Sign up thread - Mafia 66: Farmers versus the Railroad

"I ain't blind", Annie said and got to his feet, rubbing his bottom. Was that part of him bleeding too? Christ, he had an idea it was. "Good day Ma'am" JohnLarson said to Andie. "Long days and pleasant nights." Although Andie had heard the standard response to this -and may you have twice that number- a thousand times or more, all she could do was once more raise her broad idiots face to the sky and honk her donkey laugh.

Annie felt a suprising moment of pain, not in his arms or throat or outraged arse but in his heart. He vaguely remembered her as a little girl: as pretty and quick as a dragonfly, as smart as you could ever wish. But then-

"Would you like your horoscope Annie? It is Full Earth. The moon is red, what is called the Huntress Moon in the world that was. A friend will call! Buisiness affairs prosper! You will have two ideas, one good one bad-"

"The bad one was coming out here to turn this field," Annie interrupted. "Nevermind my godforsaken horoscope, JohnLarson. Why are you here?"
 
You were apt to see JohnLarson anywhere in ACVille (he never ventured beyond its borders) striding around on his impossibly thin legs. He sang songs and passed on gossip and rumour from one end of town to the other. A tireless walker was JohnLarson, and he seemed to enjoy the giving of horoscopes above all things, although there was general agreement in the town that they meant little.

"Why are ye here, ye bag of bones? Answer me! Is it the Railroad? Are they coming?" Annie stood there looking into JohnLarsons stupid smiling face, the sweat growing cold on his skin, praying with all his might that the foolish thing would say no, then offer to tell his horoscope again, or perhaps sing "Sweet Caroline." But all JohnLarson said, still smiling, was "Yes sir."
 
"Christ and the Man Jesus," Annie said (he'd gotten the idea from the Old Fella that those were two names for the same thing, but never bothered pursuing the question). "How long?" "One cycle of moons before they arrive," JohnLarson replied, still smiling.
"From full to full?"
"Close enough sir."

One week then, give or take a day. One week to the Railroad. And there was no sense hoping JohnLarson was wrong. Noone knew how he could know the movements of the Railroad, but he did know. And he was never wrong.
 
"Screw you and screw your bad news," Annie cried. "I'm sorry the news is bad," JohnLarson said, and took a step backwards. "Would you not like me to tell your horoscope? This is the end of Full Earth, a good time for finishing old business and meeting new people-"
"And screw your false prophecy too!" Annie bent, picked up a clod of earth and threw it at JohnLarson. Andie gasped, then began to cry. JohnLarson backed off another step, his shadow trailing out long in Sonova Beach. But his hateful, stupid smile remained. "How about a song-"
"Be quiet JohnLarson." He spoke reasonably enough, but through clenched teeth. "Aye," JohnLarson agreed, then fell mercifully silent.

Annie went to his bawling sister, and put his arm around her. He sighed, then began to stroke her trembling arm. "Quit it, ye great bawling retard," he said. The words might have been ugly but the tone was kind in the extreme, and it was tone she responded to. She began to quiet. He soothed his sister with a mixture of endearments and profanities and at last her weeping ceased.
 
"Sure you wouldn't like to hear your horoscope sir? I see bright coins and a beautiful dark lady."
"The dark ladies will have to do without me," Annie said, and began to pull the harness off Andies broad shoulders. "I'm married, as I'm sure ye well know." Annie shouldered the harness (he'd made it himself, being there was a marked shortage of tack for humans in most livery barns) and turned towards the home place.
"Home place?" Andie asked.
"That's right"
"Lunch at home place?" She looked at him in a muddled, hopeful way. "Taters?" A pause. "With cheese curds and gravy?" Strange what the ruint ones said sometimes. "Sure, why the hell not." Annie responded.
 
Thank you. It's a true story. It happened to a friend of a friend of a friend.

Some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
 
nice story annie
 
Madcrawdad said:
some huckleberry you turned out to be...
Click to expand...

I have been shamed. :frog:


Nice story Annie, maybe you could Hook Andie up with FishFriend. They could make a beautiful couple.
 
I'm not much of a huckleberry, either...

JL, I need to back out also. I'm going to be very busy until next Sunday, and won't be able to play for the first 4-5 days. Sorry.
 
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