In the Dark

It crept back to its cave using the evasive maneuvers it had perfected over the years. The thing took advantage of existing obstacles, like trees or haystacks, to shield itself from the eyes of townsfolk. Such movements were now second nature to it since for years it had used them almost every day. They would kill me, it believed, if they saw me, so unlike them am I. So it had been taught. It believed the very sight of it would send them into a violent frenzy and therefore covert movement was necessary.

For many years, the creature had kept away from the town completely, spending its days in the darkness of its cave or, when necessary, gathering nourishment. In times of hunger (there was a shallow pool further into the cavern which kept its thirst quenched) it ventured out into the forest to gather berries and mushrooms or dig for edible roots. It usually only procured enough for one day, though, and so it was almost a daily occurrence that it left the cramped but safe confines of its cave. There were times when it could find enough for two or three days, but it had learned that when it gathered too much and tried to store it for too long, the provisions lost some of their more pleasant qualities, and in some instances changed colors or began to stink.

While the creature sought the darkness as a rule, during its outings in search of food, it usually came upon patches of sunlight. It had discovered that these patches, though exposing it more readily to other eyes, offered such a feeling of warmth and pleasantness, that it often risked detection for the benefits these places provided. It would scold itself after frolicking, or just lying still, in these spots. But, it always found itself thinking about moments in the warmth, though its conditioned mind told it that the brightness was to be avoided. It hated the light, and it loved the light.

It was for this reason that visits to the outskirts of town gradually became more frequent and gradually closer to the limits of the town, though it never got closer than about 500 yards away, so the forms of the people were not very clear. It became very curious about those who lived in the brightness, and often spent hours just watching their shadowy forms at work, at play and at rest. Over time, it spent so much time that its eyes could take the light easier. But it never let itself be seen. It was curious about those who dwelt where the sun could touch them. It wished it could be there, too.

Time spent watching the townspeople put questions in its head. They must be a different kind of creature to be able to live in the brightness, it supposed. So unlike it, whose natural habitat was darkness. But why did it long for the light? Why did it want to be touched by the sun, if it was made to dwell in a cave? Why did it have such a strong desire, one that it had to beat back, to live in the light?

Dangerous questions, it told itself, dangerous questions.

One day, it took a chance, and wandered in very close to the town, desiring very much to see these creatures up close. It was about 200 yards away, when it received an incredible shock. At the end of the arm of one these beings, it saw something it recognized. It was a five-fingered hand, the same kind of hand that it had used to gather food, and scoop water, and fend off intruders.

It was supposed to live in the light.

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Contributed byStephen F. Pizzini
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