Chapter Fifteen: Sergeant:

Location: Berlin, Germany

Diary Entry: The Sergeant

Day 107

I am king of this world.

Even in this sand-covered land, there are ranks. This is what we have to do to survive. I had to force my way to the top to guarantee that survival. It wasn’t an easy battle.

Like all success stories, I started from the bottom. Everyone at my job used to make fun of me. I wasn’t strong or confident. Girls rejected me. The boss made me his whipping boy. I spent my days wishing I could be stronger. I about laughed when I heard that 2000 would make dreams come true.

Maybe that last part is true.

This sand has provided me with the power. There is no technology in this world. I am king! I have changed since back in January. I had to live how to survive on my own. Those high-powered bastards aren’t so cocky now. I stood on the sand hill, laughing. This sand hellhole is the best thing that could’ve happened to me!

I stand on my hill of sand, laughing at the sky. A king needs his subjects. I bent them to my will in a short time. Ha! These were the assholes who used to pick on me all of the time. Now, I have all of the power. Funny how having a lost sense of direction and no technology can turn a strong douche bag into a whimp. I didn’t mess much. I didn’t even have a pager or an e-mail address. (I wasn’t a huge fan of computers to begin with.) The first two guys I ran into were so glad to see me. At first, I was suspicious. They used me and bullied me. Two months back, they kept asking me to help them. I was tempted to say no. However, an idea came into my head.

It was then I decided to take a little revenge for all the torment that I suffered at their hands. I broke them when I told them that I knew every embarrassing detail about them. Those bastards fell under my control in seconds. I had them during everything I wanted as we through the sand-covered Europe. My following grew into an army in two months’ time. I grew into a real man during that time.

A king has to improve and grow to keep his power. I worked out and listened around along the grape vine for useful information. The latter was skill that I was good at. That’s how I learned about my army’s most embarrassing secrets. However, humiliation could carry me so far. I had my top subjects dole out punishments to those that rebel against me. So far, I’ve only had three members of my army killed to make an example. Still, I cannot relax. Power can be such a fragile thing if you are not careful. Someone could rise up and overthrow me tomorrow. A king must always watch his back. Part of the reason I won’t take a lover. Women could betray you without a second thought. I can’t have any that, now can I?

There is still another problem that I face.

There is a rumor going around that someone knows what is causing the sand and is looking for a way to make go away. I cannot have that. If the sand goes away, I will lose my power. My enemies will rise up and put me back where I started. I cannot have that. I already sent out my army to search for this person and kill them. We don’t know who it is, but that won’t stop me. I must have my kingdom! I must have my kingdom!

Right now, everyone is looking for more resource to keep this army going in my empire. It feels good to be king.