Oracle--Sunken Earth by C.W. Trisef

Author:C.W. Trisef
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2011-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

A WHALE OF A SHADOW

In a few months’ time, the excitement surrounding the Oracle had faded until it was all but forgotten. Day after day, Ret waited to hear back from Mr. Coy—something, anything—but nothing. The illusion that his future was finally falling into place had turned back into a barren wasteland—quite unlike the world around him, which was blooming with evidence that spring was fast approaching. With budding branches crowding the sky and fresh shoots littering the dirt, Ret found consolation in the harbingers of spring. Birds were back to nest, amphibians returned to mate, and the sun was dancing behind the cottony clouds. All winter long, nature had conserved its energy, which, now that the time was right, it was gradually beginning to release. The natural world’s rebirth surged through Ret’s being, causing him to feel electrifyingly alive.

But Ret wanted to know why nature had a mind of its own—how the natural world moved and acted according to its own freewill, totally independent of anything manmade. “What is it that prompts a seed to sprout,” Ret would wonder, “and how does a root know what to absorb? When does a plant decide the design of its leaf, and why does the rushing wind die? Just what exactly is a fire’s flame, and why does the earth ever think to tilt?”

“It just does,” Ana would say to his questions. “Just go with it.”

And, whether he understood it or not, that is exactly what Ret had to do—just go with it—because, despite man’s self-proclaimed supremacy over all things natural, there was yet one large swath of nature that had always eluded humanity’s control: the elements.

Rain falls. Lightning bolts. Earth quakes. But why? Ret already knew how these natural processes happened; now he wished to know why.

Because he felt much the same way. Secretly, Ret hated being acted upon, relying on outside people and forces to determine his destiny. But he waited—he endured—with all patience and forbearance, trusting in nature’s timing, for while he was certain the answers rested in his palms, he also knew the will of nature was out of his hands.

On the other hand, Ana’s patience waned thin. “It’s time for us to visit Paige,” she said as she grabbed Ret and pushed him out the backdoor. “Her father has ‘Ben Coy’ long enough. We need some answers.”

As they drew nearer to the outer fence of the manor, Ret asked, “Should we let Paige know we’re here?”

“Way ahead of you, bro,” Ana informed. “She unlocked the front gate and is waiting for us in the main entry.”

“Wow, you’re good,” Ret remarked.

“It’s called texting,” Ana said. “You might want to try it sometime.”

Paige welcomed the Coopers through the giant double doors. “Dad’s down in the lounge,” she told them, knowing the purpose of their visit. “I’m so glad you’re here; I hope you can help him.” Ret and Ana sensed a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Paige led them into the shadows of one of the many corridors lining the arch of the semicircular entryway.

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