but a scar woven on the psyche
from all the prayers
in which we killed time
Skin-deep
My love of life is only skin-deep
because inside, I’m empty
lens pointing to the wild
alienation penetrates the bottomless pit of my lungs
and I look up to that fucking sun
and think ‘I will shoot you, you fucking cunt.’
Drunk as moose
Did your mother lick you into shape
before you got drunk as a moose?
fairy legless
Ceasar threw you into the Colosseum
you kicked every which way that you might
frothing at the mouth for a fight
because everyone is a lion
a liar
on the prowl
my little cub bear
it’s the pride that eats ya
spilling your guts is no way to hide
Part 4: There goes the Wub
Jameson’s men were getting louder and more belligerent as they drank day away into night.
‘Where do they think their main man got t’?’
Merrick and Jackson sat under the window with their backs against the wall. Merrick peered out the window every now and then.
‘They ent thinkin’ too much.’ Merrick replied, this time looking through the splintered door frame.
‘So let me get this straight, ya man,’ Jackson pointed behind the wall at Jameson’s body, ‘got your boyfrien’ kilt ‘cause ‘e were gay and nothin’ else?’
Merrick frowned, ‘’I dunno that ‘e ordered it. But one of ‘is men killed ‘im ‘cause ‘e were gay.’ Merrick swallowed, ‘What don’t ya believe ‘bout that?’
Jackson shrugged.
The light outside was fading past and the shack was fading into dark shadows. Merrick turned to Jackson, ‘In they cidy, they accept gay people now. But ‘ere in bum fuck Coventry, they send gays out to Coventry, Coventry!’
Jackson looked puzzled.
‘We’re all freaks ‘ere in one way or t’other. But if you’re a man who likes dick, they’ll fuck ya up like you’re the freak of fuckin’ freaks!’ Merrick remarked.
There was a silence between them as the shack grew darker, ‘I were beaten up as a teenager ‘cause of me chest.’ Jackson broke the silence.
The sound of the men blabbering came in from outside.
‘Ah knew of a lad who ‘ad been thrown out of t’ cidy. His freakishness wasn’t readily obvious. Not till ‘e got older and ‘e realised for ‘imsel’ a few things. So anyway, ‘e got sent ‘ere to live with the misfits.’ Merrick looked out the window to check on the men before continuing, ‘People kept askin’ ‘im, ‘Why ‘ave ya come ‘ere? Why? You could’ve hid in plain sight and carried on livin’ t’ cidy.’’ Merrick shook his head, ‘He replied that ‘e couldn’t live there ‘cause ‘e felt too closed in, unable to be ‘imself. ‘e said ‘e’d been t’ one of those suicide booths they ‘ave in the cidies. When they brought ‘is clone out for a second round of life, ‘e realised the suicide booth was pointless. So ‘e told t’ truth and thee sent ‘im t’ only place he could get a gun.’
‘T’the land of nowhere fer a gun.’ Jackson remarked.
‘Yea,’ Merrick continued, ‘So the idea was ‘e would come ‘ere and blow his soul out so ‘e couldn’t be brought back.’
‘So what med ‘im a freak? That ‘e wanted t’ die?’
‘In the cidy’s eyes?’ Merrick asked, ‘Well, ‘e ‘ad a vagina.’
‘So ‘e were a she?’
‘I guess. Meybe.’ Merrick thought on this a moment, ‘’Ah think it was a brain thing.’ Merrick shrugged, ‘Anyway, the point is ‘e came ‘ere to get a gun and blow ‘is soul out. But then when ‘e got ‘ere, ‘e chickened out. ‘E couldn’t find it in ‘imsel’ to place a gun to ‘is neck and do it. So ‘e went around askin’ people to shoot ‘im dead, dead. ‘Will you do it?’ ‘e said, handing ‘is gun t’ people. ‘Please?’ He’d plead with ‘em. But none of ‘em would.’
Merrick continued, ‘then one day he asked a woman and her ‘usband, ‘Will you do it?’ he handed ‘em the gun, tilting ‘is head to the side and pointin’ to ‘is neck. ‘Just shoot here.’ He told them. And the woman looked at the man and ‘er ‘usband looked at him in a sort of stand off. Then the woman says, ‘Ah’ll do it if ya tell me why. And if I deem ya reason acceptable, ah’ll shoot’’
Jackson whistled, ‘Who made ‘er judge and jury?’
