I The Creation
In the beginning are the God’s and a great space that stretch ages. Light years as the light travels. Wisdom collectively in that great space. Given light by stars with planets as stores of knowledge. Where their dictum carry through space violently crashing into the surface of worlds Prophet and Apostle chronicle this. The behest of Kings and Holy Men. The intrepid and civilization you seek is thousands of years before you appear. The navigation laid by lights streak the night and wisdom that world’s has figured but could never repeat. The progress is slow and maddening evolution. Whatever the movement it is the message and messenger. Spiritual, science in one. Time immemorial and time to come stewards of the true and living word.
Urban Legend of long dead Royal. From the days of the first family. That he come out when powerful lonely drive him up. This nightmare put to page. Slow burning. Dramatic. Intensity is central. Pensive. Plodding. The story of Providence according to official records to present day. Through constant warring. Slavery. Behavior of Kings. Dynasties. Enough to fill scroll and folio over time. God’s and monsters. The Bedlamite is the partisan theory. The mistiming of things. Some place wrong time. Kangaroo court at high noon. The pauper’s grave. He’d come for the woman.
Name of the islands of the archipelago in the beginning: Providence and the Grand Islands. The Caribbean Sea. South of Jamaica in the Greater Antilles. Created by the God’s as their greatest creation. Their own Garden of Eden. But not all the God’s are happy over the worship of this land and the worship of man. They should be worshipping them. He will take decisive and destructive action beyond his usual mischief. This is a polytheistic country.
The mainland is Named Providence. In the southeast is the capitol city at the time. The original palace of the first dynasty. Across the Providence sound twenty miles away are the islands of Albany and Ngome. A few miles apart from one another. East of the Mainland is the island of Patagonia. An island that seems to be in its own world from the Mainland. And miles south of Providence is the mysterious and fogged over island of South Village. There are many urban legend of this tiny island lashed by the sea. Later will come the Grand Island. An island with infamy. More infamy than the other islands in the archipelago.
II The Kings
1000 A.D., common era. Civil war to decide central government of the islands or continued provincial rule. The North with the decided advantage prefer the continued provincial rule of warlords who raid their rivals for such as food and supplies and anything they like. The God’s take sides. The God’s do not like violence. They create the Lusus Naturae, a creature twice the strength and size of the average man. They live in the heavily wooded areas of the north mainly northwest. They can run on two feet strike a man down with one blow or take to pursuit on four legs to rip a man to shreds. No more throwing rivals over the cliffs of the north face or hanging from trees for not giving up his goods. A Northern Warlord will use these creatures which he at one time fought against to his advantage against the South.
All the islands are occupied except for South Village at this time. The mainland the most occupied and the south including fishing villagers full of pluck lead by a man named Lethabo or “Thabo.” The war goes on from 1001 until 1005 when the God’s decide to put an end to it with a spear to the throat of the leader thrown by “Thabo.” This was the best solution for the God’s can only see more violence and the rest of the region was moving towards Monarchies. For the time it is a battle of God’s in the region for their own power. They use High Preist(ess) and Oracles to spread their intentions and decipher their deeds. The most powerful Oracle of the time reside in a small town in Haiti. Many a despot in the region go to this woman whose prophecy seems to always be right. One of the few Oracles that get their prophecy straight from the God’s themselves as if they are afraid of her as well. High Priest(ess) have the power to talk to the God’s. The Oracle get their information from the High Preist(ess). The Oracle decipher the messages from The High Priest(ess) about their ways otherwise there will be consequence as well as whether or not they will find fortune.
They chant “Mfalme Lethabo.” He is treated all over the country as the first and the most loved because he is the first. He take the surname of Banton meaning one with a superior attitude and a gift of speech. With the northern leader dead the opposition is in disarray the southerners set upon them viciously driving them back into the north woods.
The Oracle of Haiti says to a man of noble blood, “there is a great nation rising in the region. It is to your benefit to defeat it in its infancy or join sides with it. The world is going to change a country such as this (Providence) will be a great comfort in those times. So say the God’s. But they are willing to do just so much. Beware of the “Mafisadi.” The corrupt. First thing he did was set the territorial boundaries especially around the north with a force of soldiers should the north have an idea to ride again. Banton rule is absolute.
As the word of the Oracle of Haiti spread Despots send men for espionage. A sort of regional underground that work their way into the court of the newly built palace for the Banton Dynasty. To find their way into the ear of the first Kings Lethabo and his successor Oba. Mfalme wa pili.
The underground has its agenda which is to raid territories in the Caribbean and seek the weak underbelly of Providence. But Thabo and Oba realize this and they don’t send out and raiders, light infantry with light armor and sharp swords, moving without making sound with warriors from other nations looking to take a village on another island. But not before the King makes known how it will benefit the country and/or himself. Including the final piece of the Grand Island collection. Simply called the Grand. It took a raid on Borinquén modern day Puerto Rico with their allies wanting Borinquen for themselves and them being known as fierce warriors Oba wanted the Grand Island for the effort.
Greater Antilles War
Knowing one day there might be a raid on one of their own islands the current King Khalil in the 1200’s began a campaign of espionage of his own and was upset to hear that their neighbor to the north Jamaica was planning on colonizing Providence and all its wealth for themselves making them the most powerful country in the region.
Before Jamaica has a chance to act Khalil sends an emissary of his own to Jamaica with some of the wealth gained during the raids. It would be better to be allies than the God’s forbid they should actually go to war. The King of Jamaica hardly seemed moved by the gesture. He knows about the raids going on in the region and had amassed troops in case such a raid would take place and all involved in the raids would meet a cruel and bloody end. An emissary from Jamaica comes before the court of Khalil bringing no gifts but warning of his country’s intention to colonize the Grand Islands. It would be in their best interest to stand on ceremony laying down their weapons and welcome them as conquerors.
King Of Jamaica: “I’ve been told your land is the most beautiful and blessed in the region. We want that blessing. Perhaps it is in your favor to be such a young nation. Your people are young and your women have birth the strongest fighting force next to ours of course. I have heard of your ability for hand to hand combat and your military men among the best. With all your resources natural and otherwise we can rule the Caribbean. It has been said so by the Oracle of Haiti.
Khalil: I have also heard the words of the Oracle and believe she was speaking of us. Those who ruled before me have heard that prophecy and out of respect have not raided your land being that we are so close together. In time we could work together. But you come with your bluster and your silly pride. Here’s to you silly pride.
He nods and one of the guards by his side throws a dagger at the emissary striking him in the throat.
Khalil: My warriors are quite good at that. (Giving out directions), behead him and put it on a pike. Let us see what a Jamaican response looks like.
The head facing the forces coming not to colonize but to retaliate. Ships amassing in the sea letting off bombardment at the cliff side. The north side of the mainland. Khalil is out there with his men much to the chagrin of the people of the north to capture anyone who is lucky enough to make it through the woods or make it up the face of the cliffs.
As with all battles in the region it is a war of the supernatural. God’s and monsters. At night the vampires and the lusus naturae take up the fight in the decade long war. Try as they may to climb the cliffs it is not easy going. Leave it to the Mafisadi. Once again the God’s take sides. The corruptor with the vampires. Thanks to the Dhoruba a great storm over takes the island and wash away the killer creatures bringing the war to an end. Khalil the first King to die in battle is buried in battle surrounded by vampires and dragged from his horse. There is a time of mourning than past kings buried in the palace crypt.
1300s
Adom is on the throne when the tide turns. Again Jamaica is at court in Providence City to try to cease hostilities as he has raiders at the ready to strike inside the Jamaican capitol. They bring expensive gifts to show they’re serious and feasting for days. The emissary is allowed to leave with his life.
1400s
Wralston Banton is King when he sees strange vessels in the southeast. They weigh anchor in the open sea to appear to respect sovereignty. They watch for some time to figure the breadth of the region. The Grand Islands now as they’ve passed “the Grand,” Having spent time trying establish a presence there. Sending an exploratory group through the jungle arriving as their pagan fixtures have described. Warnings from the God’s to the High Priest to the Oracle/local SEER. They say they come in peace, the noblest of them or the Navigator of the expedition.
