035. Revolution, 4

(Gamya)

Over time, shaken broths coalesce into bigger particles. Emulsions fructify. Mud dispersions settle. Life grows in their reactions. Groups become societies.

And diseases particles of their kind become buds for monstrous things inside the right floods of building materials.

Like any strains grows where there's enough nutrients, they do a little of the same, with some intent to go into bigger structures. They haven't figured out everything out yet.

But monsters born from death, they can appear and scare the shit out of survivors of the apocalypse. Because it speaks to their animal instincts to stay away from diseases and omens of death, and it speaks to their cultures as well.

We all share gruesome tales in our past culture, where imitations of life rising from death is always morbid and tragic.

With the occasional exception of god-chosen prophets and heroes, resurrection is always a tragedy, a rain of sorrow, nefarious intents and hostility.

Nothing good rises from death, in our general intuitions to protect us from disease. And here are no god-chosen exceptions.

These monsters witnessed and faced are the expression of hells.

Malice fills the world and now the survivors are under their threat and damned.

What we hear on the radio is not encouraging.

It's so depressing that dad turns it off when mom is around. She shouldn't hear that some people are willing to kill her because of how sick she is.

We'll go somewhere where she won't risk infecting anyone anyway. So there's no point listening to them.

It still hurts hearing them though. It really wounded my dad hearing such things.

Beyond quarantines and refusals to let people in, the most extremist options to insure some society's survival... Some people were considering genocidal options, even at times when they faced the paradoxes of dimming population and loss of pertinence.

What would be left to solidify if the population dwindles?

Maybe selfish power without long term perspective. But that was so cynical, dad and I we both hoped humans were better than that...

He cared about society's health far more than I. But I would lie if I said I cared about mom and her unborn child more than him. I was uncertain too, without being mean.

But still as she struggled more and more to stay alive, my collections of thoughts and knowledge grew clearer.

Before we reached our home, I headed further ahead on my own, to reach the village and check the situation.

To find help if I could, but also to see something else.

Time was running out for my mother.

~

Every night I prayed for her and her baby to come.

Me too I wanted to see the little one come, and live, and smile.

This upcoming new life helped all three of us holding on, like a promise of a brighter time.

Dad knew I could handle myself alone, and left me to head on my own ahead, while he slowly carried mom further.

I went faster scouting ahead, spending a few days alone but never quite lonely, for I could now always hear and see them.

Like stars or distant fireflies, they were everywhere around. Flowing as if floating on clouds and streams in the air. Always trying to shine... Never realizing what it implied for us when outside of night, and the very few solutions we had at hand to keep them docile. They were like insects simply everywhere now.

I continued talking to their spirits, never reaching any semblance of intelligent reply. They lived, but they didn't think. So it couldn't matter for anyone anyway.

They were just random seeds for monsters.

~

I jogged through the dusty rocks and landscape, letting pebbles rolling along my path sometimes. I remember last time a few years back how mom called me her little mountain goat, because of how agile I was. I make good use of it now, rapidly crossing that distance between them and home.

I realized as I went along how difficult and long a way it would be for mom and dad however.

As I slid and walked my way swiftly toward the next forest, and our visible house in the distant mountain side, I felt some joy.

A sadder corner of my mind wondered if dad hadn't accepted to let me go further alone as if to release me while they died behind.

But no. He wouldn't do that. He would carry her the whole way if needs to. And even if mom died, he would make it for me alive. He would never abandon her nor me like that.

I knew it.

Also I was aware of how little time we had left for mom. So I went down not toward the old house, but straight and further down the slopes and forests, toward the village.

It looked still intact from this far and high. But I could expect some things had nonetheless occurred there.

I was on my way. We were all doing our best in what still felt like a race against time, from this world and the next to rise.

~

Night was falling.

I arrived in town where very few people lived year long. Something was already looking off. Not on the new gods side of things though. They were pretty calm and steady everywhere most of time.

On the society side, things had taken a turn.

Travellers were gathering near the main square, brightly lit.

It was noisy and busy around the town hall.

I heard people were shouting questions and accusations. People were still confused and scared, while unhappy about some other things clearly.

The situation since the fall hadn't settled well just yet. Turmoil continued.

The young man standing in front of them all was unsteady but standing brave. He held authority but was struggling to keep things steady between the more emotional men gathered there.

He spoke with clear voice, and with enough eloquence then to get everyone else to calm down and listen. It was subtle and fascinating. For the first time I really understood what politics meant.

What he said first only appeared meaningful, but didn't mean anything. However it was useful, because his words there helped soothe everyone and appease the most heated spirits. I felt impressed, discovering still things I never knew before.

Enough time and slower pace of talk passed, to get most people able to listen to him, reassuring them with eloquence. Then he finally could tell them what he had in mind all this time most likely. His orders, sounding like fair requests or agreed suggestions.

No unfair murders.

Observe and report but save your life in priority.

Don't shoot first, unless the threat is clearly and unambiguously identified and understood.

If it's men, don't shoot before knowing their number.

Observe, he repeated, accompanying words with gesture.

I was impressed. Thinking like my dad, I thought this young man sweating nervously but managing to uphold his duty must be a young prince in the becoming. At least he is trying to keep society reasonable.

It's been very reassuring, for everyone around his stage and also me. Although it doesn't solve everything, especially for mom.

Families in this small town too rural and too wide for them were gathering in a few common buildings and houses in the centre. Most of them didn't really own any property here. They just moved in, knowing it would be a liveable place onward, whatever came or occurred outside. It was the same intuition as Dad had. Whatever happened outside, this would likely be a safe haven, and the young leader knew it.

Humans were able to do good, past their woe and weaknesses, with the right catalysts. It's really reassuring.

Unfortunately I still had to do bad things... For our selfish needs.

I broke into the old apothecary's warehouse. I coursed through what I could find, and took what we really needed. They will need to listen to me. Mom and dad ought to.

I hope I will have the same eloquence as this man had, but me for my family.

I took shelter in a corner of the storage to rest for a while, as it was still too dark outside.

~

I dreamt of ponds and drifting stars. A laughing child was there. I'm eager to meet my sibling.

I would do anything...

So you could live healthy and happy.

~

I hiked my way back home on the next early morning.

I didn't spend much time in that house that needed thorough cleaning. It felt dark.

Mom and dad were still alone out there I thought, looking back toward the higher peaks in the distance, and they needed the tools and medicine I had brought along with me.

Mom and my younger kin don't have much time...

~