For some time now, I've been curious about the history of the Sarn in this world. The villagers had told me that the old ones are the keepers of their history, genealogies, and traditions. It's their duty to preserve knowledge and pass it down to the next generation, as they become old ones. They suggested that I go to the old one named Bren, and talk with him concerning these things. One day, before dinner, I had prepared a meal for two and took it to the hut of the family of Bren.
Bren was the man who stood up and spoke to the village when I had my first breakfast with them so long ago. I went to his hut and stood outside, calling him a couple of times to see if he was in. At this time, his family had just left for the community dinner; he hadn't left for the dinner yet. I heard him speak my name, so I asked if I could speak with him. I also asked him if he would share dinner with me in the hut. He came to the entrance, smiled, and gave me a hug. He motioned me in and we sat down. Placing our dinner on the table, I asked him how he was doing. He told me he was getting slower in his work, but that he felt fine. Before we started to eat, I asked him if he would tell me of the history of the Sarn, and more about this world they call home. I told him to think on these things while we were eating, and he could speak to me after we were finished. As we were eating, I could tell he was in deep thought, as he looked to the sky through an open window in the hut. After we had finished our meal, he spoke and said; Zhimm, all of us in the village were somewhat perplexed when you first arrived here. We didn’t know where you had come from, but since that time, we have found that you are a good man and have contributed much to our village...
(I have not told anyone of the circumstances of my arrival in this place. Earlier, I had told Bren that I came from a place very far away, and that I was the only one of my kind left in this world. All the time I have been here, I've been very careful not to mention how I really got here or anything about Earth. I didn't want to violate the "prime directive"... you know, the theory that any contact, especially technological, that a higher civilization has with a lower one will disrupt or contaminate the lower one... as they say in the popular sci-fi TV series.)
... I've seen your hard work and love for all those around you, especially our children. I'm glad that you’ve found your way to us. We hope you’ll stay here for as long as you wish. I know I speak for all the people in the village. With that, he continued, as you were told, we old ones in the village are the keepers of knowledge for our people. To us is entrusted what we know of our beginnings, and the knowledge of what is needed to guide our people along the path of Life and not death. Death, you see, is not necessarily just your individual body dying, but death can happen to an entire people... even a world. All of us are here in this wonderful place for a relatively short time.
As you may have observed as you have lived among us, we take great care to keep our world whole and alive as we move through our individual lives, and present this world to our young as we have received it. The old ones before us passed along the Principles of Life to us, and we pass it along to our children.
I interrupted, and asked him, I have heard the villagers talk of the Principles of Life and also about the Ancient Ones. Can you tell me more about them? He answered; you have many questions, my dear friend Zhimm. He smiled and said; I must save your questions for the next time we meet. I really should join my family now. Thank you for stopping by to chat, and please come again. I told him, Thanks very much for sharing your wisdom with me Bren, and I'll stop by again soon. With that, I clasped his hands and said goodbye to him.