The City of Numbered Days

"The City of Numbered Days" by Francis Lynde is a story set in the early 1900s exploring the journey of Brouillard, a construction chief, as he tackles a huge project in the dry Buckskin Desert. Themes of self-change, hard work, and conflicting ambitions arise as we follow Brouillard's interactions with characters such as the rich J. Wesley Cortwright, the local Navajo people, and the alluring Genevieve Cortwright. Early in the narrative, Brouillard contemplates the meaning of the number seven, particularly as it relates to his own life on his 28th birthday, sparking discussions about change and the uncertainty of the future. As Brouillard shares stories with fellow engineers and becomes increasingly involved with the Cortwright family, a mysterious light appearing in the canyon suggests upcoming challenges that could deeply affect his personal and professional life in this developing society.