He quickly found Kinari sitting on a large stone before the pond he had seen before on the opposite end of the clearing as the hut. He took the opportunity to study her. Her long curly blonde hair was braided to keep it out of the way, and fell well past her knees when she stood, but from her position on the stone it coiled like a silvery gold rope. Her skin was porcelain white, and he wondered how she could live on the Plateau and not have a dark tan like Veronica. Her long robe and lean figure reminded him of statues from ancient Greek temples.

She interrupted his musings when she stopped playing. "Are you going to join me Professor George Challenger?"

"You can just call me George," he told her as he lowered himself onto the stone.

"I do not understand this need you have for so many names, why not have just one?" she sighed.

"Some earn their title, like 'Professor', and some are born into their title, like 'Lord.' Then our given name, then our family name."

"Yes, well, children of Seth is much easier, I believe I will continue to call you that."

"Alright, Kinari. I've been meaning to ask you, you refer to us as the Children of Seth, but what about you, you're the same race."

"Of course I'm the same race, just as the Sons of Cain, though they deny it. But I am a daughter of neither Cain nor Seth."

"Then who are you?" Challenger inquired.

"I am the only child of Able." She turned and looked him straight in the eye as she said this.

"But that is impossible, you would have to be thousands of years old, no one can live that long."

"Time does not effect those who live in this Valley, as long as I stay here, as I was instructed, I will maintain my age, but I must confess, I welcome the day my life here ends, it gets very lonely."

Kinari and Challenger sat up the rest of the night discussing their lives and families, something neither had ever really done, each asking about the other's spouses and what they were like when they were younger. Challenger learned that Kinari had been married for a period of time, but one day her husband had gone to trade with the Sons of Cain and never returned. As she told her story the tiger moved to place his head in her lap, and she absent-mindedly stroked his massive head.

In the early hours Challenger steered the conversation back to their surroundings. "Where exactly is the Garden of Eden? Are we in it now?"

Kinari laughed, "No, the Garden is behind the mist in that direction, surrounded by a high wall and heavy gate. I am the called the Keeper by many local people because I keep the key to the gate around my neck." She pulled out a thin chain with an old unused key on it.

"Have you ever gone inside?"

"No, no one has been inside since the serpent deceived Eve."

Challenger looked at her curiously, "How long ago was that?"

"Well, it was about 200 years before I was born, and I'm 6,498. I have a detailed account of the event written by my grandfather if you are interested."

"That would be wonderful."

"I'll get it for you first thing in the morning, I'm not sure how much time you'll have to read it though."

"I also wanted to ask you about the poultice you made that healed Marguerite's injury so quickly. The leaves came from the tree in front of you house."

"Yes, that tree was grown from a fruit from the tree of life. Though I do not age, I am still vulnerable, and so are the animals that come here. I get dozens of animals everyday that need medical attention. I treat them and send them on their way. Besides Pekh-Tal, it is the only companionship i have."

"This cat is Pekh-Tal, correct?" Challenger asked, indicated the tiger.

"Very good sir. He is as old as I am. He has been my companion since my husband was murdered, and when I was told I was to protect the world from this place he requested to join me. He helps me keep track of the larger predators on the Plateau, and which groups are threatening the Valley. He has been invaluable over the centuries."

"Being able to talk to the animals must have helped you over the years as well."

"I am the only person left who speaks the tongue given to Adam by God. All of creation understands it."

"Amazing, all these years with no one but the animals."

"Being able to talk to the animals is no replacement for human companionship though. God did say that it is not good for man to be alone."

"How did you become the 'Keeper?'"

"I was alone, there was no reason for me to board the great ship because I could not further the human race, and when the waters receded it would only be a matter of time before ambitious people found their way here, even if the boat grounded on the other side of the planet. I knew that the Valley would be protected from the cataclysm and it was made my responsibility to protect my cousins from themselves, especially when it was found that Sons of Cain had found a way to sneak on board. So here I am, just waiting for the end to come."

The sun peaked over a distant mountain, and though it couldn't be seen, the warm rays began to filter through the mist overhead warm the ground, causing the fog near the ground to dissipate, revealing an eclectic collection of animals.

A raptor lay nearby on its back sound asleep with its feet straight in the air. It chirped and stretched in a comical way, then flopped its side with a heavy sigh.

In the distance a large, very loud flock of birds could be heard. Kinari sighed, "It sounds like the 'lizards,' as you call them, are getting up, we had better wake your friends."