The Passing of Crows (part 3)

Deep inside the bowels of the thing that only looked like a broken garden shed, something stirred. The Something regarded its new surrounds and learned. It learned for example, that some internal clock calculated it had been in existence for 9 hours and 36 minutes but had no idea what that meant. It learned that without too much effort it could not only hear what was around it outside but also could see exactly what was going on in great detail. Above there appeared to be a two-legged thing that was knocking on the canister as if trying to communicate in some primitive manner.

The Something considered this for a while and decided this did not count as a direct threat. To one side there was another two-legged creature, very similar to the first on initial inspection, except it did not appear to be in any way covered in what the Something instinctively knew were feathers. And this second one was known as a female, making the first a male? The Something considered this for a moment but concluded the concept was somewhat abstract from its' own point of view and therefore unimportant. But the second one- the female- interested the Something, it was different to the first and also the small group of other two-legged things that had gathered. There was an energy around this one; probably the other creatures could not detect it but the Something could. The energy waned and pulsed like perhaps an distress beacon might. Or a warning.

The things appeared to be communicating with each other. The female had made some form of greeting and then asked what the first was doing. The one above jumped lightly down from its perch and replied "It's not mine, it came down in the storm. I just can't seem to find a way in." This didn't surprise the Something at all: the canister was only meant to be opened when the time was right and from the inside. One of the crowd had then made a comment that had produced a ripple of laughter from the gathered number but this meant nothing to the Something. It had learned about humour in the same way it had gathered all its facts and knowledge. It understood the concept but had no need or use for humour.

Had the Something been like the creatures outside, it knew it would probably have needed to stand and stretch its limbs by now. But it wasn't like them and sitting in one corner of the canister was no different to standing or walking. These things it knew it could do but currently found no necessity for action. It observed that the crowd had started to disperse from around it; obviously the lack developments had not proved that much of a diversion and these creatures were wandering away to resume their lives. Only the male and female remained.

The interesting one looked towards the sky and the dark clouds parted, all the time the Something could see the energy field pulsed just a little brighter. The heat from the nearby sun could now be felt warming the ground and air. "Come on Sam, let's leave it for now, I'll buy you breakfast. I'm not due at work until midday." It heard the not-Sam say.

And they had walked away, each on their strange little flesh covered two-legs, leaving the Something alone in the front garden of the house where Sam lived. Where the man known as Michael could be found with the spaniel called Holly. As the Something looked harder it could see the man going about his business, getting shaved and dressed ready to go out but Holly was not to be found in the house or the garden beyond. Could it be the dog had somehow received warning and had fled in the night?

(Now to TeresaB to continue)