today 2448 day 2 total 5004 enjoy
Just be glad that we know the truth and don’t have to wonder if a mythical dragon or griffin is going to swoop down upon use.”
One of them laughed as she stood to go. “Or that a unicorn is going to carry us of. Rhinos, even deformed do not carry people of. Attack them yes, but carry them off no. And there are safely none in walking distance. Not these days.”
P looked at John. “Now where are you to go young man?”
John swallowed a sigh and said. “Home and see that my room is picked up and the dogs feed. Then homework done before diner, if I want to watch anything after.” P nodded and John set off home. He could not help looked out at the trees wishfully. How he wished he could go play in them for a bit. But he knew better. Heck even on non-school days his grandfather never let him go past the scrub at the edge. It had been his Mom that had taken him in to the real forest and let him see true trees. But that was the past.
Perhaps John thought, when his dad returned from the trading trip, if he wasn’t to tired this time. At lest he would have news of the world outside to share. It was such a different place. How strange it would be to live in a town where the Mountains were just distant specks. Little own further in where they couldn’t be seen at all. Then to think, once you got past the outer town the only trees there were had been Planted by people. Of all things! Why would a person plant a tree? What did those trees look like? Dad said they were smaller, but that was no description and Grandfather and the others would not allow trading in pitchers. They gave to much away. It was important that the Cities stayed hidden. The little trade they did was nerve warring enough. If it wasn’t so necessary, they would not have made the twisted rutted road. There was always the fear that someone would find it, would fallow But it was necessary. Truth required growth. There was always more to learn, and one place could not contain all there was. So sharing was needed. The cities shared what they made and in turn the trades brought back the new discoveries made in the large world. Some were inferior or had already been disproved, others were worth while. Like the cables that now connected the cities so news and messages could be shard faster. They cased an increase in computer knowledge. Another form of truth, that in turn would lead to more understanding.
It had been years since anything major had come in. These days it was all small stuff. A new fabric, or way to make clothing. A faster processor, or a smaller one. More compact memory a better program. A new cell, or function of cell. More uncoded DNA. All useful and good truth, but not necessarily life changing. But each thing was a step to something bigger.
Yes what Dad did was necessary and good, worth while. But it took him away to much. If only I could go with him sometime. One of the summer trips, there was less school work to worry about then. But it was to dangerous. Not the trip, though it was long. Three weeks to get there. It was safe enough, the cars were enough to keep the rhinos at bay though the wild stretches. But having a child along would attract undo attention. Then you had Grandfather and the counsel weighing in to. They felt that there was to much undo influence to let children go out of the cities. The lies were to prevalent in the wider world. Indeed some older kids had said, thou how they would know John had no idea, that out there lies, stories, were pressed as fact. That folks in there drams did not dress up or use silly props, so that the watcher would always know that it was fake. A lie, not truth. Instead they were dressed like everyday folks on the street. It was possible to believe that there lies were truth, not just an act. In fact it was a mark of a good show if you did forget for a bit that it want real. There were even fairytales for adults. Things they called novels, books of lies. Present the same as their shows. It was silly. Why would anyone want to be taken in by a lie. Made to think, even for a bit, that the impossible could be real? It just made no since.
John reached his home and headed into his spotless room. He tossed his books on his bed then went to check on the dogs. As usual Greta had all ready feed and watered them. She always did but he needed to be able to say yes when Grandfather asked if he had checked them. It never accrued to John that he could lie. The truth was to valued. He went back into his room and took the books out and sat at his desk. But did not open them right away his mind was still to full. I wish I could see one of those novels, or shows. Just once, to know what the fuss was. Then maybe I could understand why they have them. But in order to do that I must join a trade caravan. Before I can even start to think of it I would have to be 18. Never mind you are expected to start working wen sent to anther school at sixteen. They wont let anyone under 18 enter the train, then it is three more years of school before you can even consider applying. Then it can take up to year to hear back on that application. And genially only those who have a good reason to get away are accepted. Someone who has a recent tragedy and needs a new sight to get there head right. So most likely taking the classes would be a waste, but. I had better stop wool gathering. Like grandfather says, it is unproductive. With that he forced his attention to his books and set about his duties.
Back at city hall they were at work to. There had been anther proposal for an exploring party to the mountains. Most of the base had been mapped, but this party wanted to go further in. P looked at the young lass in front of him. “I must in all conscience say that this is a bad idea. If you would scale back the amount of land you want to map, I could see it. But this plan takes you to close to the point of know return. None who have went more than 50 feet up graves path have lived. You are asking to go 45 feet up and then take east to Sanctuary, our western border, before descending. While I agree that you plan has merit and is intriguing. It would be nice to know more, We would be far more comfortable if you would pull back anther five feet.”
