CHAPTER 1: The Beginning of the Whole Mess, or To The Dark Tower Did Childe Roland Came
The Man in Black fled across the desert, The Gunslinger followed. It seemed The Man in Black was slowing down; then again it seemed to Roland that time it self was, slowing for him. He was sure there where days, that lasted at least 48 hours, the shortest day he experienced shortest at least 34.
Roland, the Gunslinger ascribed to this to Ka and the world he was living in and nothing more of it. The world had moved on, things have changed. Ka because very thing was driven by it, The Man in Black was no exception, nor was the gunslinger or the world around them. The world had moved on, things have changed, that was Ka.
The desert seemed walked on seemed to stretch to infinity and beyond. As large it was it also just as empty, what little sand there was stuck to the ground, only occasionally did bits of it seem to stretch up and hit him hard on the face. The real kicker of the place wasn't the vast spread of the area, or the lack of sand. Even though the world was already moving on when he was a child, the thought of a cold desert during high noon would have made anyone laugh, including him. Even now it brought a large grim smile onto Roland face. This desert seemed to be an apotheosis to what was happening to the world. None of this even mattered to Roland though. All that mattered was the Man in Black.
All that mattered was it in the far distance in front of him, their was a large unmoving object and that forty minutes ago he saw the remains of a camp site, though he couldn't say how he knew, he was sure it belonged to The Man in Black. All that mattered was that he was getting closer, that and no matter how cold the desert was, it was still dry as hell, and he needed a drink.
The gunslinger reached down and grabbed his canteen, witch hung loose from his belt and above his two heavy revolvers. His hands briefly touched them, and a smile appeared on his face, even now they reminded him of his father. They where originally his father's, but they changed so much since then, for one they where weighted down more with plates since he took them at his side, because unlike his father he was a tall man. The more Roland thought about it, the more he realized how different he was now. Though both stood strong and tan, Roland's father, Stephen, had eyes where much kinder and softer, as well as brown as the desert once was, his hair was a light blonde…almost white, it was straight and long, covering as much of the face as the back. Almost seemingly trying to cover up that kindness, a thing witch no longer had a place in the world. Roland eyes where a cold blue, that seemed to scream indifference to the world. His hair was a curly black trying that came down to his forehead and seemed naturally to part to two sides. Yet there was no doubt in either Stephen or Roland's mind that they where father and son, its was just that Roland looked like their forefather of their family Arthur Eld.
While the gunslinger was lost in his vivid, he memory almost spilled his water over his poncho, witch had only the color of dirt of the desert had, like his shirt. He cursed silently, took a quick drink, and quickly placed back in his belt. Roland looked up at the object that lingered in front of him. It was much clearer now and much easier to see it.
It was a large grey building…that seemed to be made of very well plastered bricks; he definitely couldn't make out any single bricks in it in any case. Its roof was flat as a pancake except for its edges witch pointed both up and down, both far and long. It had long windows that seemed to stretch across along middle of the building. As the gunslinger got closer…he could have sworn he saw someone inside.
In fact he knew he did.
The gunslinger crept across the long side of the building edging his way to the front, trying to avoid making any noise to alert anyone in side. Though he doubted it, The Man In Black might be in there….and if he was Roland would have him right where he wanted him. Roland kicked opened the door, drawing his gun in the same instant, preparing for the worst. All he found was a boy, laying on the floor apparently asleep. The gunslinger paused a moment in surprise. "Did The Man In Black leave him for me too find? No, maybe he lives here…wait if he does how the hell did he get here?" The gunslinger thought quickly and nervously. Not knowing what do next he moved forward, and in retrospect did the stupidest thing he could have done, and then kicked him. The boy eyes opened quick as lighting. His mouth opened almost as quickly in shock, upon seeing the gunslinger's revolver.
"Unless you want to lose the top half of your head, you'll give me you name and tell me how the hell you got here." The gunslinger said sharply and coldly. The boy muttered incoherently at first then finally said his name. The gunslinger him self was in surprise…the boy had just spoke in a form of High Speak he thought died out long ago.
