Other Worlds Were Possible by Joss Sheldon

Author:Joss Sheldon [Sheldon, Joss]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joss Sheldon

OUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE

The stars were already twinkling by the time Hope and Sunny reached their temporary camp.

Songbird had insisted they stay a little longer, to eat dinner, and so they had little choice but to return in the dark; stroking the rocks and trees, to confirm their location; veering off course whenever there was nothing to touch.

They returned to a heavy atmosphere…

The enormity of their situation had finally dawned upon the clans-folk. They had known of the Wogies’ presence for several lunar-cycles. They had heard of their antics, and met their representatives. But they had not seen a reason to panic. The Woggy threat was real, but it was abstract.

Now the Wogies were here. They had occupied their land. The clans-folk had every reason to panic.

Sunny could not know exactly what his peers were feeling, but he could muster a guess. Judging by their faces, they were experiencing a melange of terror, anxiety, dread, confusion, consternation, and a small amount of something approaching hope, or even excitement. Their emotions were in a tangle. They did not feel a need to be consistent.

It was hard to be certain, however, because as soon as Hope and Sunny returned, their peers reacted to them; brushing their other emotions aside.

A few individuals, including Sunny’s mother, responded with relief. They were happy that their loved ones had returned alive; unharmed and undaunted.

The majority of the clans-folk, however, had expected their friends to return. It was these people who accosted Hope and Sunny, as they sat by the fire; questioning them with nervous zest.

The young spies answered as best they could; speaking with one mind, when it came to most matters; explaining the division of labour, the inequality, the stockpiling of “Cargo”, the “Work”, “Money”, “Mortgages”, Uncle Crows, and the private ownership of land. They struggled to explain this last concept, and had to repeat themselves on several occasions, before people began to understand. Even then, no-one could quite grasp how a “Title Deed”, covered in codes, could enable a single person to claim the exclusive rights to a portion of Mother Nature.

But there remained one issue upon which Hope and Sunny could still not agree…

“You’ve already seen their magic spears with their magic arrows,” Sunny beamed. His eyelids opened so wide, his lashes retreated into their sockets. “Those things they call ‘Guns’, which can down the deadliest prey, from the opposite side of the prairie. And you’ve seen their horses; those fantastical beasts, which whisk them across the land.

“Well, I tell you this: There’s more. Yes! There’s even treasure in their garbage!

“Behold the eternal coconut! This could be used as a pot or beaker. Just look at the hardy material. It’s made from the very same stuff as their magical spears… And this: Behold the translucent blade! As pretty as a bead, and as sharp as an eagle’s beak… And this: The hexagonal ear stud! Have you ever found anything like it?”

Hope scoffed:

“I’ve explained all this already. That doohickey has a serrated edge. Drink from it and you’ll cut your lip.

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