Merrick ignored him and continued, ‘Anyway so the lad turns to the woman and asks, ‘’ow do you feel about gays?’ The woman goes, ‘I woudn’t shoot ya for it. But I’d set ya reet!’’ So the lad goes, ‘What about trannies?’’ The woman claps ‘er ‘ands t’gether and says, ‘Ya jus’ another on of us!’ And she hugs ‘im. She tells ‘im, ‘Welcome to nowhere land.’ But ‘er ‘usband is frowning and grimacing somethin’ fierce. And then there is a flash and a bang, and the woman’s face is splattered in blood. ‘er mouth gaped open, ‘er body shakin’ as the lad’s body drops to the floor. She turns to ‘er ‘usband still shakin’ ‘Why did ya do that?’ ‘er ‘usband points across the road to a man who is standing there, gun still hot in ‘is hand. ‘What did ya jus’ do!’ The woman screamed at him with fury and anguish on ‘er face. ‘Can’t ‘ave one of them freaks ‘ere!’ The man bawled at her.’
Jackson shook his head, ‘’ow do you know of this? I don’t even believe it,’ Jackson shook his head again, ‘No, I don’t damn well believe ya, fella.’
‘I can tell ya it did ‘cause I lived in a little wooden shack next to that ‘usband and wife.’
‘I don’t get ya point though; why are ya tellin’ me this?’
‘T’ tell ya, even freaks can find a scapegoat too freakish for their sensibilities. It don’t madder if ya live in the cidy or the exclusion zone!’
‘I don’t see why that person couldn’t jus’ live in cidy as a woman.’
‘There is a long ‘istory frem my understandin’. ‘fore invasion, there was a point way back when it looked like acceptance was growing. But then progress went backwards. Anyway, I think don’t think they wanted t’ live as a woman. That was the point.’
‘We don’t choose shit like that though.’ Jackson said.
Merrick shrugged, ‘Who say’s we choose anythin?’
Merrick looked out through the window, and it was darker now, but from the light reflecting from the bar he could just make out Jameson’s men. They were in a heap on the ground.
‘Sayin’ ya a lad when ya a woman is a choice.’ Jackson said.
‘I dunno ‘bout that.’ Merrick replied, ‘Ah sure never chosen ‘ow I felt ‘bout nothin’’ He crept to the door, ‘Wait ‘ere.’ He told Jackson. Creeping up to the heaps on the ground, he saw it was the two men, collapsed in drunken stupors, and one of them was lying in a puddle of his own piss. He scampered back to the shack, ‘Time fer us t’ leave.’
Jackson looked up at him in a daze, ‘What?’
‘Time fer us t’ leave ‘fore they wake up!’
Jackson heaved himself back up and staggered toward the door.
#
‘I was thinkin’’ Jackson started, his breath on Merrick’s neck as he rode behind him on Tucker.
‘Yea?’
‘Do you think we’re freaks, Mer?’
Merrick’s body stiffened, ‘Don’t call me that.’
Jackson laughed.
‘Ah mean it Jack. Don’t call me that.’
‘It’s jus’ shortenin’ ya name!’ Jackson protested, ‘Like ‘ow you call me Jack!’
‘Do ya not like Jack?’
‘Nah, I’m fine wit’ it.’
‘Well, there ya go, you’re fine wit’ it. But I’m not.’
‘Alright.’
Silence descended between them, the sound of Tuckers hooves ticking down the time as they trotted in the direction of the lady with the gun. Lines of trees on either side of them sped by.
‘Still, what do ya think?’ Jackson asked, breaking the silence.
‘Do ah really think we’re freaks?’ Merrick scratched at his stubble, ‘In terms of the cidy vs us? Yea, we’re freaks.’
‘Ya don’t mind bein’ called a freak?’
‘Not by our lot.’ Merrick replied.
‘Even when our lot call gays freaks?’
‘No, cause they mean it the same way the cidy means it about all of us.’
‘yea?’
‘They spit it out with hate.’ Merrick replied.
