Resurrection, Continuum & Renewal

Steven Carlson

“You see the spirit draws us on - always a little ahead of us, always a little farther from us … into the lands of our destiny.

“There is never is an end to such a great story, for this is the supreme law of second chances: resurrection, continuum, renewal: that life goes on.”

And with that being said, Francis could feel his own future before him; he sensed the pull of his own heart, of his spirit calling to him with adventures and vistas to come.

He realized that at no point would anything ever be truly finished, or for that matter gone - for everything and every one transformed - and this was a good thing, a great thing - to go on.

He drew his blanket around his shoulders, and as with any good vision, it had made him so content he fell asleep returning into the land of wondering.

The great lion sat quietly beside the tired traveller.

“Bless you Francesco” he said most quietly, and then gently disappeared from sight.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

A Great Story

“Well that is not at all what I would call a very good story,” objected Francis, who genuinely thought he had heard better.

“It is not a good story, but a great story.”

“But the end is insufficient.”

“That is what makes it a great story,” said the Lion.

“No, I mean to say … it was wanting.”

“Yes.”

“But did he die in the end?”

“He was dead all the time.”

“Oh” said Francis.

“He just did not know it” said the Lion.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Tragic Climber

The lion began:

“A man stood on the top of a high precipice, on a rock that crowned a snow topped mountain. Its slippery coldness betrayed his foothold and his nails ripped in resisting the fall; and his skin was torn, grazed and sliced in the skid on the way back down.

"Yet his heart had been plucked and taken to an eagle hen’s lay - strident, nesting, resting on a bed of feathers and poop.”

“I believe I have heard this one before” Francis interjected.

The Lion continued, ignoring what he had said.

“Although his arms were seized with pain, and his legs ached beyond belief; this tragic climber struggled back to the summit in search of his heart that had been stolen from him. It was, as it were, that the very moment he ascended the final step to reach into the feathery nest, his lean betrayed him and he fell once again to the bottom.”

“Poor soul”, muttered Francis.

“Yes yes,” agreed the Lion, who then continued:

“Once again the heart called to the man below: and its magnetism drew him up, coaxing him every time he stopped.

"Just a little farther, just a little farther … and after what felt like many years, the heartless man once more came to the eagle’s nest - this time to find that his heart was gone. A silhouette of a bird could be seen in the distant sky, and the climber could feel his own heart moving fast away from him.

He looked down at the town beneath - the buildings and roads all in miniature - the streams and the rivers like silver ribbons glittering as they wrapped their way around the landscape beneath.

“What now?” asked Francis.

“What now indeed?” said the Lion agreeably. He stopped as though that were a suitable ending as any.

“Go on,” prompted Francis.

“There is no more to be said,” said the Lion.


Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Beast Shimmered

The lion sat back on his haunches and closed his eyes. Francis did the same.

As the sun stealthily rose Francis could see wings, large wings, drawn back behind this wonderful creature. He was not of stone, hewn not from any rock, nor was he with fur and fibre.

“You are no earthly creature” he blurted, “What do you want from me?”

The massive beast shimmered tossing his mane this way and that, as though he were shaking raindrops off his coat.

He opened his eyes and growled. “I want to tell you a story my son.”

Francis smiled ever so lightly; with a nod, he drew his blanket close.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Huge Golden-maned Lion

Francis had a way with animals - everybody knew that.

He enjoyed making a point of this amongst the mortals, believing it might encourage them to a higher compassion and comprehension.

He could do the unexpected, and frequently did.

But this morning he was not so sure of himself - he found his legs trembling, and his heart fast paced and thumping - so much so, it was difficult to catch a breath.

In his mind he was not frightened of the huge golden-maned lion before him. No, he said to himself - it was not that.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Whistle & a Ring

He knelt down to see his little son. Out from his pocket he pulled a small carved whistle, and solemnly gave it to him. It was engraved with a lion.

“I have a ring for you, if you will have it.”

He was so real, standing close to her now, it was him - it really was. All the sadness she had held back over the last few years, came rushing towards her and then ran on by. In an instant her happiness had returned.

“Is it made of moonbeams, gossamer or caramel?” she asked excitedly.

“All three. And some gold of course.”

He lightly brushed her hair back from her face, and she put her hands through his coat, to his waist, to pull him closer. And they embraced one another for a very long time.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

A Rider from Afar

Charley noticed some movement from afar, and within a few minutes she could just make out in the distance, a rider approaching the homestead below. She watched as the figure dismounted and went to the door, and then alighted his horse once again.

“Perhaps he is delivering the mail”, she said cheerily to Toby, who had forsaken his crimson gum leaf for a smooth bark-less stick, that he started to draw in the dirt with.

“Oh look, he is coming this way” she said, trying to get her young son’s attention.

The rider wore a long oilskin coat and hat that shone in the sun - it was near impossible to make out his age from the distance. He had long boots, and a saddle bag to match, and a dappled dark brown horse.

“That is my favourite kind of horse”, Charley said to her boy. He nodded, absorbed in his artwork.

“I think I will get you a hat like that.” she said, giving him a kiss on the top of his head.

“He can have mine”, came a voice from behind.

It was the rider, who appeared very suddenly at the back of them.

This voice was all too familiar. Charley turned to face him.

His long hair was tied back, his once beard was but a shadow. He looked well.

“Francis?” she said questioningly -

“Yes,” he said softly with a smile “Pietro found his way home at last.”

Francis had managed to reclaim his body the moment his father had withdrawn.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Gum Leaf Tune

Charley had a tight grip around Toby’s waist, as he sat balanced on the thick wooden post, watching the smelly sheep graze. His chubby legs swung to and fro, and in his grasp was some long grass he wanted to feed them with.

Both she and her young son had been staying with the newlywed Johnstone couple.

The days had been hot, and thick with insects, and the unholy fumes of dung and diesel, yet the two newcomers had settled in for their holiday with great zeal.

She had wandered into a paddock which looked out over the rolling hills, with a glittering dam to the right, shouldered by willows, and a winding road from the left, some dozy cows, and huddles of tall grey green gums.

Her little boy was preoccupied with a leaf - his grandfather had been playing a tune with one just the night before, and he was trying to get music to squeak out of his.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances