fiction - brigits_flame - amber
This is my entry for the writing activity on the brigits_flame community. I made it through the whole month again! Just like the last time I participated, I decided to write a set of connected stories using the same characters. You don't need to read the other parts for this to make sense, but if you like you can read part 1 (mud) here: http://hwango.livejournal.com/194555.html , part 2 (eternal) here: http://hwango.livejournal.com/195648.html , and part 3 (pregnant) here: http://hwango.livejournal.com/196388.html .
The topic for week #4 of September is "Amber," for which I have written the following:
Of all the incredible things that the renowned explorer Sir Reginald Hatter had seen in his journeys all over the world, the one before him at that moment was unquestionably the most magnificent. It was more amazing than the Singing Monolith of the Zindu, more impressive than the Reverse Waterfall of Klim, and easier to see than the Underground Cathedral of Llu. Also, it was quieter than the Monolith, it hadn't drenched him in scalding, sulfurous water like the Waterfall had, and he didn't have a concussion like the one he had gotten after walking into a stalactite while looking for the Cathedral. All in all, this was the most enjoyable marvel that he had seen in all of his travels, though the moment was somewhat tainted by the fact that forty-seven of his men had died while getting him there.
Sir Hatter turned to one of his surviving crewmen and gestured expansively at the sight before them, the noon sun flashing on his teeth as he grinned with boundless enthusiasm. "Well, Wilkins, what do you say? Shall we take a closer look?"
The man frowned at him. "I'm Roberts, sir," the man said. "Wilkins was eaten by a giant snake two days ago. Remember? The blue one?"
"Ah," Sir Hatter said awkwardly. "Of course, I remember now."
"To answer your question, though," Roberts said, "absolutely not. You promised the men that we were only going as far as the top of this ridge. Ask them to go any further and it wouldn't surprise me if they mutiny." His expression and tone strongly hinted that he would lead the mutiny himself.
"But…but look at it! It's so amazing! Don't you think…?" Sir Hatter trailed off as Roberts subtly shook his head. Crestfallen, Sir Hatter turned away. "Very well. We shall turn back."
It was true that the expedition had turned out to be rather more perilous than Hatter had anticipated. At first glance, the newly-discovered island appeared to be a tropical paradise. It was only once you set foot on the island that you realized that you had just stepped into flammable quicksand, that the vine you had reached for to save yourself was actually the tentacle of a tree squid, and that it was pointless to cry for help because the only person close enough to help you was being eaten by a dinosaur. It was an unbelievably dangerous place.
Undaunted, Sir Hatter had named the island Utopia in accordance with his rather peculiar sense of humor, and then he had led his dwindling supply of men across the treacherous landscape, determined to catalog its wonders in the name of discovery and human perseverance. After many days of arduous travel they had discovered a mountain at the center of the island that had actually turned out to be an enormous crater, and Sir Hatter had led them to the top to see what lay inside. Here, though, the patience of his long-suffering men had finally worn out, and Hatter could go no further.
Sir Hatter took one last forlorn look over his shoulder and vowed one day to return to the island and see up close the marvel that stood in the center of the crater. Alas, Sir Hatter never made that journey, and the task of studying Utopia's most amazing feature fell to other brave men.
* * *
Professor Viktor Flint was thinking about Sir Hatter as he and his companions made their way up the side of the mountain that had come to be called Hatter's Bowl. He was proud to be following in the footsteps of such a great man, although strictly speaking he wasn't literally following in Hatter's footsteps, since instead of making the journey on foot he was riding in a hulking, armored, steam-powered leviathan called the Multi-Terrain Thermovaporous Drive Conveyance. It had been commissioned specifically for this journey by the Burgton Academy for Botanical Research, and the builders had tried to anticipate every possible obstacle and danger that the expedition might encounter. Though the vehicle had performed admirably thus far, the island had turned out to be even more perilous than anyone had anticipated, and the metal skin of the Conveyance was a ruin of dents and scars.
