William Cheng. Where It All Started

"Genetic evolution."

The history Guru at the center of the room looked around briefly to each of the nine students that sat on wooden benches surrounding her. When she was satisfied to have all of their undivided attention, she went on. "This is the new subject that we will be learning about this week."

The afternoon heat in the land six degrees south of the equator was a force to be reckoned with. Its sweltering weight rested heavily on the lean shoulders of the inhabitants of a small Village that resided on a dry hill overlooking the Sunda Strait.