Part 3: There goes the Wub
Jackson woke to find the green sleeping bag beside him was empty. The sound of hooves clopping spurred him onto his feet; he ran out of the shack, shielding his eyes from the light of day. ‘Ya were gonna leave, jus’ like that?’ He snapped his fingers.
‘I dunno what’t’ tell yer, I’m a loner.’
‘Ya weren’t much a loner las’ night!’ Jackson spat bitterly.
‘Well, I am t’day.’
Merrick sat in the saddle, and Tucker started walking up and away from the shack at a slow trot, ‘I’ll be seein’ ya around.’ Merrick twisted himself around and saluted down to Jackson, ‘Am sure I’ll be back at some point.’
‘Well, there ent far’t’ go round in circles in this god forsaken place!’
‘True,’ Merrick turned Tucker around so he was facing Jackson again, saluting him again, ‘True enough, Jack.’
‘But then, ‘ow come we never met ‘fore?’ Jackson jutted his chain.
‘I’ve passed through ‘fore. Probably jus’ din’t notice one another tha’s all.’ Merrick picked up the reigns and spun Tucker back the other way.
‘Think I’d notice if ya rode on ‘im ‘fore now.’ Jackson intoned.
‘Ya’d be amazed at’t’ things we miss.’ Merrick slapped Tucker’s neck gently, and they trotted away.
Merrick had been riding for a straight hour on the track, changing terrain from concrete to dust and back. He reached a narrowing dusty path, and ahead of him was a little house on a dead farm.
As Tucker and Merrick approached, a man dressed in all white came walking out, a woman behind him with a shotgun.
‘Now ya stop reet there!’ The man held a palm up to Merrick. He looked up at Merrick on Tucker with a stony face.
‘’E got them devil eyes, Ize.’ The man talked to the woman behind him from one side of his mouth.
‘Jus’ the one.’ Merrick corrected him as he dismounted.
The woman’s left eye twitched on an attractive face, but she had a very short neck making it look like her head was attached directly to her shoulders.
The man’s neck leant to one side, and he seemed unable to move his head. His eyes shifted up and down as he took in the scene. ‘Ya shall not pass!’ He spat, ‘Not with the devil eyed ‘orse of yours!’
‘An’ who made you gatekeeper of’t road?’ Merrick met the man’s steely face.
‘It’s the devil eye,’ The woman said, ‘Tell, ‘im Frank! It’s that devils eye!’
The woman stepped forward with the gun, jutting it in the air, ‘I will shoot! I will shoot that devil ‘orse reet ‘fore ya eyes!’ A crazed look in her eyes.
Merrick could see she was serious, her finger trigger ready.
‘Okay, okay!’ Merrick held up his hands and got back in the saddle, spinning Tucker around, ‘We’re leavin’’ he said, looking straight ahead, never looking back.
‘Don’t shoot,’ He called back again, ‘I’m goin’’ He continued until he was some distance away.
#
‘Fancy seein’ you back in these parts so soon!’ Jackson beamed up at him.
Merrick dismounted from Tucker, ‘Yea, there was a crazy lady with a gun.
Jackson placed a hand on the flank of Tucker gently with one hand, a gun in his other hand, ‘I oughta shoot ya right between ya eyes.’ Jackson spat bitterly.
Merrick turned squarely, ‘Can ya not jus’ pistol whip me across t’ face?’
Jackson held up the gun and mimed shooting him, ‘I really oughta.’ He shook his head, ‘Ya came on ‘ere, fucked me some, then jus’ up an’ left like that’s how ya treat another man.’
Merrick lit up a cigarette casually, ‘What did ya think would ‘appen?’
‘I jus’ want a liddle respec’ is all.’
‘Ya know, I missed ya while I was gone those few hours.’ Merrick told him while he looked Tucker over, ‘Ya got any water for Tuck?’
Jackson lowered the gun by his side, ‘Sure, there should be some in’t stable.’
Merrick and Jackson smoked, fucked and smoked some more till night glared in through the window of the little shack.
They were rolling lazily in their sleeping bags, cigarettes between their fingers. The shack full of haze from all the cigarettes and blunts they’d smoked.
Outside was upheaval; the sound of hooves made the shack’s wood vibrate.
Merrick turned to Jackson, ‘We might’ve got ourselves a problem, Jack.’ Smoke came out of Merrick’s mouth as he spoke, and they both started to laugh.
