The Kernel

Florence Harrison 

Puck had given the day-to-day management of Johnstone Pharma to Charley just three weeks after the exchange. He returned to his usual business back home: the seed bank.

It was of an impressive size and housed many rare species he documented and kept ‘alive’.

Goober would jokingly refer to him as ‘the Kernel’ as Puck’s passions had grown into obsession, with both the collecting and disseminating of his hybrid and heritage saplings, seedlings and coveted seeds.

Pouches and packets of crop ‘gold’ would mysteriously manifest into farms whose harvest had fallen genetically infertile.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Nothing Came

Charley felt heartbroken.

As she sat on the park bench at the top of the hill, looking out over the rolling grounds beneath her, crowded with clusters of shivering trees, she tried to feel what her mother might have felt, sitting there as she did, so many years before.

She strained to remember something - anything - of those early years before her death. But nothing came.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Boat "Hubris"

In ancient Greece, Puck rode in a boat that sailed backwards.

The people named this voyager ‘Hubris’ for they held great fear of it reaching places that the mortals were not meant to go - the very ends of the earth - where, it was said, one could meet face to face with the gods.

Of course this was only partially correct, as the vessel would take him and his passengers through the channels, and further on, to find passage into the lands of Faerie.

He travelled to those most special of conjunctions, a nautical wormhole, where ships could disappear into, never to return.

In reality, the boat would sail its weight right into the harbours of the etheric realm, emptying its occupants right onto the shores of Faerie land.

It was not so easy these days to take human beings on board, or into, an adventure such as this.

It seemed that those gateways on earth and sea had closed - and at best when found, they could only inspire visions of the faraway dreamlands … no longer providing a proper en-trance in, anymore.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Problem in Building C

“You know I can’t leave Dad right now - not now - especially whilst the buyout is still taking place. There is so much to do, and I committed to him with this purchase. He has no mind for business as you know.”

“Well he must have a pretty bloody good mind to secure the deal he’s just won” Calvin snapped.

His reaction was now a mixture of rejection and jealousy - wishing hard he could turn the clocks back and vacate the lot of them.

“Calvin I am not really sure what you are thinking when you ask me to go with you. Do you mean a holiday somewhere … or, something more permanent … another employment?”

The problem was that he had absolutely no idea, no prospects. He was free however, for the first time in his life, with all the liberties a wealth like his could bring. But somehow it did not feel true or possible. He felt more constrained than ever - it was stifling to be this rich, and unemployed.

Without realizing Charley read his thoughts.

“But you are not without a job, in point of fact dear scientist, your contract states that you are bound to this company for a full year more with the changeovers to … you know … to show us the ropes?” her voice softened - clearly he was not handling this well.

“Of course” he said, taking a deep breath. The manacles of familiar routine returned, and Calvin relaxed.

“Good, then that will give us time together”, he added picking up her hand again, pressing his thumb into her palm.

For some reason Charley did not like this, although she did not know why.

She looked behind her to see Robyn having just entered the courtyard watching them.

“I did not want to interrupt” she said rather nervously. “But it seems we have a problem in building C and Mr Black asked me to get the both of you right away.”

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

It was Different

“Charles, I want you to come with me.”

He pressed against her from behind and as he said this Calvin had placed her hand in his and stroked it ever so lightly.

This was incredibly unusual behaviour for him to show to Charley - up until now it had been seemingly nothing more than a professional collaboration, with her adoration of him along the way being largely unacknowledged.

Apart from that, he was barely an adult - Charley still considered him a boy much more suited to Robyn, she thought quietly to herself.

Now it was different - or seemed to be. Calvin was displaced and looking to her as the nearest rock to hold onto. She felt sorry for him.

Charley slipped her hand out from his and spun around looking him in the eyes - searching for more, much more than even this. But Calvin gave nothing - he just stared expectantly back.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Dancing Flame

Francis looked at the Hode and with the light of the dancing flame and could see many lines appear across his countenance … he was of course many many thousands of years aged, and upon occasion, if you had the eyes to see, these ages would show just briefly, revealing his honest expression.

And then his face brightened once more returning to a man of barely forty, as he drew a small pouch from his cloak. The gold glittered a little through the cloth of it. He handed the clinking sack over to Francis with a nod.

“A gift from the rich,” he said, well pleased with himself in handing it over - “a gift to the needy from the robber Hode.”

“They’ll be missing you in Britain.” Francis jibed, taking the pouch with a returning nod of appreciation.

The Hode rose to his feet, readying to leave.

“And what say of the frog?” asked Francis, still perplexed.

“Oh, he just does not like you. I should be careful of that one.”


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

A Little Humor

Arild Rosenkrantz

“Oh, and also, I needed a little humour to sweeten my trials.”

“Trials? Is your labor heavy?”

“It is.”

“Where for?”

“Look around you Francis - Men are earnest, but their concerns are rarely with merit. Their lives are short, yet they waste so many minutes between. I am all but done with their corrupting ways.”

“Then why be here at all?”

“I cannot say.”

“I shall pray for you Uncle.”

“And I, you.”


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances