The Well

The Well

By Walt Allen

Sanford knew it was an important job. That doesn't mean it was exciting. That's the thing about lying in wait. It was boring. It was a good day if you didn't have to do anything. Sitting in the blind looking downrange at the well. And hopefully, seeing nothing. That was a good day.

Oh sure, he liked being a sniper. He loved hitting the bullseye from a long way away. He took great pride in being a fantastic shot, the best in the whole company. But, that also meant that he got tagged with the duty more often than most, of guarding the well. Water was, after all, the most important resource that they had. Without it they would all die. In fact, most of the world had indeed died from lack of water ever since the day of the red clouds and the big war. But that was a long time ago.

Sanford supposed that he was grateful that he was in a company, a tribe, that had a well that provided fresh water. And it was a deep, DEEP well. The legend was that it was bottomless. But, of course, it had water in it so there had to be a bottom somewhere. But the water was cool and clear and good for drinking. That made it the most valuable substance in the world. Since he was guarding it, that must mean that he was the best sniper in the world. That seemed to make sense.

Sanford couldn't remember the last time someone had actually come up to the well that wasn't in their tribe. He remembers killing a vagrant about six months ago. Who had wandered in from the red zone, all alone, and probably thought he had hit the Jackpot. That was the last thing that went through his mind. That and Sanford’s 50 caliber depleted uranium bullet.

He was supposed to keep his eye on the well at all times. But of course, the well was about 500 yards down range from him. To get a good look at the well he had to use his binoculars, if he actually wanted to see the well up close with any amount of detail. Otherwise, he just had to watch for dust or something shiny.

Something shiny. Like that - something shiny - what the hell was that?

Right where the well was, Sanford saw something shining, reflecting the light of the sun. That shouldn't be happening Sanford reaches for his binoculars puts them up to his goggles and stares through them. He sees a lone figure staring down into the well. The figure is holding something shiny in his hand and is staring down into the well.

Well that can't happen. That's not allowed. Sanford reaches for his scoped rifle, which he has nicknamed the Old Finger of God. He puts the figures head squarely in his crosshairs. Thinking it ought to be an easy shot since there's not much wind today, he notices that the shiny thing appears to be in the figure’s right hand which is now resting on the side of the well as the figure peers down into the well.

This won't take long, Sanford says to himself. He slows his breathing through his mask, and in between heartbeats, he squeezes the trigger.

The depleted uranium bullet flies downrange at supersonic speed. The bullet has passed through the target’s head before it even had a chance to hear the sound. Through his scope Sanford sees the figure fall forward into the well.

Sanford waits and watches. He waits for a few minutes to see if there are any others that will come running to this figure’s aid or to see what has happened to them. No one comes.

So Sanford collects his things, exits the blind, and walks the 500 or so yards to the southwest, to approach the well from the West. Sanford kneels down and waits, just to be sure but there is no one else coming. When he is confident that there is no one else he makes his way east to the well.

As he is walking to the well Sandford notices that he is following in someone's footsteps. Someone else has come from this direction. The footsteps lead directly up to the well. As he gets closer, he notices a glinting of something shiny. Something metallic is resting on the side of the well. Crouching down so as not to be seen, Sanford carefully makes his way to the well. Then he stands and notices that the metallic object is in fact a beautiful, gold heart shaped Locket on a gold chain. Curious, he picks it up holds it up to the light so we can see it through his goggles, and opens it.

He looks inside the Locket and sees a picture of his mother and father.

Sanford is very confused. He has never seen this Locket before, and yet it has a picture of his parents in it. If he was stunned before, he is in complete shock when he hears his name being called out from down in the well. “Sanford!” calls the voice. “Put down the Locket and leave.” Not sure of what he has heard, Sanford leans down further, peering into the well and asks “who said that?”

At that moment, a 50 caliber bullet made from depleted uranium, that Sanford did not hear, passed through his head and caused him to fall forward into the well him along with his rifle, while the Locket remained right where it was, glinting in the sunlight.