"My name is Shinji…Shi-…Shinji Ikari…"
"Shinji...? There's a handle I haven't heard in a while, a long while." Roland began…although he began to soften as he looked at the confusion and terror in the boys face. He put his gun back in its holster.
"How did you get here…do you have a family or something around here…?" Roland asked once again.
"I don't know….I think I was hurt or something…then I saw a man in black…he might have been a Christian priest or something…I don't know. When I woke up I was here." Shinji began.
The gunslinger looked down at Shinji. He was pallid sullen and short, though still an ordinary looking teenager (perhaps one the ladies would prefer to look at but still ordinary) though he doubted there where any form the Eastern lands still here, all the traders and travelers began leaving after the fall of Gilead. He hadn't seen anyone other than white, black, or those sometimes who call themselves Native Manni (Though most preferred just being called Manni after a religion that they followed and rather than land that they all lived, depending on whether or not they followed it) for a long time now… he where sure there will still here in Manni, this part of Mid-World. But, the world had moved on after all.
In any case Shinji was definitely not some beast the Man in Black would have left here to kill him. He was just some ordinary teen. Maybe the Man in Black to slow him down… he could have brought him here that meant the Man in Black could leave at anytime. Roland scowled at the thought, preceded to make a motion with his hand asking Shinji to go on.
Shinji shook his head. "Sorry, that's all I remember really." The gunslinger could tell the boy wasn't lying.
"Well, how about where you where before you got here?" the gunslinger asked
Shinji thought for moment and then looked down at Roland's guns for a quick second. Roland caught this and realized the boy was still scared as hell, and quickly removed his holster and guns at set them on a counter. The boy needed to calm down; the truth and stories came out better that way. Roland looked around in the interior of the gray way stations interior. All though it was cluttered through out the entire place, filled with dirt and dust, as well just the general disarray of the whole place, Roland thought there still might be salvageable food around here.
Much of the waystation was divided into columns and columns. Much of it the gunslinger thought was garbage, packages of not food but good knew. Much was materials that Roland knew, that any harrier or treasure hunter would cum at sight, and scream that he was in heaven, there where whole columns of not just picture books and books in general, but tons and tons of blank paper and pens. Even when he was a boy it was hard to find paper, and they where still making it back then. Even then he supposed, the world had moved on. There was enough of it to a thousand men a large fortune now, and make a half a dozen very wealthy back when he was a child. As the gunslinger moved further down he saw what he looked like bagged and canned food. He looked and Shinji.
Shinji almost reading his mind quickly said "Yes, you can eat them. I've been eating for them past two days. Its nothing but junk food, but it's still better than nothing. Oh theirs water in the fridges in back I thought about taking the soda…but I living on beef jerky as it is."
The Gunslinger smiled at Shinji "So Palvaer, is to be had."
Roland was unfamiliar with the term junk food., but got the rest and grabbed himself a bottle of water, something called a Milky Way, Something called a Butterfinger, two big red puffy bags (that looked like to Roland that they where going to explode. He wouldn't even touch them until Shinji told in that it just air trapped in the bag) of something called Nacho Cheese Doritos, and a two bottles of beer. Roland offered one of the bags of Doritos to Shinji, as well as the Milky way and the bottle of beer, and pulled out a loaf of stale old bread, breaking it in half, giving Shinji the other half.
"This a beer right, I'm sorry I can't have it…I'm not old enough…." Shinji began
The Gunslinger just looked at Shinji. "Your on your way to becoming a man…and you can't drink? Are you a follower of the Man Jesus"
Shinji shook his head "I'm just not allowed to back where I'm from….well I'm to young there it's a law"
"Your hold enough to hold Palvaer, a meeting or equals or near equals, is custom to break bread and share drink." He paused " Not to get drunk….your only to take a swing of drink when I o, I to drink only when you do." The gunslinger almost recanted jollily, tough with a serious tone as well.
Shinji smiled " All right…eeer what is palaver...isn't it a type of sauce…."
Roland scowled "No, I already told you what it is. It's something two or more people who are just met, or being requited, or just do to tell each other about themselves…when they consider themselves equals and when they mean no harm."
"Oh…"Shinji said while almost blushing in an embarrassment.
