"This place is called Mrifica. I am unsure of the words you would have for this place. I know only one tongue from Longago because it was taught to my ancestors by a man who walked through time. He had undertaken a long walk from the end of days through the past, and was trying to get back to his own time in Longago. Then I myself met another man and a boy who walked from Longago to the future. Such a strange thing for people to walk back and forth when the rest of us must go the long way."
The creature tries to remember everything it was told.
"The only placename I know in his ancient tongue is 'Earth.' He said it was the word the people of Longago had for the world. We call the world Disri now."
All is suddenly clear: this isn't an alien planet, this is Earth, millions upon millions of years in the future. (Or at least in a possible future.) The creatures are what's left of Earthlings. Perhaps they look alien because of evolution alone, or maybe all the genetic mixing of humans and aliens have had a part to play. Maybe it's a combination of both.
In any case, the two are looking at what has become of mankind, in the time leading up to the end of days.
"The man who was with the boy said there are only fifty thousand of us in today time. Somehow he knew our number. He made it sound as if there were so many in the past. It's hard to imagine how you have enough food in Longago. We can only catch 3 or 4 sea spiders a day."
no subject
The creature tries to remember everything it was told.
"The only placename I know in his ancient tongue is 'Earth.' He said it was the word the people of Longago had for the world. We call the world Disri now."
All is suddenly clear: this isn't an alien planet, this is Earth, millions upon millions of years in the future. (Or at least in a possible future.) The creatures are what's left of Earthlings. Perhaps they look alien because of evolution alone, or maybe all the genetic mixing of humans and aliens have had a part to play. Maybe it's a combination of both.
In any case, the two are looking at what has become of mankind, in the time leading up to the end of days.
"The man who was with the boy said there are only fifty thousand of us in today time. Somehow he knew our number. He made it sound as if there were so many in the past. It's hard to imagine how you have enough food in Longago. We can only catch 3 or 4 sea spiders a day."