Dalton Springs Serial

Episode 19-Prepared

Hushed and poised near his fireplace’s large wooden mantel, Luther inspected a display of impressive weaponry: guns, swords, spears, daggers.  He had acquired his collection of armaments mostly after his service in the Special Forces when his voice had departed and people found him unthreatening. 

            Glancing into a beveled mirror mounted above the mantel, Luther spotted his battle-worn face.  In his fifty years of earthly existence, he recalled being thrust to the brink of hell in several military conflicts.  His haggard face reflected years of living on an emotional precipice where rushes of adrenaline seemed the norm. 

            His unexpected encounter at Hobnar Regional Hospital, with the daring pilot who had crashed near the landfill, had sent adrenaline coursing through his veins once more.  The shock of seeing this young man who so strongly resembled Luther’s family had jolted Luther back into the world of speech.  At first, streams of profanity passed his lips, eventually followed by softer refined words.  But uttering words to others hadn’t crossed his mind.  Other methods of communication remained preferred.  He had grown accustomed to his world of silence.  It suited him well, playing into his desire to listen and absorb wisdom from others. 

            Luther was no fool.  In his younger days, he traveled the world, embarking upon dangerous missions, bravely fighting exhaustive battles.  Even now, as his eyes closed, seared memories replayed in his mind.  Painfully he remembered a treacherous saber duel that had marked his jaw line with a long grisly scar.  Easily, Luther recalled the sound of clanking silver blades which had flashed under the unrelenting heat of Grenada's sunny sky.  Ferociously, Luther had fought, defeating a cruel enemy.  But Luther had paid the price, unable to remain unscathed in battle.  Damage inflicted upon valiant Luther resulted in nearly sixty stitches that horrendous day.  Those were physical scars.  Subsequent emotional trauma plagued him with a heavier toll.

           The place was Panama. This tropical paradise proved more dangerous, Luther being a soldier responsible for psychological warfare.  In his assigned role, Luther helped maintain the complicated military stereo system blaring heavy metal music into Gen. Noriega's compound.

           Shuddering with terrifying memories, Luther backed away from the mirror feeling more resolved in his determination to do something positive with his life.  Though he couldn’t change the past, nor do anything at the moment about the lunatic of a man laying naked at Hobnar Regional Hospital claiming to be his son, Luther knew where he could make a difference….Brightan.  The villainous church vandals still roamed the streets of the neighboring town—hoodlums on the prowl. 

Desperately, Luther required a weapon.  Unquestionably it would be impractical for Luther to strut about carrying his prized saber, the very sword responsible for Luther’s salvation in Grenada.  But a treacherous dagger could do the trick.  Luther possessed such a menacing tool.

Stepping closer toward the mantel, Luther clutched the dagger, concealing it within a leather sheath attached to his belt.  Armed, he felt prepared.  Heaven help him, justice would finally prevail.

Meanwhile, back near the Grubby Cauldron, Rev. Paul Purpose stepped in front of Gloria, halting abruptly.

Her tear stained face revealed the extent of anguish her soul suffered—all on account of Luther, whom she shockingly proclaimed to love all of a sudden.

“I’m having a difficult time connecting your professed love for Luther to binge eating at the V.F.W.”  Though Rev. Purpose usually conveyed a deep sense of compassion, his tone exposed his lack of understanding.

Sniffling, Gloria uttered, “I’m tortured.  On the one hand, I’m in love with the man. But he’s got secrets.  You know exactly what I mean.”  Earle B. Goode’s name remained constrained within her lips.  “I’m sorry, Rev. Purpose.  I got so upset that I lost control.”

“Does he know you love him?”  The minister eyed her directly.  “Gloria?”

Shaking her head, Gloria responded the best way she knew how.  “No.”

“Well, for goodness sake, don’t you think it would be in your best interest to tell Luther?”

“Not anymore.”  Gloria worried that Earle’s appearance in Dalton Springs had sabotaged any hope of forming a lasting loving relationship with the mute.  “I have to get over Luther.  Simple as that.”

© 2006 by author.  All rights reserved.

Episode 18-Continued Confinement

The patient, who had come to be called the naked pilot, once again attempted to rip off his clothing until he received a sedative injection.  Lately, he displayed more belligerent tendencies, refusing to keep covered.  Distinguished Dr. Elliot Fango kept the younger man confined at Hobnar Regional Hospital for observational purposes.  Out of necessity, Dr. Fango imposed strict visitation limits for the patient after raging community curiosity brought people throughout the entire county to see firsthand, Luther’s offspring.

            According to records contained within the magnificent state of Minnesota, the naked pilot’s official name was Earle B. Goode.  Although he didn’t share Luther’s surname, citizens of Dalton Springs referred to the man as Luther’s son.

