It was just past mid-day when Argad returned to the settlement. He went first to the quarter that his and five other families shared. He was surprised to see no one. Taking his leather bag with the pair of white doves he had managed to capture as well as two wild hares, his hunt for the morning, he walked up to the great meeting hall in the centre of the settlement. Almost everyone ate their meals there, but not always. Perhaps there was something special happening for the camp to be so empty.

He was right. The sounds that filled the meeting hall bordered on the subdued. Mealtimes were usually a moment of respite from chores, a time for eager banter. It wasn’t the case now, and Argad guessed why immediately. In the centre of the hall were three men from Bokiano, a neighbouring settlement a half day’s walk further west. One of the camp’s elders was serving them a drink.

Argad found First Wife with their 5 year old daughter Zilla who was absorbed in mashing her cheese between her hands. He sat down behind them. Zilla gave a soft yelp of recognition.

“What is going on ?” said Argad to his wife.
“You’ve arrived just in time,” she whispered back to him. “You see who is here ?”
“I see. The villagers of Bokiano want something ?”
“Your brother.”
“He will be back soon enough.”
“Soon enough may not be soon enough. They want to see him now.”
“And what is the cause of such immoderate haste ?”
First Wife lowered her earth-brown eyes. “They have just finished telling us. They said the sun is destroying the world. He continues to push the Great Lake towards their settlement. The Great Lake has already swallowed the two islands where they would go to catch fish. Now, they say, he is poisoning the water. All the fish are jumping, gasping for air, as if trying to perform a dance that will turn them into humans. Then they collapse and lie dead at the surface. They want to know why the sun is doing this, and what they must do to appease his wrath.”

While she was speaking, one of the men from Bokiano had turned his head and seen Argad. Being the twin brother of the current Predestined One did carry at least one disadvantage : Argad’s face was known to everyone in every nearby settlement. The man gestured to the elder, then pointed back at Argad. The elder rose.

“You have returned, Argad. Come forward and bid our visitors welcome.”

Zilla screamed with delight. Argad rose and walked to the centre of the hall. The whispering didn’t cease, but he was aware of dozens of pairs of ears tuning themselves in to what was to follow.

“Peace and good fortune abide with you always,” said Argad using a normal speaking tone.
“And with you,” replied all three visitors.
“Sit with us and drink,” said the elder.
“Thank you,” said Argad. “To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit ?”