Dawkin: A Tall Tale

By Massimo Marchiano

"The rest of the crowd watched, jaws dropped and eyes wide open. Some gave menacing looks, others puzzlement. As the Void and the mastiff walked toward the counter, others moved aside to stay away from them. Greene had heard about the Void before, but he had never seen one." 

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Degree Press
• Release date: Dec 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781636762692

Book preview

Note from the Author

We all need someone in our life who will change it—for better or for worse. We cannot possibly do everything on our own, which is why we develop deeply rooted relationships throughout life. Whether it’s a family member or a stranger, a friend or a foe, we need these relationships to lend us a hand, teach us a lesson, or keep us motivated. An enemy will remind one of their weaknesses, and a friend will be there to help improve one’s strengths.

This idea for writing a story about the concept of need came to me in 2016 when I was the owner of one sloppy, lazy bullmastiff named Diesel. Although his breed is considered tough, notoriously called guard dogs, I couldn’t help but think my family and I were guarding him. Instead of getting a ruthless protector, we got a gentle giant.

I often took my dog for walks in the park without a leash when he grew older. He never really tried to run away, except one time when his curiosity got the best of him, and he wandered off into a nearby forest. Being so used to him staying close all the time, distractions and idiocy got the best of me. After some time, I came to the realization my dog was missing.

Despite being one of the slowest dogs in history, and knowing he couldn’t have gone far, fear washed over me. This feeling of dread for losing my dog was an experience I’d never felt before, almost like losing my own child. It seems so trivial now, but looking back, that must have been the most horrific event of my life. Upon finding Diesel, the wave of relief that came over me was immense. I wasn’t ready to lose him.

In 2016, Diesel passed away from cancer. Since then, things haven’t been the same. Life felt like it got worse each day without him. People suggest keeping my chin up and my head high, but no matter where my head or heart is, things only seem to get worse. But with the help of those around me, such as friends and family, I’ve realized that at the end of the day, we’ll find our own way, new people, friend or foe, who fill in that gap. Through loneliness comes doubt, and when in doubt, sometimes we require someone other than ourselves to help us put the pieces back together.

The idea of an adventure shared between a dog and his owner, where they encounter strange foes in a wasteland setting, has been in my mind since his passing. I decided the Wild West would be a perfect setting for this tale. But it didn’t stop there.

Brutus the bullmastiff plays a key role in Dawkin’s life, as did Diesel in mine.

Dawkin: A Tall Tale takes place on Earth in an alternate reality, and aspects of history have been changed to increase the difficulty for our heroes. In this world, farmland and vegetation is scarce due to the high quantity of oil below the surface. An alien race called the Void have recently crashed on Earth in an attempt to continue their lives, which has created a division between the humans and the extraterrestrials.

Our protagonist, Dawkin, is a young Void male searching for the love of his life after she was mysteriously taken away. He is accompanied by his rare and exotic bullmastiff, Brutus. As they embark on a search for his old acquaintance, the young Void and his hound uncover secrets about his past while encountering some of the deadliest foes the wasteland has to offer.

The idea of an alien in a technologically advanced and frontier setting was inspired by both science-fiction and Western genres. The clothing and mannerisms, as well as the gadgets and alternate-universe world, are intended for audiences of those genres. The relationship between the Void and his dog Brutus will reach the hearts of pet owners and dog lovers alike who understand how much their companionship means to us. But friendships and rivalries go beyond pets.

People who enjoy stories of friendship, loyalty, and trust, will like the dynamic duo that is Dawkin and his friend Abraham Greene, a young inventor who seeks to help our hero while accomplishing a goal of his own.

Dawkin will encounter many foes, make many friends, and establish a name for himself that, like Paul Bunyan and all the other greats in history, make his story a tall tale. Along the way, he will discover that his skill set alone will not be enough, and he must rely on others to help him succeed. In this tale, Dawkin remembers the people, both good and evil, who helped him get as far as he did.

Introduction—The Dawkin Universe

Before explaining the Tall Tale of the legendary Dawkin and his beast Brutus, it’s important to mention he comes from a different world than ours. This story takes place in the year 1887 in an entirely different United States, an alternate universe. In this universe, Christopher Columbus discovered the country in 1492, only to find the land had little resources for farming, and sustaining life would be difficult.

In this version of Earth, a special kind of oil known as tetrolite was one of the biggest resources, available in nearly every country. Because of this, there was less quality farmland available. Sustaining life was difficult in this universe’s Earth, which is why nations such as France, England, and Spain were already desperate to find more land. Control over as much clean land as possible would place them in a position of dominance over the world.