The sound outside grew closer and their laughter ceased abruptly. Merrick crept from his sleepin’ bag to the little window and looked outside.
‘Three men and four ‘orses.’
‘Why four ‘orses if there are only three men?’ Jackson asked.
Merrick turned to Jackson, ‘Meybe one of ‘em is invisible!’ They started to laugh again when there was a knock at the door.
‘’Ere, they may be after me.’ Merrick squinted through the little window, ‘Yea, they’re probably after me.’
‘Why? What ya done?’
Merrick waved a hand dismissively, ‘Never mind that, I need’t hide.’
‘They’ll recognise your flamin’ ‘orse.’ Jackson said nervously, ‘Anyone could recognise that bleedin’ ‘orse.’
There was a loud crashing sound, the wooden door splintered, and a man in big boots trounced in.
Merrick shot to the back of the room in the shadows, bollock naked. He crept behind the unfinished wooden wall that jutted out.
‘Where is ‘e?’ The man that had pounded his way in asked, ‘Where is Merrick Bowman Jr?’
Jackson stood in his boxers and t-shirt, hurriedly getting dressed and slipping as both his legs ended up in one leg of his trousers. ‘Fuck!’ He spat, lying on his back with his legs up in the air.
‘I’m not interested in you; slow yasel’ down. Am only after Merrick!’
‘I don’t know anyone by that name!’ Jackson squirmed, still on the floor.
‘Course ya do!’ The man jutted his chin, ‘Are ya callin’ the barman across the road a liar?’
‘Well, ah know a man who might or might not have been named Eric,’ Jackson drawled, ‘But ah never got ‘is name.’
The man laughed.
‘Stop playin’ t’ fool. Ya got ‘is ‘orse in that stable of yours!’ The man shook his head and put his foot on Jackson’s chest, spat brown liquid next to his head, ‘Ya wanna be careful wit’ men like Merrick.’
‘Oh?’ Jackson said, lifting his head shakily from the floor and looking at the man’s boot on his chest.
‘Yea, ‘e’s a perv and a killer.’
‘Well, ah wouldn’t know about that.’ Jackson tried innocently.
‘We got an ‘orse short of a man.’ The man jutted his chin, ‘We thought since Merrick loves his ‘orses ser much, we should bring ‘im’t ‘orse for ‘im to shoot dead ‘imsel.’
‘Why would ya want ‘im to do that?’
‘’Cause we know how much it would pain ‘im!’ The man laughed.
‘The ‘orse or Merrick?’
‘Merrick of course.’
‘I’m sure a bullet to the leg might pain ‘im too, sir.’
‘An’ I’m sure a bullet to that beloved ‘orse of his will be pain to ‘im too!’
‘Am sure a bullet to ‘is leg will be pain enough, sir.’ Jackson continued in protest.
Merrick peered around the wall, hands up in question, looking across at the shadow of Jackson, ‘The fuck?’ He mouthed.
‘Anyway,’ Jackson continued, ‘Why would ya want ‘im to kill one of ya ‘orses? Is it ill? Is it sufferin’?’
‘No the ‘orse is jus’ fine. But ah jus’ wanna see the pain reckon on Merrick’s face.
‘Why…Why did this Eric chap kill one of ya men, then?’
‘Merrick,’ The man corrected him, ‘As ah said, Merrick is a perv. You can’t rationalise why ‘e did anythin’
Merrick reached for his gun and stepped out from behind the wall.
‘Jameson,’ He smirked.
‘Merrick!’ Jameson beamed, he took his boot off Jackson’s chest and spat another load of brown liquid next to his head.
Seeing the gun, he held up his hands, ‘Now, now. No need fer this.’
Jameson looked Merrick up and down and laughed, ‘Christ! A sight for sore…’
Jackson stood and tapped him on the shoulder, and Jameson turned for only a millisecond, but it was enough for Merrick to swing a pillow in front of the gun and shoot him in the head.
Feathers floated around the room, and Jameson dropped to the wooden floorboard. Merrick grabbed at his legs and pulled him into the shadows of the shack behind the wall.
‘The fuck is this shit?’ Jackson said, now pointing a pistol towards Merrick again
‘Put ya damn gun down!’ Merrick told him in no uncertain terms, turning his back to Jackson and putting his own gun back in the holster.
