PREVIEW: Small and Simple Things
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The LOST GENRE GUILD
Biblical Speculative Fiction
| Alethea Knight's short story "Small and Simple Things" can be found in Light at the Edge of Darkness along with 26 other stories of Biblical speculative fiction.
Read more about the author, Alethea Knight |
Such a silent little thing. This be about your gift, yes? Ah, I thought as much. I’ve told
you afore, child, you needs have patience. These things come in The One’s own time.
Do you remember the story I told you about how the Founders first come to learn of
the gifts? No? Perhaps ’tis time I be repeatin’ it, then.
I was scarce ten turns, just a little bigger than you, when the starship reached
Panacea. The Founders had sailed the skies for countless turns: I’d never seen true
mountains or clouds choked with rain. Indeed, most the ol’ folk recalled little of these
things. Upon leavin’ the great starship, the world was risin’ all ’round me, and I longed
to run and hide back inside my own room. My papa (your great gran’papa) clasped my
hand and lifted me high so I could see the rollin’ green meadows touchin’ the fiery
pink sky, so different than pictures I’d seen of the homeland. My papa laughed in joy,
and I knew ’twas good and was afeared no more.
I worked ’longside my papa and the other Founders for many turns, then, buildin’ the
great houses of metal and stone. Your papa flew with you to see the ruins, yes? Those
be the very same that I helped build, long and long ago.
We didn’ just keep ourselves in the valley in those early years, neither. We explored
our new world, roamin’ far beyond our valley, for though we crept on the ground then,
the Founders used great machines of metal and noise to carry them ’cross the land. I
used to hide aboard the machines now and again, delightin’ in the sights: the jumpin’
antelope, the flyin’ gazelle, the bearded lions in the high mountains. Perhaps when
your wings be stronger, you can fly to see the towerin’ mala trees that belt the world ’
round, or the vast bloodflower fields that bloom in the heart of Panacea.
Seven turns after our starship landed, the Change began. Panacea had rooted itself
deep in all the Founders and their children. The air, the water, the food—all these
things brought about the Change.
Hard to imagine life without wings, eh, child? But the Founders had not a feather ’til
Panacea. And we was afraid at first. Ah, don’ laugh. Great changes be frightenin’, and
for us the Change was very great indeed.
Then gifts began to bubble to the surface. Soon all were blessed with a gift of some
sort; all but me. I waited and waited, but my gift didn’ come. Like you, little one, I
was sad as the weeping tree. Even the tiny babes with their featherless wings showed
bits of their gifts. While the others thanked The One Above All, I begged to
understand why I was skipped over.
you afore, child, you needs have patience. These things come in The One’s own time.
Do you remember the story I told you about how the Founders first come to learn of
the gifts? No? Perhaps ’tis time I be repeatin’ it, then.
I was scarce ten turns, just a little bigger than you, when the starship reached
Panacea. The Founders had sailed the skies for countless turns: I’d never seen true
mountains or clouds choked with rain. Indeed, most the ol’ folk recalled little of these
things. Upon leavin’ the great starship, the world was risin’ all ’round me, and I longed
to run and hide back inside my own room. My papa (your great gran’papa) clasped my
hand and lifted me high so I could see the rollin’ green meadows touchin’ the fiery
pink sky, so different than pictures I’d seen of the homeland. My papa laughed in joy,
and I knew ’twas good and was afeared no more.
I worked ’longside my papa and the other Founders for many turns, then, buildin’ the
great houses of metal and stone. Your papa flew with you to see the ruins, yes? Those
be the very same that I helped build, long and long ago.
We didn’ just keep ourselves in the valley in those early years, neither. We explored
our new world, roamin’ far beyond our valley, for though we crept on the ground then,
the Founders used great machines of metal and noise to carry them ’cross the land. I
used to hide aboard the machines now and again, delightin’ in the sights: the jumpin’
antelope, the flyin’ gazelle, the bearded lions in the high mountains. Perhaps when
your wings be stronger, you can fly to see the towerin’ mala trees that belt the world ’
round, or the vast bloodflower fields that bloom in the heart of Panacea.
Seven turns after our starship landed, the Change began. Panacea had rooted itself
deep in all the Founders and their children. The air, the water, the food—all these
things brought about the Change.
Hard to imagine life without wings, eh, child? But the Founders had not a feather ’til
Panacea. And we was afraid at first. Ah, don’ laugh. Great changes be frightenin’, and
for us the Change was very great indeed.
Then gifts began to bubble to the surface. Soon all were blessed with a gift of some
sort; all but me. I waited and waited, but my gift didn’ come. Like you, little one, I
was sad as the weeping tree. Even the tiny babes with their featherless wings showed
bits of their gifts. While the others thanked The One Above All, I begged to
understand why I was skipped over.
The Lost Genre Guild's mission is to promote quality works of Biblical Speculative Fiction (spec-fic)
through its authors, fans; to endorse new releases that fit this criteria; and of course, to glorify Him.
through its authors, fans; to endorse new releases that fit this criteria; and of course, to glorify Him.
YOUR MAMA KNOW WHERE you at?
Hmm, I’m bettin’ not, you standin’ there in your feety pajamas
with Mr. Wuggles tucked under your shoulder bone. Never
you mind. Sit down and have some warm milk, and I’ll be
bringin’ you back to your mound presently.
First things be comin’ first, though. I know you’ve come to see
Ol’ Maria for a reason. Don’ be shy. Tell me all that’s in your
heart.
Hmm, I’m bettin’ not, you standin’ there in your feety pajamas
with Mr. Wuggles tucked under your shoulder bone. Never
you mind. Sit down and have some warm milk, and I’ll be
bringin’ you back to your mound presently.
First things be comin’ first, though. I know you’ve come to see
Ol’ Maria for a reason. Don’ be shy. Tell me all that’s in your
heart.