There is always benefactor. In some case their vessel is hardly sea worthy by the length of their travel. With very little knowledge or map of this part of the world. They show their best face after some challenge as to who they are, where they are from and from the looks of them, haggard having lost some ships or have ships turn back before they reach any sight of land. They are short on supplies. Either there will be trading or ne’er do well look to take valuables, people for slaves as they intend to set up plantations in the region and claim the land and people for their benefactors or themselves. However they’ve seen nothing like this they realize this won’t be the last that raid the region. Many flags and battles for land that change the flags for the time being.
Wralston is wise to know the difference between explorers and the rapacious. The original belief these people are destined for conquest but are surprised to see they are not threatened by their visitors and stand man for man as warriors. Suddenly a feeling of being lost, off course over take the visitors and they look to make the best of the situation. There many islands in the Caribbean for which they feel they can take. But this one called Providence provides a certain challenge a certain danger. When the visitors are at court they realize that these people do things much like them and speak with such confidence that they will not be taken without a fight.
Wralston: Our SEER has already told us that we have the God’s on our side so the trouble is yours. The last man who had the nerve to speak such a way to our King lost his head. I suggest you do your business and leave the area. Soon.
Wralston could see that would not be the case as once again many of the ships are not sea worthy but there will be more to come from who knows where. Who knows beyond the region or hemisphere but those who have traveled many miles and can tell others what is here. As the world continues to modernize and manpower is a necessity. Whether by force or indentured servitude. Prisoners work for their freedom. But are they really free?
Wralston like every king before him go out on patrols to protect lone travelers and those who are not familiar with the mainland and are taken to places they are not sure of how to get back to their ships. Women are taken for wives. So called nobles in caravans are attacked and barely escape with their lives. It seems Wralston’s words are coming true. More ships, sea worthy come to the region this time with warriors to retrieve those who have disappeared and set themselves up as the power in the Caribbean. Plant a flag off the mainland and get to building Castles like the one at Gnome, seeing themselves as the new Governor or the islands that make up Providence. Once again the God’s have a hand in this. There is never a plantation on the Mainland. But there is a treacherous act to come that will change the name of Banton in the country.
Slavery has been in the region for centuries. It was a matter of acting as Deities have declared and passed down in text, or vision. Perhaps they were told they would be forever known as great warriors/leaders. Not just in force but to pass on their word as well whoever it is you worship. Wralston could feel this is different and when his son Bolivar is old enough her takes him on patrols with him. He believes Bolivar will be a better King than he will. As long as Banton rule is absolute.
They capture those who would do harm to the people of Providence by taking them for slaves where slavery now is a matter of greed. Having the most slaves and being able to afford a large number of slaves makes one all the more powerful. What one chooses to call himself there is no assurance that he will be in that role for very long. As well the difficulty to take any one from the Grand Islands for slaves. More likely they will be captured and killed for his ill will. This happens even more during the rule of Bolivar, the son of Wralston.
1500s
Bolivar Banton is king. His wives have born him two sons two years apart. Mkubwa the elder son and Xavier the younger son. Bolivar and the elder son again on patrol as strange rumors are starting to circulate around the mainland.
By now slavery has consumed the region regardless who the benefactor is. Slave ships back and forth. Here and there. Unload their bounty for sale and slaves in return are sent heaven knows where. Families are destroyed in the process and the DNA of the western world is changed forever.
Islands are fighting to keep their people but are overwhelmed by warriors better prepared than their original arrival. There are still rivals in the Caribbean but they are more likely to join together to keep the defeated from leaving the Caribbean. The enslavers keep an eye on these rivalries to pick off the losers or trade weapons for slaves. For the most part there are few who will take their offer.
There have been slaves on the Grand since it was captured from Borinquen the results of raids. It has been a secret amongst the Banton Kings. They were never mistreated but inhabited. “The Grand,” is a circular island with a Grand house where people who have been captured learn to live a new life reluctantly but they are alive. From the outside no one can see in and beyond a short beach to land before entering a thick jungle guarded by eunuch. If any one group is able to make it through the jungle there is an eerie silence but they plant their flag anyway. It doesn’t mean they will make it back to their transport. They’ll explore the island knowing there are people there. There are fires burning and other signs of life but try as they may they do not find anyone. They find some food which confirms to them there are people there. When they have decided they’ve been there long enough and try to get back to their boat is when the eunuch attack and slaughter the interlopers. Anyone who comes near the island see the empty boats and no flag and they do not know what to make of it. The first thing anyone would have done is fly their colors.
Bolivar and Mkubwa are gone for months at a time. They separate where Bolivar has the heavier armed soldiers while the son with the archers. Bolivar and his men chase and surround the interloper and behead them while the archers who are very accurate and they don’t have to chase they just loose a volley that takes down they quarry. After these months they are excited to return to the palace and their wives. While the soldiers are gone on patrols they wives allow the children to play regardless of their station. Their parents generally work at the palace and live on the palace grounds and often find themselves in their own adventures. Or wandering into the hinterlands to play.
Xavier (pronounced Severe) is called to the bedroom of a girl who was once a servant girl. Among the families who have worked in the palace. Xavier is not at all a soldier which bothers Bolivar to no end. Xavier is more of a diplomat/emissary facing the brunt of the anger of the people for allowing any part of their country to be used for the evil of slavery. The Islands of Albany where there marketplace. And Ngome the grand castle of the Governor of the market thinking of himself as the real King of the country.
Albany
People in a marketplace of flesh and given a price. For a life and a task. A bonanza when reduced to bags of gold. Among them a darkness than their skin that get them agitated at dark. They gather on the slip of land that is Albany. It is when they hunt. Bloody water in the “sound.” The Providence Sound twenty miles from the mainland.
The cruelty of their enslavers and their retribution and uprising in Ngome to get into the castle and assassinate the Overseer. Many make a run for the water and they are shot at. Many drown from a bullet or cannot swim the distance and are attacked by sharks. It is the people’s desire to rescue as many as they can as the King’s men and local constables are looking for road agents trying to snatch up anyone to bring to auction. And bounty for those who escape. The realization something was wrong when the first man pulled from the water had bullet holes in him like it didn’t affect him. When they found the good Samaritan his neck is broken. His clothes had been taken. Sometime later another body is found on the beach. Naked as the other. As he is dying he has a look of terror on his face. Bolivar and Mkubwa during their patrols begin hearing rumor of a building disturbance. A pestilence attempting to fit in with the watu wa asili (the native people) but something unnatural about them is the word. Also word off the northern cliffs of boats/ ships on the rocks. Broken up. Corpse of the crew found. They make their way up the cliffs in desperation to avoid their sure fate. Massive count of the enslaved to the plantations by the day. Some say they can hear the eerie laughter of Mafisadi. Only he could be responsible for Albany.
Marguerite
Bolivar come back to the capitol from patrols to spend time with the girl he plans to make one of his wives who has no affinity for him. It anger him to find that they have been spending time together. Riding the southern trails. The fishing villages. Seeing the strange vessels, strange flags in open water. Marguerite. It anger him and cause him to beat Xavier in the public square where they do executions. For a woman who rush to Xavier’s side. Bolivar has been in her bedroom. Held her things. Bought her things. His wives are many but Marguerite is fresh.
Bolivar feel the world on his shoulder with the slavery off his shores. These are his people but he doesn’t know these people. The oracle speak of more of this to come. A passion burns bright in him for this woman. Marguerite. Bolivar grab the wife of his older son for ransom for Marguerite. This is his way to get Xavier to leave him alone. He calls Xavier to the grand dining room where it is clear Bolivar is angry. The two women prepare Bolivar a meal. His food is brought to him. He is unaware that a sedative has been put into his food to give them time to get away. They watch as he succumb to it. The three of them spending the night hiding in Xavier’s bedroom for Bolivar will look to kill in the morning.
For a long time there has been talk of a wedding between Bolivar and Marguerite. Talk of this among their allies and their noblemen promising gifts by the boatload. But to “the Grand,” where this wedding is supposed to take place. But no such wedding will happen unless he near kill the boy. Put him on a horse and send him into the hinterland alone.
