Eon

Chapter 7

Carson awoke as the birds around him began to sing tentative songs and the shifting unknowns inside the forests became alive. He sat up in his cot and rubbed his forehead wearily and then stretched his limbs. He put on his clothes, the same clothes he had worn on his journey to Eon, leaving behind the iron and cloth suit. He sighed once, breathing in the clean air of the morning, and then exited the Insurgent's tent to greet Far-Sky and her coming dawn.

Already the Chesons were hard at work cultivating the shifting machinations of their city. They toiled here and there, some riding the strange bicycle contraptions that fueled the city, some approaching the banks of the river and retrieving the precious waters that sedated their thirst. As Carson walked through the crowds of natives he was greeted by a varying degree of expressions and stares. In one instance he was met with a scowl that created creases on the wide forehead of the Cheson, and in another a young female smiled at him and bowed slightly in curious respect.

Carson went to sit on the edge of the river, watching as the clear currents drifted like sleeping giants unaware of all not within their domain. The constant movings of the waters placated Carson's mind and put him at ease as the morning drew forth and the skies became alive with a green shade that washed over Far-Sky. The noises of the city became louder behind him and it was in this moment that Carson realized just how grand Far-Sky was and how easily it could fall. The wooden foundations and the timid peoples were seemingly so weak.

Han approached Carson as he lay in the dirt of the river with a bowed head. He was wearing the same pure-white robe with the tree-symbol from before. Carson smiled slightly at Han and he sat up at attention in order to converse with the native. The surrounding Cheson continued to work and seemed to ignore the couple, yet Carson felt an unease, as if he were being watched. By who, he did not know.

"Good Morning Carson," Han said with his soft voice. "I just received the news that you will be staying for a little while longer. This please me greatly."

There was no sarcasm in the native's voice and for all Carson knew Han was telling the truth. The Insurgent clapped his hands together. Particles of dirt fell to the ground and mingled with Eon herself.

"Thank you," Carson replied. "Out commander wants me to get acquainted with how things work here. The Chancellor said you wouldn't mind showing me around again?"

"Of course not. It would be my pleasure. If this will better relations with those around us, then I will do my best to accommodate you. We Chesons regard our history and our livelihood with great pride. It is good to see others recognize this."

Carson ignored the mounting ignorance he had begun to see in the Cheson's leaders and smiled back at Han as the native extended his arms towards the inner-workings of Far-Sky.

"If you would follow me, Insurgent, I will show you how we organize our work force" Han said. "I am under the impression that you are aware that you will need to work during your stay here? I hope you understand. We must all play our role in maintaining Far-Sky."

"Yeah, I understand. I'm ready to get started."

"This is good. Follow me, please. I'll introduce you to a quartermaster and then we can get you to work."

They passed through the bustling innards of the city and came upon a small thatch-roof building with a painted image of a sickle on its front door. The quartermaster himself was a large Cheson with a scar across his forehead that curved around his horns. He stared at Carson and grunted.

"The human," the quartermaster said plainly.

"This is Carson," Han replied in a stern tone. "He is going to be staying at Far-Sky for a while, and he would like some work. What jobs are available?"