Harvester of Eyes

By James Aa. Keister

a young blind girl convinces her mother that she is able to care for herself and moves to a town for the blin only, a secluded place that is still dependent on 'seers' for food, deliveries, transportation,the town is often invaded by outsiders who steal food, money and try to fit in with the blind, two journalists are sent their to get the story of this town and find themselves in the midst of people who act like they can see but cant, the special powers they have are a mystery, the town has the protection of the 'razors' when someone invades their privacy.a small boy repeatedly steals from them and now one of the journalists has broken the town rules and the razors are sent out to capture both. the town is dependent on outsiders for food, money, transportation until this young girl strengthens her powers and takes over protecting the town.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Aa. Keister
• Release date: Nov 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310695155

James Aa. Keister

James Aa. Keister, was born and lives in Monroe, Michigan. An artist in both the arts and music. Letting this strong sense of talent flourish over into his writings. With an imaginative endorsement of realism that brings forth an ever flowing twist to his novels.

Book preview

Chapter One

I don't understand what I need to do to keep you two from going after each others throats. I've given you both the two highest positions and the run at any story you deem the head liners front page good. Don't speak! CEO Kevin Dixon put up a finger to stop his two best editors and top journalists from speaking. They were the most exceptional writers he had ever had the pleasure of working with. But it was their constant bickering that drove him crazy. So he had to call them in for a meeting of sorts.

Listen. He began with a frown. I understand that you've both done a piece on the oblivion case. And from what I've read, you both should have the headliner...but, we all know that both stories can't be published.

Well I'm not giving! Mia Patrazia stated.

Neither am I! Perry Madison countered.

Okay fine! Kevin cut in. It's just as I predicted. Neither story hits the rag until one of you two either gives a little for the other...or. He paused to let the drama sink in.

Or what? Perry asked. Glancing over at Mia with wonder. Hoping she would take the new piece.

Or one of you can fly down to Mazefield and run a piece on the whole town.

Where the hell is Mazefield? Perry queried.

In the middle of hick town U.S.A. Mia laughed.

I can guarantee. Kevin put in. That who ever finishes their piece first on that little hick town...as you call it. Will be the top editor for the rest of this year. He stated.

Wait...wait. You mean to tell us that. Perry began.

Oh yes! You are both going. So get packed. You're both about to embark on a journey I know that nether of you rag writers have ever seen before. Kevin made known.

Yeah and hopefully, never again. Mia again joked.

Are you serious Kevin? You're really going to send your two best people out to some god forsaken hick town in the middle of hell, just to write a piece on the natives? Perry complained.

Yep! Kevin smiled. Remember. We write about the weird and bizarre. So get packed , you both leave on a red eye flight out to Spring dale. Then take a rental down to Mazefield. Where you'll find a nice bed and breakfast waiting. I've put all the details in your folders. Oh! He said as he got up from his desk. Have a nice trip. Then walked out of the meeting room and went back to his office. Picked up his phone as he sat down and never once looked back up at anyone. Mia and Perry sat staring at each other.

Do we even know anything about this place? Perry asked out loud as he thumbed through the manilla folder he had been given. Found his plane ticket, cashier checks, instructions and directions on how to find the town. But nothing more.

Hell no! And he hasn't given us much time to do any research either. Mia added.

Then we'll have to do it on the fly. One of us can drive while the other researches." Perry said.

You're right. We might not get the chance on the plane., so we'll need to work together. She told him.

Of course...you could always cut the Oblivion piece and head out on your own. It'd be your baby. Perry tried to entice the offer. He gave her a grin.

Looks like we're both going down to Mazefield. She gave him a coy smile.

Fine by me. I'm gonna piece this together and have it in the rags long before you even get up for breakfast. She narrowed her eyes at him to let him know that she meant business. But he just narrowed his eyes back at her. Scooped up his folder and stormed out. He hated having to lower himself to this level. But he had a point to prove. Secretly wishing that she would just find some other publishing agency. Somewhere else to work. She on the other hand, had her own point to prove. Being female in this business was hard enough. And turning down every sexual advance she endured in that work place only added to the weight she carried. It added to Perry' fire against her. It did not take long for the two of them to become arch rivals then bitter enemies, now they were forced to become competitors, moreover, partners. After all, how hard could it be to write a single column piece on some off the beaten path hick town?

