Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #22 January 2016 | Page 26
Quest for Knowledge (Volume 1 of the FirstWorld
Saga) Simon’s Pain
Somewhere in the past Simon is about to become a
father. In the present, his friends need him, but he has
abandoned them.
Simon’s Pain
Simon had been pacing up and down for so
long he felt like he had run a marathon. He stopped
and stood in the shadows away from the fire and the
birthing stone, still angry that neither the women nor
the men of the tribe would let him near Ju. Every
time he had tried to approach the birthing stone, they
had formed a human barrier to stop him. His pleas
and attempts at explanation had fallen on deaf ears.
The wizards had refused to intervene. Mandred had
told him ‘What will be must be,’ while Manfred
had seemed paralysed by indecision and deferred to
his colleague, citing some sort of non-interference
directive. Only Chief Yo had spoken gently to him, in
as much fear for his only child as Simon was for his
wife. “My wife and son died on the birthing stone. I
fear that I may outlive my entire family. It is the law.
Leave it to the Medicine Woman. Wa knows what to
do.”
He had begged Yo to bend the law as he had
done previously for his daughter. The old chief had
hardened then. Simon suspected that Yo viewed
the current situation as karma for his previous
misdemeanours. ‘Wa knows what to do’ were his final
words on the matter. Even as a student, he had more
medical knowledge than all of the members of the
tribe put together, including the two wizards. I could
help her, if only they would let me. He contemplated
drawing Kin Slayer and forcing his way to Ju’s side.
More innocents would die.
****
Simon had lost track of time. Ju’s labour had
been going on for many hours though it seemed more
like a lifetime. Ju’s screams of intense pain repeatedly
filled the night but were getting weaker with each
more frequent contraction. Only the growing darkness
hid the flow of blood that gave a new red coating to
the birthing stone. The full moon rose over the trees
and began a battle of shadows with the roaring fire
in the clearing. Ju gave another scream, followed
by a series o