The Cactus at the Centre of the Spiral

The cactuses grew in long thick spirals along the ground, neatly filling the lines that moved ever closer inwards. The biggest catus was in the middle. It was taller than a man, and the natives would walk the cactus spiral to that centre and pluck one of the long thin spikes from its chest. They would use these to spear dinner and fight off wild beasts, and sometimes other men.

Many invaders fell to the cactus spike swords, but never did the natives venture from their small fold of land, preferring to crack open the smaller cactuses that grew outside the spiral, and they would drink the liquid that filled these plants, and on cactus juice they grew stronger.

One day one of the natives killed another, skewered him with the long spike he had won at the age of fifteen, and that was the end of their innocence.

The killer was stuck to the cactus at the centre of the spiral, and blood wept from his many wounds.

Things were different, after that.