The Silence

by Richard Hannibal

"(Animals, birds & Insects) mingled naturally. They did not talk for talking's sake, in the artificial manner that human beings, and sometimes even their dogs and cats do. But this did not mean that they were not communicating;
merely that they were not communicating by talking."
― Richard Adams, Watership Down

One day the rumbling stopped along the wide black trail where nothing grew. The eyes of the animals living nearby no longer burned from the brownish air that hung close to the ground. The sudden quiet caused a thousand ears to strain. Squirrels rose on their hind legs and sniffed the air for signs of danger. Others looked toward the black trail from the bushes and grass and realized the menace that divided communities was gone. Life among the creatures changed the moment the Silence came.

The birds sensed it. Their songs, once muffled by the 'whoosh' of air that came down the trail, regained melodic clarity. The violent turbulence that often sucked them down from mid-flight had vanished. The dense billow of air, followed by a sudden impact, no longer took its toll.

Loud noises, accompanied by blurred color, were replaced by the gentle sound of leaves being caressed in the breeze. Fur and feathers remained motionless as animal consciousness focused on the mystery.

The bees became aware when the customary coat of dust no longer dulled the flowers. The nectar was sweeter and more plentiful as the petals became clear of the grime that attacked in short blasts of air.

The first days were filled with suspicion and wonder, but the animals quickly accepted the Silence as a gift. Tales were told of the disharmony that once existed, particularly in the warm season. Leaders of various flocks, herds, and communities, at the time the Silence came, were thought of as gods. They gladly accepted this role and took credit for the Silence in exchange for offerings from their faithful followers. The masses continued to enjoy the Silence and worshiped those they believed brought it about.

Eventually, much of the life that existed at the time of the Great Day accepted the Silence as a miracle. They continued to adore the leaders, who they thought were the holy ones, that maintained the Silence. Communities came together when fear of the dark path no longer separated them. Greens were greener and yellows yellower as the 'gift from the gods' slowly became routine. In a short time, the hills, cliffs, and valleys thrived.

The Silence did not last. One dark day it was shattered by gusts of air and vibrations in the earth. It happened too quickly for the black bird to warn the squirrel who was leisurely crossing the trail from one burrow to another. A painful squeal alerted the rest as the squirrel flopped around on the hard surface and became still. The creatures raced to their leaders in terror when they realized the Silence was gone.

The rush of air, rumblings, shrieks, and metallic sounds were back. Communities were instantly divided. Birds fell from the air after impacts with hard objects. Dust suffocated the flowers. Inedible things littered the vegetation. Panic followed and the trail once again became dotted with lifeless forms.
Stifling their own uneasiness, the leaders accepted 'tokens for the gods' from their terrified subjects. The ripples of fear went out to the farthest dens, nests, and burrows. What terrible misdeed had they committed?

The clever leaders told of a Great Sin that took away the Silence. They used fear and guilt to solicit more offerings. The subjects were told to repent and worship the leaders in the hope the Silence would return.

A shrine was declared at the base of a newly arrived wooden post standing near the dark trail. Here, the creatures paused and gazed upon its mysterious markings. They left offerings, which the leaders would gather in the still of the night. Conflict and dread prevailed.

The animals looked in wonder at the markings on the post, thinking they were messages from the gods. The leaders interpreted the mysterious markings in different ways. Groups were formed depending on the various interpretations. The leaders, who now ruled through fear, shrewdly established ritual as a means of control and for their own benefit.

One day the leaders took down the wooden post with mysterious markings and turned it into an elaborate alter. Every day the wildlife gathered at the altar in praise of their leaders who promised the return of the Silence. The 'holy markings' were looked upon with reverence as they pondered the sacred meaning of the words, "Caltrans has cleared the Big Sur slide — Highway One is now open."