Six people arrived in Rayat’s home, appearing almost magically out of the jungle that surrounded the realm of peace and harmony he and his people inhabited. They were five men, two of whom were physicians, and a teenage boy, travellers in search of the way back to their own time.

Two of the men were from the spacecraft that had crashed on the island the night before, and one of that pair was injured, in need of a place to rest and recuperate. Rayat had no problem with that; all were welcome in his realm, there was plenty of room for all, no matter how curiously they dressed or behaved.

Such questions they asked, and such things the one dressed in black spoke of, concepts that were completely alien to Rayat: violence and theft and lies… But there seemed no harm in him, indeed it seemed he spoke more out of concern for the safety of Rayat’s people, until the tall one gently chastised him for it.

Natica, Rayat’s daughter, seemed charmed by the injured man. It was good for her to meet someone she hadn’t grown up with, and the strangers, however strange some of them seemed to Rayat, were well-mannered, and gracious in their acceptance of their hosts’ hospitality.

But the following morning brought tragedy, the death of Rayat’s son, Roland, and some of the visitors insisted that the one called York was dangerous, that he had taken Roland’s life in a deliberate act of violence. That was more than Rayat could believe; no man would do such a thing, not in his experience. Perhaps he should not have become angry with those who tried to convince him, but how else should he have reacted? Should he have listened to such horrifying accusations?

Well, perhaps so, but even if he had, he could not see how anything would have been changed. By the time the travellers had learned the true nature of the one called York, Roland had already been dead, and the events that followed had played out in the only manner possible.

Now, the one who had been York was a babe in Natica’s arms, a child who would be raised as Rayat’s son, in Roland’s place. He would need a name, but there would be time to decide on that later. For now, it was enough that he had been restored to innocence so that he might grow to adulthood in harmony with his environment.

Six people had arrived in Rayat’s realm, but only four would be leaving to continue their journey. The one name Ty would stay, and perhaps in time he and Natica would raise a family of their own. Grandchildren would be a blessing, and would give his youngest son someone to play with as he grew.

Rayat had lost one son only to gain another. The orb had restored the balance and harmony of this place, and would continue to maintain it. Someday, he would pass it down to his son.


The End