Green Country by Libby Lestrano (best management books of all time TXT) 📖

the lion’s den!” it was Gen. Stringer laughing. The whole crowd laughed with him, “And look at you,” he walk towards me, “you look like a rotten cabbage!” the whole crowd continued laughing. “A rotten cabbage…who floats while he walks!” And he kicked me hard.
I fell to the ground. It was noontime and the ground is very hot, I did not make an attempt to stand whatsoever.
“Stop it Strigger!” It was Joe D” Bean. “Leave him to me. Today, we’ll have our last duel.” He faced me. “Now, get up dog.”
Slowly, I got up and faced him.
He readied himself with his charm. I just stared at him as he did it. Wham! I was hurled up into the air and fell to the ground. I felt horrendous pain and my vision turned yellow. I’m fainting! I thought. This is the end. I looked steadily in the sky. Yellow sky.
Yellow sky? I tried to remember something. The Sequester Sheath! This is it!
I stood up confidently, I saw the Stanians staring at each other wondering at the yellowish environment. And I saw fear on Joe’s eyes for the first time probably thinking that I will use terminating spell.
“You know Joe.” I said calmly. “I am not the best on the class. It’s you!”
“It’s good of you to realize that by now as I end up all of you.” He said as he composed himself. The Stanians roared with shock and fear.
“You can’t do this to us, Sorcerer!” yelled Stringer.
“I can.” Joe answered back and prepared himself.
“You can’t do that Joe.” I interfered. “Your body can’t. You’ve used most of your energy with that spell.” I told him. “It’s MY turn!”
His eyes widened.
“The Curse Terminus will only work when the incantator has not used any spell before in a span of time but which in your case… your energy will not be sufficient to do it.” I told him earnestly.
He stared at me with terrified face.
“Yeah, I was the one invented it. That’s the reason why the masters treasure me so much.”
I stood in my full height facing the sky, although my legs hurt a lot.
And then I mentioned the Curse Terminus.

The Fruit Express

“How much is a dozen of strawberries?” I asked the fruit seller. I don’t want to buy but my mouth waters every time I glance at them.
He looked at me from head to toe and fixed his eyes on my baggage. “What do you have in there?” he asked irritably.
“Just few pieces of clothes.” I answered.
Then you have not much to bargain with my strawberries.” He said. “But if you like, you can have one piece of strawberry in exchange of your baggage.”
I gave a shrug of non-acceptance.
“Would two be enough?” he kept on.
“No Sir. It’s okay. I think I have to choose other fruits.”
“All the fruits here are expensive. What do you think of this place? The Fruit Express?” he pointed out.
“I know Sir, these are all expensive. That’s why I’m waiting for the Fruit Express.” I looked at the clock of the Apple Station. It’s five minutes past eleven. The Fruit Express will arrive in less than an hour.
“The Fruit Express, huh?” he muttered in disbelief. “Why? To try your luck? I tell you boy, although some gets out wealthy form that train, a lot goes home empty-handed. And I mean empty-handed…all that you have before entering that train can be lost in just a wink.” he explained making some gestures, including the ‘wink’. “And besides you can’t easily pass through the guards without bringing of great value, and in which a few pieces of clothes would be doubtful.” He smiled annoyingly.
I ignored him. I was saving up to my last penny just to be able to ride in the Fruit Express. They say it is a train laden with fruits of all kinds and if you only know how to play the game with the sellers, you will get out a wealthy man. It is more like a gamble inside, they say. I don’t really know I just hear stories about it. All I want is to try my luck and bring home lots of fruits. Ah! Fruits! The most celebrated possession in the world! The thing of greatest value. It makes you young, healthy, and wealthy. If only fruits are as easily-found as money, if only employers pay employees with fruits, not money, then people wont be longing for it too much. I always wish that every tree would bear fruits, but it can’t be, only special trees bear them.
Toot! Toot! I can see smoke from a distance. It is the Fruit Express! I felt nervous. I looked at myself to see if I’m ready.
“I’m ready!”
Toot! Toot! The train is getting nearer. A lot of people rose to their feet. They were sitting in the benches nearby for many hours waiting for the arrival of the Fruit Express. The place is getting noisy and people start to crowd. I stand firmly to avoid being thrown over by the starting commotion. At last the train to load passengers. This is it! I told my self. I walked firmly into the entrance door amidst the load of people. There were guards positioned in every door. The guards interrogate every wannabe passenger. Some successfully went into but there are also those who weren’t able to pass. There are also those who were driven away forcefully because they insist on going in.
At last it was my turn
“Name please.” The tallest of the guards asked.
“Nest…Lanzo Nest.” I answered briefly. He looked at me in the eyes. It was a solid eye to eye contact as if he wanted to assure that I’m a human being. I shifted my view away from his terrifying look.
“Where is your destination?” he continued.
“I don’t have any destination Sir. I go where the journey ends.”
“Is that a joke?” he asked dryly.
“No, Sir.”
“Then get out!” he yelled. The passengers behind were shouting at me to get out of the way. “We can’t accommodate any passenger who doesn’t have any destination. Get out boy! You’re wasting our time.”
“I…I…I’m sorry Sir. But you see, I’m new here. I don’t know of any place here. I would probably get out at the next stop.” I tried to convince him
His stares are now irritated. “Okay.” He paused and looked at my baggage. “What do you have?”
I opened my suitcase and five pieces of gold bars flashed in his very eyes. He didn’t look astounded. He looked calmer as ever.
“Gold. Yeah, gold. Enough to buy two dozens of apples. Get inside!” he announced flatly.
I entered the huge space. I looked at the far left corner of the train. I can see lots of fruit stands as far as my eyes could take. I decided to go in there but somebody blocked my way.
“Excuse me boy, but you cannot go in there yet! Please go to your room first.” It was a white, blond-haired man. He lead into the right side of the train. We passed unto many rooms. Some are big and some are small. We stopped into an orange-door room.
“This is your room. We hope you’d enjoy riding in the FRUIT EXPRESS!” he said unconvincingly.”
“Thank you.” I said.
He walked away torpidly.
I felt disappointed when I entered the room. It was very small. The big size of the whole train is opposite to the room assigned to me. It is painted in orange of about 2 meters in width and length. I don’t know if they gave me this room judging by my height which is only 5’3. I was expecting that the rooms would be large and grandiose like the whole express itself. But no matter what I say, the reality is that I’m going to stay this place. I placed my baggage in the bed, which constitutes fifty percent of the total furniture inside the room. The other one is a table.
I threw my self into the bed and stared at the ceiling. Orange ceiling. I don’t like this color. I remember oranges. Krr…krr... krr… The thought of oranges made my stomach churn. I closed my eyes to forget my hunger.