Flint's colleague, Professor Samuel Reuben, was thinking about the same thing that had dominated his thoughts for the past several days - his hated rival, Professor Harold Teiger. A week into their journey across the island the Burgton expedition had encountered another team of explorers in a vehicle similar to their own, this one funded by the Burgton Academy's long-time rival, the Shireford College of Botanical Science. Leading that expedition was the odious Professor Teiger, who had sworn to beat them to the center of the island in the name of his own personal glory rather than the advancement of science and the betterment of humanity. A bitter taste filled Reuben's mouth at the very idea of Teiger reaching the center of the island first. Reuben sipped some tea to wash away the bitterness and calm his nerves.
The final member of the Burgton expedition, Devon Creedy, was thinking about fluffy pillows and a soft mattress. Under the circumstances, however, he would settle for the rather spartan cot in his cabin inside the Conveyance. The relentless pace that they had set for themselves after their meeting with Teiger was taking its toll on him. These days they drove long into the night whenever they dared, but Devon wasn't sure how much longer he could go on before he succumbed to exhaustion. He was the expedition's driver and mechanic as well as being the unofficial bodyguard for the two botanists. Devon kept the Conveyance moving and its passengers alive, each of which was a monumental task all on its own.
The sun was drooping towards the horizon as Devon gradually brought the vehicle to a halt. Devon could hear thunder now that the noise from the turning wheels had stopped, and he looked up to see storm clouds rolling in. He rose from his seat and climbed below decks to give the professors an update.
"You wanted to know when we'd almost reached the top so you could come above decks, but there's a storm coming in, and the light is failing. What do you want to do?" Devon said, hoping that they would do the sane thing and call a halt for the day. The past several days had left him with little doubt of how they would reply, though.
"We can't stop now if we're so close! At least drive us the rest of the way to the top so we can see it," Reuben said. Flint nodded his agreement. Devon sighed and motioned for them to follow him as he climbed back out of the Conveyance. Once outside, the two men stood at the railing near Devon at the front of the vehicle. Devon yawned and then started them forward again.
After a few more moments, the Conveyance reached the top of the ridge, only a few yards from where Sir Hatter himself had stood years ago. Devon's hands slipped from the controls as he stared in amazement, and the vehicle eased gently to a stop.
The three men beheld a tree - a tree of seemingly impossible proportions. At least a thousand feet tall, with a crown just as wide, it could easily have provided shade for one of the great pyramids. Only the depth of the crater allowed them to look down upon it. Sir Hatter had written that the leaf canopy was so thick that it had blocked out all of the noontime sun, and the crown of the tree had seemed to float on a cushion of darkness. With the fading evening light coming in at a lower angle, the three men could barely make out the trunk, and could see that it was thick enough that an entire tall ship could have been carved from it in a single piece. It was the largest living thing yet found on earth, and must have been thousands of years old.
"By God, isn't it magnificent?" Reuben said.
"It certainly is," said Devon breathlessly.
"Absolutely spectacular," Reuben said.
"The way they catch the light of the setting sun, like a thousand jewels," Devon said.
"Yes, like…" Reuben trailed off. What? Did he mean the leaves of the tree? They didn't look much like jewels to Reuben. That, and there were certainly more than a thousand of them. Still, he supposed it didn't matter if Devon wasn't able to effectively articulate his appreciation of the magnificent tree.
"Like frozen fire," Devon said.
This was going too far. The leaves were a rich, luxuriant green, which was not a color common to fire. "Like fire?" Reuben asked.
"Don't you think so?" Devon said, sounding surprised. For a moment, Reuben was at a loss for words.
"No, not really," Reuben finally admitted. "They're a bit green for fire, aren't they?"
"Green? What are you talking about?" Devon said, now sounding every bit as confused as Reuben.
"Why, the leaves of the tree," Reuben said. "What are you talking about?"
Devon stared at him for a moment, and then pointed. "I'm talking about the hundreds of amber spires."
