Lensi stretched languidly, raising her eyes from the terminal to smile at her colleague.
"That time already?"
Farna laughed, her voice light and tuneful.
"I'm afraid so, cittain. Time to drag you away..."
As was usual when she was in the Library Lensi had lost track of time. She rose obediently and followed her colleague, bare feet almost soundless on the cool, mica-flecked stonefloor, down the wide, alcoved hallway to the spacious vestibule, where Shaina was waiting patiently. The regal Prime Archyvist smiled faintly as Lensi folded her hands into her loose robe and bowed her head in apology.
"Regret, Archyvist."
Shaina rested a hand briefly on the trainee Librarian's head, brushing the tightly plaited soft hair with her fingertips.
"Enthusiasm is its own reward, Novice Lensi. However, one must also remember the demands of the body. Go, daughter. Eat, rest, create, that you may add to your store of knowledge and wisdom with renewed vigour."
Bowing courteously, Lensi and Farna watched the female glide towards the light-filled inner courtyard, no doubt to commune with her sisters in the craft, the other Archyvists here at the Soft Clouds commune.
It was Lensi's dearest wish that one day she would be numbered amongst them.
But for now - it was time for less cerebral pass-times.
Farna touched the access panel, and Lensi squinted slightly as the diffuser slid slowly back into its niche in the roof, leaving the entire chamber open to brilliant sunlight. As the light hit the structure in the centre of the workspace it began to hum, each delicate slope and spire pulsing, gleaming iridescent colour streaming over the textured surfaces as subtle inbuilt chimes vibrated. The two artists walked around their creation, keenly attuned ears listening for fundamental flaws, but their previous work had paid off - the harmonies were pure. Farna stepped back and appraised the construction, critically eyeing its shape, then turned to Lensi.
"She needs - something..."
Lensi nodded agreement: the work was beautiful, but not quite finished yet. She frowned and tilted her head, gazing at it, then her eyes widened.
"What if we were to give her fragrance as well?"
Farna stared at her - then broke into a huge grin, double-rows of sharp teeth gleaming in the light.
"You, my friend, are a genius! Has anyone ever done that before?"
Lensi smirked.
"Not as far as I know."
"Then we'll be the first. And even if we aren't, she'll still be a wonderful creation." Farna folded her arms. "So - what scents?"
That would be tricky, Lensi thought to herself. The work was their representation of dawn - the dawn that only came once every 410 Caelixiin hours, a time of calm and contemplation. They'd worked hard to express the colours and sounds of the dawn, the soft golds and pinks and ultraviolet of the slow rise of Doth from below the horizon, the humming stir of life under her light, the undulating shapes of the horizon as her heat woke the land again... But what fragrances represented the dawn?
Lensi dropped down to sit cross-legged on the cool hard ground, gazing up at their creation. What smells did she associate with dawn?
The first meal of the day - yes, of course, but that was imposed on the structure of time, not an integral element... the change from cool of night to warmth of day? Was there a fragrance associated with that?
She closed her eyes, focussing inwards, drawing sense-memory up from her mind. Doth-rise was always special... warming... waking the beasts of earth and air... she could almost taste it, something ephemeral hovering at the fringe of her perception...
There. The strange sweet brittle scent of dew rising from the delicate clumps of shaaweed on the verge of her room in the family home when she was a child, the dew that pulled the fragrance from the plant in drifting spirals of a faintly bitter-sweet perfume, redolent of home.. and family... and newness... and promise...
Yes. That was the fragrance of dawn.
Shaina closed her eyes and breathed deeply, inhaling the scent, allowing the tumbling harmonies to wash over her consciousness, fingertips brushing the surface, feeling fur and leaves and cool wind streaming over the sandy textures of the lower slopes, the silky warmth of water in the rounded hollows of the piece. The ebb and flow of the subtle wash of colour was exquisitely understated, unusually sophisticated for two such young artists...
Lensi was watching the Archyvist, holding her breath in anticipation. Shaina gravely nodded acceptance, and Lensi and Farna beamed and hugged each other in delight.
"You really like her?" Lensi caught herself, folded her hands and bowed her head. "Regret, Archyvist."
Shaina chuckled quietly and lightly touched the artist's cheek.
"Never apologise for your passion, daughter. She is a fine and graceful work, and honours both yourselves and the Library."
There was a hint of relief in both pairs of bright eyes. Shaina inclined her head.
"We will place her in the entrance chamber, where the light may bathe her during sunup."
It was a great honour. Both youngsters bowed deeply, hands clutched together.
"Our thanks, Archyvist."
"And ours to you both - young Artists."
They ate outside, in a small grove where the liilshrub grew just tall enough to provide shade and the worn russet boulders made comfortable seating - a celebratory meal rich in fruits and small meat-filled geetubers, and a small flagon of the sweet and fiery liqueur that was a speciality of the Soft Clouds commune.
Lensi draped herself over the warm soft rock, sighing happily, and raised her carved kworlwood beaker.
"To passion, and to success! May our lives be blessed with both."
Farna grinned and returned the toast, sipping the deep blue liquid appreciatively. It had been a very good day, very satisfying. She rested back on one elbow and regarded her fellow Artist fondly.
"So, what next - Artist?"
Lensi rolled onto her back, regarding her colleague from upside down.
"Well, first we get used to our new status. Then we think about our next work."
"Ah, yes... we could do a companion piece, Twilight. Warm and purple, the first stars, the evening wind..." Farna pursed her lips. "What does twilight smell like?"
Lensi laughed.
"I don't know. But I'm sure it will come to us..."
© 2006 July 5th Joules