Read Online The Four Horsemen 3 - Famine by T.A. Chase - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: T.A. Chase
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angel,” Lam joked.
“When I see one, I’ll try to remember that.” He flung the insult at Lam.
“Ouch. Now that’s not very nice. I’m teasing you. I don’t care what you do or who you try to save. Since it’s my job to make sure you do your job, I was just making sure it didn’t stop you from spreading famine and drought where you need to go. Trust me, this continent isn’t going to be fertile for a long time.” Lam sighed.
Swallowing his disappointment, Famine nodded. “I guess I was hoping you’d say you didn’t need me any more.”
“Sorry, Famine. There will always be a need for the Horsemen.”
The sadness in Lam’s voice touched Famine. He wanted to tell Lam it was okay, but, really, it wasn’t. Famine wished he could walk away. He wanted to chuck his bag in the river and stroll off, find a place to stay in the Nile valley or someplace beside the Zambezi River.
“But maybe you’ll find the person of your dreams and be able to give up this life that you chose.”
Anger swelled in Famine, and he whirled to point a finger at Lam. “I didn’t choose this life. I was sacrificed, and suddenly I woke up with this terrible power. I can’t ever feel healthy ground beneath my feet. The moment my salt touches the dirt, the grass dies, and the water disappears. Crops wither and animals starve. Do you know how that feels?”
Lam shook his head. “No, I don’t know how it feels, and I’m sorry that my comments seemed flippant. I didn’t mean to make light of your situation.”
Famine inhaled deeply, biting back any further arguments. It wasn’t Lam’s fault that Famine was trapped as a Horseman, no matter what Death or Lam said about finding someone to love or forgive him for what he did as a mortal. While Famine had assumed it was simply forgiveness that freed a Horseman, it looked like it was actually love that did it. Both Pestilence and War had fallen in love, and now they were mortal. Yet who could love a man who brought death to crops and dried up water sources with a mere grain of salt?
“I have to get back,” he mumbled.
“I know.” Lam stepped closer, and laid his hand on Famine’s shoulder. “I do have some idea how hard being a Horseman is for you who are chosen for the job. I’ve dealt with Horsemen for millennia, and none of them have dealt with the transition or solitude of the job very well.”
Pausing, Lam tilted his head as if he’d thought of something, before he continued, “Except for this most recent Death. He seems to be dealing with everything rather well, especially considering what his job is.”
He couldn’t argue with Lam’s statement. This Death was less tortured, and, at times, Death seemed rather impatient with the rest of them as they struggled with the destruction they dealt mortals.
“I’ll leave you to your internal debate.” Lam turned to walk away, but stopped, and turned back to look at him. “I would throw the diamond away, and when Ekundayo is healed, return him to Botswana where you found him. Let him decide from there what to do and where to go. You’ve done your part by saving him. That’s my advice. Do with it what you want.”
“Thank you.” Famine watched Lam stroll off the trail, and disappear into the shadows under the trees.
At times, Lam was as annoying as Death, but every once in a while the angel would give him some advice to mull over, and end up discovering something new about himself. Famine swung back in the direction of his tree. The medicine bag hit his thigh, reminding him of what he hid inside it.
Although Lam’s advice about getting rid of the diamond was sound, Famine couldn’t bring himself to do it. Maybe the idea of helping Ekundayo find a better life intrigued Famine, or it might simply be he didn’t want to upset Ekundayo by giving the diamond back. He also couldn’t make a decision about Ekundayo. He’d wait until Ekundayo was healed before he made the final decision on what to do with him.
A wave of exhaustion
“When I see one, I’ll try to remember that.” He flung the insult at Lam.
“Ouch. Now that’s not very nice. I’m teasing you. I don’t care what you do or who you try to save. Since it’s my job to make sure you do your job, I was just making sure it didn’t stop you from spreading famine and drought where you need to go. Trust me, this continent isn’t going to be fertile for a long time.” Lam sighed.
Swallowing his disappointment, Famine nodded. “I guess I was hoping you’d say you didn’t need me any more.”
“Sorry, Famine. There will always be a need for the Horsemen.”
The sadness in Lam’s voice touched Famine. He wanted to tell Lam it was okay, but, really, it wasn’t. Famine wished he could walk away. He wanted to chuck his bag in the river and stroll off, find a place to stay in the Nile valley or someplace beside the Zambezi River.
“But maybe you’ll find the person of your dreams and be able to give up this life that you chose.”
Anger swelled in Famine, and he whirled to point a finger at Lam. “I didn’t choose this life. I was sacrificed, and suddenly I woke up with this terrible power. I can’t ever feel healthy ground beneath my feet. The moment my salt touches the dirt, the grass dies, and the water disappears. Crops wither and animals starve. Do you know how that feels?”
Lam shook his head. “No, I don’t know how it feels, and I’m sorry that my comments seemed flippant. I didn’t mean to make light of your situation.”
Famine inhaled deeply, biting back any further arguments. It wasn’t Lam’s fault that Famine was trapped as a Horseman, no matter what Death or Lam said about finding someone to love or forgive him for what he did as a mortal. While Famine had assumed it was simply forgiveness that freed a Horseman, it looked like it was actually love that did it. Both Pestilence and War had fallen in love, and now they were mortal. Yet who could love a man who brought death to crops and dried up water sources with a mere grain of salt?
“I have to get back,” he mumbled.
“I know.” Lam stepped closer, and laid his hand on Famine’s shoulder. “I do have some idea how hard being a Horseman is for you who are chosen for the job. I’ve dealt with Horsemen for millennia, and none of them have dealt with the transition or solitude of the job very well.”
Pausing, Lam tilted his head as if he’d thought of something, before he continued, “Except for this most recent Death. He seems to be dealing with everything rather well, especially considering what his job is.”
He couldn’t argue with Lam’s statement. This Death was less tortured, and, at times, Death seemed rather impatient with the rest of them as they struggled with the destruction they dealt mortals.
“I’ll leave you to your internal debate.” Lam turned to walk away, but stopped, and turned back to look at him. “I would throw the diamond away, and when Ekundayo is healed, return him to Botswana where you found him. Let him decide from there what to do and where to go. You’ve done your part by saving him. That’s my advice. Do with it what you want.”
“Thank you.” Famine watched Lam stroll off the trail, and disappear into the shadows under the trees.
At times, Lam was as annoying as Death, but every once in a while the angel would give him some advice to mull over, and end up discovering something new about himself. Famine swung back in the direction of his tree. The medicine bag hit his thigh, reminding him of what he hid inside it.
Although Lam’s advice about getting rid of the diamond was sound, Famine couldn’t bring himself to do it. Maybe the idea of helping Ekundayo find a better life intrigued Famine, or it might simply be he didn’t want to upset Ekundayo by giving the diamond back. He also couldn’t make a decision about Ekundayo. He’d wait until Ekundayo was healed before he made the final decision on what to do with him.
A wave of exhaustion
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