DONARUDO
WEEK 029 / 073 — The Ledger of War
 Chapter 3 — The Front-Runner · Dec 29 – Jan 4, 2016
Fireworks burst over a fortress-like tower at midnight; imposing older man with a sweeping golden pompadour mane, heavy brow, small intense eyes, strong jowled jaw, long dark suit, very long red necktie flowing like a battle banner on a high balcony, shot from below, mane haloed
DECEMBER 31, 2015. THE YEAR OF THE DESCENT DIES IN FIRE OVER THE TOWER. HE GREETS THE NEW ONE AS A COMMANDER GREETS A CAMPAIGN SEASON.
“I would like to wish everyone A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR. WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER TO, FINALLY, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN AND GREAT AGAIN!”
DONARUDO — @realDonaldTrump · verbatim
tall tired middle-aged man with rimless glasses, slightly stooped shoulders, neat suit, gentle defeated eyes kneels in falling ash beside a smoldering brazier of burning banknotes, heavy halftone smoke, his dim podium toppled behind him
THE LEDGER OF WAR IS READ ALOUD. THE HEIR-KNIGHT'S GOLD IS ASH; THE FRONT-RUNNER'S CHEST IS STILL FULL.
So, I have spent almost nothing on my run for president and am in 1st place. Jeb Bush has spent $59 million & done. Run country my way!DONARUDO — @realDonaldTrump · verbatim
imposing older man with a sweeping golden pompadour mane, heavy brow, small intense eyes, strong jowled jaw, long dark suit, very long red necktie flowing like a battle banner plants three towering stacks of gold coins on a vast lamplit war map table, deep ink shadows
My campaign for president is $35,000,000 under budget, I have spent very little (and am in 1st place).Now I will spend big in Iowa/N.H./S.C.DONARUDO — @realDonaldTrump · verbatim
composed older woman with short blonde hair, tailored pantsuit like armor plating, measured strategist's gaze ringed by armored faceless bodyguards bristling with rifles as a vast pointing shadow with a long flowing necktie falls across them, harsh chiaroscuro
“Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!”
DONARUDO — @realDonaldTrump · verbatim
The person that Hillary Clinton least wants to run against is, by far, me. It will be the largest voter turnout ever - she will be swamped!DONARUDO — @realDonaldTrump · verbatim
A colossal halftone crowd overflows an arena at night, spilling out its doors; imposing older man with a sweeping golden pompadour mane, heavy brow, small intense eyes, strong jowled jaw, long dark suit, very long red necktie flowing like a battle banner tiny on the distant stage
JANUARY 4, 2016. LOWELL, ON THE NEW HAMPSHIRE BORDER. THE HALLS CAN NO LONGER HOLD WHAT IS COMING. IOWA IS FOUR WEEKS AWAY.
“The rally in Lowell, Massachusetts, was amazing. 10,000 people going wild. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
DONARUDO — @realDonaldTrump · verbatim
TO BE CONTINUED →

This week in the saga

The year turns in fire over the tower, and he greets it not with rest but with a ledger: almost nothing spent, first place held, while the heir-knight's fifty-nine million lies in ash. For the first time the war chest opens, aimed at the three states where the winter will be decided. Across the gulf he taunts the final general's own armored guard, and in Lowell ten thousand overflow the hall.