There is already transport gathering to take the guests to “the Grand.” Instead they gather around his body and there is a great wail. And for a time a great sadness. Xavier knowing what he know about his father and his brother’s wife the night before in her most fetching gown jump the line of succession because of what he knows about his father and his brother’s wife as hostage. Bargaining chip. The wedding goes ahead but on mainland Providence with Xavier and Marguerite. He sees the love in her eyes and the torture in his. The love is what they dream of in a scandalous backdrop. Their love produce a boy. W.B. Banton. By the age of twenty Xavier will be dead from suicide. Responsibility for his father’s death.
Love and hate at court. Suddenly the country has no royal couple at the lead. Whichever Banton King and his first wife as Queen. At court and addressing the court the Crown Prince sit in with his mother Marguerite who is the Queen of All Providence. She is over come with grief. A painful end to a great love that put a father against his son Xavier over the same woman. Marguerite. Now warrant many proposal from men in varying status.
Attempted suitor: or take your people as chattel.
Mauguerite: You haven’t as yet and isn’t the first I’ve heard that threat.
In which case the reality of ‘the Grand Island Plantation is brought to her attention. There is a stoic look on her face like no one should know what is on her mind and how angry she is at this knowledge. Bolivar couldn’t have been this foolish and deceptive. Truth is he had meant for “the Grand” to be a gift to Marguerite. Upon their wedding.
Attempted suitor: And a boy to protect you. I expect you’d accept my offer/gift.
They swear, “You will have the same role in a new regime.” She is considered the most beautiful and eligible in the region. A marriage of Grand importance and convenience. Envy of your plantation
Attempted suitor: you now must acknowledge.
That cannot be seen from the outside but those in the know, there are riches there.
W.B. Banton & Sekkou
W.B. Banton send out agents to find out if what was said was true. About the Grand Island. They never arrive for their transport is piloted by vamps that found their way aboard. News of this disaster reaches the queen and she is livid. The boy cannot do anything right. He and Sekkou, friends since they were children much like she and Xavier. They are now much to her chagrin though she doesn’t know why it bothers her so much on what they call an adventure. Since children their adventures involved going off on their own into the hinterland. When Sekkou got a gun W.B. was impressed. They take turns shooting it. He’s not one for guns. He feels he is unmatched with his swordsmanship. Little did the know that when they are out they are being watched.
She cry herself to sleep at night and keep her chin up during the day. Her heart is broken with the weight of the times. Constant invaders mix in with the natives all the more steadily since the death of Bolivar and subsequent death of Xavier. She feels she needs to be away from the capitol for a time.
Bolivar was a hero just as Wralston for his stance on the great evil. She couldn’t imagine they could find a way to benefit at the same time or they be ignorance of things happening behind their backs. To the people the Banton name is tainted no matter who is at fault. That they could allow such a thing to happen off their shores is disheartening. She could believe Bolivar had a hand in it for he would barter his son’s wife in exchange for time with her. Little did she know the doings at “the Grand,” had started long before Bolivar. What she has learned has shaken her faith in what was. She like them will be buried in the palace crypt. The chill of the boy in succession of her. She is lonelier than ever.
Suddenly she is aware of it. Even with the boy W.B. Banton named for his Great Grandfather Wralston and his Grandfather Bolivar. Possibly part of the reason Marguerite hates him. It seems that the joy of producing a child for the love of her life is gone. But overwhelmed by the fact he was responsible for the death of his father regardless of his heroics standing up to his father who did his best to embarrass him to keep him away from Marguerite. And she was the only one he wanted for a wife where other Banton Kings had more than one wife. Banton rule was absolute. Banton wives were kept if they gave the King children while those who didn’t were exiled. Whether in another country or on the Grand Island.
With all her attendants, ladies in waiting, guards and scouts for anyone should act on their threats. Best to wear her best dress. Her protection has not failed her yet. They will set off at dawn.
The boy is summoned to the sitting room and without word handed a and official document to be delivered to Albemarle City, north of Providence city the capitol city.
W.B. Banton: Mother. We should talk. We haven’t mourned together since he poisoned himself. In shame over my Grandfathers death.
Marguerite : (not good memories for Marguerite. It seems she hates W.B. Banton as much as she loved her Husband and King Xavier). We will never discuss your father. If you have any trait of his good or bad the Banton name has a stink on it.
W.B. Banton: I don’t know very much about him beyond my youth. I’ve heard wonderful things about him except why he felt he had to die.
Marguerite: Let’s not prolong this. What will change? The death or how it came to be. You see the toll on me. I refuse to suffer the sentimental. We have no more to discuss.
She gets up and walks into her chambers.
W.B. has his orders and is on his way.
Marguerite allow her attendants to dress her as she feels she would fall down at any moment from grief. She is travelling to the woods to mourn the death of her husband. Possibly when she return she will be back to her old self. Confident and bring together a coalition to end the cruelty on their shores.
They are travelling to the Holiday Palace in the Barrington woods. The wooded area in the west. Bewitching environs. If you’re not familiar with the area you don’t know they’re eyes on you. Unless you’re familiar with nymph and satyr that play the day and the night through. Mischief and music. Free spirit they entertain the royals.
South Village – Time of the Franco’s after they have made peace with the Vamps/Vampires and the Native Peoples: Watu Wa Asili. Ending slavery and the God’s creating Siren whose song cause the Vamps ears to bleed. The God of War – Mungu Wa Vita – to protect the native people. By this point we don’t know who the native people are because everyone is black. The Franco’s go to South Village where the waters are treacherous, where there is a venerable theater. They write funny plays about the Royals. Also men go there to write the perfect story about a heroine to be acted out on the stage. In the town there are a number of establishment where the men get drunk and fight over their ideas. Whose idea is better and the legend of bodies buried under the garden of the only hotel on the island. And the Heroine who put them there.
Mondragon – A town where people come to see the newest weird attractions on the western cliffs. Weird creatures. In between modern towns to the north and vineyards of the God’s to the south.
Durham – Farming/ vineyards of the God’s. One of the God’s lives there and pass batches to the God’s through cherubs who appear and disappear. His best friend is
God of Mischief - Mungu wa Mafisadi who cause a lot of trouble on the islands including allowing vampires to reach Providence. He feels the God's worship the people except the other way around. He loves to spend his time on the mainland in Durham the vineyard of the God's with a minor God.
The God’s fall in love with this lush Eden. He takes advantage of the women who come to get wine including a woman who comes to sing for her wine. Or a woman who comes from far away. She is very shy. She is plain but he has a great affinity for her. They sit in her car and drink.
Brandywine – Farming Vineyards - Where there are shape shifting lions. Lions at night, they walk to protect the vineyards. Brandywine Mountains can be seen from South Village. The coast there is where men leave from on a dangerous journey.
This is a romantic country so don’t be surprised there are some erotic/romantic scenes/stories.
“Ruby’s Girls.” A group of girls who try to seduce Milo. They start while he is in the tower but they take a liking to him all the while he’s in Providence.
Mshauri – Advisor Instead of the queen?
Ladies in Waiting – Female attendants to the queen - Wanawake katika kusubiri
The trip to Albemarle with a note/ warning to the mayor letting him know the Royals are keeping a constant eye in them. There is always suggestions of corruption taking advantage of the people in the Ranvenswood slum. He is not happy that she sent two young boys with such a message.
Nymphs (female) and Satyrs (male) play in the woods watched over by the creatures in the trees. The fortune of the forest if you get to see them.
Story/Scene: Woman who is visited by rogue creature coming as a wolf. She live in the woods. Called the Barrinton Woods. She don’t encourage him but she don’t stop himfrom coming. Her housekeeper hears laughing when she believes the woman is alone.
There is a lot of supernatural/occult in the Carribean. Vamps are generally women who can get what they want from menespecially rich men but not Milo. They come across by escape from their captors but people generally go out to get them in boats and they attack them. Sometimes the vampires male and female kill the crew of a ship and it becomes a ghost ship ot it sinks from being set on fire. Male vamps haunt the night for the native women. Eventually when Milo becomes the Metropolitan he is walking the streets at night to prevent this. He is a somnambulist: sleep walker.
