Part-1
Out of a portal as dark as night steps form from yet darker hue. Pausing passive, putrid plight; Death immortal inspects the view. African animals all alarmed; bonobos bellow, crocodiles chatter. “Death walking with us; flee for your lives!” Serval skitter scatter. Death sighed solemnly, he had not intended to cause such a riot. He preferred to rest in peace plus his clients calmed in the quiet. Just who was today’s departed? What was, where had he been? “Some questions best unanswered; go follow trail red-on-green.” Death strides so securely, following flickering, red-green light and an anguished awful scream; death can be such a fright!
Balling, bipedal, the creature clutched at broken bone in pain. Death had seen his kind evolve up trees then back down again. Nature was astonishing – painting perfect picture, living art. From tree to tiger, me to you, each entity playing their part. Broken bone pokes through leg, back bent and covered in hair. Something different Death detected – was it wit it saw there? Bleeding biped beheld him, meeting Death’s strong stony eyes. Asked him “Who are you?” “You see me, well, what a surprise!” Hear Death’s deep voice, creature tremble, feeling rising fear. Seeks shaft clasps at and attains, points at Death shaking spear.
‘Remarkable to mount defence when wounded, wailing, weak!’ “Oh, how rude of me! I am Death; deliverer, hear me speak. The day darkens, the end is nigh, light leaving, the hour late. I am here to take you with me. Now come – find your fate.” Small smile spread across man’s face, no sign of fear or grief. He let out a small soft sigh, some sign of mistaken relief. “Thank God! You’re here to help! From what tribe do you hail?” Death shook skeletal head: “No. We go beyond the veil.” The man tried to understand, asked “Well, what wait for me?” Death droned “Well…nothing. You will simply cease to be.”
“What kind of a life is nothing?! No meat, no men nor mice? I had hoped it would be better. Nothing doesn’t sound so nice.” Death despaired; “Not life at all! No honey nor fire; The End! Now come – we must be going. Time to leave life my friend!” Man moaned, griped and groaned “That doesn’t sound so hot. Thanks but no thanks sir – so long, I will stick with my lot. Who knows? Maybe next passerby will help me much more. It’s not like they could help less – your ambivalence I abhor.” Death called confused “Do you not hear Death’s deep voice? The end is nigh – you and I – we will go. You have no choice.”
No escape, no life, no choice at all! So says you, well, not I! I am a man and for as long as I can, I must at least but try!” Defying Death, determined, Death couldn’t help but smile. “You may pray, persist, resist but such actions are futile.” Death reached out a bony hand, an arrow embedded in it. Death chided “Pointless, petulant; you bought but a minute. Now come – we must go. It is time to depart this place.” The reply not no nor aye but an arrow to Death’s face. The arrow bounced off harmless, fell broken to the floor. “I am Death! The Eternal! The End! There’s nothing more!”
“You cannot kill me, don’t you see? I’ll never be destroyed! What would death of Death mean? Cast myself to the void?” “It is possible!” persisted man as he let another arrow fly. Death burned bow and arrow to ash; intoned “Animal, fungi. Microbes too – yes, even you – everything dies someday. Come peacefully or I’ll force thee – it ends same either way. Man picked up his last arrow and flung it at Death’s chest. It bounced off harmlessly. Death sighed “Peace is best. Look, I know you’re frightened of skull, scythe and hood. But void needn’t terrify you, as nothing can be good!”
“No broken bones, no anguished screams; leave pain behind! Nothingness needn’t be scary; in a way it may even be kind!” The human looked at lame leg, winced but managed reply. “The pain is bad but it may heal as more time goes by.” Death was pretty patient but his patience had been tested. He was unused to argument and never had he been bested. “No it won’t. It is broken in places numbering seventeen. You will never walk nor hunt; never be what you had been. To tribe you will be useless, reduce odds of their survival. Then I would just be back when they fell to tribal rival.”
Still man would not accept, denied Death’s logical speech. “I would make myself useful! Those who can’t do, teach!” Death rubbed his temple. “Well, now I’ve heard it all. I see logic’s lost on you. It’s like talking to a wall. I tried to be benevolent, keep calm thoughts in head. You chose the other path – fine, feel force instead!” Death tapped scythe on floor, portal opened beneath. Then turned to the man, who determined grit his teeth. Man wrapped arms around a tree, held on with might. “No! Never go with you! Won’t walk unto that night!”
Death said “I am inescapable! You cannot dodge or duck!” Tapped his scythe to floor again and portal began to suck. “The portal will suck stronger, soon it will pull you in. Please, give up now human! It is impossible to win!” “No! Never! Not listening! Not impossible – you lie! Someday humans will defeat; we will always defy!” Death sighed “So sorry that it had to end this way. Your descendants will learn, accept Death someday.” Man denied, “Never!” cried, hear him roar rumble! Still sucked inside the portal, to void man did tumble!
So the first conscious encounter with man ended sour. Man defiant until the end, even against Death’s power. His weapon had been primitive; arrow stone and wood. What troubles tomorrow though? Surely nothing good. Death shuddered to think of it, uttered inhuman curse. Tried to reassure himself: “At least it can’t get worse.” Yet even as he uttered, Death knew it was not true. Small voice said “Someday they may defeat even you.”
