THE RAINS CAME

     The children sat around the pool of crystal clear water. They looked at the old, wizened figure sitting a bit apart. "Tell us the story again, Grandfather. Tell us how life returned after the fires."

      The man, for it was a man, the last of his kind actually, smiled and began to speak:


     In those later days, the fires raged out of control. Earth was on fire. Only a few places still supported life, places deep within the mountains or deep beneath the seas. Most of the land was on fire, the earth itself smoldering. Most of the oceans were boiling, the water escaping as vapor into the air.

     Many of the few, still living animals gathered together deep within the northern mountain. "The humans have finally gone, but they have taken our lives with them. We cannot live in this world they have left us." There were grunts and growls and shrieks and whistles of agreement.

     A porcupine shook out her quills and spoke next, "What shall we do? We cannot put out these fires. Shall we seek out the rain gods and ask for their help? Are they still with us? Would they wish to help us?"

     No one answered. None knew the answers. Instead they all looked to the back of the cave, to where a dark figure quietly stood and approached the gathered animals.

     "Do not fear me please. I was never really human, although I have lived these many long years in this human body. I am life itself. But all the humans are gone now, and soon I will take a new form. Then we will celebrate life together again."

     "How can we ever celebrate again? Our world is dying, almost dead. It will never live again." This cried out as a mournful chorus by the gathered animals.

     "Not so," responded life still in its human form. "The rain gods do exist. Even now, they are preparing a deluge. They will use the water that has escaped into the sky from the lakes and the oceans. They will dance together, and rain will fall until all the fires are out, until there is green upon our world once again. Then we will return to our homes. Until then, we will stay here, deep within the Earth, within our Mother."


     Far above the earth, the three rain gods met, their bodies glistening with the waters that flowed about them. "Is it time?" one asked of the others. "Are we ready to renew that poor dying world below?" They already knew the answer to this question. Of course all three of them knew what they must do.

     They began to dance. Their waters began to descend upon the still smoldering earth, upon the still boiling seas. At first, in fact for a long while after, the fires still raged. But the rain gods were confident, sure of their power. They had done this before, many times before.

     The animals, deep within the northern mountain, began to wake. "Something is happening," cried out Badger. "I'm scared," wailed little Wren, shivering in her nest. Sleepy Robin woke up then and flew over to comfort her.

     Then the huddled, dark form, alone at the back of the cave spoke - "It has began, the Earth's healing. The rain gods have begun their dance. Soon we will be able to return to our world. We must be patient. Sleep again. I will wake you when it is time."

     And so the animals slept until they were once again called upon to fill the Earth with their lives.


     The wizened, old man finished speaking. "I'm going now. It is my time. I have lived in this body through the end and the beginning. Now I am going home."

     But the children begged him to stay. "You are the last of your kind. We will miss you."

     "I am life itself. I cannot die. I will return to you in a new form. Perhaps as a furry marmot. Or perhaps as a wide-winged owl." He rose then and plunged in the cool and inviting waters....

     By Eugene Marks