"Oh. Oh, yes!" Reuben said, spotting for the first time the rows upon rows of long, pointed pieces of amber that surrounded the trunk of the tree. Many of them were a dozen feet tall, and they all protruded from the ground facing up and away from the tree, like fortifications against charging cavalry. As Devon had said, the orange light of the setting sun shining on them made them look like pieces of frozen fire. "Yes, they're quite lovely, I suppose."
"It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen!" Devon said, appalled at Reuben's dismissive attitude.
"What about the tree, man?" Reuben countered, equally upset.
"It's impressive, certainly. I mean, I've never seen one that size. But the amber! That's incredible! I never would have dreamed such a thing existed!"
Simultaneously, both men realized that Professor Flint had spoken of neither marvel, and both turned to see which of them he would side with.
Flint's face was a mask of horror. He pointed, and Flint and Devon turned to look. It was Teiger.
Teiger must have had his men driving in shifts, twenty-four hours a day, in order to catch up with them, but catch up with them he had. He was hundreds of yards away, approaching the bowl from a different angle, but he was just as close to the tree as the Burgton vehicle was, and his vehicle was still moving. It had almost reached the decline of the crater when it jerked suddenly to a stop. A hatch opened on the top, and Teiger climbed partly outside to wave at them. He was far enough away that none of the Burgton men could clearly see his face, but they all knew his expression must be one of smug satisfaction. Teiger disappeared back inside, and the vehicle started forward again.
Huge, heavy drops of rain began to fall. Devon was too stunned to move. Flint was speechless with horror and despair. Reuben, however, was anything but speechless.
"My God, man, get us moving! We can still beat him!" Reuben shouted, but Devon ignored him. It was simply too dangerous to try to race Teiger to the bottom of the crater. His primary task had always been to keep the professors alive. It galled him to see a man like Teiger beat them, but there was nothing he could do now. Teiger had won.
Devon was roused from his despair by the sudden smell of ozone. He looked around frantically.
"What? What is it, man?! Why aren't we moving?!" Reuben was screaming at him. Devon pointed at the sky. Flashes of lightning exploded in the clouds almost continuously. The air felt like lead, and the smell of ozone was rapidly growing stronger. Light flickered in the edges of Devon's vision, and his eyes were drawn back to the floor of the crater. Small bolts of lightning flashed between the huge pieces of amber.
The rain had been growing steadily heavier, and Devon could see tiny rivers of rainwater streaming down the sides of the crater. He looked for Teiger's vehicle and saw it sliding down the slick decline, probably much faster than the driver intended.
A crash of thunder jolted Flint back to awareness of his surroundings. He looked down at the amber spires, which were practically ablaze with lightning now. Teiger's vehicle was spinning completely out of control, and it had almost reached the field of amber spires.
"You know, amber does a have a number of curious electrostatic properties that -" Flint started to say, but the end of his sentence was lost to a thunderous shockwave that sent all three men rocking back on their feet. A bolt of lightning had arced from the amber forest into the Shireford vehicle, which exploded as all of the water in its boiler vaporized at once.
The three men had been momentarily blinded by the flash. As their vision returned, they could see the wreckage illuminated by the electric flashes still dancing across the amber spires. From their current distance it was difficult to be certain, but Devon would guess that no single piece of debris was larger than a dinner plate.
"Damn him," Reuben said quietly. Devon glanced over at him, and could see that all of his anger had drained away, leaving something like pity in its wake.
"Let's get out of this rain," Devon said, and led the two stunned professors back inside to wait out the rest of the storm.
* * *
Teiger's dramatic passing had taken the urgency out of their journey, both because the Burgton scientists were no longer racing anyone to their goal, and also because it had quite effectively communicated the consequences of reckless haste. Still, both Flint and Reuben were eager to see the tree up close, and complained at some length when Devon refused to take the Conveyance down into the crater until the morning sun had dried out the slippery mud covering the slope.
