My dear Gnudren,
Thelonius is a Llama, and probably a third or fourth generation migrant descendant born on our shores. Having spent 2 hours with him recently, this is what Old Gnu “learnt”, without intruding too much on his personal privacy. It also left many unanswered musings in Old Gnu’s mind. Although Thelonius has been in “England’s green and pleasant land” all his life, – actually he lives in Wales at the present time – he has not picked up the behaviour of other UK Fauna. He has remained very much himself and Llama in all his behaviour.
Has he any deep inner awareness that he originates from elsewhere, the splendour of the plateaus of the Andes? Has he an inexplicable yearning within, which he finds difficult to verbalise to other British Fauna, that this place is not the total story of his existence? Does this sense of what our German neighbours call Fernweh pervade the fabric of his being. Born here, yes, but his true point of origination lies mysteriously beyond the land of his birth? Does he long for a sense Zweisamkeit which is rarely achievable except in the fellowship of like-minded Llamas?
Makes you think, doh nit?
Meanwhile a significant number of his kinsmen [p.c. Kinsfolks] of which there are possibly up to 5,000 on our shores – [some registered and others not] – are being used for protecting livestock, chasing off predators. In 78% of cases, Llamas stop predator attacks altogether.
They are docile, intelligent creatures that bond with the livestock they protect and find fellowship in their company in the absence of other llamas. They are kindly disposed to their fellow creatures that don’t behave or feel as they do!
The population of Llamas and Alpacas in South America is estimated to be around the 7 million mark. But one significant fact which makes them resemble the population of Heaven; there are no feral Llamas. They all work for the benefit of the communities they live among, and the Blessed Book reminds us that the Heavenly Host “serve.”
Truly Thelonius challenges Old Gnu about his life of Discipleship.
Vetus Pater Gnu
Musicorum et Theologia
Turris LA
XXVI Mense Augusta MMXXV