‘You’re a killer!’ Jackson spat.
‘Self-defence!’
‘It wasn’t, he…’ Jackson shook his head, ‘Anyway I ent on about ‘im!’ His finger was on the trigger, sweat dripped down his face.
‘’E killed someone dear to me,’ Merrick turned to face him, ‘A man I loved very much.’
Jackson looked over his shoulder at the other men they could hear drinking and talking outside. ‘What are we gonna do ‘bout them?’ He said, waving the gun in Merrick’s face.
‘’Opefully, nothin.’ Merrick replied.
‘But…’
‘They’re gettin’ blind drunk!’ Merrick told him, ‘When they’re pissin’ themsel’ we’ll know we can get Tucker and ride on out of ‘ere, and they’ll be useless.’
Jackson’s hand dropped to his side, ‘Why’d they kill ya friend?’
‘’Cause ‘e was me boyfrien’’
‘If they killed I’m fer that, why ent they kill you too?’
‘’Cuz I wasn’t there when they killed ‘im.’
Part two: There goes the Wub
It was pitch black as they rolled over to sleep; Merrick listened to the howl of the wind against the door. The distant hooting of owls sharing the same soundscape.
‘Say, can I…Can I…I ne’er felt gills on a human ‘fore.’
Merrick rolled in his sleeping back to face the dark lump that was Jackson, ‘Is that what ya got me in ‘ere fer? T’ cop a feel?’
Jackson switched on the torch between them, ‘Fuck no! I ent like that! I ent no pervert.’
‘The lady doth protest too much.’ Merrick smirked.
Jackson baulked and slid up in his sleeping bag, ‘I shoulda ne’er asked. I apologise, sir.’
Merrick shook his head, ‘It’s fine, Jackson! Come on then,’ Merrick leaned over the torch light, casting a huge shadow on the walls, ‘Have a feel.’
Jackson ran his tongue over his teeth, ‘Ya sure?’
‘Yea. Curious folk are better than pre-judgement, fella.’
Jackson reached over hesitatingly, running a finger over the slits in his gills, ‘Wow.’
He spat, ‘Wow!’ He shook his head, ‘Do they, do they work, like?’
‘Nah. non-functioning.’
The wind filled in a gap of silence between them, along with the ‘too-wit’ of a female owl very close by.
‘What’d ya think is wrong wit’ bein’ like that?’ Merrick finally asked.
Jackson was still looking wide-eyed in amazement, his finger tracing down the slits on Merrick’s neck, ‘What?’ He asked with a frown.
Merrick leaned further in, ‘Ya know, like…’ Merrick kissed Jackson on the lips gently, ‘like that.’
‘N- No…I ent.’ Jackson stuttered. ‘And you shouldn’t be goin’ roun’ doin’ that t’ men!
Ya’ll get yasle’ kilt’
‘Why? Are you gonna kill me?’
Jackson swallowed audibly, ‘No.’
‘Well, that’s good then.’ Merrick smiled across at him.
They lay on their backs in their sleeping bags, back into the blackness of the night; the wind continued to howl and bang at the door menacingly.
Jackson swallowed away something that haunted his mind before sighing as though he had resigned himself to some disagreeable fate.
Merrick kept his eyes closed, listening to the rustling coming from beside him, then the purr of a zip coming undone, the padding of hands and knees crawling against the grain of the wooden floor.
Then he felt it, the breeze of exposed skin. He opened his right eye and was met with Jackson looking over him.
‘What’s this?’
‘I don’t know.’ Jackson confessed as he ran his hand down from Merricks gills to his chest and ran his fingers through his chest hair.
Merrick strained his neck and kissed Jackson, pulling him in closer.
‘I didn’t think you…’ Merrick started.
‘I don’t know,’ Jackson whispered, ‘so jus’…’
‘Shut up.’ Merrick finished the thought.
The wind had since calmed down, and the floorboards creaked underneath their weight.
‘I always wonder wit’ men like yasel” Jackson started, his head resting against Merrick’s chest, ‘Are ya jus’ a man lookin’ fer anythin’ thee can get?’
‘What do ya mean?’ Merrick frowned.
