INT. main cabin -- night
Daniel walks in behind Tuck followed closely by Jenks and Taylor. He now sees besides a large bowie knife at his waist Tuck is unarmed. His gaze takes in a vast room largely dominated by a long dinner table where sits at least thirty people, mostly women and children with some old men, and a couple adolescent men. On a smaller table on the far side near the central fireplace, a large cross hung above the fireplace, are about 8 more armed men all looking unsavory, all wearing large wooden crosses hung around their necks. Everyone turns to Daniel as he walks in. Many of the armed men have half played smiles creasing their faces. Everyone has plates of food in front of them including the armed men but none are eating. The people sitting at the large table seemed tense with palpable fear they are attempting to hide. Tuck motions for Daniel to sit at one of the only two empty chairs at the end of the long table, one next to a large empty ornate chair at the end of the table.
TUCK
Please my friend. Sit there. The Shepard wants you close so he may ask you some questions.
Daniel starts walking towards the chair mentioned but as he walks he half turns back to Tuck.
DANIEL
I keep hearing about the wondrous Shepard fellow. I take it he'll be joining the feast? I wanted to talk to him about trading some furs and meat I got with me.
Tuck folds his arm as Taylor and Jenks stroll to the smaller table with the other armed men amidst laughter to Daniel's statement.
TUCK
I am sure there will be time enough for such God willing. When the -- ahh here he is now. All hail the Shepard, the voice of God on the Green!
Tuck says this as he throws a fist to his chest followed by everyone in the room repeating "All hail The Shepard, the Voice of God!" With a fist to their chest. And from some back room comes an impossibly tall fellow in the raiments of a priest with a wide brimmed hat in his mid 40's with an immaculately trimmed full beard flecked with gray. His entire outfit is meticulously kept. He walks from whatever back room on the far side of where Daniel sits his eyes taking in all his people then as he moves closer, a steely judging gaze as he sits in the large chair which had been pulled out by Tuck after he had followed the Shepard, then Tuck stands behind the chair to the left as the Shepard situates himself and removes his hat which Tuck takes. The Shepard has slightly long hair speckled in gray. Everyone's heads in the room are bowed, waiting.
The Shepard
All hail to God's glory.
With that everyone's head comes up. Daniel takes this as the time to eat so he starts chowing his food like a starved man. There is an audible gasp within a moment of him doing so. He looks up to find everyone staring at him with fear etching their flesh. He turns to the Shepard to find him looking upon him with disapproval. Daniel stops eating.
THE SHEPARD (CONT'D)
Obviously our brother here has been too long within the woods and their bounty. He forgets the grace of god and let's his malnourished flesh think ahead of his even more ravened spirit. We will forgive him this trespass once. For all know the mercy of God and his Voice here upon the salt of Earth can be no less.
(Everyone)
All thank The Shepard
Daniel rolls his eyes at this.
DANIEL
Uhh yea. Sorry about that. Been a long time since I had to say grace before chowin'. A soldier usually didn't have no set meal. You ate when you had the chance and someone wasn't tryin' to carve your life into the mud.
The Shepard inclines his head.
ThE SHEPARD
Yes. War, such an ugly business, it was good tidings to find it's end had found it's way. Out here in the western wilds we saw little of such. God found his hand on man's greedy coven and laid peace upon his brow and blessed be such. Though this is not a battlefield my child and here we show the grace of God in all we do. What is the birth name you are called in this mud we call a world?
Daniel starts really getting nervous as if he should of heeded Mr. Stokes advice.
DANIEL
Daniel Williamson out of Vermont. Well, ex-soldier now hunter and trader, in fact my mule is full of such to trade if after the meal you caren' to take a look. And again I apologize for my ill gotten behavior. Been a long spell since I been haven a chance to eat with civilized folk such as yourself.
The Shepard bows his head slightly.
THE SHEPARD
Well said Mr. Williamson, well said. So let us have no more of it. All my children assembled here under God's loving arms, let us pray for thanks for our bounty and that under God's rule he has chosen you all to listen to his words through his instrument, my undeserving flesh.
Everyone bows their heads and Daniel notices besides the armed men none of the people at the long table had spoken or even so much as whispered to each other since he had walked in. The Shepard begins.
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
ThE SHEPARD (CONT'D)
Oh great Creator of the heavens and the earth we thank you for the blessings you have given us and the food you gift to us to make us strong and thank you Lord for this stranger to be brought to us, to add will and devotion to our flock and the meat and furs he brings as tithe to your good works. Let his generosity be paid ten fold in the wisdom he shall garner as he journeys onward as a part of our people. In your blessed name, amen.
The people say in unison
(EVERYONE)
Thank you Shepard!
All the people began to eat but Daniel has lost his appetite. He couldn't of heard this crazed preacher say he was now a part of this cracked vessel that was the insane carnival within these walls. And that he was giving his goods for free.
