Old Green World by Walter Basho Page A

for a full day and night. The next morning, everyone in camp joined them.
    Sister Clare said some words. “Few of you really knew Richard. He was the eldest of the Old People, and he was first to lead us in the ways of the Adept. The Islands are what they are because of what he gave to us. He gave us civilization.”
    At that point, Lucy burst out. The Adepts reacted as if this were unexpected, which made Albert wonder if they had been paying attention. “We’re not supposed to be here. We were never supposed to be here. But Richard decided he loved all of . . . you . He stopped trying to fix what happened to us, and started trying to turn you all into giant, new versions of us. And here’s where it all ended up, isn’t it? This great legacy.”
    “Stop it, Lucy,” Susan said.
    “This is supposed to be the time when we speak about our brother, isn’t it?” Lucy said with indignation, her voice rising to a scream. “Right? This is a funeral. So I’m speaking. Funerals are for the living.” She then broke down again in sobs.
    There was silence for a little while, and then Susan said, “Thank you for remembering Richard with us.” Niall took Richard’s body. He, the Old Sisters, and the rest of the Adepts marched solemnly into the forest until they were out of sight.
    They stayed in place for another day. With Richard’s death, Brother Niall became the Adept in charge of the effort. Albert met with him to discuss resuming the march. Niall tried to bait him a couple of times, calling him “boy,” but Albert met him darkly. They soon turned to business.
    “What did his sister Lucy mean, that Richard wanted to make us like the Old People?” Albert asked.
    Niall said, “They showed us how to become Adepts. Adepts exist because of the Old People. And everything that followed: agriculture, education, commerce, towns. It all started with the Old People, with Richard. Without him, we would still be like the Baixans are: chaotic, primitive, disorganized, desperate.”
    “She said they weren’t supposed to be here. What did that mean?”
    Niall, after a short silence: “She was very upset. I’m sure it didn’t mean anything.”
    Albert held his tongue for a moment, but only a moment. “Clare, the day Richard died. She said the Baixans were in thrall. What is that, ‘thrall’? Is that what the green glow is about?”
    “We call it the Dragon,” Niall said. “It’s an intelligence that controls the Baixans. It turns them against us. It’s more complex than what we should discuss now. Trust me that we’re taking care of it.”
    “But what is it? Are they diseased? Is it some kind of forest spirit? Is it an Adept thing? You know it well enough to cure it, don’t you?”
    “It’s called the Dragon,” Niall repeated, testily, “and it’s dangerous when you see signs of it. That’s all you need to know.” Then, with cold cynicism: “Why are you asking, anyway? What good does it do you to know? If you know, then you’ll have to think about your responsibility for what’s happening. I know what you children do on patrol.”
    Albert looked at him with rage.
    “I know everything, boy,” Niall murmured. “Weren’t you in school, next to one of us every day, for a decade? You know, you know it in your bones. I can see you. I can see all of you.”
    After a long silence, Albert said, shaking, “I don’t care what you can see. They killed my parents.” Then, with indignation, he said, “And they killed Richard. He was the same as your parent, wasn’t he? You would be out there killing with me, if you cared, if you loved anything. You should thank me.”
    Niall pursed his lips for a moment, then put on a false smile and said, with brassy sarcasm: “It’s fine, boy. It’s what we’re here for, right? This is the progress of civilization. We’re going to kill a lot more trees and Baixans before this is all over.
    “You’ve asked enough questions. I’ll ask you questions for a change. Tell me