“How far have people gone downward, following the parallel field?” Kaleb asked suddenly. They had completed the day, and tomorrow Kaleb would be leaving for the settlement that they were approaching. Kaleb was helping Iowara take measurements from the various apparatuses that encircled the pavilion and the further ones that covered all the corners of the pillar.

“Hmm, what do you mean?”

“Oh, well… I figured it would be easiest for people to descend to research how far the pillars went, you know, instead of climbing –and I wondered how far they went. Do they end?”

“Ah, yes, one of the oldest unanswered questions at the independent meteorological institute.”

“Unanswered…?”

“Yes, exactly, we’ve sent many teams downward and upward… but in the end, no matter which way you choose you either have to climb back up to report your findings or climb up in order to discover the phenomena, and so falling alongside the parallel field might help individuals discover the answers to these questions, but as an organisation, as a society, well… we still don’t know as even if they were able to find the end, those who left are either gone or still climbing back up. Unfortunately the pillars outside cable city are filled with monstrous creatures, even more monstrous than those we encounter at the edges - I’m sure that you would have seen your fair share living where you did.”

“... Yes, we were attacked a number of times.”

“Ah, yes, it’s not something we tend to forget… that humanity is not really that grand a creature in the scheme of the pillars… and so, probably because of those beasts, there are very few teams who have ever returned from our expeditions both up and down the pillar’s length. One thing we have determined is that every pillar does start and end, or at least it seems that they do. We have encountered no pillar that is longer than three hundred kilometers… but as to whether the whole constellation of them every ends… well, that would be a nice question to know the answer to, wouldn’t it?”

“It would be interesting… I just can’t seem to believe that the dust keeps falling and doesn’t run out….”

“Ah, yes, the problem of dust. This was something that intrigued the earliest of our founders at the institute.”

“And what did he think?”

“Well, he thought that there should be a source for the dust somewhere, and so he set off up the pillars… but he never returned.”

“Oh”

“Yes, it is rather a pity. But you know, that is why I’m out here after all! There are so many mysteries about the nature and operation of the pillars and all the things in them. I can’t help but get excited when I think about those kinds of problems. But as you can see, actually finding the answers is much more hard work than simply encountering them and enjoying them as mysteries. It is unfortunate, but I do not doubt I will die before many of them are answered, and I can only hope that I will be placing some small foundations down for some future researchers to finally build a mighty structure upon…”

“Yes, I understand. I very much doubt that I will be able to help with any of those problems, but I didn’t really leave the lonely pillar in order to find them… it was much more the mysteries that I wanted to see than the answers.”

“Spoken like a true romantic! I suppose that’s where we all begin, and perhaps its as good a place as any to end up at too. I hope you see all the wonders you want out there, Kaleb.”

“Thank you, I hope so too…”

“I’m glad we met, for your sake and mine!... But… Kaleb”

“Yes?”

“I need to tell you this before you go... it is dangerous to live without spikes, particularly here on the outskirts. It isn’t unheard of for there to be people who will try to take advantage of people without spikes… they even kidnap children before they have any implanted.”

Iowara paused and looked down at the ground as if he was feeling guilty

“The world is not a kind place” he whispered “and people think that power is something that allows them to do whatever they please. Unlike your home, there is no council to oversee things, settle disputes and the like. There are some powers to which you can appeal, but in return for their aid you must devote to them your life. In a way, that is what I have already done. I owe myself to the independent meteorological bureau. They keep me safe in the world.”

“But you’re here alone!”

“It’s not monsters or assailants that I’m scared of, it is other groups of people. When they group together and begin to think as a collective, people do not engage with people as individuals, instead they become functions in something else. In a way, monsters are easier to deal with than the kind of creature humanity becomes when it is organised… you know, there was once a group of mighty warriors, you know. Individually they were stronger than anyone, but whenever they fought they fought only as individuals, and they thought that whenever there was a fight, it was a duel. They were wiped out by a people much weaker than them, because no matter how strong they were, they couldn’t understand working together to defeat of common enemy”

“People in groups, though, they are still people”

“Of course they are, it is stupid of me to try and excuse the behaviour of people in any arrangements as if they were not human, isn’t it? After all, we are both part of them aren’t we? I just wish I could think well of us, you know.”

“I think well of you, at least.”