Columbus, who yearned for support for an Atlantic crossing, gained permission from Spain after being denied by England, France, and Portugal. Spain approved the plan, granted that Columbus could find a quicker route from Spain to Asia for trade and communication purposes. In this world, Columbus was only able to make one voyage. After his initial visit, he dropped all care for his dreams of crossing the Atlantic.

To no one’s surprise, tetrolite was found to be the dominant resource in this new world. People needed more arable land for crops, not more fuel for their ships and machinery. The only benefit of oil was its ability to be used in the creation of advanced technology that did not exist in our world during the time. Even this proved to be a double-edged sword, as the oil was dangerous for laborers, who often met their demise too soon because of constant exposure to the toxic and flammable resource. According to rumor, some of these workers were children.

The use of oil led to accidental and even intended harm. Workers were more susceptible to injury or even death due to fire-related accidents. The harmful toxins of the substance were degrading everyone’s lungs, and people would often get dizzy, drowsy, nauseated, and contract what is known in our world as pneumonia, which infected people worldwide.

More oil meant more disasters. With smaller populations in the world due to less agriculture and resourceful land, countries would settle disputes with small armies. With small numbers of men but a high quantity of oil, many territorial battles were resolved with fire and machinery. Not to mention, arson was the world’s most notorious crime during this period.

Christopher Columbus decided to lie about the land, saying it was finally a place for people to farm and live. No route to Asia was ever found, and the new world he discovered was no safe place for settlers. Columbus was afraid that upon his return he would be arrested and possibly executed for his lies to the crown. Knowing this, he went into hiding somewhere in the new world and was never seen again.

It was too late for Spain to realize his lies, and so it sent thousands of settlers and pioneers to the new country. England, Portugal, and France also heard of this pursuit for new land, so they eventually sent thousands of their own.

As soon as people made it to the new land, many of their ships were destroyed by indigenous peoples, making it impossible for return. With many people stranded and the government refusing to send help, the incident was widely referred to as the Great Mistake, as many settlers were left to survive on their own, with no help in sight.

Eventually, the brave men and women of the new frontier banded together to create what they could, and thus, the United States was born. By 1776, thirteen colonies full of settler communities joined together with what little farmland they had. Due to the Great Mistake, there was no Revolutionary War and no War of 1812.

While there was no national government, each state was able to govern itself, albeit in a very rough state. At first, people started small communities. Towns were built near rivers, and eventually people built enough of a foundation to communicate between themselves.

There was very little law enforcement, and because of that, travel was dangerous everywhere due to a heavy number of bandits, desperados, gunslingers, hunters, or Native tribes just waiting for someone to kill, rob, seek revenge on, or make an example of.

This status never changed, even in the early to mid-1800s, when the Louisiana Purchase in our universe became The Western Journey in theirs. Due to increasing populations in a land with very little resources, people were forced to seek shelter, and as people kept moving, so did criminals just looking for places to make their domain.

The more one moved west, the more dangerous it became. Despite all these struggles, people were resilient enough in building their own communities. More states were formed but with much less power and control than the original colonies, which had nearly a hundred of years to develop and form their own societies.

With less power and fewer resources out west, there was little to do and no reason for more people to come crashing in. Fortunately—or unfortunately, for we do not yet know—something did come crashing down.

In 1871, a massive structure fell from the sky. At the time, this event was something out of folk tales, never to be believed by reasonable people. A large ship crashed on Earth, making its impact somewhere in the center of Colorado, near Cannon City, this universe’s version of Cañon City.

The old rusty ship was filled with hundreds of beings from outer space. These creatures, who called themselves the Void, landed on Earth with the sole purpose to survive. Why did they leave their home world? What happened to make them leave in such rushed and unsafe conditions? That is yet to be discovered.

The Void race were comprised of male and female organisms that stood up to seven feet tall for the former and six feet tall for latter. Their skin colors ranged anywhere from light blues and greens to a darker shade of each. Some patches of their skins had scales, which helped for breathing. These patches were located on the back of the torso, the legs, and the neck and cheeks of Void beings.

To additionally help their acclimation to the Earth’s atmosphere and climate, the Void brought gas masks specifically designed to help them breathe. The origins of this machine are unknown, as well as the reason for the masks’ existence.

A typical Void has two arms and legs and solid black eyes. Their diet consists of mostly meat, but they have acclimated to vegetables as well. They chew food with an upper and lower jaw that have eighteen teeth on top, eighteen more on the bottom.