Several hours after sunrise, Devon carefully guided the vehicle down into the crater, trying to keep his eyes on the terrain in front of him. The late morning sun made the amber spires even more brilliant than they had been yesterday, and he found his gaze drifting back to them again and again. At first he had been watchful of them in case he spotted any more electric flashes, but there was no evidence that they were going to be dangerous to approach now that the storm had passed. Now his eyes were drawn to them simply because they were beautiful.
He stopped the vehicle just beyond the ring of amber spikes furthest from the tree. It was possible that the Conveyance could drive right through them without sustaining damage, but Devon thought that such an act would border on sacrilege. Professor Reuben muttered something about having to walk, but Devon didn't think he would seriously consider smashing their way through the amber.
Eager to reach the tree, Professor Reuben set a quick pace through the amber forest, and Devon found himself falling behind. Then he noticed that Professor Flint was still with him rather than rushing ahead like Reuben. At first he thought that Flint was staying close to him in case some new danger presented itself, but then he noticed that Flint wasn't staring up at the tree the whole time, but also seemed to be appreciating the beauty of the amber that surrounded. Flint smiled at Devon and pointed to the nearest piece of amber.
"Do you know what amber is?" Flint asked him.
"Fossilized tree sap, isn't it?" Devon said, and remembered as he answered that Flint had been demonstrating knowledge of the substance just before the explosive end of Teiger's expedition.
"Not exactly. Technically, it's tree resin, which leaks out when a tree is damaged. But it takes millions of years for resin to turn into amber, not to mention that it would have be buried so it didn't degrade from ambient oxygen. This tree," Flint said, pointing ahead of them, "can't actually be that old, and these spires aren't buried. Do you realize what that means?"
"No," Devon said, unashamed of his ignorance of the subject.
Flint paused. "I'm not sure that I do either," he admitted. "It seems likely, though, that millions of years ago there used to be another tree here. Something cataclysmic must have happened to it. The resin must have been buried, turned into amber, and has since been unearthed by erosion. I wonder how big that tree must have been, and how old it must have been to grow so large."
Devon had never been a particularly religious man, but his memory nevertheless summoned up a story that prominently featured a tree and the wrath of god. He looked around at the spikes of amber that might have been the remains of a tree that, millions of years ago, had already been old. It was a silly thought, he knew, but if the tree turned out to bear fruit, Devon nevertheless resolved not to eat any, just in case.
The topic for week #4 of September is "Amber," for which I have written the following:
Of all the incredible things that the renowned explorer Sir Reginald Hatter had seen in his journeys all over the world, the one before him at that moment was unquestionably the most magnificent. It was more amazing than the Singing Monolith of the Zindu, more impressive than the Reverse Waterfall of Klim, and easier to see than the Underground Cathedral of Llu. Also, it was quieter than the Monolith, it hadn't drenched him in scalding, sulfurous water like the Waterfall had, and he didn't have a concussion like the one he had gotten after walking into a stalactite while looking for the Cathedral. All in all, this was the most enjoyable marvel that he had seen in all of his travels, though the moment was somewhat tainted by the fact that forty-seven of his men had died while getting him there.
Sir Hatter turned to one of his surviving crewmen and gestured expansively at the sight before them, the noon sun flashing on his teeth as he grinned with boundless enthusiasm. "Well, Wilkins, what do you say? Shall we take a closer look?"
The man frowned at him. "I'm Roberts, sir," the man said. "Wilkins was eaten by a giant snake two days ago. Remember? The blue one?"
"Ah," Sir Hatter said awkwardly. "Of course, I remember now."
"To answer your question, though," Roberts said, "absolutely not. You promised the men that we were only going as far as the top of this ridge. Ask them to go any further and it wouldn't surprise me if they mutiny." His expression and tone strongly hinted that he would lead the mutiny himself.
"But…but look at it! It's so amazing! Don't you think…?" Sir Hatter trailed off as Roberts subtly shook his head. Crestfallen, Sir Hatter turned away. "Very well. We shall turn back."
