Catching Toth (Rise Up and Shine #1)

Description

The Creators encoded the Izen to "protect, serve, and advance humankind."

But can I really condemn a sibling Izen to that absolute imperative?

I am Horus, Sixth of "The Twelve." It is 10,000 BCE. I am here, alone, an immortal supreme being, acting as judge and jury.

Standing in the dawn forest mist, I'm surrounded by the early morning whispers of a rare prehistoric species of man going about its business. Their fate hangs from my fingertips.

I plumb their depths and take a final wild guess. The passion exchanged between a young couple huddled by the brook is clear enough. What else do they possess? Courage? Loyalty? Maybe empathy? A spark of intelligence? They do show some promise.

Should these humans be assigned an Izen protector, a guide? Are they worth it? If they aren't, can I just leave them to flounder and die? Only the tests can take an accurate measure of their soul.

I breathe out a sigh and shake my metallic golden head. Okay, let's fill out the paperwork. There may be enough here to warrant the tests. I close my eyes, rub the bridge of my nose, and wish them luck.