Void are diurnal and like humans, typically try to seek shelter at night. They usually sleep for eight to ten hours. Their language is incomprehensible, and no full translations have been made. The Void population has either assimilated to the language spoken by humans or, for the most part, remained isolated from human society.

When the two species do interact, human relations with the Void have so far been either peaceful or unpleasant and mostly unpredictable. While some Void have proved to be useful laborers in the mining and railroad industries due to their size and stamina, some people did not take a liking to their kind.

The wastelands outside of towns were just as vicious, if not worse, to the new species on Earth. Criminals took advantage of the new and impressionable species, which often resulted in the death of one of the parties. Like the humans, the Void showed much fortitude over the years and managed to survive up until this point.

For eighteen years, the Void, just like the human race, had been pitted in a test of survival. In stressful times, both sides took their anger out on the other in a fit of rage or prejudice. In peaceful times, humans and Void seem to have no problem coming together.

Some humans who work as miners and railroad workers had problems with their extraterrestrial visitors and lived in fear that their paycheck or home would soon be taken away by Void, whose physical capabilities made them better workers in more laborious industries.

Other humans did not hesitate to invite Void into their own homes, conduct businesses together, and spend the time as friends rather than enemies during times of hardship. This coexistence wasn’t ideal, but there was a beauty in the struggle, and that struggle was survival.

Much of the Void is still unknown, and much more will be discovered. This story is the tall tale of one Void being, Dawkin, and his Earth-born dog, Brutus, in the year 1887. Together, the two may yet have made the mightiest duo the Wild West has ever seen.

Chapter 1

A Larger-Than-Life Debut!

In Guide Rock, Nebraska, the Happy Time Saloon was rowdy, as usual. The hot June weather had everyone in the worst of moods, and the bar was packed with drunk, angry patrons who needed to cool down. Abraham Greene, the owner and only person working, took off his derby hat and stepped out the back door to smoke a cigarette and escape the madness.

Of course, no matter how slow the wagons roll in, my place seems to be the only one that’s packed. Well, at least everyone’s been served, Greene thought. He took a cigarette out of his vest pocket.

He took a big puff and failed to blow out a smoke ring. He had moved away from home so he wouldn’t have to be a bartender, but here he was, needing a distraction from the boring and back-breaking work.

Greene! yelled a patron from inside. Get back in here! Your damn contraptions are stuck again!

Greene sighed, put out his freshly lit cigarette, and made his way into the bar. In the two-floor Happy Time Saloon, spherical machines made of steel, standing no taller than a nightstand or a chair, were attached to a conveyor belt under the bar. There were six, each sticking out from the floor and circling the room, and each with two arms to hold mugs.

By operating a lever, Greene could activate the conveyor belt to deliver drinks around the entire saloon, and when empty mugs approached the bar, they were immediately refilled.

Sadly, the innovative ideas never seemed to work like he wanted them to and would often malfunction. The machines would tend to get stuck on the conveyor belt, and the pouring mechanism by the bar would sometimes pour tetrolite oil from its fuel source rather than alcohol. Tonight was no exception.

Fatigued, Greene trudged back into the bar, only to realize the crowd had doubled in size.

How did all these people get so thirsty so fast? Greene thought. This is what I get for thinking that owning my own business would be a good idea.

Complaints arose and the voices of loud as angry drunk folk meshed into one destructive sound.

Greene, you yack! Can’t you get anything to work? shouted someone from the crowd.

I don’t care if you’re white-eyed or even dead for that matter, shouted another, I wanna drink!

The pouring machine stopped serving whiskey and instead oil came spurting out of its nozzle. The rotating machines also stopped moving, and it sounded like something had gotten stuck in the conveyor belt.

The angry crowd cornered Greene, forcing him to jump behind the bar counter and hide.

His saloon was the only place in town to buy alcohol, and a room full of angry patrons meant his rear being kicked into the dirt. The voices became more volatile, and the rampant crowd began throwing their mugs, napkins, and whatever they could find all over the bar.

We’re good paying customers. We don’t deserve this! one voice shouted.

Abe, you better get out here! shouted another.

Heavy footsteps sounded as people were pushed aside. The footsteps belonged to Alonzo Cassidy, and Greene knew. He was the town’s toughest and meanest, a local farmer who lived just outside of town by the Republican River.

Cassidy was known for being one of the strongest in town. Having lived on a farm all his life, the laborious weight-lifting work meant Cassidy grew up as a well-respected but also feared member of the community. It didn’t matter that he did not know how to properly fight. His strength was enough to knock a fella on his behind, or six feet under if pushed too far. However, due to the importance of his job supplying food for the area, people tended not to get in his way.

