Jackie Morse Kessler

Thou art hunger, yo. Make with the starvation.

A smile flitted across War's mouth, hidden by her helmet. She had little patience for religion (although she approved heartily of the religious fanatics who sought to cleanse the world of heresy), and the only faith War had was in cold steel and hot blood.

Living means constantly growing closer to death. Satisfaction only temporarily relieves hunger. Find the balance, and plant your feet.

On the flat expanse of pancake ice, War stood by the Pale Rider__ side. Though their forms did not touch, their shadows intertwined, black on black, in a smoky caress.__new you__ come,_ Death said cheerfully.She smiled, and that slow motion of her lips hinted at many things. __he White Rider divided, and the world on the brink of destruction. How could I stay away?___ could set my watch by you.___ou don__ have a watch._ Her smile broadened into a grin. __n hourglass, maybe . . .___lease, not another joke about a scythe . . .__he mimed zipping her mouth shut.A pause, as they listened to the sounds of the boy healing and the man summoning doom.__ like him,_ War said.Even though she hadn__ specified whether she meant the boy or the man, Death smiled and nodded. __e too.___ou like everyone.___ell, yes.__he two shared a quiet laugh, their voices mingling in perfect harmony.A longer pause, and then War asked, __hat of Famine?___hat of her? She__ not mine. Not yet, anyway. She will be soon enough.__he Red Rider slid him a look. __hat__ cold, even for you.___h, just practical._ A shrug. __veryone comes to me eventually. It__ the journey that makes it interesting.___uch a people person!__e flashed her a grin. __y best quality.___h,_ said War, sliding her gloved hand into his pale one, __ can think of others that are better.

YOU DEMAND SALVATION EVEN AS YOU STEAL FROM THE COLLECTION PLATE.YOU SEND FOOD TO THE REFUGEES, AND THEN YOU DON'T ALLOW THE DELIVERY TRUCKS THROUGH THE WARZONES. THE FOOD WILL SPOIL , THE SUPPLIES WILL BE SOLD BY THE VICTORS . THE CIVILIANS WILL STARVE AND SICKEN AND EVENTUALLY DIE. IT IS THE WAY OF THINGS. THEY WILL ALL DIE, WHETHER FROM THE BRUTAL SAVAGERY THAT IS UNIQUE TO MAN OR FROM THE ABUNDANCE OF DISEASE OR FROM THE SCARCITY OF SUSTENANCE.