            “Dr. Fango, how long can we hold this man?” Nurse Helga Hofenheimer asked as she disposed of the contaminated syringe. 

            “Until he’s no longer a threat to the community,” Dr. Fango sharply replied, knowing full well Earle was as harmless as a fly.  A little pesky maybe, but harmless nonetheless.

            And then there was the little matter of clothing.  Earle refused to keep dressed, instead wandering the long halls of the hospital stark naked—until he found himself subdued and brought back to his assigned room.  Surely, Earle couldn’t be released into the community without remaining properly attired….which brought the whole mystery full circle.  What was Earle doing piloting the plane in the nude?  If it had been Earle’s intention to shock his father, Luther, by appearing in Dalton Springs naked, he had succeeded.  In fact, he had stunned and appalled the entire prudish county.

            “You think he’s dangerous?”

            “In freezing temperatures, he flies and crashes a plane naked, speaks deliriously and exhibits belligerent tendencies....You tell me, Helga.”

            Psychiatry wasn’t Dr. Fango’s specialty, but he knew more about it than the nurse, and his position of authority gave him credibility to hold Earle B. Goode indefinitely, or until someone offered a darn good reason to release him.

© 2006 by author.  All rights reserved.

Episode 17-Proclamation

“Put the sausage down,” Rev. Paul Purpose instructed Gloria, after he had dashed the entire way to the V.F.W.  Panting, he quickly regained his breath.

            Gloria held a link of pork sausage speared by the sharp tines of her silver fork.  Slowly lifting her hazel eyes to see Rev. Purpose, she fought to keep her composure.  With matted brown hair and tear-stained cheeks, she sniffled. 

            The holy man had never witnessed Gloria in such an unkempt and despondent state.  Pointing to her sausage, Paul Purpose counseled, “You really don’t want to do this.”

            Gloria’s hand appeared a heavy burden hoisting the fork with its pierced sausage all the way to her awaiting lips.  Though she heard Rev. Purpose’s impassioned prompting, the words failed to register. 

            “Stop,” Rev. Purpose’s voice thundered, startling onlookers in the periphery.  “Put your fork down and come with me.”

            The good man pulled Gloria’s elbow, taking her away from the table and the plate of sausage for which temptation had gotten the best of her.  Guiding her along, he managed to rescue her from the building, bringing her into the crisp fresh air.

            As the cool breeze smack hit Gloria’s face, she began to whimper, “What have I done?”

            Abruptly stopping, turning compassionately towards his parishioner, Paul Purpose consoled.  “This isn’t the end of the world.  One misstep doesn’t make you a lesser person.”

            A little cry escaped Gloria’s mouth, her tongue working to give coherent utterance. 

            Grabbing her shoulders, staring Gloria square in the eye, Rev. Purpose remarked, “It’s not a sin to eat meat.”  Although her other behavior of sneaking over to Brightan, of all places, to engage in questionable yoga and belly dancing was another matter altogether.  But now was not the time to discuss these indiscretions when her surprising behavior centered upon the ingestion of sausage. 

            Pulling away, Gloria responded, “I’m not worried about that right now.  Instead, I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

            “Take a deep breath,” Rev. Purpose said, not once, but twice.  “Let’s walk it off.”

            Together, they strolled on scenic paths towards the church, past the Grubby Cauldron and Schuyler’s Market, where the V.F.W. had acquired the hundred pounds of sausage in the first place.  With each passing step, Gloria felt a gradual welcomed settling in her core. 

            “Tell me what happened today, Gloria.  Why did you go on a binge?” Rev. Purpose finally probed once Gloria had regained her composure, wondering what on earth could have triggered her outlandish deed.

            Sounds of birds singing in the background muffled when Gloria began to respond.  “I love him,” she blurted, slowing her gait, fighting not to break down in tears.

            “Love who?” shocked Rev. Purpose demanded, stopping to look into Gloria’s clouded hazel eyes once more.  This bombshell of a revelation took the holy man by surprise.  In the years since Gloria had joined the community of Dalton Springs, she seemed content to be single, tending to business at the Grubby Cauldron whenever she wasn’t escaping to Brightan to indulge in her other eccentric activities.

            “Luther,” she replied as if the reverend should have known. 

            “Luther?” he mimicked, the furrow between his dark brows deepening. 

            “You act surprised,” Gloria remarked, staring right back at the man who considered himself enlightened in all facets of the townsfolk’s lives.  This revelation came out of left field, incongruent to Rev. Purpose's perception of reality.  Had he missed something along the way, signs?

            “Luther?” he repeated, to make certain he didn’t misunderstand.

            Shaking her head while huffing a sigh of frustration, Gloria tread once more.  Speaking over her shoulder, she proclaimed, “Yes, I-love-Luther.”

© 2006 by author.  All rights reserved.