Venom In The Cloud Forest

Abstract

How important is the person who controls the stories of the past? What happens when that person changes community stories to meet his needs? In this work of philosophical fantasy short fiction, Acoti is shot with a poison dart while in the forest. With much effort, his friend takes him to Cuadelo, the community medicine man. Acoti is suspicious because he had previously spoken out to the elders that the community petroglyphs seemed to always agree with Cuadelo. Cuadelo confesses to Acoti that he is the one who poisoned him and says he will only cure Acoti if he goes before the elders to confess he was wrong in accusing Cuadelo. Acoti agrees, and is cured, but not before grabbing Cuadelo’s magic wand. Now cured, Acoti goes before the elders and shows that Cuadelo has been using his magic wand to change the petroglyphs (and their community stories) so they always agree with his opinions.