AlphaGazette #04: Behold The Wandering Traveler | SC04 – Crabalacka Sea Snipes
AlphaGazette News of the Worlds - Behold The Wandering Traveler
Mike the Creator
Behold The Wandering Traveler
It is easy to take for granted how accessible the world has become, if not physically for all, then at least experientially. Tap on your smartphone and you're instantly talking to someone in the middle of an adventure on the other side of the world, while you're gently swinging in your hammock. We aren't all adventurers, of course, some live on the edge while others use a drone, but with instantaneous access to everything, YOU ARE THERE-- in the jungle, on a yacht, climbing a mountain, for a lot less money, risk, and effort. It's convenient, but at a cost. In time, you become inured to what was once fresh and exciting, and the need to actually go and see the thing becomes diminished because you already know what it's like, and because there is always something cooler and more exciting to find with the next swipe or click.
While my imagination has always been vivid, I've always been too grounded-- too practical-- to be a true adventurer. As a child, I imagined epic adventures in which I'd be whisked away from my impossibly dreary life, abducted by a daring, yet compassionate space pirate. Then, as I considered joining his crew to swash-buckle across the galaxy, I realized I'd have to reject as success relied on a one-in-million chance that said pirate was human-like, kind-hearted, and not keen on eating or enslaving humans.
Another possibility was to be discovered by a benevolent alien species and invited on a tour of the galaxy as a representative of earth and humanity. This sounded magical at first, until you realized that at the end of the vacation, the alien zoo awaited.
Stowing away on some errant cruiser that had to make an unscheduled, unannounced stop on Earth before zipping off into outer space again, had some legs because I could always imagine hiding in the ship until we docked somewhere cool enough, but again, even at ten I understood it wouldn't be like Star Trek.
Syd Arthur is a character who literally lives on the edge of humanity, seeking out the most extreme examples of human existence where boundaries blur and physics change. While his story is yet to be revealed, his experiences are related through his postcards from places that must be fantasy.
StoryCard
Crabalacka Sea Snipes
Travels With Syd
Small, carnivorous, and surprisingly smart crustaceans, that have been known to bond with humans on occasions when it benefits them.
"Now these critters are quite smart, so you gotta be careful, especially if there's more than a couple of them about. Some are good, but in my experience, they're all scheming bastards that'll rob you blind if you don't keep your wits about you. I've heard they're quite tasty, though, if you can catch the bugger before it mind-wipes you." --Fergal Codswollop, Fisherman, Trapper, Seer
Roaming Agent Syd Arthur's travel on the fringes of the Humanuum is legendary, as are his postcards. Independent, self-sufficient, and resourceful, he's often gone for months or years at a time, only to return from parts unknown with stories and artifacts never before seen. He rarely discusses his adventures outside of his detailed reports, all of which are highly restricted, due to unsettling content. Now there is someone with stories to tell.