IN THE SUN’S SHADOW
It was in the year of Tau K’earn that Atoll finally acknowledged his wife was dying. At first he hoped he was just imagining the discolouration around her fronds. Then as the pale, creamy residue became an undeniable fact he tried to convince himself it was a minor ailment, Phylospordia fungus or some other common, easily treatable condition.
It was while cleaning their nest-room that he first had the awful sinking realisation, when he discovered some of her foliage had withered in the night. He carefully lifted the brittle pieces from the moss they slept on and placed them onto the compost heap at the back of their garden. He stood looking at them for a time trying to imagine a life without Oulia and failing, as far above him the three moons of their homeworld continued their stately march toward full alignment.
A trip to their local doctor confirmed what he already knew; a sample of Oulia’s foliage had been taken for analysis earlier that week. The nurse asked her to relax while she used a sharp instrument to scrape a few flakes from the affected area into a jar. It was capped and labelled, then placed into a sealable bag to be sent with the other samples collected that day.
Now they sat in the doctor’s surgery surrounded by faded posters encouraging regular pruning of one’s branches, warnings of the dangerous side effects of recreational pesticide use, and the usual range of well meaning reminders for the elderly. Outside, the first preparations for Tau K’earn were being made, with lights and festive decorations strung high above the main street. The sound of laughing workmen drifted through an open window.
I wish they wouldn’t put them up so early, Atoll thought as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
‘...and of course, we’ll do everything we can to keep you comfortable,’ the doctor was saying.
Atoll glanced across atan acute pressure around his trunk, as if his body were being squeezed in a vice. He knew he should be concentrating – trying to absorb as much information as possible – but right now he was struggling not to violently expel his morning nutrients. ‘A nurse will visit you every week,’ the doctor continued, ‘and I’d like you to come back in for regular checkups. For now, though, I think we should just let nature take its course.’ He stood up from his desk and motioned them towards the door. ‘You know, death is a natural part of our life cycle; there’s nothing to fear. Spend time together, maybe take a trip somewhere...’ He beckoned them forwards and handed Atoll a leaflet on their way out, before closing the door behind them.
