by J. S. Volpe
* * *
T-mail transmission:
From: Solace Tenant
To: Reynard Fuggs
July 13, 6692; 5:11 AM:
Good Morning Reynard,
Well, they said we’d have thunderstorms, and thunderstorms we had. Or rather, thunderstorm. One storm, the like of which I’ve never seen. It wasn’t so much the force of it that was so remarkable; it wasn’t like those destructive storms you saw in the decades after the Cataclysm. No this was remarkable because it was one horrible storm that went on and on for over forty-eight hours without end. It did let up a little a few times, just enough that we all thought it was finally passing, but then it would redouble in force within an hour and we were back where we started. They’re saying it was a combination of factors: One, the storm was gigantic, covering pretty much the entirety of the Irian Lowlands; and two, the storm stalled out due to some weird confluence of weather systems that they explained on the local weather site but that didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. The storm just hung there for over a day without moving, or rather moving a little one way then back the other. Apparently there were a couple of places on the edges of the storm where the rain would stop as the storm-system drifted away, only to resume a few hours later as the storm drifted back. But those of us in the heart of it had it the worst. Over fifty people were killed during the course of it due to lightning, flooding, falling debris, and in one case, a bridge collapse. It was awful. Hardly anyone went outside. The winds drove the rain almost horizontal and pushed even the heaviest people around as if they were made of straw. And then of course, there was the constant lightning. I turned out the lights and watched the bolts flashing as bright and rapid as fireworks. It was scary but spectacular.
Ah, well. At least it’s over now. I’m sure that was far more info than you wanted. Sorry, but major weather like this, while frightening, always fascinates me. We had nothing like it where I came from. In Interon, the weather was artificially regulated.
Sorry that I keep mentioning Interon. It’s weird—at this point, the vast majority of my existence has been here in Eridia yet I still think of Interon as home. You’d think as my life rolls on, and my experiences build up and the bulk of my memories originate from happenings here in Eridia, that I’d think less about Interon as time passes. But the opposite is true. As the years go by, I find myself thinking about Interon more and more. Or least what I can remember of it. So much is gone…
But that’s a topic we’ve already covered. Time to move on to other things…
I’m sorry about whatever happened in Colbon. It must have been pretty bad if you’re still reluctant to discuss it after so long. If you ever do feel like talking about it, I’m here.
Yes, I heard about Quat’s announcement. It’s not exactly a surprise; he’s getting pretty old. I think it’s nice he’s ending his career with something like Bitter, which despite its novice-filmmaker’s crudity was quite a touching film. It will indeed be a poorer world, movie-wise, without him.
My favorite Quat movie. That’s a tough one. After tons of deliberation, I think I’ll have to go with the obvious choice and say When I Die. Not only is the story of the Berenyi Seven inherently dramatic and moving—so much so that it has become a sort of cultural foundation stone of the UR—but Quat managed to infuse it with a level of artistry and emotional power light-years beyond what anyone else had ever done with it (and a lot of anyone elses have done a lot with it over the years; I think I read somewhere it’s the most-adapted story in the history of movies). The movie is a true masterpiece and a cultural touchstone. I doubt anyone can think of the Battle of Berenyi Pass anymore without thinking of Quat’s version. And perhaps the most amazing thing is that he managed to do all this without contradicting a single historical fact! (Well, except the details of Vonor and Mendheina’s first meeting. But I only know about that because I was acquainted with them personally.) (And some of the fashions were completely wrong, of course, but that’s to be expected.)
Oh, for Quilith’s sake, I’m really prattling on this time, aren’t I? Time for me to go.
—solace
P.S. I forgot to return the question: What’s your favorite Quat film? And please don’t feel compelled to follow my babbly example. Brevity is nice too, or so I’m told.