The Death of 1977 (Book 3)

This Old Man

"Gather 'round me." The downcast, grey-haired, boney old man commanded his family around a fire that was burning inside the small stone hut that was hidden deep within a forest.

Collected amongst him were a younger man and woman, along with eight small boys and girls. Each and every member of the family all sat Indian-style on the floor before the old man.

"We must find food before the day is through, great-grandfather." The younger man said.

Staring directly at the man, the old man replied, "Your food is not important. But I tell each and every one of you dis, I shall not eat until de dawn comes back."

the hut with the full force of a hurricane in the making. They were all accustomed to it, but on that particular evening,

man." His scratchy voice spoke softly. "I have seen a century's turn, and a storm's comings and goings. I have seen men of great stature speak great tings, and other men of great stature devour de living. But in all my time, I never see such a

people, dey come, and dey go. Dey speak, and before you know, dey speak no more. Dis old man, he see many suns, and many moons. I see de sun cross in between de moon two times. But I see someting else, too. I know it be de devil, 'cause it always look you in de eye. It always

you. It no care if you scream and yell. It no care if you boy, girl, woman or man. It no care if even it kill

see many a ting. Many people covered in blood for many years. De blood

of ours. De blood is what de devil has been cravin' for

fill our bellies. Too much fat and de