| A half moon lighted the bay. I hung my legs over the edge of the cavemouth and breathed the cool night air; looking up at the stars, I let my mind float away. I know not just how long I sat there, perhaps an hour, when suddenly there was a flash, a falling star, but larger than any I had ever seen. It went so fast, and came so suddenly, that my eyes could scarce track it, but the whole bay was lit as daylight for a moment. As if this were not an odd enough occurance, the same thing happened an hour later, only this time the star went in the other direction, and, it seemed, from the ground to the sky. | The sun was coming up by this time; I made my way back out of the cave and through the cottage. I met Grandmother and Mr. Birdsong as I walked down the beach. "Saw ye the lights in the sky tonight?" I asked. "Use thy head, girl," said Mr. Birdsong. "'Twas Grandmother I was addrressing, 'fit please you, sir." Grandmother said, "Must be the Light People will soon come to see me. Those lights always come the night before they knock at my door. They must got a cannon that shoot fire ball, but no sound come from it. Tight lip bastards (and I not just bein' poetic. Them lips actually tight, you savvy?)." She pulled at the edges of her mouth with her index fingers. Then she let go and said, "they strictly business. 'Get more this plant, get more that plant,' all they ever say. Pay plenty friggin' good, though. No haggle over price. Never see so much gold -- mercy!" |
Copyright © Michael B.Stevens, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005. All rights reserved. Format modified Aug. 2005