The Wild Life

The ship appeared during the gloaming, when the snaking river turned silver and the city shimmered with a thousand lights. Its sails were paper-white amidst the vivid greens of the jungle, like a fluttering flag of intent.

Almost as soon as it entered view, a chorus of bells swelled through the street and a rush of soldiers and those who were curious gathered by the long-abandoned docks. Something truly amazing was happening—for the first time in our history, outsiders had arrived.