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In Vino Veritas

C.R. Vard

In Veritasville the Veritasons were told their futures, the prophecies they were often referred to as. Many families considered the ceremony, where their children were received their prophecy, overly ornate. Surely, they believed, the prophecies could not be all right all the time, so why make such a fuss?

Their ancestors had struggled to find a way to discern this information for many generations. Then perhaps Veritasville’s greatest generation emerged. When this prolific group finally divined the future their mastermind suddenly, and quite inexplicably, died. This knowledge dominated the beliefs of the Veritasons as long as anyone could remember: when your life’s prophecy had been completed you died.

Back to how some villagers believed there was too much emphasis placed on the receiving of prophecies. Mayor Calvin Awrri, for one, believed his prophecy was false. His contained the fact that his would be shadowed by his ignorance. “How could the mayor of a town,” he reasoned, “be ignorant.” His major contribution, the Veritasons believed, was the doing away with the age restraint. He believed that the child should be told their prophecy as soon as they could speak. The town too felt this, and no one protested.

Except for Senior Sigmund Wright that is. He argued that a child cannot comprehend the true meaning even though they could understand the words. Unbeknownst to Veritasons was Senior Sigmund’s prophecy: the only joys in his life would come from pain. “How is a five year old going to interpret that?” he wondered, “that they had to stab themselves to be happy?”

Now, Young Nicholas Fabius was told his prophecy at the age of five as the new rules required. When he was in school he failed miserably, though at no fault of his own. He was dyslexic, but the Veritasons knew not of this disorder. Whenever he followed along in the classroom readings he was utterly perplexed. He did not speak up, though, because of the prophecy.

Another perplexing thing was his classmates. They constantly poked fun at his dismal grades. As to why he had no guess. Some of the people who made fun of him were his “equals” in school. They were the worst to him, constantly laughing in class when he made a mistake. He dared not speak up though, for fear of the prophecy.

When Nicholas finally reached his late teens he was sliding into a depression, until he met Hope. Hope was everything that had eluded him: a conversation, understanding, and beauty. Young Hope was not new to the art of the relationship. Her first and previous boyfriend was unduly protective of her, always wary. Young Hope loved him dearly, but the insecurity of her boyfriend, Occisor, tore them apart.

Occisor, whose prophecy you will soon guess, sought revenge on Young Nicholas Fabius. Late one night when the two were alone together in the park he approached them silently and calmly. When he was not more then a foot away he silently and calmly pulled a dagger and lobbed it toward one of the figures on the bench. Hope was lost. The dastard snuck off in the dark of night, never to be seen again.

Nicholas waited in vein to see if the doctors could save her, but by sunset the next day…

Young Nicholas Fabius cursed the prophecy. He hated it. “When would the last part come true!” he wondered in anguish. The doctor, seeing his pain had given him the dagger, with little foresight. Unfortunately for Young Nicholas the doctor’s prophecy contained the phrase: “would cause unnecessary strife.” The dagger was Nicholas’ undoing as one may have foretold. Nicholas held the dagger, the end of his Hope, menacingly in hand. He grasped it firmly wondering when that last part of his prophecy would come true. But then it dawned on him. He was destined to fail at all… but one thing… except… taking his own life he realized as the blood ran down his throat and dagger and hand.

Mayor Calvin Awrii upon learning this consulted Senior Wright. When asked what they should do about the death of Young Nicholas Fabius, Senior Wright responded, “Destroy the prophecies.” Now this was a turn of fortune, the destroying of fortunes that is, for Veritasville. As fate would have it Veritasville soon prospered more then any city before, and since, with Founder Fabius to thank.

Copyright 2007 Chris
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