Transmigrant - Chapter 38
Copyright © 2024 Stephen B. Anthony
In the loom of dawn, where fates entwine,
Each moment a thread in the fabric of night.
We walk our path, with a purpose divine,
Guided by stars, in the softest light.
A breeze takes flight with a whispered call,
A new note joins the symphony’s sweep.
Time’s river moves, with secrets small,
A sound that rises from the depths of sleep.
In life’s grand waltz, we dance alone,
Yet love’s whisper leads, steady and slow.
A future unknown, in seeds once sown,
Blooming gently in the morning’s glow.
—Takeshi Hoshi, Bliss
CHAPTER 38
The Stewart family estate comprised three hundred eighty acres of a pristine private island in the southern hemisphere of the planet Eden. A small family community nestled around the main house, comprised of nine guest cottages on the easy-swimming beach. The gentle sound of waves mingled with the rustle of palm fronds, creating a serene atmosphere that felt like a world away from the chaos they had once known.
There was only a slight axial tilt to the planet, meaning the seasonal changes were minor. During the rainy winter, the temperature stayed around twenty-two degrees. Later in the year, when the temperature hovered around twenty-nine degrees and the days were ninety percent sunny, the property would become a noisy playground for cousins, nieces, and nephews. There would be football games, croquet, badminton, cookouts, and toddlers running around on the grass, their laughter echoing across the cove.
A teak open-air walkway crossed from the main house to the beach, ending in a boat lift with four personal watercraft and a high-speed cruiser. The house did not have a regular garage for automobiles because the island lacked roads. Instead, the island was a sanctuary of nature, where footpaths wound through dense groves of native trees, and the hum of technology was replaced by the whispers of wind through the leaves. It wasn’t uncommon to spot wildlife darting between the trees—small, curious creatures that made Eden feel even more untouched by civilization.
As Ray sat in an Adirondack chair on the lawn overlooking the cove, he felt a profound sense of peace. The star, Chara, crested over the eastern hills, bathing Joshua’s Cove in golden light. Songbirds had sung twenty minutes earlier, and the morning was still, save for the gentle lapping of the waves. He had been there since before dawn, soaking in the tranquility of the place that had become his refuge.
Along the edge of the cove where the sand met the grass, a stag stood watching Ray nervously. The Solvani—native to Eden—were creatures of delicate beauty, perfectly adapted to the sun-drenched coastal environment. This one, standing just over a meter at the shoulder, had fur the color of sun-bleached ivory, blending seamlessly with the golden dunes. Its coral-like antlers caught the morning light, creating a shimmering effect as it moved. The stag’s presence, as it bent to graze on the lush grass, felt like a reminder of the harmony Ray had found here—both with the planet and within himself.
Before long, the creature caught Ray’s scent and bounded off gracefully, disappearing into the lush grassland in moments. Ray watched it go, a smile touching his lips. He put down his coffee and opened Ichiro’s ancient book, being careful with the pages. It belonged to the Hoshi family and was not his to keep. As he leafed through the book, he paused to read a passage; the words resonating with him in the stillness of the morning.
Ray read it twice, the words lingering in his mind as he stared out at the sea, contemplating their meaning. The passage felt like a reflection of his own journey, the way his life had woven together with those he loved. As he sat there, the world around him seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for something to happen.