Fires

A short story that incorporates traditional African lore in a new tale of Man's relationship to the Earth, the animals, and the gods. There was a time when Man and Animal lived together as equals, and shared the vast abundance of Central Africa in common. But that was long ago, before the great rift that separated them forever.

Bila the rabbit doesn't like the strange, gnarled old leper who has come to his village and taken a place of honor by the fire as storyteller. What starts as a contest of one-upsmanship quickly gets out of control as Man and Animal find themselves locked in a terrible conflict manufactured to salve the ego of a little rabbit whose feelings were hurt by a stranger bearing a powerful secret. (about 22 pages)