Disclaimer: The idea of a "Long Walk" with only the strongest one surviving is originally Stephen King's (written as Richard Bachman). The stragglers did get shot, but by people, and the last person just got fame and fortune. So the lizards, etc, are all my idea, and this is MUCH different from The Long Walk. It has different characters.
INTRODUCTION
A dark night, it was. Well, most nights were dark for Jerome, the God of All Things Causeless (GATC to his pals). The form he had taken was quite insulting: an immobile plastic lizard upon the desk of an adolescent packrat. But when the lights grew dim in the late evenings, he came alive. See, Jerome had waited long enough. It was the aftermath of the holiday people call Christmas, where the human race often wonders what comes next. The time had come for him to do The Calling.
The Calling was a great and wonderful event. Or, it would be. Jerome planned for it to be centennial, but it all depended on how this first one turned out. Each person lacking a purpose would be drawn toward him. Understandably, most of the country would be on this journey, but he would begin with northern California. It always seemed like a nice place, or so Jerome thought as he read brochures from universities in California trying to nab his girl. Jerome had grown rather fond of his girl over time. After all, she at least provided him with a base for his activities, didn't she? His girl called herself Allison in private and drank much Diet Coke, but he prefered the term "insomniac dyke"... in an affectionate way, of course. His girl didn't have a cause, either, but she wouldn't be Called for quite a while down the line.
Anyway, although The Calling included all those without a cause, it was not for the weak. Sure, there would be those left behind, Jerome supposed. The middle-aged farmers who only wanted to raise money for their children to go to college, the six year olds who were happy playing with clay, the insane who are so lost that they have to focus on one thing only, would be spared. For those that WERE Called, however, Jerome had made arrangements. A few of his "friends" were to accompany them on the journey, solely for the use of putting the weak out of their misery. If one walked too slowly and ignored the two warnings given them, darn, they're dead. It occurred to Jerome that this might not be the most humane way to do things - especially when his "friends" were walking, talking crocodiles - but he wanted results. And fast. The Called knew the way, but the length of their quest was up them. They would keep walking, never happening upon the small Oklahoma town until there was one clearcut survivor. This strong human would then be used for other purposes. But first, Jerome had to Call.
After a click check to make sure his girl was asleep (with her, you never knew), Jerome sent his signals. He'd be exhausted by morning, but he knew by then much of the population of northern California would be on its way. He would get his pawn sooner or later.
INTRODUCTION
A dark night, it was. Well, most nights were dark for Jerome, the God of All Things Causeless (GATC to his pals). The form he had taken was quite insulting: an immobile plastic lizard upon the desk of an adolescent packrat. But when the lights grew dim in the late evenings, he came alive. See, Jerome had waited long enough. It was the aftermath of the holiday people call Christmas, where the human race often wonders what comes next. The time had come for him to do The Calling.
The Calling was a great and wonderful event. Or, it would be. Jerome planned for it to be centennial, but it all depended on how this first one turned out. Each person lacking a purpose would be drawn toward him. Understandably, most of the country would be on this journey, but he would begin with northern California. It always seemed like a nice place, or so Jerome thought as he read brochures from universities in California trying to nab his girl. Jerome had grown rather fond of his girl over time. After all, she at least provided him with a base for his activities, didn't she? His girl called herself Allison in private and drank much Diet Coke, but he prefered the term "insomniac dyke"... in an affectionate way, of course. His girl didn't have a cause, either, but she wouldn't be Called for quite a while down the line.
Anyway, although The Calling included all those without a cause, it was not for the weak. Sure, there would be those left behind, Jerome supposed. The middle-aged farmers who only wanted to raise money for their children to go to college, the six year olds who were happy playing with clay, the insane who are so lost that they have to focus on one thing only, would be spared. For those that WERE Called, however, Jerome had made arrangements. A few of his "friends" were to accompany them on the journey, solely for the use of putting the weak out of their misery. If one walked too slowly and ignored the two warnings given them, darn, they're dead. It occurred to Jerome that this might not be the most humane way to do things - especially when his "friends" were walking, talking crocodiles - but he wanted results. And fast. The Called knew the way, but the length of their quest was up them. They would keep walking, never happening upon the small Oklahoma town until there was one clearcut survivor. This strong human would then be used for other purposes. But first, Jerome had to Call.
After a click check to make sure his girl was asleep (with her, you never knew), Jerome sent his signals. He'd be exhausted by morning, but he knew by then much of the population of northern California would be on its way. He would get his pawn sooner or later.