Story: The Glove, I

(Part II)

On Ganymede, a moon of Troos in the Farseeker system, there were Scots. Sometime in the millennium since practical spaceflight to the stars blossomed a band of colonists set their caps for this dim and distant yellow star and flew. The moon Ganymede was large and spacious and hosted two large cities, both on the equator but on opposite sides of the planet. These cities were known as Edin and Burgh, and traditionally were spaced so as to allow each the best chance of survival should the other fall. Of course, as centuries rolled by, the two cities became more distinct in their cultures and beliefs.

Edin became the focus for academic and scientific advancement, where technical achievement begot industrial progress which in turn begot more technical achievement. Burgh developed the arts, and was hereditary home to the bards, pipers and libraries of artefacts brought from Earth in the last days before departure. There would be no more artefacts as Earth was no more, vanished inexplicably forever.

One fine spring day, an apprentice piper called Steffan awoke and rolled out of his hammock to face the new day. Troos was large in the sky, but no longer intimidated people as it had done for so long. Now it was normal, a great rocky mass that seemed to orbit Ganymede as the moon in reality spun on its axis. This was hoped to be a landmark day for Steffan, the day when he might cease life as an apprentice and become a journeyman. He shaved, washed, dressed and ate before finally leaving his apartment in Burgh and heading out to the Circle.

Crossing Burgh and traversing the four great parks, Steffan reached the Circle, that great performance area where all musical rites were performed and exams undertaken. Standing at the periphery it seemed as if an extra layer of magic lay over the place. The great standing stones that stood in a ring encompassed the world literally hanging overhead and the air tasted of cheese and sulphur.

Now all he could do was wait. The exam would come when his peers arrived and sat in judgement. Perhaps he would fail and remain an apprentice for another six months, or maybe he would pass. Seeing someone ready for a performance park visitors drifted over to the circle and began to settle down, not knowing how long the wait might be for.

The wait would not be for long...

To be continued... ?