Daybreak

By Stephen Leary

Rivenlann is a world that has known only darkness and the thousand gentle stars in the night sky. The advanced Aarpions live on one landmass and dominate the primitive Towahs who reside across the sea on the other.

An ancient prophesy of the Towahs called the Day of Reversal they believe is expected soon, though the Aarpions dismiss it. According to the prophesy, a bright god will suddenly appear in the sky and never leave, bringing cataclysmic changes in the relationship between the two cultures. Readers experience the fallout of the event through the eyes of Aarpion scientists, their political leader, and the Towahs. One side sees the bright star and the end of night as an answer to their prayers while the other believes it heralds the death of their culture. The Aarpions ask themselves how to survive under the new reality while the Towahs’ behavior suggests intrinsic changes have occurred in their traditional thinking.

“Daybreak” explores the human’s psyche’s ability to cope with calamitous changes in the world and the effort to find a way to survive in a completely different environment.

“Daybreak” is a science fiction short story about 8,000 words in length.

Excerpt:

Xeeron, chief science advisor to Monarch, scoffed. “As you must know from your academic studies, those ancient prophesies are couched in language so vague and generic that it is impossible to conclude they are inaccurate. And the astrologers are quick to claim credit for any event which seems to fit in with the prediction.” The old man jiggled his glass around and around in his hand with a circular motion, causing his drink to swirl around inside with the ice cubes clacking against the sides. “It’s all a fraud, and frankly I’m surprised you waste your time on such things.”

Thotro, a junior staff member on Xeeron’s science team, took the admonishment in stride. The chief’s contempt for the Towahs’ culture and prophesies handed down through the centuries was known to every person who had ever set foot in the Science House. As was his predilection for upbraiding the rookies on the science team. The advice of his veteran peers echoed in his head. Don’t lose your composure when Xeeron challenges you. Stick to your guns and recite facts. He wants to see if you get emotional. Don’t fall into his trap!

“What you say is quite true in many cases,” he admitted. “But the prophesy I was just discussing is actually specific in the extreme, so there can be no misunderstanding.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Xeeron chuckled while refreshing his glass. “And just when is this prophesy supposed to be fulfilled? Sometime in the next thousand years?”

“The exact date of the event was predicted thousands of years ago,” Thotro answered. “And that day is...today.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephen Leary
• Release date: Jul 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310250514

Stephen Leary

Born in Akron, Ohio. Journalism degree from the University of Akron. Master's Degree from Kent State University. Hobbies: running, reading and chess. Favorite authors: Faulkner, Hemingway, Nabokov, Poe