Milo has dreams of fire and large cats in the streets and everyone is blaming it on him. This goes in his journal.
Watu Wa Asili – Native people.
Hot days and nights lying in bed thinking about in Chicago. Sweating. Getting little sleep.
There are two young men on holiday in the northeast. One of them is the Crown Prince W.B. Banton, the last Banton male. And his friend Sekkou. Their hearts are heavy as the sale of humanity occupy two minor islands off the mainland. Westward into the sea. And the Grand Island even further out. Here many atrocities and the abandon of the results. The two young men look through long lenses and see them jump into the salty water and swim the futile swim towards the mainland with bullets coming at them in the water. Happens a shark is swimming nearby and tries to take him under. Somehow he has the strength to break from his bonds. He fights him off and makes it to the shore of the mainland. Another enslaved man attacks a man in a crowd they’ve drawn. This time Sekkou is looking through the long lense. They decide they have to put up an alarm.
It is 1927 when he wakes up from the few hours sleep he’s had. That was a crazy dream. He landed in Jonsburg and fast drive east to Ravenswood, Albemarle. Milo Ambrose of the Camelot Ambrose. Powerful underworld family. They sent me away and I come back with a bounty on my head. I’ve already been shot at by some unknown bounty man so I get a dog in ’29. For the time I am able to sleep she acts as an alarm. I make sure I am seen with her and a weapon concealed. I turn on the radio and stare at the ceiling in the tower. A mirror in the lift. Anyone move for their weapon I can see it. The strange color of the bricks. The color of blood. The noise in the neighborhood/slum at night. Broken glass. The senses of the dog says when there’s trouble.
His Grandfather and Great Grandfather fought to keep slavery from the mainland and the bounty men who try to snatch the native people and sell them into bondage. His Father killed himself shortly after he is born. His Mother the Queen won’t talk to him She thinks Banton men are bad men, meanwhile she is heartbroken at losing her first love. 17th century Providence.
Bedlamite: archaic a lunatic; insane person.
He’s making breakfast in the eleventh floor apartment. The Grand apartments. There is a knock at the door. The dog starts to growl. I say who is it and a bullet comes through the peephole. I didn’t ask to have the door replaced.
They mounted their horses and headed west. What started as a conversation over a pint. At first no one recognize him and his friend. In a town they get out of the rain. It starts, guess what we just saw.” No one believes him. Many a times people block the doors to keep the duo inside for a fight when he talks about not helping the enslaved who escape. Even saying they should shoot them or put troops on the beaches as no one believes what he said he’d seen. When they recognize the family crest they let them out of the establishment but there is shooting over their heads. There is a history of the north not liking the Royals since the civil war and the strange darkness that hovers over the area within the heavy cover of the trees.
It is a network of tall buildings beyond the college. A shabby weapons factory. The elevated runs through the neighborhood. I’d become an insomniac and kept a book of things that I consider nightmare but seems so real including the Vamps that suddenly find me attractive but the taste of my blood makes them scream but they are among the bounty men/women who know of the reward for me dead or alive. Their knowledge of my underworld ties can protect me just so long. The Ravenswood neighborhood. Albemarle city, Providence.
In the beginning were the God’s and a great space that stretch ages. Light years as the light travels. Wisdom collectively in that great dark space. Given light by stars for the minor God’s. With planets as stores of knowledge. Where their dictum, the Major God’s, carry through space violently crashing into the surface of worlds. Their prophets and Apostle chronicle this. Then show their true ambition. The behest of the King. Along with their holy men, there’re raiders. What riches could be found? That civilization you speak of was thousands of years before you appear. The navigation laid by lights streak the night and wisdom that worlds had long figured but could never repeat. The progress is slow and then in evolution whatever the movement. It is the message and the messenger. And they toil at it for there be proof. Spiritual, science in one. Time immemorial and time to come. Stewards of the true word. The living word. The lot of them speak of an origin at times mutinous let it be told of light years and then at once overhead. Like close enough to reach and touch. The loneliest of us.
Urban legend of long dead Royal. From the days of first the family. That he come out when powerful lonely drive him up. Consider this nightmare put to page. A bit of slow burning dramatic. The intensity the central figure. The terror should you cross him. This noir. Pensive. Plodding. Classic dark. Such vistas killing fields. There’re beasts in the streets. They say I’m responsible. Spit your hatred. Strength in number. With weapon the lot of them. Don’t cool till all done in. I didn’t start it. The B.C.’s. The A.D.’s. Millennia take shape. By drift and divide.
The story of Providence according to the journal of Milo Ambrose and official records to present day. Through constant warring. Pestilence. Slavery. Behavior of Kings. Presented as dreams. Nightmare. Enough to fill scroll and folio over time.
I dream them into life. God’s and monsters. I’m in the Grand Tower. The streets ablaze. The constable surround the Ravenswood neighborhood. And downward spiral. Screaming demon and blood on bricks. The horrors before and subsequent.
Son of John rises before dawn to have a moment with the God’s. He finds such peace while his Isabel sleeps. And her woman companion. Before he walks leisurely to get food for the three of them. He greets the shop keepers by their name along the way. A brisk walk both ways as the sun come up.
They are grateful for the food but there is a strangeness in their mood. Even in the day time. Their eyes are red and distant. They act as if they are expecting something grand. They’re expecting someone noble but fearsome. The Capitol city populous is in a frenzy. Agitated and shuttering before sun down.
Son of John is confused on this “Bedlamite,” and his return. Every one of her dimension. Tall, long legged dark skin or who think they can change his mind from her. How is it this man exist? Like they’ve turned their backs on the faithful. It is October usual it get weird. It is only a legend he thinks. This is only the beginning he thinks. Try as she can to comfort him, Isabella will join the caravan with her companion. The melancholy get me up. Be decade or centennial. Every one her dimension. A generational iteration of a woman from a time commemorated in verse. She was mine. I’ve been searching from town to town For Marla. It is a thing. The seers speak of men misunderstood and murdered by the ignorant. “Bedlamite” is cast around from the simplest thought or partisan theory. The mistiming of things. Some place wrong time. Attached to some crisis, threat to the eligible female set. They cannot remember where they’ve been when they’re gone sudden. They put him on a horse with a noose. She return too late to save his life. Kangaroo court at saloon at high noon. The lack of remorse afterwards. The pauper’s grave. Best believe he’ll be seen again. I’ve come for the woman. In this case I’ve come for both women. As easily as she could have joined the uncouth here it is best to size you up.
Marla from Nashua town. Her people run the supply store/restaurant in town. From her elevated bedroom window she see to the point. The whole whose. The narrow road north/south. The echo of swords in a fight for life. The road agent at night. Hide in the brush the pounce on the unaware. In the day they are present. They make the scene. I sound her out. She says, “There is blood on those diamonds.” It is a mining town. A man might die for a lucky strike. One killing a day. And one over Marla. The general craving for the pretty dark skin girl. Until a couple of desperados heading west stop at the house on the point. Hardened men and they agreed they wouldn’t come into town. Haggard and their clothing torn. One of them insignia of the crown. She has been tasked to bring them food and supplies. Sometimes she’s kind enough to cook for them as a sign of them keeping their distance. She fall for who she know to be the Crown Prince. It is the 1640’s. When it’s night time bad men surround the estate with torch to burn them out or cause some kind of a chase and kill them. It is the talk on Front Street. Bigger and bolder in deed and charm to keep her from the big house. Suddenly she’s on a fast north on the road she watch from her bedroom. What last she remember, out of body. Above the conflagration. Her body is never found. Much as she speak Ill of the boy as if he deserve his demise, he is still a Royal and Marguerite send a select few men to get revenge. First Sekkou go to the restaurant to talk a peaceful solution. They know when a resolution cannot be reached no matter how many men you have on your side, if the Bedlamite comes after his man there is only one result and that is bloodshed. With that they let the girl go.