"Don't worry it appears that your not from here apparently," the gunslinger raised his glass indicting that they should both take a drink. Shinji paused…then quickly raised his and drank a sip as the gunslinger did "And, I think we are well met."
"And so it was Roland, son of Stephen, and Shinji, son of…" Roland began
"…Gendou" Shinji almost muttered
"…and so it was Roland, son of Stephen and Shinji, son of Gendou began Palvear, broke bread, and shared drink." The gunslinger said… knocking his bottle against Shinji's.
"Also Shinji since I gave the opening toast you are to give me the closing one, don't worry all you have to say the same thing expect we ended Palvear." The gunslinger continued.
They began to eat and drink, in silence each waiting for the other to speak. At first, Roland thought that it was his own fault. He didn't like the Doritos very much. But the Butterfinger bar reminded of deserts he hadn't eaten since he was a child. He also thought it was at the boy's shyness and timidness. "No, that can't be it. If anything he would have tried to start up a conversation now because of it. Silence is more intimating then words of the tongue many of times. This is one of them. It's probably because he still doesn't trust me. I did wave a gun in his face after all" Roland thought The gunslinger reached underneath his poncho (for one horrible moment Shinji had though he had hid another gun under there) and pulled out tobacco and rolled a cigarette. He lit it , and with that the silence broke.
"I understand why you're upset and don't trust me, Shinji. So I'll start us off." The Gunslinger paused, taking a puff of his cigarette then went on in an almost toneless voice. "I think that man in black you saw, is the one I'm looking for. Its important to me that I find him. No matter how long and no matter what it takes."
Shinji interpreted his voice a tad bit unsteady but with some strength. "Why are you looking for him?" Shinji's eyes turned to Roland's guns on the table. "Are you looking for him, to kill him?"
Roland paused at this. "Yes, and no. But more of the no then the yes, if I find him I'll talk to him, and if I get to him and learn what I want to, I'll kill him if I get the chance. If I don't get the chance…oh well, I'll still get what I want out of him.
"So why are you want…" Shinji began to ask.
"I want to kill him because he seduced my mother and killed my father. But that's not why I after him, Shinji." The gunslinger paused, and took another puff of his cigarette. "But it is related to the reason why I want to talk to him. The Man in Black only used my mother and killed my father to get to the Tower. And it's the Tower I'm after."
"What's so important about it, that someone would do that? Is it worth killing over…worth using people over?" Shinji asked in sympathetic tone.
"Yes, I hate him for it. But I can't say I wouldn't something like that to find the Dark Tower. I've done worse, much worse. So has he. I can't say either one of us regrets it yet, there are very few things in the world selling you soul for Shinji. The Tower's one of them. Because without the Tower nothing would exist, nothing at all, even Ka…or fate, or purpose serves it. If there is a God, I wouldn't doubt that he would live there. Whether he'd control it, however, I don't know." The gunslinger wearily, much like old man who has spent his entire life in factory, and is finally nearing the end of his stay there.
"…But why did the Man in Black kill your father to get to it Roland. And why get to it in the first place?" Shinji asked.
At this Roland looked deep into Shinji's eyes, the star was like that of a viper would make. And Shinji was sure at that moment that that gaze could have torn through steel. The ocean blue eyes Roland bore…almost looked empty of kindness and threatening as the ocean itself. Shinji almost wanted to avoid that gaze but something drew it to. Maybe because there was sadness behind those eyes Shinji could more than identity with.
"I don't know why he wants to get to the Tower but I can tell you why I do. I want to see if there's anyone on the top. I want to see if there is if its he who controls the tower. Or the Tower that controls him. And I want to ask him…why the world has moved on. Why almost all the cities have fallen. Why most towns are ghost towns. Why days are getting longer, and why they at the same time are getting shorter. I want to ask why most cows are born with 5 legs. Some horses are born with none And, why my father and my friends, had to die protecting it. Why he let die the one thing that could protect it. Gunslingers. "
Next chapter: The Gunslinger: Before Lead Fell From His Guns, and Tears from His Eyes.
The Story of Roland's Ascension of Manhood, of the enigmatic Man In Black and Roland mutual hatred and the conflict that ensues, and an echo of The Man In Blacks plans.