From the World of Sethoran
Gabriel Duncan
( Two people stand in front of an abandoned SEARS building. The bottom floor is blown out. There are no windows and the inside is dark and ominous. One man is dressed in rags and barefoot. The other is wearing full body armor and a gas mask. He resembles a beetle. While each man remains nameless, they represent every man in his struggle to survive after almost everyone else has not. )
1: You get used to it.
2: Used to what?
1: Being without shoes.
2: Really.
1: I walk through glass . . . don't even notice. You know those shatter-proof windshields? They used to slice through my feet like a fresh razor. You ever had that problem before?
2 :No.
1: 'Course not. You wear boots. ( Pause. ) Are those things steel toed?
2: Of course.
1: Well, I can see why. How do you keep those things shiny?
2: I polish them.
1: Do you ever get blood on them?
2: Yeah.
1: Does it wash out easily?
2: No.
1: I took a pair of boots off of one of you guys once.
2: How'd you do that?
1: The guy was dead.
2: Oh.
1: They had blood on them. I tried to scrub them off too. But with my hands. They lasted me a long time. A few years. But then they wore down. Started to hurt my feet. Decided to go without them. I figured I would be better off. Had to get used to all of the debris on the ground.
2: When our boots wear out, the ARMY gives us a new pair.
1: When I was nine, I stepped on a huge piece of scrap metal. Went right through my foot. Got infected, my foot swelled to the size of a watermelon. Started spreading. My folks . . . they thought I was going to die. I thought I was too. Made me really sick.
( An explosion happens nearby. )
2: I need to go now. They'll probably want me to check that out.
1: All right. I should too. People will be coming in riot gear soon.
2: Yeah.
1: Well, I guess I'll talk to you later.
2: Maybe.