“That is very kind of you. I only want to warn you because things will be difficult for you without spikes. It is uncommon for anyone who is not a child not to have them in the reaches of cable city. But children are already understood to be vulnerable. You might not understand how vulnerable you are.”

“I know I’m weaker without them, but is it really something to be concerned about? Will people attack me?”

“Possibly. It is hard to say. I haven’t met anyone of age in the city without them yet, though they must be out there. Well, except for the Brethren, but none of the weaknesses of the natural field apply to them…”

“Who are they?”

“Nobody really knows… they’re a mysterious people, but they don’t use spikes. They tried to wage war on the developers of spikes. They believe in the unity of the body, and its sanctity. They judge those who use implants.”

“Really? What on earth for? And you’re saying their strong?”

“Hard to say, you’d have to ask them, but there’s hardly any around anymore. They weren’t strong enough to stop the spread of spikes, at least, but they were plenty powerful, at least so the stories of them say.”

“But exactly how am I supposed to take this advice you’re offering? I can’t exactly go home now.”

“I see your point”

“I mean, I’m probably going to have to encounter some trouble, but, well I don’t have anything for anyone to steal, really” Kaleb smiled

“You still have your body, your organs, your bones”

“Wah! People … people will take them?”

“Rarely, but organ theft is relatively common. After all, with the number of surgeries done to get spikes, it’s not surprising that there is a need for some… backups.”

Kaleb shivered

“Yes, that is the right way to feel, sometimes the pillars are a cruel place, and there are few people among them who will offer you aid for free. Cable city is a chaotic place, much too broad and with too many diverging elements to account for, so it is important to be careful.”

“Thanks, Iowara. I’ll take it to heart and try my best.”

“Sadly, in the end, it might not be up to you. But it sets my mind at ease a little.” Iowara paused and looked off forlornly

“So, when do you suppose you’ll leave here?”

“Hmm. What do you think? When would it be best to jump?”

“Ah, yes, well it’ll probably be best to leave when we’re closest. I’ll let you know when that is.”

“Yes, I would like to try and see some more of the actual city, not just travel through the mists, I’ve seen enough of them”

Iowara laughed

“Oh me too, me too… well I should probably prepare my research for you to take. It should be very light, so it won’t be a burden to you, I hope.”

“That’s alright, transporting it will be the least I can do after everything you’ve given me.”

And so Iowara set himself down in front of his terminal and began to collate everything he thought that might of interest to the institute that he had found. He pointed out various things to Kaleb from time to time, such as his predictions of the path that the fragment would take, and various readings and measurements from when the pillar altered course. Then they turned in for the night, and Kaleb tried my best to slip off into sleep, despite the excitement and anticipation that he would soon be leaving and flying through the pillars on his own. He could hardly wait.

And then it was the next day. They had enjoyed a feast the night before, insofar as it was possible to make a feast on the relatively inhospitable pillar fragment. But Iowara had some surprising stores of food sequestered away, none of which Kaleb had ever seen before, and all of which was quite incredible to taste. And then they had slept, and then awoken to a new cycle and now Kaleb stood on the edge of the pillar –insofar as it had ‘edges’ and prepared to go. Beneath him and all around him the mists gathered and receded. He turned and found Iowara standing there, watching and smiling.

“See you, Good luck out there. When you get to the institute make sure you give that research to the Dean or my assistant, … … and nobody else, ok?”

“Ok!”

“Good! Thank you!”

“No, thank you, for everything!”

“I hope I’ll see you again Kaleb”

“I hope we meet again too, Iowara.”

Kaleb prepared himself and then charged up the suit and, watching the mists, ran up and jumped… spread the wings of the suit and felt the updraft carry him high into the air. He was off. Kaleb looked down and saw Iowara waving, but he couldn’t respond. He smiled behind his mask and then circled around the slowly rotating and spinning pillar once, saying his goodbyes to the strange thing, thanking it in prayer for its help and its strange field. He was sure it hadn’t noticed his fleeting time upon it, but still, he already had one incredible story to tell, about a pillar that moved by itself. He began to angle himself downward and accelerated out of the pillar’s attractive field, and before long it disappeared behind him into the mists. Up ahead was a light – the tell tale sign that there was at least a pillar nearby, if not someone living there. Kaleb felt the lightness of life in flight.