Sally shifted her feet a bit and then said. “I have made careful study of those past expeditions. If you look you will see I am far better prepared than they were. I have made up for lacks they failed to see. There is no reason I can not make the trek at that distance. I assure you I will not touch, little own pass the fifty foot mark. Others have returned from the same distance. Yes I am well aware that most returned injured. But not all did. By comparing the list from all trips I am confident that I have avoided the mistakes and can bring my expedition back safe. I feel strongly that it is vital we learn what there is of use in those mountains. We can not continue to let such a potently vital resource go untapped. Why we might just have our own source of crystals for the lenses. Or if not something that will better off set there cost, The way prices are going if we do not find something soon we will be facing shortages. Shortages that are likely unnecessary.”
P said, “I can find no error with you logic. I agree it is past time a survey was undertaken. But the height you wish is to close to danger”
Sally said, “I did not just pull it out of a hat! As you can see it is at that height that my scopes detected the most likely sights for caves. Caves are the best place to look for sings of what I seek.”
George, anther elder, spoke then. “And if you find what you seek, what then? The Ancestors warned of the dangers in mine, and then we have examples. Those dangers are why prices have went up. Whole towns had to be abandoned do to toxins. The mountains are our back door. Where would we go?”
Sally said, “I am well aware of those warnings. They are a part of why nothing has been done. But we no longer have to worry. It would not be humans in the mines but machines. Less space would be need. Less excavation, less toxins. Also we would be following modern methods, No strip mining, that is what they were doing. Yes there would be a small amount of change, but each shaft will be refilled when done with. All mining will be done using only methods that have been proved safe and non-toxic. If there is no safe way, if there is even a hint of lasting ill affect the shat will be filled and we will move to a better sight. We will be working very close to the inviermental sinctists. One word from them will halt work. If a solution can not be found that mine will close. This is my home, I am not going to do anything to hurt it. In the area you were referring to the bosses were all outsides with no ties. There are no outsiders here.”
P said, “You have made reasonable plans. There is no reason for us to deny them. Therefor you trip is approved. Funds are with the clerk. I do whish you would rethink the height.” Sally nodded and left. P turned to the others. “I hate have to let them go. I hope this one was right, and has planed enough. I am just glad it was not one wanting to try to get though the mountains. Poor Safety, loosing more youngsters that way. But it would be wrong to hold them back. It would cause more problems. Reawaking old rumors. The elders are right, it is best to let them go.” The others nodded, trying to act as though they did not see the hurt in his eyes, as though they did not remember the ones he had lost to the mountain.
Chapter 2 Skyvail: Raven
The sounds of giggling echoed thou the cavern. Serena followed it to find Raven and Rule just where she had expected to. In the middle of the old bathing pool, soaked to the gills and splashing up a storm. She shook her head and tried to sound fierce, which failed as always. “Just what do you to think you are doing? What were you told?” The course of “Sorry mom” That answered her made it a fight to keep from laughing, which would ruin the effect she was trying to have. “Now you both know you are not to be in the caves alone. What if something was to happen? Where should you be and why aren’t you there?”
Both kids hung their heads. Raven spoke first, as usual. “It is safe here. This cave is well maintained. What could have happed? Both of us passed our entire swim test years ago. You know we did.” She was avoiding the real issue, and knew it. Serena taped a claw on the cave floor. Raven sighed, “Ok we should be at school. But they want us to go in different rooms again. It is so boring. I know all that stuff all ready. I don’t see why we should have to set though the same stuff all the time.”
Serenity chose to ignore the first comment for now. That old saw could wait a bit. “Did ether of you tell them that you had all ready passed you A levels? Hum? I didn’t think so. How were they to know, if you didn’t tell them. After all you told Willow and me that you could take yourselves school. You did not need us.”
Both kids looked a bit ashamed. This time Rule spoke for them. “They didn’t give us a chance to say nothing. Just took the paper and saw we were nine and said I went to this room and Raven to that room. We didn’t leave right away. We thought they just wanted to see what we knew. So we tried to show them, but just got yelled at. They didn’t want to know. But we did try again at the first break. No one believed us, so we left. No point in setting there with nothing to do.”
Serenity shook her head. “You can’t just leave like that. You had a lot of people very worried. They don’t know us here yet. They do not know that you wouldn’t get lost. That you both always know what direction you’re going. All that they knew was that two young children, new to the town, had wandered off. What do you think should be done?”
Raven said, “We need to go and apologize. We did not think, we are so used to going it never even accrued that anyone would be scared.” Both kids got out of the water and set about getting dry. A few minuets and they were heading to mouth of the cave.
Serenity nodded. “I will go back with you, and see what I can do about the placement. But you will have to accept being separated. There are things that do not apply to both dragons and humans.”
Rule grumbled. “So you keep saying. But we will just share it all latter anywise so what difference does it make in our case? I know it is not about us but the others. Still I don’t like it. I don’t like Raven where I can’t get to her. It is not right. What if something was to happen.”
