Geometry for Ocelots

by Exurb1a

Lying naked on their cliff one night, the ancient and dead city glittering in the distance, Johannes said, “Do you know everything?” “No,” Ursula said. “Are you all-powerful like The Edicts say?” “No.” “Well, do you live forever then?” “We don’t have to die for a long time if that’s what you mean.” He stared at the city and imagined it full of natives; men and women planting crops and kneading bread and not living in fear of rageful deer. He said, “Some of the villages nearby are very sick.” Ursula nodded. “Why don’t the Devas do something about it?” She looked Johannes over as though debating whether to inform a child how children are made. She said, “Do you have ants in your village?” “Of course.” “How many ants do you think we killed on our way out here tonight?” “Ten, a hundred, I don’t know.” Ursula said, “You know, you could never kill an ant again if you stopped leaving your yurt.” Johannes shrugged. “Ants aren’t clever and it doesn’t bother me so much.” “Then you’re not such a kind god yourself, huh.” Johannes dressed and began walking back to his village. “Oh come on,” Ursula called after.