The Trilogy:TerraAvis

       The year is 2015 and the place is Cooville, a small town on planet TerraAvis. Pontificate Turtledove, Esquire, who is now 38 years old, is remembering a story that his great grandfather told him, when he was but 13 (then in 1990), about the origin of TerraAvis.

       He remembers, very clearly, his great grandfather stating: “There are three beings and they are called The Elders of the Fifth Galaxy. All of the creatures of TerraAvis are the creation of this powerful family of beings.”

       “The powers of The Elders of The Fifth Galaxy are so immense, in fact, __” his great grandfather had stopped talking, and had then smiled like someone who had just remembered something very funny to share, “__rather than describing them as three beings who live each on their own planet within the Fifth Galaxy, one would best describe them as three super beings, each of whom is in reality unto itself a separate and total planet.”

       Pontificate Turtledove, Esquire then remembered trying to grasp the concept and meaning of elders, which, in his way of thinking, meant old cocks. And then he remembered how he had tried to simultaneously imagine three old cocks, and the three cocks being the size of three separate planets. He remembered how his great grandfather had continued his story.

       “The three planets are each so large and possess such power in their rotating and orbiting action that their combined forces make up The Fifth Galaxy.” He remembered interrupting his great grandfather and asking, “From where do The Elders of The Fifth Galaxy come?” And his great grandfather had replied, “No one knows. The Elders of The Fifth Galaxy have always been, and shall always be. The Elders of The Fifth Galaxy are responsible for the many unexplained phenomena that occur on Earth and TerraAvis.”

       “What is a  phenomena, great grandfather?”

       His great grandfather had smiled broadly and then lovingly answered, “Do you not mean what are phenomena? Since the word phenomena is the plural case of phenomenon, you must use are in the place of is. However, it doesn’t matter about the case of these words when it comes to their basic meanings. For regardless of their case, they signify an unusual happening, or unusual happenings. When great storms develop, and tidal waves grow and destroy coastal towns, suddenly and without warning, these can be traced to the workings of The Elders of The Fifth Galaxy.”  He remembered worriedly asking, “Great grandfather, why would The  Elders of  The Fifth Galaxy destroy the towns and people along the coastlines; is that not evil?”

       Pontificate Turtledove, Esquire had arrived at the question to which his great grandfather knew he would eventually come.

       “You are perplexed, my son, aren’t you?”

       “Yes, I am, great grandfather!” hurriedly interrupting his elder.

       “Yes, my little great grandson, who is not an expert at hiding his feelings, I know you are having difficulties seeing The Elders of The Fifth Galaxy as good when they destroy people and their lands.”

       The young Bird feigned disinterestedness. For he tried, and quite in vain, to convince his great grandfather that there was no conflict in the apparent two natures of The Elders of The Fifth Galaxy. For even at the ripe age of thirteen, he had already adopted the stance that a Bird should never admit he is confused. Time would change him, as time had helped to bring him to that point.

       “Never confuse the lack of certainty with the lack of confidence, great grandson.”

       “What do you mean, great grandfather?”

       “I mean, you think that Birds will think less of you if  they find out that you are unsure about something”

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