“Royal” “Bedlamite”
Name of the island(s), archipelago. Providence and the Grand Islands. Caribbean Sea. South of Jamaica. Mainland: Providence. Grand Islands: Albany, Ngome, Patagonia, South Village.
Capitol city: Providence City. Government buildings. Original palace. Southeast coast across from Ngome. During slavery Albany occupied by different powers and skirmishes on the sea to occupy the Ngome unofficial Governor of the archipelago. With Albany being a staging/market with the captured. Knowing Providence will rescue slaves. Their rivals are taking the opportunity to cause as much chaos and bloodshed in the same places they could not reach with a military force. But the north wooded areas (including gold mines) have creatures in the trees that chase interlopers to the edge of the woods into the arms of the King’s men. Ships commandeered and the crew slaughtered. WB Banton named for his Great Grandfather Wralston and his Grandfather Bolivar. Knowing of the vamps whether from visions or oracles while on holiday in the northeast he and his friend Sekou give their opinion to stop saving the slaves in the pubs and social clubs. It was not a popular way of thinking and the people of the towns around make it known they do not agree. From then they left every town fast riding. And word arrive ahead of them from town to town. He is getting no help from his mother the queen because she believes his father’s madness is in him (his father Severe killed himself never getting over the relationship he had with Bolivar and causing his death). But Xavier’s madness was for her. Over time the violent interactions created a maniacal air when they arrive at the large Nashua Point Estate on the northern cliffs. A narrow road to the town of Nashua below. An agreement with the town that they never come into the town. They sent a woman of the town with supplies they would need. This agreement worked for a time until the woman falls for the Crown Prince. The woman’s father would then bring their supplies which are left outside the door because they refuse to accept them from anyone else but the young woman named Marla. Sekou went into the town to let the people know it is in their best interest to send the girl out. When this was denied W.B. came into town himself. No matter how many hired killers were brought in the towns people were too afraid to say no. They turned over the girl but later surrounded the grounds of the estate with torches and High Priest(ess). Chant down the madman. The girl’s life was a price to pay to be done with this presence. No matter torch or lightning the house never burns down.
Name of the islands: Providence and the Grand Islands. Caribbean sea. Mainland: Providence. Grand Islands: Albany, Ngome, Patagonia. South Village.
Northern Warlord - Bwana Wa Vita Ya Kaskazini
Southern War Hero – Shujaa Wa Vita Kusini
First King – Mfalme Wa Kwanza
Heavens- Mbinguni
God of The Sky – Mungu Wa Anga
God of the Sea – Mungu Wa Bahari
Goddess of Love/Art – Mungu Wa Upendo/ Mungu Wa Sanaa
God of War - Mungu wa vita
Goddess of Weather /Storm- Mungu wa Hali ya Hewa/Mungu wa Dhoruba
Goddess of Underworld – mungu wa chini ya ardhi
God of Mischief - Mungu wa Mafisadi
God of Earth/Fire - Mungu wa ardhi/mungu wa moto
Creator/God - Muumba/Mungu
Castle - Ngome
Big Foot - Mguu Mkubwa
Older Son - Mwana Mkubwa
Younger Son - Mwana Mdogo (Xavier)
Wife – Mke
Mbinguni – Heaven
Mbwa - Dog
Older Brother (Ambrose) - Kaka Mkubwa
Younger Brother (Milo Ambrose) - Kaka Mdogo
Mother -Mama
Father - Baba
Daughter - Binti
1. Mfalme wa Kwanza – Lethabo “Thabo” (Thabo (Τhα'βω) is a male and female African given name. It is short for "Lethabo" meaning "Happiness" or "Joy". It is a common name for South African men and women. It is most used in seSotho, Setswana and Sepedi [or Northern Sotho] and by some of the Nguni [Zulu, Xhosa, Swati and Ndebele] people). 1000’s
2. Mfalme wa Pili – Oba (Oba means ″ruler″ in the Yoruba language. Kings in Yorubaland, a region which is in the modern republics of Benin, Nigeria and Togo, make use of it as a pre-nominal honorific). 1100’s
3. Mfalme wa Tatu – Kalil (Khalil or Khaleel (Arabic: خليل) means friend and is a common male first name in the Middle East, the Caucasus, the Balkans, North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, Central Asia and among Muslims in South Asia and as such is also a common surname. It is also used amongst Turkic peoples of Russia and African Americans. 1200’s
4. Mfalme wa Nne – Adom (Man of the earth; God's blessing. Adom is a masculine name with both Ghanaian and Hebrew origins. A variant of the Hebrew name Adam, this name means “man of the earth,” and is a unique way to inspire baby to connect with the beauty of the natural world. 1300’s
5. Mfalme wa Tano – Wralston 1400’s
6. Mfalme wa sita – Bolivar 1500’s
7. Mfalme wa saba – Xavier 1600-1620
1000’s, civil war to decide on central government or continue with provincial rule. The north with the decided advantage with creatures that live in the trees. Twice the size of the average man with incredible strength to smash a human being and pursue him on two feet or become a wolf like creature and give pursuit one four legs. They were not created by Mungu Wa Vita to kill but to scare interlopers should they reach the northern territories. The Bwan Wa Vita Ya Kaskazini use them to give second thought. The war went on ---- years until the year ----. Having struck the deciding blow as sniper with a spear he is seen as Shujaa Wa Vita Kusini. They chant Mfalme. Mfalme Wa Kwanza Lethabo. With the northern leader dead and the opposition in disarray the southern force viciously set on the northerners as they have no cause and are struck down in retreat to the tree line. The winners chose the name of Banton as the first family and Lethabo to sit on a throne not yet built. The southerners go back to their homes and wait. The northerners went home and continued to live the same as if there were no war. People would have to show up in force to enforce any dictate of the new government. Including any treaties which set the territorial boundaries and chosen Banton governors put in charge. Banton rule is absolute. The other islands. They have the courtesy to send their top men, spying, watching this new nation grow. They are established nations and the time to develop opposing sides. A flag to get behind. There are those talking conquest.
The 1100’s relatively tense time. The Oba reign is a time of likewise espionage and emissaries bringing gifts to see where the new nation stands in the eyes of the region. Oba decides to meet the leader of their nearest neighbor and is made to wait while other leaders are let in right away. And invited to dine with them on their next conquest. Everyone knew their focus is on Providence who is by no means a tiny country, with plenty of natural defenses and one who should not be underestimated.
In the 1200’s and Khalil is the king. Banton name is growing in regard in the region. Their neighbor to the north Xaymaca send emissary with a message partly saying they are being colonized and that those who are in the orbit are treated well with gifts, slaves and women. Knowing how his predecessor was treated. He remained silent until the declaration had been read and the gifts promised were ushered into the room one of his men who guard the king threw a knife which struck the emissary in the throat and his head was removed from his body and placed on a pike overlooking the sea; facing the forces ready to attack. There are constant bombardment from ships cannons for their fighters to ascend the cliffs. Those that are able to make it to the fight in close combat. It is night when it is Mguu Mkubwa and nguvu of undead, fight. It is a war of the supernatural as is all wars in the region. A war of spells, God’s and monsters. Munga Wa Dhoruba bring up a mighty storm that sweep away the undead bringing the war to an end. Khalil who died in battle is given a lavish funeral. Wralston Banton is on the throne when the tide turn and again Jamaica is at court in Providence City to cease hostilities and expensive gifts if he is allowed to leave with his life. During Wralston’s reign he notices strange ships on the horizon.
They say they are Missionaries who believe Providence way of life is heathen or pagan while surprised at the level of organization. More than they expect from an unconquered state. Then come other ships of varied coat of arms seeking for them that come before and find they’re assimilated to wives of the lords with other wives. The boats come more often. They send word home or collected writings of an advance civilization but warrior set. They refuse to call Providence a state. To bring even more to try to plant a flag there. Their mission become rescue among the greenery is lush. The invaders seek out among the tribes for those who have come before and seem to have lost in to the Nightmare Garden that is Providence. Everything goes in this Eden. Wralston is known for his harem and nothing stands in his way to add to it wherever they come from and what they think of his comportment. In time will be same among subsequent Banton kings or other men of the same mind. The roads are narrow and bandits will make off with women whether or not the king's men are in the area.
