Intolerance

By David E Lawrence

A short story set In the aftermath of the American Civil War, where a man waits alone, preparing for the arrival of his accusers. In a land still diseased by bigotry he considers his past, his situation and the price he must pay for being himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David E Lawrence
• Release date: Jul 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005355067

David E Lawrence

Born in Rugby I live in Oxford where I worked in book publishing taking early retirement as Production Director. I now write for pleasure and for local outlets and sites such as this one. My favourite authors are CS Lewis, Haruki Murakami and Frederick Forsyth. I also compile cryptic crosswords and listen to a whole lot of music especially rock and jazz.

Book preview

Intolerance

by

David E Lawrence

Copyright 2021 David Lawrence

Smashwords Edition

INTOLERANCE

I drew up one of the three chairs to the end of the table and began my breakfast, a piece of pork and two eggs. That was the last of the food, except for a basket of berries that were starting to go off. Good strong coffee revived my sagging spirits.

I checked Pa’s old timepiece. It was 9:30. I pushed my plate and mug to one side and turned my attention to the arsenal of weapons laid out across the oak refectory table. Two Navy Colt revolvers, commandeered in ’65 when the brigades were disbanded, each with a round in every chamber and two knives; one an old dirk my grandfather gave me from the old country and one an army bayonet. The breech-loading rifle that would accommodate the bayonet was propped up against the table. I spent the next hour or so dismantling, oiling and removing all traces of rust, neglect or damage to the working parts of all three guns, always keeping two loaded, just in case.

I wiped the gun oil from my hands with an old rag which I threw into the trashcan under the tin basin. I reloaded the last Colt and spun the barrel, relishing each