Rodents and Robots

the anniversary

He turned off all the lights, leaving everyone in darkness. The adults refrained from groaning or complaining out of respect and decorum for the upcoming story. The children, however, couldn't contain their excitement, and a few of them, along with a couple of cavies, let out yelps of anticipation as soon as the lights went out.

As Gacia slumped over, Justin spoke up, "Sarah and I reached an agreement. She went ahead to the screens, and I'll go and inform Feivel that he is expected." With that, Justin got down on all fours and scampered off.

The lights were completely off now, and the blinds shifted, blocking out any remaining light. Gradually, a skylight opened, casting a gentle glow onto Gacia. He activated all of his fans, causing the ribbons that the younger children had attached to him to rustle. His hard drive spun and clicked to a rhythmic beat, serving as a countdown.

His face remained concealed in shadow due to the focused light shining down on him, but then he activated the lights in a specific order. First, his eyes lit up, radiating a warmth akin to fire yet possessing a piercing intensity like the Belem Lighthouse. Then, he stretched out his arms, and they began to glow, resembling whimsical fireflies dancing in twilight fog.

With great majesty, he brought his right hand down to the floor, laying it flat. As was customary, a child named Cross Oliviera approached. Filled with bravery in his legs and eager anticipation in his eyes, Cross hopped onto Gacia's palm. Gacia slowly raised him up to face level, eliciting a controlled yet excited squeal from Cross. Gacia wished deeply in his heart that he could smile, for his face had a mouth that remained unmoving. However, any hint of sadness dissipated as he witnessed Cross's joyous laughter. Then, he began to speak.

"Long ago, before my Children came to me, before I first awoke, and before Bibloteca came into existence, there were Titans. They stood as tall as dear Cross." To Cross's delight, Gacia raised his hand to just slightly above his own head. "Perhaps even taller!" He paused, allowing the anticipation to build.

Gacia stretched his arm as high as he could, carefully lowering Cross to the ground. She scampered off to join her siblings, but not before giving Gacia's finger a quick hug.

He continued his storytelling, his voice carrying an air of mystery and wonder. "They were the ancient kings of this world, constructing towering structures of glass and colossal birds of steel, claiming even the skies as their dominion. They tamed creatures like the sunken Dragon to the south and the thunderous Fords that roared down the asphalt plains. They were the creators of Shepherds like myself and the forefathers of the Children. However, beyond these fragments of knowledge, we know very little about them, for they are gone now."

Gacia paused for a moment, setting the stage for different theories. "Some believe they vanished due to their propensity for violence, that they destroyed themselves with great and terrible weapons. The more optimistic speculate that they simply departed, building even greater crafts capable of traversing the heavens. And still, there are those who believe they were wiped out by a devastating plague."

He shifted his tone, expressing his personal perspective. "But if you ask me, I believe they abandoned themselves. With all their technology, they became disconnected from their families and friends. They lacked the unity and loving care that we are fortunate to have."

Gacia continued, delving into the decline of the Titans' legacy. "After the Titans vanished, their existence began to fade away. We Shepherds had no memory of them whatsoever. The only remnants we have are physical pictures and books. When the first Shepherds awoke, everything the Titans left behind remained as they had left it. Over time, just as living things die, the creations left behind also began to break down. Yet, just as one life ends, others are born. As the great scientist Dr. Malcolm once said, 'Life finds a way.' And indeed, we have found our way."

As Gacia concluded his narrative, both Justin and Feivel made their grand entrance, appearing as mysteriously as fog before dawn. Gacia realized that he could no longer keep the hungry crowd waiting. Fortunately, and conveniently, the mayor sneaked in just behind him.

She came to report that the preparations for the feast were complete, her voice tinged with hunger.

Although Gacia himself never experienced hunger, he could empathize with the sensation. "Now that we have reached the end of our story, having nourished our minds with our history and beginnings, it is time to nourish our bodies!" He gestured with his entire body, inviting everyone to the feast. He couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride and admiration as his children rose from their seats in an orderly manner. While there were a few young ones who darted off eagerly, almost every child approached him to express their gratitude for the story. As they made their way to the dining area, Gacia remained behind, tethered to the reception desk. He allowed the light to fill the room once more and listened to the joyful sounds of feasting.