It is clear they had come a long way. Some to trade and some with nefarious intent to take control of the islands. Build a castle at Ngome east of Albany. For a time the intention is to let the current government rule until they are of use of some near plantation. Time after time they are driven back by guerilla attacks led by Wralston and Bolivar like him. With Mwana Mkubwa travel to Ngome off the mainland. They are told to stop the hostilities or the island will be destroyed. “The oracle (in what will become Camelot County) says otherwise. The conflict is with you and yours.” Try as they may with plantations begin to spring up and the native populations are destroyed or rise up to drive the enslavers away. Whereas slavery is as old as time and defeated populations are used to enlarge a fighting force. Build on what is a wonder of the world. Mistress of prior dynasty is captured. Her beauty and sensuality is prize. Over time it is a matter of commerce.
Ships arrive daily and humans are auctioned as chattel. Providence becomes sanctuary for those who could break their bonds and swim for the mainland with volley of gunfire at them as they swim for freedom. Some swim for Ngome to get into the castle and assassinate the governor at the time including vampires. The castle is too well guarded.
Many drown from a bullet or cannot swim the distance and are attacked by sharks. It is the people’s desire to rescue as many as they can as the king’s men and local constables are looking for road agents trying to snatch up anyone to bring to auction. And bounty. The realization something was wrong when the first man pulled from the water had bullet holes in him like it didn’t affect him. When they found the good Samaritan his neck was broken. His clothes had been taken. Sometime later another body is found on the beach. Naked as the other. As he is dying he has a look of terror on his face and he says, “don’t.” Grabbing at their garment in terror. Bolivar and Mwana Mkubwa. The king’s men begin scouting rumor of building disturbance. A pestilence attempting to fit in with the watu wa asili (native people) but something unnatural about them is the word. Also word off the northern cliffs of boats/ships on the rocks. Broken up. Corpse of the crew found with sharks circling, smelling blood in the water. They make their way up the cliffs in desperation to avoid the sure fate. Massive count of the enslaved to the plantations by the day.
Xavier is called by Bolivar to the bedroom of the new servant Girl. Severe is not at all soldier. Bolivar intend to make this new girl one of his wives. Meanwhile there are more murders. Bolivar come back to the capitol from his patrols for time with his new bride to be who has no affinity for him. Marguerite. It anger him and cause him to beat Xavier in the yard where they have executions of them who try for bounty. For a woman who rush to Xavier’s side. He’d been in her room. Held her things. Bought her things. His wives are many, but Marguerite is fresh. Bolivar feels the walls closing in on him with the slavery. These are his people but he doesn’t know these people. They look like the people on the boats. Once peaceful people are fighting in the streets. The oracle speak of more of this to come. Build up in him passion for this woman. Marguerite. Grab the wife of Mwana Mkubwa without his knowledge for ransom for Marguerite. Xavier should leave her alone. He calls Xavier to the grand dining room where it is obvious he is angry. Mke and Marguerite prepare his dinner with an evil grin on his face because Mwana Mdogo cannot do anything about it. His food is brought to him. He is unaware that a sedative has been put into his food to give them time to get away. They watch as he succumb to it The three of them spend the night hiding in Xavier’s bedroom for Bolivar will look to kill in the morning. Banton men have many wives but the ones who borne him a son is protected from Banton wrath. Xavier is no warrior like his father and brother. However they take up swords and the fight lead to a fall from heights as people gather around. Take note of his resplendent dress worthy of his position. Suddenly there is a sadness and wailing. Who will protect them from outsiders? Hope that Mwana Mkubwa will be as brave as his father. Xavier is there to meet him when he returns to take the throne. There is a mixed response one of joy that the older boy was taking over for his father. Because of his reverence of his father Xavier does not want him to know what happened with his wife. He tells him to go back to his war. Not as many are as joyous that Xavier is taking the throne after patricide. But Banton will be Banton.
Ngome is monitoring things on the ground. Still unable to take the mainland. Constant skirmish between nations as ambitious and same result. They are recalled by the ruling family and likely jailed for his failure. In a letter left for his replacement. “There is something unnatural about this place. The watu wa asili (native people) are pagan and the occult has a role over the region. Mind how you approach for they are not afraid to behead their opponent which can only be described as murder but who is able to navigate/dominate their way of life without losing his own. I suggest you come in force whatever good that will do and be done with your business quickly otherwise your fate will be as mine.” Xavier praised the God’s for their blessings. He is inspired to build statues to them and to himself and his wife. Marguerite. For the twenty years of his rule slavery was never a focus of his. He built the Military Academies and things that were not of importance while those before him ruled. Banton men and their women. Same time he was tortured by the death of his father Bolivar. In his sleep. Guilt in his waking hours. Even with birth of his son WB Banton named for his grandfather and great grandfather. The environs are worsening. The way to tell the difference between the interlopers and the native people is the greeting: Karibu kwa Uhuru “(welcome to freedom).” If the greeting is not returned the next is conflict. Word comes to Queen mother and son the king Xavier Banton has killed himself by slitting his own throat.
The Boy is twenty years old. Much as the queen loved the boy they grew apart.
She was heartbroken but glad to be done with the Banton’s.
Then come the macho at court.
Whether they were trying to woo her or band against her.
The absolute power of the Bantons was gone.
She is going to need some of them on her side and that meant marriage.
There is talk if she doesn’t marry soon the love for the Bantons would fade.
There are duels fought for her hand. Dueling isn’t new during the Banton regime.
Many people would beg the king to stop the practice but none of them cared as a man
has to do what he has to do to get what he wants. Usually a woman.
No matter who wins Marguerite would not marry him. The occupant at Ngome knowing of his uproar and the
thought of a power grab of the entire island chain. Perhaps build a plantation on the mainland
and thinking about his own riches simply by marrying the queen. Of course Marguerite refused.
It is now twenty years after Xaviers death and the boy figures he has a voice or he knows
something no one else knows. This set in motion tragic events. The vamps keep coming and it
took the deaths of the boy and Sekou to realize he was correct. Especially when they don’t give
the response to the greeting: “Karibu Kwa Uhuru (Welcome To Freedom).”
While they garner sympathy, there is wonder how they got there without worse for wear. Without realizing a nest had been disturbed when the were captured. The realization of what was destined for them they scattered who could scatter. The violence against friend or foe to stay free from any slave market or plantation in the region. 1650 Marguerite marries a military official named Franco. Franco is the name of the next family. By 1700 Marguerite is dying with Franco at her side. She will never see the end of slavery off her shores. She is having delusions of her son risen from the dead and riding past the palace on a grand horse. Grand robes with a caravan behind him likewise dressed. He for a moment looks like she’d seen him last. When their eyes meet she sees the skeleton. She’s been weak and feverish. Speaking gibberish in her sleep. When her eyes and her son’s eyes meet she dies.
It is a time of mourning for the beloved queen as a second civil war for Providence rages. Outsiders marvel at the black on black bloodshed and is expecting to pick off the ultimate losers or take the entire country. Thinking, they’re too focused on killing each other to notice the hunters to realize they are being watched as well by the God’s and monsters. They are set upon and dragged into the brush and killed. The enslavers are agog as to what is deterring their efforts to capture these purported savages. Advantage the bloody skirmishes that pop off and unable to land a force of any size regardless of who reside in Ngome. Still the trade of flesh goes on off the mainland dawn to dusk. Fires can be seen off the mainland as this goes on as a new player has entered the trade. While fighting for their own independence from colony to states of their own. The first American slave ship is built in Boston and they are brrought to Boston with slaves from the Caribbean with cotton and tobacco.