Where the hell is that excuse for a bartender? Cassidy’s deep and brutal voice silenced everyone else in the room. He was the one guy in town no one wanted to tick off.

And here was Greene, the one guy in town who had.

Greene closed his eyes and prayed. Ignoring the problem can sometimes be the best solution, he thought. That plan went south fast as he was lifted from the floor by Alonzo.

Why, if it isn’t Mr. Cassidy, Greene said nervously. To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing such a friendly face as yours?

Cassidy pinned Greene onto the bar. Cut the pleasantries, Greene. You know what I’m here for! Cassidy was a tall man, roughly six feet and three inches tall. His bald, shiny head seemed to complement his build. Now listen here. I don’t spend all my time farming just to feed a bunch of morons in a good-for-nothing town. I expect a drink when I come in. Understand?

Of course, Mr. Cassidy, but as you see, our machine is broken.

Then fetch it yourself.

I would, but I put nearly all my alcohol in the machine. There’s one glass left on the bar over there if you want it. But if I fix the machine, everyone can drink. I reckon it’ll only be a minute or tw—

Cassidy took his hands off Greene and walked toward the pouring machine on the bar. He smacked it and said, "You talking about this piece of junk? It only pours one kind of drink—whiskey! I can’t even get a glass of plain ol’ whiskey around here." He impatiently tapped his boots against the ground, his triangular-shaped spurs reflecting in the chandelier light.

They all huddled around Greene, who was on the verge of urinating in his pants.

Four men, including Cassidy, surrounded Abraham. One patron, an old man with no teeth, blathered obscenities only he could understand. Another patron, a man with a full set of teeth, still couldn’t be understood, as the alcohol slurred his shouting tremendously. The fourth man, somewhat sober, could be understood, but all he kept chanting was, Get me a damn drink!

Now, now, everyone, Greene said, I do declare that a peaceful resolution can come out of this.

Cassidy lifted Greene by his collar, grimacing at the small, weak bartender.

Greene closed his eyes and hoped for the best.

That hope was not in vain, as the creaking of the saloon’s batwing doors caused everyone’s eyes to turn toward the entrance.

Greene, realizing he had not yet been punched, peeked one eye open to something out of the ordinary. A Void with a hood over his head and a mammoth of a dog alongside him entered the bar.

The Void appeared to be roughly six and a half feet tall. He wore a brown hooded cape, and a metal gas mask covered his face. The mask had what seemed like two filter cartridge containers located where cheeks would be.

A visor shielded the Void’s eyes from dust, keeping his entire face a mystery. The visor looked almost like a pair of tinted glasses that connected directly to the gas mask rather than fitted over the ears.

Behind the mask, the Void had green skin, although it was only viewable around his forehead. The rest of his body was covered from head to toe. He wore gloves over his hands, a pair of beige shotgun chaps over his pants that went down to his feet, and a pair of black cowboy boots.

The Void took a few steps inside as patrons moved out of his way in disgust.

Who let the filth in? asked one patron.

Hey, buddy, your planet’s that’s way, said another, pointing in the direction of the sky. Other patrons gathered around to laugh.

But the Void ignored their statements and kept walking toward the bar, his dog behind him.

Greene had read about this breed of dog before, a bullmastiff. Dogs were already a rare species to begin with, but this was a mastiff, said to be the most difficult to find. Their rarity was considered by some to be mythical. This dog was a beast of the land, and the bull part of the name derived from their ability to pin down the animal of the same name, despite it being twice their size.

This was no ordinary duo.

The dog had a brown coat that shed with every step. His head was nearly the size of a watermelon, and he slobbered relentlessly. Standing roughly three feet tall on his muscular legs, he was in prime physical shape.

The rest of the crowd watched, jaws dropped and eyes wide open. Some gave menacing looks while others stared in puzzlement. As the Void and the mastiff walked toward the counter, others gave them a wide berth.

Greene had heard about Void before, but he had never seen one. As a kid, he remembered reading about the spaceship crashing in Cannon City, Colorado, and all the kids in his community told folktales about them.

Here it was, the real deal.

The hooded Void and his dog walked up to the bar, where one final glass of whiskey remained. He took a seat, the dog right beside him, and grabbed the glass. He clicked a button on his mouthpiece, which opened a hole, allowing him to pour the drink into his mouth. The octagon-shaped spurs on his boots shined under the light of the chandeliers, just like Cassidy’s.

After finishing his drink, the Void now paid attention to the commotion happening before his entrance.

Excuse me, the Void said, wiping excess alcohol off his mask.