‘If thee ent no woman around, ya jus’ take a fella like me to replace ‘er, like.’
‘Men like me?’ Merrick looked down at Jackson’s face, ‘more than one?’ He grinned, ‘But ya ent that way!’ He laughed.
‘Shut up!’ Jackson retorted, ‘Jus’ answer the damn question!’
‘What makes ya think you’re a good replacement fer a woman?’ Merrick asked, amused.
Jackson slid out from the sleeping bag and crept toward his own.
‘Anyway, ya think I couldn’t get me a woman if I wanted one?’
‘No, no! I ent sayin’ any such thing!’
Outside, time ticked away with the sound of rain dripping from the shack’s roof, cigarette embers marking down the minutes between Merrick’s fingers.
Just as Jackson had started to drift off to sleep, Merrick piped up, ‘What wus that ’bout ya goin’ t’ cidy?’
‘I ent goin’.’ Jackson replied sleepily.
‘Ya won the loddery?’
Jackson shifted in his sleeping bag, ‘Ah might ‘ave.’ But even if I ‘ave, I ent goin.” Jackson sat up, his back against the wall, ‘I wouldn’t go there ‘less I wus goin’ down t’ shoot ’em all down.’
‘Ya don’t wanna do that.’ Merrick told him
‘Ya bet I do!’ Jackson replied, ‘Look ‘ow they ‘ave us live! Those purebloods got it comin”
‘First someone teks ya eye, then ya tek theirs, then what are ya left with?’ Merrick asks the darkness.
Jackson frowned, ‘Say, what?’
‘Ya left blind! Thee take ya eye, you take theirs, they take your other eye, you take their other eye. Then ya fight blind and ya die.’ Merrick puffed up a pillow and clasped a hand behind his head.
‘I’d fight those fuckers blind if I ‘ad t’.’ Jackson replied.
‘I’m tellin’ ya,’ Merrick looked up at the ceiling, listening to the rain drip, ‘it never works out ser well.’
”ow’d you know?’
‘Never mind wut I might’ve done.’
Jackson squinted his eyes to see the shape of the man beside him on the floor in the dark. ”Ave ya kilt a man?’
Merrick got out of his sleeping bag, ”ere let me show ya somethin,’ He grabbed Jackson’s hand and pulled him up off the floor, ‘Come on.’
‘Wait, wait,’ Jackson loosened his hand from Merrick’s grip and put on a pair of boxers before following him outside.
‘Ya see down there all thum cidy lights?’ Merrick pointed down the cobbled street at the distant lights.
‘Yea.’
Merrick looked up at the sky, and Jackson followed his gaze, ‘Ya think thee can see those stars down there?’
Stars twinkled through transparent wispy clouds, the scars of scattered rain showers moving through the sky to reveal the brilliant void of space.
Jackson shrugged.
Merrick shook his head, ‘Thee cant. They’ve blown themselves up wit’ so much artificial light down there they forgodden real stars exist.’
A Wub hurried past, making a bubbling sound that they made when running.
‘Ent it interestin’ wut thee left behind?’ Jackson asked prompted by the sound.
‘Ya not one of those that think thee left ’em behind on purpose, are ya?’
Jackson shrugged again, ‘Mebe.’
‘Nah,’ Merrick said, ‘I think it’s like ‘ow we ‘umans introduce new species to new lands from ships and t’ like accidentally.’
‘Except the Wubs are alien.’ Jackson said.
‘So are t’other species when they arrive on new land. Anyway,’ Merrick took a piss where he stood, ‘They ent alien anymore.’
”Ow’d ya figure?’ Jackson asked, looking at the butt of Merrick as he relieved himself and he grinned, ‘ent ya a bit cold?’
They lay back down in their sleeping bags, hands clasped behind their heads.
‘So,’ Jackson started, ”Ow’d ya figure?’
‘Figure what?’
‘The alien thing, the Wubs.’
‘Thee preddy much naturalised now ent thee?’ Merrick said, ‘Like, back in’t day when Romans introduced non-native trees and ‘t’ like. Anyway,’
Jackson heard the floorboard creaking and then felt a weight on him, ‘I figure ya shut up wit’ the questions now,’ Merrick told him as his hands roamed between Jackson’s legs.
silverbackgorillapoetry.com 