DANIEL
Excuse me sir. I must be mistaken. It sounded like you said you was expecting me to give up my goods and that somehow you think I plan on staying on here. I am sure it is just some confusion, maybe I still got water pan handling my head. I can give you a good price and be happy to for the kind hospitality you all have shown me. Though I have to say beggin' your pardon. I see how you all believe in God in such, but in my world, God don't exist, only blood and horror and greed and saving your own neck as you can, again, no insult intended.
The room goes from somewhat noisy bevy of people eating and the armed men making jokes to an utter silence as Daniel talks but when he hits the words about no God a chorus of uttered comments from "Blaspheme" to "The Tree for sure" to loud intakes of breath. Daniel looks around like he just shat gold out of his mouth. The Shepard gives a look like he's conversing with a misunderstanding toddler and a dull one at that. Tuck slides over behind Daniel with his hands behind his back. Daniel pushes his chair back slightly his hand resting under the table on one of his forearm sheaths, his fingers touching the handle of his blade his eyes keeping all the men on the long table including Taylor and Jenks though Tuck behind him worried him. He sees across the table a very beautiful lady and Jebediah next to her from the stable. Both look like Hell is rising in their hearts.
ThE SHEPARD
Well that is unfortunate Daniel, unfortunate indeed. Where the spirit is willing it is under the Creator's grace to give it succor but when it is not it the children of God that must teach, and my young friend, I have found the best teacher in the world is depravation, and pain, pain the threshold to salvation. Hallelujah!
The crowd choruses "Hallelujah!" Daniel feels the shadow of Tuck and sees the armed men moving off the small table hands on weapons and Taylor and Jenks with wicked smiles on their faces. He shoves back with his feet hard off the table as he pulls both blades out of his forearm sheaths. He feels his body and chair collide with an umphh into Tuck's midsection as Daniel rolls off the chair to his left towards the Shepard's backside. As he rolls to his feet he underestimate's Tucks strength as he sees a descending club coming at his face. Blackness.
EXT. on a hill across from the fort -- dawn
Daniel wakes to the morning light and is disoriented everything upside down. The storm has passed. He is tied to a giant tree by his ankles hanging upside down. POV upside down. He is groggy his eyes barely open. Dried blood on his head.
DANIEL
What the God damn!?
A fist collides into his mouth. Jenks steps back. Daniel realizes the entire town which seems many more people then he saw last night all stand behind 20 armed men with Jenks, Taylor, Tuck and The Shepard standing before them. He also sees the girl he saw last night(Sara) with her arms around Jebediah. The Shepard walks forward and leans down using his finger to wipe a spot of fresh blood from the punch. He looks in Daniel's eyes and gives an exasperated sigh. He then stands up, turning to address the crowd, his body still half bent towards Daniel.
ThE SHEPARD
Such a sorrowful countenance we see before us. Do you see the Devil dancing in his eyes?
(EVERYONE)
Yes Shepard!
The SHEPARD
And so it is my children. And as we know through our own trials and tribulations that only a path lit upon the flames of God's judgement can one be cleansed of the demons all men harbor. And so we see another upon the Tree of Redemption and Clarity and praise be to God that he sees the truth of his sin and joins our flock to bring his voice to the clarion call of our heavenly choir.
(EVERYONE)
Praise be to God Shepard!
With that The Shepard walks up to Daniel and kneels again leaning in close.
THE SHEPARD
You will be here from dawn to dusk, every day till you see the truth of God and his voice within me, or until you die with your demons chewing upon your flesh. At the end of the day you will be put in a cell to contemplate the revelations you will be shown. You will have no food, but within your cell you will be given water. What say you Daniel Williamson?
DANIEL
I say you are one crazy goat fucker!!! And if I were you I would just kill me right now cause I as sure as a rattlesnake bites am going to be handing you that favor and the sheep shaggers that folla ya, starting with Jenks over there.
When Daniel first starts talking Jenks starts to step up with another fist but the Shepard stops him with a hand. When Daniel makes the threat Jenks takes a step back with fear etched but then spits upon the ground. Daniel notices Jenks is wearing his blades, though he has most of them strapped wrong.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
Hey Jenks I see you got my blades there and your fat friend, my rifle and pistol. Take care of them for me will ya?! I'll be collecting them sooner rather then later.
The Shepard turns his back to Daniel to address the crowd. Jenks and Taylor both motion to his possessions and Jenks cuts a finger across his throat.
ThE SHEPARD
Let us leave the sinner to the silence of God and his own memory my children. Let the tree preach our word and final pronouncement. We shall pray for his soul that he find salvation through his travails.
The Crowd bows their head.
(EVERYONE)
Amen Shepard!!
They all turn and leave, the girl(Sara) and the boy Jebediah take one final look back. Daniel moans.
DANIEL
Damn all to hell!! Sure should of kept to your advice Mr. Stokes.
He struggles against his bonds to no avail except causing himself to swing back and forth.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
How the all get out am I can pull my bacon from this damn fire?!