Chapter III
2249
Jeremy
Lost
I have no idea where I am.
Jeremy had stopped running to see where he was. He was currently running through a dense woods. There was no sign of the little town he used to know.
Why had I run so far? Why hadn't I just found Garth?
Night was beginning to fall and it began to rain. Jeremy ran and ran and ran to no avail. Finally, he tripped and fell. He lay there, bleeding, and cried. He cried because he was wet, he cried because he was cold and he cried because he was lost. But more than anything, Jeremy cried because he was without his big brother, Garth.
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Jeremy awoke with terror to find the morning sunlight filtering through the treetops. Jeremy also found that the forest is quite pleasant in the daytime. In the dim light, Jeremy glimpsed a stream shining in the foliage. He knelt beside it, washed his face, and took a long drink.
"Now," Jeremy thought aloud. "how am I going to find Garth?"
"Don't move!" demanded a voice from behind the trees. "Come with me." A man stepped out of the undergrowth. He had on a cop's uniform that was utterly unfamiliar.
"What's the problem, officer?"
"Yer trespassin'. Now come with me ya rascal."
"Yes officer."
So poor Jeremy was hauled off by the policeman. After hours of walking, a minor town came into view.
"Um, officer? If I may, what exactly was I trespassing in?" asked Jeremy timidly after a long while of silence.
"That was the restricted area of the county." replied the officer in a hushed voice. "Only officials that work for the county are allowed there." continued the officer, indicating his badge.
"So why is it restricted?"
"I don't know fer sure, but I heard a rumor down at the station. They said vast amounts of gold are buried there and the county wants it all fer themselves." whispered the officer. "Oh, uh…, we're here now."
So they were at the tiny town Jeremy saw over the hill. It was not even a town for that matter. More like a village. The streets were created by rough cobblestones that did not quite fit together and had few cars running along them. The houses were very old. It looked like a new one had not been made for fifty years. Before long, the odd duo came to a building with a sign above the doorway that said POLICE. The officer went into the establishment and sat down on a chair between four other chairs. Across from the chairs was a desk and to the right of the desk was another door. Behind the desk was another policeman.
"I can see that the county somewhat deprives the town of money." sympathized Jeremy, sitting in a chair as well.
"Yes," sighed the officer. "more or less, the county keeps us poor by raisin' taxes every so often." the officer paused. "A bit too often." he added.
"So what's the kid done?" inquired the other officer.
"Caught 'im trespassin' in the County Restriction." replied the officer sitting beside Jeremy. "Go easy on 'im. 'E's a good kid."
"The County Restriction, huh? Right then. Your punishment."