The Ego of One Man

Today I found other people. They are like the people that I knew and loved. They are living in a cave many valleys away from my home. I have watched them from this hill for two days.


Why have I done this? I have all the food I need, and I have shelter. What I don't have is my people. My people are gone. They have died. Everyone died but me. The sickness did not enter my body. I am as healthy as I have ever been... on the outside... on the inside I am lonely. That is why I am here. I need someone else in my life. So here I am. I have left my cave and my home of many years. I find myself on this hilltop watching people. Tomorrow I may have the courage to walk into their camp.

I did walk among the strangers today, and they look much the same as I do. There are 4 men, 7 women, and 6 children. I have kept my distance from them. One of the men has been watching me all day. It appears the other men have gone to look for food.

I cannot stand the loneliness any longer. I walk cautiously over to the watching man, and I present him with my small bundle of food. He looks at me... not moving... not even shifting his eyes for a moment. I sense that he is not sure of me. Then, with an almost imperceptible movement of a single finger on his left hand, the rest of the men are on me. They are pounding my head with rocks and sticks. Slowly I start to drift away. The pain is becoming unbearable.

The men have stopped pounding on me. They must see that my body has gone limp. The pain in my head is still there, but I am feeling a numbness now and I can't move. I am able to think. In my mind I can see the watching man, and I know he is the leader, the decision maker. He, and he alone, has made the decision to kill me. He decides what is right and what is wrong. What he likes and what he doesn't like is all that matters to him. He has taken charge. Like a god he has all of the power. Like a massive antlered animal he has fought for this prize, and it is his and his alone. He has staked his claim on this group of people, and he does as he pleases. And today it pleased him to kill me for no reason.

As my consciousness is failing, I sense that I am being carried. I am able to see that the leader has carried me to the edge of the cliff.

Now I am flying like a hawk diving on his prey. My death is certain now. I watch as the rocks below grow nearer and nearer.


Beware of the man who pulls the strings...