A Tale of Two Pizza's - Convoy to the Pizza Baron (Week 18)

Hello Hive Pizza community.
This is my entry for the First every block chain novella facilitated by: @dibblers.dabs
Contest and current story post can be found here:
@dibblers.dabs/a-tale-of-two-pizzas-ongoing-contest-week-14

Images by: dibblers.dabs

"Heave the loads, bring the chests, we must be loaded before sun up. It is time to make hustle everyone", Manzanilla said as he stood on the docks readying the caravan and troops for the passage to his brothers kingdom.
Dutch approached him in a lumbering groggy way and said, "Ill have my group of my men stay here in preparation for the supply ship to arrive. We have ran off the of last stragglers of Pizza Bandits that remained. They are likely heading the same way as you, for their leaders have been gone a while. From the interrogations we have found that they are still on plan to try to overthrow your brother."

Manzanilla grinned, looked at Dutch and said "Thanks Dutch, it is good to see you again, it has been quite some time...years in reality that have gone by. I am glad you are still in control of this port. It was a question between my brother and I if you could be trusted to keep order...it seems as though for the most part you have. For this I thank you in keeping the place and helping us in this trying time."

Dutch nodded and smiled a bit sheepishly and looked at the bustle in the darkness of the soon to rise dust of sun. "What else would you like me to do Manzanilla?"

"You must stay here till the supply ship arrives, when it does which should be in a few days those supplies are to be brought to the Pizza Barons place as fast as they can. There will be reinforcements on that ship of which you will need to command. Keep this port secured and the supply line open. We must eliminate any insurrections along the way how ever small they may be. No clemency shall be shown to anyone who is part of this rebellion. Capture, kill or banish those that want to hinder our work, it is up to you. We will have runners bringing word ahead and behind, so you will have as much information as necessary. My supply reinforcements will be under your control so please use that wisely." Manzanilla said looking at Dutch intently.

At that point they shook hands and Manzanilla said, "One last thing, you should travel with the supplies and your best people to my brothers place, there will be much that happens from here on in and you need to be close to the action for the time line is getting closer, we are needing all hands close to where they are needed." They looked at each other and smiled. Manzanilla started to bellow from the briny depths of his plump body, "We must be on the road come sun up. No time to waste people lets get a move on it."

It felt like the longest day as the caravan now loaded, secured as it moved along the road to the Pizza Barons place. The army has gone up ahead to secure sections of the road for which they have been working on for a day or two now. Making sure the passaging, would be safe. Tolcetta, Picholine, the crew and craven made their way along the road, taking in the sites of what they familiarly knew. The years had changed the landscape, the time had ebbed on but a faint smell of familiarity seemed to be present.
There was trouble up ahead as heard from the small ambush yells that ran out a few hundred meters ahead of the convoy. Quickly, swiftly, fast, and almost as if the army men were faster then sound, the rebels were dealt with, no match for the way they worked. They were promptly thrown aside limp and useless. Their possessions stripped as they were left to rot along the side of the road.

As the wagon rolled past the bodies, lifelessness in the ditch, Manzanilla looked at both Picholine and Tolcetta, "Humanity has come so far. We no longer line the streets with the heads of our enemies on poles, yet we still act the same way as when savagery was simply a way of life. How far we have come to go back to such ways. Perhaps after this is all over we can make a new way, a different way of living, where fair and equality can be had for all. not just for those that...that are with us..." His words dropped he was unable to keep talking given the reality of what he was saying, the pain of the years gone by had hardened this man. The tears he carried inside were the brine that did not soften his outer skin but instead hardened it to the tear dropped pit many have chipped teeth on. Picholine took his hand as she said, "Oh dear, you are just in need of some rest, why you should sleep for a bit, rest, you will need it in the chapters to come." He smiled at her looked at Tolcetta and almost immediately passed out.

Tolcetta smiled at Picholine as they both sighed seeing the reality of what was to come. Unsure they looked from the landscape to the caravan with more questions then answers, more will then faith, more love then hate.

Thanks for clicking into my post, having a read and you should go get yourself some pizza...at least buy some PIZZA coin!

Make sure to check out the rest of the story posts in order: