De Rerum Natura. 
By: Ayelet H. Lushkov
January 7, 1999

I can do anything. 
        The thought was so simple, it made him feel like laughing at
the simplicity of it. 
        Starbuck stood on the high cliffs looking down on the sea,
blond hair tousled by the blowing wind, blue eyes sparkling with
bubbling laughter. Below him, the sea waved and gushed, breaking unto
the steep cliffs, covered with deep green moss. The skies were starting
to color in shades of red and pink, and the air was warm and sweet.
        He stood there, watching the waves break below him in
fascination. For a moment, he wondered how it would feel like to spread
his arms and dive down, to fly for one heavenly moment. 
        I can do anything, he reminded himself, and felt giggles
starting to bubble at his throat. Standing there, he let them free,
giggling gleefully like the innocent child he'd never been. 
        "What's so funny?" a voice behind him asked, a note of laughter
embalmed in it. 
        "Nothing." Starbuck shrugged, a smile still playing on his
lips. "Everything." He looked over at his friend. "I can do everything,
you know." 
        Apollo quirked an eyebrow. "Really?"
        The blond nodded. The wind blew harder, blowing into his eyes,
but he kept them open, the better to enjoy the charms of the waves. But
then, maybe it would be better to close them, and just enjoy the
sounds...
        "Starbuck?" 
        "Oh, sorry. Look at those waves. It's so beautiful." 
        Apollo looked down, at the churning sea. "Yes, it is. But
you've seen it before..."
        Starbuck laughed softly. "Yeah, but today is different. Today,
I can..."
        "...Do anything. I know." Apollo smiled. "What's today?" 
        He shrugged. "I don't know. But it's different, today. I woke
up this morning, and the sun was streaming in, and the flowers were in
full bloom, and the sky was so blue, you know? And, I just thought
that...I could do whatever I wanted today, because..." He grinned
sheepishly, and shook his head. "I don't know why." 
        They stood silent for a moment, only the wind singing between
them. 
        "I know what that feels like," Apollo said, suddenly. "When you
feel like you only need to think about something for it to show up, and
you feel like you have wings, and the slightest gust of wind will make
you fly, and everything looks so perfect..."
        "That you think that nature dressed up nicely especially for
you," Starbuck finished. 
        "And laughter bubbles up in your blood, and everything goes
your way," Apollo continued, a dreamy smile spreading on his own face. 
        Starbuck threw his head back, indulging in the soft wind that
swirled around him, causing leaves and petals to dance their ecstatic
dance in the gusts. 
        Standing back a pace, Apollo watched him without a word. Eyes
closed, an open smile on his features, the wind blowing around him,
nature's little gifts landing randomly on his clothes, Starbuck seemed
to be frozen in the middle of the column of wind, giving himself away
to it, allowing nature to do whatever it pleased with him. 
        The wind blew stronger, arriving to a crescendo with a fierce
wave breaking perfectly against the cliff, sending small drops of salty
water to rain on the two men. 
        A single ray of sunshine suddenly fell down from heaven,
bathing Starbuck in it's glow, adding to the wind and water. 
        Apollo backed away another pace, still watching as the soft
elements twirled lovingly around his friend. The sun ray made the tiny
droplets of water shine, and it shifted slowly, shining the golden glow
on Apollo, causing him to close his eyes briefly, enjoying the caress
of the sun on his uplifted face. 
        "It's magic," he heard the soft words, and opened his eyes. 
        Starbuck stood, still surrounded by nature's glory, eyes
transfixed on the sky, squinting as if the sun hurt his eyes, but
refusing to turn away. 
        Then, the sun slid away from them, sinking slowly in the seas.
The whole spectacle had taken but a few microns, but it was etched on
their memories, to be called back when times didn't permit one to
indulge in the simplest joys of life. 
        Closing the distance between them, Apollo put his hand on
Starbuck's shoulder. They stood in companionable silence, watching the
sun go down, coloring the sky and sea in a flame of red, yellow and
gold. 
        The last of the sun's flaming wheel disappeared behind the now
deep blue wall of the sea, and darkness flooded in. In the distance
behind them, the house's lights were lighted, calling them back. 
        Apollo shook his head, tearing himself away from the sea. "It's
the way things are, Starbuck. Come on, let's go home." 
        Eyes still fixed on the sea where the sun had just sunk,
Starbuck willed his body to turn and follow Apollo. Finally, he, too,
tore his eyes away, and started walking down the white path. 
        He was a few metrons away, making his way to catch up with his
friend, when something called him back. He stopped and turned, eyes
searching the black surface.  Something glittered in the dark, and he
focused his eyes on the horizon. Just above it, a star winked at him,
mischievously, sharing a secret. 
        Starbuck grinned, winked back. Then, turned on his heels, and
hurried after his friend's darkened figure. 
        "Hey, Apollo, wait for me!" 
        The white path laid abandoned, stretching between the light
washed house and the star spotted darkness. The waved broke against the
cliffs, song of water and space undisturbed. 
        And Night wore on, rolling towards Dawn, humming ethereally. 
 
    Ayelet; lushkov@netvision.net.il
Odi et amo. quare id faciam fortasse requiris?
  nescio sed fieri sentio et excrucior.
       --Catullus