It was true that the expedition had turned out to be rather more perilous than Hatter had anticipated. At first glance, the newly-discovered island appeared to be a tropical paradise. It was only once you set foot on the island that you realized that you had just stepped into flammable quicksand, that the vine you had reached for to save yourself was actually the tentacle of a tree squid, and that it was pointless to cry for help because the only person close enough to help you was being eaten by a dinosaur. It was an unbelievably dangerous place.
Undaunted, Sir Hatter had named the island Utopia in accordance with his rather peculiar sense of humor, and then he had led his dwindling supply of men across the treacherous landscape, determined to catalog its wonders in the name of discovery and human perseverance. After many days of arduous travel they had discovered a mountain at the center of the island that had actually turned out to be an enormous crater, and Sir Hatter had led them to the top to see what lay inside. Here, though, the patience of his long-suffering men had finally worn out, and Hatter could go no further.
Sir Hatter took one last forlorn look over his shoulder and vowed one day to return to the island and see up close the marvel that stood in the center of the crater. Alas, Sir Hatter never made that journey, and the task of studying Utopia's most amazing feature fell to other brave men.
* * *
Professor Viktor Flint was thinking about Sir Hatter as he and his companions made their way up the side of the mountain that had come to be called Hatter's Bowl. He was proud to be following in the footsteps of such a great man, although strictly speaking he wasn't literally following in Hatter's footsteps, since instead of making the journey on foot he was riding in a hulking, armored, steam-powered leviathan called the Multi-Terrain Thermovaporous Drive Conveyance. It had been commissioned specifically for this journey by the Burgton Academy for Botanical Research, and the builders had tried to anticipate every possible obstacle and danger that the expedition might encounter. Though the vehicle had performed admirably thus far, the island had turned out to be even more perilous than anyone had anticipated, and the metal skin of the Conveyance was a ruin of dents and scars.
Flint's colleague, Professor Samuel Reuben, was thinking about the same thing that had dominated his thoughts for the past several days - his hated rival, Professor Harold Teiger. A week into their journey across the island the Burgton expedition had encountered another team of explorers in a vehicle similar to their own, this one funded by the Burgton Academy's long-time rival, the Shireford College of Botanical Science. Leading that expedition was the odious Professor Teiger, who had sworn to beat them to the center of the island in the name of his own personal glory rather than the advancement of science and the betterment of humanity. A bitter taste filled Reuben's mouth at the very idea of Teiger reaching the center of the island first. Reuben sipped some tea to wash away the bitterness and calm his nerves.
The final member of the Burgton expedition, Devon Creedy, was thinking about fluffy pillows and a soft mattress. Under the circumstances, however, he would settle for the rather spartan cot in his cabin inside the Conveyance. The relentless pace that they had set for themselves after their meeting with Teiger was taking its toll on him. These days they drove long into the night whenever they dared, but Devon wasn't sure how much longer he could go on before he succumbed to exhaustion. He was the expedition's driver and mechanic as well as being the unofficial bodyguard for the two botanists. Devon kept the Conveyance moving and its passengers alive, each of which was a monumental task all on its own.
The sun was drooping towards the horizon as Devon gradually brought the vehicle to a halt. Devon could hear thunder now that the noise from the turning wheels had stopped, and he looked up to see storm clouds rolling in. He rose from his seat and climbed below decks to give the professors an update.
"You wanted to know when we'd almost reached the top so you could come above decks, but there's a storm coming in, and the light is failing. What do you want to do?" Devon said, hoping that they would do the sane thing and call a halt for the day. The past several days had left him with little doubt of how they would reply, though.
"We can't stop now if we're so close! At least drive us the rest of the way to the top so we can see it," Reuben said. Flint nodded his agreement. Devon sighed and motioned for them to follow him as he climbed back out of the Conveyance. Once outside, the two men stood at the railing near Devon at the front of the vehicle. Devon yawned and then started them forward again.
After a few more moments, the Conveyance reached the top of the ridge, only a few yards from where Sir Hatter himself had stood years ago. Devon's hands slipped from the controls as he stared in amazement, and the vehicle eased gently to a stop.