1662 Virginia passes a law that any child born from a slave is a slave for life.
1710 there are more slaves in the states than in Europe. In 1731 with Florida being a Spanish territory, runaway slaves find freedom if they convert to Catholicism forming the first European city in America Called St. Augustine. The Antebellum years there were freed slaves. Prior to 1825, it was common and legal for enslaved people to become free either by purchasing their freedom or by slaveholders freeing them. Beginning in the mid-1820s, both forms of emancipation became increasingly less common and even illegal. It was only after many failed attempts that, in 1807, the slave trade in the British Empire was abolished. However, slaves in the colonies were not freed until 1838 – and only after slave-owners, rather than the slaves themselves, received compensation. By the end of the American Civil War slavery more or less ended in the west but it took an American President to free the slaves in the south as a tactic of war and the 13th Amendment being ratified except in Delaware where the 13th amendment was ratified in 1901. Sheer greed and hatred drove the institution and pure hatred after. At the base it was a hatred that wasn’t faith or silly wonder whether they were human or something unnatural. But the narrative, simply by being first or bigger become the standard.
Here (Providence) they have a new king. He is Franco and from then the level of progress into what will come of the Grand Islands now whole. Romantic and rich. Control the darkness. The force that broke the great evil from here. Governed by an exotica where the night is bewitching. They now reside at Ngome.
Boarded up hotel and what spirits inside. Constant shriek. Strange marking to the Bedlamite was here. Six corners. Low buildings with trappings. A house away. They hear things that cause things. Once the sun set, the lamps are lit. Dinner is served and the nights interlude before bed. Is for curiosity ugly as I am. So she shriek. Fright you find here. She ascend to his lodging. Discreet when it start discreet. Suppose we’re exclusive for a drive along the shore without leaving the confines.
The dominion of Franco. The varied and welcomed. The eclectic are encouraged. A lush garden and where nightmare is a thrill. It could be your life for this. The fetish allowed to flourish. She signal something is happening here. The arms of velvet. She cry at night. It is a new world and a new fright. She is humbled. A gift given, her virtue. Here’s to hoping it rain. Open the blinds when lightning. It get where she don’t want it stop.
It is 1927 when the two countries cross. The continued rise of the great Dreadnaught. Civil rights. Civil war. Manifest Destiny. World power. World war.
"There was a murder," they said at court addressing the Royals and the Statesman. The Seer says, “In him is the great equalizer." Franco speaks deliberate and straight. “It is not for us to worry over him but for you to worry about how you will get off the island.”
There’re God’s and monsters. Vamp and siren. He doesn’t feel like the Major God that he is. He is Mafusadi. Mischief. He strike where is personal. The lonely and the strange. He spend time in the vineyards of the God’s. At a house with a minor God. There’re story time with the wine. It change her life for a song until the next time a new song. I’m just the sort the spirits start. Her expression involuntary. No end to love you profess. Act in accordance. You’ve been warned. The hour of reveal, considerable expense to us both. The Mafisadi advantage the eras. They are hooked with his personas. The Metropolitan evolved from Bedlamite. They love the terror that come with it.
Dream that linger when able to sleep. The word of Milo Ambrose. The growl of a dog. She roam the tower at night. Beware of dog. The bounty get bigger and they might shoot into my apartment. Given easy entrance. The land lady in the sights of the dog. When I do sleep, oversentimental ghostly reminder of pain. Long on love.
Dangerous times. Dangerous place. Go up in flame over the local Lord. It is not Camelot County. Tidy grounds. The big houses and the underworld families of which I am a member. The Bedlamite, I am second come. The night with the vamp as prevalent. From my blood they recoil. A dangerous in him they could not get past. A darkness that outlast them. Tables turn and they like it. Vamp or siren. And I was just the driver. They won’t extradite me. My family haven’t heard from me. They’d likely kill myself and my cousins. I wasn’t supposed to come back. The Ambrose crime family lose out on the hold of the illegal liquor trade in the Midwest United States. The FBI try to infiltrate but they are quick to be spotted and warned off the island.
I am a clerk at a gas station/convenience store. He makes donuts. She makes fried chicken and potato wedges. Which went with the lottery tickets and beer. My eye to the Boss. A married woman. She a few years older. I have a thing for a woman in authority. And the work environment she could hardly control. Her husband sit in the lobby behind a newspaper glimpsing into the kitchen from where he’s sitting. It wasn’t the first time she told him “no.” But the flirtation is mutual. I am an impulsive, stubborn man. Here they don’t know my background. I’m one of them that come and go. And what happens in my time and what I get away with. There he sit behind the newspaper in the lobby of the flagship store of the chain.
I speak sweet nothings at her. I maintain bad behavior with a crew of misfits. When she come around to discipline I’m the only one who doesn’t run away. Of the smokers and he with his heroin. He wander in the dark with his life to give it to who might take it. She’s fed up with the lot of us as there robbery going around. He carry a shotgun even if the thing isn’t loaded. Until it is loaded and he is walking back into the main location with all the anger and confidence in the world. His eyes focused on the kitchen where the boy is massaging her shoulders and she’s falling against him. Out the corner of her eye she see what she knew one day was coming. Surprised who is holding the gun.
Didn’t think he had a backbone. All my aggression she couldn’t help herself. All the aggression her husband doesn’t have. But enough to pull the trigger at least once. I slip away even though I had a gun on me as well. But I felt it was better to leave the scene. I get on my bicycle and pedal home to the tower as fast as I could. Up the lift. When I arrive the dog is agitated. She is barking at the door and close to breaking it down. I let her into the hallway much to the chagrin of two men waiting to rush my apartment. It’s time to get the fuck out. It is a humid night when he rush the store. Catch us in our compromising position. I can see through the window of the eleventh floor the crowd rushing towards the building. Other buildings will get the same. We’d spent two years in the tower. With the vamp, crooks killers and bed bugs. Thinking this is the best place to hide out. I certainly am not the only one with a bounty on their head. But I might be one of the few who haven’t been caught or still alive. I grab what I can carry and the dog. The apartment was furnished when I moved in. I lived pretty much minimalistic. My belongings are purely sentimental. The lift comes and there are two more men when we get on. The dog starts to growl as if the two men mean to do us harm. I have my hand on my weapon where they cannot see that I am ready to pull it out and use it. Once we hit the ground floor she jumps on one of them while I shoot them both. We make for my car and speed west to Camelot County.
Storms are meant to start over and reset on occasions when bad behavior spread over the mainland. There are any number of things the God’s will do when they’ve been angered. When their maxim has not been heeded. Where blessings rain down from the heavens for the humble and the meek. Them not so humble and meek get the opposite.
There stranger as old as time come for the girl inside as if she’d been promised to him. No storm could stop him. She always know he was in her home looking at her while she slept. Waiting for the right night she can be had. Hour to bed her. He know when she don’t come home. The storm rage and he point a shotgun at the door for looters. It’s one figure in the lightning flash. A massive man and it wouldn’t take much to bring down the door with powerful strike. A second strike the shotgun fire and stagger him. It is the woman within like nothing stop him. She go with him. This is the look of loneliness. The disparate are all left to wander. Imagine themselves of the respectable caste. Time of Franco anything here is sanctuary.
1896 April a second boy is born to the Ambrose family. He is Milo. (A girl will be born 1902). On a rainy morning at the biggest house in the county. The rule is never to bring your grudge to the family home. That is likely to bring war as the other families will choose sides. I witness my father shoot the man as he breached the door. My brother seen these rainy days before. They send Milo to Chicago. There is family there. 4 cousins three male and one female in their twenties. They expect them to raise the boy up tall and strong and keep him away from the family business. The name Ambrose is known in the states. Particularly the Midwest and parts of the south. They run rum and other contraband and collect for the family. The year is 1901. Some of the same routes slaves were moved about is now for non-human contraband. One of the cousins was always working on the old souped up getaway car to out run the police. We affiliate with some north side crews. By high school I taller and stronger than most. I am not someone you want to get into a fight with. I learn how to drive when the cousins are out collecting money. They send photos of me back home of me playing ball. They don’t show the ones of me fighting when we play the white boys. There are shots fired and confederate flags and slurs. Win or lose black folk know to get out of town.
