The Gathering

THE GATHERINGSECRETLY SAVING THE WORLDPART ONE OF THE HEDGEHOG CHRONICLESbyZ. G. STANDING BEARHEDGEHOGThe snail moves like aHovercraft, held up by aRubber cushion of itself,Sharing its secretWith the hedgehog. The hedgehogShares its secret with no one.We say, Hedgehog, come outOf yourself and we will love you.We mean no harm. We wantOnly to listen to whatYou have to say. We wantYour answers to our questions.The hedgehog gives nothingAway, keeping itself to itself.We wonder what a hedgehogHas to hide, why it so distrusts.We forget the godUnder this crown of thorns.We forget that never againWill a god trust in the world.by Paul MuldoonNew Weather, 1973Reprinted with permission.67,000,000 SPRINGTIMES AGO(Give Or Take A Few)The blood-red sunset came crashing to a close. The youngsters all cringed as the ground shook, but their mother had a serene expression.'Wow!' Little Petrov was impressed.'Got ’im with the big horn!' Petrov’s brother Vasily just looked up in awe. 'It’s time you boys came with me to talk with your Grandfather,' said their mother, Lalo. 'You are getting old enough to hear what you must know for the rest of your life and the generations to come.'The boys were not that keen to sit down with their Grandfather, Bohuslava, the oldest and wisest of the entire Grootwhump. They were much more interested in the huge meat-eating dinosaur that had just come crashing down and blocked out the sunset. The teeth were huge, at least as long as the young hedgehogs were tall. There was blood all over. The scales were smooth and shiny. They’d never seen anything that big and fearsome so close up, a thing that would, millions of winters later, be called a tyrannosaur. The normally mild triceratops that beat him just seemed to get in a few good licks with his spiky head. 'Served the toothy one right,' both boys thought, since he had just eaten and went after the triceratops seemingly out of meanness. But Lalo insisted. 'Now is the best time.'The twins waddled behind their persistent Mom around the blood-soaked teeth of the now dead tyrannosaur. The triceratops that had somehow won the contest snarled at them as they trudged past, but they didn’t worry about the big fellow. He had never bothered them before. The red sunset was again visible. Scurrying under protective rock ledges, the trio finally reached the small cave inlet of the Grootwhump Elder, Bohuslava.Lalo, in her usual quiet way, addressed the most senior hedgehog. 'My boys are entering being boys no longer. I ask you to tell them the secrets that will assure them long lives, for themselves and their children’s children.'Ah, yes, Lalo,' said Bohuslava in a soft, measured voice. 'But you must remember that I am getting very old and when I have myself traveled over the Bridge, you and your young men here must carry on.' 'Yes, I know. It’s a big weight to carry. But we shall do it,' Lalo almost whispered. 'I’ll leave the boys with you now.'Old Bohuslava liked Lalo’s two boys, Petrov and Vasily. A bit mischievous but spirited in a good way. They will be good messengers for those to come, thought Bohuslava.The boys stood in front of their ancient elder respectfully, although both thought they’d much rather be playing outside and even exploring the giant dead tyrannosaur. 'Sit down, my young friends,' said Bohuslava softly, 'this is going to take some time.'The youngsters huddled together, resigned to their lesson, yet having no idea what to expect.'Why is that great and powerful lizard lying out there dead?' questioned Bohuslava.The boys suddenly came alive, for each had his own opinion.'Because he was greedy!' exclaimed Vasily.'Thought he was too powerful,' added Petrov.'You young fellows are going to be easy to teach,' said Bohuslava, 'you already show some wisdom.''Our Mom is a good teacher,' said Petrov. 'She really takes care of us, and pr