(Part 4) 'The Conclusion'
Quote: 'Happiness is not having everything you want,
but in wanting all that you already have' (Anonymous)
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For Gwen... a Lover of all animals and flowers and trees,
even a tiny spider was a precious thing. An individual - a single Life.
And each Life can hold such very huge consequences... Yes, indeed!
Like in that old science fiction story by Ray Bradbury, where someone
kills a butterfly back in the past... and changes all the Future. Or how
real species were imported by humans: The Kudzu in the Southern USA.
And the rabbits taken to Australia, that soon overpopulated the place...
These past 'efforts' were, in hindsight... a big mistake, mankind learned.
The crew of Beagle-2 had pledged, before planet-fall, to not change a thing,
to Solstice-3. Too much was at stake... For themselves... For this green world!
Gwen, to her crewmates: "You recall how we made a pact, not to make any changes,
to this new and bright, beautiful home of ours? Well, we have not changed Solstice-3.
But, it does appear now, that it will greatly change each of us..." (a silent gasp, from all)
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7 Solar months later:
An unknown ship entered the planet's atmosphere. Then it descended.
A small craft dropped from the belly of the mother ship. And landed...
Out of the landing pod, a single figure emerged. It walked toward the
landing pod of the 'Visitors' - or Invaders? The figure then was seen.
It looked like a tall rabbit, with the unusual space-suit and helmet
with tall antennae, that did look a bit like the ears of a robot hare!
The humanoid female in this environmental-suit looked for the people
that had left their starship in orbit, up above the planet. Also, to check on
all of the planet engineering project of Her peoples from a far away star...
In a strange language (unknown on Earth), she started a report:
"The beings from another planet and star have all died... or vanished.
I looked for a Solar-Day, but found no traces of them. Perhaps the
experiment many Solar-Cycles of Time ago affected them as well?"
Suddenly, in the deep blue-green lake... Something stirred. In fact, it was
2 'some-things'. Very new, but a most welcome sight. New 'Life' in fact.
Like merfolk never imagined before... Then, the Star-Woman heard a
rustling in the nearby trees. Two large feathered creatures. Also, new!
The birds chattered to each other. Obviously a mated pair. Just as were
the male and female water creatures living there in the lake. Star-Woman
then had smiled. She took images, made recordings of the 'New Life' and
also other new species of insects, lizards, flowers and trees. So many!
A Solar-Week later, the alien mothership and the Star-Woman departed.
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The mermaid (Gwen) soon spoke: "I wonder who She was, and what
star system her people are from. Will they return... and When?"
The merman (Tomas): "Yes... But, She might remain a mystery to us,
just as we certainly were to Her. Of that, I feel sure of."
Up in the blossoming fire-flower trees, the birdman chirped
to his mate, bird-woman: "Viktoria... that Star-Lady was
fascinating... But She did not attempt to communicate with us."
Viktoria: "No... But Her language was so puzzling... Like no dialect
that I've ever encountered in my linguistic work. And... another thing."
Franz: "What is that, my dearest Dove?"
Viktoria: "Before the 'Change' began for us all, I found out that I was pregnant.
I do wonder if it will be born Live... or simply come out... as an Egg!"
Franz, looking Her over: "Well, my Love... We'll just have to wait and find out."
(THE END)