Being Bahama

Ember of Journey’s End

I rode into Journey’s End shortly after the Beowulf Squadron was dissolved.  Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.  The city hall - gone.  Vanished.

My heart pounded as I tried to wrap my mind around what I was seeing.  My home town of Journey’s End - gone!  I stared at the empty lot for a few moments… then flew into action.

I called in a favor from Jamaica and had her start work on a new city hall immediately.  She spent a small fortune and it took her several hours to find, buy, borrow and craft everything she needed to construct the deed.  I waited anxiously, hoping I wasn’t already too late.

That night, with trembling hands, I used the deed.  I was asked for a name and without hesitation named it Journey’s End.  I was home again.

I called friends and they helped me establish the city.  But it was soon clear that there wouldn’t be enough room.  Looking at the abandoned houses all around me, I had to finally admit it.  Journey’s End was dead and there was nothing I could do to bring it back.

I finally resolved to move from my beloved town.  A day or so later I did the unthinkable.  I destroyed the city hall and Journey’s End with it.  It broke my heart to do it.  Before all the evidence of its existence could be swept away forever, I stole a piece of rubble from the demolished city hall.

I moved my house a short distance and there built a new city hall, establishing the city of Moneta.  My fellow citizens and I have been busy setting up our town.  Things were coming along quite nicely but it still felt like something was missing.

Then I remembered that piece of rubble I’d stashed away.  I had a brazier built and a plaque placed on it that reads “Ember of Journey’s End.”    I placed it high on a hill near city hall and after lighting it, I threw the piece of rubble into the fire. 

I don’t know if anyone will understand my need to do this.  When I look around Moneta, I’m acutely aware that everything here had its origins back in Journey’s End.  By honoring the source of our foundations, I hope to bring good fortune to Moneta.