Story #6

 #6

The journey is long, but following the track marks of the crystal’s vehicle is easy.  No rain will wash these away in a decade. The crystal is just too heavy. It pushes down on the machine, a force beyond gravity, like a magnet, and the vessel advances slowly. The boy, now tired, muddy and afraid, dares not enter the embrace of light given by the men and the machine. He remains at a distance, watching. Seeing as the adults share food and drinks. He is afraid of being caught, but also of losing sight of his mission. Some hours ago he yelled to his father. He screamed and then ran back home, took a pound of jerky and embarked upon the trail. “Dad, the animal came to us.” He had said. “Do not be superstitious.” The man responded. “I am not. But…” “Son, the beast is not alive. None of them are.” They are remnants of our Sun. Look to your family, before you look to yourself. Is what you want more precious than what we need?” But the boy heeded no advice, and now walks behind a rumbling vessel of a time long past, its engine roaring to the skies with a technology too old and too loud. At least, he thinks, he will see the city for the first time and see the big Saeia Ships and buildings and roads. He looks into his pocket and takes a very small, broken crystal. The thing glows shy and dim within his hands. In his mind he sees bigger more luscious versions of the crystal powering entire streets. Flying vessels, impossible constructions all fed into life by crystals like the one he holds. He embraces these ideas and with renewed energy looks at the moving vessel and the Beast that became his ticket to the city.