Looking out from under cover, the hungry creature’s sensors twitched nervously as it searched for danger. It was dark and that was good. How long it would stay dark was a mystery. Often, the bright light came slowly, soothingly. Sometimes it came suddenly and that meant the gods were about, the stink of danger on them. You could glimpse them if you dared. They were huge enough to fill the world, but spying on them was unwise. If you saw them, they could see you. Better to stay in the shadows and wait for them to lumber off.
The gods almost always brought big noise and violent death, not that life was anything to be held dear. Most of his podmates worshiped and prayed to the gods, but for what? A quick ending? Food? It was true that the gods provided food here and there and that was good. He
suspected the food was not given out of kindness, but to keep his kind alive long enough to provide an amusing death. He didn’t like the gods and did not pray to them.
God-death came in any number of dark ways. Sometimes the food kills you. You died in agony, twitching in front of the entire pod, like when the killer mist descended. In such a case, the burning consumed your armor and went straight through to your nethers.
Crushing was the worst. The bodies of podmates were sometimes found flattened, their innards decorating the plains. Often the dead were never found. The old ones said that they were not dead but had found the Good Place. In the Good Place, there were no gods and safe food aplenty. One thing sure, dead or in the Good Place, you didn’t come back to the pod…ever.
Of course there were other dangers. There were the trappers and other large, dangerous beasts. They were not gods and could be avoided or outrun. To be wary and fast was to live. He was very fast and very alive but not quite so wary. A podmate appeared at his side causing him to jump so high he banged his head on the overhang above!
“Calm yourself, brother!” The sentiments were transmitted by gentle strokes of sensors. “You will bring the gods down on us.” True, he not only allowed another creature to approach unnoticed, but he had betrayed their position. Acts befitting a hatchling, not a full-grown podmate.
“I am calm”, he stroked peevishly. This podbrother had been a bondmate since their hatching. They were true brothers, but it had always been a bit envious. This brother was larger, faster, and far braver. Brother never stroked any swaggering, but it was obvious who would always be the big brother in this bonding.
“Why still here, little brother? It’s your forage time, yes?” They both knew it was. All podmates had to forage for themselves and the pod. He just hadn’t got started.
Big brother brushed his way past. “Don’t unease yourself. I’ll take your shift. These old legs are itching to move!” In a sudden burst of speed, brother skittered off into the open and into the next shadow. He turned and flicked a sensor, then disappeared. My little brother had a moment of rage. He was always doing that! Taking the lead at my belittling! He fumed back and forth under the overhang but did not follow. Deep inside, he knew brother was looking out for him, but the knowledge was of little comfort. He slinked away deeper and deeper into the darkness until he lost himself. Although he was gnawing with hunger, he drifted away into quietness.
The brightness came suddenly. That was bad. As deep as he was, he could feel the ground tremble from a god passing. Not daring to move, he tucked his sensors in tight and shivered until all was quieted. When he next noticed, it was dark again. Good.
Feeling braver, he decided to take the rest of his shift and perhaps find his brother. He’d show that overgrown, sensorless oaf! His musings trailed off as a new thought emerged…pure evil, but irresistible. He would track his brother and creep up unobserved while brother was feeding. Then he’d spring forward and give that thick-armored brute a fright not soon forgotten! It would work! He started out into the open.
His sensors soon picked up the unmistakable brother trail. They tingled just so where the trail was fresh. His pace increased, but he remained cautious – moving from shadow to shadow for what seemed like a very long time. Has my brother gone so far? His sensors said yes. Perhaps this was not a smart venture. His podbrother had taken his forage turn, yet here he was
putting himself at risk. For what? To show the big bother that he was just as brave? His resolve was fading.
He would find some food now and take it back to the pod. That would show the others his measure! Then each sensor wailed, as if ready to fly out of his head!
There was a big brother, what there was of him. His body was smashed into the flat ground. Only the brother's sensors moved feebly, still attached to the intact head. Stealth forgotten, little brother rushed up and stroked the intact head with affection. Somehow, it was still alive. “Brother?”, his podmate weakly addressed him. “Take me home, brother, can’t move.” Little Brother knew not how to reply. He was filled with horror and anguish. Before he could master himself, the podbrother spoke again. “So glad you are here…so glad.” Then his head drooped, and he was still.
Everything went crazy and sensorless! The living podbrother circled his dead mate frantically, crying out in denial. Not him. Not him! It should have been me! It was my shift! If it was time to die, it was my turn! Just then there was startling brightness everywhere!
Obeying his instincts, the surviving podmate leapt away! But where? He was in a deep place with high sides and no cover. There! A cave-tunnel, leading downward into the safety of darkness! In one click he was in and going deep. It was wet here and there was even food. As quickly as safety came, it flew. The whole world became a crashing noise of movement and pain. He was up, then down, then floating on a soft darkness. He drifted away and let the darkness take him…where? His last thought was of the Good Place. He hoped it would be.
“Danny!! Quit playing with that disposal!” Young Danny obeyed and turned off the machine. He was barely tall enough to reach the switch. It whirled to a stop.
“Mommy! Saw a bug go down there! Got him good,” he said proudly. Danny’s mother shooed him away and peered into the open mouth of the garbage disposal.
“I guess you did, Danny, but that machine gives me the creeps. You could lose your hand down there. I don’t want you playing with it!”
She was a little disturbed at Danny’s glee at killing something. Still, it was only a roach. Nasty bugs! The fewer the better! She pondered as she dried her hands on her apron. Could we ever get rid of them all? Mommy doubted it.
THE END