Carter steps around the puddles that had formed in the street. A sudden and very unexpected downpour over night had filed the dusty potholes with water.

     Carter grinned wryly when he noticed Cherry seemed such a nicer town after the rain, less of its residents walking around the street offering their opinions to anyone that looked like they should be lectured. And Carter was definitely one of those. His last ten years spent touring the world, begging his way into all sorts of places, just to have even just a peek at a few words carefully inscribed on crumbling parchment. These ten years have aged him, looking 40 or 50 rather then 30, however his constant grin and raggedy long coat.

     Looking around Carter notices a few hidden glances from behind drawn curtains, the flaps of lace and cloth dropping hurriedly down. Carter wondered if he should have slicked his hair back and worn a tie before he came here. And then imagining himself with a tie, Carter burst into laughter, echoing eerily down the empty streets.

     Carter's laughter stops suddenly, his mind going back to the sign he saw on his way to Cherry. It roughly indicated the miles left for him to walk until he reached civilisation. The Barken entry had been written over sloppily in blood red paint:

     Someone was not happy about Barken, however Carter has only heard good things about the town. Nice people, a little odd and maybe too layed back.

     Carter's idle thoughts returned sharply to reality when a shout breaks the silence of the empty street. Carter looks up and sees a large dog hurtle down the street at him, being chased by a lady wielding a broom with extreme over enthusiasm.

     The dog having decided it wanted to get away from the broom as fast as possible, Carter standing in the way was not going to stop it. Carter kept his grin even as he was bowled over to land in one of the deepest muddy potholes, bursting back into laughter as the broom wielding lady tripped over him, resulting in her skidding along the ground, belly first, mud and water splashing everywhere.

     Only after these mishaps did the dog stop and turn around to look. Carter slowly picked himself off the ground, with the widest grin ever seen in this town. The lady just lay there spluttering, her finery turned a nice even brown with a smattering of the original colour underneath.

     The dog eyed Carter cautiously as he approached it. But as Carter got closer his grin appeared genuine and pleasant. He lowered his satchels to the ground and extended his hand to the dog in friendship.

     With a cautious initial sniff, and then a wag of its tail, the dog announced its friendship. And with a scruff of the dog's fur Carter announced his.

     "So boy, you must belong in Barken? heh?", Carter asked, his eyes shining with curiosity.

     The dog let out a quiet yap, Carter nodding.

     "So, best I take you back there then, I doubt if Cherry will appreciate us staying about here, especially after that poor lady's dress.", Carter grinned as the dog almost appeared to chuckle.

     "GET OUT OF HERE YOU DEMONS!!!!!", came the Lady's scream as the dog and Carter began their trek to Barken.

     Carter quietly added with a wink to the dog, "Some people have no sense of fun do they?".

     As Carter headed into the outskirts of Barken, a dog by his side the sun had almost set. The oddly moist air reducing the usual dust, making the sunset, dull and almost cold, rather then the fiery red that usually is associated with nightfall.

     The dog next to Carter halted, its shadowed outline changing, growing, reforming to the general human shape.

     "Ummm, I think I should tell you something about Barken...", came soft female voice.

     Without blinking Carter removed his coat and placed it around the naked female.

     "Hello m'dear, I am Carter and I know all about Barken", Carter finished with a wink.

		Barken Index

Rarely liking modern settings I choose to write something for Barken set in an earlier time period. Mainly cause I adore the early part of this century, however since this is not REALLY a horror setting I will avoid becoming another HPL.

Carter Stirling is (c) 1996 karcian/darke, however as long as he is used in the environment of Barken he can be used by any. But please mail me first so you can get some specs on him.