Chapter 1 ‒ Changes, at a dime a dozen
“Cuco doesn’t repeat himself, he quotes himself. Says it makes the conversation more interesting.” Arturo
Arturo sat in his boat in front of the cut through the reeds that went from the river to his own dock behind the house. He was tired from a long day of fishing, anxious to get home, but the sun was setting just then and with any luck, the next few minutes would bring so many changes to the world around him that he had chosen to sit there and watch the magic. As if yielding to his wishes, the sun dipped further, for an instant showing itself under the low-lying clouds, glowing fiery orange in the sky, turning everything around him into shades of red, amber and gold. Colors like honey, carrots, corn, bronze, rust and clay, they were all there, his eyes scrutinizing every one of them, never tiring of looking at the amazing changes a plain ol’ sunset generated. Before long, everything would be going to the greys, but for now, he would revel in the golds.
A plain ol’ everyday sunset, according to Arturo, available to anybody that stopped long enough to see it, all the time knowing that few people did, and fewer still appreciated the wonder it produced; not every time, mind you, and you had to look at ten to see a good one, but it was worth it.
His friend Dale had once told him that the earth went careening through the universe at a million miles per hour, continually spinning on its axis. Well, he thought, the proof of the spinning was right there in front, in the setting sun, but there was no sign of any careening to anywhere. Even so, he figured his friend wasn’t pulling his leg, and the fact that the million miles per hour was, according to Dale, barely pocket change as far as space travel went, only added to his sense of wonder and magic.
To Arturo’s way of thinking, going anywhere that fast and never getting there was not only a waste of time but a waste of energy as well, and at the time, had mentioned it to Dale. His friend, being a university professor, clearly used to mysteries in addition to riddles of all stripes, had slowly shrugged his shoulders, then with a resigned, somewhat pensive look, bobbed his head, and told him that time to the universe, time as we understood it, was as if nothing, that the universe could waste millions of years trying something out that didn’t pay off, and it was of no consequence, and that perhaps he was right, that he didn’t know the need for all the speed anyhow, but like it or not, there it was.
From About Face, book 4 in the Cuco series.