Part-2
Time passed slowly, man more troublesome day by day. Ancestors persistent predators, now man persistent prey. Death didn’t want a battle, just wished to carry out duty. Man made medicine, made machines, made Death enemy. Death still knew how to be patient, for time was its ally. “I am inevitable; I will collect them all as time goes by.” Today Death came to collect man both blind and broken. Uttered “It is time to go, your Death now has spoken!” Though blind, the man saw Death, tried to cry out “No!” Punctured lungs let him down, no words nor air to blow.
So too his legs had failed him, left naught but bloody lumps. Death held on to him; skeletal hands to squirting stumps. A comrade came up to the man, forcing Death to halt. Obscene machine let life linger; delivered 1000 volt. Death cried out “Can’t you see? Cease that infernal thing! Death is immortal, inevitable; you extend suffering!” Sweeping scythe death opened door; destination Void. Said “You hate yet I’m necessary, never be destroyed.” Maimed man accepted end and turned to Death to say. “You claim you’re necessary. Won’t always be that way.” Death accepted offered hand, exclaimed cautiously. “In a world with Life, a Death there will always be.”
Those words troubled Death in ways mysterious eerie. “He’s like the first man”. Suddenly death felt weary.
Part-3
Time ticked on torturously, as humans did torment. Keeping Death waiting, hating all that they’d invent. Micro machines moving hearts, hidden under skin. Healing lights mending all what was broken within. Surgery…life support…the list went on forever! Death asking “Ready yet?” they’d answer “Never!” It was unprofessional! Dodos didn’t give such grief! Nor saber-tooth tiger (with great big pointy teeth). Why resist Death – their inevitable, immortal fate? Still, at least war killed men at an alarming rate.
At the late 25th Century, things went worse still. No crime nor wars waged, no more men did kill. Then came a day when Death had naught to do. So took time to fish, in black bone braced canoe. True, there were a few deaths of creatures small. But as for any humans? No, not one death at all! Day drifted by blissfully, turned to two then three. Then to five with all alive, until one day…twenty! Across the universe, Death watched a dying star. Thought it oh so beautiful, as deaths usually are.
One day Death heard a tinkling, tiny, tinny chime. A sound Death hadn’t heard for quite some time! A human being was dying – a man old wrinkly! Death donned dark cloak, hollered “Wait for me!” Drifting through the Void, Death landed by his side. Met by a flash of light, left Death nowhere to hide. Death looked about him, asked “What magic this?” Heard a voice through speaker: “Activate stasis! Mister Roman, tell me, have we caught our goose?” Roman replied “We have him. Will not let him loose.”
They had caught Death! He had fallen for their trap! Death imprisoned impressed; should he curse or clap? Immobilized immortal, no way move forth nor back. Death droned “Oh bother! Can’t you cut some slack?” Turning to Roman, asked “Are you going to fight?” Roman shrugged “I’m ready. So no, you’re alright.” Death laughed: “You have no idea how long I waited to hear man say I’m ready – your resistance grated!” Roman laughed then too, saying “Curse your luck. For Mr Fields never yields. Dear Death, you’re stuck.”
Mr Fields spoke through machine again, adding “Hello. Good to see you Mister Death, my fine finality fellow.” Death turned to Roman, said “They can’t see or hear me. Death is not all that bad – there is no need to fear me.” Fields replied “Actually we can; Roman’s sharing eyes.” Roman raised his hands, smiling sneered “Surprise!” Machines sharing senses! Hearing, smell, sight! Fields asked “Mr Death. Has workload been light?” Death replied: “Just Death, Mr Fields if you please. You have ended wars and you cured all disease.”
Mr Fields agreed “Your grasp of situation’s clear. I’d say that I’m sorry but I wouldn’t be sincere.” Death dejected “Humans have always been tough. You live such long lives but it is never enough. You’re closer to being an enemy than friend. We’ll discuss this again when you meet your end.” Mr Fields disagreed, “No, Death, you’re fired. Your deathly duties are no longer required.” Death recalled first man’s determination. That man would defy death’s situation.
Death felt tug of trillions who should have been dead. But here he was, technologically trapped here instead. He had to get out – he’d had more than enough! Said to Mr Fields, “You are lying! You bluff!” Mr Fields offered no salvation, nor reprieve. Replied “I’m bluffing? Then Death, just leave!” Death demanded “You must let me free! You’re causing damage by holding me!” Mr Fields: “Not I; entropy, time instead. Control time, we tear teeth from your head.”
And there it was. They had found their way! They had slowed time – both death, decay. They had Death, so said words did hate. “What do you want?” Time to negotiate. Death imagined all human as ash destroyed. Fields replied “We want access to the Void”. Death was so shocked, he dropped his jaw. It bounced three times as it hit the floor. He recovered, placed back in his mouth. Death had been simple till all went south.
“But The Void is nothing! No friends, no air! What do you want when nothing is there?” Had his deathly plans all begun to unravel? “We want nothing – as nothing aids travel.” Death asked Roman, “May you tell me why? Why you opted out – you wanted to die?” “Death, the answer is simple my dear. I opted to die to trap you right here. My dying reeled you right here to me. And ensured my name in history!”
“There will rest Roman: write on my grave. The name of everyone my death will save.” Turning to Fields, Death declared “One day Man’s machines fail, then I’ll have my way”. Field enquired: “One day? Maybe…we’ll see. Do I take it from that that you will agree?” Death imagined Field’s death most violent. But acquiesced with nod so sad and silent.
With that Death felt a lightening a feeling of peace. As grip on him loosened until Death’s release. One hand held Death’s, the last man destroyed. And with tug, took them tumbling into The Void.