Kerlak Enterprises - Reading Room

Galen by Allan Gilbreath

   Galen casually strolled between the marble monuments to lives now over. This close to the water, coffins couldn't be placed in the ground so this city of the dead came into being. As he passed families placing flowers and paying their respects, he fought the urge to smirk at their tears. At least, he was honest about why he killed. While he was sure that the family as a whole missed their dearly departed, he was also sure that members were secretly happy at being relived of their caregiver duties. Others may miss the grandfather, but they seemed to be enjoying the inheritance. Already bored with the petty concerns of humans, Galen continued his quiet exploration.
   One crypt in particular captured his attention. The angel adorning the front had actually been carved in the likeness of the woman who laid at rest here. In the failing light of dusk, the dimming sunlight cast a reddish glow over the aged marble. Galen found the trick of the light both amusing and appropriate. He had known her well enough to kill her.
   They had traveled together for decades. It would be inaccurate to have called them lovers. They may have loved being together, but neither of them had any illusion about themselves and their ultimate fates. She had already begun to suffer from chronological fatigue when they met. Galen's mental prowess and raw savagery had been enough to revive her interest in continued existence for a while. In the end, Galen ended her boredom and placed her here.
   To be perfectly honest, he couldn't even remember her name. At this point, the dead held no place of reverence for him. The death of others merely allowed him to continue to cheat time. He had actually come to admire the exquisite marble work of her likeness.
   Time and nature had already done their work. The fine details had been worn away and moss had grown into the fine cracks. The last time he stood here, the stonework literally shone. He placed his hands on the rusted fence. Everything around him seemed to fade so quickly. She had warned him that this would be the first sign of the fatigue. He stared into the still fierce eyes of the statue. His time hadn't come yet. A faint purple glow appeared on the carved face as a ray of sunlight reflected from his ring. He looked down at the royal purple stone. In spite of its great age, neither the stone nor the gold that held it showed any sign of falling victim to the passing of ages.
   As long as that ring resisted fading into dust, so would he. Galen smiled at his own bravado in the face of faded stonework. Time may overcome everything eventually, but it would have to wait for him. The human world grew more interesting by the day and he had no intention of missing the show.
   He would adapt and continue. Galen gave the marble face one last look then turned and walked away. He would not return
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