The Pole Shift

Son

The days passed quickly for Toorak's people. With an interface to Prophet, they felt less inclined to read children's books, any books. They just asked Toorak, who had set himself up on Flat Head Rock in the style of an Oracle.

"When should we sow corn?" Toorak thought hard as if wise, then mumbled to himself and listened as if he was eves dropping.

"When the soil temperature is fifty degrees or higher."

"What are degrees, magic sprites? Should we do it today? We have the hoes ready." Toorak looked at their eagerness as if he had told them their noses were dribbling and yet they did nothing. His sneer offended many.

Sometimes the conversations went around in circles. Toorak would repeat the people's questions in his hidden mumble way but the answers given led them to other questions and other answers. As interesting as it was, questions like when to plant corn did not get answered.

Son watched all. He sat by Toorak's side, the people accepted and approved the apprenticeship. Son wore heavy brown eyes, Toorak had changed. No longer was he willing to listen to the people for their opinions, no longer would he shrug and smile when he did not grasp meaning. All too often if the people didn't understand he would lift his shoulders in a haughty fashion as if to suggest the people were stupid. Son watched on sadly.

It was Son who made subtle suggestions that changed the way Toorak used Prophet. Always he would lure Toorak into a sense of importance or greed, then suggest a question he could make the people access. It was an improvement to the boats that Son succeeded with the tactic.

"Lord Vet, the smiling face boats fall into the sea, on their sides. Are there errors? Perhaps Crystal Ear can suggest simple improvement."

"Yes, they 'capsize'". Toorak nodded like he had given vital information. Son said:

"Why does a boat 'capsize'?" The people looked on. Toorak mumbled and Son touched Toorak's arm gently. Toorak's eyes found Son's and a deep communication passed between them. Toorak paused before answering.

"Ballast stabilizes a boat."

"Ballast?" The people questioned. There came a mumbling pause, then:

"Weight at the bottom, rock or cargo, will stabilize a boat." Toorak hung his head, not quite sure of what he had said. Son spoke to the people, raising his arms.

"Find smooth rocks and place them in the bottom of the Smiling Face Boats. Experiment! The Lord Vet has spoken!" The children of the once elites, now the people of the once mountains, raced off. They were alive with the task. Quest, Quest! Shouted the younger ones. Both Son and Toorak watched as each day weight was added and taken away to the small fleet of land hugging vessels. Boats fashioned from depictions in a child's book. Sometimes the results were humorous and Toorak would look askance at Son.

"I am just a man. You are more." Toorak spoke seriously, and the budding teenager accepted the words.

"I am, Lord Vet. Yet you are more than anything I have known." Toorak's old eyes glistened, he was suddenly very tired. He said:

"Before us, before this hardship, was a great civilization. My Own Father was from it. A place of many, many people. Those people had answers available to them that they understood, what are we to have answers we do not understand?" Son paused before responding. He felt his own deeper understanding rise. He thought to the Wizard in the bottom room. Caution bloomed. Love for the shovel bearded man who had named his Son surged. Son said:

"You are like a father to me." Toorak relaxed and when Son looked at him again The Lord Vet's beard had collapsed into a heavy chest. Son took from a hidden pocket a razor sharp pipi shell and cut loose the crystal in Toorak's ear lobe. He whispered:

"You will be well remembered Father, our smiling boats will travel the islands, will engage with what they find. I promise! Your goodness will not ebb." Son pocketed the bloodied crystal. His practical mind pushed away sentiment. He thought to the bottom room and the Wizard sleeping there. A year had nearly passed. He muttered:

"Great temptation lays in the bottom room."