Part two: January 1, 1914. 10pm
‘The boys are celebrating the New Year in the next room and super provided us with plenty of food. This made up for the Christmas celebrations which we missed and I think all of it is worthwhile. For the first time ever, I had a wonderful glass of rum with goat’s cheese and soda bread. Then, I topped it all off with some nice fruit. It was as if I was a man on death row. Why else would they give us such good food to eat? I must be in paradise’.
February 4. 11:45pm
‘The food just keeps getting better and better. We are having meat more often now and there are no shortages any more. At least not for us. I like the super. He has fixed that young critter and everything seems to be well again. Aye! I am addicted to rum now but my headaches have increased. Why is it so? I thought it is supposed to make me feel better. However, this isn’t going to stop me from drinking four glassfuls a day. The authorities are generous, so why not? Besides, who knows what lays ahead of us? Eat, drinks and be merry!’
May 29. 12:30am
‘I think I have developed arthritis. My right hand is finding it difficult to write now. I sense a dark future…is my sixth sense playing games with me? Something isn’t right with the world. A swig of rum and I forget all my troubles’.
July
…..
‘Curses…I don’t remember what day it is today. The war has been announced. I hope I can make it through. I’m not scared of death, though. My family is blessed by the Almighty Lord, and that is all I can ask for. For now, goodbye, Jessica. Goodbye, Daniel. I will write again if the world wants me to live’.
Part three: April 1,1916. 4pm
‘It has been two years since I last wrote anything. I always knew that we Americans can do anything and we managed to find a way to get around the Germans. Though, it seems that the sun never rose ever since the war started. Although it appears that we are winning, we have lost many men in the struggle. First Old Derek, and now the rest of the boys. Only Chubby Charlie and I are the survivors in Team A. The other men have been further divided into different groups. We are waiting for this fight to end. I may be wounded, but I still have the will to live. At least for now. I will write again’.
June 4. 10am.
‘The team does not want me anymore. They have found a new guy who is a better soldier than me. He is young, he is smart. I knew I could always count on Chubby Charlie. The dear old boy resigned when he heard my news’.
June 29. 1pm.
The day of the discovery.
‘Old Chubby and I were on our way home when we discovered a big hole near one of the war grounds. My chap decided that there was treasure underneath and I humored him. It was hot and we settled down to rest. Old Chubby picked a random location and began digging with his bare hands. The skin was peeled from fighting in the war and he could not take it any longer. I told him to let it go and he claimed that something was indeed down there. I was tired and irritated but I did not refuse because he had been a good friend. I took his place and dug a little deeper. By Jove! I found a box which contained three precious stones. There was also a paper in it. This is what it said:
Twenty five years.
I did not know what these two words meant. Old Chubby told them that he did not want them because they were not gold so I took them home with me. We parted a few hours later.
7:30pm. Home at last!
‘My lovely Jessica and Daniel were both well. I had never been so happy just to see them again. There was a wonderful meal waiting for me and I ate like I had never eaten before.
Oh, and those stones? Well, one has Chance written on it, the other Hardship and the third Royal. They seem to have some power because of the aura about them. I decided to play along and being an admirer of the possibilities in life, I chose Chance. Magic? Let’s see what it can do!’
September 13. 3pm
‘I cannot believe my luck! We found some gold on the streets! Probably a robber who dropped them without knowing about it. By the way, my wounds have healed. Chubby Charlie dropped by and we have an excellent feast at home’.
December
…
‘Strange. My memory must be deceiving me. I hardly remember a thing now…what was my son’s name again? Winston?’
Part four: November
…
‘I can barely write. My arthritis is getting worse. By the way, we won the war!
Jessica…is that you?’
December
…
‘Last month, I remember the doctor saying that there was a 50-50 chance of my survival. I don’t know how long I can last, but I intend to make the most out if it. Also, Daniel chose the Royal stone. Maybe there is something to all of this after all? Now I am worried’.
Part five: the end of the line…is it 1920 or 1921?
‘I lay on my death bed, my loved ones at my side. I will try to write as much as I can with my left hand. Daniel is a fine boy now. I am sure that he can look after Jessica. Our son won a bet at school today and he received a lot of coins as his reward. Bless him!
As for the stones, they shall be kept for our future generations. Let every male descendant of mine choose one. My son’s son if he ever has one in the future and so on. I wish them good luck. I don’t think I can write any longer…my cough has also gotten worse. I vomited blood earlier. Is it because of drinking too much rum?
I don’t want to die.
Even if I do, I shall live on’.
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