Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Four
As Martin had expected, the Central District of Fordham was night-and-day different from the Northern District. By moonlight, firelight, and lamplight, the pair navigated the dirt sidewalks that flanked the corduroy skid road. Even after dark, a few...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Ten
A beat of silence resounded between Namo and Martin. As much as he was loath to disclose information about the relationship between Fadina and him, knew he had to say something. “Martin? Please, answer me,” she pleaded, using his full first name...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Twenty
A drop of icy water landing on Martin’s temple startled him awake. Only a faint amount of light shone through the thick canvas walls of the tent, though it was bright enough to where Martin noticed droplets of condensation clinging to the ceiling....
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Thirteen
The following day brought some level of pomp and circumstance given the planned memorial service. Uyutuk excitedly roused the travelers shortly before sunrise, which was an unexpected emotion for the human, considering the solemnity of the day’s...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Nine
Scrubby oak woodland characterized the top of the plateau the pair had scaled on their second day of travel, but the well-maintained trail meant the pair could cross the remaining distance to Benuun over mostly flat ground in merely several hours’...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Seventeen
The next several days proved a significant challenge for Martin, who prioritized, at the bare minimum, not making an embarrassment of himself. For one, the man knew next to nothing about construction. That in itself would have been fine; he was willing...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Twelve
Martin blinked and realized his breath was heaving. He closed and opened his left palm once again. Clean, no blood. The creases of his palm traced the same patterns as they had that night, one of the only direct reminders of the events from two years...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Sixteen
Martin and Namo relayed the information they had been charged with delivering, as well as their own history and justification behind why they were the ones delivering the news instead of residents of Benuun. The chief, the woman by the name...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Seven
Still shaken though he was from his encounter behind City Hall, Martin nevertheless composed himself enough to retrace his steps back to the Central District and, from there, find his way to the herbalist thanks to directions provided by one of the...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Eighteen
The next several days of labor proceeded apace. As Martin’s ability to grasp needed Kepmuun vocabulary and basic grammatical structure increased alongside his competency for hand carpentry, his deepest struggle was the war within himself to not binge...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Twenty-two
A sensation of being suspended beneath water greeted Martin as he came to. His head swam and muffled sounds washed toward him in ebbing and flowing waves. Martin lifted his head as he heard a thump, a yell, and then pain—his own pain, throbbing pain as...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Twenty-nine
The hulking steel machine arrived with the squeal of metal under friction and a great puff of smoke. After a moment, side doors opened on several of the brightly-painted railcars, allowing throngs of people to hurriedly disembark with the train. The...