One of them laughed as she stood to go. “Or that a unicorn is going to carry us of. Rhinos, even deformed do not carry people of. Attack them yes, but carry them off no. And there are safely none in walking distance. Not these days.”
P looked at John. “Now where are you to go young man?”
John swallowed a sigh and said. “Home and see that my room is picked up and the dogs feed. Then homework done before diner, if I want to watch anything after.” P nodded and John set off home. He could not help looked out at the trees wishfully. How he wished he could go play in them for a bit. But he knew better. Heck even on non-school days his grandfather never let him go past the scrub at the edge. It had been his Mom that had taken him in to the real forest and let him see true trees. But that was the past.
Perhaps John thought, when his dad returned from the trading trip, if he wasn’t to tired this time. At lest he would have news of the world outside to share. It was such a different place. How strange it would be to live in a town where the Mountains were just distant specks. Little own further in where they couldn’t be seen at all. Then to think, once you got past the outer town the only trees there were had been Planted by people. Of all things! Why would a person plant a tree? What did those trees look like? Dad said they were smaller, but that was no description and Grandfather and the others would not allow trading in pitchers. They gave to much away. It was important that the Cities stayed hidden. The little trade they did was nerve warring enough. If it wasn’t so necessary, they would not have made the twisted rutted road. There was always the fear that someone would find it, would fallow But it was necessary. Truth required growth. There was always more to learn, and one place could not contain all there was. So sharing was needed. The cities shared what they made and in turn the trades brought back the new discoveries made in the large world. Some were inferior or had already been disproved, others were worth while. Like the cables that now connected the cities so news and messages could be shard faster. They cased an increase in computer knowledge. Another form of truth, that in turn would lead to more understanding.
It had been years since anything major had come in. These days it was all small stuff. A new fabric, or way to make clothing. A faster processor, or a smaller one. More compact memory a better program. A new cell, or function of cell. More uncoded DNA. All useful and good truth, but not necessarily life changing. But each thing was a step to something bigger.
Yes what Dad did was necessary and good, worth while. But it took him away to much. If only I could go with him sometime. One of the summer trips, there was less school work to worry about then. But it was to dangerous. Not the trip, though it was long. Three weeks to get there. It was safe enough, the cars were enough to keep the rhinos at bay though the wild stretches. But having a child along would attract undo attention. Then you had Grandfather and the counsel weighing in to. They felt that there was to much undo influence to let children go out of the cities. The lies were to prevalent in the wider world. Indeed some older kids had said, thou how they would know John had no idea, that out there lies, stories, were pressed as fact. That folks in there drams did not dress up or use silly props, so that the watcher would always know that it was fake. A lie, not truth. Instead they were dressed like everyday folks on the street. It was possible to believe that there lies were truth, not just an act. In fact it was a mark of a good show if you did forget for a bit that it want real. There were even fairytales for adults. Things they called novels, books of lies. Present the same as their shows. It was silly. Why would anyone want to be taken in by a lie. Made to think, even for a bit, that the impossible could be real? It just made no since.
John reached his home and headed into his spotless room. He tossed his books on his bed then went to check on the dogs. As usual Greta had all ready feed and watered them. She always did but he needed to be able to say yes when Grandfather asked if he had checked them. It never accrued to John that he could lie. The truth was to valued. He went back into his room and took the books out and sat at his desk. But did not open them right away his mind was still to full. I wish I could see one of those novels, or shows. Just once, to know what the fuss was. Then maybe I could understand why they have them. But in order to do that I must join a trade caravan. Before I can even start to think of it I would have to be 18. Never mind you are expected to start working wen sent to anther school at sixteen. They wont let anyone under 18 enter the train, then it is three more years of school before you can even consider applying. Then it can take up to year to hear back on that application. And genially only those who have a good reason to get away are accepted. Someone who has a recent tragedy and needs a new sight to get there head right. So most likely taking the classes would be a waste, but. I had better stop wool gathering. Like grandfather says, it is unproductive. With that he forced his attention to his books and set about his duties.
Back at city hall they were at work to. There had been anther proposal for an exploring party to the mountains. Most of the base had been mapped, but this party wanted to go further in. P looked at the young lass in front of him. “I must in all conscience say that this is a bad idea. If you would scale back the amount of land you want to map, I could see it. But this plan takes you to close to the point of know return. None who have went more than 50 feet up graves path have lived. You are asking to go 45 feet up and then take east to Sanctuary, our western border, before descending. While I agree that you plan has merit and is intriguing. It would be nice to know more, We would be far more comfortable if you would pull back anther five feet.”