He spoke the human language with an American accent, which surprised Greene. He expected that the Void would sound differently, but after eighteen years of them being on Earth, he surmised this was possible. Still, it interested him.

I don’t mean to bother, the Void continued, but may I have another drink? I don’t got much money, but I’d be glad to offer my services in any way.

Cassidy soon realized he’d taken the last drink. Cassidy dropped Greene and approached the alien immediately. Now excuse me, buddy, but what gives you the right to come in and get the last drink?

The Void noticed the smoke coming from the pouring machine and then the patrons standing around. My sincerest apologies, friend. You see, Brutus and I were walking all day and really needed a drink. The Void searched his pockets and managed to find a few cents. He offered it to Cassidy. Here you go. I’m afraid I don’t have any more, but hopefully this can make up for it.

Cassidy slapped the alien’s hand away, causing the money to fly across the bar. You think you can just give me some coins and I’ll walk away? You just took the last drink, you bastard! He stepped closer to the mysterious hooded figure and pressed his face up against the visor. The moisture of his breath condensed.

I got myself a better solution, Cassidy said. How’s about I bring your metal-head outside and throw you back to space!

Oh boy, Greene thought, scared his bar might become a battlefield.

The dog was surprisingly still, apparently not sensing trouble at hand. Instead, the mastiff circled around the floor before finding a good spot to lie down and close his eyes.

The Void locked his eyes on Alonzo Cassidy. No, that’s not necessary, he said respectfully.

Cassidy took a step back, more relaxed. Some of the patrons laughed with Cassidy, whose own laugh sounded more like cackling. Not necessary, is it? Well lookey here, folks, we got ourselves a real gentleman. He thinks his manners are gonna save him!

The whole bar gathered around in excitement, except Greene, who feared for the worst. He was right to be worried.

You misread me, said the Void.

Cassidy stopped laughing and turned around. Huh?

The Void pushed up his sleeves, unveiling muscular green arms and revealing a massive scar on his right shoulder.

Cassidy’s eyebrows lifted, seemingly impressed.

I said it’s not necessary to go outside. We can settle right here, said the Void. His friendly tone turned serious.

Enraged, Cassidy screamed and ran at the alien, pushing chairs, tables, and other patrons aside.

The Void did a sweeping kick, causing Cassidy to fall on the ground.

That little varmint, said Alonzo. Those spurs… I’ve seen those before.

By the time Cassidy got up, the alien was nowhere to be found. He looked left, and right, and then up at the ceiling. By the time he looked down it was too late. The alien was right under him, elbowing him in the stomach. In pain, Cassidy grabbed his gut, which made it easy for the alien to release a flurry of kicks and punches that sent Cassidy flying out the door. The alien turned around, only to find more angry patrons ready to fight.

Three more ran up to the Void, who had jumped up to grab the saloon’s chandeliers. He swung in a circular motion, kicking all the drunk, angry patrons beneath him. He whistled, and in an instant his bullmastiff was awake and scaring off the weaker drunkards by growling at them and standing in an offensive position. The dog stood with his head high, his nose wrinkled, and his sharp teeth visible for everyone to see.

As the patrons ran away, the bullmastiff chased off the remainder, managing to bite at the rears of a few foes.

The chandelier fell from the ceiling, causing the alien to drop on the last opponent’s face and knock him out. At that point, the bar was a mess. The machines were broken, chairs and tables thrown around, and the chandelier, the only decent source of light in the building, was now broken.

The alien scratched the back of his head as he took in his surroundings. He walked up to the bar, which Greene quickly ducked under, and lent a hand to the bartender.

What was looking to be the worst day of Greene’s life at the saloon turned out to be the most interesting. But as he got up from under the bar and realized the state of his saloon, his happiness quickly turned into dread.

All the paying customers who didn’t fight ran away, afraid to go toe-to-toe with the powerful Void, who didn’t even look remotely tired after the brawl. The Void’s mastiff stood by the batwing doors, barking to scare away the rest of the patrons.

Oh boy, like there wasn’t enough I was supposed to fix already.

I am awfully sorry for all this mayhem I have caused, the Void said. My name is Dawkin, and this here is Brutus. If I may, could we put this drink and some of these damages on my tab?

S-sounds like a deal. My name’s Abraham, Greene said, and the two shook hands.

Greene felt kindness in his heart. The way this Void spoke, the way he acted, there was no other like it. Greene knew he had encountered someone who would go down in history as one of the greatest.

Chapter 2

A Bizarre Past

Abraham Greene couldn’t get his eyes off the hooded Void across the room as he