Much as they fear us it don’t stop them from shooting at us black or white crews. The Ambrose rum run Lexington, KY., St. Louis Mo., Jackson, MS., and Chicago, IL. They’re territorial but they like the product. Rum, opium, Marijuana. In the end what matters is the color of money. $3 get you a cup and admission to the party off campus. The keg is out back. And all the women in the house. They like me because I’m tall and the accent. Ambrose supply the party favor. The pubs up north and the campuses down state. Front of the line for the rush to couple up. Fall to the macabre. When I’m in school they’re holed up from the state boys. Or setting up deals for when the semester end or the school year end my fast driving get the business done faster. I have no fear telling stories about why I sleep with a weapon under my pillow. How we’re wanted by the feds and the campus is the best place they never find me. She like pictures with the car holding my gun. When the authorities are closing in she’s afraid all of a sudden. Even more afraid of my cousins. She know about my background. Where I was born. After I left my sister was born. 1902. I was never to go home again. Perhaps for a visit if I have children. My parents come to my college graduation and I get engaged the same day. She finds my parents generous and intimidating. My siblings are happy to see me. My brother and sister I’ve never met. My brother says he misses me. He’s proud of me. He slips me an envelope full of cash and then gets serious. “Things is good back home. I see things are good here. I’m happy for you but let’s keep it to a visit every once in a while.” After college we step up our activities. Matters not that I have a wife now. The authorities kept showing up at our house looking for any idea where either I or my cousins are. She don’t know anything because “I’m hardly around,” she says. Even if I was hiding in a secret room in the house or some new safe house. When I’m around I am the best husband. Expensive gifts and a brand new car. We go away for a time with the feds on our heels. She learn how to shoot while I drive.
I spoke to my brother on the day of my graduation and him warning me to keep my association loose with my cousins. But they made me who I am. My parents wanted for me fancy suits and titles. They dressed them down my cousins for how I look like a thug. This isn’t why they sent me to Chicago. Do what they have to do to make money but keep me out of it. Let me get married and move away from them. Their disdain starts to rise like in the beginning when I was dropped in their laps. They wanted to raise money and go their separate ways. But they’ve never had a driver like me.
The mastermind of the crew is the girl. She’s considered the toughest of the set. The middle child of the original three. She doesn’t let herself get caught out by rivals. Her only vulnerable point is when the crew is in the car and she is in the middle front or back. They are always driving at high speeds. Serpentine. Pursued by the authorities shooting at them. She doesn’t handle guns or weapons. They leave fingerprints.
She say, “he won’t pay.” He’s taken our product and gone into hiding somewhere however informers have given us an idea where he’s hiding. The state boys know about the trouble with the two groups and they throw out a dragnet. Everyone knows he likes pool halls. Gary, Indiana is where they hideout. Across the border in Chicago is where they operate. We drive around the pool hall twice to be sure he is in there. We can also spot the state boys in and out of uniform waiting to pounce. Possibly shoot the whole lot of us. There is a shoot to kill order. The route that take us past the pool hall (with the big window which make it clear to see the tall and skinny dark skinned man we’re looking for. Even though the pool hall is packed he is the tallest in the place), give us a running start to light up the pool hall sure to hit who we are trying to hit and get out of the area. When we were preparing for this we were planning routes to safe houses. It didn’t matter how many cops had eyes on the area ready to block our way to escape. We had plenty of guns and I know the area better than anyone who was born in the area and we weren’t born in country. I turn onto the street with the pool hall and the two cousins on the passenger side open up on the place and miss our quarry. Instead hitting a number of uniformed cops killing one of them. We knew that would bring down the heat upon us. Staying in the area would not be healthy for us. It might be a case of having to leave the country altogether. It is a few days before we are able to secure passage out of the country but it was made clear that we were never to contact those people again as the heat would come down on them as well. They hang cop killers. And don’t think the trial would be fair. The verdict would be decided before we even set foot into the courtroom. I don’t know where my cousins went and never said goodbye to my wife.
It is 1927. I awake sucking wind and sweating knowing I wouldn’t get back to sleep. I grab a notebook and write down my harrowing dream. Some nights after one of these dreams I’d reached for my weapon and pumped two bullets into the door. After that the dog would growl keeping away the bounty hunters. Then there are the women. Hallucination. These vamps. I am at my weakest from lack of sleep. She up against me as a declaration of intent. The Vamps want the bounty too and they have access where the bounty men do not.
Manning a cash register was not what my parents had in mind. Selling lottery tickets. Trading beer for marijuana. The constable chasing criminals through the neighborhood. Very little street lights in Ravenswood. More torches. The eleventh floor and everyone looks like ants down below and those ants throw stones through windows of buildings and cars. To see how much havoc they could wreak on the streets at night. The working caste drive the anarchy. The administration drive wages down and taxes up in the largely manufacturing town. Devil’s Night, the town is surrounded by the king’s men. With the madness that come out of the diner/gas station and what I know about her shoulders. And the motley crew including the suicidal. She don’t say “no.”
From I’m in Delmar. Camelot County. The biggest house is still Ambrose. I’d been told by the former job not to come back after it was shot up. I’m in a room on Fremont Street. The dog and myself. A bed. A Dresser. A bookshelf. The room was furnished when we moved in. I’m still without sleep. I feel vengeful and set the dog on the street. I blow a whistle from the shadows and she come to me like a man walking his dog. Barely a glance in the streetlight. Word will spread without idea of the origin of the threat. The Chief Constable in the pockets of the Camelot Underworld. They are expected to do something to stop what seems a small problem but if they cannot a vigilante group of ruthless youth have been given the order to shoot to kill. They cover the number of towns in the county where the dog has either struck or could strike next. The dog strike fast, (sharp claws, sharp teeth and a large body mass) and then back to my side.
I am the Bedlamite. I am thirty three years old.
I have come to understand the night. I take a job as a night man in a hotel. A little boutique place and a maze like courtyard. Where the sun come up in the face of strange and its aftermath. I sleep in the day and the panic attacks. The hard heart and loneliness. I remember Chicago and the infamy was good there. I was a big man there. Although people knew our name I was a big man of my own.
There are Americans on the ground in Providence. Those who need to be in the know already know. They are unable to get far without realizing they are being watched, (by who or what they don’t know but there is something strange about these islands) as they make their way to the Capitol City. And the same strangeness as they make their way off the mainland. Treaty between the two countries is no more than trade.
Nights when I’m at the inn with the ivy covered buildings and the possum climbing the outer walls. The air is thick with vamp. Find him on the sidewalk from frenzy. Good Samaritan bring him inside from the bacchanal and the bodies. The mist is fearsome and constant. Off the water when the festival run long into the night. The old structure with its twist and turns on the inside and the rooftop. It is everyone for themselves. That include the inn keeper. But my dark is darker. She screaming, “demon,” end of the hall. Seems I’m pall on the place. Or there is more than one source of villainy.
The Ambrose eventually rebuild their lucrative contraband link to the states. Little did they know the American economy would crash. The heads of the Camelot families send one of their members to meet with the syndicate there. The Ambrose name doesn’t carry the weight it used to but it is understood they are not people to underestimate where prohibition bleed into financial depression. No matter the economy vice will always rule. They send a new crew to do their collecting. They aren’t greedy they want to maintain their territory as always. The Midwest and near south. If this wasn’t agreed to the Ambrose crew rushed the meeting room and took over. Took away the guns of their adversaries until their demands were agreed to.
While the father was in the states he looked for his son. He learned he wasn’t in Chicago and no last known address. The woman who was his wife she hasn’t heard from him in over five years. He didn’t like the looks of her knew man. He was a syndicate man. The Feds know where he is but they haven’t caught him yet. There is a shiver in his spine about the story of the dog and the shadowy figure. He knows it is his younger son. He still order shoot on sight. There is a sound of a whistle and she trots back to my side. It is a nightmare garden Camelot County. Providence is a place where anything goes. Camelot County is a place for things to happen to you. It is an urban setting with a suburban feel. Considered the economic center of the archipelago. Sports clubs. International airport. The central hub for the railroad. The cultural center. It is greed and revenge among the peons that take to the streets. Running gun fights and constable sirens.
G© copyright Godfrey Logan 2023