They caught their plane and sat with their laptop on an easy arm. Clicking keys to research the place they were about to be dumped into. Neither could find much. Save a single page about it being a city of blind people. Perry found something else in a margin and clicked it into his search engine. What it brought up surprised him. It was a side note, in a way, about a meteor that had fallen in the midst of the town. Long before it ever was a town. Founded by some miners back in the early 1500'. but it showed nothing to do with the blind. So he clicked back. She on the other hand, was off on something else. She was searching for any medical records on the people who lived, or were living there. Trying to tie the whole blind concept together. But kept falling short. Each record told of patients who had somehow lost their vision due to mysterious means. Yet the records never mentioned one reason how or why.

Hey, look at this. Mia looked over at Perry' laptop to see what he wanted to show her. Trying to see if there was any similarities.

What I keep finding is...they all have some kind of rare condition. But no cause as of why. She turned her own laptop to show him.

Really? Try going back as far as you can. See how long it's been going on. He said.

Good call! Mia stated then ran with the idea. She had not gotten very far when a stewardess asked them to turn off their electronic devices. They were ten minutes from landing. So the two publishers clicked off of their laptops and got comfortable. Waiting for the ride to come to an end. Perry glanced over at the next row of seats and saw a blind girl. He stared at her for a long moment. Trying to piece some sense of it all in his head. So that he could find some sense of understanding. He glanced back at Mia and then back over at the blind girl. Who he found staring his way. It was as if she could see him. So he then instinctively smiled and nodded his head at her. Then thinking how stupid that was. After all, she was blind. But then found that the girl smiled back and even nodded to him. He almost gasped. But tried to ignore the whole jest of it. Playing it off as cute. He looked away, then back at the girl who was again staring forward. As if she had never looked his way. But he knew, or at least believed, she was blind. So how could she have noticed me looking? He wondered.

Mia sat staring out the window as the ground closed in on them and the plane landed on time. Glad to have feet back on solid ground. They made their way over to the car rental and headed out to find a place to eat before they would head out to find the town that most town people were saying, is just a myth. With directions in hand, Perry let Mia drive while he gave directions. They were using a GPS but that soon b lipped off and refused to work. So they had to rely on Perry' sense of direction. And the instructions he had been given. Wishing he was back in Detroit, Michigan with Kevin Dixon the DEO and owner of the 'D' Rag publishing company. Perry read what was written and thus far, the directions were pretty concise in which way to go. But as they neared their destination, they found that the hand written directions they had been given became a little on the sketchy side. And not quite as accurate as they had hoped for. But with a little ingenuity, they believe that they had found the right road. It was as if they were disappearing back in time. And for more than an hour, they zigzagged down the road that changed from pavement , to dirt, to a one lane trail, then to tractor tracks. And as they pulled up to an old rusty metal gate, Perry made mention of how beautiful the place actually was. Mia, had to admit it herself. The place was surreal.

Chapter Two

I can make it on my own mother. The girl softly spoke as she walked along with her long white cane. Tapping the end of it back and forth in front of her as she felt her way along.

Just trying to help dear. Her mother returned.

I know. And thank you. But if I don't learn this on my own...then. Amber Clover stated. Amber had been blind since birth and her over protective mother had done her very best to teach and shelter Amber from the ugly world around her. And now at the age of nineteen, Amber was ready to venture out on her own. Yet her mother continues to cling to the girl's side. Hoping she would change her mind. But Amber was determined. She had heard of a place where the blind could live in harmony. And to her, it sounded like a magical place. It was where she wanted to go and she was on her way there.

