Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene XCIX

The new born child lay there, crying healthily, its long, monkey-like tail bouncing with life, like its hands and eyes and feet. Liofia lay there tired, but relieved. Whilst Julen, much more emotional, looked down at the two with joy. The dainty hut, in this unmarked paradise, now an idyllic scene of father, mother and child.

As Goola, Gelkin and Luteeay re-entered to join the three, the picture expanded from family to tribe. A tiny civilisation in the great outer world. A little harvest set aside for the continuation of Man.

"Now it's all over," opined Luteeay, "You'll have to return to the old world, to start it all again. With this fresh life." He looked around at the others, as if excluding himself from the prospect. His barky age in distinct contrast to the youthful saplings he was directing. "Only in time, once you're ready," he then quickly redressed, noting Liofia's exhaustion. The craggy feet around her eyes on her glowing skin suggesting need of sleep, more so than need of youth.

"I guess we should return to the land of the half-tails," expressed Liofia, as she cradled her perfect child. Her eyelids angling down like canopies, swaddling the new arrival in doting rays. The "coo-cal" of birds outside chirping their lullaby.

"Will everything be gone?" queried Goola, not fully sharing the same sense of hope, though she too could only feel elation in the afterglow of nativity. Her delight tinged, rather than extinguished, by the guilt she felt for leaving so many loved ones behind. Especially so Box, whose memory was a constant in her mind. Propagating, like quickly growing vines, into every gap between her more worldly thoughts.

"There will be so few land animals left when the waters recede that birds will forget to fly," responded Luteeay, with gentle lament. Hiding his own cares behind his usual exterior. The old kytalyk then looked towards Gelkin, who was lost in thought himself. Of them all it was Gelkin who'd been away the longest, and the idea of returning felt far from an instinctive thought.

"You have the chance to make a better world, in your image," pressed Luteeay, seeing the hesitation. "So go back, with Goola, and with Julen and Liofia, and this child, when the waters recede. Help them rebuild."

Gelkin nodded in accord. The words only echoing what he had already decided in his heart. In spite of his misgivings. He'd left the old world wearied by its ways, now that it was washed asunder he had no excuse. As the world had fallen apart he'd sat in idle paradise. Now it was time to do good work again. To attempt to find a way to go forth and thrive with nature once more.