The Beast’s Nature

“What is Granoldi doing?”

“He’s giving you the finger.”

“The finger? What in Heaven’s name, is he doing with that?”

“It appears that he pocketed it just before we put the hag into the cart.”

“Oh” said Tobias blankly, remembering that the grave was well and truly sealed over with a special layer of hardened lime, that had been poured over the top for good measure.

“Best give it to me then.” he said rather thanklessly.

Granoldi looked hurt.

“He tries his best.” Murmur defended the old bear to the agitated Monk.

“I have no time for this comedy,” complained Murmur, “and I do not understand why Francis insists on their inclusions.”

“Nor do I, yet perhaps it is for the merit of their innocence Brother? There is a chance that the animals’ simplicity may teach us, and no matter anyways, for it is surely our common duty to care for the least of us.”

“And yet it has been argued, that the beast’s nature may bring us down into their lowly habits. That their very scent and whine afflicts our higher beings? What say you to that?”

Tobias thought for a moment, looked over at Granoldi, and then answered defiantly on his friend’s behalf, “Piff and piddle, is what I say. Piff and piddle.”


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Quizzlings

“Oh no! It's the Quizzlings! Who the hell let them loose?

“This was surely an empiric disaster: for the madness that infects the minds of men from these dire beings overtakes the best of men. It is they who have destroyed whole cultures … Rome disintegrated due to its philosophers' musings, and Egypt suffered the abysmal infinitude of the Sphinx’s futile questions.

“They have the key itself into the disease of madness, and the very end of logic with reason, the devolvement of justice, where no longer can commonsense and fairness accord in the heart and mind of men.

“For the babbling chatter and interference of these horrible Quizzlings never fails to bring their subtle chaos.

"Life is born of reason, Truth underpins and upholds this World - and without the gravity of commonsense, the souls of men are hurled repeatedly into the abyss of Hell."

Charley looked mortified.

“You can’t read that to a three year old”, she protested.

Her Dad had little Toby lightly balanced upon his knee.

“It's not like I showed him the pictures” he said defensively.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Making Humans

“My brain hurts", protested Goober, whilst Charley was giving him his annual haircut.

“Don’t be such a baby” she chided.

“Baby!” Goober turned to face her “Baby?” he could read her mind.

“Please don’t tell Dad - not yet - I’m not up to it”, she started to cry hormones.

A small dragon crawled across the floor.

“It's magic you know,” he said cheerfully.

“You do realize that you say that about everything.”

“I know - but this whole make-a-human thing - it's a deeper magic than I understand. ”


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Charley’s Mirror

Robyn went to unpack, grabbing what she had to stuff into the wardrobe. Being ravenous after the long flight, all she wanted was some of her mum’s familiar cooking. She rummaged deeper into her suitcase, scrummaging for the mementos she had souvenired along the way to give the family. Something tumbled out from the bundle. It was Charley’s mirror.

“Oh no!” she said casually to Calvin. “I borrowed this just before we left and it must have been wrapped with everything else in my suitcase … I guess I can post it back.”

As she placed it on the top shelf and shut the door, Robyn did not notice its silver glowing, and the feint hum coming from its frame.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

At the Airport

At the airport both parents had made the journey to greet her. They had aged. Or maybe, they were always that worn, and she had not noticed before this just how tired they looked. Hot sun and hard work can weather the farmer.

After hugging and exchanging introductions, they bundled into the car for the ninety kilometre drive out to the farm. The gravel roads slowed them somewhat. Looking out at the landscape, Calvin thought that the greenery looked anaemic- this country was dry as tinder, a tangle of twigs, dust clouds and blackened trees. He kept his observations and comparisons to himself.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Mysterious

Calvin was not one to embellish his words - he preferred to say what he meant, and to mean what he said.

And so when he would tell Robyn that he loved her, it was sincere and heartfelt. They were peaceful in each other’s presence.

Equally so, there had been a shift of consciousness that had remained with him, ever since the healing on the beach.

Calvin had not been told about the details that followed. All he knew, was he had found himself praying, and Francis had literally come back from the dead afterwards, and God came closer to him in that moment.

He could feel, at the back of his mind, something that was familiar with this event. How could the mysterious feel so unmysterious - so natural? And yet, it was. This interior awakening to God the Father had felt more real to him, than reality itself.

As an Australian, Robyn was easy going about this change of perspective. She was fairly relaxed about everything - her nature never saw contradictions in people - only evolvements.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Plane to Australia

Calvin looked across Robyn through to the window, watching the blur of deep orange smudges, as the plane descended into the dust of Australia.

“I just know my family will love you,” she said happily, as though reading his apprehension.

Inwardly Robyn was incredibly grateful to have Calvin by her side - and to be going home at last - it seemed impossibly blissful to have her two worlds meld. All of the people she loved the most would be in the one place together - how great was that?

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances