PART FOUR — THE FESTIVAL · 2856

INTERLUDE — THE PROGRAM

The program of the Founding Festival, printed in the spring of 2856 — the fifth year after the closing — and delivered to every household on the moon, because the moon's love of paper had found its masterpiece. The printers, having no name for the moon to set at the head, set a small aurora device in its place. This copy was the arbor keeper's own: folded to working size, soft at the folds, the watering times penciled against the items in her upright hand, Item One circled. One corner is scorched — a firework's work, not the fire's. Her family keeps it.

THE FOUNDING FESTIVAL · FIVE YEARS >ITEM ONE — The Gates Open · dawn · the Port fed by its ownkitchens, with thanks to the farm(ITEM ONE SERVES ALL COMERS. THE STALL SERVES EIGHT.) >ITEM TWO — The Trade Fair · all day, under all things >ITEM THREE — The Tournament of the Lists · morning >ITEM FOUR — The March of the Morning · the Banner Houses lead >ITEM FIVE — The Concord of Houses · late afternoon >ITEM SIX — The Rite of the Waters · sunset · the Pantheon leadsthe procession of the evening >ITEM SEVEN — The Oracle's Blessing · at the rite's crown >ITEM EIGHT — The Feast General · dusk >ITEM NINE — The Flight · last light >ITEM TEN — Fireworks · full dark · followed by the aurora,first curtain 21:10, RATED: EXCELLENT

Chapter Thirty-Two — Item One: The Gates