Ray Bradbury's, "The Scythe" is about a family who happens apon an old farmhouse. The family is poor and is in need of some food. When Drew enters the house, it is quiet and still. He ventures upstairs to a bedroom, where an old man is lying, dead. Inside the room, the old man leaves a note, saying that anyone who comes across him has full responsibilities to his home and duties as a farmer. A scythe is also in the room.
The family's luck seems to be changing. Never will they or their kids go hungry again. Never will they have to worry about the next meal. Everything is right there for them; food, shelter and the love of a strong family. All they have to do is keep the promise of the dead farmer's last wishes.
Drew works day and night working outside in the wheat field, but to no avail. As soon as he cuts the wheat, it grows back. Eventually he learns that with each swipe of the scythe, cutting wheat, he's taking someone's life.
One day he recognizes one of the stalks of wheat as his family. He refuses to cut it. The next day his house burns to the ground with his family inside. They're not dead, but sleeping. With his refusal to cut the grain, he's refusing their death, yet they can't live either.
Like many other works of Bradbury, there is a strong metaphor to his stories. In my opinion, "The Scythe" is about fate. It's also about God and Man. Drew holds the fate of many in his hands. The Scythe is his tool. And with the scythe constantly cutting and cutting and cutting, people meet their fate, dying, dying and dying.
To go a little deeper it could also resemble the plot of population control. In the story, if Drew stops working, the lives of others hang on longer than fate would originally allow.
This story is deep on so many levels and should be read by any Bradbury fan. Hell, it should be read, period! The story is short and is a quick, entertaining read. If you've got the chance check it out. I read it in his book of short stories, titled, "The October Country".
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Mysterious Disappearance of Keith Reinhard.
On a warm August afternoon, Keith Reinhard told local residence of Silver Plume that he was taking a hike in the mountains surrounding the town. He was never seen again.
What makes this case so intriguing is the events that lead to Keith's disappearance.
A few months prior, Tom Young owned a book store in Silver Plume, Colorado. One afternoon, he and his dog, closed up the store and mysteriously vanished. A few months later, Keith opened up his own shop in the same store front.
Keith was a sports writer for most of his career. He was entering his 50's and wanted to enjoy life. He set off to Silver Plume in hopes of a change. He wanted to rid his fear of vertigo, write a book and open up an antique shop in the same store front of Tom Jones.
When Tom Young disappeared the towns folk all had their opinions. But Keith had become obsessed with his disappearance. He decided to base the book he was writing on Tom Young.
Local hunters later found the remains of Tom Young and his dog. Both were shot in the head. The authorities called it a suicide and Tom's case was closed. A week later, Keith had told some friends that he was taking a hike to the top of the mountains. This was proven to be no easy task. It had been far too late in the afternoon to venture up the treacherous mountains. At the time, Keith had only the clothes on his back and nothing more. And on that late, August afternoon Keith disappeared and hasn't been seen since. It's been 22 years since anyone has seen him.
There are a number of spectulations concerning the disappearance of Keith Reinhard. One, is the fact that he went up to the mountains and killed himself. This, has been said to be highly unlikely, because nobody saw him with a gun. Or anything else to harm himself. Secondly, some believe that he met his demise on the mountains that day and perished up there. Thirdly, some believe that both Tom and Keith were murdered. And finally, some say he plotted his own disappearence.
There was a manhunt searching for Keith, but nothing ever turned out. The manhunt was eventually closed after a fatal helicopter accident which resulted in the death of one of the searchers.
Close friends and family disregard the notion that Keith would plot his own disappearance. He wrote letters to friends and family just days prior to his disappearance and he seemed to be optimistic about himself and life. He wasn't a man who would be known to just up and walk out on his family and friends. They stick by the theory that he was perhaps, murdered.
I often find it hard to believe that someone can just disappear off the face of the earth and remain lost for years without anyone seeing or hearing from that person. I believe that he went up there and died that day in the harsh Colorado mountains. I believe due to the fact of that one of the searchers was killed, the search was cut too short.
But if I'm wrong, then, why would a man tell everyone he was going for a hike, then kill himself? Or why would somebody want him dead? There has never been any solid evidence pointing to these two theories. This is one case that certainly baffles the hell out of me.
What makes this case so intriguing is the events that lead to Keith's disappearance.
A few months prior, Tom Young owned a book store in Silver Plume, Colorado. One afternoon, he and his dog, closed up the store and mysteriously vanished. A few months later, Keith opened up his own shop in the same store front.
Keith was a sports writer for most of his career. He was entering his 50's and wanted to enjoy life. He set off to Silver Plume in hopes of a change. He wanted to rid his fear of vertigo, write a book and open up an antique shop in the same store front of Tom Jones.
When Tom Young disappeared the towns folk all had their opinions. But Keith had become obsessed with his disappearance. He decided to base the book he was writing on Tom Young.
Local hunters later found the remains of Tom Young and his dog. Both were shot in the head. The authorities called it a suicide and Tom's case was closed. A week later, Keith had told some friends that he was taking a hike to the top of the mountains. This was proven to be no easy task. It had been far too late in the afternoon to venture up the treacherous mountains. At the time, Keith had only the clothes on his back and nothing more. And on that late, August afternoon Keith disappeared and hasn't been seen since. It's been 22 years since anyone has seen him.
There are a number of spectulations concerning the disappearance of Keith Reinhard. One, is the fact that he went up to the mountains and killed himself. This, has been said to be highly unlikely, because nobody saw him with a gun. Or anything else to harm himself. Secondly, some believe that he met his demise on the mountains that day and perished up there. Thirdly, some believe that both Tom and Keith were murdered. And finally, some say he plotted his own disappearence.
There was a manhunt searching for Keith, but nothing ever turned out. The manhunt was eventually closed after a fatal helicopter accident which resulted in the death of one of the searchers.
Close friends and family disregard the notion that Keith would plot his own disappearance. He wrote letters to friends and family just days prior to his disappearance and he seemed to be optimistic about himself and life. He wasn't a man who would be known to just up and walk out on his family and friends. They stick by the theory that he was perhaps, murdered.
I often find it hard to believe that someone can just disappear off the face of the earth and remain lost for years without anyone seeing or hearing from that person. I believe that he went up there and died that day in the harsh Colorado mountains. I believe due to the fact of that one of the searchers was killed, the search was cut too short.
But if I'm wrong, then, why would a man tell everyone he was going for a hike, then kill himself? Or why would somebody want him dead? There has never been any solid evidence pointing to these two theories. This is one case that certainly baffles the hell out of me.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Introduction from Something's Lurking.
Hello, my name is Rob. I'm starting this blog to show appreciation for everything I love and for everything that inspires me. For the most part, my life consists of watching films, reading books, making movies, writing and sharing my personal thoughts with everyone. We all have opinions and should be encouraged to use them. This blog is supposed to be an inkling to everything I'm interested in. I will hold no boundaries to this blog and I'll write about almost anything.
So, in closing with this very brief introduction, I have to say this. If you're a fan of anything mentioned above - and then some - then look no further. You've come to the right spot.
Thanks and take care.
So, in closing with this very brief introduction, I have to say this. If you're a fan of anything mentioned above - and then some - then look no further. You've come to the right spot.
Thanks and take care.
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