The three men beheld a tree - a tree of seemingly impossible proportions. At least a thousand feet tall, with a crown just as wide, it could easily have provided shade for one of the great pyramids. Only the depth of the crater allowed them to look down upon it. Sir Hatter had written that the leaf canopy was so thick that it had blocked out all of the noontime sun, and the crown of the tree had seemed to float on a cushion of darkness. With the fading evening light coming in at a lower angle, the three men could barely make out the trunk, and could see that it was thick enough that an entire tall ship could have been carved from it in a single piece. It was the largest living thing yet found on earth, and must have been thousands of years old.
"By God, isn't it magnificent?" Reuben said.
"It certainly is," said Devon breathlessly.
"Absolutely spectacular," Reuben said.
"The way they catch the light of the setting sun, like a thousand jewels," Devon said.
"Yes, like…" Reuben trailed off. What? Did he mean the leaves of the tree? They didn't look much like jewels to Reuben. That, and there were certainly more than a thousand of them. Still, he supposed it didn't matter if Devon wasn't able to effectively articulate his appreciation of the magnificent tree.
"Like frozen fire," Devon said.
This was going too far. The leaves were a rich, luxuriant green, which was not a color common to fire. "Like fire?" Reuben asked.
"Don't you think so?" Devon said, sounding surprised. For a moment, Reuben was at a loss for words.
"No, not really," Reuben finally admitted. "They're a bit green for fire, aren't they?"
"Green? What are you talking about?" Devon said, now sounding every bit as confused as Reuben.
"Why, the leaves of the tree," Reuben said. "What are you talking about?"
Devon stared at him for a moment, and then pointed. "I'm talking about the hundreds of amber spires."
"Oh. Oh, yes!" Reuben said, spotting for the first time the rows upon rows of long, pointed pieces of amber that surrounded the trunk of the tree. Many of them were a dozen feet tall, and they all protruded from the ground facing up and away from the tree, like fortifications against charging cavalry. As Devon had said, the orange light of the setting sun shining on them made them look like pieces of frozen fire. "Yes, they're quite lovely, I suppose."
"It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen!" Devon said, appalled at Reuben's dismissive attitude.
"What about the tree, man?" Reuben countered, equally upset.
"It's impressive, certainly. I mean, I've never seen one that size. But the amber! That's incredible! I never would have dreamed such a thing existed!"
Simultaneously, both men realized that Professor Flint had spoken of neither marvel, and both turned to see which of them he would side with.
Flint's face was a mask of horror. He pointed, and Flint and Devon turned to look. It was Teiger.
Teiger must have had his men driving in shifts, twenty-four hours a day, in order to catch up with them, but catch up with them he had. He was hundreds of yards away, approaching the bowl from a different angle, but he was just as close to the tree as the Burgton vehicle was, and his vehicle was still moving. It had almost reached the decline of the crater when it jerked suddenly to a stop. A hatch opened on the top, and Teiger climbed partly outside to wave at them. He was far enough away that none of the Burgton men could clearly see his face, but they all knew his expression must be one of smug satisfaction. Teiger disappeared back inside, and the vehicle started forward again.
Huge, heavy drops of rain began to fall. Devon was too stunned to move. Flint was speechless with horror and despair. Reuben, however, was anything but speechless.
"My God, man, get us moving! We can still beat him!" Reuben shouted, but Devon ignored him. It was simply too dangerous to try to race Teiger to the bottom of the crater. His primary task had always been to keep the professors alive. It galled him to see a man like Teiger beat them, but there was nothing he could do now. Teiger had won.
Devon was roused from his despair by the sudden smell of ozone. He looked around frantically.
"What? What is it, man?! Why aren't we moving?!" Reuben was screaming at him. Devon pointed at the sky. Flashes of lightning exploded in the clouds almost continuously. The air felt like lead, and the smell of ozone was rapidly growing stronger. Light flickered in the edges of Devon's vision, and his eyes were drawn back to the floor of the crater. Small bolts of lightning flashed between the huge pieces of amber.
