Green Country by Libby Lestrano (best short novels of all time TXT) 📕

only the head is mine because it only organs are functioning controllably. I even have the thought that I’m in somebody else’s body. It’s like in a dream when you can’t control your movement. I tried to sway my hands through exerting the force in my shoulders. Luckily, they swayed. I tried to lift them up. They moved up but slow and irregular. My knees are bent, I attempted to straight them up but it kind of gave me an excruciating feeling. It’s better bent. I made an effort to walk. Uh! It’s very hard. It’s like learning something for the first time. My foot only moves one inch away from its original place. I aimed for the door. It’s about five meters away from where I stand. This is bad! When will I reach the door? I yearn for the outside. The open air seems so far away. Patience! Patience! I reminded myself.
My whole body moves abnormally. It’s like a dried up vegetable. It is so gross but it’s real.
After about an hour, I finally reached the door. Thanks God it’s open! Or else I would be stuck here forever. Of course, I don’t have the strength to open it. Not in this state.
At last! I reached the open air. I took a deep breath of the air I thought would be denied to me forever. I heard noise of opening gated and marching feet, and villainous laughter from far away.
I traversed down into the woods. I continued walking. My body may be very slow and vulnerable but I did not feel tired walking.
I traversed down into the woods. After few hours, I reached a brook and sat down. I cupped the water through my hands and drank. It tastes good. After a while of resting, I heard footsteps. I tried to hide but before I could stand, it has already reached me. The footsteps I heard were that of a horse with a boy of about 18 on top of it. Basing on the boy’s features, he surely is an Anjolsian. I was relieved.
“What are you doing here, old man?” It was the voice of the boy.
“Drinking!” I answered briefly.
“Where are you going?” he asked. “Don’t you know Stanians are wandering on these places?”
“I’m going away from the castle. Stanians are already there. They want to kill every non-Stanian they see.”
The boy did not seem surprised. “Then hop a board, old man! I’m going to take you away from here. I’m going home to see if my family is okay. I’m going to fetch them away from here.”
I looked at him and his horse gradually. “I really want to ride with you boy, but you see, I cannot lift my body.”
“Well now. I’m going to help you.” He said modestly.
So there I was, going far away from the castle and the chaos that took place in there hoping to see a bright future for the entirety.


The surroundings are so mysteriously quiet. Aside from the sound of the horse’s steps on moist grass, I can hear the splash of water, which signifies a nearby body. The humble silence of the woods is similar to my state of mind. I am not thinking much. I am physically incapacitated. I just let the happen stances control my path. I will let the boy decide where to drop me. Anyway, I have gone distance away from the castle.
We are approaching a small road and it alarmed me. I asked him. “Are we taking the road?”
“Yes,” he said, “I will reach home faster if we travel by road. I am going southway.”
“Then I’m better off here. I’m traveling north and your horse might not be enough to accommodate another man aside from your family.”
“Don’t you want me to take you to the road?” he asked.
“No, thanks.” I answered. “It’s safer to travel in the woods.”
“Well here you go.” He signaled the horse to stop and through his aid, I came down.
“Thank you, boy and have a safe travel.” I told him as he was about to go.”
“Goodbye, old man, and good luck.” And off he went.
I started off the new phase of travel myself. I was exceptionally slow but it didn’t stop me from fulfilling my mission. And that is to stop the Stanains from further sovereiqnty over the world.
It was getting dark and the night is getting colder. I decided to rest a bit and find some food. I settled myself down in plain, bushy area. I sprawled over the bushes and searched my pocket for some food. Fortunately, I found a carrot. In school, we have developed the habit of eating vegetables because our masters say that when we become immortal, we should maintain healthy bodies. I was halfway in eating the carrot when I noticed a flicker of something orange from a distant. It’s as if somebody’s putting a fire. I put the half eaten carrot back in my pocket and decided to go where the fire comes from. After hours of laborious walk, I reached the place. There was a man sitting in front of the fire. Although I was at the back of him and I can’t see his face. I cannot be mistaken. I know this man.
Joe D’ Bean.
I calmed myself.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” He softly spoke as he stood up and faced me, “So, how did you manage to stay alive?”
I did not answer.
“If I were you I should have chosen death than to become the vegetable you are now.” He continued annoyingly.
“I still have my mission, Bean.” I firmly said.
“What mission? Your missions against vampires? Funny!” he laughed. “You know what’s wrong with you, Squasher?” “You are very contented with your abilities. You feel the best among the others.”
“Whatever you say, Bean, I will continue my mission.”
He laughed tremendously. “Your idiotic mission against the Stanians?”
“No.” I readied myself. “My mission against YOU!” I cast my spell as quick as my body can.
He stepped back but it was too late. He was thrown into the bonfire. He struggled to get out but the fire consumed him. He rolled into the ground to stop it from burning more. When the fire was finally put out, he was rolling torpidly on the ground gasping for air. He looked terrible, he looked like a roasted vegetable.
“You told me I’m a vegetable, but you yourself is a roasted one.” I walked closer to him.
When I was nearer, he suddenly rose to his feet. I was shocked but he wasn’t planning to attack me. He stepped back and prepared to run. He was running away from me!
I just stared at him and watch him how he’ll do it. His knees are also bent and he cannot run. He can only walk. It gave me a better feeling but after a while, I realize my physical state. I cannot run too! So, with confidence. I tried to catch up with him. But I can’t. We have stoop bodies and our speed is equally the same, of about 5 mph.
After an hour, we moved 5 meters away from our original place. The place is dark but we continued our snail-like race. Race to the unknown. I can hear the chirp of cicadas but it didn’t make me sleepy, different from good common nights when I lie in my room listening to their noise. Waiting for sleep to come. But the episode is different now. Here I am, trying to overtake a dummy-like man through my dummy like strength.
We were restless all night and we hadn’t realize the sun has risen up from the east. We continued walking through the morning mist. I was still one meter behind him. I know he’s weak since he hasn’t got any time to rest after his mishap. I want to take advantage of this chance and cast him a spell but I don’t know if my strength will allow me too. My hands are wet and shaking from exhaustion and frost. But I continued following him because I might lose this chance when his strength and power equals mine.
We crossed a couple of streams and traversed plains and mountainous grounds. Another day has passed yet we didn’t stop. Day and night, we continued walking. I didn’t know if I ever felt hunger and thirst. I was insensitive to other stimulus. There is only one thing I know and that is to follow him wherever he goes.
Forty days has passed yet we continued our competitive trial of speed. We passed at one village. The village is empty but I can hear uproars of people somewhere. We kept on going until we reached where the rumbling sound came from and it was where my fear enveloped me completely.
The plan to follow the helpless Joe D’ Bean which I thought is a very clever idea turned out to be my greatest mistake. For the place where we are is actually a Stanian Village and which has been occupied by the Stanian army. I gazed back at Joe.
He stopped.
I stopped.
He turned back at me breathing hard. “I didn’t expect you’ll be that stupid!”
“Hey, magician! You call yourself powerful? Yet you come right into