It’s getting noisy outside. I forcefully opened my eyes, because if I am to decide, I wouldn’t do so because I still want to sleep. I rose up from the bed and walked straight into the door. I opened it and looked outside. People are wandering around. Some have fruits with them. Kr…krr…krr…My stomach is rumbling again. I think I have to eat. I opened my luggage and took one piece of gold bar. This must be enough. I told my self.
I walked out from my room and headed into the fruit stands which caught my attention a while ago.
I cannot believe my own eyes as I watched hundreds of fruit stands with thousands of fruits being displayed. Apples, bananas, grapes, strawberries and many more. There are those which I haven’t seen yet.
“How many apples will you give me with this gold bar?” I frankly asked the fruit seller in front of me.
She keenly looked at the gold bar I was holding. “Four.” She answered.
“Then give me four.” I ordered. She immediately put four apples in the paper bag and handed it to me. I handed her the gold bar. Nice bargain! I thought.
I headed into my room. I passed by the kitchen and chefs were preparing food. Food for the passengers, I suppose.
“Hey, boy!” A big man approached me. I stood shocked as he put his left arm around me and said, “I see you have some gold bar with you a while ago. I’m willing to give a good bargain with that.” He looked at the paper bag I was carrying. “Oh! Where the world is your gold bar?” he didn’t give me a chance to speak. “Don’t tell me you bargained it with…” he searched my paper bag. “FOUR APPLES?”
“I...I...I'm sorry, Sir, but yes, I bargained it with four apples.” I interfered.
“You gotta be kidding, boy! You can have seven apples with that, and then exchange five of your apples with 15 oranges!” He's almost scolding me. “Well, well now, I have been late in approaching you.” He walked away.
I continued walking into my room while thinking about the incident. It happened so fast, I wasn't able to absorb it all. Was I really fooled? Does one gold bar equals seven apples? I kept on thinking as I came in front of my door and as I start to sleep. I forgot about the eating and all.
The next day, I woke up early. I don't really know if it's early because there is no window in my room and my watch is stuck at