Why do you not love me?

In the meanwhile the dark-skinned slaves were bustling through the building as instructed, hauling cages of emaciated animals contained within.

Those of the larger variety were wheeled in transports of small purpose built carts. The very little were carried and set down in Catacomb Three - a place the Pope would often frequent and attend to his private Mass.

“Why do you not love me?” The aged Pope shrilled condemningly.

Mute, the animals blankly stared back - with a twitch and a growl, and a whimper. They were wet from the rain, and bitterly cold sitting on the bare stone floor. The wooden cages were cramped and the smell of each other offended one another.

“Who amongst you will join me? Who will come to me adoringly?”

One by one he unlatched the locks, watching the creatures as they fled to the furtherest side of the great room. Not one stayed, not one would kiss his hand.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Doubting Authority

“Bring them to me - every one of them.”

“At this hour my Holiness?”

“Yes.”

“All of them?”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps if we were to escort you to the chambers where they are being held? In the morning?” here the priest hesitated - for the old Pope’s tone did not seem forgiving. He dug his nails into the knob of his walking cane, as he steadied himself.

He then rattled down the corridors noisily knocking on doors to the cells of his fellow priests - it was past midnight and they were all locked in for the night.

Father Penelope was up and at his side.

“He has gone crazy. The collection of this unholy zoo was one matter, but this gathering is quite bizarre to say the least.

“What if we simply do not comply? Is there anyone we can appeal to? Monsignor has left all bounds of reason and is beyond our call.”

Father Pious said nothing to answer this, he already felt the sting of unwanted doubt.

There was no higher authority, and they were caught by the very fractures within the Church itself: that, of an icy heart.

‘This is what you get with Divine authority” he said resolutely.

“Divinity does not have to make sense - never has, never will.”

Penelope did not believe this. He had always hoped for a modern world of betterment and rationality. Yet he kept quiet, again.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Hibernation

Lucy Campbell 

“Granoldi’s dying” whispered Murmur to Francis solemnly. “The old bear has been wistful - he just lays in the rock house and will not move unless I prod him. I made him broth and yet he refuses, I took him conserves, preserves, mallow and then sweetmeats - and he will take none. I think it is his time.”

Lisle, a visiting brother from the Community of the Righteous, took it upon himself to interject. “It's wintertime” he said knowingly.

“That it is” said Murmur considerately, and then he continued talking to Francis, “I think we shall have to prepare. None of my powers will restore him.”

“He’s from the North isn’t he?” Lisle interrupted again.

“Yes, he is”, said Murmur looking at the sky.

Returning to Francis he continued, “I am coming to the last of our tonics and I am wondering if we should believe this to be malady whereupon I should go gather or purchase more medicinal draughts for the old boy, or accept it is age and let him be? In your considered opinion, what is to be done?”

“He is a bear, this Granoldi, isn’t he?” Lisle asked again.

Francis looked at Lisle and slapped him cordially on the back. “Too true fellow Lisle, too true!”

“It is but his Winter’s sleep,” Lisle explained.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

All Hallows

 Albert Chevallier Tayler 

There were streamers everywhere: axe-handle-thin strips of coloured fabric festively dangling from tree to tree. It was a special day for the Saints, and Barnabas had decided to decorate the forest.

“Cousin will not be pleased” Francis concluded after seeing the handiwork of the demented elderly monk. Barnabas had been one of the newer additions to his family and in his heart he sought to encourage him.

“That fabric took some persuasion to procure” he added addressing the tribe of animals that had been following Francis throughout his day. Barnabas had decorated them too. The larger ones had cloth clippings as well. One of the deer idled by with ribbons of pink and aqua strips knotted around his spiky crown.

Mirabella was contributing as well - Murmur’s own tunic was wasted in her small but capable hands as she sat pulling threads one by one. Hannah-Mary looked on and said nothing. She had given up trying to discipline the child a year ago now.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Lizard Stone

Francis started walking again and the other two followed behind. He stopped at a boulder and knelt down in the sand, placing his knapsack on the rocky shelf beside. There was a pile of thirty or so smaller pebbles - just like the Moon Flower she had seen just moments ago. He was sorting through them, but they all looked pretty much the same to her.

"Are you looking for another?" she asked timidly - it was almost as though she was frightened to interrupt his concentration.

He handed her an especially large pebble. She turned it over and over in her palm - it looked just like an ordinary stone. She showed it to Chips but this time he was not interested. Instead he went to the collection Francis had put to one side and sniffed the small mound. He barked and took two steps back.

Francis put his hand on the dog’s head, and leant forward staring at the ground. One of the rocks was exuding a mist - it was happening again - only this time it was a lizard that popped out from its crusty centre.

“I've been looking for you” he exclaimed.

She could have sworn she saw him then put the little creature into his pocket. That can’t be right she thought. This expedition was charmingly curious and curiouser …


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Little Flowers

He bent down and picked up a small rock from the ground and passed it to Robyn. It was smooth to the touch and held the heat of the sun.

Chips sniffed at her hand, expecting it to be a treat. She showed him, and he licked the pebble as Robyn offered it to him to inspect. With his wet nose he pushed it off her palm and onto the ground. Robyn laughed. As she bent to pick it up, Francis stopped her. He gently held her arm back, and pointed to the ground with his other.

The rock was moving, wriggling this way and that. A minute more and it seemed to have steam rising off it, and it began to wheeze, then cracked, and a bright pink cactus flower sprang up and out, right there before them.

“Whoa! Did you see that!” Robyn exclaimed with the delight of it.

“Yes”, said Francis - “I did. They are called Moon Flowers.”

“That can’t be right”, said Robyn, still mesmerised by the sun and her company and the pink flower that suddenly appeared.

“Well, what I mean to say is, well, it's not that time of the moon and it's not dark and …”

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

He smiled back at her

“Wait up!” called Robyn at the top of her voice.

She hurriedly pressed the shiny red button at the side of the electric gate and squeezed her way through the metal, in an effort to reach Francis before he had escaped the horizon.

With her handbag flapping behind her Robyn caught up to the two who were strolling slow along the dirt road.

Francis turned to see her running towards him - he stared quizzically.

Robyn could not find the words she wanted - out there in the sun - with so much empty space all around - her mind went quite blank.

Added to this she was very much surprised to find that Francis was not at all the age she had taken him to be when she first caught sight from afar. She had presumed that he was more or less elderly - when from the window of her room she had watched him feeding the birds in the early mornings - it was ‘quaint’ — his hippy clothes hid his large physic - his glossy black hair contrasted pale blue eyes - and, he smelt of musk. This man was in his late thirties, if that. Why did she believe him to be aged? Francis is gorgeous, she thought musingly to herself!

He smiled back at her. She was still at a loss for words.

“Would you like to join us”? he asked naturally - his tone was mellow, his voice was deep, his presence was calming. Robyn was intoxicated with interest.

“Yes please” she said excitedly.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances