The Formal Beauty
(a writing exercise, Science Fiction)
The Krill were dying in the Seas of the North; it was past times for someone to stop the deaths. One Chancellor was brave enough to invoke the one solution that would change the problem--indeed could change a lot of their world’s problems...
“…What?" Juni said, turning from his balcony to look at him.
"I said, Why don't we use the Formal Beauty?" Angkor raised on tip-toes almost able to see over the last hill and view the shining of the nearest shore of the North Sea a hundred distances away.
"Former Beauty, you mean."
`Yes. Yes. As some still call It, but you know, Juni, that It has over a hundred names."
"Doesn't matter, It is not available."
"I have seen It…Them...my--'
“You do not know what you speak…anyway don't--"
"But, Juni--"
“They will change you if they...it is still possible for them to hear us even two distances above the city…you must not pursue this talk, Angie."
"It is not the talk of It that I seek. Those Krill who are in the North Seas are--"
"We know about that…them...and you know that we had to tell them that nothing can be done for them."
"Anything can be done with The Formal Beauty."
"Angkor, why do you persist in this?"
"Because that is what It was meant to be used for...not hidden away...afraid of."
"That was a long time ago...eons...It does not exist."
"Not. I have seen...I have seen The Formal Beauty--"
"I swear, Angie, you bring them on us both…W-When have you seen It? How?"
"Yesterday and many times before…almost all my life."
"Shhh...l don't wanna hear any more, Angie...they will come and change both of us...”
Juni was visibly changed already. Red and ocra moved in several places about his face looking like red worms wiggling under his skin as they coursed through his blood vessels...but he was interested. He did want to know more--at least half of him did…"
--Editors on the Red Team
(a writing exercise, Science Fiction)
The Krill were dying in the Seas of the North; it was past times for someone to stop the deaths. One Chancellor was brave enough to invoke the one solution that would change the problem--indeed could change a lot of their world’s problems...
“…What?" Juni said, turning from his balcony to look at him.
"I said, Why don't we use the Formal Beauty?" Angkor raised on tip-toes almost able to see over the last hill and view the shining of the nearest shore of the North Sea a hundred distances away.
"Former Beauty, you mean."
`Yes. Yes. As some still call It, but you know, Juni, that It has over a hundred names."
"Doesn't matter, It is not available."
"I have seen It…Them...my--'
“You do not know what you speak…anyway don't--"
"But, Juni--"
“They will change you if they...it is still possible for them to hear us even two distances above the city…you must not pursue this talk, Angie."
"It is not the talk of It that I seek. Those Krill who are in the North Seas are--"
"We know about that…them...and you know that we had to tell them that nothing can be done for them."
"Anything can be done with The Formal Beauty."
"Angkor, why do you persist in this?"
"Because that is what It was meant to be used for...not hidden away...afraid of."
"That was a long time ago...eons...It does not exist."
"Not. I have seen...I have seen The Formal Beauty--"
"I swear, Angie, you bring them on us both…W-When have you seen It? How?"
"Yesterday and many times before…almost all my life."
"Shhh...l don't wanna hear any more, Angie...they will come and change both of us...”
Juni was visibly changed already. Red and ocra moved in several places about his face looking like red worms wiggling under his skin as they coursed through his blood vessels...but he was interested. He did want to know more--at least half of him did…"
--Editors on the Red Team