Twelve Creatures

The twelve creatures were impressively adorned with embellished dressings and ornate crowns strung over their foreheads. Faux sapphires and emeralds glittered their girth with one single ruby encased within the beaten metal, forged to appear as flowers from the exotics, such as were not seen in the common forests of Italy. Amongst some orchids bridled were golden bells which musically chattered with their sway.

“These are a miniature breed,” hissed a voice from behind.

It was the owner of the show - entrepreneur and master of the improv - Henri Happleganger.

“A speciality from the East” he continued, softening his voice from the strained sarcasm he had greeted them with formerly.

The Brothers bowed cordially. They were used to meeting with stressed men of commerce with their impolite sufferances. There were scales, often observed - with the calmness of faith at one, and the rages of commerce at the other - and a man’s demeanour would speak well of which ruled his want, and world.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Sideshow

Coming down the mountain the Brothers could see the chequered tents in the distance with their crimson flags flapping. The sounds of a dozen elephants could be heard - screeching and bellowing like hellhounds in pain.

Their natures were misshapen - challenged by the welts they wore from countless beatings. They each bore golden adornments, with jewels that glittered and sparked in the sun.

Murmur, Tobias and Francis had none seen the size of an elephant, yet and were not impressed by the stout hair balls before them.

“They barely exceed a pony!” Tobias laughed - “Oh look at the little charmers!”


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Elephant Trainer

“The elephants are in the town and need a new trainer.”

“What happened to the trainer that brought them here?”

“He died.”

“Oh Heavens be - what a sorrow for the animals. What malady took the fellow?”

“The mother elephant felled him, and then trod on his head.”

Francis thought more of this.

“I am no man of the circus nor qualified for this. I do not fear the larger of earth’s creatures, yet I do not seek out their company, or temperament, such as you describe.”

“But”, interjected Tobias, “they pay good gold for this service - and, ever since you refunded the coffers of Mother Church we have gone without.”

Francis looked sheepish. He knew of the hardship caused by his actions - and was yet conflicted about the righteousness involved.

“Very well” he sighed. “I must, if needs must.” He muttered - “Have Murmur accompany us … I may require his revival. When are we expected?”


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

MAN, YE ARE GODS!

“We are just waiting on the Powerpoint for the conclusion … my associate is due to bring it in any any moment. Ah, here he is” - the doors swung open and a very tall character hurried to the front.

“Dr Fabaceae - thank you for joining us this morning!” Puck exclaimed rather flamboyantly.

Dr Fabaceae nodded at the group and set about fumbling with the laptop to the side of the podium. A minute later the first frame was up on the huge illumined screen before them, with just words, white on black, that read:

MAN, YE ARE GODS!

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Far more than a Cake & Bunghole

“I say to you: the poles and portals of Man are far more than a cake-and-bunghole.

“This principle of exchange applies to the breath, thoughts and words … to semen, saliva and sweat - to every biochemical transaction, every electrical transfiguration and reflex, to every word and perspiration - that which a man convexes within, and excretes without, has become deified - a splash and a glimmer of the god principle that all men hold within, in combining with the world without.

“And, what it is that they choose to do with this combining is of the most extreme importance.”

Puck looked across the room, finally pausing his talk - his eyes darted towards the door to the auditorium at the far back and then to the small crowd of white-coats in the front of him looking up.

“Any questions?” he added - to the stunned consolidation of pharma scientists who collaborated with the Johnstone Corporation over each and every bio-nutritional project. This was their ‘A’ team as they liked to call it.

Francis had a place sitting beside Robyn at the back - Charley was seated in the front row alongside Calvin who had sleepily introduced the presentation.

Calvin was still young enough to enjoy a new idea - and what he had just heard from the old man stirred his enthusiasm greatly - he almost believed it.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Chemical Marriage

Woloschina

“I have a chemist that will be joining us shortly - but in summary I would like to say that the composition of any substance ingested by a human being is transformed in such a way that not only is it biochemically exchanged, deranged and complex - it takes on a magical resource simply by the very transaction itself.

“The great Master Christ taught of this phenomenon in His example of the Communion bread and wine. This principle applies to all substances ingested and furthermore, not only do they hold an effect over the person who is taking them into themselves, but that human being evokes a change over that material also - transforming it ever after.

“This is the Chemical Marriage - this is the living transubstantiation - and although it appears to be just a physical transaction, its real persuasion lies upon the ethers casting forms - invoking new life - promoting more of the same - and morph-evolving into what will become the newer realm’s designs."


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS- Second Chances

The Simple Life

“Less prayer and more farm” said Tobias, who secretly looked forward to the prospect of beets and parsnips to come.

“Could we trade some of the fancy stuff for blankets?” Hannah-Mary joined in.

“No need - there are wools coming in the morning - this is only half the consignment allotted to you Franciscans”- somehow the name stopped them short.

“And what of this safe-chest?” was asked dolefully.

“To keep the gold that is inside it”, sighed Francis who could see through the wooden exterior.

The Cardinal continued: “We have the fealty of the sovereign Father - and this is, as they say, for the greater good.”

“Oh dear Lord”, breathed Father Intago, who was a goodly godly man with a strong inner compass for social equality. “I long for the simple life.”

“Yes, but this, my brother is not about your longings or your life, now is it? This is about your branding.”

Francis turned to Peter and asked: “What is branding?”

“It is when they take a hot iron to a calf to prove its ownership.”

“Oh then”, said Francis - “well Mother Church be damned.”

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances