And since Thomas’s stardom, on Earth, had long since faded into obscurity, and having spent all their wealth in finding their son, they welcomed a simple cottage within close distance to the capital city, on a foreign, but inviting planet; as long as they could be near the ones they loved.
And when Timothy and Barbara were asked why they should so gladly wish to leave that world of forever, trading it instead for a mortal’s existence in Gleomu: Barbara has said for herself, in a joking but slightly honest way, that although she loved Timothy dearly, they were never meant to be married forever. And if they had been, they would have eventually found a way, even in Eddesu, to murder each other. Though Timothy’s answer has always been more poetic. Saying, that he had once caught a glimpse of a world of true eternity, and in light of that, no shallow comparison would do.
And although there was great joy in Asim’s return to Gleomu, and in Timothy and Barbara’s rescue, Queen Delany decreed, and it was agreed on by the Council, that in respect to all that had been destroyed, Professor Asim’s devices could no longer be allowed in their world, that they were too tempting an evil for any people.
Which, therefore, left only two options:
That they either be destroyed completely, or be taken back to Earth, to be hidden forever. Of which, they chose both options, burning four of the five devices in the main city square of Ismere, until they were nothing but ash. And the final device was given to Arthur, at his request, so that he might return to Earth.
And in his final statements, before he left Gleomu for the last time, he said, ���I shall leave it to better minds, and to the Almighty, to decide whether I have caused more good in the Worlds of men, than evil. But I have often thought that men should only be judged by those things which they can control, and should let the actions of others and the divine hands of fate be what they are.���
And when asked why he should want to return to Earth, he answered, ���Because I would like to offer my forgiveness, to a very old, but beautiful woman.��� And like a shooting star across the sky, Arthur Greyford was gone; Never to return to Gleomu again, nor to any other world, as was his promise.
And although there is now no way to know for certain, I have often imagined that Arthur Greyford had found his ancient queen, who’d been exiled to Earth for her crimes, and that the two of them had lived in peace in their home, overlooking the ocean. He, a distinguished man of one hundred and twenty-seven, and she, a lovely woman of five hundred and twelve: enjoying a life of mortality, for as long as they will have it.
*
�� For, although Tavora had by then known the correct Earthly expression to be ���night owl���, she would still sometime say ���night bird���, to irk Ata, whenever she’d wanted to toy with him.
Copyright
Worlds Unending Globe Light Press :
All rights reserved. Copyright �� Steven J Carroll 2014
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All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to all of my readers who have come so far along in this journey with me, and have imagined worlds which are not, but ought to be. A huge thanks to Chad Lewis for his world class cover art, and to Christine Hysell for her editing expertise.
A special thanks to my wife, who is excited with me in my minor successes, and sad with me in my small defeats.
The Histories of Earth, Books 1-4: In the Window Room, A Prince of Earth, All the Worlds of Men, and Worlds Unending Page 63