I'KOSMAE: a Multiverse in the Balance: Chapter One

 

CHAPTER ONE: On Vacation 

Ambros sat in the great room of Arrenji’s apartment in the country house that ‘belonged’ to Estelli’s Line: ‘I feel entirely relaxed, for the first time in a couple of years,’ he thought. He smiled and took another sip of spicy tea.

‘The third week in January in USIT Lines. January 13^th, to be precise.’ he mused: ‘The Thirdday of the third tenday after the Winter Solstice.’

He banished such thoughts: ‘I’m here to unwind.’

“Ambros?” Kim’s voice came from out on the balcony.

“Yes?”

“What’s going on over there?”

Ambros knew what she meant: “Across the road?”

“Yeah...”

“Averos told me they were gonna dig the pit for Rose House this morning.”

“Oh. I see him!”

Ambros sauntered out onto the balcony and looked over Kim’s shoulder. She leaned back into him; he put his arms around her. 

They watched as twenty or so people milled about across the way.

Averos seemed to be directing traffic. Ambros could hear snatches of what he was saying: “...is on a municipal water and sewage system in its Home Line...we’ll move it basement and all...hook the water input to a condenser...Keenafthono sewage treatment...”

Tan coats and heavy boots indicated Laborer’s Guild; Tech Guild had no colors, but they were obvious by the machinery they carried or operated.

Averos continued: “Marie is fond of large rocks, so we’ll pile any boulders over here...endaxi, that’s deep enough, let’s smooth the sides...”

Two Builder’s Guild members used tools similar to APSs to make the walls of the pit square and smooth.

Ambros turned around and hollered: “Hey, Marie, Luisa! I bet you’ll want to see this...”

 

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