Circus Jack - Prologue

The prologue for Circus Jack, delves into the harmonious life under our feet, beneath the ground we stand on.  

The opening paints a picture of the society of living organisms - the  connected lives of worms, ants, bugs, and nearly-blind rodents and the roles they play in creating a harmonious balance.

And how their lives can be upended by the unexpected interloper and the peaceful underground realm is torn asunder, showing the grim consequences of our insensitivity towards these minuscule creatures and their habitat. This sets the scene for the book's trajectory.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Prologue. In the dark, musty depths of the earth lies a complex society of living
things humans rarely see above the soil.
The constant wriggle of worms, their slimy bodies navigating through the moist loam.
Massive colonies of ants are brushed aside as families of bugs scurry to make
way for nearly blind rodents pushing their way through, gnawing at roots and

(00:23):
mycelium, in search of shelter and a mate.
In this never-ending midnight, they have a common purpose to maintain a collective
harmony that benefits all.
A blinding light pierces their dark routines, and chaos ensues as a shovel splits
the ground exposing their hidden world.
The fortunate creatures flee to the safety of their burrows,

(00:45):
while some are caught mercilessly as the shovel cleaves the soil.
Families are torn apart as the man wipes sweat from his brow in the scorching heat.
Unaware of the world beneath his feet, he smiles with satisfaction at the rich
black soil clinging to his spade before digging deeper still,
destroying the delicate balance of this underground realm.

(01:06):
A clear clang of the dinner bell, carried by the wind, rolled across the rise
of land and drifted over the fields.
Mr. Muller looked up from the fresh hole below him, placed his shovel in the
back of the working wagon, with his fence post, and climbed into the coach seat,
guiding the horse back to the family house.