by Rachel Funk

Created on: September 30, 2009   Last Updated: October 03, 2009

"So, when it's over, do you think they'll realize what's happened?"

"Ha! They don't even understand how they got here or where they're going. What makes you think they'll figure this out?"

It's two thirty in the morning on an unseasonably cool August night. The darkness is still except for the chirrup of crickets and the gentle lapping of water along a deserted shore. The moon's face a silver coin on the water, rolling with the waves, a submissive passenger, all the while pushing and pulling the very water on which it shines upon. In this picture of calm, a conversation of great magnitude is unfolding. One which many would kill to overhear.

"I don't know, Crothos. Some of them show signs of high intelligence..."

"Listen, my young apprentice, although we have seen glimpses of enlightenment, they are just glints of light in a sea of density. The few who figure it out will be deemed fools by those around them. What would they do? Risk ridicule and social shunning from their peers? No, they will remain silent in order to keep their so called peace. And we'll be a score of stars away."

There was silence for a brief moment then, "What brings on all these questions, Salnek? Are you nervous about the rising? You haven't grown attached. Have you?"

Without hesitation Salnek answers, "No, I'm not nervous about the rising, rather excited." There's a pause, Crothos, waits patiently, knowing the youth will continue. "It's just that Earth is not my true home, but it is all I know. Don't you feel that leaving is just all wrong? That the coterie is wrong? That we should stay and try to-"

"SALNEK! What are you thinking? You know the coterie has decided. There is to be no doubting their decision."

"I know, but-"

"No, you don't know. You think you do, but you truly don't." Crothos paused, as if to say more on the subject, then decided better of it. "You must have clear thinking for the rising. All this garbage about his being your home is just that. Garbage. Being born somewhere does not make it y our home. This isn't any of our homes, it's not meant to be. We didn't come here to colonize, but to observe. Observation is over and it's time to leave. Simple as that. As for your opinions on it, you don't want to coterie to hear tell of your thoughts. Disagreement is not tolerated."

"I know." Salnek said in a voice of resignation, "May I ask a question, though?"

"Is it a respectful one?"

"It is so I can reach understanding."

Crothos though for a moment, "For understanding,

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