white bird suddenly appeared above the stunned couple. When Eve glanced up, it swooped down toward her and then flew away, only to return when they didn't follow. After a few unproductive attempts, it seemed to give up and moved toward the horizon.
"We have no choice but to follow," Eve said.
A slight nod of his head was the only indication Adam gave. Neither knew how long they had walked, but for the first time, they experienced thirst, hunger, and pain. Their feet became swollen and blistered. Had they not stumbled into a small oasis, they would have perished.
For several nights and days, they stayed by the small pool of water, waiting for their injuries to heal and discussing their situation. Unfamiliar with catching and cleaning fish, they subsisted on the fruits and berries growing on the small trees around them. Both knew, however, the limited sustenance wouldn't maintain them for long. By the fourth day, early in the evening, they left the small sanctuary. Shortly afterward, the oasis vanished, and nothing remained to show it ever existed.
* * *
"I needed to insure their survival if I was to succeed with my own plans," Caelene continued. "I guided them slowly to an imperfect paradise but one to which they could adapt. Over the years, they flourished and grew confident and competent in their ability to survive the hardships. In time, they bore many children. The first two were sons, Cain and Abel. Human theology says that Cain slew his brother out of hatred for having been rejected by his God... an absurdity. Even I knew the Twin loved his creations, although he refused to interfere in their lives.
"Once Adam and Eve were banished from Paradise, he gave them free will to do as they wished. In those times, he was not as patient as he is today. After several unsuccessful attempts to control and guide mankind to a specific conclusion, he realized his mistakes and decided to let humanity choose its own destiny.
"I, however, am not so inclined. I manipulated them in subtle ways to insure both their survival and their evolution.
"Cain was a farmer who took great joy in tilling the soil and growing food for his parents and siblings. Abel, on the other hand, enjoyed caring for animals, providing the meat necessary to sustain his family,” Caelene explained.
"In order to keep harmony between the two, Adam and Eve divided the land, giving half to Cain for cultivation and half to Abel for his livestock. One day, several animals wandered into Cain's field and devoured and destroyed much of what he had grown. In a fit of anger, he killed a bull and several cows. When Abel heard of his brother's actions, he confronted him, his own temper flaring.
"A battle ensued, and Cain gave Abel a mighty shove. Abel tripped over the loose soil and fell, striking his head on a stone, which instantly killed him. When Cain realized what he had done, he fell to his knees sobbing.
"Hours later, Adam and Eve found Cain bent over the still figure of his brother. When he tried to explain what happened, they didn't understand. Anger was not an emotion familiar to them. It was one I knew well. The Twin was furious at Cain but chose not to punish him.” Caelene paused for a moment, remembering the look on Adam and Eve’s faces — confusion and sadness.
"Realizing their children needed mates in order for the species to survive, Adam and Eve sent several of the oldest into the new world to see if there were others like them. Eventually, a few returned with wives or husbands chosen from a primitive race they had discovered near a huge body of water several days' journey away. No one could predict the effect their unions would have on humanity.
"For thousands of years they devolved, the dominant trait of the primitive gene proving too powerful for the Twin's creations. Tens of thousands of years passed before natural selection reversed the trend and allowed the recessive genes of Adam and
"We have no choice but to follow," Eve said.
A slight nod of his head was the only indication Adam gave. Neither knew how long they had walked, but for the first time, they experienced thirst, hunger, and pain. Their feet became swollen and blistered. Had they not stumbled into a small oasis, they would have perished.
For several nights and days, they stayed by the small pool of water, waiting for their injuries to heal and discussing their situation. Unfamiliar with catching and cleaning fish, they subsisted on the fruits and berries growing on the small trees around them. Both knew, however, the limited sustenance wouldn't maintain them for long. By the fourth day, early in the evening, they left the small sanctuary. Shortly afterward, the oasis vanished, and nothing remained to show it ever existed.
* * *
"I needed to insure their survival if I was to succeed with my own plans," Caelene continued. "I guided them slowly to an imperfect paradise but one to which they could adapt. Over the years, they flourished and grew confident and competent in their ability to survive the hardships. In time, they bore many children. The first two were sons, Cain and Abel. Human theology says that Cain slew his brother out of hatred for having been rejected by his God... an absurdity. Even I knew the Twin loved his creations, although he refused to interfere in their lives.
"Once Adam and Eve were banished from Paradise, he gave them free will to do as they wished. In those times, he was not as patient as he is today. After several unsuccessful attempts to control and guide mankind to a specific conclusion, he realized his mistakes and decided to let humanity choose its own destiny.
"I, however, am not so inclined. I manipulated them in subtle ways to insure both their survival and their evolution.
"Cain was a farmer who took great joy in tilling the soil and growing food for his parents and siblings. Abel, on the other hand, enjoyed caring for animals, providing the meat necessary to sustain his family,” Caelene explained.
"In order to keep harmony between the two, Adam and Eve divided the land, giving half to Cain for cultivation and half to Abel for his livestock. One day, several animals wandered into Cain's field and devoured and destroyed much of what he had grown. In a fit of anger, he killed a bull and several cows. When Abel heard of his brother's actions, he confronted him, his own temper flaring.
"A battle ensued, and Cain gave Abel a mighty shove. Abel tripped over the loose soil and fell, striking his head on a stone, which instantly killed him. When Cain realized what he had done, he fell to his knees sobbing.
"Hours later, Adam and Eve found Cain bent over the still figure of his brother. When he tried to explain what happened, they didn't understand. Anger was not an emotion familiar to them. It was one I knew well. The Twin was furious at Cain but chose not to punish him.” Caelene paused for a moment, remembering the look on Adam and Eve’s faces — confusion and sadness.
"Realizing their children needed mates in order for the species to survive, Adam and Eve sent several of the oldest into the new world to see if there were others like them. Eventually, a few returned with wives or husbands chosen from a primitive race they had discovered near a huge body of water several days' journey away. No one could predict the effect their unions would have on humanity.
"For thousands of years they devolved, the dominant trait of the primitive gene proving too powerful for the Twin's creations. Tens of thousands of years passed before natural selection reversed the trend and allowed the recessive genes of Adam and
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