"I wasn't sufficiently prepared," he said, "to encounter you today."

The world was ending, at long last. It was something Reynard had always suspected would happen, and it was happening in almost the exact way he'd imagined. There wasn't much time left, now. But then again, that's the way it had always been.

The nemesis wouldn't stop shrieking at the state of affairs, which only made Reynard curious. The smell of sweat and tears mixed with the acrid stench of the world's end clung to the insides of his sinus cavity. Like a memory.

"You don't have to keep me here," begged the nemesis. "You could always let me go. I won't tell anyone, I swear. I won't tell..."

Reynard reached out a finger to touch the man.

"You." Reynard's voice was gentle. "You are everything in me that fears."

The man responded with a racking sob, sinking down to the shag carpeting.

"Why should I not just leave you here?"

"This is Hell," cried the accused man. "I have done nothingÖ"

Reynard smiled. "Isn't that the worst crime of them all?"

leslie powell

30 july 2005

minnetonka, mn