Darwin's Journey

Rainbow's End

Professor Robert Smythe lifted the flap and peered out of the tent, viewing the muddy remnants of his campsite. The sudden thunderstorm that had swept across the Serengeti was as violent as it was unexpected. Now, the sable darkness was beginning to lighten, as though the rain had diluted it like some watercolor painting.

He took a deep breath and tasted the air. This is going to be a great day, he thought. Soon the sun would be up and the sky would turn cerulean that would reflect the perfect purity of his surroundings.

"Well, almost perfect," he muttered, once more surveying the wreckage. "The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears," he mused, recalling an obscure quotation.

He brushed aside the thought. Nothing would ruin this day. He'd worked too hard, overcome too much, for this day, these soon-to-be moments.

He'd devoted his life to botany and had secretly harbored a dream of discovering a new species – to be named after himself, of course. His research, however, was seldom done in the field.

Robert prided himself on doing his research from original manuscripts, shunning the online published work. There was a certain voyeuristic pleasure in handling the pages ... knowing his hands were touching the same pages as the explorers ... and certain that his mind was superior and that he'd find something they missed.

"Bookish Bob!" he spat, remembering the derision he had endured. Then, he had made a startling discovery. Lost in the pages of Darwin's "Beagle Diary" was a reference to a strange plant rumored to exist in Africa. Darwin hadn't followed up on it.

It's hard to sail Africa's interior, he chuckled in pleasure at his good fortune.

From that small note, Robert began his quest. Rather than wander aimlessly through a strange continent, he began researching stories and legends until he came to believe the rumors and narrowed down its location.

The promise of a new species had brought him from the comfort of the university to the African plains.

"Mbakara," called Adowa, his guide. Robert frowned at the honorific 'boss' or 'master' from the Ibibio dialect.

"Professor, please," he corrected.

"Yes, Mbakara," Adowa grinned.

"Well, did you talk to the village elders? Have they heard of anything strange?"

Adwoa's grin doubled, although Robert was sure it couldn't have. "The elders speak of a holy place nearby. They are followers of Elegua."

"I don't care what they believe in ..." Robert began but Adwoa made a signal that meant stop.

"Elegua is the Guardian of the Crossroads of Life. Whenever there are decisions to be made, he provides opportunities and second chances -- if you're lucky. As a Trickster God, he can sometimes make things even more complicated. At a whim he can turn a simple choice into a paradox."

Adwoa continued, "What you seek is ahead. It is a sacred place and no one goes there until it is their time. The passing from this life to the next is a crossroad, no?"

"Superstition," Robert grunted. "We're here for science."

The timing is perfect, Robert thought, noting the first bright rays of the sun filtering through the heavy canopy of the Jackalberry trees. The blister on his heel was raw and throbbing but he ignored it. Following a barely discernable trail, he pushed his way through the underbrush and was surprised when he broke into a clearing.

"Amazing!" he uttered as he saw a single, large bloom, totally black in color, rising like a prehistoric creature out of the center of the clearing.

Mentally, he began cataloguing what he saw. The size he estimated at five feet, not unlike the common sunflower, since it appeared about eye-level. The leaves were equally placed, bilaterally, for a total of three pairs.

"Odd," he whispered, noting that the flower was closed even though he could see that the light was shining on the obsidian-like calyx. "It should be opening."

He quickly inventoried the clearing. Strange. Nothing growing around it; no other flora of any type.

Having assured himself that the area was clear, he approached cautiously – almost reverently. He felt a stinging and mentally cursed the blister. Glancing down, he froze as he saw a dark red stain spreading around the top of his sock.

What the ... crossed his mind as he realized that a black tendril had wrapped around his boot. "How did I miss that?" he began, when suddenly dozens of creepers erupted from the ground, each with a reed-like thorn.

Robert bolted for the path he had left but it was too late. He felt the paralysis set in as he slowly toppled forward and more thorns began to hungrily pierce him.

Through tears of pain, his last vision was of the black flower opening, its fleshy pink center turning red ... surrounded by a rainbow.


Notes

Word Count: 806 .

Version 2 (Expanded) written for "Beyond The Water's Edge - CLOSED"  [ASR]
Must contain the words cerulean, blister, wander, level, double
Version 1 written for "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"  [13+]

All references to Darwin's Beagle Diary and the God Elegua are authentic ... as for the dark bloom, you'll have to discover that for yourself

Thank you for taking time to read my words. I would appreciate it if you took a moment and left a comment. Your reaction, impressions, criticisms, - yes, even praise are all equally welcome. Please, however, keep the groans to yourself .

Ken