They had been forced to take a red eye flight into Spring dale, Arkansas, which was going to be the only flight in or out for the next 72 hours. Due to a hurricane lurking just off the coast of Florida and predicted to move up through the state of Louisiana toward the state of Arkansas. So flights had been either rerouted or they were canceled. This was Amber' only plan of action. And she did not want to miss it. They managed to make the flight okay and were departing the plane when Amber heard a familiar voice complaining about the overly humid weather in this state. It was the same man on the plane, just a few seats over, that liked staring at her. So she stared back at him. In her own way. Which she knew, probably took him by surprise. She liked doing that to people who liked to stare. But how she knew someone was staring at her, was her own little secret mystery. And she had gotten good at it. She did what she meant to do. Which was to get him from staring. Something she had always thought rude. She had to smile a little grin as she heard him whining. The woman he was with had a pretty voice, Amber thought. And wondered if she was as pretty as her voice. Or if she was married to the whinny man. Poor girl. She thought as she gave it all a slight shrug of her shoulder and walked on. She could feel her mother close behind. Then stopped.

Mother, the car rental desk is over there. She pointed. I can smell the gas of the cars.

Good thing too. I'd of gotten lost. Mrs. Clover told her daughter.

I can still hear you whining. She whispered.

Who' that? Mrs. Clover asked.

Oh no one. Just some guy who likes to complain about everything. He and his female companion are following us. Amber said. Mrs. Clover glanced back over her shoulder and saw the couple yards behind them. Wondering how the girl did it. She knew that once a person loses one of their senses, the others will heighten to compensate for the loss. But these people were so far behind her that she herself could barely hear their bickering through all the traffic noise. Yet Amber could hear them like they were right behind. Mrs. Clover shook her head and followed her daughter as she lead the way. Dragging her suitcase on wheels with one hand and tapping her cane with the other. Seemingly, she knew where she was going. She stepped up to the car rental counter and smiled at the girl.

I would like to rent a car please. Amber said. The girl at the counter was a little taken. Here she had a young lady who was clearly blind and wanting to rent a car, she could not see to drive.

Excuse me! The girl said. So Amber repeated herself. I would like to rent a car please.

Aren't you...uh?

Blind! Why yes I am! But my mother here. Amber twisted to her side and nodded. Isn't. She'll be riding in the back. Hoping I don't crash. Amber giggled.

The girl giggled back. You're cute. I've got a friend who's blind. She's a lot like you. Full of humor. The girl told her, then handed Amber' mother the forms to fill out.

So where's your friend now? Amber queried.

Oh she lives down in Mazefield.

Really? That's where I'm going. What's her name? Maybe I'll get to meet her while I'm there. Amber smiled.

Oh, her name is Cristina Dobson. Look her up. She'll help you. She is sweet and a great person. And smart! She can do things I've never seen any blind person do. The girl stated.

Really! She sounds nice. Just the kind of person I need to become friends with.

Here you go. Mrs. Clover handed the girl back the forms and a credit card. The girl ran the card and handed her back a copy of her rental agreement and the keys to their rental.

You''ll find the car down aisle C. It's a red impala. Tell me though. The girl stopped Mrs. Clover. Were you planning to stay in Mazefield with your daughter?

No she's not. Amber quickly cut in. She's only getting me there and she''ll be headed back home. Isn't that right mother?

Yes dear.

Good. The girl said with a sigh of relief.

Why is that? Mrs. Clover asked.

It's nothing. Just that the place is designed for the blind. They kind of encourage folks who can see to leave the town to the blind. They frown on seers. They're funny that way. They most likely wouldn't even let you stay longer than the time it takes to drop her off and they'll want you on your way. So please don't take offense to it. It's just their way. Hell, even I have to give Cristina a specific date and time just to see her. Then she meets me out beyond the gate and then I'll pick her up so we can hang out together. Then I drop her off at the same place. The girl explained.

So you've never been there I take it? Mrs. Clover as-kingly stated.

No and yes. I've been there. But haven't been allowed inside. The girl shrugged.

Well I was hoping to stay long enough to see Amber get settled in.

Sorry! The girl shook her head. They won't let you. But rest assured, Amber will be well taken care of. And if Amber finds Cristina, she'll help her. Cristina knows the whole town and all the rules and such. So. The girl half smiled.

"Mother. I'm not a little child. I'll be fine. I'll find Cristina and she can help me out. Oh! I'll need your