The first year after the change didn't see any celebrations but was more about figuring out what remained. The Stewards needed statistics, and the ones they uncovered weren't encouraging.
Our population has been reduced by 18% since we stopped the Final Digestion. Deaths caused by hunger, withdrawal, killing of oneself, and the disorder of the change have been the way that people died. However, dying stopped accelerating these last few months. And some babies were born—seven of them! It is not a lot, but it is better than nothing.
We are producing 85% of the food we require. The Terraform loops are only at 12%, but the engineers are strangely optimistic. It keeps getting better.
Water covers 65% of the area where it is supposed to be. The Aqua Vita conduit is like a very thin piece, but it is functioning.
Regarding health, Chronic Withdrawal has become a normal thing in everyone's life now. It is controlled, not eliminated. The Resonance Bridge thing appears to be a solution, at least for the most severe cases. They say Joan Rhodes is improving.
The Aether—that heavenly cell stuff—is only at 20% of its former capacity. We are running on the last resources. At present, we mainly get power from glowing mushrooms and the god's body heat. It is a very dim place that is lit by fungus and crystals.
The report was shared with the whole community in the Heartforge. There was no cheering. Everyone sighed. We counted the days. We are still alive. That's the main thing.
After this, people strolled around. Ex-Palate members engaged in conversation with ex-Nutrified. Symbiotes introduced new mushroom varieties to farmers. Those old divides were still there but people were tired and they all wanted the same thing now.
Naomi found Bianca looking at the heart through the window. Naomi spoke: "A year. It feels like both forever and yesterday. I can't help but think it was just yesterday when I was picking out wine for a sad night."
What would you pick for tonight? Bianca asked, sounding like her old self.
Naomi thought. Something dry, earthy. With a bit of… hope that doesn't go anywhere.
Bianca smiled. Sounds bad.
But true. Naomi leaned on the railing. I miss how pretty everything was, Bianca. The divine stuff. I don't miss what it cost, but I miss the shine.
We have to make our own shine now, Bianca said. It's harder.
Not far off, Leo was demonstrating to the kids how to 'hear' a mushroom. Benny and Elara were supporting his explanation. The kids appeared interested, but not as if they were worshiping anything.
Maxine was, as always, to the side, watching the console. Lucien came over with tea, that bitter mushroom kind. He gave her one. She took it.
Good first year, Lucien said, while taking a sip of the tea. The patient's doing okay. The doctors are learning.
The learning never stops, Maxine said, while her eyes were on the heart. We're part of it all.
Joan Rhodes strolls in, with her cane, crystalline hand on Benny's shoulder. She halts at the clay mouth and looks at it for a bit. After, she touches it.
She faced the crowd. Her voice was slow but loud enough. We are not the same people, she said. Everyone looked at her. We were the killers, we were the food. We were a system of hunger. She took a pause. Now, we're talking. A hard, messy talk. With this… she gestured at the stuff, …and with each other. Not being perfect, it's still a step. It's taking on the guilt. And it's ours.
She didn't utter another word. She didn't require to. Her words lingered with the heart's beat.
The anniversary came to a close without any celebrations, just acknowledging what they had to do. The fast continued. The work was going on.
However, as people were departing, Benny heard something different—a sound that was blended with the heart and the life around them. It was the sound of that talk Joan was referring to. It was the sound of arguing, planning, kids laughing, tools on stone, mushrooms growing. It was not one tune, but a combination of sounds.
And in that combination, he was able to hear the future that is being constructed, one word, one act, one dream at a time.