Chapter 14

The sun peeked over the horizon when we finally stopped outside a quaint little cottage nestled in an awe-inspiring grove of fruit trees. I wondered if I would ever stop marveling over the breathtaking beauty of the land. Luthias and Geo both spoke of Verso being like earth was prior to the war and the twentieth century pollution modern man created.  Although I was saddened that I was born in a time of devastation, desolation, and the dominance of evil, I felt even sorrier for them. How horrible it must be to watch your world turn into a decrepit shell of what it was.  I wondered why they’d ever step outside of Verso.

A slight and somewhat wiry, gray haired woman meandered out onto the porch to greet us. Even at that early hour her hair was pulled back in a smooth bun upon her head and her slacks and blouse were neatly pressed. I thought of the stark contrast she made against my grandmother, who would have greeted us with long gray hair in disarray and an old