The Rubbish Man (Part 1 of 3)

By: Melissa Zeigler

Dust slowly surrounds Wesley's wagon as he makes his way toward town from the outlying territories. His wagon sways with each step his trim, grey horse Earl takes. Wesley scratches at a fresh scar on his left cheek as beads of perspiration slowly roll down the contours of his face. He stares blankly at the road ahead.

In the distance, vultures hover in the air. They circle as if waiting for something or someone to die. They dive towards the earth, each fighting for a chance at sustenance. Their squawking is faintly audible over the rattle of the wagon wheels.

Wesley gets closer and the squawking grows louder until he no longer can hear the squeak and creak of his own wagon. He brings Earl to a stop next to the melee. Out of his back pocket he grabs a black bandana. He positions the bandana over his nose and mouth and ties it snugly into place. A pair of gloves lies next to him on the bench seat. He grabs them and hops off of the wagon.

With every step, dry blades of grass crack under Wesley's weight. Fifteen feet from the wagon trail he finds a mound of vultures. He pulls out a revolver and fires a round into the air. The vultures flee revealing the body of a man no more than 18 years old. He lies face down in the grass, arrows protruding out of his bare back. He's an Apache warrior. Next to him are a bow and a bag of peculiar looking arrows.

Wesley gently nudges the man with his foot. The warrior's body flops lifelessly back to the warm earth so Wesley gets to work. He slowly drags the warrior through the grass to the back of his wagon.

The wagon's right side, as it is separated down the middle by a plank of wood, is full of mason jars, old wagon parts and other bits of garbage. On the left side of the wagon lay three bodies in various stages of decomposition.

Wesley awkwardly lifts the warrior off of the ground and positions the body over his right shoulder. He hurls him into the left side with all of his strength but only manages to get two thirds of the body into the wagon. Wesley runs to the front of the wagon and climbs onto the bench seat, pulling the warrior the rest of the way in by his arms. Exhausted, Wesley catches his breath for a moment before returning to the field for the bow and arrows.

The sun, now low on the horizon, paints the vast, blue expanse an array of oranges, pinks and purples as the night sky slowly makes its transition in and Wesley slowly continues his journey home.

--TO BE CONTINUED--