The Lone Drifter

The Prologue and Chapter 1 to 'The Lone Drifter' (Comments would be well appreciated :) This is my first story)

Prologue

I sit and watch the sun slowly fade away into the horizon. I let out a sigh and just think about things, anything and everything. I remember all the faces from my travels, all the smiles and especially the tears. But this is the life I always knew I was going to live. Drifting. From town to town, like dust in the wind, I go where I'm needed. I pick myself up and brush off the dirt from my trousers and I walk. I walk into the distance, into the horizon. No set destination, no knowledge of the next town I will arrive in, and no company. You find that when there isn't anyone constantly around you, you start to really be able to think about things. You get to know who you really are, and not what everyone thinks you are. It becomes just you and the path you walk. No attachments, no responsibility, no one to answer to, except myself of course.

My gaze drifts upwards. The stars are starting to come up. The sun is starting to crawl into the horizon. The sky is starting to fill with that orange colour, indicating the night is on it's way. I put the hood of my cloak up and wrap my scarf around my face up to my eyes. I move next to a tree with a lot of cover to it, and I begin to get comfortable for the night. It is going to be a cold one.

Chapter 1

I sit at the table of an old-style tavern, you know like one of those American ones with the w***e house above it. I sit there, gazing through the table, beyond the laughing faces and the four walls we currently share together. Just looking, looking deeply. My concentration is on this one moment. My gaze is broken by a pretty, young woman. She walks right up to me and says

“Well hey there...Haven't seen you here before?”

My eyes slowly meet hers and I realise something. She is the innocent type, deep down. Only she uses a mask to hide it. Shame, but I guess in a place like this innocence is weakness. Just looking into her eyes, I have her type down in an instant.

“Just passing through” I reply, trying hard to not extend this conversation.

“Where you from?” She says with a big, gleaming smile on her face. I think to myself 'no honey, not this time'

“Far away” I shoot straight back at her, my eyes leaving hers and going back to the table.

“How far?” She says, still gleaming with interest. 'Fell right into that one didn't I?' I thought to myself, hoping it would have finished this encounter.

“Far enough” Why wont she give up? Surely I can't be showing any sign of wanting to speak to her. Why is she still standing there with a smile on that face of hers?

“Mind If I take a seat?” She says while pulling up a wooden chair. I let out a sigh and in a weary voice I say

“What is it you want?”

“Can't a girl be nice to a stranger?” She proclaims with those eyes of intent. I bite my tongue and hold back telling her to find another man to lie to, this one's seen it all before. I just continue to stare at the table, avoiding any contact with her. Finishing the shot of whiskey in front of me, she immediately blurts out

“Like a drink do ya?”

“As much as the next guy” I tell her impatiently.

“Well how's about you buy pretty ol' me a glass hmm?” I bet that works on every guy she tries it on.

“Some other time” I murmur to her as I grab my cloak and satchel and walk straight out of the place. I can tell she is still sat there, looking back at me as I walk through the doors. Probably with a surprised smile on her face. I'm not playing hard to get hunny, trust me.

The evening sky is already filled with stars, and the moon is well on it's way in the sky. I find myself sitting at a table on some decking, a little way from the other tables. I sit. Watching. There appears to be some festival going on in the town, celebrating something they call independence. What do they know of independence? They rely on each other for their needs, that is not real independence. I just sit and watch. I watch them dancing. I watch them laughing and having a good time. I watch from the outside looking in. I take a long drag from my cigarette and stub it out. I gather my things and move off. That is enough for one night. Walking through the streets, the sound of music becoming a distant echo. She is following me. After a while of being alone, you get to know foreign sounds quite well. I just stop dead and remain in the same position. She strolls up in-line with me.

“Where you going?” She says with a cheeky smile.

“Where are you going?” I turn to her, flipping her question back to her.

“I saw you at the party earlier, why didn't you come and join us?” She questions inquisitively.

“I was content with watching” I sigh. Her questions, innocent enough, require a life time of answers. I give a quick glance her way and I continue walking.

“Hey! Wait up” She yells, sprinting to catch up with me. Already she is out of breath, I must have only got about 20 metres in front of her.

I just keep walking. She catches up with me, her eyes shifting from the back street to me. She opens her mouth, but words escape her. She just walks. Walking together. No words need to be said. The moment is all that counts.

Author's Note

Feel free to comment and review, this is my first book so any constructive criticism is welcome :)