Sometimes nature preaches silent sermons. For Riley, it wasn't so silent. Standing on the cliff edge of hopelessness, a dark tragedy stood behind him, pushing him forward, shouting his sins. But a small animal swam near him, its very behaviour mimicking his own. He had always used the platypus to justify his position, but had never seen it as explaining his actions.

His knowledge of the animal was renowned, and to Riley, knowledge was god. There were others in his life though, who had a different God. Flaming creationists! He couldn't stand their ignorance, but neither could he choose his family, so he tolerated it and tolerated them. Barely. If only they would respect his wisdom like his colleagues did.

As a professor, Riley was esteemed. It was hard to turn that down, even when it turned him into someone he didn't want to be, and took him to places he knew he shouldn't go... like this cliff, where a dark past shouted insult, and a small animal whispered wisdom while swimming blind.