The Uli Rouge

[Malaclypse 666]

Reggie felt better than he had in years. Mostly due to his frequent trips up the very path he climbed now.

Every few days, he had taken to circuitous path up the shaking mountain (which had finally ceased its shaking), to view the progress being made on Villa Uli Rouge. During the months of construction, he had also seen changes in the path itself. In some places on the steep mountain face, small tunnels had actually been excavated into the mountain itself, to avoid blasting the granite cliff faces. In other places, where the path climbed steeply, steps had been cut into the granite, and a mortared safety wall a meter in height had been added to the outer edge of the path.

The result was a serpentine climb of well over a miles length to climb the 3,000 feet to the top, with spectacular views of the city and spaceport.

Reggie stopped briefly at a small natural alcove about halfway up the path. Stone benches had been laser-carved directly into the face of the alcove, so that one could rest during the ascent. From here, he could look down onto the Veranda Incognita. He could barely see his cadre of agricultural bots tilling and preparing the plantations soil for next seasons planting. There would be plenty of seeds, as the seed-bearing male plants had been culled last season for that purpose alone.

When Fiona had been on Canaria to oversee the Uli Rouges construction, they had shared dinner and a quite evening on the Veranda several times; and now, the young woman was ready to show off the small but magnificent Villa on the mountains top to her friends and previous reluctant fellow hostages. It would be an interesting evening. With so many significant events and changes occurring throughout the Sector, Reggie was curious to see just how many of the invited guests would be able to attend. He hoped they would all be able to attend; but according to Fiona, the responses from the other invitees had been rather tentative in nature.

He glanced one more time towards the spaceport. There was indeed a shuttle landing at the very moment, but from this distance he could not be sure of the crafts design, let alone its markings.

He still had a good twenty minute climb to reach the Uli Rouge himself. Reveling in his new-found stamina, he set out with a spring in his step, and a pleasant smile of anticipation on his weathered features.

Madam, you have done a magnificent job on the design and construction of your new Aerie. I would imagine the appointments and decor will be just as delightful. But please, Goddess, hopefully the meal will not include either fish or hot dogs just this once!

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