In the following years, the snowy plain of Aurigainia slowly melted, due to rising temperatures in that climate. Wolf and wolvette could be seen romping about, roaming freely, their species slowly returning to full strength. Year after year, the legend of the White Werewolf was told more often, even in the palace of Selgirk the First, even in the ivory towers of the world’s globalization leaders.
Where the village of Muzhenghaak once stood, there was only a blood-slick in the sand. Where the house of Chungrum Dunbut was once built, only a few charred timbers remained. Of the Quickroi home, only a single brick wall remained, and it was stained with blood. The cracked Doom Bell still commemorated the Screaming-Hour of the crazed Muzhenghaakis, yet there was no one alive to ring it. The woodlands gradually revived in the surrounding area, for there was no one to cut them down. In summertime, the twitter of birds could be heard again.
In the far-away land of Whang Whock, local police investigated the bloody death of one foreigner named U.B. Quickroi. Without publicity, a report was filed and the case was quickly closed.
Throughout the land ruled by Selgirk the First, news media complained of air pollution and warming climate, and yet the bought-off globalization scientists, incessantly preaching over National Radio, proclaimed an era of glut for another fifty years. As the ice caps melted, they said the world was cooling; as the ocean arose, they said it was shrinking. Even so, all the tanks, armored vehicles and foot soldiers of the National Leader could not stop the rising sea.
Things were not going well in the bustling port city of Shegirkenirk. The rising temperatures also brought rising sea level, inundating the harbor, causing merchants and seamen to flee inland. Cut off from its flow of merchandise, the population faced a wave of scarcity and poverty never before experienced.
To make matters worse, scores of young people, known as earth-walkers, began marching in the streets for planet-survival. To the dismay of the merchant class, the earth-walkers held demonstrations at the gates of local chemical factories and power plants. The industrialists became enraged and they petitioned Selgirk the First to send in his army, to arrest the leaders of the earth-walkers, and to repress the young people. The army arrived and constructed detention camps in the foothills. Without cause, bystanders were pulled off the streets and sent there.
Yelevan and Simoom, hearing news of the turmoil, decided they should give a little surprise visit to the people of Shegirkenirk. Returning to their human forms, they entered the city. Soon, word of the Werewolf Rehabilitation Plan was circulating throughout the metropolitan area, forcing merchants to give their ghoors of gold to the earth-walker’s cause.
Selgirk the First, determined to destroy the earth-walker movement, dispatched secret agents and installed checkpoints in that city. Riots broke out, the ever-widening network of earth-walkers, young people and students arrayed against the merchant class, military and government. Days and weeks of high tension passed, and news of the prowling Werewolf reached the ears of the High Commandante. He ordered his lieutenants to seek out the Perpetrator.
Suddenly, they heard the tramp of military boots on the temple steps! The government was coming to arrest them! There was no place to run, hide, or to exit! Yelevan and Simoom stood before the Goddess, begging her protection.
Steps of the soldiers were heard in the hallway.
To the right of the Goddess, Simoom lit a candle. As she did, a golden ring appeared on a finger of the statue. Yelevan was amazed. ”In my memory,” he whispered, “I have never known such an ornament!” He removed the ring and dropped to his knees. Her heart melted and she understood; with the military only a moment away, the ring easily fitted on her finger.
Were they arrested?
Simoom and Yelevan were seen, walking down the steps of the temple, armored vehicles poised on either side of them, the soldiers and secret police paralyzed in fear.
A few young soldiers broke rank and followed them to the center of the city, where an earth-walker group was gathering to greet the planet, in somberness or celebration – depending on one’s viewpoint. Some citizens were skeptical, some were inspired, some were dismayed and some were even enraged – but the Goddess seemed to be smiling.
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