Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #20 November 2015 | Page 50

He thought back to his upbringing in Melbourne.
There, it had seemed to be a continual competition to
amass wealth. Everyone wanted a bigger house or a
flashier car. They had to have the latest technological
gadgets. Were they any happier when they got them?
Yet there was extreme poverty in his world too. A
small percentage of the population was raping the
Earth’s resources at the expense of the majority. As a
result, the Earth was responding. Climate change had
become critical and almost tipped the planet over the
edge. Now the religious zealots were taking the world
to the brink of war. Perhaps it was all over by now.
Maybe the world as he knew it had been destroyed.
Maybe they had stopped once again at the brink.
At least when you fought with swords you couldn’t
destroy the planet. Thoughts of swords reminded him
of Kin Slayer for the first time in ages. Suddenly, he
had a strong yearning to feel the comfort of his sword
at his side. He fought the urge and refocussed on his
train of thought. Happiness, he decided, was a full
belly, a warm place to live, to love and be loved, to
be appreciated for a job well done, and to be a part
of a community. He had all of those things here. He
had them in spades. He didn’t have an E-Pod or a
view screen. He didn’t have a powerful car. What he
had was worth so much more. Goodness was to put
community ahead of self and to do no harm. Evil was
the ultimate selfishness, to have no compassion, no
thoughts at all for others, to act without empathy or
sympathy.
He sat back on the log and stretched his legs.
The autumn sunshine warmed his body. He was
feeling pleased with himself. After all, he had just
solved the problems the world’s philosophers had
been grappling with for millennia. Then another
thought hit him. Was he good or evil? He had killed
innocent people. Was there both good and evil in
everyone? What was the Balance? Could he hide here
forever and give up on his greater destiny? He heard
future Manfred’s voice in his head. Simon, you serve
the Balance. You are the Everlasting Hero. Elannort
needs you.
“No, leave me alone. I have found peace here.
I am about to become a father.” Simon was unaware
that he was talking aloud until he looked up and saw

a wizard observing him. At first, he thought it was
Mandred.
“Simon. I have been remiss not to spend time
with you. I have been feeling sorry for myself and I
have been neglecting my duties. I’m sorry. Can I ask
who you were talking to?”
Simon was caught in a dilemma. How could he
tell Manfred that he was talking to him, a future him,
far into the future? He was spared having to answer,
by a huffing and puffing Mandred. “There you are,
Simon. Come quickly, it’s Ju, it’s time, the baby is
coming. They have taken her to the birthing stone.”
Simon ran off, leaving the two wizards to
follow
at a more seemly gait. He was feeling a
mixture of excitement and trepidation. He longed
to hold his baby, but he feared for Ju. The sun was
directly overhead when he got back to his cave. Before
he went to the birthing stone, he had to do something.
His earlier thoughts stayed with him. He crawled to
the back of the cave and dug down into the sand. He
pulled out Kin Slayer, stood up, brushed it off, and
strapped it to his side. He was tempted to draw the
sword, but restrained himself. He hurried off. He was
about to become a father.

The Eternal Soulmate
The old man looked hunched and grey and
he struggled to get to his feet as the heavily pregnant
young woman entered his cave. Ju rushed to him and
hugged him. She knew the rumours that circulated
around the village and even in the dim light of the
cave entrance she could see that they were probably
true. Her father had little time left in this world.
“My child.” His voice was thin and croaky.
“Father, how are you feeling?” Ju hugged him
again although the huge bump in her belly made a
proper hug impossible.
“My time is near, but I hope to see my child’s
child. Please let us sit. My old legs can barely hold

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