Sally shifted her feet a bit and then said. “I have made careful study of those past expeditions. If you look you will see I am far better prepared than they were. I have made up for lacks they failed to see. There is no reason I can not make the trek at that distance. I assure you I will not touch, little own pass the fifty foot mark. Others have returned from the same distance. Yes I am well aware that most returned injured. But not all did. By comparing the list from all trips I am confident that I have avoided the mistakes and can bring my expedition back safe. I feel strongly that it is vital we learn what there is of use in those mountains. We can not continue to let such a potently vital resource go untapped. Why we might just have our own source of crystals for the lenses. Or if not something that will better off set there cost, The way prices are going if we do not find something soon we will be facing shortages. Shortages that are likely unnecessary.”
P said, “I can find no error with you logic. I agree it is past time a survey was undertaken. But the height you wish is to close to danger”
Sally said, “I did not just pull it out of a hat! As you can see it is at that height that my scopes detected the most likely sights for caves. Caves are the best place to look for sings of what I seek.”
George, anther elder, spoke then. “And if you find what you seek, what then? The Ancestors warned of the dangers in mine, and then we have examples. Those dangers are why prices have went up. Whole towns had to be abandoned do to toxins. The mountains are our back door. Where would we go?”
Sally said, “I am well aware of those warnings. They are a part of why nothing has been done. But we no longer have to worry. It would not be humans in the mines but machines. Less space would be need. Less excavation, less toxins. Also we would be following modern methods, No strip mining, that is what they were doing. Yes there would be a small amount of change, but each shaft will be refilled when done with. All mining will be done using only methods that have been proved safe and non-toxic. If there is no safe way, if there is even a hint of lasting ill affect the shat will be filled and we will move to a better sight. We will be working very close to the inviermental sinctists. One word from them will halt work. If a solution can not be found that mine will close. This is my home, I am not going to do anything to hurt it. In the area you were referring to the bosses were all outsides with no ties. There are no outsiders here.”
P said, “You have made reasonable plans. There is no reason for us to deny them. Therefor you trip is approved. Funds are with the clerk. I do whish you would rethink the height.” Sally nodded and left. P turned to the others. “I hate have to let them go. I hope this one was right, and has planed enough. I am just glad it was not one wanting to try to get though the mountains. Poor Safety, loosing more youngsters that way. But it would be wrong to hold them back. It would cause more problems. Reawaking old rumors. The elders are right, it is best to let them go.” The others nodded, trying to act as though they did not see the hurt in his eyes, as though they did not remember the ones he had lost to the mountain.
Chapter 2 Skyvail: Raven
The sounds of giggling echoed thou the cavern. Serena followed it to find Raven and Rule just where she had expected to. In the middle of the old bathing pool, soaked to the gills and splashing up a storm. She shook her head and tried to sound fierce, which failed as always. “Just what do you to think you are doing? What were you told?” The course of “Sorry mom” That answered her made it a fight to keep from laughing, which would ruin the effect she was trying to have. “Now you both know you are not to be in the caves alone. What if something was to happen? Where should you be and why aren’t you there?”
Both kids hung their heads. Raven spoke first, as usual. “It is safe here. This cave is well maintained. What could have happed? Both of us passed our entire swim test years ago. You know we did.” She was avoiding the real issue, and knew it. Serena taped a claw on the cave floor. Raven sighed, “Ok we should be at school. But they want us to go in different rooms again. It is so boring. I know all that stuff all ready. I don’t see why we should have to set though the same stuff all the time.”
Serenity chose to ignore the first comment for now. That old saw could wait a bit. “Did ether of you tell them that you had all ready passed you A levels? Hum? I didn’t think so. How were they to know, if you didn’t tell them. After all you told Willow and me that you could take yourselves school. You did not need us.”
Both kids looked a bit ashamed. This time Rule spoke for them. “They didn’t give us a chance to say nothing. Just took the paper and saw we were nine and said I went to this room and Raven to that room. We didn’t leave right away. We thought they just wanted to see what we knew. So we tried to show them, but just got yelled at. They didn’t want to know. But we did try again at the first break. No one believed us, so we left. No point in setting there with nothing to do.”
Serenity shook her head. “You can’t just leave like that. You had a lot of people very worried. They don’t know us here yet. They do not know that you wouldn’t get lost. That you both always know what direction you’re going. All that they knew was that two young children, new to the town, had wandered off. What do you think should be done?”
Raven said, “We need to go and apologize. We did not think, we are so used to going it never even accrued that anyone would be scared.” Both kids got out of the water and set about getting dry. A few minuets and they were heading to mouth of the cave.
Serenity nodded. “I will go back with you, and see what I can do about the placement. But you will have to accept being separated. There are things that do not apply to both dragons and humans.”
Rule grumbled. “So you keep saying. But we will just share it all latter anywise so what difference does it make in our case? I know it is not about us but the others. Still I don’t like it. I don’t like Raven where I can’t get to her. It is not right. What if something was to happen.”
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