In repectful tribute to Georges Brassens and his song "dans l'eau de la Clairefontaine..."
The fate of mankind
A new beginning
The man came to watch the fog every morning for one hour. Then he
joined us toiling the fields. Life was harsh, and we worked hard to clean the
soiled earth and water which filled the large pools every morning. We
crashed on our cots at night, exhausted. But he woke one hour earlier and
never failed to come to watch.
The villagers mocked him. “Why do you waste your time?”
joined us toiling the fields. Life was harsh, and we worked hard to clean the
soiled earth and water which filled the large pools every morning. We
crashed on our cots at night, exhausted. But he woke one hour earlier and
never failed to come to watch.
The villagers mocked him. “Why do you waste your time?”
He only replied once. I remember. I was young and a fool, mocking him.
But he said, “One day the fog will clear. And I will be free once again.”
I knew, like everyone else, that the fog never lifted, even if our clouded
brains knew little else except work and sleep. He could only be mad, the
fog messing with his mind even more than it did to us.
But he said, “One day the fog will clear. And I will be free once again.”
I knew, like everyone else, that the fog never lifted, even if our clouded
brains knew little else except work and sleep. He could only be mad, the
fog messing with his mind even more than it did to us.
.But his words struck me and I took to watch with him the quiet water and
the fog at dawn.
the fog at dawn.
We were alone when the fog cleared and the metal ship flew over the
gleaming water. “Environmentalist Lirte, sentenced to twenty years of
public service. Are you ready to serve once again?”
gleaming water. “Environmentalist Lirte, sentenced to twenty years of
public service. Are you ready to serve once again?”
Light came over his face as if he remembered something. “Yes, I am.”
He turned to me. “Don’t lose hope. One day; it will be your turn…”
I come to watch the fog every morning, before toiling in the fields…
Author Fabrice Stephan
Friendship
In respectful tribute to Georges Brassens and his song "Le vent" (Si par hasard su l'pont des Arts tu croises le vent... Prudence prend garde à ton jupon...)
The lonely fisherman
The water was quiet. Too quiet.
Ichiro had risen before dawn, fighting frost and fog from the wharf to
the deep sea, and then measuring himself against waves taller than he was.
So much effort for a result he already knew would be miserable. Fishes
have disappeared from the village’s neighborhood, since the fog had settled
in. Fishemen dispeared with their empty nets. “The Dragon is upset,” they
said. “We fished too much, and the Dragon is angry.”
the deep sea, and then measuring himself against waves taller than he was.
So much effort for a result he already knew would be miserable. Fishes
have disappeared from the village’s neighborhood, since the fog had settled
in. Fishemen dispeared with their empty nets. “The Dragon is upset,” they
said. “We fished too much, and the Dragon is angry.”
Ichiro knew all of this and shared their feeling. But each day, he set out
to sea without failing. And now, the surrounding waters were quiet.
to sea without failing. And now, the surrounding waters were quiet.
Suddenly and with no warning.
Ichiro took his oar to probe the waters around him. Knoc, knoc. A yard
only beneath. Knoc, knoc, wood. A tree which grows and in one stroke
pierces the surface in front of Ichiro’s boat. A sign of the Dragon.
only beneath. Knoc, knoc, wood. A tree which grows and in one stroke
pierces the surface in front of Ichiro’s boat. A sign of the Dragon.
Ichiro prayed. Soft words. True words. Excuses to the great Dragon and
explanations. The famine, the screams of the kids, and the nets which were
never enough.
explanations. The famine, the screams of the kids, and the nets which were
never enough.
The Dragon answered. The schools diminished too fast. The Earth had
died, but the sea would follow soon.
died, but the sea would follow soon.
Ichiro begged and begged. A full net every day, said the Dragon, as long
as the tree lived. A net wasn’t a lot, but it would help. He thanked the
Dragon and casts his net into the sea.
as the tree lived. A net wasn’t a lot, but it would help. He thanked the
Dragon and casts his net into the sea.
Author Fabrice Stephan
Fantasm
Lady in distress
The knight kneeled in front of the princess. “Gentle lady, I will pledge
my heart to thee. From this day, I shall endeavor to become your most
devoted servant.” She bowed in return and her handkerchief fell at his
knees, sealing the bound between them. The court applauded and erupted in
cheers around them. Pennants flapped in the new wind. A collective sigh of
relief could even be heard, if one listened intently enough.Peace would
return now that the wound between the knight and his princess was healed.
my heart to thee. From this day, I shall endeavor to become your most
devoted servant.” She bowed in return and her handkerchief fell at his
knees, sealing the bound between them. The court applauded and erupted in
cheers around them. Pennants flapped in the new wind. A collective sigh of
relief could even be heard, if one listened intently enough.Peace would
return now that the wound between the knight and his princess was healed.
Author Fabrice Stephan
Extract from "Short stories"
Sometime, only a close friend may bring solace
In respectful tribute to the song:"Comme un p'tit coquelicot" by Mouloudji
Evocation of the song "Farewell Angelina" ( Bob Dylan composition, song by Joan Baez)
Castle in the snow
The war
The bird man
The legend of Ys revisited
In the movie "Silent running" a space ship leaves Earth carrying all what remain of plants and nature but the truth is that somewhere on some remote place on our planet under a protective dome a few of those plants are kept under care for the day when a healed planet will be capable of sustaining life again.
The wreck on artic shore.
