Story 37

The thing stood, silent, waiting for them. The energy from it was tangible and felt by the entire wondering gathering.

No one noticed the lights of the night outside fade as a dark cloak descended around Bear Camp, as if the very place was removed from time and space, and they were the only living beings in existence.

“What is it, Dave?”

“I can only guess Petar. But now I can tell you that it still is not complete. YOU hold the key.”

“I? Dave?”

“What have you around your throat, my friend?”

“My throat? This amulet with - ah! I am still a stupid man from the stone age!” He took the tiny sliver of rock that he had worn since he first picked it up. Touching the now warm thing did not bring forth the usual white beam, it did nothing. It waited.

The sliver fitted a tiny indentation neither had previously noticed. Petar pressed this into place and stepped back. Still nothing happened.

“Dave?” Petar whispered.

“Wait.” Dave whispered back. “It was hurt, it’s healing itself. The chrysalis will open.”

“Chrys…..” They all moved back several steps as the golden light appeared around the thing, and a fine line appeared, an even more dazzling light inside, like a star come to earth.

The light rose to float above them, whisps of light appearing and disappearing exactly like a miniature sun. Some would swear later they saw a figure in the blaze, others would claim different sights. The thing went cloudy so they did not need to shade their eyes.

A voice came as the thing pulsated gently. “Thank you, Petar, for freeing me from my long protective shelter. I will shortly join my family in the stars, but ask and I shall endeavour to answer.”

“Welcome, being of the stars. WHAT are you, and WHY are you here?”

A tinkle of pure joyful laughter was heard. “What I am is beyond your comprehension. My kind wanders this universe in guardianship over all forms of life, nurturing where necessary.”

“You are NOT ‘God’ then?” Sam queried in awed fascination.

“I am not, we are not what you call God. We are far above you in terms of evolution, the Presence you would call God is even further above us.

“I am here by pure accident as you would say. Our young are protected in cocoons, chrysalises until they are grown enough to emerge. This process takes eons of your time. This shell of mine was caught in the birth throes of your world, parts of ‘me’ were scattered along your timeline. I have grown throughout your history, WITH the planet.

“I feel, PART of the place. I shall become your planetary guardian. There is a long path ahead for your life form.”

“We know of life forms on this world only. Are there many?” Dave queried.

“Many, countless. All beyond your reach.”

“Not so, sorry.” Petar spoke. “What of our friends who found ‘home’ back in our mists of time?”

“A case in point. Call it meddling if you will. Now it is done, I see the pattern. Those brought here were of a more advanced life form compared to your selves. We intervened when they long left the path that leads to the next stage. We could not let them destroy such a promising life.”

“But you let them be destroyed, I saw it.”

“Did we? We allowed their regression to their earliest form. Far back in your mists as you have pointed out. There are no records, I can not know, what life evolved from this. Be careful - you have a long path, you may yet stray. It has happened often. Few forms reach the final revelation.”

“Which is?”

The being began to slowly glow; building to the starlight it was made of. “The final revelation? You will know in time. You must GROW and LEARN!”

A joyous laughing giggle of pure delight at BEING came through the pulsating light. “You already know much. From the beginnings you have known. PEACE, LIFE, and above all, LOVE.”

A thought was planted in Dave and Petar’s minds as the miniature star flashed out of the camp and upward. Normal night lights were seen, and a solitary star flashed briefly overhead before vanishing over the horizon.