Africa.
300,000 years ago.
The dawn of man has slowly crept upon the horizon of prehistoric Africa. All around, prehistoric creatures roam the grasslands, just faffing about like the wild beasts they are. But the most important thing that life needs right now is human nature. This story is about the first time man turned against himself, and how what was known as woman took shelter away from the
chaos and blood that dominated. This, was all told from a tribe I lived in.
I lived in peace with Lady Penelope, Parker and the rest of
my brothers and sisters in our own little tribe in the middle of Africa. The tribe members in order, apart from me, Lady Penelope and Parker, include: Scott, John, Virgil, Alan, Gordon, their father Jeff, and my older brother and sister Brains and Tin Tin. To start with, we all lived in peace among the quiet grasslands of Africa, happy and content. Now, I was just a baby at the time, so Penelope and I rivalled Lucy, an Australopithecus, and her baby, who I believe doesn't have a name yet. Should we call him...er...Mo? Anyway, Penelope looked out for me like a mother looked out for her infant. Every day, she would look out at the African wilderness she called home and watch the sabre tooth cats playing and frolicking in the sunshine. Then she'd glance down at me and whisper some soft, reassuring words into my ear. She is not just friends with Parker, but also to Brains and Tin Tin, who also make handy babysitters in this hour of need. When they'd look after me, Lady Penelope would wander off on her own and gaze at her beautiful home. She sighed as she took in the entire continent, as if she had placed it in her heart and soul forever. She'd sit in the middle of the grasslands, close her eyes and feel her hair blow in the wind. Her only instinct now was her love for me, which was shared with the rest of the tribe. It consisted mainly of boys and men, but only three girls were present here: me, Penelope and Tin Tin. That's because, in these days, there was no need for girl power
or stuff like that, so men reigned supreme in their tool making and whatever - and you know Brains, he of course is an expert at tool making, which will make the Brains
we know today a handy inventor.
But there is a rule in this peaceful paradise - should food run out, we go to war. And what is that war you ask? Well, it's quite simple: humans fight, kill and eat each other with blood and guts flying everywhere! I was meant to put an evil laugh there, but since this is a gentle story, I won't. This rule never reached out to our tribe...okaaaay, except for maybe the Tracy brothers, who thought eating each other was their main priority - buuut it was mainly biting each others' legs just for fun during hunting. It was Penelope's responsibility to take care of me, even during one hurtful time. A time of survival which will determine our innocence.
On that month, the Savannah was fresh out of food. All the water holes have dried up, and all of our
tribe were lying in the sweltering
hot sun, thinking helplessly about
how they could find food now. I only had Penelope's milk to keep
me going, with its good nutrients and nourishing love.
"Father, I'm hungry," said Tin Tin. "Well, sorry, Tin Tin, but it seems like all the animals have migrated to a
different place - even the big
cats. I'm afraid the wait for food will have to last...dare I say it...quite a long time." "Dad, why can't we just have a leg of a water buffalo instead?" asked Scott, getting impatient, "I want this dry season to end now!" "Don't mind me," called Penelope, "Sarah's getting all the nutrients she
needs. My milk is the only way she'll be going forth as she grows up." "You're quite right, milady," smiled Parker, "Our little lady is doing well in this dark time. Speaking of which, what's happening to Virgil over there?"
Everyone looked towards Virgil.
He was sitting there twitching
with impatience. "Must be out of hunger, I reckon," said Brains, "But he's not hungry." Jeff crept closer and closer towards Virgil, trying to find out what's causing his impatient. He reached out to touch his shoulder...slowly...closer...until he turned around with drool all over his mouth! Everyone jumped back and shrieked in shock. "Virgil, what's happened to you?" asked Penelope. "Have you got rabies?" asked Tin Tin. "No." hissed Virgil, "It's just been 7 whole days now, and we might be on the brink of starvation. There's been no food, no water...if we don't find something to eat now, we'll all die. And the only way we'll find food is...to eat each other. Who's first?" Virgil eyed around the tribe, looking for his first victim. Suddenly, he eyed me sleeping quietly away in Penelope's arms. "A-ha!" snarled Virgil, baring his fangs, "Why don't we have our baby sister as a main course?" Hearing this, Penelope lost it. She burst into tears and shouted, "No, NO! Virgil, this is wrong! She's my baby!" "Virgil, you can't!" cried Tin Tin. "I know what you're thinking, but
eating one of us is wrong. We're
supposed to live in peace and
harmony, not death and chaos!" stuttered Brains. "Who cares?" asked Virgil, "I'm getting hungry as I am!" Suddenly, Lady Penelope
stepped forward, as if wanting to
stand up for me. Parker watched with hope and held breath, wondering what will happen next. "Listen, Virgil, if you want something to eat, eat Alan instead. He's the lowest ranking
member of the tribe, exile me, Parker and my baby!" "Very well, then," said Virgil, finally calming down, "I now declare Alan as our first victim." Alan gasped in horror and shrank back against a tree. "And you, Lady Penelope, along with your baby and Parker, are sentenced to exile. Without further ado, let the killing begin!" With that, Virgil brandished a wooden spear and he and his brothers advanced closer towards Alan. "No, please,
someone help me!" he shouted,
until with one mighty roar, Virgil
cut him open to death, and he and
his brothers ate his insides while Jeff, Brains and Tin Tin watch in shock. "Lady Penelope! Parker! Run!" shouted Jeff, "Take your baby with you. There's no time to waste! Go!" Lady Penelope ran off with me in her arms, followed by Parker, who was trying to keep up, calling out: "Wait for me, milady!" Until at last, Alan was finally dead.