Ah fuck it. Might be too busy to post part 2 up tomorrow anyway. This is my favourite part of the story. In fact, I wrote the conversation way before I came up with the rest.
A boy and his father are standing in front of their straw hut, staring listlessly into the open land before them, its ground dry and devoid of life.
Boy : Daddy, winter is coming, will we have enough food and fuel to last us?
Father : Do not worry, my child, the great Buck Dich (Bends over) shall provide us.
Boy : But Daddy, that’s what you said last winter, and the winter before that. But we shivered and starved through those times.
Father : That was because we must have displeased the great Buck Dich (Bends over again). We were being punished for displeasing him.
Boy : But Daddy, what have we done to displease Buck Dich?
Father : I do not know, my child. But we must have done something to displease him. And next time, bend over when you say “Buck Dich” (Bends over) to show your respect
Boy : But Daddy, other than looking for food, we haven’t the energy to do much else that could displease Buck Dich.
Father : Don’t you listen to the Monarchy sermons? They keep telling us that thoughts, not just actions, are enough to displease Him. And they even told us what we should not be thinking!
Boy : But Daddy, it doesn’t make sense… If the Monarchy specifically tells us not to think of something, won’t we automatically think of it? Like if I told you not to think of a pink elephant, isn’t a pink elephant the first thing that comes to mind?
Father : Uh… Silly child… you…you are still too young to understand. You will when you get older. Go to bed.
Boy : Then Daddy, I’ve been thinking… Is the Hero a bad person? He has done nothing but punish us so far. And the Monarchy had promised for years that He will come, but He never does. Mr. Engel once told me that the Hero is vindictive, sadistic, and vengeful. He keeps our hopes up, only to let them fall. He does not forgive, and he punishes us in the worse way possible. Is that true?
Father : DO NOT SAY THOSE THINGS ABOUT BUCK DICH (Bends over )! Have we not been punished enough? Do you want to be left behind when He comes to save us? Mr. Engel was a heretic and a lunatic, and he was rightfully executed by the Monarchy. Now GO TO BED!!
Boy : Yes, Daddy. But I know I won’t sleep. I still miss Mummy and little sister. Goodnight, Daddy.
The boy enters the hut and lies on the floor, hoping for sleep to come. Meanwhile, the father still stands outside, his eyes still staring listlessly into the barren land, and once in a while falling upon the image of the bodies of his wife and daughter, victims of malnourishment; and left in the plains as no energy could be afforded to bury them.
