Assignment 6

foreshadow with season

Raising his finger to his eye, Tolek gazed upon the snowflake he'd caught on the tip. It's amazing, how this little bit of uniqueness is so cold and so pure at the same time. Is this a sign from our Lord Ko'chak? Is he blessing me, and the actions I am about to undertake today, by letting me witness one last snowfall? He must be.

The light changed, and Tolek crossed the street. The crowds thickened up ahead, with people arriving at the Starhub for their early morning flights. As he made his way through the pressed masses, Tolek imagined how his grandfather would feel about this place. He would probably hate what's become of this city too. Tolek still had some of the old Cephalopod's flash paintings. Or photographs, as the pink skins called them.

The pink skins. They were all around Tolek now, the vile creatures who have brought so much misery and pain to my people. All in hte name of progress and friendship, so they say. What about our bond with Lord Ko'chak, and all of nature? Every bit of their so called progress brings us just a bit further from who we are.

Thinking about them, along with knocking elbows with so many here in this crowd now, made Tolek felt unclean. If I didn't have a task to do, I would drop to my knees at this moment and recite the twelve cantos. But I can't do that, not now. It would bring too much attention to myself.

Tolek continued snaking his way to the entrance, then sidestepped out of the crowds that continued to thicken. With a bow of his head, he began to pray. "Our father Ko'chak, who art in Shyalla, I give myself and the heathens up to you and your judgement. Deliver us from their wretched ways, and lead us into your cold embrace. Halamen"

His prayer completed, Tolek lifted his head to look at his world for one last time. Bringing his hands within the confines of his jacket, past the holy bricks with their protruding wires, he found the switch, and pressed it.