The rain had been growing steadily heavier, and Devon could see tiny rivers of rainwater streaming down the sides of the crater. He looked for Teiger's vehicle and saw it sliding down the slick decline, probably much faster than the driver intended.
A crash of thunder jolted Flint back to awareness of his surroundings. He looked down at the amber spires, which were practically ablaze with lightning now. Teiger's vehicle was spinning completely out of control, and it had almost reached the field of amber spires.
"You know, amber does a have a number of curious electrostatic properties that -" Flint started to say, but the end of his sentence was lost to a thunderous shockwave that sent all three men rocking back on their feet. A bolt of lightning had arced from the amber forest into the Shireford vehicle, which exploded as all of the water in its boiler vaporized at once.
The three men had been momentarily blinded by the flash. As their vision returned, they could see the wreckage illuminated by the electric flashes still dancing across the amber spires. From their current distance it was difficult to be certain, but Devon would guess that no single piece of debris was larger than a dinner plate.
"Damn him," Reuben said quietly. Devon glanced over at him, and could see that all of his anger had drained away, leaving something like pity in its wake.
"Let's get out of this rain," Devon said, and led the two stunned professors back inside to wait out the rest of the storm.
* * *
Teiger's dramatic passing had taken the urgency out of their journey, both because the Burgton scientists were no longer racing anyone to their goal, and also because it had quite effectively communicated the consequences of reckless haste. Still, both Flint and Reuben were eager to see the tree up close, and complained at some length when Devon refused to take the Conveyance down into the crater until the morning sun had dried out the slippery mud covering the slope.
Several hours after sunrise, Devon carefully guided the vehicle down into the crater, trying to keep his eyes on the terrain in front of him. The late morning sun made the amber spires even more brilliant than they had been yesterday, and he found his gaze drifting back to them again and again. At first he had been watchful of them in case he spotted any more electric flashes, but there was no evidence that they were going to be dangerous to approach now that the storm had passed. Now his eyes were drawn to them simply because they were beautiful.
He stopped the vehicle just beyond the ring of amber spikes furthest from the tree. It was possible that the Conveyance could drive right through them without sustaining damage, but Devon thought that such an act would border on sacrilege. Professor Reuben muttered something about having to walk, but Devon didn't think he would seriously consider smashing their way through the amber.
Eager to reach the tree, Professor Reuben set a quick pace through the amber forest, and Devon found himself falling behind. Then he noticed that Professor Flint was still with him rather than rushing ahead like Reuben. At first he thought that Flint was staying close to him in case some new danger presented itself, but then he noticed that Flint wasn't staring up at the tree the whole time, but also seemed to be appreciating the beauty of the amber that surrounded. Flint smiled at Devon and pointed to the nearest piece of amber.
"Do you know what amber is?" Flint asked him.
"Fossilized tree sap, isn't it?" Devon said, and remembered as he answered that Flint had been demonstrating knowledge of the substance just before the explosive end of Teiger's expedition.
"Not exactly. Technically, it's tree resin, which leaks out when a tree is damaged. But it takes millions of years for resin to turn into amber, not to mention that it would have be buried so it didn't degrade from ambient oxygen. This tree," Flint said, pointing ahead of them, "can't actually be that old, and these spires aren't buried. Do you realize what that means?"
"No," Devon said, unashamed of his ignorance of the subject.
Flint paused. "I'm not sure that I do either," he admitted. "It seems likely, though, that millions of years ago there used to be another tree here. Something cataclysmic must have happened to it. The resin must have been buried, turned into amber, and has since been unearthed by erosion. I wonder how big that tree must have been, and how old it must have been to grow so large."
Devon had never been a particularly religious man, but his memory nevertheless summoned up a story that prominently featured a tree and the wrath of god. He looked around at the spikes of amber that might have been the remains of a tree that, millions of years ago, had already been old. It was a silly thought, he knew, but if the tree turned out to bear fruit, Devon nevertheless resolved not to eat any, just in case.