Porthole

4157 155 Kindness back story of Cook

I'm perusing old files. The more I know the more I will eventually understand. I found this log made by a predecessor when they visited a remote rock that seemed like it had been inhabited once. It had been. Surprisingly they found scattered remnants of sentient beings in rugged valleys that had survived war and famine and worse. The Lander's interview of one middle-aged male intrigued me.

"We held on as we died one by one. There wasn't much choice if we were to survive as a people.

The illness took hold strangely. Healthy one day, dead the next. There was no pattern.

By the time the season turned we had said farewell to half of our brethren. When the bitter cold snap hit we thought we were doomed. We huddled in dread not knowing whether we would wake to someone cold as ice next to us.

But as if it had been a dream we only lost Mica and he had been suffering for so long from so many illnesses it was a blessing. All his family had already died and he wanted to join them.

Those of us who remained took note of what we had stored. For a few mild days we gleaned and foraged. Even took in a small animal looking for warmth. We could see it's suffering and the children were happy. When we elders were discussing whether to eat it or welcome it into our family one of the youth looked into our eyes and stated, "Kindness matters."

So we rationed our provisions, slept close to keep warm, our pet snuggled with an old woman he'd adopted. We all survived.

We were 21 plus 1.

We still don't understand what made us ill. We were found by you-star-travelers who gave it a funny name. We only care that it's gone and that Panna is pregnant with twins. Soon we will be 23. Our pet looks after us but soon he will leave with you.

We call him Cook, for all the meals he conjured out of nothing. We bless him for all the kindness he has shown us."

Inspired by "Invalid Item"