Wessex Tales: "The Infant and the Hare" (Story 1)

By Robert Fripp

“The Infant and the Hare” is the first, earliest story in Fripp’s new collection, “Wessex Tales: eight thousand years in the life of an English village.” Stone Age hunters make camp on Okeford Hill. As dawn breaks the men go hunting while a woman gives birth. And the end? In an age when human beliefs were much different than ours, the end is mystical.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Fripp
• Release date: Jan 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9780978062194

Robert Fripp

Nature, wildlife and public affairs television, earth sciences, gothic vaults and liturgy: Robert Fripp’s fiction and non-fiction share many slices of life. § Here, Fripp introduces his 38 “Wessex Tales” stories. Thomas Hardy used that title over a century ago. Fripp moves it forward with a new collection of “Wessex Tales” covering “Eight thousand years in the life of an English village.” § First come Stone Age hunters. Then villagers discover a new “stone,” bronze. Locals build Stonehenge. A Roman mosaic depicts Jesus. We advance: from Viking raiders to potions for maidens, a medieval wedding, civil war, smugglers, and the second battle of the Somme. § Smashwords releases several stories, here. Read them—free, for a time—choosing a format for your Kindle, Nook, iPad, Mac, PC, iPhone (via Stanza), Sony, Kobo and Androids. All 38 “Wessex Tales” stories will come alive in paperback within two years.

Book preview

~ WESSEX TALES ~

Eight thousand years in the life of an English village

‘The Infant and the Hare’

* ‘The Infant and the Hare’ is the first story

among 38 in my Wessex Tales collection.

This story: ISBN 978-0-9780621-9-4

Robert Fripp

Copyright 2013 Robert Fripp

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

‘The Infant and the Hare’ is Copyright Robert Fripp, who reserves all rights. This e-story may not be reproduced, copied or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoy it, please encourage your friends to download a copy at Smashwords.com, where they will find more of my stories.

To help you locate my e-stories,

the Search Term Wessex Tales:Fripp may help.

Thank you for supporting me.

Cover

Photo by ‘blackheart’

http://blackheart987.webs.com/darkforest.htm

Cover design by The Design Unit,

Wimborne, Dorset, U.K.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Endnotes

Author’s note

Books by Robert Fripp

Reach me Online

A List of my Stories

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ WESSEX TALES ~

‘ The Infant and the Hare ’

Eight thousand years ago

Chapter 1

For much of the past 6,000 years, the Ridgeway track across the Dorset Downs (uplands) has led migrants and travelers inland from the coast and on to Salisbury Plain. A major entry point for migrants and invaders, the Ridgeway was one of the most traveled highways in Stone Age England. Settlement on Salisbury Plain built up through several millennia until it supported the Wessex Culture