Dark DaysChapter 1
The youth walked along the ridge, stopping to wipe his brow. It was mid-day, but already the golden rings of the gas giant around which his world revolved were beginning to rise in the east. He scanned the ridge looking for distinctive flame-red leaves. With his walking stick he probed one of the shrubs, parted the stems and retrieved an oblong, orange fruit. "What art thou doing?" a voice called to him. "Don't startle me," he replied. "This is dangerous work." He turned to see a...